"Could I offer you a hat? A cap? A skirt? A shirt?" Nova sang as she danced into the theater room, throwing around different clothing items, "Perhaps you'd rather-"

She cut herself off by falling to her floor and giving a dramatic snort, indicating she was asleep. Cheers erupted by her friends, Novas face lighting up as she stood and took a fake bow, "Oh, don't spoil me, my head is already too big."

"It's true. Everytime I play basketball, I imagine your head being thrown into the hoops." Ricky nodded as everyone gave him a odd look, "She has a round head."

"Yes, yes. Our sweet and salty, Super Nova, has taken the open role as Madame de la Grande Bouche." Miss Jenn announced as Seb pulled Nova into the group more so she's stood between him and Ashlyn, "Now, that is aside. We need to workshop a punchy, breathtaking number that will put us in the number one spot."

"As our head choreographer, I am so happy to announce that today we will, at last, begin rehearsing one of the most showstopping, iconic, and bar-raising numbers of the entire show." Carlos announcement with a bright smile.

"Be Our Guest." Gina spoke as she stepped forward, joining Carlos's side with a cheeky smile, "Yeah, it's Be Out Guest, guys."

An awkward tension fell over the room, mainly between Carlos and Gina as the students fell silent a second.

"Before we begin," Miss Jenn spoke up as she stood, looking around with her binder in hand, "I'm going to tell you a little story about hospitality."

"Maybe we should-" Carlos began.

"Once when I was a little girl," Miss Jenn spoke over him.

"Buckle up." Nova commented with a deep inhale.

"My mom and I heard a clatter from the kitchen. We thought it was a burglar. So my mom ran over, hog-tied the man, and promptly call the police." Miss Jenn told her story as eyes widened around the group, "As we waited for the cops to come, I watched my mother place a bowl of iced tea next to his face. 'Because' she said, 'Until the police come and get him, he's still our guest.' "

"I'd have chained him to the table and interrogated him." Nova said honestly.

"Oh, we know." Ricky hummed.

"So, did he, like, get arrested or.." Kourtney trailed off in questioning.

"No. Turns out, it wasn't a burglar at all, just a repairman who entered the wrong unit." Miss Jenn admitted while looking her way, "But the point remains the same. Just like our intruder, we need to make Belle and our entire audience feel welcome. And with that, Carlos and Gina, take it away."

Ashlyn clapped loudly, being the only one to clap loudly.

"That reminds me of the time I was trying to bring Nova soup after we all thought she died and EJ tackled me into the snow." Seb spoke up with a frown from the memory.

"It was a rough time, Seb." Nova patted his back, "I never got that soup though."

"It spilt when he attacked me." Seb nodded innocently.

"Thank you, all of you, that wasn't terrifying at all." Gina spoke up to cut the conversation short. Ricky gave a rather loud and comical laugh, "Okay, so, my bison to make this dance really sour is to stage, wait for it, a Cancan-style dance that features a feather-dusting spectacle. I don't know, it'll probably got a little something like.."

Gina trialed off, starting the dance with high kicks, a few cheering her on in the crowd.

"Interesting, I had a different path thats a little more elevated and less basic." Carlos hummed, Ginas face falling, "Think. A noir-inspired performance that Limiere guides our audience through the entire time."

"M'kay. But I actually spent a month in France once, so I kinda know this dance inside out." Gina turned to him with a fake smile.

"And I choreographed all three of my sisters quinceañera dances, despite not getting one for myself, so I think I know how to twirl with a salad fork, okay?" Carlos gave the same forced smile back, the pair standing rather close.

"Okay! You know what?" Miss Jenn got between the pair with a clap of her hands, "Let's stick a pin in Be Our Guest and brush up on Gaston."

Nova looked around to gift EJ with a smile, finding no sight of the Caswell boy.

"EJ and Big Red, to the front of the room, please." she encouraged as the boy walked over, glancing around the room, "Where is EJ? Nova?"

"I texted him this morning but no response." she shook her head, looking over at Carlos as she tapped his arm.

"Yes, wardrobe?" he teased.

Nova gave a small smile as she dropped her voice to a whisper, "I don't want to ruin whatever you and Gina plan, but I haven't told you everything about my accident."

Carlos gave a worried look as he turned to her more, "Go on."

"I tore some muscles in my legs. I didn't wanna say anything because I didn't think I would be apart of the number this year. I'm in physical therapy so I'm getting better but i'm not supposed to do anything crazy." Nova gave a guilty look, "I can sit the dance out if I mess it all up, i'm sorry."

Carlos opened his mouth to say something before he was cut off by Miss Jenn, "Nova, do me a favor and check to boys bathroom for our dear Gaston."

"You're sending Nova to the boys bathroom?" Big Red asked in disbelief, "Is that allowed."

"Well, I happen to knock very loud and can raise my voice to Hulk level so, I think I'll be okay." Nova hummed, patting Big Red's arm as she passed, heading out of the theater room.

After Nova hadn't found EJ in the bathroom, she found herself roaming the school looking for him. She'd sent him hundred of text, not receiving one back. When coming across the stairwells, she paused when coming across a familiar set of blue eyes.

"EJ." she huffed when setting eyes on him, "I thought you were stolen by the lunch lady."

EJ gave a small chuckle, "Looks like our roles are reversed today."

Nova frowned when she took notice of his sad eyes, drooping voice. She took a seat next to him on the stairs, shoulders bumming, "Talk to me."

EJ sighed, "Duke, I didn't get in."

Nova knew for a fact EJ could get in, his entire family went and he'd been planning it since high school started. Her heart hurt for him, turning to him better, "You deserve better then Duke."

"I wanted it so bad." EJ sighed as he shook his head, "I have no clue what i'm gonna tell my family."

"Don't worry about them, right now. Your feelings come first." Nova shook her head, latching onto his hand immediately, "Look, when I didn't get into DePaul, I was devastated, still am. It sucks but you have to know that in the end, it's their lose. You made me realize that. Duke would be lucky to have you, wherever you end up, they'll be the luckiest school in the country.

EJ looked over at her with a small smile, "When does the failure feeling stop?"

"It doesn't." Nova said honestly as his eyes fell sad, "The only time I don't feel that way is when i'm with you because you make me think i'm enough. I hope I can do that for you."

"You do." EJ gave a sad smile. Nova leaned over and kissed his cheek. His eyebrows shot up, turning to face her more. EJ leaned in first, Nova following as they got closer.

The lights cut, turning the school black.

"A ghost?" EJ suggested.

"Ghost of the christmas past." Nova panicked as she rose, "I'm gonna go see if I can turn it back on."

"You know how?" EJ gapped at her.

"I took one of Mr.Mazzara's robotics classes to plan for working back stage!" Nova called, speed walking down the hallway toward the breaker box.

•

kylie speaks

the snow storm deserves
to be canceled for not being
a casova shipper.
like, how can you not?!(
look at the babies