After Oliver got home the night the drama club members celebrated at Slices, he facetimed Noah to let him know the good news. And Noah didn't hesitate to tell him 'I told you so' just like he said he would if Oliver got the lead. But nonetheless Noah was proud of him and really excited for him. 

It was Valentine's day today. And yet another Valentine's day Oliver is painfully reminded he doesn't have a girlfriend. There was this one girl he wished was his girlfriend, but he had a feeling that would never happen. It's a clique reason but he doesn't to ruin their great friendship and she's way out of his league. 

Today in researchable they were practicing the waltzing scene. Sure, Oliver has danced before. But he never waltzed so yeah he's nervous. "Okay, people." Carlos get's everyone's attention, standing in front of the stands where most of the drama club members sat. "The title song of 'Beauty and the Beast' is the centerpiece of our show. Written at the height of Ashman and Menken's powers, and it's their most romantic ballad since 'Suddenly, Seymour'."

"As a reminder, Belle is finally falling for the Beast," Carlos continues. "And it's not just because of Stockholm syndrome. Love is love."

"Ollie, Ash," Carlos points at the two who were sitting near each other on the stands. "It's time to review the waltz." 

"Let's take it way under tempo." Gina told Seb. 

Oliver takes a deep breath as he gets off the stands along with Ashlyn. Kourtney went to stand in front of the piano, getting ready to sing while Seb began to play. Ashlyn and Oliver got into the waltzing position, taking hold of each other's hands, and began waltzing when Kourtney started singing.

Every time Oliver kept accidentally stepping on Ashlyn's foot he would apologize. He hated how it was obvious he was nervous about this. "How about you just look at me instead of your feet?" Ashlyn suggests, sending him an encouraging smile when he looks at her nervously. "It might help you focus more."

"Yeah, okay." Oliver mumbled. He did his best to keep focusing on Ashlyn instead of his feet while they continued to waltz but it was hard.

"Kourtney, honey," Miss Jenn calls out and everyone stops. "I know we aren't up to show tempo, but sing out, and make sure to really look at Belle and the Beast during the song." Kourtney had been singing quietly and a lot slower than how Seb was playing. "Remember, what Mrs. Potts is observing is a miracle."

Miss Jenn points at Belle. "Belle is the most beautiful girl in the land," She points at Oliver, sending him an apologetic smile. "And the Beast is, I'm sorry Oliver, beastly."

She looks back at Kourtney with an encouraging smile. "Maybe close your eyes and imagine the full scene in makeup and wardrobe."

"Ready?" Miss Jenn asked.

Just before Ashlyn and Oliver went to go back to the waltzing positions she stops and turns to Miss Jenn. "Hey, do you mind if I take a quick five?"

Miss Jenn looks at her with concern but nods. "Everything okay, honey?"

"Yeah, of course." Even though Ashlyn said that, Oliver had a feeling that wasn't true which made him frown. 

"You good, cuz?" EJ asked his cousin, looking at her with concern as she picked up her jacket that rested beside where he sat on the stand.

"Yes." Ashlyn nods. "I said I'm fine." As she walked out of the bomb shelter, everyone looked at her with concern.

"Okay. Thank you, everyone, good job." Miss Jenn get's everyone's attention. "We'll nail this number in time for the Menkies." She nervously smiles. "The Beast's castle wasn't built in a day. Have a wonderful Valentine's Day."

After that comment everyone got up and got their backpacks before they left the room. He met Ricky as they exited the bomb shelter and they were conversing with each other about the play when Big Red frantically ran up to them.

Oliver chuckles. "Dude, what's the problem?"

"I need to show you guys something." Big Red said.

"What is it?" Ricky questioned.

Instead of answering Ricky, Big Red turns around and began speed-walking down the hallway. Oliver and Ricky shared a look of confusion before they followed Big Red. They followed him down the hallways and to a specific locker. 

Oliver furrows his eyebrows. "Why are we at Ashlyn's locker?"

Ricky tilts his head to the side, looking at Big Red with raised eyebrows. "This is what you wanted to show us?"

"Look, uh, I know Ashlyn is super down to Earth, but I gotta be honest." Big Red replies. "When I found out she got the lead in the show, something happened inside of me, and then, I had to use the restroom."

A look of disgust forms on Oliver's face, shaking his head. "Okay, we didn't need to know that."

"I'm not the kind of guy that dates the lead in the show." Big Red continues. "I don't wanna blow it with her on Valentine's Day. I mean, whole day is about the color red." He points at his red hair. "I should have this on lock."

Ricky chuckles softly. "Okay."

"So," Big Red smiles. "I came up with this idea to do a little singing telegram for her, and it starts with me popping out of this bad boy." He then started opening Ashlyn's locker.

Oliver raises his eyebrows, looking at him with surprise. He didn't expect Big Red to know Ashlyn's password to her locker. "You know her password?"

Big Red nods as he gets the locker open. "We traded locker combos as an act of trust. Her idea." After he gets into the locker Ricky is the one to close it.

"Okay. Ready?" Big Red asked.

Oliver and Ricky glance around the now empty hallway beside them and after sharing a confused look with each other they look back at the locker Big Red is in, both of them asking, "For what?" 

"To give me notes." Big Red responds. "I'm gonna run it."

"Okay." Ricky nodded.

Oliver furrows his eyebrows, tilting his head to the side when there was a banging noise inside the locker. "Uh, guys," Big Red speaks in a worried tone. "I think it's locked."

"I'm going to get help, stay put." Ricky said to Big Red.

"What am I supposed to do?" Oliver questioned, but his question was unheard by Ricky who was already running down the hallway. He sighs, looking at the locker. He then decided on trying to guess Ashlyn's password to get Big Red out of the locker.

"Uh, why are you breaking into my locker?"

He froze when he heard Ashlyn ask that and he slowly turned around, seeing Ashlyn and Gina. He sheepishly smiles and awkwardly crosses his arms. "What?" He asks, dragging out the word as he speaks. Ashlyn and Gina shared a look before looking at him suspiciously. Oliver scoffs. "That's totally not what I was doing."

"Yeah, okay." Ashlyn nodded, her and Gina looking at him as if they didn't believe him. Oliver stepped out of the way, eyeing the locker nervously. Ashlyn looked at Oliver weirdly and opened her locker. She screamed, moving out of the way when Big Red fell out of the locker. Big Red had also spilled out small heart-shaped confetti when he fell out of the locker.

"What is happening?" Ashlyn inquired.

"Sorry. I'm sorry." Big Red apologized.

Ashlyn looks at Big Red with furrowed eyebrows. "Um, was this the surprise? Because surprise."

"Yeah, no, uh, it kinda got ruined." Big Red shakes his head. "My fault. Just come by the pizza place later, okay?" He smiles at Ashlyn. "Trust me, it's gonna be amazing."

Big Red takes off running down the hallway before anyone could say anything. Ashlyn leans towards her locker and sniffs it. She looks at Gina and Oliver as she sighs. "All of my stuff smells like Throb."

"Okay," Oliver points over his shoulder awkwardly. "I'm gonna go now." 

****

After school that day Oliver was sitting on his at his desk, working on editing the video he just got done making of him singing his new song 'Solider' which was the one he performed at the auditions for 'Beauty and the Beast'. He had posted a video of him singing his first ever song he wrote that was written for Gina called 'Drowning In The Dark' on his YouTube channel he recently made. 

He was the only one home at the moment. His parents were at work and his younger sister, Dahlia, was at soccer practice. His sister had decided on joining the soccer team this semester since she thought it looked like fun and it turned out that she's actually really good at it. Oliver was supposed to pick her up soon.

He furrowed his eyebrows when he suddenly heard the doorbell ring. He walked down the stairs and to the front door. He opened the door, raising his eyebrows when he saw Gina standing there. "Gina." He said, looking at her with surprise and confusion. "Uh, what are you doing here?" He quickly adds, "Not that I mind."

"I'm sorry." Gina apologizes, shaking her head. "I should've called."

"No, no. It's alright." Oliver assures her, stepping to the side and opens the door more to let her in. "Come on in."

Gina sent him a small smile and walks inside as he closes the door behind her. "So, uh, why exactly are you here?" Oliver asked her.

"It's just..." Gina sighs. "Valentine's Day is kind of hard for me this year, and I thought of all people, you would understand."

Oliver tilts his head to the side, furrowing his eyebrows. "Really?"

"Yeah, well," Gina nods, shrugging her shoulders. "My mom's been my Valentine every year since I was four. I guess I thought she would send me a stuffed bear. It's kind of our tradition. Um, but I just got off the phone with her. It sounds like she forgot."

Oliver frowns slightly, knowing the feeling of being forgotten. "But she works crazy hours, so..." Gina shook her head.

"Yeah, sure, I understand that." Oliver nods, his lips forming into a small smile. "The, um, missing your mom part. But for me it would be my mom and my brother since he's off at college. And my mom works crazy hours at the hospital, so..." He cringes, shaking his head. "I didn't need to tell you that. Sorry." He apologetically smiles, shrugging his shoulders. "I ramble a lot and usually don't stop until someone tells me to."

"It's alright." Gina chuckles softly. She honestly thought it was cute when he rambled. And now she knows more about his family because of it. She smiles at Oliver. "And I knew you would understand. Sorry, um, there's just some things that I tell you that I don't really tell anyone else."

Oliver smiles, feeling his heart skip a beat. He never had someone say that to him and that someone be someone he cared a lot about. "Oh, um, that's-that's fine. I think...I think the same goes for me too."

Hearing that made Gina smile and she felt butterflies form in her stomach. The two stared at each other with smiles on their faces, probably longer than they should. A phone ringing broke them out of their stare and Oliver sent her an apologetic smile as he got his phone out of his pocket. 

"It's Dahlia. I should...I should probably get this." Oliver stammered. Gina nodded, reassuring him that was fine. 

Oliver went into the living room as he took the call. "Hey, Dahlia, what's up?"

"Um, did you forget something?" Dahlia questioned, speaking in a sassy tone which made Oliver realize she was upset. Speaking in a sassy tone was something Dahlia often did when she was upset. Oliver's eyes widened in realization when he realized he was late to picking her up and he groaned. He lost track of time, then Gina suddenly arrived, and he just forgot he was supposed to pick Dahlia up. 

"You're supposed to have picked me up like five minutes ago!" Dahlia exclaimed and it was clera she was very upset.

Oliver grimaces. "I'm sorry, Lia. I'm on my way, okay? Really sorry about that." Oliver hung up the call, putting his phone back in his pocket as he walked over to Gina after grabbing his keys that were on the counter in the kitchen. 

"I'm really sorry." Oliver apologetically smiles at Gina, feeling bad that he has to kind of kick her out because he was kind of hoping he could spend more time with her. "I forgot to pick up Dahlia when she was done with soccer practice. I should really go get her." 

"It's no worries." Gina reassures him. "I'll, uh, see you later." She points at him with a small smile on her face. "And good luck with Dahlia. She'll probably be mad."

"Oh, she is." Oliver nods, following Gina out of the house after he locked the door behind him. "If she doesn't kill me, I'll see you later."

Gina laughs a bit and waves goodbye. Before Oliver got in his truck, he calls out to Gina who stopped walking down the sidewalk and turned to face him. "I think you'll get your Valentine soon." He smiles at her. "Don't worry."

Gina smiles a bit, shaking her head. "I'll be fine."

****

Later that night Oliver was sitting on his bed watching a Disney movie on his laptop. He had just spent the last hour finishing his gift he was going to give to Gina for Valentine's Day. It took him longer to make than expected, but he was planning on giving it to her the next day. He had made a mix CD of songs for her that he knew she would like. 

When he heard his phone buzz he picked it up, smiling a bit when he saw he got a text from Gina. He furrowed his eyebrows as he read the text from Gina, mumbling to himself, "What chocolates?"

A/N I did change some rina scenes & I will continue to do that just to make olina work. but I might keep in a few portwell scenes for some drama between olina (: honestly so excited to write more of ashlyn's  & oliver's friendship, i love them already. oliver was for sure watching tangled on his laptop. tangled is such a good movie.