IF THE Love Club knew anything, it was that Evie Fernandez loved graphic design. So, when they found out that it was photoshoot day for the cover of the program... Evie was all over it.

Evie had also dragged Jenna into the mix of it all, having her help with makeup after Kourtney went a little "overboard".

Shiloh sat by her locker and shuffled through the crate for the Love Club.

Miss. Jenn thought it would be a great idea for Shiloh to have folders for everyone in the musical. To show strengths and weaknesses within the musical, themselves, their characters, and how they may act with others. Solely if anyone wanted to join the spring musical or any musical in the future.

Nini's folder being pretty positive. The notes from the club ranging from how she wanted the lead for herself to being defensive about what she thought was rightfully hers.

Shiloh held EJ's folder in her hands, looking over at everything each member of the club had written about him. She had looked over the majority of the folders and had about two left.

• Wants to be lead but for the wrong reasons.

• Doesn't think he can win if he isn't first.

• Not willing to comprise on anything unless it helps him in the end.

• Passionate about the arts and is willing to better learn more about them.

• Troy Bolton Understudy.

The list could go on and on.

Shiloh picked up another folder; Gina's. She hadn't actually looked at it yet (being one of the last two) and flipped it open.

• Sees this a competition for the lead.

• Doesn't think second is any good.

• Will do anything to win... anything.

• She's determined and can defend herself if needed.

• Gabriella Montez Understudy.

Very negative list from both parties. Some pros throw around here and there, but overall, a con list.

Shiloh took her pen and marked out the word understudy on both folders. To sprinkle in some positivity, she replaced the word with wonderstudies.

Shiloh stuffed their folders into the crate. Picking up the final one; Ricky Bowen.

• Musically talent. Plays guitar, can sing, apparently can play the piano.

• Not sure if he's here for himself. Head isn't in the game.

• Hates musicals and didn't bother to watch the first High School Musical until it benefited him.

• Will argue with anyone if necessary... point blank period.

• Lead: Troy Bolton.

Shiloh sighed, signing her name by the other members so Miss. Jenn knew that actually made the folders and worked on them overnight.

Shiloh glanced over his folder one last time before taking a different pen from her backpack and scribbling something else down.

• When he cares, he cares.

She shut his folder and threw it in with the others. She sighed and she stared at the crate. Never in her life (in the Love Club) has she worked so hard to get a group of people to even communicate properly. She also hasn't worked on a project this long ever.

Shiloh stood from her locker, grabbing the crate off of the floor, and shoved it into the rolling chair she had stolen out of Mr. Mazzara's classroom.

Pushing the chair down the hall, she heard her name being called as she passed the auditorium.

"Hey! Everyone is about to come out in costumes if you want to see!" Evie smiled.

Shiloh hadn't told anyone what happened with EJ, Dylan, or Ricky on Friday and wasn't planning on it either. She'd never really argued with EJ before and never saw herself become friends with Dylan ever, she also never saw herself crying in Ricky Bowen's arms, but there's a first for everything.

Shiloh pulled herself and the chair inside the auditorium and stood slightly off stage with Evie beside her.

"You finished the folders for Miss. Jenn already?" Evie asked.

"Yeah, it wasn't hard. I mean... we worked on them all weekend."

"We worked on them all weekend. You stayed up overnight to see if they were right." Evie corrected, "I don't think I signed EJ's folder."

"You didn't."

As Shiloh dug in the crate for his folder, Nini had caught her sight.

"Wow, Kourtney really outdid herself."

"You're telling me." Evie said, "Are you ever going to tell me why you disappeared on Friday?"

Shiloh handed Evie the folder, a small smile on her face, "No."

"Why not? Can't be as bad as EJ being dumped and having punch poured all over him; which I got on video."

"It's not that big of a deal. I just left. Wasn't feeling the vibe anymore."

Evie quickly signed the folder and handed it back to Shiloh, "Well, the vibe had to be way off for you to leave within the first twenty minutes of you being there."

"I was supposed to be on a Love Club break that night and I got it. I hung out with my friends, danced a little, and had a good time. I went home after everything."

"You were never the life of the party anyways." Evie joked with a sigh.

"Sorry I can't hang." Shiloh laughed.

"Seriously though, I'm sorry you didn't have a good time."

"Don't apologize. Now if you excuse me, Jenna also forgot to sign the folder."

Striding her way towards Jenna; Shiloh abruptly stopped as Ricky met her halfway.

"So? How do I look?" Ricky asked.

"I see the vision." Shiloh laughed, "The wig really pulls it together."

Shiloh went in for a high five. Ricky not getting the memo held his hand up and what was deemed as a high five turned into Ricky holding her hand; making another joke.

Nini watched the two from the corner of her eye.

She knew the two of them were close, but something was different. Something had changed.

Nini noticed Evie standing close by, "Hey, Evie? I have a question."

"What's up?"

"Um, this is probably going to sound super weird." Nini laughed, "But, are there meanings behind... holding hands?"

Evie smiled, "It's not that weird of a question, but um, it really depends. Short answer, sometimes. You know there's the intertwined, where your fingers are locked and it could mean you have a deeper connection with your partner and that you want to feel close to them in a way. Then there's the grip, where your fingers aren't laced. The grip could be a protective thing or, like, reassurance; it's really about the context in that case. There are several other ways you can hold hands, but it's really about context at the end of the day."

"Oh."

"Did I lose you? Was it too much information?"

"No, it was just enough."

Ricky and Shiloh weren't holding hands per se, more so of the grip that Evie explained. Ricky had pulled Shiloh a little close, the grip still intact, and threw another joke out causing her to smile. Nini took the time to notice Ricky's thumb brushing against Shiloh's hand.

"Actually, I have another question. Can you explain the grip? In better detail."

"Yeah. The grip is really just, what some people would say, pancaking or sandwiching your hands with another person." Evie explained. "This could be a slow step into your romantic relationship with someone. A couple may hold with a soft grip when they don't know each other well and are cautiously trying to start a connection. It's kind of sweet if you think about it. You're trying to be subtle and cautious and making sure your partner is okay with the act."

Nini slowly nodded.

"But, context, you know? It could all be platonic and you know, that's what Jenna is for." Evie smiled, "Is there any specific reason why you asked?"

"No." Nini lied, "Just curious."

"Well.... make sure you leave that five star review."

"Why do you guys want people to do that?"

"Shiloh worked really for this club. Principal Gutierrez doesn't just allow clubs to be made. He looks at every review the Love Club gets and as soon as we start tipping in those five reviews he'll cut our club."

"Really?"

"He doesn't really care about our club. Not many adults here do, but that's why we have the club because we care. Like, Mr. Mazzara; Shiloh really relies on him with the tech stuff and he does not care." Evie explained, "I think that's why Shiloh really wants to help Miss. Jenn, because she's new and if we help the entire drama department maybe Principal Gutierrez, Mr. Mazzara, and staff, in general, will see how much this club matters but... I doubt it. One bad review can ruin this club. He'll come knocking on our door asking why this didn't help one student and Shiloh will go through every folder, every spreadsheet, and every notebook she has to fix it. This club means a lot to her and all she wants to do is help."

"I didn't know that."

"Not a lot of people do."

"You guys have helped dozens of people—"

"It's not enough. Maybe if we end up in the newspaper or something, but uh, yeah... that five star review means a lot to all of us. Especially Shiloh."

"Hey, you look great, Nini." Shiloh smiled.

Nini returned the smile, "Thanks... and thank you, Evie."

"No problem. And if we helped you have—"

"I'll have it by the end of the shoot. Five stars across the board."

Nini smiled at the duo and returned to Kourtney's side.

"You helped her just now?" Shiloh asked.

"Yeah, but it wasn't a big thing. Something about hand holding. Definitely wasn't the weirdest thing I've been asked about."

"Well, as long as you helped. When you get the review you can just hand it off to me. I have to sort through all of the reviews today for Mr. Gutierrez."

"That's today?"

"Yeah... he moved it early something about a board meeting he's having later this week." Shiloh explained, "So, I have a lot to go over and I still have to find Miss. Jenn and give all of this to her."

"Well, everyone invited the Love Club to watch When There Was Me and You blocking today."

"I'll see if I can make it. You know how he is."

"Yeah, I do."

Shiloh smiled softly, "We'll be fine, but I've gotta go. Have fun."

Shiloh began pushing the chair towards the exit.

"Shiloh... we'll be fine."

She smiled, "We always are."

Evie watched Shiloh leave and presumably try and find Miss. Jenn. Jenna joined her side.

"She seems fine." Jenna said.

"You say that every time and then we find her crying in the Love Club because he told her that the one three star review could tank our club."

"I mean... we haven't gotten any bad reviews so far."

Jenna and Evie looked back over at EJ. Shiloh did bring up that he came to the club for help one day and didn't receive it, but if he left a review it would be unknown from the rest of the members.

"He wouldn't leave a bad review, would he?" Jenna asked, "He wouldn't stoop that low."

"Well, he did date our friend for two weeks before breaking up with her... and something had to happen at Homecoming for Shiloh to leave that early."

"Shiloh was still at school when Homecoming was happening. She was with Ricky in the club room."

"What?"

Jenna nodded, "Yeah. I don't know what they were doing, but they were with each other. I was... busy and saw him enter the club room. He never left that room when I was in the hall."

"Why were you out of Homecoming?"

"I was busy... with this guy named none ya business."

Evie rolled their eyes. It was none of their business to know what happened in that club room, but if push came to shove, someone was going to find out what happened... no matter what.

THE ENTIRE cast had been waiting for Miss. Jenn and Carlos to show up and still no sign of them whatsoever.

The Love Club even showed up but without Shiloh in tow. She was still in the club room waiting for any messages from Mr. Gutierrez about the stance of their club for the rest of the semester until, you know, the next time he has to look at the reviews for the club.

"Speaking of complicated... what happened with Shiloh on Friday?" Big Red asked.

"I'm not sure yet."

"Okay, but did you find out what happened with her and EJ at the dance?"

"Yeah, not sure about that either."

Ricky hadn't really spoken to Shiloh or Big Red about what happened on Friday. He didn't know how he was feeling or what to feel. He didn't even know if it was okay to feel the way he was. He knew he could just ask the Love Club, but he couldn't do it with Shiloh around.

"Okay, should I live vicariously through someone else?"

Evie stepped away from the group and towards Ricky and Big Red, "You were with Shiloh after the dance?"

Ricky stepped to the side, joining Red. He didn't know what Evie knew and he didn't know what he could even say.

"Uh, yeah." He chuckled, "I drove her home... she seemed a little down, so I offered her a ride."

Evie nodded slowly, "Okay... as long as she got home safely, right?"

"Totally. Home safe." Ricky smiled.

"Uh, what are you doing here Evie?" Red asked, hoping to pull away from the conversation.

"The club was invited to watch the blocking for today. For support I guess, but we can also see how much you guys improved."

"Evie, come look!" Seb called.

The two boys watched Evie as they left to see whatever Seb had called them for.

"Guessing she didn't tell Evie about Homecoming." Red said.

"Maybe she doesn't want anyone to know?"

"Do you? Want people to know that is?"

"I need to talk to them. Just without Shiloh around."

"Why?"

"Because I think I may have feelings for her and she's helping me get back with Nini and I don't know how I feel about Nini right now."

"You have feelings for Evie?"

Ricky held a tight lip before patting Red on his shoulder and finding an empty seat.

Carlos soon entered the room without Miss. Jenn and began instructing the group for When There Was Me and You... it didn't go according to plan.

He wanted Nini to be surrounded by a group of Troy look-a-likes and have her sing When There Was Me and You and no one seemed to agree. Kourtney throwing out that Nini (Gabriella) should be surrounded by a group of supporting sisters, which the girls seemed to agree with, and Ricky saying it should just be an acoustic version of the song instead which Gina only agreed towards.

Carlos growing frustrated and spilled that Miss. Jenn could possibly be getting fired for "lying about a thing or two" on her application.

Bickering back and forth ensued and everyone began bickering back and forth with each other.

Evie, Ashley, Madison, and Jenna all stared in awe at the instant bickering. Somehow, someway, with the possibility of Miss. Jenn being fired, all their work seemed to be thrown away. It wouldn't matter if the musical was now completely ruined. If Miss. Jenn got fired, the Love Club could also go down in flames. They had relied on Miss. Jenn and the entire club giving them this good review and now it was all for nothing. Mr. Gutierrez probably wouldn't even care about the old review. He would probably somehow blame this on the club and completely cut them off their funds and the club in general.

"I need a minute." Nini said, gathering her belongings and leaving the bomb shelter.

"Right there with you." Kourtney sighed.

Nini walked straight past Shiloh. With furrowed brows, Shiloh entered the bomb shelter, everyone was leaving. She didn't think she would be that late.

"Hey, where is everybody going?" She asked Evie.

"Rehearsals were canceled."

Shiloh kept her furrowed brows, "What? Why?"

Evie sighed. Not knowing whether or not to tell Shiloh the truth right now. She was going to find out eventually, but maybe right now wasn't the best. Especially when they hadn't heard from Principal Gutierrez yet.

"Uh, we don't know yet, but as soon as we find out we'll let you know."

Shiloh nodded, "Well... we can head out I guess."

"I think someone is waiting for you." Ashley smiled.

Shiloh peeked from behind Ashley and saw Ricky softy smiling her way.

"Love Club related?" Shiloh questioned.

"Definitely Shiloh related." Madison teased, "Definitely wants alone time with you."

Shiloh rolled her eye and brushed past her group of friends and into the bomb shelter.

"Why didn't you mention Miss. Jenn?" Jenna asked.

"Because we still have to deal with Principal Gutierrez." Evie answered.

The group left. Leaving Ricky and Shiloh alone in the bomb shelter.

"Guess I missed a lot." Shiloh smiled.

"I guess so."

Shiloh took a seat on one of the random crates and took notice of the guitar bag beside her.

"I assume this is yours?"

"Uh, yeah. I suggested that we have an acoustic version of When There Was Me and You, but it was shot down pretty quick."

"Aren't you multi-talented?" Shiloh joked, "Can I hear it?"

"Are you serious?"

"I have the time."

Ricky smiled and took the guitar out of the bag. It didn't take him long to start and unbeknownst to him, he was singing fairly loud.

Shiloh smiled, holding her face with her hands as her arms were propped up on her knees. The smile never leaving her face.

Nini soon followed the sound of Ricky singing. A smile across her face as she stepped further and further into the bomb shelter. She only came to a halt when she saw Shiloh sitting on one of the crates. The once smile that Nini had now mirrored the current one Shiloh had.

Nini watched as Ricky's eyes never left Shiloh's. Nini let out a sigh before leaving the two of them alone again.

"So, yeah. There's that."

"That was really good, Ricky." She smiled, "I wish I could do stuff like that."

"But you're good at, like, everything else, so I don't want to hear it." He joked.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, you know, um, the biggest advice club in the school, apparently you're out here writing "poems", and you're a pretty crier."

She playfully scoffed, "I'm not a pretty crier. I would've hoped you forgot about that."

"Yeah, I kinda can't forget about anything that happened at Homecoming."

"I guess it was just a bunch of built-up anger, stress, and sadness and I became too overwhelmed. There's a lot going on right now and I guess EJ just kinda pushed me over." Shiloh explained, "But I can't thank you enough for the comfort and the poster. I tend to keep a lot of stuff to myself, so I really appreciate you being there... more than you'll ever know I guess."

"Think of it as returning the favor. You've seen me cry and now I've seen you cry. So we can cry in front of each other now without being embarrassed."

"You were embarrassed to cry in front of me?" She asked.

"You weren't?"

"Not really." She smiled, "Were us, so nothing to be embarrassed about, right?"

If only Ricky could agree. If just told his best friend that he may like the girl standing in front of him just minutes ago. He wasn't saying that he was embarrassed to like Shiloh. He was embarrassed that he asked for all this help to get Nini back just for him to fall for Shiloh in the process.

"Right." He smiled.

"Besides I think you're a pretty crier."

Ricky playfully rolled his eyes brows staring down at her.

Shiloh was different. She was different than Nini. She was different than a lot of people.

"What?" She asked, the smile never leaving her face.

Ricky quickly shook his thoughts away before changing the subject, "Are you good at campaigning?"

"I would hope. I have to campaign to keep my club alive. Why?"

"You don't know?"

"Know what?"

"Miss. Jenn might be getting fired. She lied on her application. The musical might be over, but we— we figure something out."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll figure something out, but I gotta go, Ricky."

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah. I just— I'll call you."

Ricky watched as Shiloh quickly grabbed her bag and left the room. She became instantly stressed. She had relied on Miss. Jenn to give this review, have it sent to Mr. Gutierrez, and him (hopefully) seeing that this club meant something to not only students but also the staff here and now that seemed to be crumbling at the seams.

This was a bigger issue than what Shiloh and the Love Club could handle. Miss. Jenn is an adult. She chose to lie about a thing or two on her application and at this point, it seems like there's nothing the club could do.

This was a bigger issue and maybe the club couldn't handle it.

— lucy has something to say !!

i literally sat and read an article about different hand holds and what they could mean :) imagine me sitting and reading several websites about hand holding 😐 who am i?

i literally have nothing to say 😔 who am i?

bye :))))