CAREER FAIR. The Love Club wasn't a career and if you saw it as that, then you would be sadly mistaken. The Career Fair was exactly what the title said. Showing high schoolers future careers they could possibly have.

Shiloh currently sat in the club room, not working, doing exactly what Evie wanted her to do. She had been on this break for three days and some of those days had been a little harder than others. Regardless, Shiloh hadn't been working on anything Love Club related in those three days and had been working on an assignment she had received prior that day.

A sudden knock on the door pulled her away from her work and walking inside had been Mr. Mazzara and Principal Gutierrez.

"Ms. Molina? Principal Gutierrez has... a proposal for you."

Shiloh furrowed her brows and completely faced them.

"So," Principal Gutierrez smiled, "I set up a booth for the Love Club at the career fair and-"

"This is a club. Not a job." Shiloh said.

"Yes, but it could lead into a career that people could learn and do things with."

"Isn't that what college is for?" Shiloh asked, "This is a club and nothing more. I want the booth down. There's nothing that my friends or I can do for anyone there."

"I think this would be a great business-"

Shiloh stood from her seat, "Fine. I'll take the booth down myself."

She grabbed a marker, tape, and a sheet of paper, making her way towards the exit as she stopped at the two adults.

"Thank you for bringing this to my attention Mr. Mazzara. I'll see you later for the meeting about California."

This isn't what Shiloh needed today, she didn't need or want the club at the career fair. There was absolutely no point. She was proud that she was vocal about it. This club had started to feel more and more like a job and that's not what Shiloh wanted whatsoever.

On the flip side of things...

"Has anyone seen Shiloh?" Miss. Jenn asked.

The East and North High drama departments had been benched for the week for breaking and entering on school grounds.

Not the news anyone wanted to hear and now Miss. Jenn had been set into a panic.

"Oh!" Jenna exclaimed and pulled her phone out, "She emailed me because she doesn't have her phone, but she said something about being late and the career fair. She said... sorry I couldn't make it this morning... you know Shiloh, always apologizing for something she can't-"

Madison gently nudged Jenna's arm.

"Oh... she just can't make it today."

With that said, Miss. Jenn dismissed everyone and everybody went their separate ways.

Ricky rushed down the hall and saw Evie bopping their head up and down. Ricky approached them and tapped their shoulder.

Evie glanced up and took her earbuds out, "How do you do, Bowen?"

"Would be doing a lot better if I knew where my girlfriend was. Have you seen her?"

"I haven't seen her today, but just like Jenna mentioned I'm sure she's trying to figure out how to get our club out of the career fair."

Shiloh quickly passed the two of them in the halls. She held furrowed brows and seemed to be muttering to herself. Her messy bun had been falling over and her outfit just thrown together as she walked further and further away from the two.

"And there she goes." Evie smiled.

Ricky quickly followed after, finally catching up to her and stopping her in her tracks.

"Woah, off to the races?" He joked.

"I'm just trying to get to the career fair and take down the booth for the club before too many people start asking questions."

As she tried to walk away from Ricky, he stopped her once again, resting his hands on her shoulders.

"Can we talk? Just for a few minutes. You're not returning my texts."

Shiloh sighed, "Evie has my phone. I told them to tell you. I'm supposed to have a me week. Just having time to myself and not being worried about anything. I'm not even supposed to be doing this Love Club stuff right, so I'm just trying to get there and continue my break."

"This isn't about... the North High stuff is it?"

"It's a lot of stuff, Ricky. It's not just that."

"So, you went to Evie instead of me?"

"I went to my best friend just like how you go to your best friend about certain things and don't tell me? Yes, I did." Shiloh said, "Evie suggested I take a couple of days to myself and I thought it was a bad idea at first, but think it's working a little bit."

Though Shiloh had the recurring thoughts of Ricky and Lily, her club not being up to standards for her significant others, and the fact that she thought Ricky was falling out of love with her... they weren't too prominent as they were before.

On the first day of her break she definitely felt lost. She didn't know what to do and she only had her thoughts, so of course, she was going to think about the worst even when she didn't want to.

Then the second day came around. Her sisters dragged her up early that day and she took her three sisters plus her brother to the park. Her mind was full of her siblings and not the what if's.

"Good morning, East High, and welcome to Career Day." Mr. Mazzara's voice cracked through the intercom, "Juniors, stop by the booth in the AV club hallway for a career aptitude test."

"Look, I told Evie to tell you everything I wanted them to and I'm sorry they didn't get to do that yet. They've been busy with what I normally do for the club. I'm not ignoring you. I promise."

"Well, it sure feels like."

Should she apologize for making him feel that way or should she not apologize for taking care of herself? She felt stuck. This isn't what Evie wanted. Hell, this isn't what Shiloh wanted and though she hadn't thought about it today; Lily's voice began ringing in her head.

"I'm sorry, Ricky. I told Evie to tell you-"

"Why can't you tell me now?"

"Because it's... it's a lot."

"A lot you can't share with? But have the time to tell Evie and Jenna?"

Shiloh was growing frustrated. She didn't feel like spewing her guts out in the middle of the hall... again, but she knew Ricky wasn't going to let this go that easily.

"Fine." Shiloh sighed, "I feel like I'm messing up and I keep messing up. I'm trying to figure out if this... thing I keep very close to me is still... with me, but I'm having a hard time believing it is because I am in my own head. I'm sorry that can't come to you about it right now, but I'm not sorry that I went to Evie instead. I've had people question my integrity, my knowledge, my club, me... my relationship and it's getting to me."

"Is this about Lily?" Ricky asked, "You don't have to worry about Lily, okay? I love you, Shiloh and I do not want to be with her, okay? You are great at what you do! Other people shouldn't matter right?"

"You don't get it. It's too late because I'm already worried. No one is going to get that. I don't even understand why feeling the way I am." She sighed, "I love you, Ricky, very much, but... I just need some time alone. I'm sure if you run into Evie they'll tell you everything that I told them to. I really have to go get this booth down. Just find Evie and I'll... call you when I'm ready."

Shiloh pulled away from Ricky and continued down the hall as quickly as she could to get rid of the booth for the club.

Ricky sighed and returned to Evie's side, "Is there something wrong with Shiloh? Like, have I upset her? She hasn't been answering my messages or calls or-"

"She just needs Shiloh time, Ricky."

"Evie, she hasn't spoken to me and I just want to know if she's okay."

Evie really didn't want to tell Ricky everything, but he did seem concerned and Evie told Shiloh that they would tell Ricky anything if he asked.

"She's been really upset since the fight in the hallway."

"I apologized for that."

"That obviously didn't fix things if she's walking around thinking you don't love her anymore."

Evie held her eyes wide and slapped their hand over their mouth. They didn't mean to let that out. They didn't mean to say that. Now the panic had been set in both of them.

"What are you talking about?" Ricky asked, "She told you that?"

"Ricky, I'm sure-"

"Shiloh told you that?"

Evie sighed, "Ricky, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to come out that way, but that's what she told me. The day we all went to North. She, uh, something about Lily plus the hall and... you being really upset with her about little things can't control. She said that, uh, she thinks that you are falling out of love with her and she going to keep you away from someone else if you like them."

"She told you all that?"

To find out from your girlfriend's best friend that she feels like you are falling out of love with her was the last thing Ricky wanted to hear.

Evie nodded, "When you didn't say anything to Lily that day... I think that's what made her think the way she has."

Ricky glanced down at the ground. This was a lot deeper than what he thought. He knew he loved Shiloh, but him knowing that versus her not knowing that wasn't enough.

"But you know Shiloh." Evie chuckled, "She tends to overwork herself, and then she starts to overthink and you know her."

He also knew that once Shiloh had a thought in her head, she wasn't going to let it go. Ricky Bowen wasn't sure what to do, but he dreaded the thought of completely losing Shiloh because of his actions, but maybe that's what he needed to do.

THE LAST thing Shiloh wanted to see while walking into Slice's that afternoon was Lily, but when life gives you lemons you make lemonade.

"Shiloh." Lily smiled, "So glad I ran into you! I need some Love Club advice from the Love Club girl herself."

Ashley rocked back and forth on her heels and Evie held her fist in her hands as the duo watched Lily and Shiloh interact.

"Love Club girl. Very original. What can I do for you, Lily."

"Well, you see there's this guy and I think his girlfriend isn't really at her best with being by his side, you know like a girlfriend should. So, I was wondering what I would have to do to... let's just say, be his new leading lady."

Evie took a step forward and Ashley wrapped her arms around them. She wasn't going to let Evie hurt someone even if they did deserve it.

"My club doesn't break people up, but of course that's something you wouldn't know about because you have no human decency whatsoever."

"I've gotten to you haven't I? Didn't think it would take this long for you to crack. You are a fighter aren't you?"

"Is there something you want from
me? Because at this point I can only assume you're trying really hard to be me."

"Why would I want to be you?" Lily asked with a smile, "Aren't you and your boyfriend on the edge of a breakup?"

If you cry, she wins. Don't cry. Don't cry.

Shiloh sighed, "You want to win so bad, don't you? Well let me be the first to say congratulations, you've won round one."

"Really? What's my prize?"

Shiloh glanced up as the sound of the front door bell rang. Ricky stepped inside with his backpack held tightly in his hands.

"Definitely not the guy." Shiloh answered, "Because no matter what Ricky Bowen will be my first everything and I will be his. You can't take that from either of us no matter how hard you try."

"I've already gotten you both where I want you. Maybe you just need to learn how to step up your game."

Should Shiloh let Lily have the last word or should she say one last thing and leave the restaurant? Her boyfriend had been watching the two girls go back and forth and she stood with someone who wanted to see her fail.

"I've always said I play to win. That wasn't a lie. You don't know me so stop trying to be me. If I've hurt your feelings by not accepting you into the club... you're going to have to try a little be harder to ruin my life." Shiloh sighed, her voice shaking slightly, "Because I have the guy that you want, right? No matter what. It's Ricky's choice and I can only hope he will always choose me."

"Don't be too sad if he doesn't."

"Trust me, I won't. Because I know him and you don't. Lily, whatever you want from me, you can't have. There's always

Shiloh brushed past her and left the restaurant. Evie stepped forward and smiled.

"I wish I could be Shiloh, but sometimes I'm glad I'm not." Evie held her drink in her hands and passed a twenty-dollar bill to Ashley, "Give this to whoever has to mop."

They removed the plastic lid from the cup and dumped it over Lily's head, "Don't fuck with the Love Club. Thanks to you I have to put a dollar in my Abuela's jar."

Evie threw the cup into the trash nearby and tried to follow Shiloh out the door.

Ashley finally stepped forward and blew a raspberry in Lily's face before making her way towards Ricky.

Madison and Jenna had finally finished painting the sets for the musical and joined the others at the now, very messy, restaurant.

"What happened?" Jenna asked.

Evie returned, "She's gone."

"Hello?" Madison called, "What happened?"

"Lily happened and she's going to continue to happen if Ricky doesn't say anything." Evie answered.

The whole reason why Ricky had come to Slice's was to talk to Shiloh and whatever he had chose to do, he knew that this wasn't going to end well for either of them.

- lucy has something to say!!

awe :(

now i was going to have ricky and shiloh argue in the pizza place but no 🤩 lily brings out the worst in me

i was supposed to update this YESTERDAY forgive me 😔

anyways

only one person said lily so i chose lily for shiloh to argue with instead :))))

when is it my turn :(

bye :))))