FAN BEHAVIOR. Noun. Short definition, a person wanting to see your downfall. A more in-depth definition, a person who is constantly on your case, they don't want to see you thrive, they may want to take something of value from you and want to ruin your friendships or relationships. An even shorter definition... Lily.

Shiloh and Ricky were okay, that fight never really leaving her mind, but other than that, they were good.

Ricky stood in the hall, watching the small TV connected to the wall. The Love Club had been invited (along with Nini, her rose song had become pretty much viral) to the news school news segment hosted by EJ and Gina.

Ricky was genuinely proud of Shiloh. She didn't have much support for the club before, but now, though it did seem like a lot (and it was) she had finally gotten the recognition she deserved. He just didn't know if he was prepared to share her with the entire world yet. How did you prepare for something like that? It wasn't like she asked to be on these magazines and have these interviews. At first, it was all a forced agenda by Principal Gutierrez and now the club and Mr. Mazzara picked out what could work for everyone and what would best benefit the club.

Ricky felt arms wrap around his torso, glancing back, Shiloh stood there with a smile on her face. Ricky thought she was okay. The fight was a lot on her and he knew that. Pointing out that she wasn't there for him and that it was "just the Love Club with her" really stuck and he knew that. She hadn't talked much about the club since, she hadn't even told him that she was going to appear on the school news, he found of from Jenna and Nini, who only told him because the club was helping Nini prepare for her first ever interview.

"Did you ask your mom about the sleeping arrangements?"

Ricky turned and faced her, "You're sleeping in my room. Where else would you go?"

"Did you ask her?"

"No."

"Ricky." Shiloh dragged, "I wanted you to ask because-"

Ricky tugged on her arm, pulling her close, "I know, I know. I'll ask her tonight."

"Thank you." She smiled.

Shiloh only hoped that after she was settled in Chicago and she properly met Lynn, that things would be smoothing sailing with her and Ricky. That things could go back to how they use to be. Whatever "used to be" meant to her.

"Excited for California?" Ricky asked.

Shiloh titled her head slightly, "Yeah? I'm pretty excited. I have to leave early to be with you, but I'm excited for the time I'll be there."

Ricky knew he messed up with Shiloh. Whether it was the fight or something before that, Shiloh had distanced herself from him. She was hurt and Ricky knew that. She didn't fight back, she didn't try and hurt him, she just wanted to help and he pushed that away. So, starting from scratch seemed to be his plan for now.

"What's the plan while you're there?"

Shiloh held Ricky's hands and rocked herself back and forth. She was confused, to say the least. It wasn't a bad thing that Ricky had been asking her questions about her, but it was off almost. It was weird to hear.

"Um, I don't really know yet. We have half of the first day to do whatever we want and then we have a dressing rehearsal or whatever that afternoon. Then the photoshoots, and then I leave for Chicago."

"Well, I hope you have a great time while you're there." He smiled, "Are you going to the fitting for the musical?"

"To see you in your Beast costume? No. To see Jenna in her Belle outfit. Yes, yes I am." She smiled.

"Oh, I see how it is."

"I'm glad. Let's go."

SMALL CHATTER had grown in the dressing room as everyone had been pushed into the small space.

"Everyone, attention please!" Miss. Jenn called, "I'm sure you're wondering why I called this special midday drama meeting."

"Oh, are you announcing the fall musical?" Seb asked, "I vote Dear Evan Hansen."

"No, Seb. It's March. And the rights won't be available for five years. I tried. I am announcing that we are in such a good place after our improv workshop. We're getting one step closer to Menkies gold. And today, our wonderful actor/designer, Kourtney Greene, is going to show you your completed costumes!"

Loud applause could be heard around the room, they grew louder as Nini ripped the white sheet from the rack to reveal the costumes.

"Speech! Speech!" Nini cheered.

"Okay, um, guess I'm making a speech." She chuckled, "I'm super excited for you all to see your costumes because..." Kourtney trailed off as her phone went off, "Oh, uh, sorry, that's Howie. Oh... Anyways, with your costumes this semester, I really tried to... Ooh."

Carlos sighed, "Can you not keep your phone on silent in rehearsal, like everyone else?"

"Sorry, everyone," is what Carlos would say if he were more like me." Seb said.

Shiloh furrowed her brows and glanced at Evie. Tensions seemed to be high with everyone. People argued and made up days later. Yeah, friends fight, couples fight, but it seemed to be a common repetition.

Evie shrugged their shoulders. They couldn't pinpoint what the issue could've been either. From Ricky and Shiloh in the hall to now having his arm wrapped around her shoulders. To EJ and Gina being the worst of "enemies" at the beginning of the semester to being joint to the hip. It was like some weird alternate universe that no one could handle right now.

"Okay, Kourt, I am sorry, but listen to this caption from North High. It took twenty people over fifty hours to create our Belle dress. Beast costumes ever." He read.

"Terrible pun." Ricky scoffed.

"On the day when we're unveiling our costumes? How did they know?" Carlos asked.

Once again, Kourtney's phone went off.

"They've been trolling us for weeks and I'm trying not to let it get to me... Oh, my God, is your phone hungry? I don't understand what I'm hearing."

As Kourtney gasped, Miss. Jenn cut off any future conversation they could have.

"Okay, okay, let's get back to our costumes. Go ahead, Kourt."

"Anyway, took me a while, but I built you some abs that would make Captain America proud." Kourtney smiled, holding EJ's Gaston costume up.

"I have abs."

"EJ, everyone has abs. These are Kourtney originals. Oh, I also padded the tush for you."

"Oh, thanks, I actually need that. This is amazing, Kourt."

"Oh, no problem." She smiled, "Next. And every Gaston needs a Beast. Oh, that's weird. Your mask should be here. Um, has anyone seen a Beast mask?"

A chorus of no's rang throughout the room before Carlos spoke up.

"You guys, I know where our Beast mask is."

He turned his phone around to show the others the North High Instagram page that he had read from previously.

"What are we looking at?" Ashley asked.

"Look at the trunk." Carlos said, zooms the picture in, "Hello? That is obviously Beast fur. Look, it all makes sense. Our mask just happens to go missing on the same day they post this? They snuck in here and took it."

Did Carlos' explanation make sense? No, none whatsoever. They were putting on the same musical. They were also going to have Beast fur laying around, but they weren't going to put this past North High. Lily had been their lead and was helping put the musical on in the first place, if they did have something to do with it... it wouldn't shock them if they did find the mask in the possession of Lily's hands.

"I hate to say it, but that did kind of look like a Beast mask to me." Ashlyn said.

"Do you really think they'd steal from us?" Seb asked.

"I would." Gina smiled, "No, I mean, I used to be that kind of person, before the present day."

"We have to get even, right?" Big Red asked.

As the group agreed, Miss. Jenn glanced over at Shiloh. The girl separated herself from Ricky's hold.

"Look, what they did... or didn't do, isn't okay, but what can we do?" Shiloh asked, "I would hope that North High would have enough dignity to not steal our mask from school property because, that's a crime, but maybe that's also a good thing if they did because then they could-"

Carlos' phone buzzed, "And they just posted something new, captioned, North High's gonna steal your heart this spring." Seb read.

"Are they a witch? How do you explain these coincidences?" Carlos asked.

"It's just that, a coincidence." Miss. Jenn answered, "Now, I want you kids to keep looking for that mask and let the rest go. As I learned when I appeared in a regional production of Anything Goes opposite a woman who once sued me for libel, you should never dance with the enemy. Understood?"

The group rang out a simple yes and Miss. Jenn shooed them away to find the mask. But, like mother like child. So, of course, they were going to go to North High and retrieve what was rightfully theirs.

"THE PLAN is simple. Based on that Instagram post, the mask has to be in their costume shop. We know from their Instagram overshares that North High has dance rehearsal today, so they'll be in their dance studio." Carlos explained.

Gina gasped, "They have their own dance studio?"

"We're raiding their costumes and not leaving until we have our mask."

"Isn't this kind of trespassing?" Seb asked.

"This is trespassing! I can't be arrested. I have a life outside of high school." Ashley cried, "I want to graduate, get married... maybe-"

"It'll be fine. There'll be people still here after school for clubs. We'll blend in." Evie reassured, "I mean... we won't, because... Love Club, but same difference."

"Same difference? I didn't ask for social media fame! I can't be here, I'm going to throw up."

Shiloh pulled Ashley close. Ashley's hands quickly rested on Shiloh's arms.

"You'll be fine." Shiloh whispered.

Ashley kept her eyes shut, nodding at a quick pace.

"Ashlyn, you may have taken the camouflage thing too far." Carlos said.

"No, today, I am Diane. I play volleyball, and I love North High." Ashlyn smiled.

"Diane, is it?" Big Red questioned, "How would you feel about dating a guy from East High?"

"Oh, a forbidden romance."

"Focus! Who's gonna be the lookout?" Carlos asked.

"I'll do it." Gina said, "If you leave me unsupervised with their costumes, I cannot promise I won't go all Gina 1.0 in there."

"Just stay calm and act natural, okay? You got this. Everyone ready?" Carlos asked.

The group nodded. Ricky smiled and stuck his hand out, "What team?"

"Wait, maybe we shouldn't yell."

"Wildcats!"

"Strong start."

They left Gina alone and made their way inside their costumes department. EJ had scattered away, but regardless, they still couldn't find their mask.

"Okay, I need to sit down. These expensive costumes are bumming me out." Kourtney sighed.

"You guys, my song has been viewed, like, thirty-five thousand times now." Nini smiled, "I keep getting all these DMs saying I should start a separate account for my music."

"Hmm. Is that something you want to do?" Ricky asked.

"I don't know. It seems scary, right?"

"A sudden rise in popularity is always scary." Evie said, "Even worse when it's on the internet."

"It's different for everyone, Nini. It's how you deal with it that matters." Shiloh reassured.

The Love Club had been this overnight sensation and they couldn't tell you how. They didn't always do the right things and they didn't have the right person guiding them either. It wasn't until they stuck their foot down that they felt like they were heading in the right direction.

"Oh, Howie." Kourtney chuckled, "I'm sorry, but is this normal? To not know someone very long, but already feel like you know them so well?"

Jenna smiled, "Yeah, I do it all the time."

Nini cut their conversation short as she kicked the chest Kourtney had been sitting on.

"Ooh! Sorry. Bad timing?"

"Kourt?" Nini called.

"What?"

"The box you're sitting on has fur stuck in the lid. Open it."

"Uh! You open it!"

"I'll open it." Shiloh sighed. She quickly opened the chest and pulled a wig out, "It's all expensive-looking wigs."

"I want one." Carlos pouted.

"I can't with this school's costume budget." Kourtney sighed.

"So where's the Beast mask?" Ricky questioned.

The doors of the room soon opened. The group faced the entryway and saw Lily walk inside with several people by her side.

"Hello, Wildcats." She smiled.

"Bienvenue." Antoine added.

"What are you all doing here? Scoping out the competition?"

"The only thing we're scoping out is our mask, thieves." Evie answered.

"We know you took it." Carlos added.

"Pardon me, but our costumes are most excellent. Why would we steal your mask, when it is so, uh... I... We don't have a word for this in France, but in America, I believe you say "fugly"?"

"What did you call my work?!"

"Quoi?"

"Look, I'm sure your mask is supes cute. But we're just in different leagues." Lily said, "I mean, we're literally a quasi-pre-professional theater company, and you guys put on shows based on made-for-TV movies and have the reputation of the Love Club, of course. Maybe, instead of accusing us of something we clearly didn't do, why don't you just listen to your core five give you "helpful and meaningful advice" that stole out of a health magazine."

"I mean, I wouldn't say that." Ashley said, "We're just... smart."

"I'm sorry, but do you have a problem with me?" Shiloh asked, "Or anyone a part of my club?"

"Other than the fact that you've grown in sudden fame for being a teenage therapist?" Lily asked, "Of course not."

"Okay, we don't have to fight about what you think." Jenna said, "Because you're wrong. We just came to see if you guys had taken anything from us."

"Let's wait for the Menkies. We'll see who's in what league then." Ricky said, tugging on Shiloh's hand.

"Or we could find out now."

"What does that mean?" Red asked.

"We challenge you to a good old-fashioned dance-off. A school-versus-school dance-off to a Beauty and the Beast song chosen at random. You'll do your version, and we'll do ours. We'll see which school has what it takes. No costumes, no makeup, just talent." Lily explained.

"Didn't you just say we put on made-for-TV movies?" Madison asked, "A dance-off is really giving... Camp Rock Two: The Final Jam."

"Yeah, no. That's weird." Ricky said.

"Super weird." Ashlyn added.

"Even for me." Carlos said, "Let's go, guys."

As they began to leave, Lily began to speak.

"Classic East High. Walking out of here with your tail between your legs. Just like your Miss. Jenn did when she gave up on Broadway. And, you know, let's be honest, maybe your Belle just can't cut it."

"What did you say?" Shiloh asked.

"I said-"

"Hmm, that's what I thought." Shiloh chuckled, "Do you know how hypocritical you sound? You switched schools because you couldn't get what you wanted. No one is going to be waiting on their hands and knees for you, princess. How scared are you for you to have your musical change when you already had this big-budget production? Sounds like fan behavior to me. If you asked nicely someone would've given you an autograph you could've sold."

"You're not as big as what you think you are."

"Oh, really? Forbes, the eighty million dollar company, says otherwise. I don't care if you have a problem with me, because I don't play to lose, but my friends stay out of it, okay? And I'm not asking. I'm telling you. We'll do your stupid little dance-off, Tinker Bell." Shiloh said.

"Good." Lily smiled. "Ten-minute warm-up, then we settle this, street-style."

Call Shiloh petty, mean-spirited, anything in the book. The Love Club was going to let you talk about them or their friends like that. Shiloh wasn't jealous of Lily. What was there to be jealous of?

Lily had picked the wrong day to test the waters with Shiloh Molina. Trust me, she would regret it, but Shiloh may soon regret it to.

- lucy has something to say!!

lily 😐

guys i'm literally kicking screaming and throwing up why is lily herself

i actually don't know how much forbes is worth because the last article written about it was in 2014 🤩

anyways big sad shiloh in next chapter besties

bye :))))