So Gina and I had to move, which means we couldn't do the show. We couldn't be in the show that we spend months working on.

I had accepted that we couldn't be in the show and we'll probably never see anybody from East High ever again. I thought this until I got a text from someone from East High, saying that they think Gina and I have to be there for the show, even just to watch. So they bought us both plane tickets to fly back to East High.

After Gina and I landed in Salt Lake City, we took a Uber to East High, Gina had made cupcakes and wanted to drop them off in the dressing room and go and cheer everybody on from the audience.

"You know, it's a little weird being back here." I say as we walk down the halls towards the gym. "We've only been gone for week." Gina says giving me a look. "We'll it feels like longer. I also didn't expect to be here on opening night." I reply as we make to the dressing room.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for Stick to the Status Quo. This is our biggest Act One showstopper, and you're all going to kill it because I love you. Any questions?" Miss Jenn announce coming into the room as Gina and I sat and in the doorway.

"I have a couple hundred." Kourtney said raising her hand. "How is the Taylor dance break gonna work? Gina's tray-ography is really complex." Seb asks pointing toward Kourtney. "I can run to the pit and have the orchestra cut that part." Carlos suggests, which makes everybody a little sad. "What about Marie's song? We didn't recast Kelsi." Seb questions. "Maybe they can just do it themselves." Kourtney exclaims looking toward Gina and I.

Everybody kind seems confused by Kourtney's statement until they look towards the door and see us.

"Gina! Marie!" Everybody calls out walking towards us. I go up and hug Carlos then Kourtney.

"Wow. You guys we don't wanna interrupt." Gina says. "How did you get here?" Carlos asks with the biggest smile on his face.

"A friend bought us a last-minute flight back. We were just gonna drop off these cupcakes and then go hide in the gym and cheer you guys on." I explain to everybody. "Girl, no one in the gym wants to hide more than an I do." Kourtney replies, "Wait, are you playing Taylor?" Gina questions.

"I was and it nice, and now it's your turn to save my butt and do the dance. Please. I'm asking you." Kourtney said holding out the red tray to Gina.

"Can I?" Gina looks towards Miss Jenn. She just waits a few seconds before responding, "Of course. You can do the curtain call together. Let's hit the halls, people!" Miss Jenn announces to everybody.

"I'll in the audience cheering you guys on!" I say as I start to turn around to leave the room. "Wait. Marie. You're not going anywhere. Who's gonna sing you're killer Act Two ballad." Miss Jenn says to me. "Wait, Really?" I ask, "Nobody can sing that song, but you." She says before walking into the hall.

———— [...] ————

Everything was going well until something happened with Ricky before Act Two and kind of messed everybody up.

I was about to on to sing Prom Queen, and I was really nervous. I tried to shake my nerves off but I just couldn't, I've never been in a musical before let alone sing a solo.

I guess E.J saw my nerves and came up to me backstage. "Hey, you good?" He asks, "Um..no...I'm this close to having a panic attack." I respond shaking out my hands and pacing back and fourth. "Okay, no you're fine. You're gonna do great out there, you shouldn't be nervous." E.J said grabbing my shoulders.

It was then my cue to go on, I just look at E.J and then go on. I put my guitar strap around my shoulders, that was on the stage already and sit down on the stool in the middle of the stage.

    After I preform the song everybody claps, I'm not used to the attention so I just stand there a little star struck before exiting.

    As soon as I exit Carlos and Seb are there, "Oh my gosh! That was amazing!" Carlos says, as I hug him and Seb.

                           ———— [...] ————

     It was the end of the show and we were doing the final bows and preforming We're All in this Together. Gina and Kourtney had just bowed for Taylor. Now it was my turn, I walked out on stage and down the through everybody who was already dancing up to the front and bowed, before joining in on the dancing and singing.

    After all of the bows are done everybody is still preforming, Nini comes up to me and whispers in my ear to go grab Carlos and Miss Jenn from the wings. As she goes off, I go and grab Carlos and Miss Jenn and bring them out to the middle as Nini hands Miss Jenn a tray with an apple on it. "You know what to say." Nini tells her, as Miss Jenn turns towards the audience and says, "Is that the last apple?"

    "This is kinda the best." Ricky admits to us, "Oh. honey, wait till you see what I picked for the spring musical." Miss Jenn responds as Carlos and sit look at each other.

     Carlos and Miss Jenn exit as Nini offers her hand out to me as we continue the song.

    Wildcats everywhere
Wave you hands up in the air
That's the way we do it
Let's get to it
Come on, everyone

    We finish as the whole audience stands up and claps as a bunch of confetti shoots out with some robotics club stickers. Everybody started to hug each other, I look over to my right and hug Ashlyn and then Seb. At this point I was starting to get a little emotional until the whole cast and the audience started to chant Wildcats.

                        ———— [...] ————

     "So, who are the flowers for?" Seb asks talking about the giant bouquet of flowers in the bomb shelter. "Everybody, hold. We've got a card, people. "To Ashlyn. Because you get me." Carlos says reading off of the card. "E.J! Really?" Ashlyn says standing up next to him, E.J only laughs and responds with, "I didn't write that."

    "I did." Big Red says stand up from his spot. "Okay, if you guys stay in her any longer, your parents are gonna riot in the lobby." Kourtney says as she walks in the room.

    I really didn't want to leave East High, but that's how it was. I always could be a good thing, a fresh start. I slowly start to pack all of my stuff up as everybody started to clear out of the room.

    I decide to hang back and as soon as everyone left the room I grab a guitar and start strumming the tune of Prom Queen. Until E.J comes in the room, "Oh. Hey, I didn't know you were still in here. I just came to grab my bag." He says looking towards me before almost leaving, "What are you still doing in here? Aren't you flying back home tonight?" He asks me walking closer.

    "Yeah. We're supposed to fly back in a few hours, but I don't want to leave. I don't wanna leave East High surprisingly." I respond looking up at him.

    "Well I can't do anything about you leaving but I maybe can make your last night here a little bit better." E.J says sitting down next to me. "Thanks. That's sorta sweet." I say, smiling at him.

    "Yeah. So, what we're you playing?" He asks gesturing towards the guitar I was playing. "Ah. You know just some good ol' Prom Queen." I say laughing a little. "You know, I never got to see you preform it." E.J says as I give him a confused look.

    "Wait. No, you're lying." I state, "No. I'm serious." He replies. "Really? You didn't see it?" I ask him, "No, I did." He admits as he laughs and I just push his shoulder.

    "Oh my god." I mutter under my breath. "But, seriously, I just really like the song and kind of wanted to hear you sing it again." E.J confesses. "Well sorry to burst your bubble but I'm not gonna sing it again."

    "What? No, come on."

    "No."

    "Okay, how about just this one last time before you leave." E.J suggests.

    "No. I'll send you a video once I'm gone." I say standing up and grabbing my bag. "Promise." E.J asks while following after me. "Promise." I respond, smiling. "We should probably.."

     "Yeah. Don't wanna keep people waiting."

    "Yeah." I say starting to walk away before turning around, "Thank you. For buying the plane tickets back here."

    "I didn't think you guys should miss all this." E.J says, "Well speaking of flights I have to go catch one." I say gesturing to the door. "Yeah, um..I guess I'll see you...I actually don't know when I'll see you again." He admits.

    "Um..I don't know either, maybe I'll visit next semester, to see the spring musical." I answer.

    "Yeah, okay." He says as I walk away before turning around and going up to hug him. He seemed a little shocked at first but after a second hugged me back.

"Thank you, again." I say pulling away from the hug and then leaving the room without another word.

Not to long after E.J and I had our talk, everybody was out in the lobby talking to family and friends.

"Cast party at Ashlyn's, you guys! Everybody's invited!" Carlos announces. "I'm in." Miss Jenn says walking towards everybody, "Wait, didn't we just do a party?" E.J asks them. "What can I say? I was born to rage." Ashlyn jokes, "I smell a-choosical redo-sical!" Seb adds, "I made up some new questions." Carlos almost squeals out.

I started walking away from everybody starting to leave to find Gina when Ashlyn stops me. "Marie, wait. Hey, you coming?"

"Uh..I can't. Flying back in a couple hours." I respond. "Cancel it. You and Gina can spend the night in our guest room. Honestly, you can stay through Christmas if you want. Or actually..." She says, "What?" I question her.

"I just had the craziest idea."

———— [...] ————

I was about to leave the school when I run into the scout from the preforming arts school Nini wants to go to.

"Marie." The woman says coming up to me. "Oh my gosh." I say in shock.

"Hi."

"You're from the preforming arts school right?" I ask her. "Yes. Kalyani Patel. It nice to meet you." She says holding out her hand. "Hi. I didn't expect you to still be here. If you're looking for Nini, I think she might have left already." I tell her.

"I'm here for you actually. Marie, you have a lot of talent. But more than that you have an amazing voice, and it's clear you have things to say. I'd like to offer you a spot starting next month." She tells me, I was just shocked that she wants me to go to this amazing boarding school.

"You'll let me know?" She asks handing me a business card. "Yeah." I say before she walks away.

I look down at the card she gave me and laugh slightly. I look back up to see E.J looking at me from the other side of the room, he just gives me a small smile before walking over to me.

"Hey, again." He awkwardly says.

"Hey."

"Was that the scout lady from the boarding school?" E.J asks me pointing toward the door to where she just left.

"Yeah." Is all I could respond with, since I was still in shock.

"Well what did she say?" He questions.

"I got in. They want me start next month." I answer, "Wait, seriously?"

"Yeah. I don't know what to do." I admit, "You don't have to decide anything now, but that's amazing!" E.J comforts. "I think everybody's leaving for the party, I'll see you around, okay." He says before leaving.

"Hey, Marie! Come on! We're staying at Ashlyn's for the night." Gina said while dragging me out of the school.

This is a nightmare.

——
a/n
oh my gosh! there's the first season done! I will start season two soon
soo we got some more e.j and marie scenes, you'll definitely get more of those in the next season!
thank you so much for reading and voting for this book! it makes me really happy!
thank you!
love, s ♥️