┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓

𝗜 𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗗𝗢

chapter thirteen:
but I should probably stop
instead of forcing a breakthrough,
it's just that I'll always choose you !

┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛

SOUNDCHECK LASTED THE entirety of intermission, which was good for Quin,, apparently, but not for Violetta. She had missed her meeting with Athena and Ricky, which meant she couldn't tell them that she was leaving tonight. The thought of that made her want to kind of sink down into a hole in the floor and not come out for eternity — or maybe she was just being dramatic. Probably.

However, since act two started in approximately two minutes, Violetta didn't have time to even think about trying to round her best friends up and just telling them. Because they were the leads, and she was a dancer, and they had a show to put on. She quickly ran from the auditorium to the dressing room, still clad in her sparkly dress. Thankfully, mostly everyone was still wearing their prom outfits — besides Athena, who was wearing Gabriella's plum dress, and Ricky and Jet, who were doing The Boys Are Back.

"I'm back," Violetta announced, slightly out of breath. "Hey, guys."

Athena, who had apparently been waiting for her, looked at her. "Vi."

"'Thena, I'm so sorry about not showing up. I—"

"You don't have to say anything." Athena offered her a smile, one that was small and seemed to be bittersweet. "I know."

Violetta froze for a moment — there was only one thing she could be alluding to, but how? "You know?"

"I do," Athena confirmed. "And words can't describe how happy I am for you. This new movie can change your life, and of course you're going to do it . . . even if it means leaving tonight. Go be a star for me, okay?" She then reached out and pulled Violetta into a tight hug. "I'm so proud of you, Vi."

She instantly hugged her best friend back just as tight, her chin resting on Athena's shoulder. This wasn't really the way she imagined telling Athena would go, just a quick conversation right before act two, yet here they were. She blinked back tears forming in her eyes. Her and Athena had been together for so long, she didn't know how she was supposed to do any of this without her. The thought of navigating New Zealand by herself, practically in another dimension because of time zones, was absolutely terrifying.

Violetta couldn't say goodbye to Athena. She couldn't say goodbye to the rest of her friends, she couldn't say goodbye to EJ. But she couldn't turn this movie down.

"I got into Juilliard, by the way," Athena admitted after a moment.

Well, what Violetta really wanted to say was I told you so. But she didn't. Besides, Violetta already had an inkling she would.

Violetta nodded against her. "I know. The second you said big news."

Miss Jenn entered the room, making the two best friends pull apart from their hug. "Okay, let me see my number one nemesis. Coach Bolton."

Suddenly, a crowd that had formed around a chair dispersed, making Violetta's eyes widen. Because sitting there was none other than EJ, wrinkle lines drawn on his face, a whistle around his neck, and wearing a green sweater with jeans.

"It's now or never," EJ voiced. "Take two."

Violetta stared at him in confusion for a moment before walking up to him. "Why are you old?"

"There was a mishap with the sound system," EJ explained, standing up from his chair. "Mr. Mazzara has to do it manually, which means . . ."

"You're Coach Bolton." Violetta sighed. "Why do things always have to happen during act two?"

"It's just in our systems." EJ then held up his binder. "I have to go memorize lines, or else I'll fail."

"You won't fail, I promise. Now go."

Violetta waved him off. EJ laughed a little at her before going out of the room to get in character. Violetta, in the meantime, went to the wings, wanting to watch some of the show since she wasn't in many more of the scenes.

She waited backstage by the vanities. Violetta watched as Athena and Ricky acted as Troy and Gabriella — the scene on the balcony where Troy was insisting that Gabriella had to go early to Stanford, and how Gabriella said she was a lot better at goodbyes. But they weren't really acting, not this time. Ricky was talking directly to Athena, saying that she needed to go to Juilliard.

After the scene ended, the two went off stage, and Miss Jenn went on. Athena gave Violetta a small nod, and Violetta softly smiled at her. She was hurting — Violetta knew she was. By the way she was acting around Ricky, she had probably told him that she was going to New York City, and it hadn't gone well.

"Just a few more songs, Violetta Chase, then tonight, live on TV, the rest of the world gets to see my daughter make waves," a familiar voice announced.

Violetta's eyes widened and she turned, only to see her mom standing backstage next to her. "Mom, you're not supposed to be back here. And besides, I'm trying to stay in the musical mindset. Songs mean lyrics and choreography, you know."

"Did you sign the contract yet?"

She blinked — her mom sounded so urgent about it, like Violetta wasn't doing something important right now. "No, I haven't, actually. I'll sign it after the show. Just, please, go back to your seat."

Athena then walked on stage for Walk Away, and Violetta's mom finally listened, leaving backstage to go back in the crowd. However, right across from her on the other side of the stage, she saw EJ standing there next to Mack, Ricky near them as well. Her head tilted at them, wondering what they were saying.

EJ was happy for his girlfriend. Proud was an understatement. But the thought of losing her again was sending him deep into a spiral. He wanted to fight for her to stay here, but he had to let her go to do this. There was only one person who would be with her in New Zealand.

"We haven't met before," EJ stated. "But I'm Violetta's boyfriend."

Mack nodded slowly. "Sweet."

EJ looked across from him, his eyes locking on Violetta's figure. "Listen, Mack . . . we don't know each other, but I've hurt her before. Her family has, too. She has a tough exterior that hides all the cracks under the surface. Violetta's always been sufficient for herself, and she'll do great in New Zealand, but . . . just, please, look after her while you're there."

Violetta had no clue what they were talking about, but Mack gave EJ a small smile and left the wings. EJ then turned and rounded around the entire stage to get into the right position as Athena got off the stage. He entered the wings Violetta was in, and she gave him a confused look. EJ shook his head and pressed a kiss to the top of hers as the basketball hoop and lockers got put on the stage. Once the lights came on, both Ricky and EJ ran out on stage for the Troy and Coach Bolton.

"How's that big show going?" EJ asked.

"You don't wanna know," Ricky replied.

EJ then pulled the pamphlet prop out of his pocket. "When were you gonna tell me about this? Juilliard?"

Violetta sighed. She walked up to Athena's side, who was standing there frozen with her arms crossed. Things had gotten really personal really fast, and all she wanted to do was make sure that Athena was going to be okay.

"There's nothing to tell," Ricky said.

"Maybe there is," EJ protested. "Heard you were talking to other schools. I mean, is this serious?"

"U of A isn't the only school that talked to me, dad. You know this."

"But it's the only school we talked about. Chad would be awfully disappointed if you decided to change your mind."

Ricky caught the basketball that EJ had thrown to him. "No, Chad would get over it. Would you?"

"Son," EJ began. "We used to go to U of A games all the time, ever since you were a little kid. All you ever talked about was wearing that Red Hawks uniform."

"But I'm not a little kid anymore, dad. You raised me to make my own choices. And I got to make 'em. Not you, not Chad, not anybody else. Me."

"Troy. Come on, Troy."

EJ then ran off the stage while Ricky went to the stairs. Violetta caught his arm for a moment, making him stop in place.

"You did great," Violetta told him.

"Thank you," EJ responded. "I learned those lines in approximately ten minutes."

"A true natural."

EJ then kissed her cheek. "I'll be backstage."

He then walked off, just as the Scream music started. Violetta watched intently as Ricky poured his heart and soul into the song — once again, this wasn't acting, this was real. She could tell. He was going to be lost without Athena when she went to college since she was such a constant force, just like Violetta would be lost without her in New Zealand. But with Ricky's uncertainty about his future, Violetta guessed it was hitting him like a wall of bricks.

Once the song was done, Violetta looked to Athena. Athena looked like she was about to burst into tears right then and there. She put a hand on her shoulder and smiled softly when Athena looked at her. Violetta then extended her arm out, and Athena immediately sunk into her side, accepting her hug.

"Come on," Violetta encouraged. "Let's get you into your new costume."

She steered Athena away from the gym and back to the dressing room. Once they were back inside, Violetta squeezed Athena a little tighter before letting her go.

Athena allowed Violetta to steer her away from the gym, leaving Ricky and Miss Jenn to act on stage together. They got back to the dressing room, and Violetta squeezed her once before letting her go. Even though she didn't want to. She didn't want to let go of Salt Lake, her friends, or her boyfriend. It was all so confusing.

After a lot more scenes, they finally made it to the finale. Violetta was wearing a blue patterned dress with brown boots, a red graduation robe over her dress and a red graduation cap on top of her head. She blinked back her tears that were already starting to form. This curtain call was especially emotional, because since she was leaving, it would be her last curtain call at East High surrounded by her friends.

"Here we go! Come on! All right! Little louder now."

Violetta ran up on top of the platform, Athena, Ricky, Ashlyn, Carlos, Gina, Emmy, Kourtney, Jet, and Dani all joining her. Meanwhile, the dancers ran out from the sides of the stage and stepped forwards, taking their own bows. Violetta had continue singing, but she was definitely cheering internally for her friends.

"Looking forward from center stage to graduation day, time to get the future started. What we leave, what we take with us, no matter what, it's something we're apart of. We learn to fly, together side-by-side. I just hope the rest of my life will feel as good as my."

Jet, Emmy, and Dani went down the steps and took their own individual bows. While Dani stayed front and center, Jet and Emmy ran back to the stairs on the side and joined everyone else on the platform. The dancers below and everyone up on the platform did their choreography, and for the first time in a while, Violetta felt herself truly smile. Dancing with her friends, especially during a fun number, was the best feeling in the world.

"High school musical, who says we have to let it go? It's the best part we've ever known, step into the future. But hold on to high school musical. Let's celebrate where we come from, the friends who've been there all along." All of them on the platform moved closer and smushed together in a giant group hug, and Violetta giggled slightly, clutching onto her friends. "Just like."

"Now we finally realize who we are, it just took some time, we had to live and to learn to see the truth."

It was finally time for her bow. Violetta walked down the steps with Ashlyn, Kourtney, Carlos, and Gina, all of them stepping in time. She waited her turn before stepping forwards, smiling at the crowd and bowing to them with her hands over her heart. Once all of them individually bowed, they clasped hands and bowed together.

"But nothing's ever impossible, into the future we all free fall, until forever, we'll always have high school."

EJ and Miss Jenn then walked out onto the stage, clasped hands, and bowed together. Violetta stepped to the side, and EJ squeezed in between her and Carlos while Miss Jenn squeezed in between Carlos and Ashlyn. They all held hands and bowed together. Afterwards, they moved to the side and formed two lines, leaving an aisle down the middle of them.

"High school musical, let's celebrate where we come from. The friends who've been there all along, oh, yeah. I wish my life would be like a."

Ricky and Athena walked down the aisle holding hands. Once they made it to the end, Ricky let go of her and extended his arms out to her. Athena bowed.

"High school musical, let's celebrate where we come from."

Athena then extended her arms out to Ricky, and he bowed. They clasped hands again and bowed together. Violetta turned to EJ, singing loud with him. Her happiness only heightened when she saw that Seb, Maddox, Big Red, and Mack had joined them all on stage.

"All together, makes it better, memories that last forever."

EJ grabbed Violetta's waist in his arm and pulled her back. She laughed loudly and just allowed him to take her, her body sinking back to allow him to do so. Violetta then looked up at him, her eyes shining. She hoped, even through all of the happiness right now, that he could tell she was scared, and that she didn't want to leave him.

"I want the rest of my life to feel just like a high school musical."

Finally, a moment for the remaining members of the original High School Musical cast in the drama club. Violetta, Athena, Ricky, Gina, Ashlyn, Carlos, and Kourtney all held hands and formed a line. They walked to the end of their stage, or where the audience started, and bowed together. After that, they let go of each other and did the iconic High School Musical jump. At once, the crowd got up from their seats and cheered loud for them. Violetta instantly turned to Athena and threw her arms around her in excitement.

"We did it," Athena voiced. "I can't believe it."

"Neither do I," Violetta agreed. She let her head rest against Athena's, not really wanting to let go, but she had a press thing to do. "I'm sorry, 'Thena, but I have to go."

"Don't worry about it." Athena turned to her fully. "Go be the star you were always meant to be."

Violetta hugged her tighter before letting go and rushing up to EJ. "I have to—"

"I know," EJ stated. He leaned down and kissed her gently for a moment. "It's okay. Go."

She nodded once to him before turning around and rushing off. Violetta didn't look back — because she knew, if she looked at him again, she wouldn't make it.

∘ ₊ ✧ ──── ✧ ₊ ∘

the speech next chapter is going to absolutely brutally murder me