┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓

𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞

chapter twenty:
confessions !

┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛

BASICALLY EVERYTHING HAD gone wrong, but somehow, in the end, they managed to make it work.

It was finally curtain call, and Violetta found this moment to be a little bittersweet. She had absolutely loved dancing her heart out and being part of a musical. Plus, there was new friendships that came along the way. However, to Violetta, one was more prominent than the others — EJ.

As Violetta stood in the wings next to Athena, she could see his familiar figure on the other side, waiting for his cue. Her stomach slightly churned with nerves. She had promised herself to talk to him after the show, because she just couldn't pretend that nothing had ever happened. Violetta couldn't help but feel that her and EJ could be something if she tried. And to be honest, Violetta wanted to try. It could end good or it could end bad, but Violetta was willing to go for it. What was life without a couple risks?

She let out a deep breath and smoothed down the fabric of her beige pants. Staying true to Martha, they had put her in a red polo shirt and beige pants, like she had worn in the movie for We're All in This Together. Violetta, however, specifically requested that they not put her hair in a ponytail, so her curls were out and everything.

Finally, the band came out onto the stage and started to play We're All in This Together. Violetta smiled proudly as all of her dancer friends went out on stage. She would've gone with them, but even though Violetta had a very minor part as Martha, Miss Jenn wanted her to have her own curtain call.

"Together, together, together everyone," they sang.

In two rows, the girls in the front and the boys and the back, they all latched hands. The girls bowed first, and then the boys. Violetta clapped and cheered loudly for them as they dispersed and started to dance the curtain call choreography.

"Together, together, come on, let's have some fun."

They created a space down the center of everyone. Ashlyn walked out in her Ms. Darbus costume. She dramatically curtsied before joining in with the choreography.

"Together, we're there for each other every time."

Seb got lifted up into the air by four of the dancers. Everyone around him moved out of the way, obviously portraying that he was still Sharpay, queen bee. Seb got put down and him and the other dancers started to dance.

"Together, together, come on, let's do this right."

Seb and Rico, who played Ryan, clasped hands and bowed before Rico twirled Seb around and Seb waved before moving to the side. In between two rows of dancers lined up, Kourtney and Gina strutted down the stage. They high-fived each other once they reached the end of the rows. They then started to dance as well.

"Together, together, together everyone."

EJ then went out. Violetta couldn't help the small smile on her face as he walked to the end of the stage. He turned around for just a slight moment and caught her eye in the wings. Violetta gave him a tiny wave before EJ turned back around and bowed, joining in with the dancing.

"Together, together, come on, let's have some fun."

Finally, it was time for Violetta and Athena to go out. Miss Jenn had thought it would be cute for the two best friends to go out together, so that's what they were doing. They were the last ones to bow before Ricky and Nini — obviously they would go last because they were the leads.

Athena held out her hand to Violetta. "You ready?"

Violetta grinned and grasped onto it tightly. "Let's do this."

Together, like it had always been, the two of them walked out on stage. Violetta smiled brightly as the audience applauded and cheered for them. Finally, at the end of the stage, Violetta and Athena lifted their hands up and bowed. Once they came back up, they looked at each other under the lights. Violetta let go of Athena's hand and hugged her tightly, Athena responding just as enthusiastically. They pulled away after a few short moments before extending their arms to display Ricky and Nini as they walked out.

"We're all in this together, once we know, that we are, we're all stars, and we see that," everyone voiced, continuing to perform the choreography as Ricky and Nini skipped down the aisle together. "We're all in this together, and it shows when we stand, hand-in-hand, make our dreams come true."

Ricky took his bow first. Nini took her skirt in her hands and curtsied once, but Ricky shook his head and pushed her forwards gently. She then placed both of her hands over her heart and mouthed a soft thank you to the audience as Ricky clapped for her. Violetta's heart warmed as she watched them. Ricky and Nini then joined in with the choreography, and all of them started to dance the iconic moves from the movie.

"We're all in this together, when we reach, we can fly, know inside, we can make it. We're all in this together, once we see there's a chance, that we have, and we take it."

Violetta couldn't believe how far all of them had come. Going into junior year, she had never expected that her, Athena, Ricky, and Big Red would all join a musical together — especially Ricky and Big Red. However, each of them had found their own passions within the musical, and honestly, Violetta felt closer with them than ever.

"Wildcats, sing along," everyone stated. "Yeah, you really got it going on."

Nini then pulled Gina closer to her and whispered something. As the two of them left the stage, Violetta smirked to herself as she continued to dance. At the last rehearsal before opening night, the whole cast had put together a plan for Miss Jenn to finally say her apple line.

"Wildcats in the house, everybody say it now."

They all formed a line. Violetta stood in between Athena and EJ, her arms around the two of them.

"We're all in this together. When we reach, we can fly, know inside, we can make it."

Gina ran into the wings and got Miss Jenn and Carlos, who were watching everything. She pulled the two of them on the stage while Nini approached them with a singular apple on a tray. Violetta, Athena, and Ricky all left the line to approach their teacher, eager to hear the line that got cut from the movie.

"You know what to say!" Nini shouted over the music.

Miss Jenn, smiling softly, took the tray from Nini and faced the audience. "Is that the last apple?"

"This is kinda the best," Ricky commented, wrapping an arm around Athena's waist.

"Oh honey, wait till you see what I picked for the spring musical."

Behind them, the music continued on. They all knew it was time to take the final bow as a cast since the end of the song was nearing. Miss Jenn and Carlos got off the stage. Nini offered her hand to Gina and she took it. Athena then held out her hands to Violetta and Ricky. Violetta smiled and took her best friend's hand before moving up to hold hands with Nini. The entire cast moved forwards together to the end of the stage as one huge line.

The music continued on behind them. All of them knew it was time for the final bow at the end with the entire cast. Miss Jenn and Carlos got off the stage, and Nini extended her hand to Gina, who took it. Athena held her hands out to Violetta and Ricky. Both of them grasped her hands, and Violetta moved up to hold hands with Nini as the entire cast walked up to the end of a stage in one huge line.

"Wildcats everywhere, wave your hands up in the air." All of them held their held hands, and in a ripple going from the right of the line to the left, they all bowed. "That's the way we do it, let's get to it, come on, everyone."

As the last note hit, all of them stood up straight once more with their arms raised high. Violetta basked under the stage lights and the applause from the audience, her smile wider than it possibly had ever been. There was truly nothing better than this. Confetti cannons then set off from either side of the stage. Violetta let out a small laugh and watched the confetti fall. Everyone let go of each other's hands and started to hug each other in celebration.

Violetta turned and wrapped the first person by her in a hug, which was Nini. She moved on to hug Athena, Ricky, Seb, Gina, Kourtney, Ashlyn, Kaden, Steph, Lauryn, Rico, and more of her dancer friends. Finally, she made it to the one person she hadn't hugged yet — EJ.

Through the stage lights and the confetti, the two locked eyes. Violetta smiled softly at him, and not even thinking, she ran straight for him. The euphoria she was feeling made all rational thoughts fly out the window. EJ must've been expecting it, because as Violetta threw her arms around his neck, EJ caught her by her waist and picked her up off the ground. Violetta laughed and held on to him tight as he spun her around a couple of times.

EJ stopped spinning, and Violetta pulled her head away from his shoulder to look at him. He didn't put her down, and the chanting of wildcats from the crowd faded to a dull noise behind them. They kept eye contact, neither of them daring to look away. It seemed like it was just the two of them even though they were in a crowded gym.

Violetta wasn't going to get her love back. In that moment, she knew she wasn't. She was going to give it all to EJ Caswell, for better or for worse.

═════════ • ° • ✰ • ° • ═════════

AFTER THE CURTAIN call had completely ended, the whole cast had gathered back in the bomb shelter again. Violetta sat in a chair next to Athena and Ricky, occasionally looking at EJ, who was across the room. The two of them hadn't spoken since they were watching Breaking Free. Violetta was basically itching to spill her guts to him, but she couldn't find the right moment yet.

"So, who are the flowers for?" Seb asked.

Carlos kept searching the huge basket of flowers. "Everybody, hold." He then pulled out a card. "We've got a card, people. To Ashlyn, because you get me."

Ashlyn instantly stood up. "EJ! Really?"

EJ let out an amused snort. "I didn't write that."

"I did," Big Red admitted as he stood up.

Violetta blinked in shock and stared at Big Red. Oh, she so called it. Ever since she saw Big Red's eyes watch after Ashlyn at the rehearsal for Thanksgiving break and how they interacted at the El Rey, she knew something was going to happen between them.

"Okay, if you guys stay in here any longer, your parents are gonna riot in the lobby," Kourtney announced to the room.

Violetta exhaled. She knew her parents weren't here, why would they be? Besides, she hadn't even told them the dates that the show was on. She didn't bother to care because she knew that she would just be left with disappointment. This occasion was supposed to be happy.

She stood up from her chair and walked over to EJ. It was now or never. She had to get everything off of her chest or she would literally go insane. Once she stopped in front of him, EJ turned to face her. His eyebrows knit in thought as she just stood there. Violetta said nothing and only held out her hand, inviting him to take it. EJ's eyes flickered between her face in her hand before she ultimately took it.

Violetta turned and started to pull him out of the room. She went into the hallway and looked around for a moment. One of the dressing rooms had Athena and Nini in it, but the one right next to it was empty. Violetta took her and EJ into the empty room. She let go of his hand — even though she didn't want to — and looked at herself in the mirror. Behind her, she could see EJ standing there curiously. Violetta braced herself for a moment and turned to look at him.

Go for it, Vi, she told herself. You can do it.

"We need to talk, you and I," Violetta began.

"Yeah?" EJ questioned.

"Yeah," Violetta confirmed. "Don't know if you recall, but you did . . . something that night you dropped me off at my house

EJ nodded slowly. "I did."

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so you remember?"

"Why would I forget about that, V?"

"So . . . why haven't you mentioned it since?" Violetta urged. "You're kind of driving me up the wall, EJ."

EJ looked down at the floor and shrugged. "I don't know. For some reason, in the back of my mind, I was telling myself that I had made a mistake. It was nothing about you, but I just kept repeating in my head that you didn't like me back and that I had just messed everything up. Nothing about it was a mistake, Violetta. I've wanted to kiss you for so long but I never wanted to ruin our friendship — or whatever we had. You're one of the most important people to me and—"

He was cut off by Violetta placing her hands on either side of his face. The entire time he was rambling, Violetta had been progressively getting closer to him. Her heart was beating rapidly against her chest as she heard him talk, hearing that he actually felt the same way about her. Her stomach fluttered with butterflies as she forced him to look at her. His pretty blue eyes stared into her brown ones. EJ swallowed nervously as he stared at her.

Violetta smiled, remembering what he said the night that he had kissed her. "Screw it."

Unlike last time, Violetta was the first one to initiate the kiss. She pulled his head down closer to hers and pressed his lips onto hers. EJ immediately relaxed into it, kissing her back. Violetta felt her mind spin and her nerves ignite, sending sharp tingles throughout her entire body. EJ wrapped his arms around her waist tightly and pulled her in closer to him, so close that their bodies were right up against one another's.

It was only a few long moments later when the two parted, although they really didn't want to. Violetta kept her hands on either side of his face while he kept his around his waist, their bodies still pressed together. Something so bright and so beautiful had just begun, and the two of them knew it.

"I like you, okay?" Violetta told him quietly after a minute of silence. "It took a lot for me to say that, so you better appreciate it."

EJ laughed, momentarily glancing down at the floor before looking back into her eyes. "I like you too, Violetta. And I appreciate it — trust me, I do."

"Glad we're on the same page." Violetta then lowered her hands from his face and held one out to him, and EJ immediately interlocked their fingers together. They began to walk out of the door. "Hey, go out with me?"

EJ groaned. "I was literally just about to ask you that."

Violetta laughed and pointed at him. "Beat you. Now come on, I have to go brag to Athena about how I asked you out before you asked me out."

"Do you have to?"

"Yes. It's urgent."

She took a quick glance at the lobby down the hallway, where everyone was gathered. Violetta faintly heard Ashlyn say that she was having a cast party. She also managed to lock eyes with Artemis, whose face seemed to say bring me my sister or I'm gonna riot. Violetta shook her head before pulling EJ into the next room over, where Athena still was.

Once Violetta walked in, she saw that Nini had left and was replaced with Ricky. The two of them were sporting new pieces of jewelry — Athena, a necklace, and Ricky, a bracelet. Of course Violetta knew about them. They had both come to her for advice about them.

"Oh, Athena!" Violetta called out in a sing-song tone, catching her attention. She stood in the doorway, smiling widely as EJ pretended to be annoyed next to her. "Guess who just asked out this loser first?"

"I was about to ask you a few seconds after you asked me," EJ argued. Violetta looked up at him, and her heart beat faster at the amount of adoration in his eyes. "You just beat me to it."

Athena grinned at the two. "Aw, you guys, I'm so happy for you. Seriously, you'll make a great couple."

"Oh, by the way, Ashlyn's hosting a cast party tonight, she just announced it in the lobby," Violetta stated. "And I think if you spend any more time back here Artemis is going to strangle you."

Once Athena gathered her things, Violetta, Athena, EJ, and Ricky walked into the lobby. Ricky went to go talk to his parents while Athena went to her family. It was only Violetta and EJ left, still holding hands in the middle of a crowded lobby.

"My parents are over there," EJ announced, looking across the room. "Want to go—"

"Lettie," a familiar voice then said from behind them.

Violetta froze at the use of her childhood nickname and from the voice. EJ looked down at her in concern, but Violetta ignored it. She slowly turned around, only to see none other than Travis and Bailey Chase, her parents, standing there. Travis' eyes were glued to her and EJ's held hands, but Bailey was smiling softly at her. Her eyes flickered between them in disbelief.

"Mom?" Violetta voiced quietly. "Dad? You . . . you came?"

"We heard it was opening night," Bailey explained. "Travis and I have been thinking ever since before Thanksgiving when we were home last, and . . . you were right. We basically abandoned you from getting too caught up in your work. So, we came here tonight to actually be there for you."

"Oh," Violetta let out. "Well, um . . . thank you." She then noticed that Travis was still staring at her and EJ's hands. "Mom, dad, this is EJ. We met in the musical. He's . . ." She paused for a moment and smiled, because it was truly the first time she was saying it. "He's my boyfriend."

Travis held out his hand to EJ. "Cash Caswell's son?"

"Yes sir," EJ replied, shaking his hand.

Violetta looked up at EJ, watching as him and her father made conversation. She was still shocked at the way her parents were here even though she was definitely expecting them not to even know it was opening night. However, her mind started to wander from her parents and started to focus on EJ. They were dating now.

It was quite funny how the universe worked. But if one thing was for certain, Violetta Chase failed on getting her love back — but for once, she didn't mind.

∘ ₊ ✧ ──── ✧ ₊ ∘

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑬𝑵𝑫

OH GOD I'M GONNA BE SICK HOW DID THIS JUST END

BRUH

okay anyways tell me if you want a dt on the sequel lol