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𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗢𝗥 𝗡𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥

chapter seventeen:
'cause what we have is real !

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ATHENA SAT AT one of the tables in the canteen that had been transformed into a dressing room. She was wearing Anna's green dress, and because her hair wasn't long enough to be braided, so it was placed in two French braids with the ends being in pigtails just like at the campfire and Color War to keep a sense of Anna's braids.

She stared back at her reflection in the mirror, trying her breath to breathe deeply. The nervousness was creeping up inside of her. This happened every opening night, really — she would panic to the point where her mind would spin out of her control. Her hand was holding the lipstick that she had just applied when somebody appeared behind her. Athena set down the lipstick and gave Ricky a small smile through the mirror.

"Hey," Ricky began softly. "You breathing?"

"Barely," Athena answered.

"Good thing I have this, then." Ricky draped his arms over her shoulders to reveal him holding a small slip of folded paper — one of the lyrics from his birthday present. "I know I already opened it this morning, but I thought we could both use it."

He opened the slip of paper. In Athena's familiar handwriting was the lyric We're gonna be alright, 'cause what we have is real.

Ricky shook his head. "Are you sure they aren't all lyrics from High School Musical songs?"

Athena shrugged. "Maybe shake the box next time."

"Half-hour call, everybody!" Maddox announced.

Athena leaned her head back and rested it against Ricky's chest. "I'm freaking out."

"Greetings, theater children," Channing stated, walking into the canteen. Athena rolled her eyes and looked over at him. "Listen up. You see this camera? There are another ten of them planted throughout the theater. It all comes down to tonight, okay? Big new announcement." He chuckled for a moment. "We will be live-streaming tonight's Frozen performance on Disney Plus in order to drum up interest in our documentary."

Athena's eyes widened and she stood up, her stomach churning even more. What?

Carlos literally screamed.

Channing pointed at him. "Save the scream for on stage, snowman. When you find out your carrot's been replaced by a stick of dynamite."

"No," Carlos stated.

"Dude, what are you talking about?" Ricky asked.

"I — I may throw a few things at you guys, last minute," Channing revealed. "It's — it's fun stuff to shake up the show."

"And by shake up you actually mean change everything we did in rehearsals?" Athena demanded, her eyes narrowing at him.

"You guys were so great at that last rehearsal, remember? We need that, but more, okay? So just change some dialogue, slap each other, you know, pull some wigs off. It's fun stuff to amp up the livestream, right?"

EJ cleared his throat. "We can do that."

Athena looked over at him incredulously.

"What?" all of them chorused.

"No, we will do that," EJ corrected.

"Excellent," Channing voiced. "Okay. Have fun, all right? At each other's expenses." He laughed. "And if you aren't trending in Brazil at midnight, you haven't done your jobs, okay? Yay!"

Violetta glared at his figure as he left the canteen. "I'm going to kill him."

Ricky stared at EJ. "Why would you say that?"

"Elton!" Carlos shouted. "Even I think we shouldn't pull each other's wigs off."

"Exactly," Ashlyn agreed.

"Dude, we're not doing this!" Ricky insisted.

"Settle down," EJ ordered. "You guys, I — I was acting, okay? To get that jerk off our backs."

"You sure?"

Athena elbowed Ricky's side. "Ricky."

"Channing may know what makes a good TV show, but we're theater kids," EJ said. "And we're gonna do tonight our way. Final decision."

All of them agreed. Athena swallowed nervously for a moment.

"Hey, Ricky?" Athena questioned.

"Yeah?" Ricky responded.

"I don't think I'm breathing at all right now."

"Okay, listen to me." Ricky placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "You're going to be incredible. And I'll be by your side every step of the way."

Athena let out a deep breath and nodded. "Okay."

The half-hour call ended quicker than Athena liked, at the show had finally begun. Athena stood in the wings, watching with a fond smile on her face as Alex and Emmy acted as young Elsa and Anna. However, Athena couldn't help but notice that the girl playing her sister counterpart wasn't there. Athena promised Maddox that she would be right back before leaving the barn quietly.

Athena picked up her skirt in her hands as she walked across the grass so it wouldn't get dirty. There could really only be one place that Kourtney could've gone. Sure enough, when Athena opened the door to the Honeycomb, Kourtney was laying in her bunk with her covers over her. Athena shut the door quietly behind her.

"Hey," Athena began quietly. "You're missing Alex and Emmy. They're doing incredible." She walked over to Kourtney and sat on the edge of her bunk. "Any particular reason you're in here all alone?"

Kourtney sat up, her voice shaking. "Um, I'm — uh, I'm just having kind of, like, an anxiety, uh, flare-up at the moment."

Athena nodded in understanding. "Okay. And you left the girl who climbed the wall last night at the top, didn't you?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

"Because I know how it feels." Athena reached forwards and took Kourtney's hands. "Anxiety doesn't go away overnight, but it definitely helps to know you're not alone. And you especially aren't, because I'm going to be by your side out there. Sisters, remember?"

Kourtney stared at her for a moment before cracking a smile. "Sisters."

Athena stood back up and tugged on Kourtney's hands. "Now, come on. We have a show to do."

The show progressed, and it was actually going pretty smooth, considering the whole livestream thing and how Channing said he was going to throw extra things at them. Athena now stood on stage with Ricky and Carlos before In Summer, wearing Anna's winter costume.

"I'll tell you why," Ricky recited. "We need Elsa to bring back summer."

"Summer?" Carlos repeated. "I don't know why, but I've always loved the idea of summer, and sun, and all things hot."

"I'm guessing you don't have much experience with heat."

"Nope."

Athena and Ricky then moved to stand behind the set on the stage. They moved with them as they went off stage. Athena went into the wings, smiling and staring out in the stage as Carlos and the dancers started to perform their song. Even after everything Violetta had gone through last night, she still seemed to glow underneath the stage lights while dancing. Right before the song ended, Athena and Ricky went back on stage.

Ricky looked over at Athena. "I'm gonna tell him."

Athena scoffed and bumped his shoulder with hers. "Don't you dare."

Carlos finished the song with his big belt. Athena grinned inwardly, trying to show her pride in a less subtle way because she was still on stage.

They continued on with the show until it was time for arguably the most important song, Let it Go. Athena stood in the wings with Ricky, Violetta, EJ, and Jet. Her arm was linked through Ricky's, watching Kourtney step onto the stage. Kourtney locked eyes with Athena, and Athena gave her a small, reassuring nod. She could do this.

Kourtney walked further onto the stage, starting to sing the song beautifully. Athena held onto Ricky's arm tightly. Kourtney was absolutely killing it out there, and all of the props were working well. She grinned proudly. Kourtney had truly come so far.

Suddenly, all the lights in the barn turned off. Kourtney stopped singing and the orchestra stopped playing. Athena looked up at the ceiling in confusion before her eyes widened in realization.

"Channing," she whispered.

Violetta gritted her teeth. "I'm really going to kill him now." She squeezed Athena's arm momentarily. "I'm saving this. Be right back."

Miss Jenn and Big Red then turned their flashlights on their phone, lifting them up to illuminate Kourtney. Everyone else in the audience followed suit until Kourtney was completely illuminated.

"Come on, Kourt," Athena voiced, mostly to herself as she clutched onto Ricky.

Kourtney then started to sing again. Her voice started off as shaky and quiet, but it soon grew in confidence. The orchestra began to play again with her. Athena smiled as Kourtney sang more confident than she had ever seen. Kourtney glanced into the wings, and Athena nodded excitedly at her.

The lights then came on in the barn again. Athena glanced out into the audience to see Violetta by the light switch, glaring at Channing harshly. Violetta then ducked behind the audience and came back into the wings. Athena grinned widely at Violetta and held out her hand, and Violetta gave her a low-five.

Kourtney then swung off her old costume, revealing Elsa's blew dress. She threw the old costume into the wings. Athena instantly cheered and clapped her hands together as Kourtney went onto the steps prop. She let down her updo, revealing the long braid. Kourtney belted out the last few notes of the song, making the audience give her a standing ovation.

"Yes!" Athena yelled. "Let's go, Kourt!"

After that, it was time for the intermission of the show. Everyone went back to the canteen, and Athena was standing next to Violetta, who was sitting at her own table.

"Ten minute intermission," Maddox told them. "And if anyone sees Channing, punch him."

"Say less," Gina said.

"Thank you, ten," they all chorused.

"I'm actually surprised you didn't punch Channing," Athena admitted.

Violetta shrugged. "I was close."

Athena let out a small laugh before looking down at her. "How are you doing? And don't you dare lie to me, Vi."

Violetta sighed. "I'm . . . okay. I'm honestly just trying not to focus on any of that right now because of opening night."

"You can talk to me about it, you know."

"I know. Just . . . later. I promise."

"Wait, did everybody get a card from Nini?" Ashlyn inquired.

Ricky's eyes widened. "Nini's here?"

"Nini's here?" Athena repeated.

She rushed over to her table. Sure enough, there was an envelope sitting there with the name Athena on it. Athena opened the envelope and pulled out the card covered in polka-dots, beginning to read the message inside.

Athena,

Hi, sweet girl. I know we've had our differences, aka me acting irrationally because of jealousy, but you've grown to become one of my best friends. You have so much talent inside of you and so much love and it's been an honor for me to witness it. Have an amazing senior year at East — and get that lead role again, because you totally deserve it.

- Nini

P.S. Ricky always had that gleam in his eyes when he looked at you, and it's gotten even stronger. You have it, too. The two of you are soulmates — I just know it. Don't let that go.

Athena stared down at the card, a small smile creeping on her face. Words really couldn't describe how much she adored Nini. Just like she said, they for sure had their differences, but Athena also considered her a best friend. She had really missed her ever since school ended, with them going to camp and Nini heading out to California.

People started to trickle out of the canteen to head back to the barn. Athena and Ricky walked there hand-in-hand, going back into the wings. She squeezed his hand before letting go, going over towards the counter so Ricky could prepare for his next scene.

"Ah!" Channing exclaimed, pointing his camera at the two of them. "The boyfriend shows up to swing his sword. Yes."

Athena rolled her eyes in annoyance. She opened her mouth to retaliate, but Ricky already beat her to it.

Ricky pushed Channing's camera away. "Okay, dude. She and I? Yes, we weren't faking it during rehearsal because yes, we're dating, but that gives you no right to put our relationship on display for views. So get lost before someone gets hurt. Seriously."

Channing looked a bit taken aback, but nevertheless, he walked away from the two.

Ricky looked back at Athena. The dangerous look that he had in his eyes instantly softened when they set on her. Athena knew Ricky — they've been best friends forever, after all. She knew what set him off, what made him tick, how he acted when he was mad. And yet, it still felt strange that she was really the only one who could make him feel okay when he was set into a frenzy.

"You okay?" Ricky asked.

Athena shrugged, letting out a breath. "I will be."

Maddox then came in, holding the decorated guitar. "Ricky, get into character. Come on."

Ricky took the guitar and went to walk on stage, but he froze for a second, looking at Athena. She stared at him curiously.

"This song's for you," Ricky told her. "Not just to my Anna from your Kristoff, but to my Athena from your Ricky."

Athena smiled fondly up at him, her heart pounding against her chest. "I love you, my Ricky."

"To the moon and to Saturn?"

"You already know." Athena nodded her head to the stage. "Go sing."

Ricky grinned boyishly at her before heading out onto the stage, sitting on the rock prop. He placed his guitar on his lap and started to strum. Athena stared out at him, and she was positive that her eyes were literal hearts.

Maddox waved a hand in front of her face. "You okay?"

"More than," Athena breathed out.

"What is this hollow kind of helplessness I'm feeling?" Ricky sang. "This type of terror is new. And the fact that I can hardly breathe is now revealing how much I've changed 'cause of you. You light the world for me, you life fearlessly, braver than the bravest of us do. You trust, you hope, you dare, you choose to feel and care. I thought that I was strong till I bumped into you. What do I know about love? What do I know about love? Everything I thought I did." Ricky looked over at her in the wings, and Athena blew him a small kiss. "You've gone and changed it, kid. You're what I know about love."

Athena's heart raced against her chest. She clasped her hands in front of her, feeling tears prick at the back of her eyes. Athena quickly blinked them away, but who could blame her for wanting to cry? That was everything. Ricky was everything.

Soon enough, the show ended. The audience cheered and clapped as they all went on stage for curtain call. Athena watched as Ricky and EJ took their bows together as Kristoff and Sven. Athena locked eyes with Kourtney across the way, and Kourtney nodded.

They walked out onto the stage, meeting in the center. Athena grasped onto Kourtney's hand and smiled brightly. They walked to the edge of the stage, and Athena lifted up her skirt, curtseying to the audience. The rest of the cast came up behind them and they all bowed together while holding hands.

Kourtney then waved her hand, and Maddox pulled a lever from the wings, letting fake snow fall. Athena let out a small laugh and looked at Kourtney, the two of them sharing a small hug.

Athena then looked down at Emmy next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You did it, Em! I knew you could."

Emmy smiled up at her and threw her arms around Athena's waist, hugging her tight. Athena giggled and hugged her back just as tight.

After three opening nights of things going wrong, it was nice to have something actually go right.

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ONE MORE CHAPTER I WANT TO LEAVE THE EARTH