┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓

𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗬

chapter two:
ricky bowen doesn't think before
he speaks !

┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛

FINALLY, AFTER ABOUT three hours of sitting through boring lessons, it was finally lunch time. Athena, who was extremely glad to get out of her English class, entered the crowded hallways. Her headphones played some Taylor Swift songs as she navigated her way to the cafeteria. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her jean jacket and pushed through the groups who decided that stopping in the middle of the hallway was a good idea.

Her headphone was suddenly ripped out of her ear, interrupting the bridge of Cruel Summer. Athena's eyes widened and she turned to see who the culprit was. It was revealed to Violetta, who was smirking at her.

"You really had to interrupt the best part of the song, didn't you?" Athena rolled her eyes and snatched her headphone back. "What do you want, Vi?"

"Did you think more about auditioning for the musical?" Violetta asked.

"No, I haven't, actually. I was being a good student and paying attention."

Violetta scoffed. "We all know that's not true."

Athena sighed. "To be honest, no, I haven't thought about it. I don't even know how to audition for a musical. Like obviously I have to sing, but what song?"

"Wake Up," Violetta suggested. Her eyes narrowed at Athena when the girl shrugged. "Athena, that song is amazing. You're an incredible singer and songwriter. Please don't put yourself down like that."

"I know, I know, it's just . . . I wrote that song for Ricky," Athena admitted. "It was after I saw how distraught he was after not being able to say I love you to Nini and everything going on with his parents."

"And this is the perfect opportunity to perform it," Violetta urged.

"It's personal," Athena argued.

"It's beautiful."

Athena shook her head and unplugged her headphones, putting them back in her backpack. "I promise I'll think more about this when I get home, all right? But right now some French fries are calling my name."

The two entered the lunch room and immediately got on line. After a couple of minutes of waiting, they finally got their lunch. Athena, lunch tray in hand, glanced around the cafeteria for a moment and finally spotted Ricky and Big Red sitting at a circular table. She nodded her head in that direction and her and Violetta made their way over to them.

"Hey," Athena greeted, sitting down next to Ricky and smiling softly at him.

"Did you know?" Ricky asked.

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Know what?"

Ricky pointed. Athena followed to what he was gesturing to, only to see that Nini was securely tucked under EJ Caswell's arms. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"She's dating EJ Caswell?" Violetta spluttered out. "Ugh, she's so lucky."

Athena slapped her arm. "Violetta!"

"What?" Violetta protested, popping a French fry in her mouth. "Come on! He's exceptionally hot, co-captain of the water polo team, and senior class treasurer." She let out a dreamy sigh and placed her chin in the palm of her hand. "What more could a girl ask for?"

"Yeah, I mean, what are the odds that the guy she hooks up with at camp goes to East High?" Big Red added.

"Apparently, the odds are exceptionally good," Ricky shot back.

Big Red's face fell slightly. "I'm sorry, dude. What are you gonna do?"

"I don't know. No offense, but the one person I go to for advice is currently on her honeymoon in the cafeteria."

Athena felt her heart sink. It was obvious that Nini and Ricky were close, but so was him and Athena. Athena was the one who was there for Ricky through the good and the bad, and for him to say that? It really hurt her. Was she not good enough for him? He had always come to her for advice, so what changed?

"Oh," Athena let out, her voice small. She stood up, completely disregarding her lunch. Her appetite was lost after that comment, anyways. "I — um, I have to go."

Ricky immediately stood up from sitting as well. "No, Attie, that's not what I meant."

She forced a small smile on her face. "I know what you meant." Athena slung her bag over her shoulder. "I'll see you later."

"Athena—"

She turned and walked out of the cafeteria, ignoring both the protests from Ricky and the scolds to him from Violetta. She pulled her headphones out of her bag and plugged them back into her phone, and coincidentally, the first song that started to play was Teardrops on my Guitar. Athena sighed and slid down the wall in a corner away from everyone, hugging her knees to her chest and resting her chin on top of them.

Truth is, she didn't want to be alone. She wanted to walk straight up to Ricky Bowen and hug him because his hugs always took her problems away. But she couldn't, because he was why she had problems. This boy, this stupid boy could turn her into a blushing mess just by smiling at her and make her weak to her knees with a witty remark. Ricky would never see Athena the same way he saw Nini, and Athena had to live with that. It was selfish of her to want Ricky to love her the same way he loved Nini, but she couldn't help it. There was something about him that just drew her in. Athena, however, was left with no other choice but to push her feelings away and keep her pain inside.

Because, after all, Ricky Bowen was the only one who had enough of Athena Blake to break her heart.

--- ☆ • ♫ • ♪ • ♫ • ☆ ---

ATHENA SAT ALONE in her bedroom after a long day at school. She hadn't really talked to anyone after the cafeteria incident. Violetta, along with Ricky, had sent her multiple texts, but she didn't really have the energy to respond to them. Her parents and older sister Artemis, however, saw that the girl needed space and graciously left her alone.

She had finished all of her homework early, so she now rested on her bed with a book in her hand. The sentence she was reading was interrupted by a soft knock coming from the other side of her closed door.

"Come in," Athena said.

The door opened to reveal her mother, Amanda, with a plate of food in her hand. Her mother placed the plate of food down on her nightstand next to her bed and placed a gentle kiss to the top of Athena's head.

"Thought I'd might bring you some food to make you feel better," Amanda said, sitting down next to her daughter. "What's going on, baby?"

Athena sighed and closed her book. "Boys are stupid."

"Uh oh, what'd Ricky do now?" Amanda questioned.

Athena blinked. "How'd you know it was about Ricky?"

She shrugged. "Motherly instincts."

"Um . . . he made a comment today about how Nini was the only person he could get advice from," Athena revealed. "I don't know, maybe I took it the wrong way, but he always comes to me for advice. What changed?"

Amanda was just about to respond when the doorbell rang from downstairs.

"Athena!" Artemis called up. "It's Ricky!"

Her mother raised an eyebrow. "Maybe he's come to apologize to you."

Athena shook her head. She got up from her bed and bounded down the steps. Sure enough, Ricky was standing on her front porch with his hands in the pockets of his jacket. His eyes were wide, as if he had just discovered something.

Artemis glanced in between them for a moment. "Uh, I'll leave you two alone."

She immediately walked away from the door and went back up the stairs. Athena watched her for a moment before turning back to Ricky.

"What's up?" Athena inquired.

Ricky reached forwards and grabbed her hand, beginning to tug her out of the door. "We need to go to Big Red's."

"Woah, woah, woah, hold on a second." Athena teared her hand away from Ricky's. "Why are you in such a rush? What's going on?"

"Athena, please. I have an idea on how to get Nini back."

She crossed her arms across her chest. "And I have to come along because . . . ?"

Ricky put his hands on her shoulders. "Listen, I know I messed up. I didn't mean what I said. Sure, when Nini and I were together I asked her for advice. But you . . . Attie, you've always been my number one person to go to when something's wrong. And I apologize for making you feel like you were second best to Nini or something. Just please know that you are never second best to me. You're my best friend and you always come first."

Athena stared up at him. And, as per usual, she couldn't stay mad at him for long. Butterflies erupted in her stomach just from his gaze. The two held eye contact for a long moment, Athena's heart racing as neither of them dared to move.

"Fine," she finally caved in. Athena shoved her feet into her shoes and grabbed her jacket off the hook. "Mom, I'm going to Red's with Ricky! I'll be back!"

"Have fun!" Amanda shouted back. "Don't stay out too late!"

Ricky's hand gripped Athena's again, and the two of them rushed down the sidewalk towards Big Red's house.

--- ☆ • ♫ • ♪ • ♫ • ☆ ---

WHILE BIG RED continued to play his video games, Athena stared at Ricky in shock from her place on the floor as he paced around Big Red's basement. Never in a million years would she expect the words I'm going to audition for the musical leave Ricky's mouth. Sure, she admired him for trying to get Nini back by doing something so near and dear to the girl's heart, but Ricky wasn't really the musical type, per se.

"No, absolutely not," Big Red protested, lowering his headphones to rest around his neck.

"Okay, I know it's crazy, dude, but she has to see me in a whole new light," Ricky insisted.

"But we hate musicals."

"Um, I don't hate musicals," Athena interjected. "Neither does Violetta."

"You two don't count," Big Red argued.

Athena blinked. "How do we not count?"

"Hey, I don't hate musicals either," Ricky cut in. "I just think it's weird when people, like, burst into song in the middle of the street."

"Dude, that's a musical," Big Red replied.

"Okay, look. I'm auditioning for this thing tomorrow, and nothing is gonna stop me."

Big Red stood up from his chair. "Do you even know the plot of High School Musical?"

Ricky scoffed. "Of course! It's about Zac Efron dancing with a basketball."

"Seriously?" Athena asked. "Were you not paying attention any time I forced you to watch the movie? It's about Troy deciding if he should be true to Chad or follow his heart with Gabriella."

"You're out of your league here, man," Big Red voiced. "All right? You can't pull this off."

Athena's eyes widened. "Woah, Red."

Ricky's shoulders slumped. "Yeah?"

"Yes," Big Red responded.

Ricky turned to Athena and offered her his hand. She grabbed it and used it to pull herself up. Before she could even protest, Ricky began tugging her up the stairs.

"And you don't have the hair for it!" Big Red called after them.

The two of them finally made it outside. Still hand-in-hand (neither of them really noticed, it just felt natural), they walked down the sidewalk in the direction of both of their houses.

"Do you think Big Red is right?" Ricky finally questioned after a couple minutes of silence. "Can I really not pull this off?"

Athena shook her head. "No, I think you can. Even though you're not really into musicals and you're only auditioning to get Nini back, I think this would be a really great experience for you."

Ricky slowly nodded. "Hey, Athena . . . how would you feel if I asked to audition with me?"

She raised an eyebrow at him. "I didn't realize that joining a musical would be a part of my best friend duties."

Ricky bumped his shoulder with hers. "Come on, Attie, please. For me."

Athena sighed. "Violetta actually wanted me to try out with her as well. So . . . fine, I'll audition."

A bright smile spread across Ricky's face. And Athena, her stomach twisting with nerves, had no clue what she was getting herself into. This is where the story of Athena Blake and Ricky Bowen finally begins, and it all started with the auditions for High School Musical: The Musical.

═ • ° • ✧ • ° • ═

well this chapter sucked <3

+ notice how my luke book has a title of a song from hsmtmts and this book has a title of a song from jatp? ~when worlds collide~

also can we talk about matt and josh's performance of little saint nick in the holiday special? I just about ✨passed away✨