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𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗬

chapter seventeen:
thanksgiving !

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ATHENA, A SMALL smile stretched across her face, played the intro to Start of Something New on the piano at rehearsal before Thanksgiving break. That smile was there because she just couldn't help it every time she looked at Ricky. Especially when he was singing his heart out to High School Musical songs with Nini. There seemed to be no bad blood between them anymore. And, finally, Athena thought everything was falling into the right places.

"I know," Nini and Ricky sang together, stepping towards each other.

"That something has changed," Nini voiced by herself.

Both of them looked up as a ladder was carried over them. "Never felt this way."

"But right here tonight."

"This could be the start of something new." Nini and Ricky both stepped onto boxes while the dancers around them began to perform choreography, which included Violetta with a headlight, twirling a disco ball around in her hand. "It feels so right to be here with you, oh. And now.

"Looking in your eyes," Nini continued, gesturing for one of the dancers to flip her sign the other way. "I feel in my heart."

"Feel in my heart," Ricky added, making Athena's smile widen as her and Gina, who was sitting on top the piano, shared a happy look with each other.

"The start of something new," Nini and Ricky harmonized.

"Oh, yeah. Now who would've ever thought that, oh."

"We'd both be here tonight."

Athena looked up from the piano again only to see Big Red shining a flashlight on Violetta the disco ball. She blinked and decided to just focus on the sheet music so she wouldn't mess up the song by laughing.

"Ooh," Ricky sang.

Nini went next. "Yeah, and the world looks so much brighter."

"Brighter, brighter."

"With you by my side."

"By my side," Ricky voiced as Nini held her note out.

Just as Violetta was spinning the disco ball really fast, the school bell rang. Athena stopped playing the piano and looked up.

EJ immediately stood up from the riser where he was sitting. "Yes! Yes! Whoo!"

Everyone gave him a weird look.

"Sorry, I really love Thanksgiving."

Athena laughed slightly to herself as she gathered the piano sheet music into a pile. She put it into a folder and placed it in her backpack before standing up. Athena slung her backpack over her shoulder and shook her head at the way Violetta was walking over to her with wide eyes.

"Okay, hold on," Miss Jenn announced through the laughter. "I know everyone is excited for the holiday break, but I'm me, and I have notes. Ricky and Nini, that was good, but it could be better. She said in the spirit of holiday cheer."

"Good save," Carlos commented.

"A disco ball," Violetta stated as her and Athena walked around to the front of the piano where Ricky and Nini were. "A disco ball. Last I checked, a human disco ball wasn't a part of the original movie."

"You were a very nice disco ball, Vi," Athena replied before looking at Ricky and Nini. "And you two were killing it."

Nini scoffed. "At least give yourself some credit, 'Thena. Those piano playing skills were amazing. And as someone who can play the piano too, I can tell you're a natural."

She smiled at Nini. "Thank you."

"Your homework over this break, all of you, is to please go on vocal rest," Miss Jenn continued, making Athena turn her attention to her teacher. "And go over your lines, too, which is hard to do on vocal rest. But make it work. And remember, may nothing ever block your doorway to happiness."

Mr. Mazzara then entered the room, a binder in his hand. "Excuse me!"

"Okay, starting now."

"Oh, don't mind me, I just came to return a missing item. Ashlyn." The girl turned around to look at him. "Cannot have our robotics team co-captain going home without her binder over break."

Ashlyn took her binder with a smile. Athena blinked in shock. She had no idea that Ashlyn was on the robotics team at all. Athena turned to share a confused look with someone, only to see Big Red's eyes were trailing after Ashlyn with a small smile on her face. Athena elbowed Ricky's side and nodded her head over to Big Red subtly. Once he realized what was going on as well, the couple shared stared at each other with knowing expressions.

Miss Jenn and Mr. Mazzara then began to try and one-up each other with their Thanksgiving festivities. Athena tuned out of that and noticed Ricky offering her his hand. She smiled and took it, allowing him to lead her over to the set of risers. Athena waved goodbye to Violetta who began to walk out of the bomb shelter with EJ. Her and Ricky sat down next to each other, and while Ricky engaged in a conversation with Gina, Athena looked over to Seb.

"What's up with you?" Athena asked, gently nudging the boy's shoulder. "How are things going with Carlos?"

"Nothing much," Seb replied before his cheeks dusted a light shade of pink. "And it's going really well. He's so amazing."

"You two are adorable," she commented, resting her elbow on her knee and placing her chin in the palm of her hand. "Like, seriously. Your relationship gives me Paper Rings by Taylor Swift vibes."

Seb gestured to Athena and Ricky's interlocked hands. "I can say the same with you and Ricky. That moment you two had after Miss Jenn's performance? Definite Lover vibes."

"Party at Ashlyn's after Thanksgiving tomorrow!" Carlos suddenly shouted, stopping the two from their conversation. "Everyone's invited!"

Everyone cheered. Athena noted that she would have to text Violetta about that before standing up from the riser, tugging on Ricky's hand to get his attention.

"Come on," Athena told him, making Ricky stand up. "Artemis and I promised mom that we would help her gather some ingredients tomorrow for cooking, even though it'll just be the four of us this year."

"You're not going to your grandma's house?" Ricky questioned as they both walked out of the bomb shelter together.

Athena shook her head. "Not this year. My mom said something about not wanting to argue with my aunts and uncles about whose mashed potatoes are better, so we're just staying home. What about you?"

"I'm don't know. It's the first Thanksgiving without mom there, so maybe we'll just order some takeout for the two of us."

"Why don't you come over, then?" Athena suggested. "My parents certainly won't mind having two extra people over, especially if it's you and your dad."

"Are you sure?" Ricky inquired as the two of them walked out the doors of the school, entering the chilly November air.

She gave his hand a squeeze. "Of course. Just let me know if you want to come."

The two of walked in the direction of Artemis' car, both of them excited for a Thanksgiving meal and Ashlyn's party tomorrow.

--- ☆ • ♫ • ♪ • ♫ • ☆ ---

AS IT TURNS out, Ricky did end up accepting Athena's offer of him and his dad coming over for Thanksgiving dinner. Athena and Artemis had been up early to help their mom with making their meal, and at about two in the afternoon, Ricky showed up with Mike. Mike and Athena's dad went on to go watch the football game in the living room while Ricky was dragged in (by Athena, naturally) to help make some of the food.

The six of them had a very nice dinner with each other, conversation flowing easily throughout the table. Athena couldn't help but smile. Not only was it her first holiday with Ricky as her official boyfriend, but she felt truly happy. All of those confusing feelings and thoughts from earlier had faded away.

Now, Athena and Ricky sat up in her room, full from dinner and wanting to spend some time alone. Athena sat at her vanity, pulling her hair back into a simple ponytail with two pieces framing her face. Meanwhile, Ricky was sitting on the girl's bed, seemingly lost in thought. The soundtrack of all three High School Musical movies played softly in the background.

"Hey, Attie?" Ricky suddenly began.

"Hmm?" she hummed in response, turning to face him as she tightened her ponytail.

"Do you think I should call my mom?"

Athena smiled sadly and got up, walking over and sitting next to him on her bed. "Yeah, I think you should. She might not be here right now and things might be a little weird, but I think she would love to hear from you." She nudged his shoulder with hers. "I'll be here. You got this."

Ricky took a deep breath before nodding pulling out his phone from his pocket. He dialed his mom's number and put his phone on speaker, probably so Athena could hear the conversation and say hi to his mother, too.

"Hello?" a man's voice suddenly said, picking up the call.

"Oh, um . . . I'm sorry," Ricky apologized, him and Athena sharing a confused look. "Uh, I was trying to reach Lynne. I think I have the wrong number."

"No, you got it right. Ricky, this is Todd. I've heard so much about you."

Ricky seemed at a loss for words. "Wait, uh, what?"

"Lynne's in the shower. Can I take a message?"

Ricky hung up the phone. He leaned forwards, placing his elbows on his knees and putting his face in his hands. Athena frowned and rubbed his back gently, not knowing what exactly to do in this situation. This had never happened to her personally and she was a new girlfriend. However, there was one thing that she knew could potentially cheer him up.

"You know how life can be," Athena sang quietly to Just Wanna Be With You playing. "It changes overnight."

Ricky raised his head from his hands. Athena took one of his hands and gave it a comforting squeeze.

"It's sunny then raining, but it's alright," she continued, looking straight into his eyes. The lyrics she was singing was absolutely true. "A friend like you always makes it easy, I know that you get me every time. Through every up, through every down, you know I'll always be around." Athena held up their interlocked hands. "Through anything, you can count on me."

Ricky rolled his eyes slightly, a ghost of a smile on his face as he joined in with her, not knowing how Athena could make him feel better so fast. "All I wanna do is be with you, be with you."

Athena smiled back at him and pulled him up from her bed, twirling him around. Ricky laughed slightly at her antics before he pulled her closer. He put his arms around her waist while she wound hers around his neck, the two of them beginning to dance around her bedroom.

"There's nothing we can't do," they harmonized to the song in the background. "Just wanna be with you, only you. No matter where life takes us, nothing can break us apart."

"You know it's true," Ricky added.

"I just wanna be with you." Athena and Ricky placed their foreheads on one another's as they finished the song. "I just wanna be with you."

The two stood there in silence for a moment. Athena couldn't even imagine how Ricky was feeling right now. It was the first Thanksgiving without his mom there, and now he suddenly learned she had a new boyfriend out of nowhere from a phone call she didn't answer.

"Thank you, Athena," Ricky suddenly stated, lifting his head and looking down at her properly.

"Of course," Athena responded. "And just like the song said, through anything, you can count on me. For anything."

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Athena turned her head towards her door and knit her eyebrows in thought. She didn't know who could possibly be at the door. There was a possibility it could be Violetta, but she had informed Athena that she would be getting a ride to Ashlyn's from EJ.

"Athena, Ricky, one of your friends is here!" Amanda called up.

The two of them gave each other confused glances. They left Athena's room and padded down the steps to see Gina standing inside by the door, a tray of cupcakes in her hands and a nervous smile on her face.

"Hey, Gina," Athena greeted, smiling briefly at her mother as she walked off to leave the three alone. "What's up?"

"Well, I heard that Ricky was having Thanksgiving at your house, so I thought the three of us could walk to Ashlyn's together, but it's kind of freezing out, so I made you two hats," Gina announced, placing the cupcakes down on the table.

She pulled out two burnt orange knitted hats out of her purse. Athena and Ricky took them from her, and Athena studied it. She wouldn't exactly wear it with the ponytail she had in right now, but it was cute. Athena looked back up to Ricky to gush about how cute they were, but he had a bothered look on his face. She nudged his side. He glanced at her, and in his eyes she could tell this whole situation was still bothering him.

"You made these?" Ricky asked.

"I mean, you spend enough time alone in the house and you pick up all sorts of crafts on YouTube," Gina replied.

"Uh, yeah." Ricky awkwardly placed the hat down on the table next to the door. "Sorry, but can Athena and I meet you there?"

Gina frowned. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, yep."

She looked to Athena. The girl placed a very unconvincing smile on her face. Gina then gave Ricky a disbelieving look.

"Okay, no. I guess my mom has a new boyfriend and it's just a lot. Athena cheered me up a little bit with some singing, but . . . it's still hard to process. Sorry. I hate to be a downer."

Athena shook her head. "Don't apologize for things you can control."

"Look, I . . . I get it," Gina cut in.

"No offense, but I'm not sure you do," Ricky argued.

"Let me guess. You're mad at everyone and everything — well, besides Athena — because just when you're getting used to things changing, they change again. Am I close?"

"Little bit."

Gina tapped the side of her head. "Not just a hat-rack, my friend."

"Who told you about—?" Ricky began.

"Ricky, I'm not sure you noticed, but, um, my family's just me and my mom. She works at FEMA, so we basically move whenever disaster strikes. I've had a few feelings in my life."

"Yeah, no. Of course. I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

"Can I say something?" Athena interrupted, making them both look at her. "I am in no way qualified to say I understand what the two of you are going through, but I just wanted to say I'm very proud of both of you for pushing through."

Ricky kissed the top of her head quickly, making her smile. "Think I should, like, text her Happy Thanksgiving, or something?"

"No," Gina replied, stepping in between the two and slinging her arms around their shoulders. "What I think we should do is go to the party and spend a few hours being drama dorks as the good Lord intended. Do what makes you happy."

"Come on," Athena encouraged. "You know you want to, Ric."

Ricky sighed. "Give me that hat."

He grabbed it off the table and put it on. Athena covered her mouth with her hand as she began to giggle from him wearing it.

"Aw, you look so cute," she commented while putting her shoes on.

"That's too big," Gina added.

"I'll grow into it," Ricky stated while walking towards the door.

Athena nodded, zipping up her jacket and taking Ricky's hand once she was done. "Oh, yeah. Definitely."

The three of them then left Athena's house, walking to Ashlyn's house with conversation and laughter being shared throughout them. And if Athena was certain of one thing, it was that all of them were determined to have a good night despite whatever was bothering them.

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CUTE MOMENT CUTE MOMENT CUTE MOMENT

also just letting you know that athena is very much a swiftie (as am I) so do with that what you will

y'all my favorite taylor swift album is lover and I think that says a lot about me.