Nini and I walked into the auditorium, as I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans

"You are going to do great," Nini reassured me as I smiled

"You too, good luck," I added as we walked onto the stage to see Carlos trailing behind the new drama teacher

"For those of you who don't remember I am Miss Jenn, now line up." She clapped her hands as we all got into a line for some reason I decided to straight to the back of it, she went through the line stating what characters she felt that we were

"A blonde Gabriella would be so fresh." She pointed at me as Carlos nodded and I smiled

"Red wheres Ricky?" I whispered over to Big Red as he shrugged

"No clue, I thought he was going to come with you." He said as I shook my head

I stayed at the back with Big Red as we watched everyone auditioning as Ricky ran in

"Sorry I'm late, can I still audition?" He asked as Miss Jenn looked at him

"We have enough Troy's we need are low on Chads." She stated as Ricky came and sat down.

"But I only know the Troys part," Ricky complained as she shook her head

"Well, then you can audition after the last Gabriella, Blondie." She said as she pointed at me and came over to stand next to Red

"Well, I should probably be getting down there," I said as he nodded. and gave me a hug

"Good luck," he said as I smiled, I sat next to Ricky as Nini started her audition

"You got this babe!" EJ yelled as the lights went off, but Nini just continued her audition

"Still don't remember why you ever dated him," Ricky whispered into. my ear as I rolled my eyes

"Don't be jealous that you haven't gotten a piece of this," I said with a giggle as he turned his face back to Nini

"I was kidding." I pouted as I also looked back to Nini

What Aurora didn't know was that Ricky had turned away from her in the hope that she wouldn't notice him blushing

"Good luck Rora," Ricky whispered as I got up

"I am Aurora Blake, I'm a junior and I'll be auditioning for the role of Gabriella," I said as I got onto the stage.

"Let's hear you sing now," Miss Jenn said as I finished the script. I smiled as I saw Ricky giving me a thumbs up.

"Been this way since 18

But lately, her face seems

Slowly sinking, wasting

Crumbling like pastries

And they scream

The worst things in life come free to us

'Cause we're just under the upper hand

And go mad for a couple grams

And she don't want to go outside tonight

And in a pipe, she flies to the Motherland

Or sells love to another man

It's too cold outside

For angels to fly

Angels to fly"

"That was great!" Ricky said as he hugged me when we walked past each other,

"Go win the girl Bowen." I giggled as I walked over to EJ.

"You did great E," I said with a smile as I sat down next to him

"A blonde Gabriella is gonna be hot." He whispered as I tried to hold in a laugh

"Why does Ricky keep on looking at you and Nini?" EJ added as I looked up to see Ricky looking right at me whilst he was singing.

"You worried you got competition E?" I giggled as he shook his head

"Cast lists will be posted in 45 minutes if you'd all like to stay," Miss Jenn said as Ricky finished

"You did amazing," I said as I threw my arms around his neck,

"T-thanks," Ricky stuttered as he hugged me back

We both sheepishly pulled away as we heard someone clear their throat behind us.

"Can I talk to you?" EJ and Nini said at the same time, EJ looking at me as Nini looked at Ricky.

"Together or separately?" Ricky asked as I nodded,

"Separately," EJ answered as he grabbed my hand and pulled me out into the hallway and then into one of the practice rooms.

"Is there a reason that you've brought me into a private room, cause if you wanted to kill me you could have asked." I joked as I stood with my back against the piano

"Yes blondie, after dating you this was my plan to kill you," EJ said as he rolled his eyes, I giggled hearing his old nickname for me,

"So what's up?" I asked as he stood in front of me,

"I'm sorry for how I acted last night, what goes on with you and Ricky is none of my business, but if he hurts you again I'm going to kill him." He stated as I giggled

"Thank you, E, but remember I'm a big girl who has two older brothers who would also kill him," I said as he laughed

"I'm not forcing you to tell me, but why did you break up with me?" I asked as I was filled with the curious thought,

"I don't even know," he whispered as he leaned in, I was shocked when I realized what he was trying to do

"E, we can't do this. You have a girlfriend and we broke up" I said as I put my hand on his chest to push him away.

"I know you dislike Nini right now but this is low," Ricky stated with venom as he turned to walk back out of the room

"Ricky wait it's not what it looks like!" I yelled as I ran after him,

"How could you let him do that to her!" He shouted at me as tears welled up in his eyes

"I didn't kiss him, I stopped right before it happened." I matched his tone as we both glared at each other,

"What's happened to us, we never used to fight." He whispered as I shrugged and slide onto the floor against a locker, I tapped the ground next to me motioning for him to sit

"Why were you late to auditions?" I asked as he sat,

"My parents are getting a divorce, I know I can't complain-" He answered as I interrupted him.

"Don't be silly, you can always talk to me. I really can't imagine what you're going through." I said genuinely as he gave me a hug

"Sorry to break the moment, but the cast list has just been posted," Nini stated as we got up and followed her to the glass window,

"Good luck Bowen," I whispered as we both read the sheet

Gabriella - Aurora Blake

Gabriella Understudy - Nini Salazar

Troy - Ricky Bowen

Troy Understudy - EJ Caswell

"We did it!" I squealed as I hugged Ricky,

"Of course we did." He laughed as we let go of each other, as Big Red came up to Ricky I turned to see Nini,

"I need to talk to you," I said as I walked over to her.

"About?" Nini asked as I pointed to an area further away from the group.

"I'm telling you this due to the fact that if I was in your position I would rather know when EJ wanted to talk to me he did try to make a move on me-" I said as she interrupted me.

"Of course he did." She responded as she sucked her teeth,

"What is your problem with me?" I asked being slightly annoyed.

"You can't help not everything! The lead of the musical, Ricky and you just have to have my boyfriend." She glared

"I don't have Ricky, we are just friends and he isn't an object," I yelled getting slightly angry as to how she was talking about Ricky.

"Have you not see the way he looked at you! Even when we were dating." She whispered the last part,

"Wait are you jealous of me?" I asked slightly concerned as she nodded.

"Of course I am Aurora, you're the literal definition of gorgeous." She answered me feeling slightly insecure.

"Nini you're amazing you know anyone would be lucky to have you." I smiled at her as she looked back up at me

"You are too pure for this world Aurora." She said as she opened her arms to give me a hug,

"And I'm sorry about being angry at you for telling me." She added as I hugged her

"Don't worry about it." I smiled,

"Aurora you ready to leave?" Ricky asked as he held my skateboard.

"Yea, I'll see you tomorrow Nini," I said with a smile as I walked over to Ricky

"I'm sorry that you don't get to play the lead with her," I said once we were far away enough so that she wouldn't hear us,

"Rora, playing the lead with my best friend is even better." He stated as I smiled and hopped onto my board,

"You really mean that?" I asked as he laughed at the lack of certainty in my voice

"Of course I do."

______________________________________________

Amber's Corner,

So that just happened...