CHAPTER FIVE
·.¸¸.·♩♪♫ mr perfectly fine ♫♪♩·.¸¸.·

REECE SAT AT THE PIANO AS Carlos taught the choreography for the curtain call. She glanced over at Josie who sat on one of the many boxes filled with the props, scrolling on her Instagram feed.  She then glanced over to her sister, as she talked to Ashlyn about god knows what.

"I'm kinda lost," Ricky admitted as he walked with Nini and Carlos. "If the play's over, why would we still de dancing?"

"It's a curtain call." Carlos explained, "You two," he motioned between Nini and Ricky, "are the last to come out. We want to bring the audience to their feet."

"Teach them the dance," Ricky said sarcastically.

"Carlos," Nini said clearly annoyed with her ex-boyfriend's antics, "can we just wait for Ms. Jenn to get here?"

"Ms. Jenn is busy tracking down a prop. She's asked me to create a crescendo, people. So, let's stop swirling and start twirling." he said with a tight smile.

"But why are we practicing the bows when we haven't even practiced the play," Ricky asked once again.

Carlos sighed, "Because you start with the hardest dance that takes the longest to learn. It's on The Big of Broadway page-"

"374," Gina said with him. Carlos smiled proudly as they high five each other.

Clearly still confused with the logic Reece cut in. "It's easy, Ricky, when taking a test you start with the hardest questions then at the end you do the easier ones because you know even with only 5 minutes on the clock you'll get them done." Ricky nodded.

"Okay, people, let's take it from three counts of eight right before Troy and Gabriella's entrance for the bows," Carlos instructed as the dancers (plus Ricky and Nini) got to their positions. "Five, six, seven, eight."

Reece started playing. The dance went well until it reached Ricky and Nini's part. Nini did well(ish) but Ricky struggled a lot, which was to be expected but Nini seemed pissed. "I'm sorry," he apologized.

Reece immediately stopped playing.

Nini pointed to Ricky and spoke to Carlos. "What is he doing?"

"Why are you talking to him? I'm right here."

"'Cause, you're not here. At least not for the right reasons."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what I said Ricky, you hate musicals. You're only doing this so we'd be in each other's grills."

Reece began to pack up her bag, just in case. "Back to the dance, please," Carlos said attempted to keep the peace. It didn't work.

"Now you're rubbing some weird cologne on your neck." Nini began to walk away from Ricky.

"Hey, you love Throb." he pointed out.

"And you're wasting everybody's time by making fun of something that the rest of us take seriously-"

Nini was quickly cut off by Carlos, "Okay! That's a five!" he exclaimed, "On a break people. Everybody out, get out."

"Thank you, five" Reece whispered to herself, walking out the door Anne and Josie beside her. Anne offered the girls some skittles, they smiled at the younger redhead taking some and popping it into their mouths.

"How long do you think that'll go on for?" Anne asked as they sat on the floor.

Josie shrugged, "How many rehearsals did you say we have again?"

"74," Reece replied, popping another few skittles in her mouth.

"Well, then there's your answer."

"I hate that number," Reece said randomly. The girls looked between themselves and Reece confused at the girls' words.

Josie swallowed the rest of her candies. "Any particular reason?"

"Nope, just hate it. 74 is a shit number."

The conversation ended there for Reece. As her sister and best friend chatted away she stared blankly at the wall. She didn't hate the number 74, in fact, she had never thought of the number before today. 74 was the number associated with the number of days she would have to see EJ and Nini acting the way she and EJ had and it was crushing her knowing that. She always had this 'perfect' idea of what her first real relationship was going to be like, and it was 'perfect' until it wasn't.

A clap, made by Carlos, interrupted her thoughts. "Rehearsals are canceled today until I can get our Troy back...somehow."

♪♫ ♫♪

Reece walked to the auditorium during lunch. Josie wasn't at school, she said something about her Grandmother, a rock, and a very large cat, and Anne had a completely different lunch schedule. As you can see her options were minimal. The Way I Loved You by Taylor Swift played on repeat as she walked. "Breaking down and coming undone. It's a roller coaster kinda rush." she hummed along.

She was in her own world so much she walked straight into Nini who looked as if she were running away from someone. The girls let out a yelp in surprise.

"Nini!" she exclaimed as they stood the doors of the auditorium.

"Sorry, I didn't see you." the brunette apologized.

"It's okay, I wasn't paying attention myself."

Nini let out a breathy laugh.

"I'm really sorry about the whole audition song thing." Reece apologized. "It wasn't about you and I have nothing against you, I just...I don't know,"

"Needed it?" Nini finished for her.

Reece smiled, "Yeah."

"It's okay, Reece, you don't have to apologize. And what I said before was true, you're audition was spectacular. Those vocals, oh my god."

"Me? What about you, Ms. Gabriella!" the girls laughed. "But, seriously, Nini, you're a great person...and EJ deserves that. I don't resent him, I just have a lot of feelings." as much as it hurt to say she was glad EJ and Nini found each other, they worked well together.

Nini nodded, she understood what Reece was going through.

"You going in?" the redhead nodded, both walking into the room. They heard faint piano cords coming from the stage, they continued walking until they saw Ashlyn.

"Oh, hi," the girl said quickly, eyes wide.

"Hi." Nini and Reece said back.

"Sorry, Ash, we didn't realize anyone was in here," Reece said placing her bag at the foot of the piano.

Ashlyn quickly grabbed her stuff. "I can be gone in seven seconds- six if I don't zip my bag."

"No, no, no. Don't go." Nini stopped her, "What was that?"

"What was what?"

"The song you were just playing."

"Oh, that song..." she gripped onto her notebook. "Ms. Jenn asked me to compose a song for my character. It's probably way too much." She placed her notebook back on the piano. "I'm playing Ms. Darbus."

"I know who you're playing, Ashlyn. I sat across from you at the read-through."

"And you're my sister's best friend." Reece cut in. Twisting her pencil between her fingers as she sat patiently.

"Plus you're EJ's cousin," Nini added, discomfort formed onto Ashlyn's (and Reece's) face.

"We don't have to talk about EJ. I don't want to talk about EJ. Do you want to talk about EJ?" she rambled.

"Nope," Reece whispered.

"I mean, I do. Just...not right now." Nini stuttered.

A few minutes, passed and Reece put her notebook away, she was trying to write a song for her character too, but she didn't know where to begin.

"Why don't you play some more of your song?" Ashlyn nodded as she began to play on the piano.

"Seems like a part of me will always have to lose. Every single time I have to choose. Swore that it felt right, but was I wrong? Is this where I'm supposed to be at all? I don't have the answers, not today. It's like nothing makes the questions go away. What I'd give to see if the grass was greener. On the other side of all, I've had and lost. Would it be enough, or would I still be wondering?"

"If I could go back and change the past. Be a little braver than I had and bet against the odds. Would I still be lost? Even if I woke up in my dreams. Would there still be something I'm missing? If I had everything, would it mean anything?"

Ashlyn motioned for Nini to join in,"Maybe I should turn around and take the other road. Or maybe I'm just looking for what I already know. I'm just wondering."

Now alone, Nini continued to sing."Feels like I might have broke the best thing that I had. I said too much to ever take it back. Scared I'll never find something as good and would I even know it if I could?"

Reece then followed suit as Nini stopped singing."If I could go back and change the past. Be a little brave than I had and bet against the odds. Would I still be lost?"

All three teenagers joined together. "Even if I woke up in my dreams. Would there still be something I'm missing? If I had everything, would it mean anything?"

"To me?" Reece and Nini finished.

They heard a noise from behind and turned their heads only to see EJ staring at Reece. "We're back."

"Sorry?" Reece questioned.

"Downstairs, Ms. Jenn wants to see everyone in the comb shelter." He smiled softly and left. Reece nodded. Nini and Ashlyn looked at the girl, who seemed to be running the short conversation through her head over and over again.

—(••[ Reece Hastings ]••)—

"That wasn't anything..." she stuttered before walking out of frame.

INEZ SPEAKS

Told you I'd make it up to you, DOUBLE UPDATE! The next chapter may include a song 'written by none other than Reece Hastings. It will be a song by Tate McRae whom I love with all my heart! I can't wait for you all to read it!

Edit: I lied 😐