"Woo! Still got it."

He retrieves the ball and tosses it back to Dylan, where they begin to play.

Meanwhile, Hailee has seen what she wanted to see, which was for Y/N to help the boy from an angle he was comfortable with. She smiles slightly and turns away from the window.

• • •

Y/N PACES BACK and forth, reading from his Thornton's Way playbook. A pencil rests behind his ear, and one is in his mouth. He takes the pencil out of his mouth and jots down a note. Eat Pray Love by Paul Russell plays from his stereo.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

(A/N: The upcoming segments are my attempt at a montage with lyrics from the track above. It's also in the banner at the top of the chapter. Scenes are going to bounce around as I display a bit of Y/N's personal growth. If it's jarring, just bear with me lmao.)

In the theater, Mrs. Rosen helps position Y/N and Taylor on the stage. Danny observes from a seat with his playbook in hand.

They keep repeating the same action, with Taylor shoving Y/N and walking off. Y/N just leans against the makeshift bar, taking the constant shoves from both Taylor and Mrs. Rosen.

Girl, you got my pockets on apocalypse
Why you act like all these drinks is bottomless?

The teacher demonstrates her idea of a perfect shove: quick and rough. Y/N rubs his shoulder, feeling the after-effects of all the demonstrations.

Mrs. Rosen shows Taylor how to approach Y/N in a dramatic fashion. She mimics the teacher and, of course, adds the shove.

In his room later that night, Y/N reads from the book aloud. The song continues.

All these restaurants with girls you went to college with
All these courses, baby, I'm gon' need a scholarship

He stops pacing, taking the pencil from behind his ear to write something down.

Mrs. Rosen continues to explain more of the play to Y/N.

Okay, girl, meet at the club with your boy
Now you think you 'bout to eat, pray, love with your boy

The teenager goes back to the bar area and stands there as Taylor shoves him again.

And again.

And again.

And again.

Y/N is in his room and reads more from the play. He twirls the pencil around in his hand.

Give me more than receipts, babe, trust in ya boy
Maybe one day you can eat, pray, love with your boy

He stops pacing and looks up, thinking, before gazing back at the booklet.

Mrs. Rosen positions Hailee in a chair. Y/N sits across from them and watches with a bored expression on his face, his head resting on his hand.

You talking 'bout this your summer, finna find yourself
Hit a coastline, nice hotel

Later, the teacher shows Hailee how to walk to the bar. The girl mimics the action.

Girl, I'm not paying, so remind yourself

Mrs. Rosen then shows the girl how to walk across the stage in an elegant manner. Y/N and Hailee watch as she strolls past them, in which the latter cracks up.

Back in his room, Y/N looks down at his outfit and does some movements with his hands.

If I'm in a Hyundai with an iPhone 12
Then I'm sure not buying y'all flights on Delta

He continues to recite more lines from his booklet as he sits on his bed.

Hailee is positioned in the middle of the stage, and Mrs. Rosen moves her head toward Y/N, where her eyes fall on him. His back is turned to her as he looks at his booklet.

It kills me to tell ya, okay
But we done had every soufflé in the state

Y/N takes a huge bite from a sandwich as he paces back and forth in his room, reading.

He chews his food as he exaggeratedly moves his hands as he recites the lines.

Mrs. Rosen positions Hailee's head to face sideways again. Y/N looks over and checks her out, his head resting on the top of his hand.

Can we let it just breathe?
Is you tryna break bread, break bread when it isn't on me?

The teacher places the girl's hands together as if she's about to pray. He smirks, his expression reading as if he's thinking not bad.

Y/N marks something down in his playbook with his pencil.

He sighs as he erases it and jots another thing down.

Is you tryna spend time, spend time if it isn't all free?
Baby, is you in it for you or me?

Y/N and Taylor are now in their stylish costumes. She wears a red dress while Y/N wears a black suit jacket and a hat. The young man sets a drink down on the table.

Okay, girl, meet at the club with your boy
Now you think you 'bout to eat, pray, love with your boy

Taylor shoves him once...then tries again...and again...and again.

Now you think you 'bout to eat, pray, love with your boy
Give me more than receipts, babe, trust in ya boy

She keeps going to perfect the take.

Y/N recites some more from the play in his room. He's really into it now as he adds some physicality to it.

Maybe one day you can eat, pray, love with your boy (Eat, pray, love)
Maybe one day you can eat, pray, love with your boy
Meet at the club with your boy

The next day, Y/N holds the strap of his backpack and walks through the crowd in the school hallway. Hailee is also amidst the crowd, passing each other by.

Now you think you 'bout to eat, pray, love with your boy
Give me more than receipts, babe, trust in ya boy
Maybe one day you can eat, pray, love with your boy

They look at one another as they go. The girl looks back at Y/N.

(Eat, pray, love)
(Eat, pray, love)
(Eat, pray, love)

She quickly faces forward again and keeps walking. Y/N makes some distance before glancing back at her. He watches for a second before he keeps moving.

Moments later, Hailee turns around and sees him walking away. She stares for a second before also going on her way.

Maybe one day you can eat, pray, love with your boy

• • •

THE HIGH SCHOOLER enters the rehab center on Balboa Boulevard. He is shown the room of the patient he wants to see, and he goes inside.

On the bed is Michael Dunlop, sporting a cast on his arm. He is watching Sam Raimi's Spider-Man on the television but isn't really paying attention.

He glances at Y/N for a moment, aware of his presence, before looking back at the TV.

"I came to say I'm sorry," Y/N says, his hands in his pockets.

Michael shrugs. "Well, you did. You feel better?"

"No. I feel like shit."

"You know what?" He turns to Y/N. "I—I actually thought I wanted to be your friend."

Y/N stays silent. Michael scoffs and shakes his head.

"And now...I have no idea why." He adds. "No idea."

An explosion on the television sounds off, and Michael brings his attention back to the movie. Y/N lets out a sigh.

"I made that jump once. And thought I was a badass. I remember actually saying that I—I meant to bellyflop."

Y/N chuckles. Michael looks back at the teenager.

"Did it hurt?" He asks.

"Like hell." Y/N replies.

Michael responded rather coldly. "Good."

There is a beat. After some time, Michael slightly smiles. Y/N reciprocates.

"So, I guess I'll see you at school then." He tells Michael.

The teenager nods. Y/N nods back and soon leaves the room.

• • •

AFTER THREE WEEKS of preparation, the night of the play has arrived. A Thornton's Way banner hands over the theater door as people shuffle inside the building.

The play continues. Y/N, as Tommy, speaks to the person at the bar.

"Pour me a drink, Joey."

Everyone on the stage looks very stylish with their prohibition-era clothing. A couple of guys are playing a game of cards at a table, and another couple is behind them enjoying martinis. A waitress strolls over to the bar where Y/N and Taylor stand.

She stands a foot in front of him, hands on her hips and looking pouty. Y/N looks down at the hat in his hands before he fixes his gaze on her. He isn't looking too happy, either.

Taylor, as Betty, speaks.

"You promised me, Tommy. No more of your no-goodnik schemes." She faces him, sadly. "You promised me we'd go to Paris."

Meanwhile, Danny and Mrs. Rosen are by the curtain. The boy checks the crowd while the teacher looks anxiously at the performers on stage.

A man wearing a business suit enters the theater quietly, looking up at the stage, specifically at Y/N, as he heads to a seat.

In the audience scattered about are Laura and Matthew, who sit side by side, and Andres, who is a row in front of them asleep. Casey, Krystal, and Y/N's mom, Anna, sit in the same row.

"I'm not gonna sit on my keister and watch all the fat cats in this town get rich, okay?" Y/N responds to Taylor. "Trust me."

Taylor folds her hands. Y/N continues.

"This is a sure thing."

Taylor sighs, and Y/N picks up his drink.

Back in the audience, Principal Wilson watches the play, looking a bit grumpily. His friend and another teacher at the school, Mr. Barnes, notices his mood.

"Lighten the hell up, Sam." He whispers. "What? Rather be listening to Marvin Gaye alone in your living room?"

Principal Wilson snaps back. "Put a cork in it, Buck."

The play continues.

"That's it," Taylor says, then walks a few paces ahead. "We are through."

Krystal snaps a picture of the performance as Taylor continues to scold Y/N. He stays in character and sets his drink down, ignoring her.

"Go ahead and run your booze. You big dope!"

She shoves him roughly, harder than the many times they practiced. Y/N had to stop himself from absentmindedly rubbing the area and just looked at her angrily. Taylor strolls past him.

"And I hope you drown in it." She adds.

Taylor stops abruptly. A mysterious hooded stranger comes out from the back and stands in her way. In the audience, Reverend Henry watches, intrigued.

"So..." Taylor checks out the stranger while Y/N looks at his hat. "You must be the new girl he's hired. The singer?"

Y/N drums his fingertips on his hat as he looks at the two ladies. Taylor speaks to the stranger.

"You want some free advice about this one?" She asks, glancing at Y/N. "Stay far away. He's nothing but trouble and cheap spats."

Y/N just snickers at her statement. Taylor leaves the scene, leaving the young man and the stranger.

The play went on. In the audience, Laura looks bored, Matthew doesn't care about the performance at all, and Andres is snoring.

Back on stage, Y/N is in a scene with the stranger. He sits on a chair, having been shot, as some specks of blood are on his shoulder. His left arm rests on his thigh and is unmoved.

"Look, I ain't blamin' you." He says. "I ain't askin' for forgiveness either."

The stranger then removes her hood, revealing Hailee as the mysterious club singer to the audience. Y/N keeps looking forward and sighs.

"I just did what I had to." He adds.

Hailee removes her cloak to reveal a gorgeous rose-pink satin gown with sheer black gloves covering her hands and arms. Her hair is done as well, contrasting from her usual straightened look.

Y/N finally turns to look at her and is quite taken aback. He had never seen her like this before and never thought she could even pull off a look like that. She stares back as she sets the cloak aside.

The boy can't turn his attention away from her. He's so tongue-tied that he's forgotten his lines. His voice is somewhat shaky as he begins to remember.

"W—When you walked out of the rain..."

In the audience, Reverend Henry looks a bit troubled. He rubs his chin and keeps watching. Hailee sits beside Y/N, and the two don't take their eyes off each other.

"And into my club." Y/N softly says. "That wasn't just a coincidence, was it?"

She shakes her head and speaks as Emily.

"Nothing's coincidence."

Laura and Matthew are suddenly fascinated by the play. Andres was, too, now wide awake and gazing at Hailee and Y/N.

"Your face...you looked so familiar." Y/N gently says. "Like this dame I knew once, only..." He inhales sharply. " It wasn't real. It was a dream."

"Tell me about this dream girl." Hailee replies.

Y/N gazes at her silently for a moment. He seemed to have lost the ability to speak. He looks down. In the audience, the man who came in late waits expectantly for the line.

"Well..." Y/N shakily says. "I don't...remember."

He looks at Hailee again. Danny and Mrs. Rosen stand behind the curtain and start to get worried.

"All I know..." Y/N says.

Hailee watches him thoughtfully and patiently. He immediately says the first thing that pops into his mind