𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫
━━ 𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝒈𝒂𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂

     And with that, the show began. Ricky and Nini stepped into the stage with microphones in their hands and singing the first song of the many that were ahead of them that day. They were doing amazing, even better than they had done all those days at rehearsal, and people knew that. The audience could not stop smiling and, once they finished their song, they clapped for a solid two minutes non-stop.

     "Next thing I knew, I was looking at the ceiling," Nini said, following the script, "but you sounded like you've done a lot of singing."

     "Oh, yeah, lots," Ricky continued, making the audience laugh "my shower head is really impressed with me."

     Everything seemed to be going according to plan until Big Red failed to play the fireworks and Mr Mazzara had to step into the show and help him. With Kourtney as Taylor, the next two scenes went as planned and Juliette felt her heart accelerate as her moment to step into the spotlight approached.

     Once on stage, she focused on what Carlos had just taught her and did as good as she could, but lost concentration when Gina appeared dancing as well with her green jacket and white jeans. Her sight was diverted to the left wing of the stage, where Ricky stood looking at the stage as if he had seen an angel. And honestly she looked like it, a saving angel that had appeared to save the night.

She tripped with her own feet and lost balance for a moment, but Gina caught her and directed her to where she was supposed to be dancing, enabling her to continue with the number.

     The redhead could not even process what was happening, everything was so frantic that she could not focus on anything else other than her own steps, she didn't even hear the audience.

     When the music stopped after Seb's scream as Sharpay, she ran off the stage and off the gymnasium altogether, breathing heavily. She sat in the hallway and put her head between her knees until a female voice interrupted her. It was Gina asking her if she was okay.

    "I am I just... I didn't expect to have to go out there and dance," she explained as the other girl sat by her side, she could hear Nini singing on stage, "thanks, by the way, for what you did. I got... a bit distracted."

     "Ricky, right?"

     "Absolutely not," she tried to hide it, but she knew it had been as obvious as could be, "why would you say that?"

     "I saw you looking at him, countless times actually," she smiled looking at her, "and I saw him looking at you."

     "I don't think he was... we are actually not really talking, right now. What are you doing here, anyway? I though we would never see you again."

     "One night only, a friend bought me a plane ticket. Let's go backstage, in case you are desperately needed for another musical number."

     "If I have to go there and dance again, I think I'll faint," she laughed and both girls marched towards the same room as the rest of the cast and crew.

     "Juliette!" everybody exclaimed as she entered into the crowded room alongside the taller girl, "you did amazing out there!"

     "Troy and ballers, five minutes! Ricky we want you in your harness pronto," Carlos interrupted. He was constantly running up and down, trying to make everything perfect. And everything was going amazingly well, the sense of pride that everybody was feeling could not be described with words. All their hard work was paying off.

     "You did great," Ricky complimented her, "I know you don't want to..."

     "Ricky, you need to get on stage again," she looked at him, "it's not the time to do this right now. We'll talk later if you want."

     His gaze lingered on the girl's eyes for some seconds but, ultimately, he realized that what Juliette was saying was true and stepped outside. However, that momentary calmness did not last, since Nini entered the backstage, freaking out, "I need water."

     "Everything okay?" Juliette asked, handing her a bottle of water from the small box Miss Jenn had brought for them.

     "The dean of the Youth Actors conservatory is here and... this is next level of pressure."

     "Nini, if anyone deserves a shot here, it is you," the redhead smiled to the girl, "you are crushing it. Don't let her distract you. You were literally born to play Gabriella."

—

     Getcha' head in the game started playing from the orchestra and Juliette walked to the wings to see the number. This was one of Ricky's big moments and, even if they were not on talking terms at the moment, she wanted to be there to support him. She could not help it.

     Everything was going as planned on the script and the harness worked perfectly but then Ricky failed. He stopped singing and let the ball fall from his hands. It was clear that something had happened, although no one was able to figure out exactly what, and it became even more obvious when he stepped out of the dance number and walked to the wings.

     "Ricky, are you okay?" Carlos asked.

     "I... no. Has anyone seen Nini? 'Cause I could really use a pep talk right now. My mom's boyfriend showed up and I wanna punch a wall. I need a miracle to face act two."

     "Nini's in a quick change break right now, she seems really nervous," Carlos explained.

     "Why? What happened?"

     "I thought I was doing the right thing but I think it backfired," Kourtney approached them, "You see that lady with the clipboard out there? That's the dean from the performative art school she was looking at."

     "You invited her?" Ricky asked, incredulously.

     "Ricky are you okay? You look like you're shaking, do you need to sit down?" Kourtney offered, feeling sorry for the boy. He may not be her favourite person ever but they were still both part of this.

     "Actually I do," he confessed and stepped out of the gym.

—

     "Ricky! What happens? Why aren't you on your costume?" the redhead asked when he saw him sitting out in the hallway, his head in his hands. She was panting, since she had been looking for the curly-haired boy for almost ten minutes, although more than five persons interrupted her in the process.

     "I just... I can't go out there, Juliette," he admitted, breaking down, "my mom has come with her new boyfriend and there is a person out there that could change Nini's life and I don't want to mess that for her."

     "Ricky, hey, no, please don't cry," she asked for while kneeling besides the boy and hugging him tightly.

     "I gave my role to E.J."

    "Oh my God, after fighting for all this time, you handed your role to him?" she rolled her eyes, chuckling lightly while remembering everything that had happened between the boys.

     "I know, crazy, right?"

     Both teenagers sat down in the hallway and cuddled together while Juliette thought of what to say for Ricky to step in as Troy for the final act.

     "Look, Ricky. About Nini, let me tell you that there is no way you could ever mess up her big opportunity, okay? You are the Troy for her Gabriella, come on. You are Ricky and Nini, you ahve always been. The best thing you could do for her is to come back to support her. And as for your mom, I don't know what to say. Maybe she just was excited about her new... boyfriend meeting you and seeing you step into the spotlight. I'm not saying that it was actually the best way but..."

     "But my mom and my dad seemed to happy at the start. I saw them hugging!"

     "I know, Ricky. But we've already talked about this, remember?"

     At that very moment, while Ashlyn was starting to sing, Mrs Bowen came out of the gym looking for his son, which Juliette took as his cue to leave, not without quickly kissing Ricky's cheek and wishing him good luck.

     "Text me when you're done."