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𝗘𝗗𝗚𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧

chapter seven:
audition of a lifetime !

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THERE WAS A knock on her door, followed by her mother's voice. "Athena?"

Even over the music blasting throughout her room, Athena managed to look away from her mirror, which she had been looking in to apply mascara. Currently, it was Halloween night, and both Athena and Violetta were getting ready for the big party at Gina's house.

As per usual, like they did every Halloween, they were going as a duo costume — this year, it was Kiss and Marry. Ricky was the third part of his costume, which was Kill. Athena, in this situation, was Marry. She had on a white satin slip dress, white Converse, white gloves, a headband with a small veil on it, and a bouquet of flowers. It was a pretty basic costume, but she thought it was creative.

"Yeah?" Athena responded.

Amanda stepped into the room, holding an envelope in her hand. "This is for you."

"What is it?"

She smiled at her daughter, her eyes twinkling. "I think you should just look at it yourself."

Amanda handed her the envelope. Athena took it, but when she looked down at it, she immediately froze. In the top right corner, displayed in blue, were the words Juilliard School of Music. Athena glanced back up at her mother, who had nothing but anticipation flashing across her face.

"What'd you get?" Violetta asked from Athena's bed, where she was busy applying blush to her cheeks.

"A letter," Athena answered. "From Juilliard."

Violetta dropped the makeup brush in her hand, and her head snapped up. "You applied to Juilliard?"

Athena nodded. "I put in an application with an audition video."

"What? And you didn't tell me?"

"I didn't tell anyone, except my mom and dad," Athena insisted. "Come on, Vi, it's a shot in the dark. This letter's just going to tell me that I did great, but they don't need me for an in person audition."

"Or it could tell you that you're amazingly talented and want you for an in person audition," Violetta argued, standing up from the bed. "Come on, open it."

Athena let out a breath, looking up at her mom. "I'm nervous."

"We're right here with you, 'Thena," Amanda told her gently. "Whatever it is, we're proud of you either way."

She nodded slowly. Athena let out another deep breath. She could do this. Athena then tore into the envelope and pulled out the folded piece of paper. Her heart raced against her chest as she unfolded it. Athena's eyes went straight for the top, and . . .

Her heart stopped the second she saw congratulations.

Athena looked through the rest of the letter. She read it again, and again, and again, just to make sure that she absolutely wasn't reading it wrong. Yet every time she read it again, it just said the same thing. Her shot in the dark hadn't been in the dark after all.

"I got it," Athena breathed out, looking up at her best friend and mother with a wide smile stretching across her lips. She stood up and jumped up and down for a moment. "I got an audition to Juilliard!"

"Oh my God!" Violetta screamed, immediately tackling her in a hug. "'Thena, this is huge. Oh my God."

"I did it." Athena hugged her back tightly, rocking them slightly back and forth. "I can't believe it."

Amanda immediately took her daughter's face in her hands when she pulled away from Violetta. "I'm so proud of you, sweetheart." She pressed a kiss to her forehead before tugging her in for an extremely tight hug. "We'll plan a trip to New York soon. Oh, Athena, this is amazing." She then let her go. "Let me go tell your father."

Violetta waited until she left. "If you do get into Juilliard, how are you going to tell Ricky?"

"No idea," Athena answered truthfully. "He hates change, and . . . me moving fully across the country is a huge change." She shook her head and sat down at her vanity again. "I'll cross that bridge when I get to it, because if I think too much about it right now, I'll start crying."

There was also another person Athena couldn't stand leaving — Violetta. Her and Violetta had been through literally everything together, and Athena couldn't imagine a life without her. She wasn't stupid, Athena knew the movie could help Violetta get her name out into the dance world. Her dreams could go past college. It just hurt, a lot, to think that they would be going separate ways in the future.

"Okay, okay." Violetta took her spot on the bed again. "Any idea what song you'll audition with?"

"I've got no idea. I will also cross that bridge when I get to it. Right now, I just want to focus on Halloween."

--- ☆ • ♫ • ♪ • ♫ • ☆ ---

EVEN THOUGH ATHENA was still absolutely and positively riding on the high of actually getting a Juilliard audition, she decided to keep quiet about it for now.

Okay, no, don't give her that look.

"I'll tell him later," Athena insisted, climbing the stairs to Gina's bedroom, where music was coming from. "I'll tell everyone later, I promise. An audition doesn't guarantee anything."

"But it's still a huge achievement," Violetta argued. "'Thena, this could change your life."

"Or, Juilliard could just decline me afterwards." Athena sighed. "I promise that I'll freak out about it if I get accepted."

"When you get accepted, you mean." Violetta bumped her shoulder into hers. "Manifestation."

Athena finally stopped at the top of the stairs. Almost all of the theater department was hanging around Gina's bedroom, all dressed in their costumes. Gina's bedroom, by the way, looked incredible. Halloween decorations were everywhere, along with purple and orange string lights. It looked totally transformed.

"Quick announcement, everybody," Gina stated, turning to everyone. "Hello, welcome to my party. So since this is our first weekend off, the words High School Musical and the numbers three and four are strictly prohibited. So let's have fun and be normal teenagers tonight, okay?"

Everyone immediately cheered. Athena honestly couldn't agree more. There had been an overwhelming amount of stress on everyone, especially Violetta, because of anything related to High School Musical. It was good to just let loose, even if it was only for a night.

"Hmm, just in time," Athena commented, glancing around and spotting Ashlyn and Gina. "Come on." She then walked over to the two, smiling at Gina's costume. "Oh, hey, Catwoman. And hey . . ." Athena titled her heat at Ashlyn's costume. "Young Miss Darbus?"

Gina gasped. "That's what I said!"

"I'm actually hot Eleanor Roosevelt, queer icon," Ashlyn replied. She then pointed to the two best friends. "Oh my God, Kiss and Marry, that's genius."

"Just missing Kill," Violetta said, glancing back at the stairs. "Where is Ricky, anyways? I thought he said he was meeting us here."

"He is," Athena agreed. "I'm sure he'll be here soon."

Gina held up her Polaroid camera. "We'll take another one when he gets here, but you guys are too iconic not to have one together. Say cheese."

Athena and Violetta smiled together in front of the camera. It clicked, and Gina got the Polaroid when it came out, holding it to let it develop.

"Hello," Carlos greeted, approaching them in an all black costume — he kind of looked like he was going to a funeral.

Violetta blinked at him. "Um, hi."

"Okay, did a Pretty Little Liar die or did something happen with Seb?" Gina questioned.

"Seb, of course," Carlos responded. "He's still refusing to talk to me, so I can only assume we are B-U-R-N-T. Which stands for broken up right now, thank you. Therefore, I am Death tonight."

Athena frowned. After everything, she couldn't stand to see Carlos — and Seb, for that matter — be so sad. She had tried to tell Seb Carlos didn't cheat on him, but that documentary made a lot of untruthful things look real.

Ashlyn held out her arm for a hug. "Aw, come here."

"Oh, watch the raven," Carlos voiced, putting his hand protectively over the raven that rested on his shoulder. "Oh, who cares? I need a hug."

Together, the four of them enveloped Carlos in a giant group hug. As someone who had been broken up with before, Athena knew the pain.

"Happy Halloween!" Maddox's voice exclaimed, and Athena pulled away to see her walking from the stairs

Jet followed in after her. "What's up?"

"Wow, you look great!" Ashlyn literally shouted, making the entire room go quiet. She then turned to them, a nervous smile on her face. "Was I yelling?"

Violetta patted her shoulder. "Just a bit, honey."

"Um, what are you guys?" Carlos inquired to the siblings, obviously eager to move past whatever that was.

Jet stared at him. "Have you not seen Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings?"

All of them shook their heads.

"Yeah, okay, well, we're gonna need to fix that, because Michelle Yeoh," Maddox stated. She then looked at Ashlyn. "Oh, hey! Hot Eleanor Roosevelt."

Athena raised an eyebrow and shared a look with Violetta. Huh, interesting.

Ashlyn looked shocked. "You got that? Of course you got that. I'm chill."

A whistle then sounded from the stairs. Athena looked, only to see none other than her boyfriend running up the stairs. However, she instantly frowned. Because of his designated Kill costume, he was a lifeguard, wearing a shirtless t-shirt, lifeguard shorts, and white Vans.

"Let's get this starty parted!" Ricky shouted. "Nope, let me come in again, sorry." He ran back down the stairs.

Carlos looked to Athena. "Oh, is he okay?"

Athena sighed. "Well, he's definitely not Kill."

"He ruined it," Violetta complained, crossing her arms across her chest. "It was such a basic costume. All he had to do was wear black and carry a knife. Where did we go so wrong?"

"Bowen as Baywatch," Ashlyn commented, sending a sly smirk in Athena's direction.

Ricky then came up the stairs again, pretending to swim this time, and Athena couldn't help the smile on her face that time. God, he was cute.

She tilted her head at him. "Are you supposed to be a Zac Efron deep cut? I don't really get it."

Ricky grinned, smiling in between Athena and Violetta. "I literally cannot wait to explain this to you two."

Gina gasped as the doorbell rang. "Oh my gosh, I think that's our first trick-or-treater." She shrieked and ran off to the side.

Carlos blinked. "In the attic?"

She stood by the stairs, now holding an orange candy bowl. "I made signage. Hello."

A person, dressed fully in a white sheet with a pumpkin head, came up the stairs and grabbed a piece of candy from the bowl. However, they said nothing, and turned to their little group before starting to make their way over. Athena raised an eyebrow. What in the scary?

"Hey, little tall guy," Ricky said. "Where's your candy bag?" They said nothing still. "Buddy? Are you lost?"

They stopped in front of Carlos and opened their palm, extending the piece of candy to him.

"Oh," Carlos let out, chuckling nervously. He took the candy, and while the other person walked away, he looked at everyone with his eyes wide. "I'm scared."

Violetta immediately walked up to Ricky and slapped him gently upside the head. "I'm going to kill you, and that wasn't a reference to the costume."

Athena let out a small laugh and walked up to Ricky, tapping her fake bouquet on his forehead. "You did deserve that, honestly."

"Oh, guys," Gina interjected. "I know you're not matching, we can still do a group photo."

Athena, Ricky, and Violetta all posed for the picture — Athena holding her bouquet to her chest, Ricky with the whistle in his mouth, and Violetta blowing a kiss. Gina then insisted she needed just a Athena and Ricky one, so Athena let her head rest on his jaw while they both smiled. She then disappeared to take other pictures for the night, leaving the three of them alone.

"I know I messed up the costume, but—" Ricky began.

"It's fine," Athena reassured him.

Violetta shrugged. "It may be fine for her, but I'm watching you closely, Bowen."

Athena elbowed her gently. "Honestly, you're killing the bathing suit and alarmingly lifelike T-shirt."

Violetta slowly looked at her. "Alarmingly lifelike?"

"I said what I said."

Ricky squinted at her. "Hmm." He then leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. "Thanks, baby. And you look beautiful."

"You could've been beautiful, too, if you were Kill," Violetta muttered.

Ricky snapped and pointed at her. "Speaking of things that are killing me, you know how in theater when there are casting problems, you can't put on a show?"

"Oh, we're actually not allowed to talk about anything High School Musical related," Athena told him. "Gina's rules."

"Right, but we may have to make an exception to that 'cause I have something big to tell you, Vi. Or small. It could be small."

Violetta let out a deep breath. "I may or may not have something to tell you guys, too."

Athena glanced at her in concern at the slightly-sad tone in her voice. "What's wrong?"

Mack then walked into the room, looking like a whole Greek God and practically basking in the exclamations of his name. "Hey, everyone. It's nice to see you all outside of set. Ashlyn, Carlos, Maddox, Jet, Gina, right?" He then noticed their little group of three. "And, of course, our beautiful lead, Violetta. With her bestie, Athena."

Ricky looked at Athena. "Oh, good. Spark is here."

"You're ridiculous, be nice," Athena scolded. "And his name is Mark, we've been over this."

Mack pointed at him. "Hey, you're the wow guy, right? Who almost ruined the take."

Athena immediately laughed, but she quickly covered it with her mouth. She could feel Ricky's glare on the side of her face, but she very pointedly ignored it.

"Wow," Ricky said.

"Yeah, like that," Mack agreed. "Honestly, I get it, though. Violetta was amazing." He then glanced around. "This is your friend's house, V-Force? Exposed oak beams, very on trend."

Violetta looked pained at the nickname. "Gina gets all the credit."

Athena turned to her, unable to keep the smile off of her face. "Want some punch, V-Force? Ricky and I are going to get some."

"I hate you, and I'm never speaking to you again."

"That's not true, and you know it."

Mack turned to Ricky. "Oh, hey, Wow guy, would you mind grabbing me a glass, too?"

Ricky gave him a very sarcastic thumbs-up. "You got it, buddy."

"Sweet."

Ricky then placed a hand on the small of Athena's back and gently guided her away from Violetta and Mack. Athena let out another giggle before ending up at the punch. She grabbed a cup and started to pour herself some, glancing back occasionally to the two.

Jet slid up next to them. "Vi and Mack, huh? He's very handsome."

"He is, but I don't think he's Violetta's type much," Athena replied absentmindedly.

Ricky's head whipped over to her. "What do you mean he is?"

Athena gave him a look. "I have eyes. And those eyes are especially catered to you, but that doesn't mean I don't recognize other pretty people."

"He's not Vi's type?" Jet questioned, watching them laugh. "He seems like it."

"Nah." Athena got another cup for Violetta. "Violetta's type is the boy in college that she used to date and is still attached to." She glanced at Jet. "You catch my drift?"

"The party is here!" Kourtney announced, entering the room in a Harvard sweatshirt.

Jet's eyes immediately locked on her and followed her figure throughout the room.

Athena grinned. "And your type is the girl that's going to college that you have a major crush on." She elbowed Jet. "Go on, buddy." She then looked to Ricky, who was spitting in the cup he had gotten for Mack. "What are you doing?"

"That was for EJ," Ricky insisted. "We all want them to get back together. And Vi shouldn't choose him."

Athena rolled her eyes. "You're insane. And I wasn't aware that you were making decisions for Violetta now."

The couple walked back over to Mack and Violetta. Athena handed Violetta her cup, who took it with a gracious smile.

Ricky held out the cup to Mack. "Hey, here you go."

Mack took it. "Thanks." He then took a sip. "Mmm. Zingy."

And, well, if Athena wasn't aware that Ricky was making decisions for Violetta now . . . she definitely wasn't ready for the rest of the night.

═ • ° • ✧ • ° • ═

YEAHHHH THAT'S MY GIRL