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𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘

chapter seven:
snowed in !

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MOVIE NIGHTS WERE routine for Ricky and Athena. Every Sunday, they made sure that their schedules were cleared so that they could squeeze in a movie or two before the school week started. They would normally be found sitting on the couch of Athena's house, but this time, Athena was going over to Ricky's apartment. Him and Mike had managed to move some boxes out of the living room to set up the furniture and a TV.

Athena, clad in Ricky's very comfortable orange hoodie, stood on his front steps and knocked on his front door. In her hand was a bag with some pre-popped popcorn that she made at her house because Ricky still had to get a microwave, various types of candy, and a couple of drinks. She shivered slightly in the cold air of Salt Lake City. Snow was on the ground yet again and she could see her breath in the air. Finally, the door opened to reveal Mike.

"Hey, 'Thena," Mike greeted, stepping aside to let her in. She went inside and took off her shoes to leave them by the front door. "Ricky's back in his bedroom. You can leave your stuff on the counter."

"Thanks, Mike," Athena replied.

She instantly went back to where Ricky's room was. Athena's phone went off, and she took it out of the front pocket of Ricky's hoodie. Artemis had texted that she would be back to pick her up at around eleven. She liked the message as she approached Ricky's door.

"All right Ricky, I've got popcorn, I've got candy, I've got—" Athena began to list off.

However, when she looked up from her phone as she entered his bedroom, she was immediately met with the sight of a shirtless Ricky looking through a couple of boxes. She stopped in her tracks in his doorway, her eyes widening and her cheeks flushing a bright shade of red. Oh my God, he looked good.

"An insanely attractive boyfriend," Athena finished quietly before shaking her head to snap out of it. "Um, hey."

"Hey Attie," he responded, not quite looking up at her yet.

"What, uh . . ." Athena trailed off, clearly still in a daze as she swallowed nervously. "What are you doing?"

"I can't find anything in this apartment. I've been looking for—" Ricky finally looked up at her and sighed a little. "My orange hoodie."

Athena blinked, her mind spinning as she continued to stare at him. "Huh?"

Ricky sent her a confused expression and pointed to the outfit she was wearing.

She looked down. "Oh. That." Athena laughed a little in attempt to bring herself back to reality. "Oops. But, um, in my defense, it does get really cold here, and you technically left it at my house."

Ricky approached Athena with the intent of kissing her. Athena immediately got his message. Once he got close enough, Athena placed her hands on his bare chest and rose up onto her toes, kissing him softly. She pulled away after a moment, but apparently that wasn't enough for Ricky, because he leaned down and pressed a much deeper kiss onto her lips. Athena smiled into it before pulling away officially. Ricky then took her hands off of his chest, holding them in his warm ones.

"God, your hands are freezing," Ricky commented. "Give me a second and we'll get you under a blanket."

He let go of her and walked back over to the box he was rummaging in earlier. Ricky pulled out a random shirt and pulled it over his head (much to Athena's dismay, but she would never admit that out loud.) He joined her side once again so they could leave.

"My turn to pick?" Athena questioned as they exited his room.

Ricky nodded. "Whatever you want. Oh, by the way, keep the hoodie." He veered off towards the kitchen while Athena went into the living room. "You look cute in it."

Athena couldn't help the way a smile spread across her lips. While Athena turned on the TV, Ricky brought over the bag of snacks for them to share. He sat next to her on the couch as Athena pressed on Legally Blonde to watch on Netflix. Ricky wrapped his arm around Athena's waist and she cuddled up into his side, sighing in content.

"So . . . you think I'm attractive?" Ricky inquired as the movie started.

Athena squeezed her eyes shut and felt his chest rumble from laughter. "Shut up."

And with her face burning red yet again, Athena hid closer into Ricky's side to hide her embarrassment. God, she really was such a sucker for him.

--- ☆ • ♫ • ♪ • ♫ • ☆ ---

IT WAS SNOWING pretty hard outside the next day. There was a huge storm predicted for later that day after school, but nevertheless, the cast for the musical still met in the bomb shelter so they could work on a lot of things. Athena, tucked under Ricky's fuzzy jean jacket that she had worn to school that day, sat on the risers in between Ricky and Ashlyn with her hand interlocked with Ricky's. However, she kept sending worried glances to Violetta, who was sitting on the row in front of her.

Violetta had one of her knees tucked into her chest with her chin was resting on top of it. She kept staring at the floor and only answered with one-worded responses if she was talked to. It had been like that at all day, and Athena had barley seen her. That wasn't like Violetta at all. Usually, she would be laughing with everyone and making fun of EJ. But now that Athena thought about it, she hadn't seen EJ at all either that day in school.

Miss Jenn then entered the room. "Okay, everyone, gather around. We have got a two hour window before the storm is expected to hit, and I intend to use every minute of it. Big, splashy group numbers always succeed at the Menkie Awards. So we need to workshop a punchy, breathtaking number that will put us in the number one spot."

Carlos stepped forwards. "As our head choreographer, I am so happy to announce that today we will, at last, begin rehearsing one of the most show-stopping, iconic, and bar-raising numbers of the entire show."

"Be Our Guest," Gina stated while she joined Carlos' side. "Yeah, it's Be Our Guest, guys." She turned with a large smile to see Carlos staring at her. "What?"

Athena kind of winced. It was obvious the two were having a feud over the choreography stuff. The tension between them was so thick that it could probably be cut with a knife.

"Before we begin, I'm going to tell you a little story about hospitality," Miss Jenn voiced.

Carlos leaned closer to her. "Maybe we should—"

"Once, when I was a little girl, my mom and I heard a clatter come from the kitchen. We thought it was a burglar. So my mom ran over, hog-tied the man, and promptly called the police." Ashlyn gasped, but Miss Jenn continued on. "As we waited for the cops to come, I watched my mother place a bowl of iced tea next to his face. Because, she said, until the police come and get him, he's still our guest."

"So, did he, like, get arrested, or . . ." Kourtney trailed off.

"No," Miss Jenn answered. "Turns out, it wasn't a burglar at all. Just a repairman who entered the wrong unit. But, the point remains the same. Just like our intruder, we need to make Belle," she gestured to Athena, who smiled softly, "and our entire audience feel welcome. And with that, Carlos and Gina, take it away."

Ashlyn clapped loudly. Athena laughed slightly. God, she loved Ashlyn. She was always so precious and enthusiastic.

"Thank you, Miss Jenn, that wasn't terrifying at all," Gina replied as she stepped forwards again.

Ricky chuckled. Gina cast a look at Ricky, but her gaze lingered on him just a little too long. Now, Athena wasn't the jealous girlfriend type (well, except with Lily — that blonde girl saying her boyfriend was cute right to her face and trying to debunk her as a girlfriend was just crossing the line.) She recognized Ricky was attractive and there was no doubt that she knew other girls thought that too.

But the way Gina looked at him and was at his apartment on Valentine's Day . . . Athena doesn't know. Something about it just made her uneasy. She felt guilty about it. Gina was one of her friends and she trusted Ricky through and through. However, that really didn't stop her from being just the tiniest bit paranoid.

"Okay, so," Gina continued, picking up two feather dusters. "My vision to make this dance really soar is to stage, wait for it, a Cancan style dance that features a feather dusting spectacle. I don't know, it'll probably go a little something like . . ."

Gina then began to do Cancan kicks, extremely high ones like all of her other kicks. The room erupted in praises for her. Athena, however, looked back down to Violetta. She didn't even react. Athena frowned.

"Interesting," Carlos commented. "I had a different path that's a little more elevated and less basic. Think. A noir inspired performance that Lumière guides our audience through the entire time."

"M'kay, but I actually spent a month in France once, so I kinda know this dance inside out," Gina said.

"And I choreographed all three of my sister's quinceañera dances, despite not getting one for myself, so I think I know how to twirl with a salad fork, okay?"

"Okay!" Miss Jenn cut in cheerfully. "You know what? Let's stick a pin in Be Our Guest and brush up on Gaston. EJ and Big Red, to the front of the room, please." Big Red only got up from the risers, making Miss Jenn glanced around the room. "Wait, where's EJ?"

"Yo," Ricky began, tapping Gina on the shoulder. "I think the feather duster brigade sounded cool."

"Really-really?" Gina asked.

"Yeah. What, do I need to send you a random box of chocolates to prove it?"

Gina let out a defeated breath. "Sick burn."

Athena blinked. Uh, what?

"You, um, you sent Gina chocolates for Valentine's Day?" Athena questioned.

Ricky shook his head. "Nah. She thought I did and sent me a thank you text, but they weren't from me at all." He raised their interlocked hands and pressed a kiss to the back of hers. "Besides, I was more focused on setting up that picnic for you than anything else."

She smiled gently and kissed his cheek. "You're sweet."

"So no one has seen EJ," Miss Jenn announced. "Violetta, honey, do you happen to know where he is?"

Violetta's face immediately turned stone-cold. "What? You think just because we're dating I have to know where he is at all times?"

Miss Jenn froze for a second, clearly taken aback. "N-No—"

"You know, maybe he just needs some time to himself." The girl stood up from the risers. "And so do I."

"Violetta," Athena protested.

Her best friend didn't respond and just walked straight out of the bomb shelter. Athena stared after her with a confused expression. Violetta could often let her guard up, but that's only if something happened. So what happened that made her so upset?

Athena looked to Miss Jenn and pointed at the door. "Miss Jenn, can I—"

"Go," Miss Jenn encouraged.

Athena sent her a grateful smile before standing up. She squeezed Ricky's hand before letting go. Athena quickly walked out of the bomb shelter and spotted the curly hair of Violetta down the hall. She sighed and tried to walk faster to reach her.

"Vi," Athena called, picking up her pace into a jog.

Violetta whirled around, stopping in the hallway with a hurt expression on her face. "What? Did Miss Jenn send you out here to come get me so she can yell at me? I really don't need that right now."

"No," Athena responded quietly, finally standing in front of Violetta now. "But you wouldn't blow up on Miss Jenn like that normally, not unless something's going on." Violetta's gaze focused on the floor. "Violetta, what happened?"

"EJ didn't get into Duke," Violetta admitted quietly. "He's distraught over it. I tried to comfort him last night, but . . . he told me that he just needed some space for a little while." She let out an exasperated breath. "I don't get it, Athena. We always went to each other if something was wrong."

Athena thought it over for a moment. "Listen, maybe he should have communicated better that he just needs some time alone. I'm guessing this is a huge shock to him. But if I've learned anything from being in a relationship, it's that you have to wait until they're ready to talk while also reminding them that you're always there."

"This is frustrating."

"I know," Athena agreed. "But EJ will come around. I promise. And I know you hate it, but you just have to be patient. There's no doubt in my mind that he'll immediately go to you when the time is right."

Violetta stared at her. "You're the best best friend ever, you know?"

"Thanks for finally acknowledging it. I've been waiting for you to say that."

"Don't make me take it back."

Athena slung her arm around Violetta's shoulders as they slowly began to go back towards the bomb shelter. "I'm glad to see you back to your regular self. Seriously, I don't think I've ever seen you sulk so much than you had back in there."

Violetta scoffed. "Ew. I do not sulk."

"Uh, yeah you do, homegirl. It looked like somebody just kicked your puppy."

Violetta stopped in her tracks. "Nini?"

Athena looked. Sure enough, Nini was standing there in the hallway, a duffle bag slung over her shoulder and her ukulele case in her hand.

She gasped. "Oh my God, Nini!"

Her and Violetta instantly ran towards the girl and threw their arms around her. Nini laughed and hugged them back tightly, the three of them rocking back and forth from the force of the hug. Of course they had hung out over the weekend — Nini had come back for Valentine's Day weekend to visit but had been too busy on the actual holiday itself, as had everyone else, but they made time to see each other — just Nini, Athena, and Violetta. It definitely wasn't enough for Athena. She missed the girl and her presence terribly.

"Hey," Nini replied, pulling away and resting her hands on Athena and Violetta's arms.

"What are you doing here?" Athena asked excitedly.

"I just came to say goodbye to the whole crew before I head back to YAC." Her phone then chimed and she got it out of her pocket. "Oh, no. My driver just canceled because of the snow and the next car is twenty minutes away. Great. Watch me literally not make it back to school."

"Hey, no, we're going to get you back," Violetta reassured her. "I can drive."

Nini stared at Athena. "Still no drivers license?"

Athena smiled sheepishly. "It's a work in progress."

"Anyways, I'll force Big Red to give me his car," Violetta continued. "He'll give it to me if I intimidate him. It's not hard to do."

"Nonsense, honey, we're still in the middle of rehearsal," Miss Jenn interrupted, and the three turned to see Miss Jenn standing outside of the bomb shelter. "I can take you to the bus station and then zip back to school. Sound good?"

Nini nodded. "Yeah, that works."

Miss Jenn walked off past the bomb shelter. Athena could only assume she was going to get another teacher to watch them for the time being. She sighed a little and brought Nini and Violetta in for another group hug.

"Have so much fun, okay?" Athena told Nini before she released. "Don't be afraid to call. We'll always be here."

Nini gave them a sad grin. "I miss you guys already. I'm not sure the next time I'll be back, so . . . see you soon."

Athena and Violetta allowed her to leave. The two of them walked back into the bomb shelter, where everyone was standing around and chatting with each other. Athena walked up to Ricky, who already had his arms extended out to her. Once she got close enough, Ricky snagged her waist in his arms, picking her up off the floor and turning a little before setting her back down. She giggled as he did so and held onto his forearms once she was on the ground.

"Is Vi okay?" Ricky asked, pulling her in a little closer.

"Yeah, I think so," Athena answered. "Just some EJ stuff."

"Listen up, everyone," Miss Jenn announced as she entered the room. "I am going to step out for a little while to make sure that Nini catches her bus. Please go back to workshopping Be Our Guest concepts until I return, and find a path forward. I've asked Mr. Mazzara to pop in." Mr. Mazzara quite literally popped in through the doorway, making everyone yelp in surprise. "And make sure that you don't get too rowdy while I'm gone. Thank you, Benjamin."

Miss Jenn left, along with Mr. Mazzara, who apparently deemed them okay for now. Athena opted to sit next to Seb on the piano, the two of them messing around with some four-handed melodies. Violetta stretched in her splits on the floor next to them and joined in on their various conversations about whatever came to their mind. Everyone else immersed themselves into conversations on their own.

"Has anyone seen EJ?" Ashlyn questioned to the room.

"Everybody, listen up," Gina declared, making Athena and Seb stop playing and the room quiet down.

"Great news," Carlos added. "Gina and I agreed to joint custody of you all."

"Oh, so who gets us on weekends?" Kourtney inquired.

"We're gonna workshop our Be Our Guest visions on you guys separately before adding the dancers," Gina explained. "The winning version—" she mouthed the word mine while shielding Carlos away from her lips with her hand "—will then be decided in an anonymous vote. Fun and easy."

"Yay," Ricky voiced quietly, clearly unenthusiastic.

"All right, Athena, table," Carlos instructed, pointing to the table in the room.

Seb gave her shoulder a squeeze. Athena stood up from the piano bench and made her way over to the table, sitting down in the grand-like chair where Belle would be. She pulled the sleeves of Ricky's jean jacket over her cold hands and watched Carlos as he picked up the candelabra. Everyone else sat on the risers and paid attention, except for Gina, who was flipping through her script.

"This number was inspired by my second oldest sister's quince. Theme, sultry jazz. Sebastian, you may begin."

Seb turned and began to play the piano. However, as he did so, the lights flickered and made a crackling sound before everything went out. Athena looked up in curiosity.

Ashlyn immediately stood up. "Oh, what was that?"

A loud thud was then heard.

"Maybe a power line went down," Gina guessed as Carlos left the room.

"Oh, no, you guys," Seb stated. "I missed an alert from my Farmer's Alman-app. Salt Lake just got half a foot in half an hour."

"My dad says the roads are completely closed," Ricky added, staring at his own phone.

Athena pulled hers out of her pocket. There were three texts: one from her dad that said snowing like crazy, try and get home soon, one from her mom that said please be careful, and one from Artemis that said have fun being snowed into school if you don't get home soon :). Athena rolled her eyes at Artemis' one.

"Oh my gosh, you guys, get out here!" Carlos exclaimed from the hallway.

Athena instantly stood up from her chair and went out into the hallway. The others trailed behind her, but her eyes widened once she noticed the state outside. Snow was coming down like crazy and was whipping around because of the wind. She let out a tentative laugh. Somehow, Salt Lake always managed to amaze her.

"This is insane!" Ricky commented. "Are we the only ones stuck at school?"

"Looks like every other club went home," Kourtney noticed. "Should I check on Nini? I'm checking on Nini."

Big Red leaned closer to Ashlyn. "I don't mind the idea of being stuck together all night."

"Maybe we should hold each other for warmth?" Ashlyn suggested.

Violetta raised an eyebrow. "Um, I hate to interrupt — actually, I don't, because you said it in front of everyone, but I really don't think this is the time."

Gina walked to the front to face everyone. "Listen up, folks. We need to act fast and gather supplies in case this gets worse."

"Love the commitment, Gina, but I don't think it's that serious," Carlos responded.

"Rehearsal can wait. Follow my lead. Contact your parents every half hour, but conserve your phone batteries. Waters, flashlights. Let's move, people."

Ashlyn squealed excitedly as her and Big Red ran down the hallway. Violetta followed after them, occasionally rolling her eyes and commenting about how gross they were being. Athena laughed slightly as she did so.

Ricky took Athena's hand. "Buddy system?"

"Don't wanna get lost," Athena agreed. "Come on."

The two of them walked off after the others, going to find the things that Gina instructed them to get. However, little did they know how not fun the rest of the day was about to be for them while they were stuck inside East High.

═ • ° • ✧ • ° • ═

RICKY BOWEN PUNCH ME IN THE FACE CHALLENGE

I just really had to get that out of my system after the shirtless scene my apologies

anyways

do y'all think that ricky & athena would do that try not to kiss each other challenge on tiktok 🧍🏼‍♀️ my money's on ricky I think he would lose bc he couldn't resist

moving on

athena is worried about gina ,,,,, uh oh

idk how that'll play out bc I have to see the later episodes but it'll definitely be a conflict. I am planning to make lily a bigger conflict too so I think gina will just be a minor one :)