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𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞

chapter fifteen:
protective best friend mode: activated !

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UNFORTUNATELY, VIOLETTA HADN'T found any time to talk to EJ about what the heck had happened up on stage.

She had sort of inkling as to why EJ suddenly started crying, and it all had to do with that little red box that Carlos had taken from him when they were moving everything out. Clearly he had broken into the box and read something about how his audition went. It also gave explanation to why he was sulking earlier. Violetta just knew that EJ wouldn't have listened to her about the whole thing.

However, EJ wasn't her main concern right now (even though that sounded a little bad.) In fact, her main concern was Athena. It was clear that even after a couple hours she was still iffy about Ricky and Nini being alone in a separate room. Therefore, Violetta stuck to her true best friend duties and stayed with Athena.

She kept bringing up random topics for the two of them to talk about to distract Athena. One of them included about EJ's interesting performance. As time went on, it seemed that Athena's spirits started to lift. Athena does this thing that when she's nervous, her fingers start to fidget, almost like they're itching to play the piano. Violetta was glad to see that they stopped fidgeting more and more after each conversation they had.

Currently, the two of them were sitting on the edge of the stage. Things were still being moved from behind them just to create more space on the stage, but it seemed like people were just stress cleaning. Violetta then glanced back to see Miss Jenn walking to the middle of the stage, a microphone in her hand.

"Okay, let's pretend we've figured out the lighting," Miss Jenn announced. "If we've got a sound system, we've got a show. I need someone to sing for microphone levels. Who's not doing anything?" Her eyes then set on the girl sitting next to Violetta. "Athena, perfect. Come—"

"Actually, Miss Jenn, Kourtney is an amazing singer," Steph revealed, pushing Kourtney forwards. "Sorry, 'Thena."

Athena shook her head dismissively in response. "No problem, Steph. But Kourtney, you can sing?"

Kourtney let out a nervous laugh. "I'm a singer, not an actor. This voice is for church."

"Thank you for volunteering," Miss Jenn told her, handing Kourtney the microphone. "Just sing anything from the show. Doesn't matter what. No judgement. This is a safe space."

Violetta tucked her knees underneath her and turned towards Kourtney. Miss Jenn waved on Big Red, and he turned on the sound system. The microphone gave a high-pitched feedback sound before it went quiet. Violetta patiently waited for Kourtney to start. For some reason, she could already tell that Kourtney was a great singer without even hearing her before.

"I believe in dreaming, shooting for the stars," Kourtney voiced, singing a slow and acapella rendition of Bop to the Top.

Violetta smiled. She knew it. Kourtney's voice was completely incredible. Some might even say show-stopping, because instantly, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Kourtney as she performed. Violetta looked at Athena for a moment. They shared an impressed look before deciding to stand up slowly. Violetta crossed her arms across her chest and stared at Kourtney in amazement.

"Baby, to be number one, you got to raise the bar," Kourtney sang, her voice gaining confidence with every word. "Yeah, we're gonna bop, bop, bop, bop to the top, slip and slide and ride that rhythm. Jump and hop, hop till we drop, and start again. Zip, zap, zop, hop like a mop, scoot around the corner. Move it to the groove till the music stops."

On her amazing belt, the microphone gave another high-pitched feedback sound with static. Violetta pressed her hands to her ears, wincing slightly at the loud sound, before it faded away. She lowered her hands and started to clap with Athena, the two of them the first to recover. Everyone soon joined in with them. Kourtney looked around at the little circle that had formed around her, her face illuminated by a bright smile that made Violetta feel all warm inside.

Athena leaned her head closer to Violetta's and lowered her voice. "I'm so glad Steph volunteered her to go instead. She's so good."

"I didn't know she could sing that well," Violetta replied, because she truly didn't. "But what song would you have sang if you did?"

Athena shrugged at the question. "Not sure. Maybe I'd bust out a rendition of What I've Been Looking For."

"Okay, everyone, um, follow me," Carlos suddenly stated. "We are going to take a long five?"

All of them began to leave the theater. Athena and Violetta rushed up to join Kourtney, standing on either side of her. Violetta gave Kourtney a wide smile while Athena threw her arm around the girl's shoulder, squeezing her in a tight side hug.

"You were amazing!" Athena exclaimed, Violetta nodding in agreement. "With a voice like that, you should've auditioned."

Kourtney shook her head at that. "Thank you, but I think I'll stick to costumes. Acting on a stage? No way."

"Whatever you say. But I'm serious. Maybe the spring musical?"

"Maybe."

Kourtney hugged Athena back quickly and smiled back at Violetta. Finally, they made it to the front entrance of the theater. Violetta glanced around for a moment as they stopped by the stairs, only to see EJ sitting on the ground a little ways ahead of them. She stared at him curiously.

"Uh, I'll be right back," Violetta voiced.

Athena looked in that direction before smirking. "All right. Go cheer up your boyfriend, Vi."

"I actually hate you."

"That's a lie, and you know it." She nodded her head in the direction of EJ. "Go. Kourtney and I will be here."

Violetta then walked over to EJ. He was sitting on the floor, eating popcorn that was God knows how old, and was back to sulking. Violetta raised an eyebrow as she looked down at him. EJ then looked up at her and let out a sigh before focusing back on his popcorn. Violetta shook her head and joined him on the floor.

"Is it good popcorn, at least?" Violetta asked.

"It's all right," EJ answered.

"You did what I told you not to do, didn't you?" Violetta continued.

EJ shook his head. "If you came to give me a lecture, I don't know if I want to hear it."

"Okay, that was rude."

"Sorry."

"I know that you looked in those audition files," Violetta said. "It gives a perfectly good explanation as to why you were having an allergic reaction up on that stage."

EJ gave her a look. "I was not having an allergic reaction."

"Sure looked like it. There was really no need for crying in that scene, and Athena's really confused." Violetta looked over at him. "What did the notes say?"

"That I lack emotional connection to the material," EJ told her. "Because apparently I don't have emotions."

"You do," Violetta responded quietly. "That was just from one audition, and to be honest, you were only focused on getting Troy back then. But Miss Jenn doesn't know you the way that I⁠—" Violetta quickly stopped herself before she could say do and let out a deep breath. "Miss Jenn just hasn't spent that much time with you. I've seen your emotions, EJ. You shouldn't take something like this to heart."

EJ turned to her, locking their eyes. "You mean it?"

Violetta suddenly felt nervous from that, but she pushed it away. "I do. You and I have had enough conversations to show me that you've got some true feelings."

He gave her a small smile, making her heart beat against her chest. "Thanks, V."

"Any time, EJ." She then stood up and looked back down at him. "I'm gonna go back to Kourtney and Athena. Do you want to come, or keep eating popcorn?"

"You can go," EJ responded. "I'll be over here."

"Well, you're welcome to join us any time."

Violetta then left EJ, truly nothing but him on her mind. She sat down on the steps with Athena and Kourtney, who were slightly smirking at her. Violetta gave them a weird look before Athena started to talk about singing with Kourtney again. The three of them talked about music for a couple of minutes before Big Red walked up to them with a flashlight in his hand.

"Hey, we're thinking of getting pizza since we're gonna be here late," Big Red announced. "Pepperoni and soy cheese okay with you?"

"Why soy cheese?" Violetta questioned, tilting her head slightly.

Big Red rolled his eyes at that. "Not all of us can eat dairy, Vi. Be considerate."

Violetta raised her hands in surrender. "Sorry, I was just asking."

Athena's stared at the flashlight in his hand in confusion. "What's the flashlight for?"

"Oh, I'm going to get Ricky and Nini from a room down the hall," Big Red told her. "You wanna come?"

"Yeah, sure," Athena answered. She stood up from the stairs and looked down at Violetta and Kourtney. "I'll be right back."

They nodded. Violetta watched after Big Red and Athena for a moment before looking back to Kourtney. She had never had a one-on-one with her before, but Violetta guesses there's a first time for everything.

"So . . ." Kourtney began. "What's going on with you and EJ?"

"What do you mean?" Violetta replied.

"All the talking? Always spending time with each other? You voluntarily going to cheer him up? Come on, Vi, you're smart."

Violetta instantly shook her head. "It's nothing like that, Kourtney, I promise. We're just friends."

Kourtney gave her a look. "Girl. No you are not. It's so obvious that you two like each other."

"EJ doesn't like me," Violetta insisted.

"Uh huh. And I'm the President of the United States."

"Kourtney, come on. He's a great guy, he is, but I don't know how to be in a relationship."

"Do any of us really?" Kourtney countered. "I say give it a shot. You two are really compatible, and I'm not just saying that."

"Okay, enough about me and EJ," Violetta said, because she didn't want to get too ahead of herself. "How about we talk about⁠—"

However, Violetta was instantly cut off by a figure coming out of the theater doors. It was Athena. However, there were tears in her eyes, her hands were shaking, and she looked on the verge of breaking. Violetta immediately stood up in concern and walked down the steps as Athena made a beeline for the door, stopping the girl in her tracks.

Violetta placed her hands on Athena's shoulders and tried to meet her eyes. "Woah, woah, woah, where are you going? Athena, what happened?"

"I want to go home," Athena pleaded, and Violetta started to feel the stares from everyone else. "Please, Vi, just let me go home."

She nodded, frowning slightly at the amount of pain that was in Athena's voice. "Yeah, yeah, okay. Call me later, all right?"

Athena then left through the door. Violetta turned, watching as her very hurt best friend descended down the sidewalk. She then heard footsteps from behind her and looked to see that it was Ricky. He seemed stressed and kept glancing around the room. Violetta then placed the pieces together. Athena was that way because of Ricky.

"What the hell did you do?" Violetta demanded.

"V," EJ protested softly from beside her, but she ignored him.

"I — ⁠I didn't— " Ricky stammered. "Vi, you have to believe me—⁠"

"I'm going to ask you one more time, and Ricky Bowen, you better tell me the truth," Violetta stated. "What the hell did you do?"

Nini suddenly came running up behind Ricky, a panicked look on her face. Violetta's eyes flickered between Nini and Ricky for a moment. Ricky wouldn't meet Violetta's eyes and kept his gaze on the floor while Nini's hand was covering her mouth in shock. A sudden horrible realization came over Violetta. Her eyes slightly widened and she scoffed incredulously.

"There's no way," Violetta said angrily. "There's no way. Did you know that Athena has been feeling off all day because you two were alone with each other? Turns out she was right all along."

"Violetta, we didn't—⁠" Nini began.

She held up her hand, stopping the girl. "I don't want to hear it, Nini. You were all for girl power, right? So why did you make a boy cheat when you knew he was in a relationship?"

"We didn't want to! The second Athena walked in we realized what was going on!"

"I do not care. The fact that it almost happened is bad enough." She then focused on Ricky, who still wouldn't look at her. "And you. Do not even get me started, because Ricky Bowen, you are idiotic."

"You don't have to tell me, Vi," Ricky mumbled. "I already know."

"No, I'm going to tell you, just to really get the point across. You are incredibly dumb. Like, truly, I have never met anyone this stupid. You've been in love with this girl for years and then you just went and tore it all up!"

"I know!" Ricky shouted, finally looking her in the eyes. "Don't you understand that? Think about how I'm feeling right now!"

Violetta stared at him incredulously. "To be honest, I do not care about how you're feeling right now. I care more about how Athena's feeling, because I don't know if you've noticed, but she looked absolutely broken. And that's all on your doing."

The whole room was silent. Violetta felt her own heart shatter for her best friend. Finally, Athena had gotten the boy she wanted and the two of them were so in love, and then Ricky just went and ruined everything.

"I hope you have something prepared to say to her," Violetta voiced. "And you better hope she forgives you, because if I were her, I wouldn't."

Violetta then walked off to the side, leaving everyone in a stunned silence. EJ trailed after her cautiously. She slid down onto the floor where EJ had sat earlier with his popcorn, tucking her knees into her chest and staring straight ahead. EJ slowly sat down next to her. Violetta could feel the gaze from him on the side of her face, but she ignored it.

"V—" EJ began.

"Don't," Violetta replied. "Not right now. Please."

EJ obeyed. And there Violetta sat, anger and sadness both flowing through her veins at the same time. God, what a mess.

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okay vi pop off