"Hey, loose something?" Seb asked as he came over to Nova the next day in rehearsal, "Miss Jenn says we're going to rehearse our song next."

"Of course, Seb. Sorry." Nova apologized quickly, searching her bag as her license and debit card feel on the ground, "My license and card is here but my wallet is missing."

"What, like someone took it but left all the important stuff?" he asked with a laugh, Nova looked at him in disbelief as his smile dropped, "Sorry, did you check the lost and found?"

"Yeah, i'm thinking I might have left it in my room when I was cleaning my bag out." Nova nodded, the pair turning to watch the dance preforms infront of them. Novas eyes moved toward EJ, who wore a sleeveless shirt and was focused on the dance moved, "Ugh, his arms."

"Nova." Seb scolded her playfully, "We're the two of you just fighting yesterday?"

"Yeah, but look at him." Nova sighed in disbelief, "So beautiful."

"He is beautiful." Seb agreed with a nod, "But kinda a jerk to you, no offense."

"Right? Like, yeah, we got together because everyone was pretty much pressuring us to. But he made it seem like he didn't even have feelings for me at all, do you think he was really just faking it the whole time?" Nova forced her thoughts for the first time. Now, with her lack of friends, she didn't have anyone to talk to. Seb and Ashlyn had been the only two she truly trusted, but Nova felt guilty talking to Ashlyn about her cousin.

"It doesn't matter what I think." Seb said with a small smile, "You'll have to ask him."

"But what if he says he was faking? I'll cry and then he'll think i'm weak." Nova huffed, dropping her head on Sebs shoulders, "Tell me what to do, Sharpay."

He laughed slightly and patted her head, "You ask and if you feel like crying, just run."

"Good idea." Nova agreed, watching Gina end the dance off impressively, "God, that girl is so good."

"Everyone hold!" Miss Jenn called out as her eyes set on the figure running through the door, "Nini, where were you? We've been here for a hour."

"I'm so sorry. I lost my phone and basically spent last night living as a hunter-gatherer." Nini made the excuse quickly as she hurried inside, "Which, by the way, did you know that there are things that are only on TV at a certain time? Anyway, I picked it up in the lost and found and- wait did you say a hour?"

Miss Jenn gave a small sigh before looking back at Seb and Nova, "Ryan, Sharpey, take your places please."

"Good luck." Ashlyn called to the pair, hoping to distract herself from feeling guilty about Ninis phone.

"You know what I think you should do?" Big Rid spoke as he walked over toward the pair. Nova looked behind her with a odd look, "No, i'm talking to you."

"Pepsi Cola, how can I help you?" Nova asked with a odd look, the pair never speaking in their life before.

"So, because you're staying away from pepperoni now, because let's be honest, bad memories." Big Red said, dropping his voice to a not so subtle whisper, "I think you would really like the new meat lovers we have. I know you like to mix your pepperoni with pineapple sometimes so if that gives you war flashbacks as well, banana peppers are a great-"

"Hang on, you know my pizza order how?" Nova asked with a faint laugh, "Did you read my review?"

"Well, yeah, my family owns Salt Lake Slices." Big Red said as Novas face fell in guilt, "I take your order every time, usually deliver to your house."

"Oh, yeah." Nova made the excuse quickly, her eyes holding every ounce of guilt, "I know that, duh. Banana peppers instead of pineapple, you say?"

Big Red gave a slightly odd look, "Wait, you really didn't realize it was me that makes your pizzas for you, like, every time because you make a complaint when anyone else does it?"

Nova frowned, "I'm sorry, I really do like how you make my pizza."

"No, no, you didn't even know my name, how would I expect you to know where I work?" he laughed, though, Nova could clearly see that she'd hurt his feelings, "Never mind, you can make your pizza however you like."

Nova stood guilty for a moment as he walked off, a voice ringing.

"Even I knew the guy made your pizzas that you never shared with me." EJ commented from where he sat a few feet away, "Cold."

Nova rolled her eyes, "I was probably too worried about you flirting with all the waitresses."

"If that makes you sleep better, go ahead and blame me." he shrugged, a knowing look in his eye, "You feel bad."

"You don't-" Nova began before Seb called out to her, "You aren't worth my time."

"Still cold." EJ called to her once more as Nova head over to Seb.

"Okay, are we ready?" Miss Jenn called out as Nini walked off with a slightly embarrassed look on her face, "Ryan, Sharpay."

Seb gave a grin as he began playing the piano. Nova stood up, circling the piano and leaning on it, "It's hard to believe, that I couldn't see-"

"You were always there beside me." Seb added into her singing with a bright smile. Kaden took over the piano as Seb stood up, "Thought I was alone, with no one to hold. But you were always right beside me."

"This feelings like no other!" Seb sung on his own as the pair hurried across the floor together, joined at the hand as a few dancers did their choreography around them.

"I want you to know-" The pair began to harmonize. Nova felt like it came out more of a echo suddenly, feeling slightly dizzy as her mouth felt warm, "I've never had someone, that knows-"

Nova stopped singing as her eyes got heavy and she dropped to the floor. Sebs eyes widened in panic as gasp echoed through the room, "Miss Jenn!"

EJ hurried over quickly, pushing Ashlyn back as he kneeled down next to Nova and grabbed her face, "Nova, Nova. Hey, are you awake? Can you hear me?"

"What happened?" Miss Jenn panicked as she hurried over toward the pair, "Nova, honey, are you okay?"

EJ held Novas face as her eyes fluttered open, squinting at the lights, "My head."

"Yeah, you hit the floor pretty hard." he said back, checking her for blood but keeping a hand on her face, "Can someone get the lights off her?"

"Miss Jenn, I think she needs the nurse." Carlos worried as he looked down at Nova.

"I'm okay." Nova said as she sat up, pausing as her head spun. Her hand grasped EJ's tightly as she squeeze her eyes shut, "The nurse will call my mom."

"Well, honey, I think you need your mom. Does this happen often? What happened?" Miss Jenn asked in a worry. EJ gave Carlos a knowing look, silently telling him not to go to the nurse.

"It's that liquid diet her mom makes her do." EJ told Miss Jenn as Nova looked at him in disbelief, "Shes been on it since the first day at school, if not longer."

"I know from experience that those are horrible for you and well, make you pass out, clearly." Miss Jenn said as she stood up. EJ wrapped his arms around Nova and helped her up, "Why don't you go wait in my office? Can someone get Nova some food?"

"I'll order her a pizza!" Big Red announced, pulling out his phone quickly.

"Are you dizzy?" EJ asked, bending down to be on the same eye level with Nova, "I can take you home."

"No, my mom isn't working today." Nova said, as a habit leaning into his hands that were cupping her face, "I just need some food."

"You heard the woman." Carlos said loudly as he clapped his hands, "Get her something until that pizza gets here."

"Come on, i'll stay with you in Miss Jenn office." Ashlyn said, grabbing Novas hand as the pair walked away. EJ watched them leave, a faint look of worry across his eyes as Miss Jenn walked over.

"Her mom makes her do this?" she asked in disbelief, "Her own mother?"

EJ nodded his head, "There's a lot that happens at Novas house that she doesn't talk about out loud."

•

kylie speaks

big red and nova
brotp next chapter
and diving into some
family issues with miss
jenn!

BUT CAN WE TALKING
ABOUT THEM FOR A
SEC? LIKE, YEAH, EVERYONE
WAS WORRIED BUT
EJ WAS BY NOVAS SIDE
IMMEDIATELY AND SHE
COULD HAVE GOTTEN
AWAY FROM HIM BUT SHE
LEANED INTO HIS TOUCH
MORE!! SMH, THEY SAY
THEY FAKED THEIR
RELATIONSHIP ?
YALL AINT SLICK!