As they made their way back into the room, they suddenly heard faint music playing followed by a faint beautiful voice singing. They head into the bomb shelter to find Gina and Miss Jenn sharing a confused look. The group exchanged a look before beginning to search where the music and singing was coming from. They went through the back door up a curvy staircase that led them to the back entrance of the auditorium. Pausing in the wings, they were surprised to see Emmy belting her heart out under the spotlight.

Oliver's face softened as he watched Emmy on stage, her voice filling the auditorium with a raw beauty that made the lingering tightness in his chest ease further. She sang with a confidence and vulnerability that seemed to capture everything Oliver had been feeling but couldn't quite put into words. The weight of the day, the goodbyes, and the uncertainty of it all still hung in the air, but in that moment, the pain seemed a little less overwhelming.

When he felt a hand slip into his, he glanced over to see Gina smiling softly up at him. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze, and he found himself returning the gesture. He scooted closer to her instinctively, the warmth of her presence anchoring him in the moment. Ricky stood on his other side, arms crossed with a small, appreciative smile as they all watched Emmy. The three of them stood together quietly, as if Emmy's voice had drawn a kind of unspoken peace into the room. Emmy's song reached its emotional peak, the notes soaring through the empty auditorium with a rawness that made Oliver's chest tighten—not with anxiety this time, but with something softer, something hopeful. Her voice cracked slightly on the final note, not out of weakness but out of vulnerability, and it only made the performance more powerful. When she finished, there was a moment of silence, a sense of awe and reverence filling the space.

The silence was broken when they all cheered loudly for her. Oliver realized the rest of their friends had joined them in the other wings after hearing them cheer and seeing them rush over to Emmy to hug her. He even spotted his younger sister and Dylan (who has been getting quite close with Dahlia. He still wasn't a fan of that) rushing over to congratulate her. Oliver smiled fondly as he watched everyone celebrate, the heaviness of the day starting to fade away. Maybe good things didn't always have to end. 

 As Oliver stood there, surrounded by the warmth of his friends and family, he felt a sense of peace settling over him. The earlier weight of anxiety and uncertainty still lingered, but it didn't feel as heavy anymore. It was as if Emmy's song had managed to break through the chaos in his mind, leaving behind something softer, something more hopeful. The way everyone had rallied around her, celebrating her courage and talent, reminded him of the strength they all shared, even in the face of change and goodbye.

"She should be the future of this department." Gina spoke up.

Ricky nods in agreement. "She should be the future, period."

"Miss Jenn, we have to save the show. For the next generation." Kourtney says firmly. "I said it and it cannot be unsaid."

Miss Jenn sighs. "I just don't know how."

"Oh, come on, Jennifer. Trust the process."

Everyone freaked out at hearing the one and only Alyson Reed, feeling all mixed emotions at seeing the celebrity and other celebrity Bart Johnson walk on stage. "Uncle Bart!" Dylan grins, walking over to give him a side hug. "I knew you'd make it."

"Wait, what?" Dahlia asked in confusion, furrowing her eyebrows.

"Hey, kid." Bart smiled, giving his nephew a side hug.

"Well, we heard for Emma and Dahlia that your drama department was in trouble. Dylan got ahold of his uncle and managed to get the word out to us." Alyson confessed.

"Coach and Darbus never could on anything, but, well, Bart and Alyson can." Bart added with a smile as Alyson linked her arm with his while smiling.

"Buddy, you good?" Ricky murmured to Oliver with amusement after seeing his shocked look. 

Oliver was frozen, staring at Bart in shock. Bart Johnson was standing in front of him. He played Coach Bolton in the first musical and the fact that the actor who played Coach was right here, in the flesh, was almost surreal to Oliver. The man had been a major part of the musical world he admired, and to see him in person, not as a distant celebrity but as someone actually involved in the future of their drama department, felt overwhelming.

Oliver blinks a few times, still trying to process the fact that Bart Johnson was standing right in front of him. "Kid, everything alright?" He was even in more disbelief when Bart talked directly to him, even waving his hand in front of Oliver's face to get his attention. 

"Uh, yeah, sorry," Oliver stammers, his voice a little shaky as he finally managed to meet Bart's eyes. "I just. I can't believe you're really here. Like, Coach Bolton...Here in our auditorium. This is insane. But like a good insane, obviously. And now I'm rambling and embarrassing myself, sorry..." He chuckled nervously, his cheeks flushing slightly as he gave a small awkward shrug.

Bart chuckles and shakes his head. "Hey, no need to apologize. I get it—sometimes reality doesn't feel real when it's something you've looked up to for so long." He gave Oliver a warm, reassuring smile. Oliver managed a smile back to him and when Bart continued talking, he muttered under his breath in disbelief 'Bart freaking Johnson'. Gina giggled, looking at her boyfriend in amusement and adoration.

"Your program is worth saving. We're donating a quarter of our salaries from 'High School Musical 4'." Everyone stared at him in disbelief and then broke into a chorus of shocked exclamations.

"How much is that, if I may ask?" Miss Jenn inquired curiously, standing by Alyson, who whispered the amount in her ear. The blonde's eyes widen. "I am underpaid." Alyson chuckles and Miss Jenn sighs when she realized something. "But at this point we don't even have a stage manager, and the show is supposed to be next week."

"I could always call Natalie." Seb offered, but Carlos quickly assured him he didn't need to do that.

"I've got stage management covered." Maddox assured Miss Jenn.

"But half of our ensemble quit. Three of them actually have mono." Miss Jenn added nervously.

"I'm more than willing to be part of the ensemble or whatever you need." Dylan admits. "And I have some actor friends who I can call, and I'm sure they'd be happy to help."

"Who's gonna play Sharpay's assistant? Who's going to play Coach Bolton? Am I actually playing Miss Darbus?" Miss Jenn rambled on in nerves and disbelief.

"Yes." Alyson told her with a small smile. At the sudden sound of the intercom, it got everyone's attention. It was Mr. Mazzara calling for Ricky in the counseling office. So Ricky left the auditorium to go talk with Mr. Mazzara. 

"Okay, so I know now might not be the best time, but we didn't really talk about the college trip coming up." Gina pointed out nervously.

"Oh..." Oliver nervously rubs the back of his neck, his mind shifting from the excitement of saving the drama department to the uncertainty that had been lingering in the back of his head. "Yeah, I know we probably should."

Gina gave his hand a small squeeze, her face softening. "You've been thinking about it a lot, haven't you?"

Oliver let out a sharp breath, running a hand through his hair. "How can I not? I mean, part of me doesn't even want to go to college, but the other part thinks I should at least go on the trip to, you know, see what it's like. And then I start thinking, what if I actually like it? What if I get attached? But then—what if I don't? What if it just makes things worse, and I come back even more confused? And then there's my dad, who still wants me to go to flight school, and I feel like—"

Gina cut off his rambling by pressing her lips to his, her hands gently cupping his face. The tension in Oliver's shoulders melted instantly, his thoughts quieting as he kissed her back, grounding himself in the warmth of the moment. When she pulled away, she smiles softly, her thumbs rubbing his cheeks. "Breathe, Ollie."

Oliver blinks, still a little dazed, then let out a chuckle. "Right, breathing, that's important." He gave her a grateful smile, his eyes softening. "Sorry, just a lot nervous and worried thoughts."

She chuckles and shrugs. "I can tell. I think it'd be a good opportunity for you to go on the college trip, plus we can go together, and I'd love to do that." She assures him. "But I also think that maybe it's a good idea if you didn't stress too much about the decision right now. I think maybe you just need to focus on one thing at a time."

"You know I have trouble with that, right?" Oliver sighs, leaning into her touch. "My brain doesn't exactly have an off switch."

Gina smiles knowingly. "I know. But that's why I can help remind you that you don't have to figure everything out at once." She runs her thumb across his cheek. "The college trip isn't some big, life-altering decision. It's just a chance to see what's out there. No pressure. Just an experience."

Oliver let her words settle in, and for the first time in a while, the idea of the trip didn't feel as daunting. "Yeah... guess when you put it that way, it doesn't sound so bad."

"Exactly." Gina grins. "And, like I said, we'll be together. So if you start spiraling, I'll be right there to pull you out of it."

Oliver chuckles, a warmth spreading through his chest as he looks at her hopefully. "With another kiss?"

She smirks. "If necessary."

"Noted," He said playfully, feeling a little lighter as he looked at her. "Thanks, Gina. Seriously."

"Of course." Gina smiles, lacing her fingers through his. "Come on, let's go check on the others. Make sure they haven't already planned the show without us."

"Knowing them, they probably have." Oliver chuckled, letting her lead him back over to the group. But he paused with her when she did as her phone suddenly started ringing.

"Oh, uh, I'm gonna take this real quick." Gina told him, squeezing his hand.

"Yeah, that's fine. I love you." Oliver smiled at her and kissed her cheek before he reluctantly let go of her hand and met up with the others.

"I love you too." Gina murmured, watching him go with a fond smile before stepping away to answer her phone.

****

Later that night, the moonlight cast a soft glow through the open window of Oliver's room, creating a peaceful atmosphere. He sat on his bed, tapping his fingers nervously on the armrest of his chair, still processing the whirlwind of emotions from the day. The play, Bart Johnson's surprise visit, the uncertainty of college, and his conversation with Gina—it had all been a lot to take in.

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a soft tap on the window. He turns his head, a smile tugging at his lips as he recognized the silhouette outside. "Hey, baby. What's up? Shouldn't you be asleep?" He teased, rolling over to open the window and let her inside.

Gina gave him a small smile as she climbed into the room, her eyes downcast. "Couldn't sleep." She murmured.

Oliver's smile falters slightly as he saw the sadness in her eyes, his heart clenching. He reaches for her hand, and when she lets him take it, he gently tugs her toward him. "C'mere."

Gina sat on his lap, snuggling close to him and resting her head on his shoulder. She wrapped her arms around him, and he felt her relax into his embrace, her breath coming out in a shaky sigh. Oliver held her close, stroking her back and kissing her head, hoping to soothe whatever was bothering her. 

"You know I love it when you come over." Oliver starts. "But what are you doing here?" He asked curiously, though his voice was full of warmth.

"I needed to see you." Gina said softly, meeting his gaze as she slipped her shoes off and made herself comfortable on the bed. She paused for a moment, as if choosing her words carefully.

Oliver raises an eyebrow, curious. "Everything okay?" He moved to sit beside her, feeling a mix of anticipation and concern.

Gina takes a deep breath, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her sweater. "I just had this wild phone call earlier, and I needed to tell someone about it so here I am."

"Okay, now you've got me worried," Oliver said, his voice a little teasing but laced with genuine concern. He gently nudges her, trying to ease the tension between them. "What happened?"

Gina smiles at him, though there was a hint of nervousness in her eyes. "It's a good thing, Ollie, but...Big news. Like, life-changing news." She pauses, letting the weight of her words settle. "Quinn, the director of High School Musical 4, called me tonight."

Oliver's eyes widens, not quite believing what he was hearing. "Wait...What?"

"Yeah," She nods, still unsure of how to process it herself. "And...Crazy, right? She offered me the lead role in her new movie. The one that's filming in New Zealand."

The room seemed to freeze for a moment as Oliver took in the gravity of her words. His mind raced as he tried to process it. "New Zealand? That's...Huge, Gina. Are you...Are you going to do it?"

Gina let out a shaky breath, her fingers brushing the back of her neck as she looked down at her lap. "I don't know. I'm panicking. It feels too big. Something that feels too good to be true."

"You mean too good to pass up." Oliver said softly, tilting her chin up gently with his hand so she was looking at him. "Gina, this is everything you wanted. The lead in a movie? That's literally your dream. And you deserve it. You worked hard for this."

"But it's in New Zealand..." She frowns, her voice trailing off as her lower lip starts to tremble. "You're here..."

Oliver's heart swells with understanding as he held her gaze, tears blurring his own eyes. He could feel the weight of her words, her fear of stepping into the unknown, and the pull of staying with him. He gently squeezes her hand, leaning in slightly. "I know," He said softly. "It's scary. I get it. But you can't let fear hold you back from your dreams, Gina. This is your opportunity, and I want you to take it, even if it means we have to be apart for a little while. You deserve this, all of it."

Gina bit her lip, her eyes shimmering with doubt and vulnerability. "What if it changes everything? What if being away from you, from everyone, makes things...Harder? What if I regret it?"

"Then you come back. And we'll figure it out. But I have a feeling this won't be a decision you regret. If you don't take the offer, I know you will regret it." Oliver assures her, his eyes filled with conviction. "I can see the spark in your eyes right now when you told me about it. I'm pretty sure you already know your answer." He said softly, his hand reaching up to cup her face, wiping away a single tear that had escaped. "You've always dreamed of this, Gina. You've worked so hard, and now it's right in front of you. I know it's scary, but sometimes the things that scare us the most are the ones worth chasing."

Gina's breath hitches as she looked into his eyes, feeling the strength of his words. She could feel the fear still pulsing through her veins, but there was something else, something deeper—an undeniable excitement, a sense of possibility she couldn't ignore. "I don't want to lose you, Ollie." She whispered, her voice trembling with vulnerability.

Oliver smiles softly, his thumb brushing the side of her cheek. "You won't lose me. Not now, not ever. No matter where you go, I'll always be here, supporting you. And I know it's going to be hard, but we'll figure it out. We're stronger than that."

Gina closes her eyes for a moment, taking in his words, letting them settle into her heart. When she opened them again, her gaze was steadier, more resolved. "You're right. I've been dreaming of this for so long, and I can't let fear stop me now. I don't want to look back and wonder what could have been."

Oliver nods, a proud smile spreading across his face. "That's the Gina I know and love. Strong, brave, determined, and a total bada**."

Gina giggles, the sound echoing through the room like music. The magical sound made his heart skip a beat. "Thank you, Ollie. I love you so much," She whispers, her eyes sparkling with newfound resolve. "For everything. For being my rock, for believing in me when I didn't believe in myself."

Oliver leans in, brushing his lips softly against hers. "Always, Gina. You've got this. And no matter where you go, no matter how far you are, I'll be there with you."

She wraps her arms around him, burying her face in the crook of his neck as he held her close, letting his presence anchor her. "I know," she whispered. "I love you."

Oliver kisses the top of her head, running his fingers through her curls. "I love you too, Gina. Always."

Oliver held her tightly, but inside, his mind is racing. He could feel the weight of the moment pressing on him—his heart swelling with pride for Gina, but also tightening with fear. The idea of her leaving for New Zealand, pursuing her dream, was everything she deserved, but it scared him. What if it was too much? What if the distance between them started to grow? He had already seen how quickly things could change in their lives, and the thought of losing her...It made his stomach twist in knots.

He didn't want to show it. He didn't want to dampen her excitement or make her doubt her decision. But deep down, the fear was creeping in, the fear of being apart for so long, the fear of not being able to hold on to what they had. He squeezes her a little tighter, burying his face in her hair, trying to push the panic away. "I'm just...I'm scared too." He thought but didn't say. He didn't want her to carry that weight with her when she was already grappling with so much. Instead, he just held her, his thoughts swirling as he reassured himself that they would figure it out. They had to.

For now, all he could do was support her, be her rock like he promised. But inside, a part of him was terrified of what this decision might mean for them. What if the distance changed everything?

A/N emmy was so good singing that song. & olina keeps getting cuter but things are slowly coming to an end!! im gonna miss writing olina :(