The auditorium was filled with applause and cheers as everyone stood up, giving a standing ovation as the cast all took their final bow.

"Oh, my God, y'all." Kourtney said, entering the dressing room followed by Ricky. "Ricky's transformation."

"Wait. How'd it look?" Lauryn, one of the dancers asked, causing everyone to look at the duo in front of them with looks of hope.

"Honestly?" Kourtney said, looking back at Ricky causing them to nod as she turned back to the cast with a smile. "Passable!"

That caused everyone to clap and cheer as Soul walked in talking and laughing with Ashlyn.

"Hey! Give it up for our star." Nini called out, standing up causing everyone to cheer louder and clap, causing Soul to smile gratefully at the group.

"Aw, thanks guys!" Soul said, smiling from ear to ear as she let out a slight chuckle. "But it wasn't just me, you all were absolutely amazing."

"Aren't you the sweetest." Ashlyn said, placing her hand on the girl's shoulders before looking back at the cast. "Um, has anyone seen my boyfriend? It feels like I've been missing him all night."

"I think he pushed himself a little hard." Carlos said as everyone else looked around at each other.

"But I'm pretty sure he left a letter at your locker." Ricky explained.

"Uh, couple letters, actually." EJ corrected.

"Oh, okay, wow, that's sweet." Ashlyn said. "Um, maybe I'll read them on the way to Slices. Good show, everyone."

Everyone stayed silent as the girl walked past the group to hang her costume on the rack, hitting the flowers she got for Big Red before making her way out of the room.

Everyone quickly and quietly followed the girl, peaking out of the door, watching the couple talk.

"You were the perfect Madame de la grande tonight." Big Red said, holding a sign that spelled her name out in lights. "I was really proud. Even if it wasn't the main role."

"Come here, you evil genius." Ashyln said, crying, going to hug him but ran into the sign, causing the pair to both laugh, causing him to quickly move the sign, pulling her into a hug.

"Oh, wait. I just got paint..." Big Red said, letting go from the hug.

"It's okay." Ashlyn said, before quickly pulling him in for a kiss.

Everyone then went their separate ways as they began to leave one by one.

Soul finally finished applying her makeup as she quickly grabbed her bag, making her way out of the dressing room.

"Bye, Miss Jenn." Soul said, passing by the drama teacher sending her smile as she noticed a familiar brunette standing down the hallway. "Hey, Gaston!"
That caused EJ to turn around, causing her to send a smile along with a small wave as she made her way to him.

"You know, out of all the risotto I've had in my life. I've never heard of squid ink risotto before." Soul said, stopping in front of the boy. "So I have so many questions. I also have some things I want to tell you about tonight. So whenever you're ready to go."

"Um, I was actually thinking we should just go to Slices tonight." EJ said, causing the girl to nod. "I mean it seems like we should stick with the gang tonight. After the big night we just had."

"Yeah, no of course. I get that." Soul said, nodding with a smile. "I'm totally fine with having to reschedule one more time."

"We could or we could just play it by ear, you know?" EJ said, causing the girl to slowly nod.

"Uh, yeah totally. Cool." Soul said, sending him a fake smile.

"I mean it would have been fun. I just feel like..." EJ started to say but was cut off.

"No, need to explain... I totally understand." Soul said, nodding her head. "I actually think I-I forgot something. I should go get... I'll just see you there then, yeah?"
Before the boy had the chance to respond the girl quickly turned back around, making her way into the dimly lit makeup room that was now cleared out.

Soul looked at herself in the mirror as she let her tears stream down her face.

"Soul, hey!" Nini called, causing the girl to quickly wipe away the tears as she made her way into the room. "You coming to Slices?"

"Uh, I was thinking of just heading home early." Soul said, forcing herself not to look in the direction of the girl.

"Hey." Nini said, taking the seat beside the girl as she noticed the tears. "What's goin' on?"
"Uh, I was supposed to be going out with EJ tonight and he just canceled." Soul explained.

"You could go tomorrow." Nini said, causing the girl to shake her head.

"No, I think he canceled for good." Soul explained, looking over at the girl.

"Look, Soul, I don't know what's going on with EJ, but there is such strong chemistry between you guys. I mean everyone can see it." Nini said. "And you just have this energy about you that's..."

"Off-putting?" Soul asked, looking at the girl.

"Rare to find." Nini stated. "And I'd say any guy would be lucky to have you, but that's not the point. Truth is, we're all lucky to know you."

"You're still doing." Soul said, smiling at the girl.
"Doing what?" Nini asked.

"That thing you've been doing since I met you many years ago." Soul said. "Lifting other people up. You've been doing it all night. Look I know we never really talked about it, but the whole Ricky thing last year..."

"Hey, don't mention it. I think I was more worried about getting back the friendship you and I had than I was about me and him." Nini explained, causing Soul to chuckle. "I was just hoping we were finally back in a place where you would like... one hundred percent trust me again."

"I did. I do." Soul said, nodding her head. "That's something I knew from the beginning, Nins. When you kept trying to involve me in things with you and Kourt and the many many times you apologized to me and the heartfelt opening night cards. You're a really solid person Nini."

"Well... If you change your mind about going to Slices..." Nini said, standing up from her seat, sending the girl a supportive smile.

"The show would have been 100 percent better, by the way, if you could have sung The Rose song." Soul explained, looking up at the girl with a small smile. "Or if you played Belle instead of me."

"I don't know about that." Nini said, letting out a chuckle. "Besides, no one could have played the part of Belle better than you."

"Have you ever thought about taking your songwriting to the next level?" Soul asked, causing Nini to turn her head.

"I mean, haven't you?" Nini asked, causing Soul to smile at the girl. "Wait, what are you asking me?"

"I have this friend that I think you should meet." Soul said. "Let's just say he's helping me out too."

Who knew that love could be so bittersweet
Oh, when it finally meets the end?
But there is somethin' in this summer wind
A moment to begin again

I know that every time a door is shut
A window opens up for me
It's all wide open down this road I'm on
I'm findin' who I want to be

I've got a second chance to fly
I've got a second chance to fall
What can make the tide turn?
What can make the fire burn?
A second chance is all

Was I a fool to read between the lines?
Did I misread the signs that much?
Who would've thought we'd come this far as friends?
Maybe that should've been enough

Maybe I'm safer when I'm on the run
No time to open up my heart
Maybe I'll hide behind my walls again
Instead of tearing them apart

I've got a second chance to fly (a chance to fly)
I've got a second chance to fall (a chance to fall)
What can make the tide turn?
What can make the fire burn?
A second chance is all

I'm finding who I wanna be (begin again, begin again)
I thought I knew what I want (begin again)
I'm safer when I'm on the run
I'm finding who I wanna be (begin again, begin again)
I thought I knew what I want (begin again)
I'm safer when I'm on the run

I've got a second chance to fly
I've got a second chance to fall
What can make the tide turn?
What can make the fire burn?
A second chance is all
I've got a second chance to fly
(It was just another chance to fall)
I've got a second chance to fall
I wonder what can make the tide turn?
What can make the fire burn? (What does it take?)
A second chance is all

I'm finding who I wanna be (begin again, begin again)
I thought I knew what I want (begin again)
I'm safer when I'm on the run
I'm finding who I wanna- (begin again, begin again)

A second chance is all
...

"Tonight, was one for the record books." Ashlyn said, holding up her cup, causing everyone to cheer.

"I don't even remember being on stage." Carlos admits to the group.

"The rest of us will never forget it." Seb said, placing a hand on his boyfriend's arm.

The sound of the bell chiming caused everyone to look and start booing, as Lily and Antoine entered Slices.

"Okay, easy, Wildcats." Lily said, letting out a chuckle. "We just came to congratulate you all."
"It is true. Your show had a beginning, a middle, and an end. It was wonderful." Antoine said, agreeing with Lily. "And Big Red, you were also in it."

That caused everyone to look around at each other confused.

"Okay, well, thank you guys for dropping by..." Ricky said, standing from his seat in front of the duo. "... but this is kind of a private party. So if you could, uh..."
"Bye." Everyone called from around the room as they waved them off. "We'll miss you."

"Out you go. I said it. Come on." Ricky said, leading them to the door.

"The audacity." Natalie said.

"Can you guys imagine if they actually win at the Menkies?" Big Red said, causing Kourtney to scoff.

"Honestly, and don't sue me, but I kind of don't care anymore if we win or lose to the competition." Kourtney admitted.

"I actually feel the same." Gina said, nodding her head.

"Okay, I thought it was just me." Carlos said.

"I mean, we did it, right?" Big Red questioned. "We already got everything we wanted."

"But just let the whole competition go, after all this work?" Ashlyn asked, causing EJ to stand from his seat.

"If I can have a, uh... senior moment here." EJ said, causing everyone to look at him. "I've won a bunch of trophies over the years, you guys. But I'd trade it all for this group right here tonight."

"So what are we going to tell Miss Jenn?" Natalie asked, causing everyone to look around at each other with a smile.

"The envelope, please." Miss Jenn said, walking in waving it back and forth excitedly as she was followed by Mr. Mazzara. "Wildcats, I have in my hands the nominations for the Alan Menken Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater. I haven't opened it yet, but who's ready for the biggest moment of the year?"

That caused everyone to wordlessly look around at each other trying to figure out who was going to say something.

"Am I muted?" Miss Jenn asked, looking over at Mr. Mazzara.

"Uh, Miss Jenn," Ricky started, clearing his throat. "We were kinda thinking, you know, maybe we won already."

"Yeah. Maybe we don't need or want to see what's in the envelope?" Soul explained.

"Oh, thank god. I had to stop four times on the way here because I was physically ill." Miss Jenn explained, letting out a breath of air, causing everyone to laugh.

"Hey. I get it." Big Red said, holding up his Pepto bismol, causing everyone to chuckle.

"So, it's settled. We're dropping out of the competition." Miss Jenn said, looking for clarification.

"Yeah." Nini answered.

"But what am I gonna do with this?" Miss Jenn asked, holding up the envelope.

"Oh, give me that. We got a pizza oven." Kourtney said, quickly moving from her spot to take the envelope to the back.

"My brother's expecting your call tonight." Gina explained to Nini as she moved off the edge of the couch to the seat on the other side of Soul.

"Oh... why am I nervous?" Nini asked, looking at the two girl's beside her.

"Don't stress it too much, I felt the same way." Soul said, sending her a supportive smile as she grabbed her hand. "Besides, it might change your life."

"Oh, great." Nini said, standing up from her seat, making her way somewhere more secluded, leaving Gina and Soul alone.

"Hey, bestie." Gina said, bumping shoulders with Soul, causing them both to chuckle as Soul looked over at her. "Look, I had a chance to talk to EJ before you got here and... I am so sorry, If I had known you thought of him as a big brother, I would've never pushed you so hard to go for something that wasn't there."

"Okay." Soul said, smiling at the girl before her smile disappeared. "Wait, what? Why would EJ think that?"

"I don't..." Gina started, shrugging her shoulders.

"G." Soul said, turning to look at her friend more.

"He said something about having a talk with Jamie and that you told him about how you felt." Gina explained.

"What, no!" Soul said, shaking her head, causing Gina to lift her eyebrow. "I told Jaime that months ago before I realized what I was feeling."

"Oh." Gina said, nodding her head before her eyes got wide. "Oh!"

Soul looked around Slices for the brunette boy but was unlucky until she saw him outside of the window making his way past it, causing her to quickly stand from her seat and rush out the door.

"EJ!" Soul called out to the boy down the street, causing the boy to turn around, causing the girl to quickly make her way over to the boy, stopping directly in front of the boy. "You got bad intel."

"What?" EJ asked, confused, looking down at the girl.

"What Jamie said to you today." Soul explained, causing the boy to look away. "Yes, I did tell him that I looked up to you and that you were my best friend but I never said I saw you as an older brother. Besides I told him that was when I first met him many months ago. Feelings change!"

"What does that even mean?" EJ asked, looking back up at the girl.

"That night in my living room when you told me how you felt about me and I told you that I liked you back." Soul explained, looking up at the boy. "EJ, I meant every single word that I said to you that night... I really am into you."

"Yeah?" EJ asked, causing a smile to form on both of their faces;

"Yeah." Soul said, causing them both to chuckle, looking away, Soul biting her lip as she looked back up at the boy. "Can I..."

"Can you what?" EJ asked, looking the girl in the eyes.

"Can I kiss you?" Soul asked.

"I mean what stopped you the first time?" EJ jokes, causing them both to chuckle.

As the laughter died down the two stared deeply into each others eyes, leaning in until their lips finally met.

...
Hi guys! I hope you guys enjoyed this double update because I know I did! Anyways that is it for season two which means... Soul is heading to Shallow Lake with the gang! There are definitely going to be some Soul originals of course and maybe more... We'll also be getting some new characters like the lovely Maddox and Jet as well as a new character of my own 😏! I can't wait to write this season for you guys! If you have any predictions or thoughts I would love to hear them in the comments but until next time... also if you didn't know I have a TikTok specifically for my Wattpad stories where there are some videos for the lovely Soul! So if you want to check that out its @julybutterfly02 ! Okay bye! 💛