"Attention, thespians! I have a brief announcement," Carlos announces, standing up from his seat at the lunch table that was full of and surrounded by the drama club.

"Speech!" Seb yelled, cupping his hands, causing people to laugh.

"After spending the last couple of weeks Google-stalking the Menkie Awards, I've discovered that there is no category for Best Choreography. And since the Menkies step one to me becoming the first-ever winner of a MEGOT..." Carlos explains.

"As you should!" Soul said happily for her friend, causing everyone to laugh.

"I've decided that I will be auditioning to be on stage this year," Carlos announces, causing everyone to clap and cheer for the boy. "Thank you."

"Big Red's trying out too!" Ashlyn announces, holding up Big Red's arm, causing everyone to once again cheer.

"Yeah, he is!" Ricky says happily for his friend.

"Big ups, Big Red. You're gonna teach me and Soul some of those allegedly great tap moves?" Gina asked.

"I think what she meant is those incredibly great tap moves that we've heard so much about," Soul says, causing Gina to nod in agreement.

"I'm so scared." Big Red said, chuckling slowly.

"Oh, remember you cannot play Chip, the teacup, since it'd obviously be weird for you to be my son." Ashlyn explains. "I mean, I'm probably getting Mrs. Potts. Not that we don't all have an equal shot."

"Red, I can definitely see you playing LeFou," Soul says, causing almost everyone to agree with the idea.

"Soul, who are you auditioning for?" Seb asked, causing the girl to shrug her shoulders.

"Belle, of course." EJ said, taking a seat beside the girl before turning to his other side to Ricky. "You're welcome."

"Huh?" Ricky questioned, totally confused.

"Uh, I've decided to take myself out of the running for the Beast," EJ announces. "I'm just... I've got a lot on my plate. Which reminds me, I should probably pick a meal plan for Duke."

"You officially got in?!" Soul asked, happily shaking the boy's arm.

"Back up. You're not doing the musical either?" Ricky asked, causing Soul to look over at Gina with a confused face.

"No. I've only got the bandwidth for a supporting role," EJ explains, realization hitting him. "Wait, what do you mean 'either?"

"Uh, I'm not sure if I'm auditioning this year," Ricky says. "You know, once a skate rat... right?"

"Wait, for real?" Gina asked after everyone was silent for a moment not knowing what to say.

"Okay. Um, sorry, I've been trying to work up the courage to say this." A blonde girl said, semi-fangirling as she approached the group, Soul automatically did not like the vibe she got from her. "Okay, I can't believe I'm standing in front of both Troy Bolton's right now. Both of your performances last semester in HSM were incredible."

"Thanks," Ricky said.

"Thank you. That means a lot to us." EJ said, sending the girl a smile. "It honestly takes a village to get a shoe on its feet. I've been blessed."

"No, no. I mean, thank you. Really, I mean, you both inspired me to wanna try out this semester. It's intimidating being basically, like, brand new to theater." the blonde explains, speaking quickly. "Hey, honestly, you guys are all talented."

The blonde looked around the table at everyone, skipping Soul, causing the girl to doubt her performance.

🎥
Soul, East High Junior
'Was my performance
actually bad? No, I'm just
probably seeing things...
Right?'
🎥

"Oh, thank you," Ashlyn said, flustered by the compliment.

"Hey, do you mind if we..." she asked, trailing off, pulling out her phone.

"Oh," Gina said, surprised, looking over Soul, causing her to shrug.

"No, absolutely." EJ agreed, causing everyone to group together, wrapping his arm around the girl beside him as they all smiled for the picture. "Hey, you can tag me in that. It's just EJWaterPoloTheaterGuy. Theater... E-R."

"Just did it. Bye," she said, sending the group a smile before turning around before quickly turning back around. "One last thing! Soul is it?" Soul nodded in response with a smile. "Your song was... cute."

Before Soul had the chance to respond the blonde was off.

🎥
Soul, East High Junior
'I definitely wasn't seeing
things'
🎥
...

"Ahem, all alright!" Miss Jenn calls out, clapping her hands, gaining everyone's attention. "As you all know, this year's auditions will be a two-step process. One, a group vocal warm-up to the classic song Belle, and two, a song of your choice. Whatever shows off you the best. Okay, circle up. Take your neighbor's hand." Soul being beside both Gina and EJ, quickly grabbed their hands. "For a moment of silent reflection."

Soon Miss Jenn began singing, causing a smile to grow on Soul's face, reminding her of the first day of blocking for HSM.

Certain as the sun

Rising in the east

Tale as old as time

Song as old as rhyme

Beauty and the...

Miss Jenn was cut off by the sound of the theater door opening and in ran Ricky with his guitar.

"Guess he decided to come after all." Miss Jenn said.

"Is this Mama Mia 2? Cause here we go again." Carlos said, sarcastically, causing people to smile at the red-headed boy.

Soon the group-vocal warm-up began as Carlos started off the song.

Little town, it's a quiet village
Every day like the one before

Little town full of little people
Waking up to say

Bonjour!
Bonjour!
Bonjour!
Bonjour!
Bonjour!

There goes the baker with his tray, like always
The same old bread and rolls to sell

Every morning just the same
Since the morning that we came
To this poor provincial town

Good morning, Belle!

Bonjour, good day
How is your family?

Bonjour, good day
How is your wife?

I need six eggs
That's too expensive
There must be more than this provincial life

Look, there she goes, that girl is so peculiar
I wonder if she's feeling well

With a dreamy, far-off look
And her nose stuck in a book
What a puzzle to the rest of us is Belle

Ooh... isn't this amazing
It's my favorite part because you'll see
Here's where she meets Prince Charming
But she won't discover that it's him till chapter three

Right from the moment when I met her, saw her
I said she's gorgeous and I fell

Here in town, there's only she
Who is beautiful as me
So I'm making plans to woo and marry Belle

Madame Gaston
Can't you just see it?

Madam Gaston
His little wife

No sir, not me
I guarantee it

I want much more than this provincial life

I want adventure in the great wide somewhere
I want it more than I can tell

Soul felt herself being bumped out of the way, causing her to run into Carlos and Ricky as Lily stepped in taking over the song.

And for once it might be grand
To have someone understand
I want so much more
Than they've got planned

Look, there she goes, that girl who's strange but special
A most peculiar mademoiselle

It's a pity and a sin
She doesn't quite fit in

'Cause she really is a funny girl
A beauty, but a funny girl
She really is a funny girl

That Belle!

"All right, all right!" Miss Jenn said, clapping as the song ended. "I have already learned so much. That's it for the warm-up. Please prepare your individual songs."

Soul was in the hallway strumming her guitar when Natalie announced that there were 5 minutes left until the solo auditions.

"Hey, you sounded good during warm-ups," A voice said, causing Soul to turn around to find Lily.

"Oh, thanks. You did too. Especially for someone who has never done theater before." Soul says, sarcastically. "You sound like you've been trained for the theater."

"Oh, no I meant I had never done local theater before." Lily explained with a smirk. "You know, with, um this kinda crowd. Actually, you probably don't know."

"What are you trying to say, Lily?" Soul questioned, stepping closer to the girl.

"Just that we both know I'm the only real contender for the lead here." Lily explains, smirking. "So may the best Belle; me. Win. Smiley Face emoji."

"Actually," Soul said, stepping in front of the blonde before she could leave. "My friends are incredibly talented. You can talk about my performance all you want but never talk down to my friends."

"Oh, I'm sorry I thought this was an audition, not a friendship circle." Lily said, causing the two to send each other a fake smile. "Good luck."

Soul sat in the audience beside EJ and Seb as they watched the solo performances and in Soul's eyes everyone was doing great so far.

"This is an original song I wrote about, nerd-alert, the power of friendship," Ashlyn explained, standing on the stage with Kourtney beside her. "It was originally written as a solo, but then that was wrong, so I wrote it for three people, and we'll be singing it for two."

"Amateurs." Soul heard Lily say from the other side of Seb but before she had the chance to say anything Gina rushed to the stage.

"Wait!" Gina exclaimed, reaching the stage. "Is there still room for a third?"

"Maybe we should have auditioned together," Soul said, turning to EJ. "It would have been a blast don't you think."

"I don't think anyone could handle the two of us on stage together," EJ jokingly said, causing them both to chuckle. "Maybe one day we'll get the chance."

"I'll hold you to that," Soul said, locking their pinkies before turning her attention back to the stage.

"Uh, picture all of us in sequined jumpsuits," Ashlyn quickly added before the music started and Soul was beyond amazed.

The vocals.

The choreography.

It was all giving what it was supposed to as a tracet; in the words of Ashlyn herself.

Next was Ricky singing Bet on It and let's just say it wasn't his best performance.

Big Red quickly raced onto the stage.

"Uh, I'm sorry, Miss Jenn. Um, I know that Soul was supposed to be going and that you didn't call me yet. But if it's alright with you, I know I'm the last person to go, and I'd kinda like to get it over with?" Big Red explained.

"Soul, do you mind swapping with Big Red?" Miss. Jenn asked, turning to the audience.

"Not at all!" Soul said, supportively, sending one of her oldest friends a smile of support. "You got this Big Red!"

"Show me what you've got, honey." Miss Jenn said, turning back to Big Red.

"Whoo-whoo!" Ashlyn cheered, in front of Soul, causing Miss Jenn to chuckle.

Big Red began tapping dancing and he was doing great until he went for the spin but lost his balance and fell down.

Soul heard Lily giggling at the boy, causing her to turn and look over at Seb to look at Lily, "Please tell me what is your problem?!"

"I don't know what you're talking about?" Lily said, pretending like she didn't know what she did as Ricky helped Big Red up as everyone carefully watched the two girls.

"Oh, you don't know," Soul said, causing the blonde to shrug her shoulders. "First, you call two of my friend's amateurs about a song that one of them wrote and now you're sitting here laughing at one of my closest friends because what, he tripped and fell. What are you in Kindergarten? There is no reason to be laughing at someone for doing their best! Is there anything else you want to say?" Lily sat looking at Soul as she rolled her eyes. "No? Great! Now please do us all a favor and keep rude your comments and your remarks to yourself because no one asked for them."

Soul sat back in her seat with her arms crossed causing EJ to wrap an arm around the girl, seeing Big Red send her a smile of appreciation caused the girl's anger to go away.

Big Red attempted to do his dance once again and this time nailed it, causing everyone in the audience to cheer loudly for the boy.

"Let's go, Big Red!" Soul yelled, cupping her hands, clapping loudly.

"Soul, honey!" Miss Jenn called, causing the girl to quickly stand from her seat, grabbing her guitar making her way to the stage but quickly turned back to EJ.

"Record this for me," Soul said, handing her phone over to her best friend before making her way onto the stage.

"You got this Soul!" Gina and EJ called out, causing the girl to smile.

"The song that I will be singing today is an original song that I wrote a few months ago. So please no one take any offense," Soul explained, causing everyone to chuckle, taking a seat on the stool, sitting her guitar upon her leg, causing Miss Jenn to smile at the girl. "This is called, 'Chaotic"

I have this paralyzing fear that I'll maybe go nowhere
But God forbid me ever admitting I could be scared
And I can't stand my friends right now, we got nothing in common
But being lonely's worse than just having friends that don't care

You said it looks like I've been going through hell
How did you know? How could you tell?
Ask me to explain myself
Well

I'm trying my best here to be brutally honest
Nobody said changing would be this exhausting
A foot on the break 'cause it's been making me carsick
How could you blame me? Growing up is chaotic

Don't wanna say it but I really think that I miss him
It might seem stupid but I still look through all of our texts
Who knew that wanting someone could ever make me this desperate?
Don't think I'll do that again, and, oh-ooh

You said it looks like I've been going through hell
How did you know? How could you tell?
You asked me to explain myself
Well

I'm trying my best here to be brutally honest
Nobody said changing would be this exhausting
A foot on the break 'cause it's been making me carsick
How could you blame me? Growing up is chaotic

And maybe I'm just blowing all this shit up in my head
But I can't help it, no, I can't help it
Fooling myself thinking that I'll never love again
Goddamn, I felt it, I really felt it
Maybe I'm just blowing all this shit up in my head
But I can't help it, no, I can't help it
Spending too much time on things I know that I'll forget
But damn I felt it

I'm trying my best here to be brutally honest
Nobody said changing could be this exhausting
Foot on the break 'cause it's making me carsick
How could you blame me?

...

Everyone was standing in the hall, Soul grabbing onto Gina's hand for comfort as she was feeling very nervous.

Carlos soon came in, posting up the cast list, causing everyone to chatter happily as they received their parts but as soon as Soul saw it she froze.

"Oh my god, Soul," Gina said, happily wrapping her arms around the girl's shoulders.

"You're going to slay that part," Kourtney gushed as Ashlyn agreed.

"What did I miss," EJ asked, approaching the group looking at the group.

"I got the part," Soul explained, looking up at the boy with a big smile. "I'm Belle."