Everything was going good. Until it wasn't. Everybody was full on panic mode, searching for Ricky's harness. It was missing and no one could find it which wasn't good because the transformation scene was next and Tabitha wasn't for sure how long the orchestra can stall. 

"How can we not find a harness?" Maeve questions with her voiced laced with confusion. She looks through some boxes with fhrrowed eyebrows. "It shouldn't be this hard to find."

"Yeah," Tabitha agrees from her place beside Maeve since she was looking in the same boxes she was. "This is ridiculous."

"You guys, the orchestra hasn't vamped this long since 'Bop To The Top'." Carlos explained.

"I know it's here," Natalie affirms. "I preset it."

Miss Jenn rushes into the backstage area where everyone was at. "What's wrong?" 

"My harness is missing." Ricky responded.

"The new one for the transformation." Ashlyn added.

"What?" A panicked look forms on Miss Jenn's face. "No, no, this can't be happening."

"It was here." Natalie pointed at the box in front of her.

"What else can I use?" Ricky asked.

"Oh, for heaven's sake, can't you just jump off something high?" Miss Jenn ordered. Everyone stopped what they were doing, gasped, and looked at her in disbelief.

Tabitha and Maeve share a shocked look and Tabitha glances at Ricky with a frown, seeing that he looked hurt at what Miss Jenn said which was understandable. She couldn't believe Miss Jenn said that. Yes, she along with everyone else was under pressure but that didn't mean Miss Jenn had the right to say something like that. 

"Nope. Forget I said that...." Miss Jenn looks apologetic and she's speaking in a shaky tone. "I will be not here." She immediately walked away and everyone continued to search for the harness.

"I knew something would go wrong." Ricky confessed.

"I remember seeing it here." Maeve said, pointing at the box Natalie pointed at earlier.

Natalie nods in agreement. "So you believe me, it was here."

"Of course I believe you." Maeve assured her, helping Natalie look through that box.

"Me too." Ashlyn and Tabitha chimed in and they both searched through the boxes beside it.

"Hey, hey, you guys!" Nini calls out. "All of you! Stop it." Everyone stops and looks at her. Nini looks at Ricky. "Richard, let's just spin you around without the harness, and you can toss the mask into the wings." She suggests. "Okay? Just like rehearsal."

"Right!" Ricky points at her. "Which I never got right once." He scoffs, gesturing to his brace on his hand. "And now I'm supposed to do it with one hand?" Nini outstretches her arms, shrugging, and it was obvious she was offended. Tabitha didn't blame her. How Ricky responded was a little harsh. "Sorry." Ricky apologizes. "Second Acts haven't traditionally been my strong suit."

Nini sighs and shakes her head with a little smile on her face. "First time for everything, right?" Ricky nodded in response and smiled a bit.

"I can spin the table." EJ offered.

"I can throw snow." Carlos suggested.

Nini nods, still looking at Ricky. "And I'll catch your mask."

"Okay." Natalie takes a deep breath. "Our judge is literally doing sudoku." She walks over to Ricky, grabbing his arm, and pulling him back towards the stage. "I'm pushing you on stage. Aim for my face."

****

Finally it was over and the crowd loved the show. Tabitha was relieved everything was done because she was so nervous and now she could calm down. But she still was a little for her date with EJ. In the bomb shelter, Tabitha stood behind EJ where he sat with her arms wrapped around his neck and he held her hands. Maeve stood by them and the three of them conversing about the show. Everyone had took their costume off and got back in regular clothes by now. 

"Y'all, Ricky's transformation." Kourtney grinned as she walked into the bomb shelter. She was one of the few drama club members who were able to see the transformation.

"We're dying to know!" Tabitha grins at Kourtney. "Tell us how it looked."

"Honestly," Kourtney glances at the curly-haired boy, who was now standing beside her with a smile on his face. Kourtney smiles at everyone. "Passable!"  Everyone smiled and cheered. 

"Hey, give it up for our star!" Nini announced when Ashlyn walked in the room. Everyone cheered loudly for Ashlyn, who smiled shyly. 

"Oh, you guys!" Ashlyn giggles. "Um, has anyone seen my boyfriend? It feels like I've been missing him all night."

At the mention of Big Red, Tabitha and Maeve share an excited look. They, along with the rest of the drama club members (besides Ashlyn) knew that Big Red is planning something cute for Ashlyn and they were all excited to see Ashlyn's reaction. Tabitha, Maeve, and the rest of the drama club members pretended to have no clue where he was even though they knew.

"I think he pushed himself a little too hard." Carlos commented.

"But I'm pretty sure he left a letter in your locker." Ricky told the red-haired girl.

"Uh, couple letters," EJ chimes in. "Actually."

"Oh," Ashlyn smiles widely. "Okay, wow, that's sweet. Um, maybe I'll read them on the way to Slices." Her smile forms into a weak one and she nods. "Good show everyone." It was clear she was upset she wouldn't get to see her boyfriend now. She walked out into the hallway and everyone waited for a few seconds before they quickly went to the door that led to the hallway.

Tabitha and some of the drama club members were now spying on the red-haired couple in the hallway, all with smiles on their faces. Big Red had got a light up sign with Ashlyn's name on it. This was why he was avoiding Ashlyn during the show. He had something special planned for her and he didn't want her to find out before he showed it to her. "I've always seen your names in lights." Big Red explained, turning on the sign that made her name lit up.

Ashlyn slowly made her way towards him with tearful eyes. "This is what you were doing in between scenes all night?" 

"Yeah. No. Sometimes I was actually puking." Big Red answered.

Ashlyn starts to cry, smiling widely at Big Red. "You were the perfect Belle tonight." Big Red compliments, looking at her with a wide smile. "I was really proud."

Ashlyn chuckles, continuing to cry. "Come here, you evil genius." They walked toward each other going to hug each other and they laughed when they had trouble because Big Red still held the sign. Big Red moved the sign so they could hug each other.

"Awe." Maeve comments, grinning at the couple. She frowns, leaning her head on Tabitha's shoulder. "I'm so single."

Tabitha giggles, wrapping her arm around Maeve's shoulders. "I'm sure you'll find the right guy soon."

****

Tabitha talked with her parents after that and told her she would be busy for a bit and they understood. They were so proud  of her for how far she has come with her stage fright and they told her they loved the show. Tabitha was now walking down the hallway to where EJ stood with Mr. Mazarra with an excited smile on her face and Mr. Mazarra left by the time Tabitha got to EJ.

"Hey, babe." Tabitha greeted him.

"Hi, doll." EJ smiled at her, intertwining his hand with hers when she stood in front of him, and Tabitha's smile widened and her heart flutters upon hearing the new pet name he called her.

"I see you're trying out a new nickname." Tabitha teased.

EJ shrugs, shyly glancing down at their intertwined hands as he rubs his thumb over the back of her hand gently. "I thought about it and thought I might as well try it out." He glances at her with a smile shyly. "You okay with it?"

"Yeah." Tabitha giggles, a light shade of blush dusting her cheeks. "I like it." 

EJ looks relieved and he nods. "Good." The couple smile at each other and after a moment of comfortable silence EJ changes the subject by saying, "So anyway, I, uh, I met your brother tonight."

Tabitha winces and groans. "Please tell me he didn't, like, threaten you or anything like that."

EJ laughs lightly and shakes his head. "No, he didn't. I think he liked me which is good." 

A relieved smile made its way to Tabitha's face. "Okay, good. Would it be alright if we just went with the gang to Slices tonight? I just feel kind of guilty for not going with them and it would be kinda weird since I've heard after every play the drama club members have, like, an after party. I'm not saying this 'cause I don't want to go on a date, I do, trust me, it's just that I think we should be there for Ashlyn since it's kind of her night and-"

Her rambling was cut off by EJ, pulling her in for a kiss. He pulled her closer to him by her hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist. Tabitha kisses the brunette-haired boy back, smiling into the kiss and she laid her right hand (since her left hand was holding EJ's right hand) on EJ's left bicep while they kissed. When they pulled away from each other, they're both smiling and blushing.

"Feel free to shut me up like that anytime you like." Tabitha smiled shyly.

EJ laughs and he grins at her. Before he could stop himself, he blurts out, "I love you."

Tabitha's eyes widen and she looks at him with surprise. "Did-did you just say the 'l' word to me?"

EJ chuckles, glancing down with a shy smile on his face while his face heats up. "Yeah, and I'll be more than happy to say to you many more times."

Tabitha's heartbeat increases each second and she was sure her face was bright red, but she didn't care. The boy she loves loves her back and she couldn't be happier. "I love you too."

EJ looks at her with a bright smile. "I love you too."  The two teens smiled at each other and pulled each other in for another kiss full of passion and love.

****

Now the main cast members of the drama club were at Slices, celebrating how well their performance was. Slices was closed for their special event so they were the only ones there. Tabitha didn't miss the fact that Howie was there as well and she figured Kourtney invited him. She also saw Mac there as well and so she got to talk with him for a bit. 

He informed her that he saw the whole play and thought it was amazing. He even talked with Gina for a bit, and they planned on going on a date, but then he had a talk with Gina's brother, Jamie. From what he heard from Jamie, it seemed like Gina only saw Mac as a brother figure which hurt the blonde-haired boy and made him cancel the date so things were kind of rough between him and Gina now. But Gina still offered for Mac to join them at Slices and Tabitha thought that was nice. Tabitha hoped that they could work it out because it seemed like Gina really liked Mac and Mac really liked Gina. She figured Mac just got bad intel from Jamie so maybe Gina can clear things up. Tabitha thought they would be cute together.

Tabitha sat at a booth beside Maeve with Maeve sitting near the window, and Natalie and Ricky were across from them. EJ sat next to the table, using one of the chairs from a nearby table, and he specifically sat beside his girlfriend. Their hands were intertwined, laying on Tabitha's left leg.

"Tonight was one for the record books." Ashlyn announced, raising her glass. 

"Yes!" Everyone chorused and clanked their glasses together.

"I literally don't even remember being on stage." Carlos admitted.

Maeve chuckles. "Maybe 'cause you blacked it out."

Carlos points at her in a sign of agreement. "That's probably true."

Seb puts his hand on cop of Carlos' hand that was on the table and smiles. "But the rest of us won't ever forget it." Carlos smiled back at him.

Upon hearing the door chime which signaled everyone someone walked in, Tabitha glances over her shoulder, frowning when she saw Lily and Antoine. However, Maeve smiles when she saw Antoine and Tabitha didn't miss the fact that when Maeve and Antoine locked eyes with each other they smiled at each other. Tabitha booed at Lily and Antoine along with the drama club.

"Okay," Lily raises her hands in defense. "Easy, Wildcats." She chuckles, standing in front of the group with Antoine beside her. "We just came to congratulate you all."

"It is true." Antoine confirms. "Your show had a beginning, a middle, and end. It was wonderful." He points at Big Red. "And Big Red, you were also in it." Big Red furrowed his eyebrows, looking confused and a bit offended.

"Okay, well, thank you guys for dropping by," Ricky said, trying to get them to leave. He scoffs, standing up. "But this is kind of a private party. So, if you could, uh..."

"Bye." Everyone interrupted him. Tabitha raised her eyebrows, confused as to why Lily almost looked hurt by what Ricky said. Ricky then guided Lily and Antoine to the door.

"Can you guys imagine if they actually win?" Big Red questioned as Ricky got back to the group and sat down.

"Honestly, and don't sue me, but I kind of don't care if we win or lose to the competition." Kourtney confessed. Tabitha glanced at her curiously and tilted her head to the side. Now that she thought about it, she didn't care that much either. She enjoyed being on stage for the fun of it, not for money or winning a competition. But she had to admit having more money in the drama department would be nice and helpful.

"I actually feel the same." Gina agreed.

"Okay," Carlos chimes in. "I thought it was just me."

"I mean, we did it, right?" Big Red smiles, glancing at Ashlyn, who sat beside him. "We already got everything we wanted."

Ashlyn scoffs playfully, looking at him with a smile and intertwines her hand with his. She glances around at everyone with furrowed eyebrows. "But just let the whole competition go after all this work?"

Tabitha glances at EJ with a bit of curiosity when he let go of her hand and kisses her cheek before he stood. She smiles a bit because of the kiss on the cheek while EJ sets his cup on the table, facing everyone with a nervous smile. "If I can, uh," He chuckles nervously. "Have a senior moment here." He takes a deep breath, looking at the group with teary eyes. "I've won a bunch of trophies over the years, you guys. But I'd trade it all for this group right here." 

EJ meant was he said about how he'd trade it all for the whole group, but he couldn't help let his gaze land on Tabitha, the smile never leaving his face. He would trade it all for only Tabitha too, maybe just a little bit more than the whole group. Tabitha had teary eyes as well as she listened to EJ and she blushed when he looked at her with that cute smile of his. She glanced down with a shy smile on her face. EJ sat down beside his girlfriend, intertwing his hand with hers again and this time bringing her hand up to his lips to place a kiss on the back of her hand which only made the blush on Tabitha's face grow. The couple smiled at each other and their intertwined hands laid on Tabitha's leg again.

"So, what are we going to tell Miss Jenn?" Natalie questioned and that's when they all went silent. This competition meant a lot to Miss Jenn and they had no idea how she would react to this. Before anyone could say anything, Miss Jenn walked over with Mr. Mazarra.

"The envelope, please." Miss Jenn holds an envelope, grinning at the group. She stands in front of the group and Mr. Mazarra stands beside her. "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?" Everyone is quiet while they glance at each other awkwardly. Miss Jenn furrows her eyebrows with confusion. "Am I muted?"

"Uh, Miss Jenn," Ricky speaks up. He clears his throat. "We were kinda thinking, you know, maybe we won already."

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

"Oh, thank God." Miss Jenn sighs with relief. "I had to stop four times on the way here because I was physically ill."

Everyone laughed at her comment. Tabitha was relieved to hear Miss Jenn wasn't upset with their decision. "It was five." Mr. Mazarra corrected Miss Jenn.

Big Red holds up his stomach medicine. "Hey, I get it." 

"So, it's settled." Miss Jenn continues. "We're dropping out of the competition."

"Yeah." Nini responded.

"But what am I gonna do with this?" Miss Jenn asked, pointing at the envelope she had.

"Oh, give me that." Kourtney speaks up, getting up from her place beside Howie and walks over to Miss Jenn. "We got a pizza oven." The group cheered while Kourtney got the envelope from Miss Jenn and she walked to the kitchen to burn the envelope.

Everyone starts conversing with each other at their table, enjoying their time together. "Wait, you two actually said the 'l' word to each other?" Maeve asks Tabitha and EJ with an excited smile on her face. When they both smile at each other and nod in response, Maeve grins. "It's about time!" The teens at the table laughed at her comment. 

The teens begin to converse about something else, but Tabitha zoned out, getting distract by Mac suddenly leaving and she frowned upon seeing he looked upset. She excused herself from the table, placing a kiss on EJ's cheek before she got up and went over to where Gina sat.

"Hey, girls!" She smiled at her, and Gina smiled back at her.

"Hey, Tabi!" Gina greets. "What's up?"

"Do you know any reason as to why Mac just left? I figured he would at least stay a little longer to hang out, but I know things must be a little weird between you two since you thought of him as a big brother and all-"

"Wait," Gina interrupts her rambling, looking at her with surprise. "He thinks I think of him as a brother figure?"

"Yeah," Tabitha nods. "He told me that Jamie told him that's what you thought of him." She grins, looking at Gina with a hopeful expression. "Oh, please, tell me that's not how you think of him because you two would be so cute together."

Gina feels her face heat up and she shakes her head. "I definitely don't think of him that way. I like him, like, a lot." A smile made its way to her face while she thinks of Mac. "I don't think they're any words to describe how much I like him."

Tabitha grins at her, holding onto Gina's arm. "G, that's great!" Her eyes widen when she realizes something. "You better go catch him before he leaves and tell him the truth."

Gina nods and immediately stands up, smiling nervously at Tabitha before she walks toward the door. Tabitha grins excitedly and goes back over to the table to tell them the good news that Gina and Mac were most likely going to get together. She noticed Ricky left but she saw him on a phone call nearby which made her wonder who he was calling during this time.

The bell above the door chimes as Gina walks outside. She looks around for the familiar blonde she has fallen for, smiling when she spots him heading to his car. "Mac!"

Mac stops when he heard that voice he could recognize anywhere. He sighs sadly, not really wanting to be talking Gina at the moment after knowing how she really thought of him, but he still turns around to face her. "What?" 

"You got bad intel." Gina told him.

A confused look forms on Mac's face and he begins to get hopeful because maybe just maybe Jamie was wrong about Gina thinking of him as a brother figure. "What are you talking about?"

"Can I..." Gina's voice trailed off and she smiled nervously. Her heart feeling like it was pounding out of her chest, and her face was heating up. 

Mac raises his eyebrows at her, and crosses his arms, hoping that his hopes won't get crushed. "Can you what?" He hesitantly inquired.

"Can I kiss you?" Gina finally asks, looking at him with a wide smile. Mac looks at her with surprise. Gina grins. "Can you be my first kiss?"

A wide smile made its way to Mac's face and a sigh of relief left his lips. "You literally have no idea how happy Iam to hear you say that." 

Gina giggles and the two teens begin to walk towards each other. Both were smiling from ear to ear and soon they began to run at each other, not wanting to wait any longer to kiss each other for the first time. When they met in the middle, Mac cupped Gina's face with both hands and Gina wrapped her hands around his neck while they pulled each other in for a sweet but passionate kiss. Meanwhile, inside the restaurant, Tabitha, Maeve, and EJ were watching with smiles on their faces.

-ˏˋ"If you asked me last year that I would be auditioning for a play and get a minor role in it, I would have laughed at you." Tabitha admits to the camera, standing in an area of the restaurant Slices. "I was never comfortable enough to stand on stage and sing after what happened to me when I was younger." She smiles. "But I'm proud to say that I love singing in front of people and maybe I'll think about writing some more songs." She shrugs. "We'll just see about that. Anyway, EJ has been a big help with supporting me. Without him," She pauses for a few seconds before quickly adding, "And Maeve, I don't think I would be where I am today. EJ really is like a parachute for me. He doesn't even know how many ways he has saved me." 

"I heard my name." EJ walks over to her, and stands beside her. Tabithia smiles at him and giggles a bit. "Yeah, 'cause I was talking about you." She wraps her arm around his waist, earning a smile from him and he wraps his arm around her shoulders. Tabitha looks at him adoringly. "Honey, thank you for being my parachute." EJ smiles brightly and he blushes slightly, remembering the song she wrote for him. He places a kiss on top of her head, pulling her closer to his side. "Anytime, love."ˎˊ-

A/N tbh upset they kinda just threw the whole plot away at the end with not caring about the menkies thing, but i still loved the season. anyway, i cant believe this is the end for now! i had a blast writing tabitha & her relationships with everyone. i cant wait for season 3 to come out!! & i was thinking if antoine is in season 3 (i assume he is) im going to make him be maeve's love interest unless there's a new character i like & think he could be good with maeve! & im thinking about making mac a regular character in season 3 but idk so lmk if i should!