XII. I search for you in every room

When Big Red called the twins and asked them to come over to his house for a party, Marlowe didn't expect for the whole theater department to be there. "Red, I brought. . ." Her words frowned out when all of the students stared at her. Her face turned red and she held up the board game she had brought. "I brought Twister."

Luca's head popped out from the top of the stairs. "And I bright Monopoly." He said with a cute smile.

"Thanks, twins." Big Red nodded and smiled encouragingly.

They sat the board games on the middle table and joined them. Marlowe squeezed beside EJ on the couch and Luca sat on the other side of the room with Knox. She smiled at him and he smiled back.

There was a painfully awkward silence. "This is a terrible party. There aren't even pretzels. And I hate Monopoly," Natalie said out loud.

Luca's face fell. "That's all I could find."

Marlowe glared at her. "Don't be mean to my brother."

"I love Monopoly!" EJ quickly spoke, trying to keep a fight from breaking out.

"We all ended up in the same basement after a really bad day," Ashlyn spoke up. "So someone should say something."

"Fine, I'll say something. I'm mad at Miss Jenn." Carlos chimed.

"Why? Because she's for a couple skeletons in her closet?" Gina said with a scoff.

"No, because she's giving up. She was the first teacher to not see me as punchline and now she's not even a real teacher?"

Ashlyn rolled her eyes. "Define 'real teacher'."

"I kinda agree with Carlos," Marlowe added to the conversation, shocking some people. When their eyes fell on her, she continued. "This theater department means a lot to most of us, especially to me and Luca. We trusted Miss Jenn with this musical and now it might not happen because she lied? How's that fair to any of us?"

It went silent again as they contemplated her statement. Most agreed with her. "Carlos and Marley have a point." Kourtney nodded.

"Do they, though?" Natalie questioned.

"Guys," said Big Red.

"So, why are we all here then?"

Marlowe was starting to her pissed. "Do you have a
problem—"

EJ quickly put his hand on top of hers, making her stop talking. She looked at him and he shook his head, telling her to calm down and ignore her.

"This is kind of a waste of time," Knox spoke. When he saw Luca frown, he shrugged. "I'm sorry."

"Honestly? Because she gave me a shot, and it's been a long time since someone gave me a shot." Said Carlos. Seb put his hand on his knee to comfort him.

"She gave me a voice." Nini added, finally saying something.

"Yeah, and no nobody's gonna get to hear it because Miss Jenn screwed up," Kourtney stated with bitterness.

"Okay, does anyone here actually care if her past is a little bit sketchy?" Ashlyn asked. She looked at all of them. "I mean, anyone?"

Marlowe raised her hand. After a minute, Luca raised his as well. "I do," Ricky agreed out loud.

"Seriously?" Big Red asked in disbelief, looking between his three friends.

"What, because you live some perfect life?" Said Kourtney.

"Not at all," he scoffed. Ricky stood up. "Because, just like Mars said, she put our show in jeopardy. And now we're all here, maybe for the last time, together. And for some of us, this has become. . . I don't know. . ."

"Family." Nini stated with a break in her voice.

Marlowe nodded. "Absolutely."

The ex couple looked at each other for a brief minute. "What team?" He asked.

"Wildcats," they muttered.

"Okay, Wildcats. So, what are we doing about it?" Ashlyn asked.

Marlowe blinked at the question. She looked across the room at her brother and he looked back at her, nodding. She looked at Carlos and Seb and they nodded to her as well while smiling. She turned her head to Ricky and he gave her a grin. Finally, Marlowe looked at EJ, whose hand was unknowingly still on hers, and they smiled at each other.

They stayed up all night rehearsing their performance. On the day of the board meeting, Marlowe was a nervous wreck the whole way to the school. She walked beside EJ while Luca and Knox stood in front of them with their hands locked together. "I feel like I'm going to throw up."

EJ looked down at her. "You're just nervous. Don't worry. We're gonna pull this off."

"But what if we don't? What if the school board still lets her go and we can't do the musical? Or what if we get a new drama teacher and she's horrible?" Marlowe spilled and felt herself getting more and more nervous.

The senior grabbed her hand and she quickly looked at him, seeing his smile. "It's going to be okay. Even if any of that happens, you're still Marlowe Aguilar, the most talented girl at East High."

The corners of her mouth turned up. The nerves she was feeling slowly started to go away but they were still there, because she was a natural nervous person. But he made it better.

The two boys ahead of them looked over their shoulders. "How much longer till they get together?" Knox asked.

"I bet you $20 before the show," Luca negotiated

"I bet $20 after the show."

"You're on." They shook the hands that they weren't holding.

"Miss Jenn, it may not surprise you to learn that we have heard earfuls about your unorthodox style ever since you got to east high," Principal Gutierrez announced into the microphone. "Personally, I always chalked it up to the well known fact that people in the dramatic arts are insane."

Marlowe glared at him. "Why, I outta—"

Nini quickly squeezed her arm. "Shhh, you can rant when it's over."

"Thank you." Miss Jenn said awkwardly into her mic.

"But now, we have news that your resumé is exaggerated. Your teaching credential is from some obscure online university, and even your official name might be some version of a stage name. What do you say to this charge?"

Marlowe caught EJ's eyes from across the cafeteria, seeing him sitting with his family, and he nodded at her, mouthing to her that it was going to be okay. She nodded while mustering up a nervous smile.

"I have always done my best by these kids," Miss Jenn spoke.

"Just answer the question," the principal interrupted her.

"If you would let her talk—"

Knox nudged Luca quickly. "Shhh, not now."

Miss Jenn opened her mouth to respond, but she couldn't find the words to explain.

"Excuse me," Mr. Bowen announced and stood up from his chair, catching everyone's attention. "Can I say something?"

"I'm sorry, we're not opening up the floor to parents on this." Principal Gutierrez denied.

"Let him speak." One of Nini's moms opposed.

All the parents murmured in agreement. Marlowe smiled at Nini.

"Go ahead, Mr. Bowen."

"I'm a little late to this party, but I gotta say the real crime here would be booting a teacher who's making a positive impact," Mr. Bowen explained while motioned to Miss Jenn. "I've never seen my kid this invested in anything, and I don't think that's something we should punish. Your. . . honor."

"Oh, Ricky, I love your dad." Marlowe muttered.

"And if I may, Principal Gutierrez," Sabrina Aguilar spoke up. "This theater department means everything to my kids and from what they've told me, Miss Jenn is a wonderful teacher, and she's so good to all these kids. To lose someone like that would be devastating to the kids who love theater."

Her statement received a lot of claps from everyone in the audience. Marlowe and Luca smiled at their mother.

Principal Gutierrez shifted in his chair. "Thank you for your statements, Mr. Bowen and Mrs. Aguilar, but I think we can all agree that theater isn't unique in this regard. It doesn't have some special fairy dust that can't be filled by another extracurricular."

On que, Kourtney started humming.

"What's that?" He asked and tapped on the mic. "Who's humming?"

Ashlyn stood up and started humming as well. Then Ricky, then Nini and Marlowe, and then Knox and Luca. Nini and Marlowe pointed at Ricky and he pointed up at Kourtney, who was standing on the upper balcony with the other theater kids. She held up a boom box. Miss Jenn turned around in her chair and saw all the posters they made for her being shown from the upper balcony. Kayden and another boy took away the desk in front of her.

"Don't say another word," Kourtney sang flawlessly.

"Some of us need to be heard," Nini sang along and stood in the back of the cafeteria where everyone could see her.

Ashlyn leaned against her. "You want her big confession?" They harmonized.

Marlowe leaned on Nini and smirked. "She never saw Dear Evan Hansen."

"Whatever you think about her. The show can't go on without her," Ricky sang along and he and Big Red joined their side.

The music grew more upbeat and the theater kids started dancing the choreography they practiced. "Maybe her class could be a little more classy," sang Kourtney.

"Maybe her head's not in the game." The students harmonized.

"Maybe her past just a little bit sketchy," Luca sang and did a spin.

"We need her all the same!"

"She's the one who cheers us on. So what if she's dropping the ball?" Seb sang when he made his way to the front.

"She stands for truth, justice, and sings in our key. She stands for us and we believe. Ooh, ooh!" They sang together.

"Before she got here, we were so off track," Ricky sang.

"Then Miss Jenn have us a chance," Gina followed.

"We used to fall asleep in chemistry class," Ashlyn sang.

"Now it makes us want to dance!" Marlowe sang along and stood between Gina and Carlos.

Natalie circled around Miss Jenn. "She's the show that must go on. So we're putting in a good word, cause we heard. . ."

"She stands for truth, justice, and songs in our key. She stands for us and we believe!" They harmonized and Marlowe and Luca grabbed each other's hands, climbing onto the table.

"What's my motivation? She provides the inspiration," Nini sang and danced her way to Miss Jenn.

Marlowe jumped down from the table. "Whatever about her reputation, seems about time for modulation!" She sang and circled around Miss Jenn, grabbing her hands.

They moved out of the way and let the dancers take the center. As Kayden and them danced, Marlowe turned around and faced EJ, holding out her hand for him to take.

Grinning, he grabbed her hand and she pulled him out of his seat. "She stands for truth, justice, and sings in our key! Jazz squares in the choreography!" The theater students danced the choreography in the middle of the cafeteria. "Sharpay and Ryan, you'd know they'd agree. . ."

"She stands for us and we believe!"

Nini grabbed Miss Jenn and stood her in the middle as they danced around her. "She stands for us and we believe!"

They ended the song with jazz hands.

After a minute of silence, Nini's mom stood up and gave the first clap. The other parents followed along and Sabrina stood with tears in her eyes, clapping and applauding for her children. Even the members of the school board clapped for them.

"Settle, people! Settle down. Settle down," the principal shouted over them.

Marlowe gripped EJ's arm tightly with anticipation.

"Do we have any future questions?" He asked the members.

"Just one," one of the teachers announced and stood up from her chair. "So, how do I snag two tickets for opening night?" She asked and did Martha Cox's famous pop, lock, and jam.

Everyone immediately erupted in cheers and Marlowe turned to EJ, letting out a loud squeal and jumping into his arms. He caught her swiftly and spun her arm. "What did I say? I told you it would work out!"

He put her down but their arms were still around each other. Marlowe smiled widely. "You were right, Caswell."

Smiling back, EJ pulled her into a tight hug.

Sabrina found Luca and Knox celebrating and she held her arms out. "Oh, sweet boys, I'm so proud of you!"

They walked into her embrace and Knox bent down slightly, considering he was taller than both of them. She gave the best hugs.

"Where's Marley? Marley, amor!" Sabrina called out, looking around for her daughter. When she saw her hugging a boy, she gasped. "Who is that?" Amor!

Knox smirked. "That's EJ Caswell. My best friend."

She gasped again when she saw EJ's face. "He's cute."

Marlowe walked with Luca and her mom outside when she saw Miss Jenn sitting on the bench in front of the school. "Hey, I'll meet you guys at the car," she told them and jogged off.

Miss Jenn smiled when she saw the girl making her way towards her. "Hello, Marley."

"Hi, Miss Jenn," Marlowe said quietly and sat beside her. She put her hands in her lap. "I'm really, really glad you're staying."

The woman smiled at her. "I don't think I can thank all of you enough for fighting for me."

Her expression softened. "Of course we were going to fight for you. I'll admit, I was a little upset with you over the whole thing but I realized how much we need you, and how much we care about you."

Miss Jenn smiled tearfully and grabbed Marlowe's hand. "I'm sorry if I ever made you feel like you can't trust me, Marley. Pure and natural talent is very hard to come across and I can confidently say that you and Luca are some of the most talented kids I've ever met."

Marlowe's smile wavered. "Thank you, Miss Jenn. You're. . . You're probably the best teacher I've ever had."

Miss Jenn waved her other hand. "Oh, please stop before I start crying. I was doing really good in there."

They giggled.