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𝗕𝗜𝗚 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗦

chapter nine:
emphasis on troubled !

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VIOLETTA'S MIND HAD been spinning last night, and it hadn't stopped. She hadn't slept well, either.

EJ had her thinking that he would be there for her senior year. He didn't tell her at all during that whole speech of hers, and the hope that she had ultimately all crumbled to the floor. EJ wasn't going to be there for her senior year, apparently going to a place over a thousand miles away. Not only that, but he had told Val about the letter from his dad, not her, his girlfriend.

Violetta had to talk to him. She couldn't bottle this up. But, her stupid dumb worried feelings for EJ about the play came up inside of her, and she decided that she would talk to him after rehearsal. Just get all of that stuff out of the way before a potential explosion would happen — because Violetta was mad, upset, and disappointed all rolled into one.

She arose the next morning, completely exhausted and honestly already done for the day. All of the campers involved in the musical had been called in for an early meeting at the barn. Violetta pulled on a black jean skirt and tucked a black tank-top into it, pairing it with her black Converse. Not really having the strength to do anything else, she put her curls into a low ponytail with two strands framing her face.

Violetta walked into the barn with Athena and Ricky the next morning. Val, Carlos, and EJ were standing in front of the stage, an easel with a board that said take a seat in the middle of all of them. Not only that, but three rows of chairs were set up in the middle of the room. Violetta slowed her tracks, her eyes slightly narrowing at EJ and letting out a small sigh. She looked to the side, only to see Athena looking at her with a confused expression. Oh God, what was this?

"Morning, guys," EJ began, a bright smile on his face that Violetta wished she could match. "Come on in. We don't have much time."

Val gestured to the board on the easel. "Take a seat."

"Did EJ say anything to you about what's going on?" Athena asked, her gaze on Violetta.

"No," Violetta answered, because these days, EJ apparently didn't tell her anything. She gave her best friend a sarcastic smile. "Maybe you should ask Val instead."

"Are you being serious or are you joking? I can never tell with you sometimes."

"Please don't ask Val."

Athena stared at her in concern, which made Violetta's heart twist. "Vi, what's going on?"

"I'll tell you after rehearsal," Violetta replied. "As long as I don't explode."

Violetta, Athena, and Ricky sat down in the middle row of chairs. She crossed one leg over the other and also crossed her arms defensively across her chest. EJ caught her eye for a moment and his smile widened. Violetta's stomach twisted uncomfortably and she clenched her jaw, averting her gaze to look out the window.

"Can we have everyone's attention, please?" Carlos called as everyone settled down into their chairs.

"Thanks for coming in early, guys," EJ voiced. "We've been up all night."

Violetta could agree.

"Look, this better be good, because in here, it's still last night," Kourtney said, pointing at the side of her head.

Well, she could definitely say that again.

"We've been working on a plan to save the show and give Corbin and that Channing guy the reality show style juice that they really want," EJ revealed.

"Sorry, save the show?" Gina repeated, basically speaking everyone's thought.

"He — he just wants a little more excitement from us, you know? Like, a little more . . ."

"He thinks we're boring!" Carlos interrupted loudly, and Violetta's eyebrow raised. "He's actually missing our rehearsal today to scout out the kids at Deep Lake Camp in Temecula."

"That can't be a real place," Ricky stated.

Violetta slapped a hand to her forehead.

Athena blinked at her boyfriend. "Oh my God."

"But not to worry, because we have a plan," Carlos reassured them. "And it starts with five little letters."

"Allow me," Val offered.

She then pulled the take a seat board on the easel off, only to reveal another board. This board said the R.C.O.S.L. Violetta tilted her head in confusion.

Carlos pointed at the board. "Watch what happens, fam."

"R.C.O.S.L.?" Gina read out loud.

"No." Carlos pointed at each of the letters. "It's the Real Campers of Shallow Lake. The franchise I was always destined to join. I mean, you were."

"Look, it's easy," EJ continued. "You know how normally we act like regular people, we pick up on social cues, we care about each other's feelings?"

Violetta laughed loudly at that, because if she was remembering correctly, EJ hadn't noticed her feelings at all. "Oh, we do?"

Athena swiftly elbowed her side to get her to stop laughing.

EJ turned confused. "Yes, we do. But now that's over."

"Because the key to any great reality show is the three B's," Carlos explained. "Bombshells, betrayals, and bitch slaps."

Violetta blinked in shock. Bitch slaps?

"Can he say that?" Gina questioned.

"Look, I love the housewives as much as anyone, but how are we gonna pull this off when we're real students who don't have millions to burn and kids to blame?" Kourtney inquired.

Jet raised his hand in the air. "Can I be Team Kourtney on this?"

"No," Carlos responded. "Here's what we're doing." Val pulled away another board. This one also said R.C.O.S.L., but this one now had multiple rectangles with titles in them and question marks. "There's the judgy one, the sometimes jealous boyfriend, the one with the dark past, the crier, the sweetheart, the one with the catchphrase, the one who's here for the wrong reasons, the troubled sarcastic one, the shrink, the bad boy, and the instigator."

"Mmm-hmm," Val hummed in agreement. "It's a formula, and the formula works."

"Each of you has a role to play today."

Val then lifted up another board. This one said the campers, which had all of their Polaroid pictures that Maddox had taken of them at auditions.

"I'm sorry, Carlos, did you cast this?" Maddox asked.

Carlos giggled proudly and pointed at her. "I'm back, baby."

"Isn't this a little . . . tawdry?" Kourtney questioned.

"Was gonna say the same thing," Jet admitted.

"And that's why you, Kourt, get to be the judgy one," Carlos told her, and Val put Kourtney's picture in one of the rectangles on the board.

All of them clapped. Violetta didn't. There was a blank expression on her face. She didn't have the best feeling about this at all. If they all had roles to play, maybe real feelings would shine through. (Violetta was good at hiding her feelings, but this was different.)

"But do we want to look like villains on TV?" Ricky protested.

"I thought you'd want to go sympathetic, which is why you get to be the sometimes jealous boyfriend," Carlos replied, and Val put his picture on the board.

"Oh, good."

Athena laughed, but when Ricky gave her a look, she quickly covered her mouth with her hand. "Nope. I'm not laughing. Nothing's funny."

"Ashlyn, you've got a dark past," Carlos announced.

"I'm dying, yes," Ashlyn said. "Guys, this is gonna be fun."

"Gadget, you're the crier. Athena, you're the sweetheart."

Violetta nodded. Fitting.

"Oh," Athena responded with a smile. "I like that."

"And Gina—" Carlos started to say.

"Ooh, I think we've already established that I can't improvise," Gina interrupted.

Ashlyn pointed to her in agreement. "She's awful."

"I — I don't even have a comeback for that because I . . . I can't improvise."

"I got you, boo," Carlos told her. "You're the one with the catchphrase. Just say the same thing all the time in different ways."

"Okay, what's my phrase?" Gina inquired.

Athena looked at Violetta. "Oh, what's that line she always says?"

Violetta thought about it for a moment. "Um . . . oh, don't get me started."

Gina glanced back at Athena, nothing but malice in her eyes. "And you shouldn't."

Violetta's eyes narrowed at the back of Gina's head when she turned back around, practically burning holes into it. Why was her tone so venomous? Like she had said multiple times, whoever messed with Athena messed with her. Violetta kept a careful eye on Gina as she looked back towards the board.

"EJ's here for the wrong reasons," Carlos continued, and Violetta shrugged — huh. "Violetta's the troubled sarcastic one."

Well, of course she was.

"Emphasis on troubled," Violetta replied.

"Val's the shrink, Jet's the bad boy, and I will the the instigator," Carlos finished.

Kourtney scoffed. "I thought we were stretching for these parts."

"Good. I want a lot of that today. So, I know that was a lot, but has everyone got all that?" They all went to stand up. "Good, 'cause there's more." All of them sat back down. "We have four goals for the day." EJ then held up a whiteboard of a to-do list. "Someone needs to run out of here crying, someone needs to get slapped, someone needs to throw a drink at someone, and someone needs to get caught on a hot mic saying something scandalous. Any questions?"

"I have a lot," Athena admitted.

"This is gonna put our documentary on the map," Ashlyn said. "Get into it, guys."

Val went up to Carlos. "Um, Channing's coming in fifteen."

Violetta's mouth honestly moved before her mind did as she leaned back in her chair. "Oh, Val, that was nice of you to tell him that. You know, you're always so helpful with your behind-the-scenes takes."

"Vi," Athena warned.

"Start getting into character," Carlos ordered. "There's no time to lose, and many, many People's Choice Awards to gain. Come on."

He instructed them to separate into teams of two to practice some fake-slaps. Violetta stood next to Athena, her arms still crossed and the blank expression still on her face. The two weren't fake-slapping each other, mostly because they knew if it came down to it, they could just actually slap each other with no hard feelings. So, instead, they were just on the stage, watching as Ricky and EJ, who were partners.

Violetta could tell Athena wanted to figure out what was wrong. However, Violetta didn't want to dump all of the information on Athena right now. Especially not because she had to focus on being Anna, and especially not with this whole new plan.

"Vi, I can't help you if you won't tell me what's wrong," Athena pleaded. "We don't have to talk right now, but I . . . I hate seeing you sad like this."

Violetta let out a sigh. "I wish it were that easy, 'Thena."

"You're an expert on keeping things inside, but you don't always have to."

"I promise I will tell you after rehearsal, after I talk to EJ. For now, let me just focus on being the troubled sarcastic one. Carlos really put my role down to a t."

An actual slap suddenly sounded from nearby. Violetta looked over just in time to see Ricky's hand leave EJ's cheek. Athena's eyes immediately widened and she rushed up to the two of them. Violetta trailed after her, not nearly as concerned.

"Huh," Violetta commented. "Deserved."

"Did I do it right?" Ricky asked.

Athena steered Ricky away. Meanwhile, EJ came up to Violetta, locking his hands behind his back and smiling down at her.

"So much for fake-slapping, huh?" EJ asked, his smile faltering at the stone-cold expression on her face. "Wait, what do you mean, deserved?"

"That's for me to know and you to figure out," Violetta said. "When you do, let me know."

She then walked away from him, trying to ignore his burning gaze on her back.

Channing then entered the barn. The whole room instantly got quiet, standing in a stunned silence. Violetta leaned casually against the wall, her eyes following after Channing. She really didn't like him.

"Okay," Channing began, setting his stuff down and looking at EJ. "Let's you and the rest of the Care Bears get this lovefest over with, huh?"

"I think you're gonna be pleasantly surprised today," EJ responded.

"I haven't been pleasantly surprised since Survivor: Nicaragua."

EJ looked back at all of them on the stage. "Everyone give a warm welcome for Channing!"

"Pretend I'm not here," Channing insisted.

"No welcome for Channing!" EJ talked with Val for a moment, and Violetta felt her heart sink a little bit. "Alex, Emmy, Carlos, places for A Little Bit of You, please. Kill the lights, please."

Violetta stood against the wall, watching as Emmy and Alex walked on stage with their buckets of fake snow. Everyone moved to shut the blinds in the barn, and once it was dark, a single spotlight shone on Carlos in his Olaf costume. Emmy and Alex then began their song about Anna and Elsa making Olaf for the first time. They moved around the stage, tossing fake snow everywhere. The two opened up the chests on the stage and pulled out multiple accessories for a snowman.

She didn't even find it in her to laugh when Carlos started to get annoyed from how the girls were placing things on him. Or when they knocked the hat off of Carlos' head with the scarf. Honestly, Violetta hadn't felt this . . . empty for a while. It was all too familiar, but all too horrible.

Carlos shook his head, trying to get all of the fake snow off of him. "Mmm-mmm. Okay. Stop, stop. Turn on the lights." Maddox turned the stage lights back on, and Carlos began to take all of the props off of him. "Um, I'm sorry, but is this supposed to be fake snow?"

"Uh . . . Olaf?" Alex questioned. "You can speak."

"Not to instigate anything here, but this looks like sea salt."

Emmy looked over at Alex. "Did I take the wrong prop?"

Maddox then let out a loud gasp, lifting a handkerchief up to her face as she started to fake cry. "I tried my best, okay?"

"You guys, my head isn't a funnel," Carlos protested. "Can we at least try for my feet next time?"

"Are we being punked?" Alex inquired.

"At this point, I'm legally a margarita."

Violetta now realized that Emmy and Alex weren't there for the pre-rehearsal meeting, which meant they had no idea what was going on.

Today was already a disaster.

They moved on with the script, and it was now the scene of Anna and Elsa at Elsa's coronation. Athena and Kourtney had come up with a plan beforehand to have Athena throw a cup of water at Kourtney, successfully checking off another thing on their to-do list and to show that the sweetheart could be tired of being stepped on. They stood together on the stage, and Violetta watched attentively.

Athena sighed. "This is nice, Elsa. Us talking."

"Yeah, it is," Kourtney responded.

"Maybe we could do it more often?"

"Oh my gosh," Kourtney muttered in annoyance.

"Oh," Athena let out.

"I'm so sorry, can we cut?" Kourtney looked over at Athena. "Are you really gonna deliver your line like that?"

Violetta felt slight anger rise up in her, but she reminded herself that they were only acting.

"I thought it was okay," Athena admitted. "Why didn't you think it was good?"

Kourtney laughed loudly and tossed her script to the side. "Good? That was awful."

She then whispered something to Athena. Athena's eyes widened and turned around, but the thing that happened made Violetta's blood completely boil.

Gina had taken the cup of water that Athena had set out beforehand and just threw it at Athena. Athena gasped as the water hit her, her jaw dropping in shock. She scoffed in shock and looked up at Gina's stone-cold face.

"Don't get me started," Gina stated.

Gina wasn't acting, and Violetta knew it. She wasn't even part of the scene, or a part of Athena and Kourtney's plan. Gina had just completely thrown water at Athena for literally no reason besides for maybe fun. But Violetta remembered the glares directed at Athena, the harshness in her voice, the malicious expressions ever since camp started.

This was so much more than fake drama. This was real drama, but Athena hadn't done anything.

Gina continued to stare at Athena. "Oops."

"It's fine," Athena said, her voice slightly shaking. "Don't worry about it."

She walked off of the stage, Channing following her with the camera. Violetta watched her go, concern raising in her. She turned back, her jaw slightly clenching at how Gina had a small smirk on her face.

Nobody came for Athena Blake, especially not in front of Violetta Chase.

Violetta found another cup and filled it up with water. The scene had ended due to Athena walking off. Violetta held onto her cup tightly and walked up onto the stage, ignoring how the camera was directly on her. She didn't care. Violetta wanted this day to be over, and she was angry, and she was sad, and everything was spiraling out of control.

Gina focused in on her, but the smirk fell from her face, like she was now realizing exactly what she had done and who she had done it in front of. Violetta didn't say anything and just threw the cup of water at Gina, and it splashed from her chest down her clothes. Gina gasped in shock from it and went to say something, but once she noticed the dangerous expression on Violetta's face, her mouth shut.

"Oops," Violetta commented casually, tossing the cup to the side and putting her hands on her hips. "Looks like you got started."

Violetta raised an eyebrow at her before turning around and walking off of the stage. She moved back to go back to her spot by the wall, but a hand grabbed her arm.

"V," EJ protested. "Violetta, hey, what—"

She ripped her arm out of his grasp. "Not right now."

Athena came back out of the office where she had disappeared to. Violetta locked eyes with her momentarily, silently asking if she was okay. Athena gave her a tiny smile, which meant she was. Violetta could tell she was mostly just confused.

Violetta returned to the wall, leaning against it and wrapping her arms around herself defensively. She watched as Channing pointed the camera at EJ, who was standing in front of the stage.

"So I'll be playing Sven, the reindeer in this scene," EJ explained. "And as an actor-slash-director, I'm just proud to be flexing all of my muscles this summer."

To prove his point, EJ lifted his arm up, discreetly showing off the muscles on his arm by placing a hand on the back of his neck. Violetta felt her face burn a bright shade of red and she looked away, her heart infuriatingly beating fast against her chest. She immediately scolded herself — no, do not get distracted, you're still mad.

"Of course he's confident," Kourtney commented to Channing. "A cis straight dude with a paper-thin résumé?"

"You're right," Channing agreed. "Everyone loves confidence."

Kourtney blinked at him. "You missed almost all the words I said, huh?"

"All right, let's do the Anna-Kristoff-Hans scene, page twenty-four," EJ instructed.

Him, Athena, Ricky, and Jet gathered on the stage. Maddox brought out the prop of Kristoff's wheelbarrow with ice. EJ and Ricky stood behind the prop with their scripts while Athena and Jet stood in the wings, waiting for their cues.

"And action."

Athena walked out of the wings and bumped into the prop with a laugh. "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

"Oh, no, are you okay?" Jet responded.

"I'm fine. How embarrassing. I . . ."

Jet shook his head and looked at EJ. "Director, I don't get Hans. He's kinda lame. Can we get him to be rougher or something?"

"Are you questioning me as a director-slash-actor?" EJ argued.

"I think maybe that's something I would do."

"Let's keep going."

Ricky stepped up from the prop. "Hi. Can I ask you lovebirds something?"

"Lovebirds?" Athena repeated. "No, um, we've actually never met."

"But we're meeting now," Jet recited, but Violetta's eyebrows raised at how he had turned his voice extremely deep.

Athena stared at him in confusion. "Yeah . . . we are."

"Great," Ricky said. "Do you like cold drinks?"

"Very much," Jet replied in the same low voice.

Ricky leaned in closer to him. "What are you doing with your voice, dude?"

"I don't know, but it hurts."

Maddox suddenly started to fake cry loudly again from the wings. "It is just so hard to see my . . . man with another lady."

She took out her handkerchief and fake-cried into it, crossing over the entire stage for the camera.

"Ugh, what a baby," Kourtney commented.

Carlos turned to her. "Well, that's a little judgy."

"Well, you're a little loud and excitable man."

"What are you gonna do about it?"

Kourtney then lifted up her hand and lightly slapped Carlos' face.

Carlos gasped dramatically and held onto his face. "Ow! My face! I've been slapped!"

Violetta leaned her head against the wall, her eyes closing. She really wanted nothing more than for the Earth to open up and swallow her whole.

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VI IS SO PETTY PLEASE