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𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘

chapter one:
to the moon and to saturn !

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NOW, LET'S GET one thing straight — hiding in a locker was not exactly Athena Blake's idea of a good time, yet here she was, standing in a locker of a hallway at East High. The entire drama program was putting on a performance of Something in the Air (yet another song Athena had written with Ashlyn Caswell and Nini Salazar-Roberts) for their new Instagram page. Athena and her boyfriend, Ricky Bowen, had a small duet in the song, and Carlos Rodriguez, their choreographer, thought it would be cute if the two of them came out of lockers for it. So that's where they were, waiting for their cue from none other than Gina Porter and Violetta Chase, Athena's best friend.

The holidays were approaching, and East High was decorated beautifully for it with ribbons in the hallways and Christmas trees in the cafeteria. Just to add to the spirit, the whole drama department had decided to dress in holiday or winter themed clothes to go along with the holiday themed song. Athena decided to wear a white knitted sweater with red chevron designs underneath Ricky's fuzzy jean jacket (which she stole for this very occasion) that was a little big on her, a pair of black leggings, her red Converse, and a red knitted hat. It was definitely not as cool as Seb's Ho Ho Ho onesie, but it would get the point across.

Finally, Athena heard Gina and Violetta's footsteps walk by the locker. She took a deep breath and opened the locker with Ricky, whose was next to hers. The girl smiled at the phone that Miss Jenn was holding in front of her before starting to sing.

"Holding your hand when it gets cold," Athena and Ricky harmonized, stepping out of their lockers. The two of them grinned at the mere sight of each other, and Ricky reached out, taking Athena's hands in his as they walked to the hallway that led down to the auditorium. "Promise me you'll never let go." Ricky twirled Athena around gently a couple of times before the two of them stopped at the beginning of the hallway, making her smile widen even further and more butterflies flutter in her stomach. "It's winter break, but we'll never break apart."

"The season of celebrating, the memories we'll be making," they continued, the rest of the drama department joining in with them as they appeared behind the couple who let go of each other's hands. "Making a change, make a new start."

"I'm gonna make my mark," Violetta and Gina said together, making their way to the very front of the group while high-fiving each other.

"There's something in the air," everyone chorused, beginning to dance down the hallway in the choreography Carlos had taught them. Ashlyn added ad-libs on the top, tying the whole chorus together. "About to go off right now. Lighten up all around, I feel it coming, something in the air. A time to look forward to, get ready for something new. I feel it coming, something in the air."

Carlos skipped up to the phone. "We are excited to announce that behind these doors, the theater is being restored to its full, resplendent, 1960's era glory over the holiday break."

Miss Jenn turned the phone to the doors of the auditorium that had yellow caution tape over them. After a fire had burned down the theater over Thanksgiving break, East High had to put on their production of High School Musical: The Musical in the gym. But now, once the theater is restored, the drama department could finally use it for their spring musical. Athena couldn't wait to see what Miss Jenn had chosen, although she had an inkling of what it could be.

Ricky then grabbed the phone from Miss Jenn and showed all of them dancing, singing, and having fun in the hallway.

"Something in the air," they all sang, Athena twirling Violetta around and sending her spinning into her boyfriend's, EJ Caswell's, arms. "I feel it coming, something in the air."

Ricky blew a kiss to the camera and spun his hand around for a moment before covering the camera, making the screen go black. He ended the video and everyone let out a breath of relief as they cheered with each other in celebration.

"Hey!" the voice of Mr. Mazzara called out. Everyone stopped cheering and Athena turned to see the teacher standing in the doorway of his classroom. "School let out an hour ago. Get out of here and enjoy the vacation."

"Happy holidays, Mr. Scrooge," Miss Jenn replied over the chatter of everyone.

Mr. Mazzara merely nodded to Miss Jenn and shut his door. Athena looked over at Violetta and the two of them laughed slightly. Mr. Mazzara, acting nice? That was a first.

"New Year's Eve party at Ashlyn's!" Carlos announced. "Everyone's invited!"

Everyone cheered once more, including Athena. The last party Ashlyn had thrown after Thanksgiving was definitely . . . memorable, per se. It had ended with Gina's mom telling her they had to move again and Ricky being upset about that plus his mom having a new boyfriend, although it seemed like everything was kind of okay now. Gina was staying at Ashlyn's for the rest of the semester, but Ricky was still pretty hurt about his parents' divorce. Athena was always there whenever he needed a shoulder to cry on — next door neighbors that turned into boyfriend and girlfriend, after all.

"Gina and I are co-hosting!" Ashlyn added, making the cheers get even louder.

"You guys, wait . . ." Miss Jenn trailed off, a guilty look on her face. "I don't think I was recording the song."

"Miss Jenn," Carlos complained quietly.

Athena's smiled slipped on her face. "Wait, are you kidding?"

Miss Jenn smiled sheepishly. "Go back to places?" Everyone groaned and turned back around to go where they once were. "What? I thought I pressed it."

Violetta scoffed. "Now I have to do that dance sequence again? Come on, I'm so tired."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," EJ responded, taking her hand and dragging her down the hallway despite her protests. "Come on, V. You can do it."

Athena sighed. "Back to the lockers we go."

Ricky slung an arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head gently. "Hey, you killed it last time. You're gonna do it again."

She smiled up at him and gripped onto his hand that was by her shoulder, the two of them walking down the hallway to go back to their lockers. "Right back at you, Wildcat."

The entire group did their routine once again, making sure that Miss Jenn had actually hit record that time. This one definitely wasn't as energetic as the first, but it would have to do.

Violetta tapped Athena on the shoulder as she passed her in the hallway on the way out after they were done. "Hey, we're still getting ready for Ashlyn's party together on New Year's Eve, right?"

"Of course," Athena answered. "I think it'll just be me at home because Artemis is going to one of her friends' houses and my parents are going to my aunt's, so we'll have the whole place to ourselves for the evening before we leave."

"I can get EJ to drive us both, if you want."

Athena shook her head. "I promised Ricky we would ride there together. EJ can still pick you up, but if you want to ride with Ricky and I, that's cool too."

"And be in a car third-wheeling with you two, again?" Violetta stated. "I'll pass."

Athena rolled her eyes playfully. "Then I won't third-wheel with you and EJ again."

Violetta raised her hand for a high-five, and Athena happily obliged. "Glad we're in agreement. I'll see you then." She then began to jog to catch up with EJ in front of her. "Hey, loser! You're my ride to Ashlyn's for New Year's!"

"When am I not your ride to anywhere?" EJ's voice faintly said before the two of them disappeared out of the front door.

Athena shook her head with a small laugh. Somebody then came up beside her and grabbed her hand, lacing their fingers together. She knew who it was just by the way their hands fit together perfectly, but nevertheless, Athena looked up to see her boyfriend smiling down at her.

"Can I help you?" Athena asked, pushing the front door open and entering the cold and snowy air of Salt Lake City.

"You can, actually," Ricky told her, swinging their interlocked hands back and forth. "Are you coming over later?"

"I mean, sure. It's not like I have far to walk. May I just ask why?"

"Well, the last time I checked, a boyfriend has the right to spend quality time with his girlfriend."

Athena's stomach fluttered with butterflies and she felt her cheeks heat up. "And as a girlfriend who wants the same thing, yes. I'll see you later on tonight."

"I'll be counting the minutes," Ricky voiced.

"I'm sure you will be. Don't miss me too much."

Ricky shot her a smile and leaned down, kissing her softly. Just like every time, Athena felt the whole world fade to static around them and her heart began to race. Ricky Bowen never failed to make her feel that way.

Athena pulled away after a couple of moments and pointed at him. "Be careful skateboarding home with Red."

"We'll be fine," Ricky reassured her.

She sent him a disbelieving look. "Ricky, I'm serious. The roads are wet and icy from the snow. Are you sure you don't want Artemis to drive you two home?"

"Athena," Ricky cut in, placing his hands on her shoulders. "We'll watch where we're going. Promise."

"Fine," Athena finally decided. "But if you break your arm again, don't come crying to me."

"Whatever, Attie." He rubbed his thumb against the denim that covered her shoulder. "And maybe when you come over you can give me back this jean jacket?"

"Not a chance."

Ricky let out a defeated breath. "It was worth a shot."

A car horn sounded, and Athena looked back to see her sister, Artemis, sitting there in her car in front of the entrance. "That's Artemis. I gotta go."

She pressed up onto her toes and kissed his cheek quickly. Athena walked quickly to Artemis' car (or else her sister would complain about her taking so long) and opened the door, setting her backpack down on the floor before sitting in the seat and buckling her seatbelt.

"How are things with lover boy?" Artemis teased with a smirk.

Athena avoided all eye contact and crossed her arms, making Artemis laugh. "Shut up."

But the answer was that things were very well. Ricky and Athena were more connected than ever, and Athena wouldn't have it any other way.

--- ☆ • ♫ • ♪ • ♫ • ☆ ---

JUST AS SHE had promised, Athena left her house and crossed her lawn over into Ricky's yard that night. She was still in the same outfit as before (minus the hat), Ricky's jean jacket included. However, when she heard the snow crunch underneath her shoe, she had an idea.

Athena quickly made a snowball from the snow in Ricky's front yard. She ran up the steps to his house and rang the doorbell before quickly rushing back down to stand on his front sidewalk, hiding the snowball behind her back. A couple of moments later, Ricky opened the door and looked down at her.

"Attie?" Ricky asked. "What are you—"

Before he got a chance to finish, Athena threw her snowball at him and hit Ricky square in the chest. His jaw dropped and he looked down at his shirt before glancing back up at her, a determined look in his eyes.

"Oh, it's on," he challenged, running down the steps to join her.

"Is it?" Athena countered, leaning down and grabbing more snow to make another snowball. "Because if I remember last winter, I was the reigning snowball champion."

"We'll see about that."

Ricky took his chance to throw a snowball. Athena dodged and threw hers, hitting him in the top of his arm. The two of them leaned down to get more snow and threw as many snowballs as they could at each other. It went back and forth like that for a while, their laughter filling the night air as both of them managed to hit each other with snowballs. However, if one thing was for certain, it was that Ricky Bowen was no match for Athena Blake in a snowball fight.

"You ready to give up?" Athena questioned, another snowball ready in her hand.

Their eyes locked. Ricky's were full of mischief, and right then and there, Athena knew exactly what he was trying to do.

"Ricky," Athena began cautiously, taking a step backwards. He responded by taking a step forwards. "Ricky, no."

Without any warning, he surged forwards and captured the girl in his arms. Athena was forced to drop her snowball as Ricky started to tickle her stomach. She let out a loud laugh and tried to escape his grasp, but it was no use — Ricky was holding onto her too tightly. Her stomach began to hurt from the laughter and him tickling him, but her heart was beating fast from the close proximity.

"Some things never change," Mike Bowen's voice suddenly said.

The two of them stopped. Ricky dropped his arms from around Athena and she straightened up, wiping tears from laughing out of her eyes.

"Hey, Mike," she greeted.

"Hi, 'Thena," he replied, smiling fondly. "You know, you two used to spend hours playing in the snow together when you were little. Lynne, Adam, Amanda, and I had to literally drag you two inside."

"Yeah, I remember. It was always amazing to have a neighbor I could play with whenever, and it's even better now we're together." Athena paused once she noticed Ricky and Mike's faces turn crestfallen. She glanced in between them, her eyebrows knitting in concern. "What?"

Ricky shook his head. "It's — uh, it's nothing. Don't worry about it."

Athena nodded slowly, though she was uncertain because something was definitely wrong. "Yeah, okay."

"How about you two come inside?" Mike offered. "I'll make some hot chocolate."

Athena smiled at him. "Sounds amazing."

Mike went back inside. Ricky offered his hand to Athena and she took it, the two of them walking up to the front steps of his house.

"You sure everything's okay?" Athena questioned worryingly.

Ricky shrugged as they stopped at the top of the steps, him reaching out to take her other hand as they turned to face each other. "Define okay. It's the first Christmas without mom."

She frowned. "I'm sorry, Ricky. I can't even imagine how hard it is for you."

"But it's fine, because you're here, and that's all I really need." He then glanced above him. "Look, mistletoe."

Athena looked up to see that mistletoe was, indeed, hanging above them, and raised an eyebrow. "You trying to kiss me, Bowen?"

"One hundred percent."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

Ricky leaned down and pressed his lips onto hers. They were slightly cold and chapped from the winter air outside, but it drove her mind haywire nonetheless. He pulled away after a couple seconds and gave her a small grin. Athena pressed up onto her toes and kissed him again quickly.

"Come on," she urged quietly, squeezing his hands. "Let's go inside."

A little while later, the two of them sat facing each other on the floor by Ricky's Christmas tree together. Two cups of hot chocolate sat next to them and conversation flowed easily between them — mostly about how excited they were for the New Year's Party at Ashlyn's and for the spring musical.

"It has to be High School Musical 2," Ricky told her. "And maybe this time you'll play Gabriella since Nini's going off to that school in Denver."

That was true. At the dinner after opening night, Nini had revealed she got an offer to go to the Youth Actors Conservatory in Denver, the performing arts school she wanted to go to. She admitted that if it hadn't been for Athena telling her to go check the lobby for the dean that she probably wouldn't have even gotten the offer. It warmed Athena's heart knowing she could help Nini follow her dreams, but she was going to miss the girl a lot.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Athena responded. "Just because I got her Understudy last time doesn't mean I'll get her main role this time." She absentmindedly played with the small R charm on her owl necklace, a gift Ricky had given her after opening night for High School Musical: The Musical. The word charm then echoed throughout her head, and her eyes widened in realization. "Oh, I almost forgot."

"Forgot what?" Ricky inquired.

Athena reached over to his jean jacket and pulled a small box out from the pocket. "I know with everything go on we promised that gifts were the least of our worries, but I did get you a present. It's actually something we can share."

"Attie, you didn't—"

"I know, I know, but I wanted to." She held out the box to him. "Go on, open it."

Ricky took the box from her. He opened up the lid to reveal two small charms inside of it — a small crescent moon and a small figure of the planet Saturn. A soft smile appeared on Ricky's face as he stared down at it.

"Lately, whenever you tell me you love me, I always respond with—"

"To the moon and to Saturn," Ricky finished, finally looking up at her. "Athena, I love it."

"You can choose which charm you want," Athena explained. "Or if you want to keep both, that's cool too."

Ricky picked up the Saturn charm. "I want you to have this one. I'll put the moon on my bracelet and you can put Saturn on your necklace."

Athena took the charm from him. She unhooked her necklace from around her neck and put Saturn on the other side of the owl where the R charm wasn't. Once that was done, she put her necklace back on and saw Ricky putting back on his leather cord bracelet that Athena had gifted him after opening night. Right next to the metal bar that said WILDCAT hung the moon charm.

"I'm glad you like it," Athena stated.

"I actually have a gift for you, too," Ricky admitted. "It's not very material since money's been kinda tight, but once I remembered how incredible it felt to give you Perfect Harmony, I decided to gift you this song." He pulled out his guitar and set it on his lap. "You kind of can't return it, so I hope you like it."

Ricky began to play his guitar. Athena smiled gently at him and leaned back on her palms, her heart fluttering.

"I still remember the first time we ever kissed, we didn't need no mistletoe to know what loving is," Ricky sang, making Athena's smile widen even further at the memory of their first kiss after Homecoming. And it was true — even without mistletoe, the two of them knew that being with each other was exceptionally right. "Through every up and down, there's one thing that stays true, Christmas is better every second it's with you. I don't got much to give, so I hope you think this is the perfect gift that I could give, to the perfect gift that ever lived. Yeah, this song's the second best that I could do, when the perfect gift is you, you. When the perfect gift is you, you. When seasons change and I've lost my way, it'll be okay with you by my side, and darling, that's why. This song's the second best that I could do, when the perfect gift is you."

Athena let out a laugh of amazement when he was finished. "Ricky, I . . . I don't even know what to say. That was incredible." She paused for a second. "Guess I owe you another song now."

Ricky shook his head with a chuckle. "No, you don't. But thanks. Writing and singing will help me get ready for the spring musical."

Athena reached up and put her hand on his cheek, rubbing her thumb back and forth gently. "Well, whatever musical we do, I have no doubt that you'll get a part. You're insanely talented, Ric."

Ricky turned his head and softly kissed her palm. "I can't wait to do it all over again, especially with you. Because Attie, you, us, is the one thing I know is going to stay constant in my life."

"No matter where life takes us, nothing can break us apart," Athena recited, making Ricky laugh slightly.

He took her hand off of his cheek and held onto it instead. "Do you remember what I said to you that night I came over after my parents told me they were getting divorced?"

"That life just felt like one big test?"

"No. When Miss Jenn told me to go home, the first thing that came to mind when she said home was you." He squeezed her hand. "It still holds up. You'll always be my home, Athena."

She squeezed back. "You'll always be my home too, Ricky."

Ricky held out his pinky finger to her with the hand that wasn't holding hers. "I love you."

Athena interlocked her pinky with his and gave him a small grin. "To the moon and to Saturn."

He pulled her forwards with their locked fingers and kissed her again. If their love went all the way through the solar system from the moon to Saturn, nothing could tear them apart.

═ • ° • ✧ • ° • ═

HELLO ALL OF YOU CERTIFIED BAD BITCHES. WELCOME TO FINALLY FREE

to those who guessed the name correctly, congrats besties <333

stop it rn I missed athena so much and SHE'S BACK FOR SEASON TWO BABYYYY which also means my butterflies for ricky and athena are back I LOVE THEM

I also wrote this while recovering from my second dose of the covid vaccine and damn that shit was rough. so if this sucks that's why. sorry.

also miss olivia rodrigo had to have put some kind of crack in good 4 u bc it makes me feel like a bad bitch. also her in the music video can literally run me over bye 🤚🏻

anyways if you liked perfect harmony (which has over 30k reads now, what the fuck thank you), I hope you'll like finally free <333 chapter two will be out on wednesday!!!