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𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘

chapter two:
you are the music in me !

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FINALLY, IT WAS New Years' Eve. Athena sat at the vanity in her room, applying some mascara to her eyelashes while Violetta pinned back her hair behind her. Taylor Swift songs played softly in the background and filled the silent air as the two girls concentrated on what they were doing. A knock was then sounded at the door, and Athena turned to look at it while lowering the mascara wand in her hand.

"Come in," she said.

The door opened to reveal Artemis. "Hey, I'm leaving. Be careful and call me if you need anything, okay? I think mom and dad are spending the night at our aunt's house."

She nodded. "Thanks, Artie. Have fun."

"Not too much fun!" Violetta called as Artemis shut the door, putting another bobby pin in her hair.

Athena laughed slightly and twisted the top back on to her mascara tube. "I don't think she's going to do anything crazy, Vi. You know Artemis, she's chill."

Violetta placed the final bobby pin in her hair, seemingly satisfied. "Yeah, but homegirl's going off to college in a couple of months. You never know."

"Don't remind me." Athena sighed. "It's gonna be so weird not having her around all the time. We've never really been separated . . . ever."

"I get it," Violetta agreed. "Especially with EJ . . . we're doing really well, but I'm gonna miss him a lot when he leaves."

Athena smiled reassuringly at her. "You two are amazing together. I have no doubt in my mind that you'll try and make it work."

Violetta's phone ringer went off, and she walked over to where her phone was resting on Athena's bed. "Speaking of him, it's EJ. He's waiting outside. I'll see you at Ash's."

Athena waved at her as Violetta left her room. She let out a deep breath and stood up from her vanity, walking over to her nightstand. Athena sat down on her her bed and picked up her phone. She smiled slightly at the picture of her and Ricky as her lock screen before opening up the photos app. Athena quickly found the picture she was looking for, which was the one of the cast on opening night of High School Musical: The Musical.

That night had to be probably one of the best nights of her life. Sure, not everything went exactly according to plan, but the pure joy she had felt while up on that stage . . . there wasn't anything like it. Miss Jenn was apparently announcing the new musical tonight at midnight. The obvious choice for it was High School Musical 2, but still, Athena couldn't wait to be in another musical with everyone.

A notification then popped up. It was Ricky, saying that he was waiting outside for her. Athena locked her phone and stood up, putting on her shoes before walking downstairs. She grabbed her winter jacket and put it on before walking outside into the cold winter air of Salt Lake City. Sure enough, Ricky was waiting outside the front of her house in Mike's orange buggy car. Athena went over to it and opened the door.

"Hey, you," Athena greeted as she sat down in the passenger seat and buckled her seatbelt. She then noticed him wearing a blue shirt with a dark blue blazer over it. "Don't you look handsome."

"And you look gorgeous, as always," Ricky complimented upon noticing her jean dress layered over a white long-sleeved shirt. He leaned over and kissed her gently. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah, I'm ready. What music do you want me to play?"

"Actually, I was hoping if you would let me play you a song on the way over there."

Athena's eyebrows knit in thought. "Um, sure. What is it?"

Ricky pressed play on his phone that was connected to the aux, and a familiar bass drum beat filled the car. Athena chuckled at it as Ricky began to drive in the direction of Ashlyn's house.

"Bet on It?" Athena questioned. "Ricky . . . what?"

"Just trying to get into character," he explained. Ricky reached over and took her hand, clutching it to his chest as he shouted out the lyrics. "Everybody's always talking at me, everybody's trying to get in my head . . ."

That went on for the entire drive to Ashlyn's house. Ricky insisted that only Bet on It be played, but Athena didn't mind. It was cute seeing how into it he got. A couple of months ago, she never would've guessed that Ricky Bowen, the boy who supposedly hated musicals, would all of the sudden love High School Musical. Athena couldn't help but smile. It was amazing to see how far he had come.

After about three times of singing Bet on It, the two had finally arrived at Ashlyn's. Ricky parked the car in front of her house and unbuckled his seatbelt before rushing over to the other side of the car. He opened Athena's door and offered out his hand.

She took it with a gracious smile and got out of the car after unbuckling herself. "Thank you."

He pressed his lips the top of her head as they began to walk up the sidewalk. "Anything for you. Oh, by the way, Big Red isn't coming tonight because his mom made him take up a shift at the pizza shop."

"Aw," Athena complained as they approached the front door. "I thought he was planning on kissing Ashlyn at midnight." She then looked up at Ricky and narrowed her eyes. "You're going to sing when we get in there, aren't you?"

"You know me way too well." Ricky opened the door and instantly began to sing again. "I'm not gonna stop, that's who I am." He let go of Athena's hand to do dramatic movements as he made his way to the middle of the living room. Athena shook her head and laughed slightly at him as she shrugged off her winter coat. "I'll give it all I got, that is my plan. When I find what I lost, you know you can bet on it, bet on it, you can bet on me."

The living room full of people cheered and clapped for him. Athena crossed her arms and moved to stand besides Nini, nothing but adoration in her eyes for the boy in front of her.

"Hey, 'Thena," Nini greeted. "He seems . . . enthusiastic."

Athena scoffed. "You could say that. It was the only thing we listened to the entire ride over here." She looked over at the girl. "Hey, how are you feeling? You leave for Denver . . . what, in a couple days?"

Nini took a deep breath. "Yeah. I'm a little nervous. It's a huge deal to me, I just don't wanna mess it up."

Athena squeezed her shoulder. "Hey, you got this. All of us are right behind you." She paused for a second. "I'm really gonna miss you, Nini."

Nini smiled sadly at her. "I'm really gonna miss you too, Athena."

"Okay, okay, okay!" Carlos exclaimed over the clapping. "Does anybody not know we're doing High School Musical 2?"

"We are?" EJ asked, obviously both shocked and excited. "Whoo-hoo!"

Carlos groaned and fell back onto the couch.

Violetta blinked at him from her place beside him. "Sweetie, it was so obvious. How did you not know?"

"'Thena, Ricky," Ashlyn announced, and the couple turned towards her. She handed them two slips of paper. "Write down your New Year's resolution and put it in the bowl. It's for a game later. I don't know, Kourtney made it up."

"Awesome, thanks Ash," Athena replied.

Athena and Ricky sat down next to each other on the couch. She grabbed a pen and thought about what she wanted to write. Normally, New Year's resolutions didn't really pull through, but this time . . . she wanted to make it count. This year, Athena didn't want to spend her nights worrying about anything like she had done in the beginning of the school year. And that's when she knew what her resolution was.

I want to live my life full of oh wells instead of what ifs, Athena wrote down.

She smiled at it before folding the paper in half and placing it in the glass bowl. Ricky did the same not too long later, and the two of them leaned back together on the couch.

"Write down a good one?" Ricky questioned, wrapping his arm around her.

"Yeah," she responded. "I hope I can make it work."

Conversation flowed easily throughout the living room for a little while. It was in the eleven o'clock hour, and midnight was about to be here soon. Another year had come and passed. Sure, this year might have been more . . . confusing than the last, but right here with all of her best friends, Athena knew that it would end on a high note.

"Okay, listen up," Kourtney said, making the room go silent as she held the glass bowl full of resolutions. "Rules of the game. This is important. We need to set intentions and be accountable to one another this year."

"True that," Ashlyn agreed.

"This is a terrible party," Natalie Bagley commented.

"Hey, watch yourself," Kourtney scolded. "Okay." She laughed while pulling a piece of paper out of the bowl. "All right, resolution number one. Anyone's guess. I resolve to . . ." Kourtney laughed yet again. "This is so stupid, I can't."

"Come on, Kourt, you have to read it," Nini encouraged.

"I resolve to remember everybody fondly when I go to Duke. Any guesses?"

Violetta's eyes widened and she slapped EJ's shoulder from her place on the arm of the chair he was sitting on. "Dude, shut up. You got into Duke?"

"I — I mean, have I technically gotten into Duke?" EJ inquired while using air quotes. "Did my father and our grandpa before him also go to Duke? Guys, I think it's just a matter of time."

"Okay, I lost track of the air quotes," Ricky admitted.

Everybody laughed, and Kourtney pulled another piece of paper out of the bowl. "Okay, resolution number two. Oh, I don't get this one."

"Just read it!" Ricky told her, agreements of that sounding all around the room.

"This one doesn't say anything except the words my cows."

"You guys, I thought we were writing down what we're thankful for," Seb stated.

Athena chuckled, pouting at how adorable he was, Carlos doing the same while hugging his boyfriend's arm. "Aw, Seb."

"A for effort, Seb," EJ voiced. "A for effort."

Steph, one of the dancers, held up the bowl. "Read another clue, Kourt."

"Um, here we go," Kourtney responded while pulling out yet another piece of paper. "Okay, let's see what we got. Um . . . I want to live my life full of oh wells instead of what ifs."

"Athena," Violetta answered immediately.

She blinked. "How did you know that so fast?"

Violetta smiled proudly. "Because I know you."

"Fine, yes, it's me," Athena revealed. "I saw it online somewhere one day and it's really stuck with me ever since. I'd just rather not think about what could've happened anymore." She shrugged. "Go ahead, pick another one, Kourt."

Kourtney got another paper from the bowl and cleared her throat. "All I want is for our generation to save the planet, and I would also like absolute clarity about my love life, thank you."

The room erupted in chatter about how who it could possibly be, but Athena's eyes went straight to Ashlyn. Ashlyn was acting very stiff after that resolution, which told her that she was the one to write it. The relationship between her and Big Red had been kind of a touchy subject for a while. Both of them were a little confused, but Athena knew that they just needed to find their way.

A couple of seconds later, the doorbell rang. Athena turned to see Big Red enter the house with a stack of pizza boxes and she smiled wide. Everyone greeted him excitedly. Athena knew he would find a way to escape the shop for a little while.

"Six pizzas," Big Red explained, a little out of breath. "Two with lactose-free cheese. I'm here."

"Yes, thank you," EJ replied while taking the pizzas from him. "Good Lord, dude, did you fall into a bucket of cologne?"

Athena's head slowly turned towards Ricky to see him with a sheepish expression while Big Red backed into the kitchen. "Ricky, you did not."

He broke underneath her gaze. "Okay, okay, fine. I gave him Throb. Is it really that bad?"

"It made me sneeze last time. That stuff is awful."

"But the pheromones!"

Athena sighed. "Oh my God, you're impossible. Please go check on him, he seems a little frantic."

Right then and there, the game of resolutions decided to end as Ricky followed Big Red into the kitchen. Athena let out a deep breath and shared an exasperated look with Violetta from across the room. Boys were just so clueless sometimes.

Carlos then apparently decided that this was the perfect time to do a High School Musical 2 medley to prepare them. Ashlyn's piano was pushed out so it would be easier to play, and Athena sat next to Violetta on the couch.

"Remember, my feedback is both precious and invaluable," Carlos said. "So, think of this medley as a pre-audition workshop. You may begin."

Seb sat down at the piano and began to play a familiar tune. "It's out with the old and in with the new, goodbye clouds of gray, hello skies of blue. A dip in the pool, a trip to the spa, endless days in my chaise, the whole world according to moi." He looked at Carlos. "Just sing it."

Carlos joined in with him. "I want fabulous, that is my simple request. All things fabulous, bigger and better and best. I need something inspiring to help me get along, I need a little fabulous, is that so wrong?"

"Take it, Ash!" Carlos urged.

Ashlyn then sat down at the piano and began to play Athena's most favorite song in the entire High School Musical trilogy, making her gasp excitedly. "Na na na na, na na na na, yeah. You are the music in me. You know the words once upon a time, make you listen, there's a reason. Come on, G."

"When you dream, there's a chance you'll find," Gina and Ashlyn harmonized. "A little laughter, or happy ever after."

Athena and Ricky's eyes locked. Ricky nodded his head, beckoning her to come join him as he walked back to the piano with his guitar. Violetta prodded the girl's shoulder, and Athena stood up, joining him as they faced each other. Ricky tapped Ashlyn's shoulder for a moment to signal that they were going next.

"You're a harmony to the melody," the two of them dueted, butterflies rushing through their stomachs and their hearts racing. "Echoing inside my head."

"A single voice," Athena sang.

"Single voice," Ricky added.

"Above the noise."

They joined in back together for a moment. "Like a common thread."

"Ooh, you're pulling me," Ricky voiced.

The world seemed to literally fade away around them, and it was suddenly just the two of them in the room, a song just as pure and loving as this one joining their hearts together even more. "When I hear my favorite song, I know that we belong, oh, you are the music in me." Athena reached up and gently touched the small charm of Saturn on her necklace, smiling lovingly up at the boy. "Yeah, it's living in all of us, it's brought us here because, you are the music in me. Na na na na, na na na na, yeah, yeah, yeah, you are the music in me. Na na na na, na na na na, yeah, yeah, yeah, you are the music in me."

Athena and Ricky just stood there, staring into each other's eyes for a moment with nothing but love and adoration flowing between them. She couldn't help but notice that this song really spoke to their relationship. Coincidentally, Athena's favorite song — which it had been for a while — was the one Ricky had written for her. Perfect Harmony, although it wasn't an officially released song, had truly showed Athena that her and Ricky belonged together. The two of them were heaven on Earth, melody and words, and the music in each other.

"One minute till midnight!" Natalie shouted.

The two of them were snapped out of their trance from the cheering around them. Athena straightened up and cleared her throat, although she sent a small smile in Ricky's direction. She knew he felt it, too.

All of them rushed to move in a circle. Athena moved to stand in between Violetta and Nini. Ashlyn went around and began to offer them party blowers and other New Year's Eve items for celebration. Many people opted to grab beach balls to highlight their High School Musical 2 theme.

"Come on, Big Red!" Seb encouraged.

"Everybody, all for one," Big Red sang. "Our real summer has just begun."

Kourtney went next. "Let's rock and roll, and just let go."

"Feel the rhythm of the drums," Gina added.

"We're gonna have fun in the sun," EJ stated.

"Now that all the hard work, work is done," Carlos voiced.

"Everybody one for all," everyone chorused. They all put their hands in a circle and lifted them up. "And all for one. All for—"

"Ten seconds till midnight!" Natalie announced.

Everyone excitedly began to count down. Athena held onto Violetta's hand and the two of them counted down together. Starting the year together and ending the year together — just like it always had been and should be.

Athena then noticed Ashlyn and Big Red walking towards each other. She repeatedly tapped Violetta's shoulder and got her to look. And finally, for the first time since opening night, Big Red and Ashlyn pressed their lips onto each other's for a sweet kiss. Athena squealed and jumped up and down. God, she loved them.

"I have an announcement!" Miss Jenn's voice called out exactly after everyone said the last second.

Athena turned, slightly miffed that she interrupted the kiss, but it was time for Miss Jenn to announce the musical, after all. She sighed and faced her drama teacher.

Carlos gasped. "You cut your hair!"

"Thank you," Miss Jenn replied. "Wait, do you like it? That's not the announcement. Okay. Um . . . contrary to rumor, we are not doing High School Musical 2."

Athena blinked in surprise. Well, that was not what she was expecting. Carlos apparently wasn't either, because Kourtney and Lauryn, another dancer, had to catch him from falling over.

"We're doing an American classic," Miss Jenn continued. "Beauty and the Beast." Athena's eyes widened, she absolutely loved that musical. Everyone else apparently did too based on their reactions. "And I know East High just did it a couple years ago, but you didn't do it my way, and you didn't win the most important award in all of theater."

"The Tony?" Gina guessed.

"Okay, the second most important award."

Seb pointed at her. "The Drama Desk?"

"Everyone, calm down!" Miss Jenn cut in. "This semester, we are entering the Alan Menken Awards for High School Musical Theater, and we are going to win."

Athena squeezed Violetta's hand excitedly. She had never done anything like this in her entire life.

"Um . . ." Carlos trailed off. "That means beating North High, Miss Jenn. They have a thousand-gallon Little Mermaid aquarium."

Miss Jenn nodded. "Then we will have an aquarium, too."

"Uh, in Beauty and the Beast?"

"Okay, I need to study the text. So, who is ready to show the world they deserve to get that scholarship to NYU?" Nobody said anything. "I mean, who is ready to go from amateur thespians to statewide award winners?"

Ricky moved to stand next to Miss Jenn. "What team?"

"Wildcats!" everyone answered.

"Athena, honey, I think this is your time to shine," Seb suddenly said.

The girl turned to him with a confused expression. "What do you mean?"

"He's right," Big Red agreed. "A, you were literally born to play Belle."

Ashlyn nodded. "You would look amazing in her gold dress. I can see it now — you walking down those stairs to meet with the Beast."

"Oh my God, you would look like a Goddess," Nini gushed.

"Woah, woah, woah, guys, let's calm down for a second," Athena interrupted. "So many people would audition for Belle, there would be no way I would get it."

Violetta sighed. "How many times do I have to tell you to not put yourself down? Athena, listen to them."

"Hey Attie," Ricky called, and she turned to face him. "If you're in, I'm in."

Athena grinned and walked up to join him before facing all of her friends. "Wildcats."

"Get'cha head in the game!" they all chorused.

And as they all chatted together about how exciting this was, Athena felt a sort of peace in her heart. Maybe it wasn't the musical she thought it would be, but nevertheless, it was the start of something new.

═ • ° • ✧ • ° • ═

YOU ARE THE MUSIC IN ME SUPREMACY, RATHENA'S KISSES, AND RICKY SINGING BET ON IT >>>>>

anyways

that resolution that athena wrote about living her life full of oh wells instead of what ifs is dedicated to corey la barrie who lived with that mindset. rest in peace corey, love you forever 💙

I TAKE MY AP EXAM IN AN HOUR AND I LITERALLY FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO THROW UP BYE I HATE THE COLLEGE BOARD

me after burning college board and their so-called non-profit organization to the ground:

also here's your fucking reminder that episode two and miss olivia rodrigo's album sour comes out on friday so go stream both. you're welcome