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𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘

chapter eight:
stepping back !

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ATHENA HAD SOMEHOW been tasked with the job of getting water with Ricky, Big Red, and Violetta. Ashlyn had found some flashlights so they were using those to navigate their way through the hallway. The group of four had found some packs of water in the cafeteria, so Big Red and Violetta each carried one while Ricky and Athena shone their flashlights forwards so they could see.

"That's literally the dumbest thing I've ever heard," Violetta commented. "Ricky, I think I would've thrown up."

"It seemed like a good idea at the time," Ricky protested.

Athena shook her head. "Ric, you know I love you, but I would've turned around and walked the other way. It's just a little too cheesy."

"Oh, Gina!" Big Red called, making the girl in question stop in her tracks and turn to face them as she reached the bottom of the steps. "Perfect. We need another girl's point of view on something."

Ricky groaned. "Big Red."

"What is it?" Gina asked curiously.

"Wouldn't it have been a ridiculously stupid idea for Ricky to show up to him and Athena's Valentine's Day date wearing an I heart Athena shirt?" Big Red inquired.

Gina shook her head with a slight grimace on her face. "Yeah, that definitely wouldn't have gone over well. In fact, you probably shouldn't wear one . . . ever."

"Thanks, and sorry, we didn't mean to suck you into a whole thing," Ricky replied, sending a pointed glare to Big Red.

"Nah, it's all good. I'm honestly glad I ran into you. I found part of a Twix bar near my locker, and I can only assume it's your latest Valentine to me."

Athena completely froze. Okay, now things were just getting weird. Ricky had mentioned it earlier as a sort of tease, but now Gina seemed to be just dragging it out. Sure, it was an inside joke, but Athena was literally right there. To Athena, it almost sounded like Gina wanted Ricky to send her a Valentine. It didn't feel too good as a girlfriend to hear that. Maybe Gina didn't mean any harm, but still.

"Um . . . what?" Violetta questioned.

Ricky chuckled nervously. "I go big, Gina. You know that."

"And I'm interrupting something again," Athena voiced awkwardly and began to walk away. "That's my cue to leave."

"No, no, no, hey, hey, hey," Ricky protested, grabbing her hand in his to stop her from leaving. "What about the buddy system? We're supposed to stick by each other. So, you know, we don't get lost. The couple that stays together wins together, right?"

"Athena can be my buddy now," Violetta stated, and Athena looked over at her to see a sort of angry look in her eyes.

Ricky blinked at her. "No, she's staying my buddy."

"You both can share Athena," Big Red cut in. "There's plenty of her to go around."

"Biggie, there you are," Ashlyn said as she walked up to the group. "Way to abandon the fam in a crisis!"

He laughed slightly at her. "We're coming now." Big Red looked over at Ricky. "Told you it would've been a bad idea."

Ricky walked with him, forcing Athena to come along as well. "Whatever. Shut up."

He didn't let go of her hand until they got back into the bomb shelter. Athena left Ricky's side, making him send her a confused glance, but she ignored it and went to Violetta. Violetta put down the case of water she was holding on a chair and placed her hands on her hips as she looked back up at Athena.

"What was that all about?" Violetta demanded. "Last time I checked, Gina was completely fine with you being with Ricky and the two of them weren't bringing up Valentines."

Athena raised her hands helplessly. "I don't know."

Violetta glanced at the doorway, where Gina and Ashlyn were walking back in. "Something's off. I can talk to her if you want."

Athena shook her head. "No, I don't want to make it a whole big thing. I mean, I trust both of them, I really do. It's just . . . something about it makes me unsettled." She paused for a second. "If something else happens then I'll speak up. Promise."

"But you hate confrontation."

"I do, but when it's about my relationship, I'll do it." Athena then stared at her best friend. "What about you? Are you feeling better after earlier?"

Violetta sighed. "I guess. It kind of felt good to get my frustrations out, but I think I'm just more so worried for EJ."

"That's normal." Athena put her arm around Violetta's shoulders and leaned her head on hers. "You know you can always come to me if something's bothering you, right?"

"Yeah, I know. Thanks, 'Thena. The same goes to you."

Soon enough, everyone was back in the bomb shelter. It started off okay at first. Everyone sat next to each other in a circle of chairs while they tried to think of things to do — well, except Carlos and Gina, who were out somewhere in the hallways. Seb had excitedly proposed they play charades. Charades lasted for a long time before everyone was getting tired of it. In fact, everyone was getting tired of everything. Cabin fever was reaching its maximum point. There was barely any food and no electricity, so they were just . . . stuck.

Athena sat slumped in her chair, staring up at the ceiling in boredom while Violetta's legs rested on top of her lap. She absentmindedly played with the girl's shoelaces. Athena really just wanted to go home. She would probably wrap herself in a blanket and share a cup of hot chocolate with Artemis and her parents. She couldn't even talk to them because there was no service. God, she had to get out of here.

"How many hours have we been here?" Seb asked through the silence.

"All of them," Kourtney answered, who had probably been the one most freaked out by them being trapped.

"Anyone wanna play charades again?" All of them groaned, and Seb nodded slowly. "Sounds like a no."

"I don't mean to burst your bubble, Seb, but I think twenty rounds of charades is way too many for someone to play in one sitting," Athena voiced, her tone bored.

"You guys, if we eventually run out of food, I just wanna say, you can eat me first," Big Red announced.

"Dude," Seb commented.

Big Red shrugged while Ashlyn rubbed his back. "I probably taste like pizza."

Violetta pointed to him. "I'll take that into consideration, Red."

Ricky then held up a portable charger. "Hey, whose phone charger is this?"

"I'm at six percent," Kourtney stated. "You wanna fight me for it?"

"You guys, this cabin fever isn't good," Seb noted. "What would Miss Jenn do right now?"

"I wanna say hog-tie a stranger."

Ashlyn nodded. "Yep. Probably."

"Where are our choreographers?" Big Red inquired. "Shouldn't we be rehearsing a song?"

"I wanna believe they're quietly working out their differences somewhere," Ashlyn replied.

Seb raised his eyebrows. "Have you met Carlos?"

"Maybe they're already laughing about it."

"Mmm, definitely not," Athena countered while sitting up and removing Violetta's legs from her lap. "I'll go try and find them to make sure one of them isn't dead."

"You want me to come with you?" Ricky offered.

She shook her head. "No, it's okay. I'll be back soon."

Athena grabbed a flashlight and stood up before leaving the bomb shelter. Finding Carlos and Gina wasn't really that hard. Ashlyn had wanted to believe they were talking out their differences in a civilized manner. It was the exact opposite. Therefore, all Athena did was follow the yelling.

She found them by the staircase Athena, Violetta, Ricky, and Big Red were at earlier. It seemed like they were in a very intense discussion. Athena peeked her head around the door, not wanting to interrupt, because she had a feeling if she tried then she would be yelled at. Neither Carlos and Gina noticed her. They were too focused on their conversation.

" . . . freaked out I am to be even appearing on stage this semester?" Carlos was saying. "Nobody outside of my family, and Seb, and my Barbies has ever seen me sing and dance. I'm a behind the scenes guy. You wouldn't understand that, you're in the scene."

"No, I'm a change of scene," Gina argued. "I'm living in a house I don't own, playing a supporting role I didn't want, and I'm still just trying to figure out . . ." There was a slight pause, but it didn't go unnoticed by Athena. "Who I wanna be at this school. And I'm sorry, but you wouldn't understand that."

Athena froze in her place. That was all she really needed to hear. She turned back around and placed her back on the wall, staring down at the floor in thought. Athena frowned at herself. Playing a supporting role I didn't want. Gina was unhappy because of her.

And how did Athena know that exactly? Another line that Gina had said at the auditions — Hey, by the way, thanks for letting me be in the running for Belle, too. Athena had reassured her that she wasn't trying to steal the role Gina wanted and that anyone could audition. But in reality, she had stolen that role from Gina.

She didn't want to stay there any longer. Athena quickly walked away and approached a secluded window in the hallway. She sat down on the cold floor and tucked her knees into her chest, keeping her gaze down. Absentmindedly, she began to play with the owl charm on her necklace. Those two lines Gina had said kept echoing throughout her mind over and over again. God, how could Athena be so selfish? She had allowed everyone to pressure her in trying out for Belle when she should've stepped back and let Gina have her moment.

There was no telling how long she had been sitting there in her own guilt, but footsteps were heard through the silence maybe a couple of minutes later. Athena didn't even have to look up because the Vans-clad feet that stopped in front of her told her exactly who it was. Ricky took a seat next to her, close enough so that their shoulders were touching but still enough to give her some space.

"What's going on?" Ricky asked gently. "Howie just came to deliver pizzas. I thought you'd might want some because I know how you get when you're hungry. Plus, you didn't come back when Carlos and Gina did, so . . ."

"I took it from her," Athena admitted quietly.

Ricky sent her a confused expression. "What?"

"Belle," Athena continued, finally looking up at him. "I shouldn't be her. That's Gina's role, not mine."

"Attie, what are you talking about? You're the perfect Belle."

"Gina said she wanted to do things for herself. Belle was a part of that. And now she's playing the role of Babette that she didn't even want all because I got the lead." Athena shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes as she began to get entirely overwhelmed. "I need to step back."

Ricky shook his head. "I'm not letting you do that."

A tear finally fell down her cheek. "Ricky, please. I have to do this for Gina."

"No, you have to play Belle for you." Ricky reached up and placed a hand gently on the side of her face, wiping away the tear with his thumb. "I saw how excited you were when you saw you got Belle. There were stars in your eyes and you had the widest smile on your face. It was like all of your dreams came true. You wanted that role and you worked hard to get it. And I know you're selfless, it's one of the many things I love about you, but Athena . . . you deserve this."

She shook her head adamantly, looking down at her lap which made tears fall onto her leggings. "No, Gina does. She has way more experience than me. This is my first lead and she'd do so much better—"

"Hey, look at me," Ricky urged gently. He took her chin in his hand and raised her head back up so her teary eyes met his again. "Both of you deserved that role. Gina did fantastic, and yet, Attie, Miss Jenn chose you. She saw your potential and how amazingly you would fit the character, even if it's your first lead." He reached back and tucked her hair behind her ears before cupping her face. "You're the most talented and beautiful girl I've ever met. I only wish you could see yourself through my eyes because then you'd see how incredible you are. So please, Athena, let yourself have this."

Athena sniffled a little. She thought about what Ricky had said. He was right. When she had seen her name next to Belle on that cast list, Athena was so happy. Maybe she did actually deserve to have this.

"Okay?" Ricky urged.

She nodded. "Okay."

Ricky offered her a small smile, leaning forwards and pressing a kiss to her forehead before dropping his hands to hold out his pinky to her. "I love you."

Athena interlocked her pinky with his. "To the moon and to Saturn."

The lights suddenly came back on. Athena looked up at the ones on the ceiling and used the back of her hand to get rid of any tears left on her cheek.

"Come on," Ricky encouraged softly. "Dad and I will take you home."

"What about the pizza?" Athena questioned.

He shook his head. "Right now, your feelings are more important than the pizza."

She sniffled once more, suddenly becoming very emotional again. "You care more about me than pizza?"

"I care more about you than anything."

The two of them stood up. They walked back into the bomb shelter to see everyone gathered around some pizza boxes. Athena turned to see that EJ had returned, and him and Violetta were off to the side, EJ was wrapped up comfortingly in his girlfriend's arms while Violetta presumably told him words of reassurance. She smiled softly. Athena guessed he was ready now. Knowing them, they would be all right.

"Athena and I are gonna get going," Ricky announced to everyone, who were all grabbing their own slices of pizza. "Um, nice being stuck in here with you all. See you guys tomorrow."

Both of them grabbed their backpacks. After they slung them over their shoulders, Ricky reached out and laced his fingers with Athena's. She looked up at him to see him staring down at her both questioningly and adoringly as they walked away. Athena grinned reassuringly at him. She would be fine.

And together, the couple who was so deeply in love with one another left the bomb shelter, completely oblivious to the fact that Gina was watching after them with a hurt expression written all across her face.

--- ☆ • ♫ • ♪ • ♫ • ☆ ---

WHEN ATHENA GOT home, the one person she definitely did not expect to see standing on her front porch was Nini Salazar-Roberts. Athena's eyebrows knit in concern and she got out of Mike's car once she noticed the girl's figure, walking as fast as she could up the snow-filled driveway.

"Nini?" Athena asked, climbing up the steps to her porch. "What's wrong? Why aren't you on a bus back to Denver?"

She shook her head. "I couldn't do it, Athena. That place . . . yeah, they have a fancy campus and fancy teachers, but it's nothing like East High." Nini spread her arms out as if to say look around. "This is my home. And I know I should've called or at least texted instead of showing up outside your house. I'm sorry—"

"No, no, don't apologize," Athena reassured her while nodding in understanding. "It's okay. I get it."

She turned back around to see Ricky standing outside of the car, awkwardly playing with the moon charm on his bracelet. Their eyes locked. Ricky immediately got the message that she had to be there for Nini right now. Nini looked like she was about to break down and seemed unsure of what to do with herself.

"Goodnight, Attie," Ricky called up. "Goodnight, Nini."

Athena blew him a kiss. "Night, Ricky. Love you."

Ricky pretended to catch the kiss and put his hand over his heart. "Love you so much more."

Athena then looked back to Nini and placed her hands on her shoulders. "Come on, let's get you inside. We can have a chat, okay?"

The two of them entered Athena's house. Both of them knew that their night would probably consist of them just talking — because, after all, both of them wanted to step back.

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I'm very sorry y'all but there won't be an update this sunday bc it's prom weekend and I have my last dance recital (brb crying) so
I'll be too busy <3333 def on wednesday tho !!!!!

anyways

baby girl athena is so sad :((( she feels so guilty but it's not even her fault UGH

and like actually in the show the tension between ricky & gina is fun but I will ALWAYS be an avid rini shipper they're my babies 🥺 but poor sweetie gina doesn't deserve everything she's going through rn

also I can't stop listening to granted like wtf okay hsmtmts pop off