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𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘

chapter thirteen:
the case of the missing necklace
. . . oh, and a beast mask !

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ATHENA'S NECKLACE WAS missing. The one Ricky gave her with the owl, letter R, and planet Saturn charms on it that Ricky gave her? Yep, that one.

Now, let's get one thing straight — Athena always had it on. She would rarely be caught without it.
However, when the R charm on the necklace was coming loose, she had given it to Kourtney to tighten it because she didn't want it to fall off.

According to Kourtney, she had placed it on one of the tables in the dressing room in plain sight, left the room for two minutes to go grab something, and then when she came back, it was gone. Kourtney had looked for it everywhere but couldn't find it all. She had apologized profusely to Athena, but Athena was just mostly worried and confused. One, that necklace meant everything to her, where could it have gone? And two, how could've it just disappeared into thin air?

She was upset. And that means Ricky was also upset. He seemed to be getting better at communicating, which was good. Ricky had told her about all the things bothering him. First it was Nini's Rose Song actually being a solo instead of a duet between the Beast and the rose (which was blowing up on Instagram, by the way), and then it was Athena's missing necklace (of course he was upset, he gave it to her.)

Currently, all of them were gathered in the dressing room because Miss Jenn had called them there. Athena stood in between Ricky and Violetta, anxiously glancing around to see if she caught sight of the silver chain anywhere. Nothing. She knew Kourtney was telling the truth about what happened. Why would she lie? It was just so weird how it was gone just like that . . . unless . . .

"Everyone, attention please!" Miss Jenn announced, stopping all of their conversations. "I'm sure you're wondering why I called this special midday drama club meeting."

"Oh, are you announcing the fall musical?" Seb asked. "I vote Dear Evan Hansen."

"No, Seb. It's March. And the rights won't be available for five years. I tried. I am announcing that we are in such a good place after our improv workshop. We're getting one step closer to Menkies gold. And, today, our wonderful actor slash designer, Kourtney Greene, is going to show you your completed costumes!"

Athena's face instantly brightened. She momentarily forgot about her missing necklace and looked to the costume rack, which Nini pulled a white sheet off of to reveal the costumes. It was already kind of surreal singing Belle's songs, but now that she had a costume, it was getting real.

"Speech, speech!" Nini urged.

"Okay, um, guess I'm making a speech," Kourtney began. "I'm super excited for you all to see your costumes because—" Her phone then went off loudly. "Oh, uh, sorry, that's Howie."

Athena shared a small smirk with Violetta. According to Nini, Kourtney had asked out Howie the other day at the pizza shop. Kourtney seemed to be completely head over heels for this boy.

Kourtney laughed at her phone for a second before clearing her throat. "Oh. Anyway, with your costumes this semester, I really tried to—" Her phone went off again and she looked back down at it. "Ooh."

"Can you not keep your phone in silent in rehearsal like everyone else?" Carlos questioned.

"Sorry, everyone, is what Carlos would say if he were more like me," Seb cut in.

"Okay, Kourt, I am sorry, but listen to this caption from North High." He looked down at his phone screen. "It took twenty people over fifty hours to create our Belle dress. Beast costumes ever."

"Terrible pun," Ricky commented.

"On the day we're unveiling our costumes?" Carlos continued. "How did they know that?" Kourtney's phone went off yet again. "They've been trolling us like this for weeks, you guys, and I'm trying to not let it get to me—" Kourtney's phone went off once more. "Oh my God, is your phone hungry? I don't understand what I'm hearing."

"Okay, okay, let's get back to our costumes," Miss Jenn interrupted calmly as Kourtney stared at Carlos with an offended look. "Go ahead, Kourt."

Kourtney walked up to the costume rack and pulled off Gaston's costume. "Anyway, took me a while, but I built you some abs that would make Captain America proud."

"I have abs," EJ insisted.

"EJ, everyone has abs. These are Kourtney originals. Oh, I also padded the tush for you."

"Oh, thanks, I actually need that. This is amazing, Kourt."

She waved him off. "Oh, no problem." Kourtney then pulled the Beast's costume off of the rack. "Next. And every Gaston needs a Beast."

While she handed that to Ricky, Athena turned and grabbed her blue Belle dress off of the rack. She held it up in front of her and smiled down at the blue satin material.

Violetta gasped. "Oh my God, 'Thena, you're going to look amazing in that."

"Oh, that's weird," Kourtney said. "Your mask should be here. Um, has anyone seen a Beast mask?"

"Haven't seen it," Big Red answered.

"What, you lost that, too?" Ricky inquired.

Athena elbowed him in his side harshly — making him gasp in pain — before smiling apologetically at Kourtney. She then sent a harsh glare to Ricky. Yet another uncalled for thing.

"You guys, I know where our Beast mask is," Carlos admitted.

He turned his phone screen around to show a picture of Lily, the boy playing Lumière, and another girl with their costumes on the North High Instagram. They all stepped forwards to try and see what Carlos was looking at. However, something immediately caught Athena's eye, making her heart drop to her stomach.

"Wait a second . . ." Athena whispered, stepping closer to the phone. Her eyes then instantly widened in realization upon noticing the chain Lily was wearing around her neck. "Oh my God, no way."

Violetta immediately ripped Carlos' phone out of her hands and looked down at it, zooming into Lily. "Oh, this girl really is bold bold." She turned the screen around to show everyone the picture. "That necklace she's wearing, seem familiar?"

Sure enough, around Lily's neck was Athena's necklace, the three charms ultimately familiar to everyone. Athena stared at the picture in horror as anger surged through her veins.

Ricky looked down at his girlfriend, who looked like she was about to scream. "Why would she steal it?"

"Because she's trying to steal you," Athena replied bitterly.

Carlos gingerly took his phone back from Violetta, who also seemed like she wanted to punch someone. "Okay, they also apparently stole Athena's necklace, but look at the trunk." He zoomed into the trunk to show something sticking out of it. "Hello? That is obviously Beast fur. Look, it all makes sense. Our mask just happens to go missing on the same day they post this? They snuck in here and took it, along with Athena's necklace."

"I hate to say it, but that did kind of look like a Beast mask to me," Ashlyn revealed. "And that's obviously Athena's necklace."

Big Red pointed to her in agreement. "Classic Beast. And only Athena's necklace would have those exact three charms."

"Do you really think they'd steal from us?" Seb asked.

"I would," Gina responded. Nini elbowed her. "No, I mean, I used to be that kind of person, before the present day."

"We have to get even right?" Big Red questioned.

Athena raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you can bet on it."

Murmurs of agreement spread throughout the entire room. Ricky looked down at his girlfriend worryingly. He was angry too, but she seemed infuriated. If they really did go to North High and run into Lily, God knows what Athena and Violetta would do.

"Guys, guys, guys, enough," Miss Jenn interjected. "Do you really think North High would stoop so low as to sneak in here, break into the costume room, and steal Kourtney's work and Athena's personal item?"

"And they just posted something new," Seb declared, looking down at Carlos' phone. "Captioned, North High's gonna steal your heart this spring."

"Are they a witch?" Carlos inquired in exasperation. "How do you explain these coincidences?"

"It's just that, a coincidence," Miss Jenn stated firmly. "Now, I want you kids to keep looking for that mask and let the rest go. As I learned when I appeared in a regional production of Anything Goes, opposite a woman who once sued me for libel, you should never dance with the enemy. Understood?"

"Yes, Miss Jenn," everyone chorused hesitantly.

"No," Athena refused. "I'm sorry, Miss Jenn, but I can't let the rest go. I'm not just going to let some blonde girl prance around with something that means a lot to me. I know I always follow your directions, but this is something I can't let slide."

Athena hung up her Belle dress up on the costume rack. She turned around, and ignoring the protests from everyone, she left the dressing room with a determined look on her face.

She was going to get her necklace back, whether Miss Jenn liked it or not.

--- ☆ • ♫ • ♪ • ♫ • ☆ ---

ALL OF THEM went to North High anyways. Athena had driven Ricky's car (she got her drivers license a couple days ago!!!), since all of them had agreed that they weren't also letting this go. Carlos had instructed them to be a little camouflaged to try and blend in as North High students. The only one who really went all out was Ashlyn . . . unsurprisingly.

North High was huge. They all stood in the hallway by the theater to talk before going separate ways. Athena kept her eye open for one infuriating blonde girl. She just wanted her necklace back.

"The plan is simple," Carlos voiced. "Based on that Instagram post, the mask has to be in their costume shop. We know from their Instagram overshares that North High has dance rehearsal today, so they'll be in their dance studio."

"They have their own dance studio?" Gina asked in shock.

"We're raiding their costumes and not leaving until we have our mask."

"And my necklace," Athena added. "I swear to God, when I see that girl, it's on sight."

"Isn't this kind of trespassing?" Seb questioned.

"It'll be fine," Carlos reassured them. "There'll be plenty of people still here after school for clubs. We'll blend in. Though, Ashlyn, you may have taken the camouflage thing too far."

Ashlyn looked down at her outfit, which consisted of a yellow North High hornets sweatshirt and gray North High sweatpants. "No, today, I am Diane, I play volleyball, and I love North High."

"Diane, is it?" Big Red inquired. "How would you feel about dating a guy from East High?"

She gasped. "Oh, a forbidden romance."

Violetta blinked. "Oh my God."

"Focus!" Carlos scolded. "Who's gonna be the lookout?"

"I'll do it," Gina offered. Everyone looked at her in surprise. "If you leave me unsupervised with their costumes, I cannot promise I won't go all Gina one-point-oh in there."

"Just stay calm and act natural, okay? You got this. Everyone ready?"

Ricky put his hand out in the middle of all of them. "What team?"

"Wait, maybe we shouldn't yell," Carlos said.

Everyone ignored him and placed their hands in the circle and lifted them up in the air. "Wildcats!"

While Gina stayed behind to be lookout with her phone, all of them moved towards the direction of the costume shop (how Carlos knew where it was, Athena would never know.) Athena glanced around the halls to try and at least find some glimpse of Lily.

"Hey," Ricky began catching up to her side. "You all right? It seems like you're about to sock somebody across the face, and I really hope it isn't me."

Athena shook her head. "No, it's not you. It's her. This sounds kind of narcissistic, but I think she's jealous of me, you know? Like, I got the part of Belle instead of her, I'm dating you, I'm actually kind of a decent human being . . ."

Ricky chuckled slightly at her. "And you're unbelievably gorgeous."

She smiled gently at him and kissed his cheek quickly. "You're sweet. I just . . . I want to get it back."

"I know. Me too. We'll find her." He then held up his wrist to show her his bracelet. "At least we still have one part of it."

Finally, they made it to the costume shop. EJ and Violetta left to go save Gina from being alone on lookout while the rest of them went inside. Instantly, they were met with multiple racks of exquisite costumes. All of them glanced at each other and nodded before starting to look around with flashlights.

It was several moments of silence as everyone looked through a costume rack. The only one who wasn't was Nini, who was looking down at her phone. Athena flipped through her own rack, scowling at how amazing these costumes were. Stupid North High.

"Okay, I need to sit down," Kourtney announced. "These expensive costumes are bumming me out."

"You guys, my song has been viewed, like, thirty-five thousand times now," Nini revealed.

Athena turned and looked at the girl, placing a smile on her face despite her mixed emotions at the moment. "Oh my gosh, Nini, congrats. That's incredible."

"Yeah, I keep getting all these DMs saying I should start a separate account for my music."

"Hmm, is that something you want to do?" Ricky asked.

"I don't know," Nini answered. "It seems scary, right?"

Kourtney's phone went off. Athena had to resist rolling her eyes.

"I'm a little scared right now," Ricky admitted. "Does that count?"

Athena's eyebrows knit in thought. "What are you scared of?"

"You getting in trouble if you beat Lily up."

She thought about it for a moment. "Fair enough."

Kourtney giggled. "Oh, Howie." She looked up at everyone. "I'm sorry, but is this normal? To not know someone very long, but already feel like you know them so well?" Nini then kicked the trunk she was sitting on. "Ooh. Sorry, bad timing?"

Nini's eyes were wide. "Kourt? The box you're sitting on has fur stuck in the lid." Kourtney immediately stood up. "Open it."

"Uh, you open it!"

"God." Nini leaned down and let out a deep breath. "Why am I scared?"

She opened the box and all of them gasped. However, there was no Beast mask there.

"It's just a bunch of very expensive looking wigs," Nini stated.

"I want one," Carlos complained.

Kourtney sighed. "I can't with this school's costume budget."

"So where's the Beast mask?" Ricky questioned.

The door opened and the lights turned on, making them all gasp and turn around. Walking through the door was Lily, North High's Lumière named Antoine, and another girl. At the same time, EJ, Violetta, and Gina returned from the other door.

"Hello, Wildcats," Lily's infuriating voice greeted.

"Bienvenue," Antoine added.

Athena looked at Lily's neck. And sure enough, she was wearing none other than her necklace around her neck. Athena's fists clenched by her side and her teeth gritted. Another surge of anger flowed through her veins and she started to only see red. She tried to will herself to calm down because turning into angry Athena would not end well, but seeing that girl wearing her necklace with her charms and her chain was making her mind spin.

"Give it back," Athena immediately voiced before anyone could speak.

Lily smirked at her. "What do you mean?"

"Did you hear me correctly? I said give it back." Athena's eyes blazed with anger and she took a step forwards. "Not just the Beast's head, but my necklace. Don't take things that aren't yours."

"Attie," Ricky lightly scolded.

Lily scoffed. "Well, let me tell you something, Attie—"

"No," Athena interrupted. "Only he can call me that." She took yet another step forwards and kept her eyes locked with Lily's, crossing her arms across her chest. "You can call me Athena."

"Don't take things that aren't yours, huh?" Lily repeated. "Then why'd you take the role of Belle when it was obviously mine?"

"It's just like you said. May the best Belle win, right?" Athena gave her a sickly-sweet smile. "Looks like I won."

Lily's face was stone-cold. Athena could tell she was getting under her skin, but she continued.

"Not to mention, you're so petty and insecure that you left to go join a rival musical, one that literally changed to the same one as ours after months of rehearsing a different one because the director is also petty and insecure, just because you couldn't handle Miss Jenn telling you to not make fun of other people and that I got the lead? The fact that you would rather go tear other people down rather than bring them up and steal someone's personal belongings is pretty pathetic of you, Lily."

Lily glared at her. "You don't deserve the role of Belle."

"Just like you don't deserve to wear that chain around your neck," Athena countered. "Those three charms mean more than you will ever know. So give it back before I make you."

Lily kept her fierce gaze on her. Athena sent a challenging one back. Finally, she reached up and unclasped the chain at the back of her neck. Lily removed the necklace completely and tossed it carelessly towards her. Athena caught it, thankfully not letting any of the charms fall off. She scoffed incredulously at Lily and put her necklace back on. God, it was good to have it back. She had felt so lost without it.

"What are you all doing here, besides coming to retrieve her dumb little necklace?" Lily inquired. "Scoping out the competition?"

"We came for our Beast mask," Carlos told her. "We know you took it."

"Pardon me, but our costumes are most excellent," Antoine cut in. "Why would we steal your mask when it is so, uh . . . I — we do not have a word for this in France, but in America, I believe you say fugly?"

All of them gasped. Athena's gaze hardened.

"What did you call my work?" Kourtney demanded.

"Quoi?"

"Look, I'm sure your mask is supes cute," Lily interjected. "But we're just in different leagues. I mean, we're literally a quasi-pre-professional theater company, and you guys put on shows based on made-for-TV movies. Now maybe you should listen to your precious High School Musical and stick to the stuff you know."

Seb scoffed. "Oh yeah? What if we bop to the top?"

Carlos stared at him. "Honey, no."

"Let's just wait for the Menkies," Ricky said. "We'll see who's in what league then."

"Or we could find out now," Lily suggested.

"What does that mean?" Big Red asked.

"We challenge you to a good old-fashioned dance-off. A school-versus-school dance-off to a Beauty and the Beast song chosen at random. You'll do your version, and we'll do ours. We'll see which school has what it takes. No costumes, no makeup, just talent."

"I'm sorry, no," Ricky responded. "That's weird."

He took Athena's hand in his. The two of them walked past Lily, Athena sending her the harshest glare she could.

"Super weird," Ashlyn commented.

"Even for me," Carlos agreed. "Let's go, guys."

"Classic East High," Lily stated, making them all stop. Athena paused and turned to look at her, making Ricky do so as well. "Walking out of here with your tail between your legs. Just like your Miss Jenn did when she gave up on Broadway. And, you know, let's be honest . . ." She turned and locked eyes with Athena, smirking a little at her. "Maybe your Belle just can't cut it."

Athena froze. She swore she had never felt this angry in her entire life. Athena went to say something, but Violetta beat her to it.

Violetta took a step forward towards Lily, a deadly look on her face. "Say it again. Say it again and see what happens, blondie."

Gina joined her side. "Yeah, nobody out-Belles our Belle. We are doing this."

"Good," Lily replied. "Ten minute warm-up, then we settle this, street style."

She turned around and walked out of the room, Antoine and the other girl following her. Athena let out a deep breath and trailed after her as well. She was cut out for this. It was time to prove herself.

═ • ° • ✧ • ° • ═

HOW WE FEELING OUT THERE TONIGHT

*LAUGHS NERVOUSLY* YEAH I AM NOT FEELING GOOD

well athena really popped off didn't she. she really said "these hands are rated l for lily"

I added her stealing athena's necklace for some ✨spice✨ and I hope I did not disappoint

also the next two chapters are definitely . . . um, interesting so yeah I'll leave y'all with that