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𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘

chapter twenty-two:
nerves upon nerves upon nerves !

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IF ATHENA WAS nervous for the opening of High School Musical, this was ten times worse.

Last night, they had all watched North High's production of Beauty and the Beast. To say it was amazing would be an understatement. Howie was fantastic as the Beast and Lily (although Athena hates to admit it) was incredible as Belle. It was even worse that both Ricky and Athena had braces on their wrist after Ricky's fall the other night — and they had no Understudies this time. Basically, they were screwed.

Currently, everyone was either running around on the stage or gathered in the bomb shelter to get ready for the show. Athena was already in her Belle costume — the blue dress, the brown shoes, the hair tied back into a ponytail with a blue ribbon. Ricky was in his gold Prince Adam costume with a crown atop of his head and some eyeliner on his eyes . . . okay, Athena's just gonna come right out and say it. He looked hot. And no, she is not ashamed to admit that.

She wasn't really focused on Ricky's attractiveness at the moment, though. As they practiced a mirror exercise to make sure they were in sync (which they were), Athena stared at the floor, her mind and heart going at a million miles per minute. She was, in simple terms, freaking out.

"Athena . . ." Ricky trailed off worryingly, making her her head snap back up to look at him. "You look like you're going to be sick."

She nodded in agreement. "That's because I am."

"Do I need to get Violetta?"

"No, she witnessed me almost throw up about ten times this morning. I think she's over it." She paused for a second, her stomach twisting together. "Oh God, it's happening again."

"Athena, you're panicking," Ricky stated.

"Yep," Athena replied. "That's what I'm doing. I am very much panicking."

"Okay, listen to me," Ricky began, placing his hands on her shoulders to get her to look at him. "I'm nervous, too. Let's just . . . work on our breathing, or something."

Nini then came up to them, handing out two cards for the both of them. "A little note for good luck."

Athena took the card that said her name, Ricky doing the same. "Thanks, Neen. I need all the good luck I can get right now."

"You guys feeling all right?"

Ricky nodded unconvincingly. "Fit as a fiddle."

"Yeah," Athena agreed. "Not almost getting sick at all." She looked over to Ricky. "Hey, can we practice how Belle was holding the Beast before the transformation?"

Ricky sat down in the chair closest to him, placing one hand behind his head and one on his stomach like he would on the floor. Athena placed her hands on him in one spot before deciding that definitely wasn't right, so then she moved them — but nothing was looking like what North High did.

"I don't know how Belle was holding the Beast up when he was dying," Athena admitted. "How . . ."

"It — it was like a Renaissance painting," Ricky voiced. "I have no idea how they did it."

"Is this because of North High's show last night?" Nini asked. "'Cause I thought it was impressive, but—"

"They did it so effortlessly," Athena complained. She placed her hands on her temples. "I don't understand."

"Howie was so good as the Beast, I'm actually rooting against myself tonight," Ricky revealed.

"Athena," Natalie interrupted. "Time to bedazzle your wrist."

She linked her arm through Athena's and began to drag her away. Athena sent them an anxious smile before following after Natalie. Natalie brought her to one of the tables on the other side of the room, conveniently where Violetta was also adjusting her costume as one of the Silly Girls while EJ stood next to her.

"You doing all right?" Violetta questioned as Athena sat down, letting Natalie start to place rhinestones on her wrist brace.

"Not at all," Athena responded.

"Why don't you laugh at EJ's Gaston eyebrows and sideburns?"

Athena sighed and stared at EJ for a moment, but she didn't laugh. "I'm not in the mood."

EJ looked shocked. "Athena? Not making fun of me for once? Something really must be wrong."

"Yeah, it's the fact that I feel like my head is going in circles."

"Athena, you're going to do great," Violetta reassured her. "And I'm not just saying that as your best friend. We've all seen you at rehearsals. You're a natural up there."

Athena shook her good hand out in front of her nervously. "I just wish I would play the piano right now. It always calms me down, but my stupid wrist . . ."

"Okay, half hour call!" Natalie shouted, leaving Athena's side after bedazzling her wrist and walking across the bomb shelter.

"Oh God," Athena whispered to herself. She then looked at herself in the mirror. "You got this. You're gonna be fine, you're gonna do great. Get your head in the game, Athena."

"Wildcats!" Miss Jenn called. "Villagers! My friends and allies." All of them moved to stand in a circle, Athena opting to situate herself in between Ricky and Violetta. "As you know, there is a judge out there in the audience tonight who is very important to the future of this theater program. He is going to score every performance, our music, our sets, Lord help us, even me. And in two weeks at the Menkies, we could win . . ." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Fifty-thousand dollars."

All of them let out exclaims of joy. Athena shook her head. That was insane.

"So tonight, we are going to put the U in Utah!"

Nobody laughed or reacted, except for Seb, who clapped once to give Miss Jenn a reaction. Athena smiled softly at Seb. He was so precious.

Miss Jenn then turned to Ricky and Athena. "And to Ricky and Athena, some words of inspiration. My deep and shameful disappointment in your recent accident has mellowed to a sort of, uh, numbness, so there's that."

Athena blinked. "Were those supposed to be the words of inspiration?"

"Yes, they were." The room was stuck in a tense silence as Ricky and Athena shared a look. That was not inspiring at all. "Okay, where is LeFou?"

Big Red then ran into the room, clutching a bottle of stomach medicine. "Sorry I'm late. Just some dry heaving."

"Dude," Ricky protested.

He looked at Ricky incredulously. "Dry."

Ashlyn then reached down and picked up a big basket of flowers, just like the ones Big Red had given her on the opening night of High School Musical. "Um . . . Biggie, I got you a little something for your big debut. There's a card and everything."

"Oh, wow."

However, Big Red then gagged and sprinted out of the room with his hand over his mouth. Athena awkwardly clasped her hands behind her back and rocked back and forth on her heels.

Ashlyn turned to look at all of them. "He's ready."

All of them dispersed to do their own thing. Ricky left to go into the hallway, which kind of dimmed Athena's spirits, but she understood. Athena herself paced in the bomb shelter. Her hands constantly smoothed down the skirt of Belle's blue dress and she repeated the lyrics under her breath, even though she knew them by heart.

"There goes the baker with his tray, like always," Athena sang quietly to herself. "The same old bread and rolls to sell."

"Athena, you're sending yourself into a spiral," Violetta told her.

"I can't help it. It's my first lead and this show is basically resting on mine and Ricky's shoulders because we're Belle and the Beast—" She stopped. "Do you think I should check on Ricky?"

Violetta raised an eyebrow. "He'd probably help calm you down, 'Thena."

"Okay," Athena whispered. "Yeah, okay. I'll be back."

Athena then left the bomb shelter, completely unaware to the knowing look Violetta was giving to EJ. Those two were literally steps away from becoming a couple again. Maybe some opening night magic would push them even closer.

She wandered out into the hallway, not knowing exactly where Ricky went, but she knew she would find him eventually. Finally, she heard Ricky's voice by the stage door. Athena turned the corner, but anger filled her veins once she noticed the girl with blonde hair who was with him — Lily.

"Yeah, maybe we could talk more sometime over a slice of pizza, an advice slice, LOL," Lily offered.

Athena stopped in her tracks, her heart sinking as she sadly twisted her fingers together. This is what she was worried about ever since Lily told her Ricky was cute — the moment when Lily would finally make her move, and whatever Ricky responded with, Athena couldn't change it. She couldn't see how Ricky would accept an invitation like that from Lily. Not after the necklace incident, not after the stolen Beast mask, not after everything her and her school had done to them.

"Yeah, I don't know how that would go over, um, around here," Ricky replied.

"Loyal to the last," Lily stated.

Ricky then looked past Lily and locked eyes with Athena, a small smile appearing on his face. "Especially to the ones that mean the most to me."

Athena smiled back at him and started to walk up to them. She ignored the glare Lily was pointing her way and kept her gaze on Ricky.

"Hey, thought I'd come find you," Athena voiced. "Just to . . . you know, check on how you're doing."

"I'm okay," Ricky admitted. "You?"

"Doing all right." She finally looked over at Lily, her grin turning very fake. "Hi, Lily. We all saw your performance last night. It was . . ." She looked at Lily up and down, just like Lily had done to her the day of the auditions all those months ago. "Show stopping."

Lily sent a very fake smile back to her. "Thanks. Can't wait to see yours, Attie."

Natalie then approached them. "Prince Adam, five minutes. Belle, backstage. Lily, scram." She then began to talk on the microphone that would announce over the loudspeaker. "Cast and crew, this is your places call."

Ricky held his hand out to Athena. "Ready?"

She took it, her mind very aware at the way their hands fit together perfectly. "Let's do this." Athena then looked over to Lily, smirking slightly at the way her face held anger at the two of them holding hands. "Bye, Lily."

They entered backstage. Ricky led Athena over to one of the wings where they stood, still holding hands as they stared out at their set.

"Will you watch me?" Ricky questioned.

Athena squeezed his hand. "Of course. You know I'm still your number one fan."

"Places, Ricky," Natalie instructed.

"You got this, Ric," Athena said quietly. "Now go out there and act your little heart out. Break a leg, Wildcat."

Ricky squeezed her hand again before letting go, walking backwards to still catch a glimpse of her. Feeling brave, Athena blew a kiss to him. Just like last opening night, Ricky caught the kiss in his hand and placed it straight onto his heart before turning around completely. Butterflies fluttering throughout her stomach, she shook her head with a small smile on her face.

He positioned himself at center stage in front of the castle set. Ricky placed his hands on his hips and turned his head to look off to the side in a very regal way. The orchestra began to play the opening music as the curtains rose, and for some reason, it gave Athena the chills. She clapped with the audience once they noticed Ricky. Ricky turned around to face the audience.

"Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a young prince lived in a shining castle," Mr. Mazzara read. How Miss Jenn convinced him to do that, Athena would never know. "Although he had everything his heart desired, the prince was spoiled, selfish, and unkind. But then, one winter's night, an old beggar woman came to the castle, and offered him a single rose in exchange for shelter from the bitter cold."

Steph, one of the dancers who got her very first major role this year, went out on the stage with the big rose prop they had in a traveling cloak and a witch's nose prop. She twirled her hands dramatically as she showed off the rose, meanwhile Ricky just stared at her curiously.

"Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the prince sneered at the gift, and turned the old woman away."

Ricky pretended to shield himself away from Steph before pretending to laugh and then pointing to backstage.

"But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within."

Steph circled around Ricky while waving her finger dramatically and hit his arm once she made it to his other side.

"And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress."

Steph lowered the hood of her cloak and ripped off the nose before throwing it to the side. She spun around a couple times, looking absolutely gorgeous. Ricky got to his knees to pretend to beg for her forgiveness.

"If he could learn to love another, and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken."

She handed Ricky the rose. Fog began to shoot out onto the stage, and Steph moved her skirt to wave it around.

"If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time."

Steph moved to stand in front of Ricky while still waving her skirt around. Meanwhile, Ricky ducked behind her to shield himself while he transformed into the Beast. Finally, he stood back up, his Beast mask and Beast makeup on. Ricky stared at the rose and looked at his paw in shock. The audience cheered, as did Athena.

The lights dimmed, and Ricky quickly hurried off stage, for now it was time for Belle. He held up his hand — or paw, rather — for a high-five, and Athena happily obliged.

"You killed it," Athena told him.

"Athena, you're on," Natalie announced, making her let out a nervous breath as she handed her a book.

"And so will you," Ricky replied. "Now go."

She anxiously smiled at him before walking out on stage, tucking the book to her chest as a single spotlight shone on her. "Little town, it's a quiet village . . ."

--- ☆ • ♫ • ♪ • ♫ • ☆ ---

THE FIRST ACT was going pretty smooth. There had been no mishaps in the songs or acting (knock on wood), but now it was for the big Act One finale — Be Our Guest.

"Wildcats!" Miss Jenn exclaimed while they were all gathered in the bomb shelter before the perfomance. "This is going fine. I am mostly proud, and I heard Big Red has not thrown up in over twenty minutes."

Violetta shook her head and leaned closer to Athena, although it was a little hard because she was in her spoon costume. "Oh, honey. That's so not true."

"Every great performance needs an X factor. Something special that puts it over the top. A little birdie has just told me where our Menkies judge is sitting, and I'm thinking that with just a few minor adjustments, we can make this gentlemen feel every bit as welcome as the intruder that my mother clubbed over the head when I was a girl."

Athena blinked.

"I thought she just hog-tied him," Seb voiced.

Miss Jenn nodded. "She just hog-tied him. When the next song begins, I have directed Benjamin Mazzara and his lighting-ists—"

"They're called grips," Natalie corrected.

"—to spotlight our judge. And then I need you all to make him feel especially and uniquely welcome." Athena shared a very confused glance with Violetta. "Any questions?"

Gina raised her feather duster. "Many questions."

"Should we just do what we rehearsed?" Seb inquired, kind of speaking for all of them. "Doesn't that feel a little desperate?"

"It feels that way for a reason, Sebastian," Miss Jenn responded. "Besides, Carlos is a seasoned professional who can roll with anything, right?"

Carlos didn't say anything. He hadn't said anything all night besides his lines up on stage, due to the fact that he was freaked out after seeing Antoine was quite literally on fire as Lumière in North High's show. Carlos then sent a look to Seb.

"He says help," Seb translated.

Finally, it was time for Be Our Guest. Athena stood in the wings, her arm locked in Violetta's as she waited for her cue. She didn't have to sing in this song, but she did have to dance, which kind of made her nervous.

"Let Gina lead you across the stage," Violetta stated quietly. "I'll be near you in the kick line, but you've got that down. And remember, spot during the turns at the end. I don't even know why I'm telling you this because you know this by heart."

"It's making me feel better," Athena revealed.

"Glad I'm here to help."

"Thanks, babe."

Natalie then signaled to Athena that it was time to go on. She squeezed Violetta's arm with hers before letting go. Her and Carlos approached the middle of the stage at the same time to stand in front of the golden door set, where Violetta rushed behind to join the rest of the dancers. The spotlight then shone on them.

"Ma chère Mademoiselle, it is with deepest pride—" Carlos began.

He bowed to Athena, and she grasped onto her skirt before curtseying.

"—and greatest pleasure that we welcome you tonight."

Gina made a big show of pushing up a chair. She patted the seat with her feather duster, and Athena sat down on it.

"And now we invite you to relax, let us pull up a chair as the dining room proudly presents . . ." The golden doors moved away to reveal as all of the dancers, dressed up as different utensils. "Your dinner."

A spotlight shone directly on them, which also spotlighted a man in the audience. Athena guessed that was the judge, but she didn't let it show. Gina then nudged Athena so the chair scooted over into the spotlight, making her giggle slightly in surprise.

"Be our guest!" Carlos continued. "Be our guest!"

Athena stared around in amazement as all of the utensils danced around her, even sharing a bright grin with Violetta as she passed her.

"Put our service to the test. Tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie, and we'll provide the rest."

Rico, a dancer that was dressed up as a napkin, then pretended to wrap himself around Athena. Carlos then offered his arm to Athena, and she took it, letting him lead her to the other side of the stage so she could see more of the dining room.

"Soup du jour, hot hors d'œuvres, why, we only live to serve."

Athena ducked underneath the middle of two lines of dancers, staring at how incredible they were, just like Belle would, once they passed.

"Try the gray stuff, it's delicious. Don't believe me? Ask the dishes."

Carlos and Athena then began to dance the choreography they learned with each other as dancers dressed up as dishes came out onto the stage.

"They can sing, they can dance. After all, Miss, this is France. And a dinner here is never second best."

Two dancers then appeared holding up their menu prop, and Athena pretended to read it, looking very intrigued.

"Go on, unfold your menu, take a glance, and then you'll be our guest. Oui, our guest, be our guest."

Gina then approached Athena. Athena smiled and linked their arms together, the two of them dancing across the stage.

"We tell jokes! I do tricks, with my fellow candlesticks."

Athena allowed Gina to waltz her to the other side of the stage. The two of them giggled with each other at how well this song was going and how much fun they were having.

"And it's all in perfect taste that you can bet," the whole ensemble chorused. Carlos then joined in with them again. "Come on and lift your glass, you've won your own free pass to be our guest."

Athena spun around, letting go of Gina to go back by the table, Carlos and Gina following to join her.

"If you're stressed, it's fine dining we suggest," Carlos voiced by himself.

"Be our guest!" everyone recited. "Be our guest! Be our guest!"

Athena waved, as if she was seeing more dancing inanimate objects. Gina then spun around multiple times to go off stage. Meanwhile, Carlos began to walk down the stage. Athena followed him, her face turning sad as Carlos told Lumière's story.

"Life is so unnerving, for a servant who's not serving," Carlos continued, Athena kneeling down to place a hand on Cogsworth. "He's not whole without a soul to wait upon. Most days we just lay around the castle. Flabby, fat and lazy, you walked in and oops-a-daisy."

Kourtney then scurried onto the stage, looking utterly fantastic in her Mrs. Potts costume. Athena grabbed her arm, and the two of them began to skip to the other side of the stage happily.

"It's a guest!" Kourtney exclaimed, more utensils and Gina coming back onto the stage. "It's a guest! Sakes alive, oh, I'll be blessed. Wine's been poured, and thank the Lord, I've had the napkins freshly pressed."

More napkins came out onto the stage, along with Seb in his Chip costume. Kourtney continued to hop around the stage, and Athena joined her at the back, still looking around in amazement. She wasn't even sure that she was acting anymore.

"With dessert, she'll want tea, and my dear that's fine with me. While the cups do their soft-shoein', I'll be bubbling, I'll be brewing. I'll get warm, piping hot."

Athena, Kourtney, and some of the napkins went skipping up the center of the stage.

Kourtney looked at the back of her skirt. "Heaven's sakes! Is that a spot? Clean it up! We want the company impressed."

The napkins shimmied to pretend to clean off the spot Mrs. Potts was talking about. Meanwhile, some of the utensils took out white foam cubes that they were pretending were sugar cubes and threw them in the audience, one even landing on the Menkies judge.

"We've got a lot to do! Is it one lump or two?" Kourtney playfully bumped her hip with Athena's, making her laugh as she was moved to the side. "For you, our guest! She's our guest!"

Kourtney offered her arm to Athena, and she took it. The two of them went up the stage back to the table. Athena turned around with her arms extended outwards, looking around with an amazed look and a bright grin on her face.

All of the dancers then came up on either side of her as Kourtney ran to the end of the line, and together, all of them began to perform their kick line choreography. Athena's smile only widened.

"Course by course, one by one," the ensemble harmonized. "'Til you shout, Enough! I'm done! Then we'll sing you off to sleep as you digest."

Carlos, Kourtney, Seb, Nini, Gina, and Violetta all left the kickline, only leaving Athena with some of the utensils. They went to go stand behind the table as Athena continued to dance.

"Tonight you'll prop your feet up, but for now, let's eat up. Be our guest!"

Athena stepped forwards, her hands placed on her chest as she looked around at her friends. She could even slightly spot her parents and Artemis in the audience, who looked extremely proud.

"Be our guest! Be our guest! Please, be our guest!"

Athena then spun around, her arms extended to her sides. She gradually got faster and faster until almost the end of the song when she stopped. Athena turned back to the group behind the table and waved to them before turning back to the audience.

And finally, once the last note hit, she laced her fingers together and raised her clasped hands to her chest as her foot was crossed behind the other. Golden streamers erupted from behind her, but she paid no attention to that as she continued to give the audience the brightest smile she had ever placed on her lips. The auditorium erupted in applause.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a fifteen minute intermission," Natalie announced into the microphone. "If you don't buy at least twenty dollars worth of concessions, you do not support art. Thank you."

Everyone waited in their positions for the curtain to close. But as Athena stood there, thinking about how she felt when she was soaking up that applause, she knew that this was exactly where she was meant to be.

═ • ° • ✧ • ° • ═

happy national girlfriend day to my gf athena ❤️ sorry ricky call me mr. steal your girl

the season finale has destroyed me. I am wounded and I am currently not doing well. please give me at least 3 business days to recover.

all I have to say is . . . portwells, we won. and rinis . . . my heart is very shattered.

OK THIS CHAPTER WAS PRETTY LONG BUT HOW COULD I NOT SHOWCASE BE OUR GUEST I MEAN THEY KILLED IT

also sorry for not many rathena moments. next chapter, however . . .

anyways

this athena vs. lily rivalry going on is giving me better than revenge vibes, with athena ofc being taylor swift. don't even try to say it's not true