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𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗢𝗢 𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗣

chapter ten:
north high is a loser !

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IN VIOLETTA'S EYES, if North High had one thing, it was fan behavior.

Over the weekend, North High had posted a video about how they were now putting on a production of Beauty and the Beast, when they originally were doing The Little Mermaid. The twist was that the infuriating blonde girl Lily was going to be co-directing and they had totally stolen Miss Jenn's idea of using puppies as wolves. Then, if that wasn't petty and insecure enough for them, they posted another video of Lily in a beautiful gold dress, saying that she was now playing the lead role of Belle.

Miss Jenn had called an emergency meeting at the school the next weekend. They were all currently in the bomb shelter, watching the video on Ricky's phone. Violetta sat on the risers next to EJ, her legs thrown casually over his lap with his arm around her hips. She could vaguely hear the video in the background, but her eyes were going back and forth from Athena pacing. It was clear that her best friend was both anxious and angry from this.

"Oh my gosh, that's what's-her-name," Seb voiced. "Lily from our auditions. She isn't just co-directing their show, she's starring in it."

"And she's playing my part," Athena added before scoffing. "Really. I could've lived without seeing her again."

"Attie," Ricky said, his tone lightly warning her.

"Don't Attie me."

She continued to pace back and forth, muttering something under her breath while running one of her charms back and forth on the necklace that Ricky got her. Violetta looked back at EJ, absentmindedly twisting the ring he had given her around her finger.

"This is so stupid," Violetta told him. "How insecure of them to change their musical last minute to the same one as ours."

EJ raised an eyebrow. "You think they're insecure?"

"Yeah, why else would they do this? Ugh, I need a coffee."

"No you do not, you already had one."

Miss Jenn then walked in with some Target bags filled with items, Carlos following behind her. "Thank you all for coming so quickly on a Saturday." The rest of them sat down on the risers, and Miss Jenn looked at all of them. "Or most of you all. We're missing a teapot and a village idiot."

"Uh, I think Kourtney and Big Red are at the pizza place," Ricky said.

"Yeah, Kourtney texted in the group," Seb replied. "They said they couldn't get anyone to cover their shifts." EJ lifted up the hand that was resting on Violetta's thigh and hit Seb's shoulder before placing it back in its original spot. "Oh."

Violetta's eyes widened as she looked down at Seb. They actually had two group chats — one with Miss Jenn, and one without Miss Jenn. Miss Jenn didn't know there were two group chats — obviously. Kourtney had texted in the one without her saying that they couldn't make it, and here Seb was, almost blowing their secret.

Miss Jenn took her phone out of her pocket, and Carlos frantically shook his head behind her. "Oh, I didn't see that text."

"I meant the group chat with me and EJ," Seb corrected, giving everyone an enthusiastic thumbs up.

Violetta tried her best not to laugh. Seb, although it was very endearing and adorable, was a horrible liar.

"Well, back to the matter at hand," Miss Jenn stated. "I can tell from your solemn faces you've all seen . . . the video."

"It's incredible," Carlos admitted. "Even I have no notes. I can't believe they stole our show."

"I think their Lumière is, like, an actual French exchange student," Ricky announced.

"Miss Jenn, how are we supposed to beat North at the Menkies if they're churning out this a second after changing their musical?" Ashlyn asked. "It's like . . ."

Everyone started to murmur in agreement. Violetta just kind of sighed and slumped her head against EJ's shoulder. He responded by gently rubbing his thumb back and forth on the fabric of her jeans as he conversed with Gina. Why did things have to be so complicated?

Miss Jenn clapped her hands together to get their attention. "Wildcats! Take heart. North High is clearly focusing on bells and whistles. Impressive, but distracting. All we need is . . ."

"Friendship?" Seb suggested, grinning brightly.

"No, Seb. All we need is to get back to basics. Emotional performances that really connect with the audience can make all the difference with these judges. And I have a plan, which is why you've all been called in here today. And that plan is . . . a weekend acting intensive."

"Acting intensive, like . . ." EJ trailed off.

"Improv," Miss Jenn confirmed. "Character work. Movement exercises." She sat down on a stack of mats and swung her legs around, making Violetta's eyes slightly widen. She stood back up, but her eyes focused on somebody in the back row. "Hey, Gina." Violetta picked her head up and looked across EJ to see her on her phone. "Gina." Gina finally looked up. "Are you here?"

"Mmm, yeah," Gina responded. Violetta's eyebrows knit in concern. "Yeah."

"We're going to really connect with our characters. And impressive performances, not fancy staging or actual killer wolves, will be our key to the gold. And, don't forget, we have something North High doesn't."

"Friendship?" Seb repeated.

Miss Jenn spoke over him. "A brand new original song for the Beast and the rose."

She pointed to Ricky and Nini. That was Miss Jenn's secret plan that she had started to reveal at Carlos' party — Nini was going to play the role of the rose in the show.

"Um, and, uh, how's that coming along, you guys?" Miss Jenn questioned.

Neither of them answered, and they had awkward expressions on their faces. It was clear that they had literally gotten no writing done at all. But hey, these were the two people that wrote I Think I Kinda, You Know. They maybe weren't Ricky and Athena, but they could do it.

Miss Jenn sighed at that. "Ricky, you stay here with me for deep-dive Beast character work. Nini, take the weekend, skip the workshop, and get a first draft of the duet down for the Beast and the rose." She clapped her hands together twice. "Okay!"

Violetta swung her legs off of EJ's lap and stood up on the risers. She walked down to the floor and over to the Target bags that Miss Jenn had brought. In them were some pool noodles, hula hoops, and some other things that didn't really make sense. Violetta excitedly picked up a hula hoop and moved away from the others, starting to hula hoop expertly. It was one of the things she loved to do as a kid.

EJ took a pool noodle and hit the top of his girlfriend's head with it, making Violetta narrow her eyes playfully at him. Violetta stopped hula hooping and threw the hoop over EJ, landing it over his head so it rested around his neck. EJ started to laugh first before Violetta giggled along. She couldn't help but feel like they were acting like total five year olds, but between the stress of school and the musical and now this it seemed to be okay.

Miss Jenn told each of them to grab a hula hoop. Violetta wasn't really sure how this had anything to do with acting, but she played along. They all stood on some gym mats with their shoes off. Violetta held her hula hoop around her neck as she situated herself between Athena and EJ.

"I bet I can hula hoop better than you," EJ whispered, leaning his head closer to Violetta's.

"Did you not see me just hula hoop like a champ?" Violetta countered. "Try again, honey."

"You haven't even seen me hula hoop."

"And I already know that my skills are better than yours, so . . ."

"Today is all about warm-up games," Miss Jenn began. "The important thing is that we all—"

She was cut off by a rattling noise. Violetta looked over to see that Seb was completely ignoring Miss Jenn and focusing on hula hooping. She laughed quietly to herself as she watched Seb stop and let his hula hoop drop to the ground when he felt everyone's stares on him.

"Focus. Strong start. Here we go, my young thespians."

Miss Jenn led them in a warm-up with their hula hoops. And by warm-up, Violetta meant moving the hula hoops in a circle on different body parts and holding hands in a circle as each of them tried to climb through the hula hoop.

After a while of that, Miss Jenn moved onto the next exercise. This one was with the pool noodles. She instructed them to be as creative as they could and do whatever they wanted with their noodles. Bad move on her part — everyone was just acting like a little kid.

They all did warm-ups with their hula hoops. It involved a lot of moving the hula hoops in a circle for some odd reason, but nevertheless, Miss Jenn deemed it time to go onto the next warm-up.

This one included pool noodles. Miss Jenn instructed them to be as creative as possible and do whatever they wanted with their noodles. She must've been out of her mind, because once they got handed them, everyone started to act like they were five.

Violetta was in the midst of trying to tie her pool noodle in a not when she felt one wrap around her and pull her in. She gasped at the sudden movement and looked up to see EJ smirking down at her, holding either side of his noodle around her in a U shape. Violetta let out a small laugh and tried to duck under it, but EJ merely pulled her in closer.

"Nope," EJ refused, smiling at the way Violetta was laughing. "You're not going anywhere."

"EJ," Violetta let out, their bodies basically pressed up against one another's. "Caswell, let me go."

At the shock of her using his last name, EJ slightly released her. Violetta took the opportunity to duck underneath his noodle and free herself. She smiled triumphantly.

"Caswell?" EJ echoed. "You never call me Caswell, not since we became friends."

"Well, it got you to listen to me, didn't it?" Violetta countered.

"Okay," Miss Jenn cut in, catching everyone's attention. "Now, everybody, drop your noodle and pair up for a mirroring exercise." Violetta's eyes instantly met Athena's, but Miss Jenn was quick to stop that. "And no, Athena and Violetta, you two are not allowed to be partners for this."

Violetta groaned in response and gestured to EJ. "You're gonna make me be partners with him?"

EJ's mouth fell open and he stared at her incredulously. "I'm literally your boyfriend."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Come on, let's go see how in sync we are."

They got back up on the platform and started to mirror each other. Surprisingly, they were crazy in sync. They did normal things at first, but it soon turned ridiculous. Violetta started to sink into the splits.

"V," EJ protested, trying to follow her as she went all the way down to the floor. "V, I can't do that."

Violetta adjusted herself so she was sitting in her split more comfortably. "I think my next mission is getting you to sit in a split."

"That will never happen, and you know it."

"Okay, Mr. Pessimist."

Miss Jenn stopped the exercise. They all then sat on the platform of the gym mat with some balls. Violetta had her legs tucked under her as she sat next to EJ, watching Miss Jenn.

"So, what is acting, really?" Miss Jenn began. "Acting . . ." She looked at Carlos, who was looking at Seb, and threw the ball right at his head. Violetta let out a laugh and quickly covered her mouth with her hand. "Is reacting."

"Ow!" Carlos cried, holding onto his head.

"In character, Lumière."

Carlos held up his arms, pretending to be a candelabra. "Ow."

Miss Jenn then focused on Ricky, who was texting on his phone. "Ricky, could you please put your phone down and join the family?"

Ricky threw his phone to the side to catch the ball Miss Jenn threw at him. "Mmm-hmm."

He threw the ball back to her. All of them stood up and got in a circle. They started to play catch with each other with multiple balls to keep their senses heightened. It was going okay at first, but people soon started to get hit with the balls (including Miss Jenn once . . . by Ricky.)

Their last exercise of the day was improv. Violetta sat back on the risers, leaning against EJ's side slightly as he had his arm around her. Athena and Gina were going first for the exercise. However, Violetta's eyebrows knit in confusion as she stared at them. Gina seemed very shut-off and wasn't even looking at Athena.

"Okay, Athena will start us off, and Gina, agree with what Athena says and then add on," Miss Jenn instructed. "It's yes, and, people. Remember, improv works best when you are all in. If you've got one foot out the door, it does not work, and the audience will smell your fear. Fun! Let's get a suggestion from the group on a location."

"The Louvre?" EJ suggested.

Violetta blinked in shock. What?

"Sure, the Louvre, okay," Miss Jenn said. "Go ahead. You ready? Okay."

Athena glared at EJ playfully. "I knew I shouldn't have shown you my terrible French accent. Watch your back, Caswell."

"Athena, start."

"Right, sorry."

Athena and Gina started to act out a scene of Gina, a rich woman, buying a piece of art from the Louvre. Violetta wasn't really listening, she was just staring at Gina in concern. She seemed very shut off and wasn't really working well with Athena. In fact, Gina seemed off all week. Finally, the scene ended with Athena not knowing how to respond to Gina.

"It's okay," Miss Jenn replied. "We're learning. We're learning. There are no rules here. Except that I will need you to do it correctly. Okay, let's try a new pair as an example. Um . . . Carlos and Seb, you boys wanna try?"

Carlos and Seb got up to go try improv. Violetta tucked her knee up into her chest and rested her chin on it, sighing slightly. It had been a really long day.

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THERE WAS ANOTHER intensive the next day. Violetta sat on the back row of the risers with EJ, tying the end of her side braid that she had just finished doing to get her hair out of her face. Her and EJ had accidentally fallen asleep on her couch last night when they had hung out after the intensive and didn't wake up until Violetta's alarm the next day. They didn't have much time to get ready, and Violetta had just slapped on one of EJ's East High sweatshirt with some leggings and Converse while he used some of the clothes he had left over her house at one point.

Miss Jenn stood in front of all of them on the risers, holding a clipboard. "Five questions to really know someone's character. Today, I want you all to go fully method. Stay in character for this entire exercise. I want each of you to come to the front of the room. I'll prompt you with a question and you'll answer in character." She looked at EJ. "Gaston, let's start with you."

Violetta smiled slightly encouragingly and patted his back twice. Ashlyn clapped for him as EJ went to the front of the room to stand in front of the risers where Miss Jenn had just been.

"Question one — if you had to pick one book to live inside, what would it be and why?" Miss Jenn inquired.

"Ooh, uh . . . like, a book of etiquette?" EJ answered. "You know, 'cause Gaston could really use some manners, always spitting and shooting stuff. Like, chill, Gaston."

"Love that. Okay. What would you ask your future self?"

"Oh, trick question, Gaston's dead," Ricky interrupted.

Violetta frowned at that. He was acting weird. However, her gaze was still focused on EJ,

Athena's eyebrows knit in confusion and looked up at him. He sent her a look that said what?. She merely shook her head and turned back to EJ, who still seemed to be in thought.

"I'd ask him if he could ever learn to love anyone after Belle," EJ revealed, making Violetta tilt her head in thought. "I mean, anything's possible, right?" His eyes then trailed over to her, making her heart beat fast. "But I have a feeling that the answer is yes."

Violetta felt her mind spin. Love?

Of course she had thought about if she loved EJ or not, and every time she did, she got scared and tried to shift her mind away. Maybe EJ hadn't actually admitted it, but . . . still. She also couldn't help the butterflies in her stomach upon realizing that EJ was basically admitting he found his person after dating Nini, and his person was her.

What a romantic.

"Intriguing," Miss Jenn commented. EJ came back to sit on the risers, and Violetta immediately reached up, placing her hand under his chin and pressing a kiss onto his cheek. "Mr. Beast, wanna give it a go?"

Ricky got off of the risers and went to the front, sitting on top of the stack of mats.

"If you had to pick one book to live inside, which book would it be and why?" Miss Jenn asked.

"Well, actually, as the Beast, it's canon that I can't read, so," Ricky responded.

Miss Jenn didn't laugh, unlike the other ones who did. "Beast, I'd like you to take this seriously. Next question. What would you ask your future self?"

"Uh, I guess . . . if I ever miss the old days, when I was all alone in the castle."

"And why would you miss that?"

"Everything was the same every day," Ricky elaborated. Violetta slowly looked at him, frowning slightly. This seemed a lot deeper. "Nothing changed. Uh, I mean, the forks didn't talk, teapots didn't sing."

Violetta didn't laugh when everyone else did. Right now, it only seemed like her and Athena could tell that something was bothering Ricky. She absentmindedly reached over and took EJ's hand in hers, interlocking their fingers together. Violetta had a really bad feeling that Ricky would explode if he continued to be prodded like this.

"Okay, let's go deeper with this feeling," Miss Jenn continued.

"Think that's all I got," Ricky stated.

"But when you say that nothing changed—"

"I'm really trying here. Can you get off my back?"

"Ricky—" Athena started to softly stay.

"Can you watch your tone?" Miss Jenn scolded.

"Yeah," Ricky responded, He looked down and lowered his voice. "Okay, mom."

Violetta's eyes widened and her mouth slightly dropped open. Mike and Miss Jenn. She should've known something was going on between them. And Ricky, evidently, wasn't taking it well. It was understandable considering he didn't take his mom and dad's divorce well either.

"Let's take a ten, everyone," Miss Jenn said. "But stay in character, please."

Ricky immediately got up from the mats and left the room. Athena gave Miss Jenn an apologetic smile before getting up as well and rushing out of the bomb shelter after him.

"Oh no," Violetta replied. "I think I've seen this film before . . . and I didn't like the ending."

EJ looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"Ricky. Pushing everyone away. He doesn't let people get close to him when he's hurt, and Athena ignores that and tries to hold on as tight as she can. It never ends well. I have a really bad feeling the both of them are frustrated — Ricky with this whole thing, and Athena with Ricky not letting her in."

"Sounds like you talk from experience."

"I do," Violetta confirmed. "It's been especially worse lately since his parents divorced. This can really not end well, and I'm going to have to clean up the mess."

"No you don't, baby," EJ responded softly. "That's their own mess to clean up, not yours."

"You don't understand. As the best friend of the both of them, I have to make sure they're both okay. Usually Red goes to Ricky and I go to Athena, but Red isn't here, so . . ."

"If it really comes down to it, I can go to Ricky."

Violetta blinked at him. "Honey, thank you for the offer, but I think Ricky wouldn't want to talk to you. Like, at all. I mean, you had that whole feud thing with Nini."

EJ slightly winced at that. "Yeah, you're probably right."

"I'm always right."

"I don't know about that."

"Violetta," Miss Jenn interjected. "Could you go get Ricky and Athena for me? We're about to start."

She let out a deep breath. "Sure."

EJ squeezed her hand gently before letting go. Violetta got up from the risers and walked out of the bomb shelter. She walked down the hallway before turning the corner. Ricky wasn't there, but Athena was. Athena was staring at her reflection in the window, touching her necklace. She seemed lost in thought.

"Athena?" Violetta questioned. "Hey, we—" She took notice of her best friend's glassy eyes. There it was. "What's wrong?"

"We fought," Athena answered simply. "He snapped at me. I tried to explain that I was just being there for him, but he was having none of it left."

"Are you okay?"

"If I say yes, will you believe me?"

"Not a chance."

Athena sighed, making Violetta sling her arm around her shoulders comfortingly as they started to walk back to the bomb shelter. "I don't get it, Vi. He's never snapped at me like that ever. But he also said that I was perfect and basically insinuated that I had nothing to be sad over? I'm not sure, it just doesn't seem like him."

"Ricky hasn't seemed very Ricky-like lately," Violetta told her, because it was true. "Something just seems a little off. Because one moment he's dependent on you — which is fine, don't get me wrong, I know you're dependent on each other — but then the next he's just not there."

Athena merely shrugged in response. Violetta took her place next to EJ while Athena sat next to her on the end. EJ looked across Violetta and gave Athena a worried glance upon seeing the sad expression on his face. Athena did noting but give him a reassuring smile. Violetta locked eyes with EJ and discreetly shook her head as if to say don't listen to her, she's clearly not fine.

"It seems like we have a missing Beast," Miss Jenn announced. "Athena—"

"He left," Athena quickly responded. "I don't really wanna talk about it."

Miss Jenn noticed how Athena was frowning. "Belle. You wanna come up here and do the five questions?"

"Wait," Ashlyn protested.

She stood up and took Athena's arm, dragging her away to a more secluded part of the bomb shelter. Violetta watched them for a moment before dropping her head onto EJ's shoulder. They conversed quietly for a moment before coming back. Ashlyn sat back down on the risers.

Athena paused by Miss Jenn on the way back. "Um, Miss Jenn, could I actually explore Belle's character with a song she sings in the show?"

"Of course," Miss Jenn answered, smiling widely.

With that, Athena started to sing Home, a solo Belle sang in the show. Kaden instantly stood up from his place on the risers and walked over to where the instruments were, picking it up and strumming along to the song. Violetta watched her best friend carefully, nothing but concern filling her heart. Everyone else was smiling gently at Athena's voice, but only Violetta seemed to realize that this wasn't a happy occasion.

Athena's eyes suddenly locked on something. Violetta followed her gaze and saw that Ricky was standing in the doorway of the bomb shelter, his skateboard in his hands. She kept her eyes on him, listening to Athena sing in the background. Ricky finally felt her gaze on him and looked at him. Violetta looked at him expectantly. Ricky did nothing but shake his head slightly and turn away, walking out of the bomb shelter again.

The song finally ended. Athena glanced back at the doorway, expecting Ricky to be there, but he wasn't. Gina and Ashlyn shared a hug, but that wasn't what Violetta was focused on. Violetta sat up straighter as she watched Athena look at the ground, her bottom lip quivering. She wanted Athena to look at her, but that would also mean Athena would start to cry in front of everyone.

"Miss Jenn—" Athena began, her voice shaking.

"You can go, Athena," Miss Jenn approved.

Athena grabbed her backpack off of the risers and left the room. Violetta watched her go, her heart sinking to her stomach.

"I'm going to kill Ricky," Violetta decided.

EJ nodded. "I'll help you clean up the evidence."

"You're so real for that."

"I am your boyfriend, after all."

∘ ₊ ✧ ──── ✧ ₊ ∘

north high was literally so fucking annoying like please stop

also ricky was so mean this episode 😭 I know baby boy was so hurt but PLEASE