┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓

𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗢𝗢 𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗣

chapter sixteen:
boys versus girls !

┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛

VIOLETTA COULDN'T GET Gina's words out of her head.

Yes, including the lyrics from Hercules.

It's not that she didn't not love EJ. Not to go all I Think I Kinda, You Know, but Violetta had been having that feeling for a while. She just never told anyone because . . . well, okay, fine, she was scared. Violetta had never really grown up with a feeling of love, only seeing it from afar with Athena's family. She knew she was loved by others, but it wasn't the same. That was more familial love and platonic love than anything. But real, romantic love . . . it was enough to make her want to run and hide.

Violetta didn't want to run anymore. Every time she looked at EJ, she could feel her insides get all fluttery and her heart start to race. As disgusting and infuriating as it was, it was true. That feeling hadn't gone away even though they had been dating for months. Violetta knew it was the l-word, yet every time she thought about telling him, she just panicked.

It certainly didn't help that he was graduating East High and going off to college soon. That made her even more scared. What if they didn't last? What if they were torn apart by some cruel trick of the universe? What if EJ found someone better?

God, she really needed to pull herself together.

Currently, Violetta stood on the stage at the first play rehearsal after spring break next to Athena. Her arms were crossed across her chest and a small smile was on her face as she watched EJ and Ricky play around with the Beast mask. EJ was currently holding the Beast mask above his head and Ricky was trying to get it back. Despite having that whole feud over Nini last semester, Violetta was just glad that the two of them were coming sort-of friends.

Violetta looked over at her best friend, and a knowing look appeared on her face along with a small smirk. Athena was staring straight at Ricky. There was a sort of longing gaze there. Despite being broken up, Violetta could tell that Athena could still get weak to her knees every time she looked at Ricky. In fact, it had been like that literally the entire day. It was definitely the first time Athena had seen Ricky since their break-up.

"You're staring again," Violetta said casually.

Athena blinked, snapping herself out of her trance and looking at her. "Hm?"

"Ricky. You've been staring at him all day." Violetta raised an eyebrow at her. "You're going to say you made a dumb decision, aren't you?"

Athena gave her a sheepish smile. "You know me too well."

Violetta shook her head — it was like the past few years all over again, the two too oblivious to say what they were feeling and Violetta wanting to slam her head against the wall. "Athena, listen. You've been focusing on yourself, and Ricky has been, too. Every couple needs space to reset a sort of balance. Trust me, EJ and I take days off from seeing each other, too. But I think you're both realizing in this break that you're having that staying together is what you both want."

Athena let out a sigh. "Yeah, maybe, but I initiated this whole thing. I just don't want to dump it on him that I want to get back together so out of the blue. That's not fair to him."

"Just talk to him," Violetta suggested. "Ease into it a little."

"All right, let's get started!" Carlos announced. He walked down the stage towards where Miss Jenn and Seb were talking. However, no one on the stage stopped their conversations. "Hello? Let's get started!"

"Okay, Wildcats," Miss Jenn voiced, clapping her hands together to reel them back in.

They all moved to form a little clump in front of Miss Jenn. Violetta positioned herself in between EJ and Athena. She looked up at EJ and gave him a small smile, looping her arm through his. EJ returned her smile and allowed her to do so, placing his hands in the pockets of his jeans. Violetta then turned her attention to their drama teacher, trying to ignore the erratic beating of her heart.

"Let's shake spring break out of our systems and try the Beast transformation one last time. And remember, this is the triumph of the show, the moment the audience has been waiting for." Miss Jenn's eyes got a little wide and her smile turned forced. "This has to work."

Violetta winced slightly and nudged EJ's side. "That's reassuring."

"Tell me about it," EJ responded.

"Ricky, try not to rush this time," Miss Jenn instructed. "We'll speed it up when you're more confident."

"Got it," Ricky agreed.

"Let's take it from . . . you came back."

Violetta let go of EJ's arm and moved to the back corner of the stage where the bar setting for Gaston was staying. EJ stayed to hold onto Ricky's Beast mask while he repositioned his fake beard. Violetta leaned back on the counter and watched as Athena kneeled on the ground, and Ricky did so as well, putting his Beast mask over his head. Once it was on, he positioned himself so his head was laying on Athena's lap. EJ then came back and put his arm around Violetta's shoulders, her leaning comfortably into his side.

Miss Jenn gestured at Ricky and Athena to begin. "Okay, go ahead."

Ricky cleared his throat, putting a hand on his chest to pretend like he was hurt. "You came back."

Athena held onto him and pulled him closer. "If only I'd come sooner."

Ricky placed a hand on her arm. "Maybe it's better this way—"

"Don't talk like that. Everything will be fine."

"No."

"Shhh," Athena recited. Violetta watched closely — everything seemed to be going fine. "We're together now. You'll see."

Ricky reached up and put a hand on Athena's cheek, and Violetta definitely did not miss the way Athena slightly shivered from that. "I'm just glad I was able to see your face one last—"

He then started to pretend to choke. Miss Jenn pointed to Seb, who began to play the piano.

"We are home," Athena sang. It was beautiful, but Violetta reached up a hand to her mouth, trying to control her laughs because Ricky was so blatantly pulling hair from the Beast mask out of his mouth. "We are where we shall be forever. Trust in me . . ." Violetta covered her mouth fully when she let out a small laugh, because Athena had removed Ricky's hand that was trying to get the hair out of his mouth and held it down on his chest. "For you know I won't run away."

"Belle, I . . ." Ricky began.

"Yes?" Athena asked, taking his chin in her hand. Ricky then flipped over, and Athena's eyes widened as she put her hands on his back, acting as panicked as Belle. "No, no, no, no, please don't leave me. Please." She took a shaky breath. "I love you."

There was that word again. Violetta shifted uncomfortably next to EJ and looked down at the floor for a moment. She really couldn't escape, could she?

The stage was still for a moment. Ricky then tried to remove his mask, but it wouldn't come off. Athena quickly covered Ricky with her cloak as he tried to get his mask off. Violetta watched in amusement — okay, maybe it wasn't funny to Miss Jenn because this was the Menkies, but it was funny to her.

"It's stuck," Ricky voiced.

"Rip the Velcro!" Kourtney yelled.

There was the sound of Velcro ripping. Athena took off her cloak from Ricky and Ricky threw his mask to Natalie Bagley, who was waiting on the side of the stage. However, Ricky threw it directly at Natalie's face. Violetta's eyes widened as she watched Natalie flinch and stumble from the mask hitting her, making her collide with the set of trees and fall to her knees. All three of the tree sets fell down. Violetta stared at them blankly.

Well, that was something.

"Cut!" Miss Jenn ordered.

"Sorry, Natalie," Ricky called.

"It's okay," Natalie replied. "It was just my face."

Miss Jenn stood up from her table. "The throw is great, Ricky. The mask is great. This is working. I will be in my office."

She walked off, a very anxious smile on her face. Violetta still had her hand over her mouth and was letting out quiet laughs. Athena then turned and glanced at her. This whole thing was a disaster.

Carlos glanced back at Seb before standing up as well to address them, his glittery clipboard hugged to her chest. "Guys, we're on a long five until Miss Jenn returns."

He rushed to follow after her. Violetta looked up at EJ, who was already staring down at her. Her eyebrows knit in confusion.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Violetta questioned.

"Can't I admire my pretty girlfriend?" EJ argued lightly.

"There's something different in that look."

"How could you possibly know that?"

"Because I know you," Violetta insisted.

EJ shook his head. "It's . . . it's nothing."

She raised a disbelieving eyebrow at him. "You sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure." EJ then glanced over and took note of Athena and Ricky talking. "How long do you think it'll take for them to get back together?"

"I give it a couple of days," Violetta answered, kind of confused by the subject change. "Those two have some sort of driving force between them." She then noticed that Athena was walking over to the two of them, taking off her cloak. "You talk to lover boy yet?"

"No, but we agreed to later," Athena revealed. "And can you stop calling him lover boy? You and Artemis, I swear. We're not even dating."

"But you will be," EJ voiced. "There's no way you two aren't getting back together. You look at each other the way Violetta looks at my arm when she's about to punch it."

Violetta looked over at his arm. She grinned slightly to herself and reached up, actually punching his arm. EJ let out a noise of pain and held the place where he had been hit. Violetta casually shrugged. He was basically asking for it.

"Thanks, EJ, I'm glad you have faith in us," Athena said. "Now, come on. I'm hungry."

═════════ • ° • ✰ • ° • ═════════

WHEN REHEARSAL HAD officially ended, which was also known as Miss Jenn having a complete mental breakdown in her office and the rest of them leaving to not stress her out, the entire cast plus Nini were standing in the dining room of Salt Lake Slices since Carlos had told them over text to meet there. Violetta held hands with EJ as they stood in their little group with Big Red, Ricky, and Gina. Athena, Nini, Seb, and Ashlyn stood in another group. Kourtney was behind the counter giving Natalie more soda. Basically, they were just discussing what they could possibly do to help the show.

The bell then sounded from above the door, signaling somebody just came into the restaurant. Violetta and everyone else looked over to see Carlos walking in, looking panicked.

"There you are," EJ began.

"We all got your text," Gina admitted.

"You guys, mother is freaking out," Carlos explained — he meant Miss Jenn when he said mother. "It's about the Menkies. Is everyone sitting down?"

"No," EJ responded in confusion.

Big Red then awkwardly sat down in the chair closest to him. Violetta nodded and patted Big Red's shoulder.

"We can't win," Carlos announced.

Violetta froze slightly. "Huh?"

"Listen, there's math involved," Carlos stated. "If we don't sweep the technical achievement awards, we don't have a chance. And no offense, Ricky, but . . ."

All of them stared at Ricky.

Ricky got a look of realization on his face. "Oh, is this about the transformation? 'Cause I can throw that mask at someone other than Natalie."

"You haven't yet," Natalie voiced.

"I hate to say this, you guys," Carlos said. "I mean, I know we all had a good time over spring break."

"Some of us a little more than others," Seb muttered.

Carlos placed a hand out to stop him. "Not today."

Violetta's eyebrows knit in confusion. What was going on between them?

"Honestly, we need to rally behind Miss Jenn. I mean, our sets are made of plywood and Elmer's Glue. We're humble. Humble does not win awards."

"And after that order, you have one more, and then two more after that," Kourtney instructed to Howie, placing two pitchers of soda on the table. "Fresh soda. Y'all okay?"

"Carlos was just explaining—" Gina started to say.

"I heard it all."

"While you were yelling at Howie?"

"Multitasking," Kourtney answered. "Look, I'm a designer. Big Red's a crew guy. Between the two of us, you're looking at your answer."

"Quit school, and get a job at the pizza shop?" Seb inquired.

"Uh, no. We should invent something amazing. Something we can run at tech rehearsal tomorrow night. A next level transformation that out-broads Broadway and out-norths North High."

Kourtney let out a squeal of excitement. Violetta nodded in agreement. This could work.

"Ashlyn, you have the biggest house," Nini announced over all of their murmurs. "What if I invite myself and some of the girls over after school, continue the collab thing?" She glanced at Athena. "'Thena, you in?"

Athena seemed to struggle with herself for a moment. Violetta saw her eyes set on someone, and she turned to see that she was looking at Ricky. Ricky gave her a small nod. It was evident that they wanted to talk.

"Yeah, I'm in," Athena agreed, placing a smile on her face.

"I mean, square footage wise, my house is, like, slightly larger—" EJ insisted.

Violetta rolled her eyes. With a fond smile on her face, she reached up her elbow and nudged him in the ribs. EJ immediately shut up.

EJ glanced down at her momentarily. "Uh, I'm going to shut up."

Ashlyn looked at Nini. "A hundred percent, yes."

"Wait, should we all stick together?" Gina asked.

"Oh, no way," Nini responded, stepping in between Athena and Ashlyn and linking their arms together. "Boys versus girls."

"My basement's free," Big Red offered. "We have a ton of old tools. I'm sure the guys can make something cool."

"Great. May the best transformation win."

Violetta grinned to herself. If they could actually pull this off, maybe they had a shot.

∘ ₊ ✧ ──── ✧ ₊ ∘

why was season two so dark. bruh I can't see ANYTHING