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𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞

chapter fourteen:
ej cries for some really weird reason !

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SEE, VIOLETTA WAS excited about the prospect of the El Rey. It was a potential place where they could continue their show, which is definitely what she wanted — what they all wanted. However, this place just looked downright abandoned.

She walked alongside EJ, her flashlight shining ahead of her. The El Rey was obviously dark — they hadn't found the light switch yet — and extremely outdated, considering all of the lights machinery in the wings. Violetta slightly shivered. The El Rey was also a little bit cold, but Violetta was sure that she shivered because the place gave her the creeps.

"Right this way," Miss Jenn called to all of them as they navigated their way through the theater. "Follow me. Smell that smell, the theater. Mold, it's a sign of life. Everyone, watch your step. And, uh, let me know if you haven't had a tetanus shot recently, okay?"

"You know, this place doesn't feel right," Violetta admitted. "It just seems off."

"I think it's haunted," Kourtney replied. "And I ain't about that. I mean, you can fight a person but you can't fight a ghost."

Violetta stopped in her tracks for a moment, blinking in confusion. "What?"

"I'm just saying."

EJ shook his head and tapped Violetta's shoulder. "Come on, V. Keep going."

"Where did she come up with that?" Violetta whispered.

"Not sure, but you're causing a hold up."

That was true. She just so happened to stop right in the middle of their path — oh God, she was one of those people. Violetta quickly joined the others on the stage of the El Rey, multiple statues and stage props illuminated by their flashlights. Violetta approached Athena just as somebody found a light switch, making everything a lot easier. She was too busy laughing and moving props with her friends that she failed to notice EJ had slipped away. Violetta was too blind sighted by her own elevated mood and the happy moods of everyone else as they realized maybe the El Rey could actually work.

Violetta laughed at something Athena had said before walking a prop over to the wings. She saw EJ standing there in the front corner of the stage, staring out at the empty rows of seats, seemingly sulking. Violetta raised an eyebrow and approached him after setting down the prop she had moved.

"Why do you look like somebody just kicked your puppy?" Violetta questioned.

EJ snapped out of whatever trance he was in and looked down at her. "Huh?"

"You're sulking."

"I am not."

"Tell that to the expression on your face," Violetta stated. She sighed. "Are you still upset about the theater being burnt down? Because it's okay if you are—"

"No, no, it's not that," EJ cut in. "It's something else entirely."

"Oh." Violetta paused for a moment. "Do you want to talk about it?"

EJ shook his head. "Not right now."

"Okay!" Miss Jenn then exclaimed, calling everyone on stage to attention. Violetta gave EJ one last worried glance before crossing her arms and looking at Miss Jenn, who stood at the front of the stage. She nodded her head over to everyone as the group gathered around, and the two of them joined Ricky and Athena. "Let's have some real talk. Welcome to tech rehearsal. I don't know if you've noticed, but most of the tech in this particular theater appears to be hand-cranked. Natalie Bagley, my dear, my stage manager, this is your chance to be the hero."

Violetta glanced around for a moment. However, there was no sight of Natalie. She let out a quiet sigh. Something was always going on with that girl.

"Natalie Bagley's getting her wisdom teeth out," Seb announced.

Miss Jenn's expression turned as hard as steel. "Okay. Okay, so I'm down a stage manager, my Taylor's MIA."

"I think it'll be okay, Miss Jenn," Athena reassured her in effort to calm their teacher down. "The show's gonna be fine and so is Gina."

However, the El Rey had impeccable timing. Just as Athena finished saying that, a sandbag fell from the ceiling. Violetta jumped in surprise and knocked back into EJ, who put his hands on her shoulders to stabilize her as she stumbled. She cleared her throat and straightened back up, feeling her cheeks heat up while EJ took his hands off of her shoulders.

"Totally normal," Miss Jenn told them. "Just, heads-up, from now on. All righty. Big Red, do you know how to hang a light?"

"I know how to hang out?" Big Red responded in confusion, followed by some laughs from everyone.

"Cool. Carlos, let's set marks to light Status Quo. Troy and Gabriella, find somewhere quiet and run the rooftop scene. It's been a while and I need you opening night ready by dinnertime, okay?"

Violetta watched the interaction between Ricky and Athena after that instruction. They were obviously too cute, but Violetta could tell that Athena was uncomfortable with the prospect of Ricky and Nini going somewhere alone. And she had every right to be — they did used to date, after all.

"Um, we're staying through dinner?" Ashlyn inquired. "I have baking club tonight . . ." Ashlyn's voice failed once Miss Jenn gave her a look. "Which is completely irrelevant in the midst of our tragedy."

Miss Jenn smiled big. "This is going to work, I can feel it." She clapped her hands. "Clear the stage! Let's go!"

Violetta looked back up at EJ. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'll be fine," EJ answered.

Violetta didn't really believe him, but she nodded nonetheless. "I'm gonna go spend some time with Athena and help out with some other stuff. If you need anything—"

"You'll be the first person I'll go to," EJ finished. "And it seems like Big Red is trying to get your attention."

Violetta turned. Sure enough, Big Red's gaze was on her and Athena, waving his arms to get the two girls to help. Violetta glanced over at Athena and shrugged. Why not? They were here to help after all.

Turns out, Violetta and Athena weren't very much help to Big Red. The three of them were hopelessly confused with the lighting system, and to be honest, they just kept making each other more confused. Violetta only hoped, however, that it was distracting Athena from the whole Ricky and Nini thing for the time being.

"Hey, you okay?" Ashlyn's voice began, and Violetta turned to see her approach them. "It's a lot."

"I just don't know how to make things light up," Big Red said.

"You walk into a room."

Violetta's eyes widened in shock and she turned to Athena, only to see her best friend had the exact same expression as her. Oh, she was so right. And telling by the huge smile on Big Red's face, everything was just falling right into place.

"Seriously though, I've been through a few tech rehearsals in my day," Ashlyn continued. "Just holler if you need me."

"Thanks, Ash," Big Red replied.

Ashlyn placed a hand on his shoulder. "You got this." She then looked at Violetta and Athena. "You two all right?"

"Us?" Violetta asked, pointing between her and Athena. "Oh, yeah, we're great."

Athena patted Big Red's shoulder as Ashlyn walked away. "You get 'em, Big Red."

"Shut up," he mumbled, but there was a ghost of a smile on his face.

Everyone knew that Violetta and Athena were inseparable. That's why nobody was really shocked to see them spending practically the whole time together t the El Rey, helping out and moving props. Violetta could tell that Athena was feeling a little bit better because she had started to smile.

Finally, a little while later, all of them were standing by the seats with scripts in their hands. Violetta stood with Athena, engaged in a very serious topic about Chad and Ryan in High School Musical 2.

"No, I'm not kidding," Violetta argued. "I seriously think that Chad and Ryan were more than friends. What other explanation would there be for them switching clothes after the baseball game?"

Athena thought that over for a moment. "Wait, I never realized that as a kid. You know, I think you're right, Vi. Seems a little suspicious to me."

Violetta flipped her hair over her shoulder proudly. "I'm always, right, 'Thena. You should know this by now."

Athena scoffed at that. "Yeah, okay."

"Okay, we just need to nail down our lighting and our sound and ta-da, we've got a show," Miss Jenn voiced. "I need some bodies for the rooftop scene."

EJ immediately raised his hand — a little too enthusiastically, might Violetta add. "I can do Troy."

"Fine."

"Or at least some people think so," EJ muttered.

It was clear that he didn't want anyone to hear that, but Violetta did. Her eyebrows knit in thought. What did that mean?

"Athena, come stand in for Gabriella," Miss Jenn ordered. "We'll have both Understudies."

"Oh, uh, sure," Athena agreed, looking away from Violetta.

When Athena didn't move as EJ got on the stage, Violetta pushed her shoulder a little to encourage her to move. Athena then joined EJ on the stage. The two of them turned to the correct pages in their script for the rooftop scene. Violetta smiled slightly to herself. This was certainly going to be interesting.

"Do we have a working lightboard?" Miss Jenn questioned.

"Found it!" Big Red shouted.

However, when he pulled the lever, the lights turned blue. Violetta's eyes widened as she stared at several mannequins wearing neon clothing.

"Sorry, everyone," Carlos stated. "My Uncle Ruben said there was gonna be some leftover stuff from the fashion show. I guess the theme was eighties rave?"

"In a nuclear reactor?" Ashlyn added, making them laugh.

"Big Red, so we have anything more flattering?" Miss Jenn inquired.

"Uh, working on it!" he yelled back, and when he pulled another lever, the blue softened out to a much more normal light.

"Okay, Troy, basketball stuff, Gabriella, math stuff, nobody doesn't cry, and we end up here, center stage," Miss Jenn instructed to the two Understudies. "Gabriella, give us your cue."

Athena cleared her throat and started to act as Gabriella. "Remember in kindergarten, you'd meet a kid, know nothing about them, then ten seconds later, you're best friends?"

"Yeah," EJ replied as Troy.

"Singing with you felt like that."

"Look, I never thought about singing, that's for sure." Violetta stared at EJ in confusion. Why was he using so much emotion in his voice for such a simple scene? Plus, Athena was acting perfectly normal. Something wasn't adding up. "Until you. And now, I don't wanna stop. Ever."

Things then started to turn weird. Even from so far away, Violetta could see the tears glistening in his eyes. She placed a hand over her mouth, trying to quiet her laughs. Athena then sent her a wide-eyed look. Violetta shrugged, but that only made her laugh harder.

"That's excellent and a little weird," Miss Jenn commented. "Big Red, can we hit these guys with a spotlight?"

"Uh, I'll look for it," Big Red responded.

Athena blinked up EJ. "Um, are you all right?"

"I'm just emoting, 'Thena," EJ responded. Violetta felt butterflies swarm her stomach at the thought of EJ being close enough with her best friend to call her a nickname. "Feel free to join me."

"Join you?" Athena repeated, evidently confused. "This is a tech rehearsal and we're just the Understudies. We don't have to go all out right now."

"Okay, Athena, EJ, let's not wait for the lights," Miss Jenn told them. "Just stand on your marks and give me your cue again?"

EJ started to act again, now full-blown crying. "I never thought about singing, that's for sure. Until you. And now . . ." EJ then placed a hand on the side of Athena's neck, making her stiffen and look down at it in total confusion. He leaned his head closer to hers for emphasis on his lines, but Athena moved her head backwards to keep the distance. Violetta laughed harder into her hands — oh, this was too good. "I don't wanna stop. Ever."

"Uh . . ." Athena trailed off. "Why are you touching me?"

"EJ?" Miss Jenn stated.

She gestured him to come over. The two of them talked for a moment before a ladder fell next to Athena, making her jump away from it while letting out a small yell.

"Big Red, did you do that?" Miss Jenn asked.

"No," Big Red answered.

Miss Jenn screamed upon noticing that Big Red was right behind her, no longer working the lights. She then called for a five minute break, all of them evidently weirded out by the events that had just occurred.

Athena walked up to Violetta. "I have no idea what just happened."

And to be honest, Violetta didn't really either. However, she did have an inkling why EJ was acting so weird. But that was besides the point. Everything was a little messy right now, and Violetta needed stability, and that came in the form of Athena.

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hey besties what's up

let me warn you violetta is going to YELL at ricky next chapter hehehehe I'm so excited