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𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞

chapter eighteen:
gina's back !

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VIOLETTA WAS CONFUSED when she heard the National Anthem.

She was originally sitting with Athena, trying to calm the girl's nerves, but Athena had said that she wanted some peace and quiet to frantically look at her script even though she already knew the lines by heart. So, Violetta left the dressing room. However, as she walked by the doors to the gym, she heard the familiar song.

Her eyebrows knit in thought, Violetta pushed the door open and entered. The music instantly got louder, and she walked towards the wings to see what was going on. Suddenly, a disco ball dropped down from the ceiling, and multiple cast members rushed forwards to move the set for the karaoke scene to the middle of the stage.

She then looked out into the audience. Big Red was standing helplessly up on the lightboard behind the audience. Violetta let out a small laugh. Of course.

Violetta decided to stay there. She watched as Ricky and Nini absolutely killed it singing Start of Something New together. Now, they were no Ricky and Athena, but their voices blended together nicely.

"You have an amazing voice," Ricky said as Troy. "You're a singer, right?"

"Just the church choir is all," Nini replied as Gabriella. "I tried a solo and nearly fainted."

"Really? Why's that?"

"I took one look at all the people staring only at me, and the next thing I knew, I was staring at the ceiling. End of solo career." She then tapped Ricky's arm casually. "But you sounded like you've done a lot of singing."

Ricky nodded. "Oh, sure, lots. Yeah, my shower head is very impressed with me."

A presence then appeared next to Violetta. It was familiar enough to her. She didn't even have to look to see who it was, but she did anyways. EJ was next to her, a basketball under his arm (because Chad always carried around a basketball, something Violetta never understood) and his phone in his hand. Violetta slightly felt her cheeks heat up and she looked back forwards. There was an obvious tension between the two of them, but they couldn't deal with it until after the show.

"Any updates?" Violetta asked.

"Yeah," EJ answered. "She should be here soon. An Uber's taking her from the Salt Lake airport to here."

"Hope she makes it in time," Violetta commented. She then looked up at EJ again. "You feeling okay?"

He looked at her in confusion. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. Musicals seem kind of . . . overwhelming. That could just be me talking, though."

"No, I know what you mean. I don't really show it, but . . . I do get nervous before playing shows. Don't tell anyone that, though."

"Aw man, you've ruined my plans to tell the entire school. They were all gonna see that you actually do have feelings."

EJ rolled his eyes and nudged their arms together. "Shut up."

Violetta couldn't help the smile on her face. "I'm kidding. Just . . . keep me updated on Gina."

He nodded and paused for a moment. "Hey, V?"

"Yeah?"

"Will you watch some of the scenes I'm in? I just . . . I want you to be there."

Violetta grinned up at him softly. "Yeah, I'll be there. I have to help Kourtney learn the choreo for Status Quo, but I think I can make the hallway scene."

She then turned her attention back to Ricky and Nini. The two of them were just standing awkwardly in the middle of the stage, like they were waiting for something to happen.

"Oh, gosh!" Nini began. "Uh . . . sounds like the fireworks have started. Can you hear them?"

Violetta slightly jumped at the loud noise of the scoreboard turning on in the gym. She looked back up at the hopeless figure of Big Red and started laughing. Violetta knew he could do it, but it was obvious he was still a little lost. She let out a small laugh and shook her head.

The rest of the musical was going rather smoothly in Violetta's opinion. In between scenes, she was rushing to help people with changes, watching Athena do her scenes as Kelsi, and teaching Kourtney the choreography for Stick to the Status Quo. Carlos was also there, but Kourtney seemed to be just a tad calmer with Violetta's encouraging words rather than Carlos telling her the steps she was doing wrong.

She then remembered her promise to EJ. Violetta stood in the wings again, her arms crossed over her chest. On one side of the stage was Nini and Kourtney, and on the other was Ricky and EJ. Behind them, the long stretch of lockers were being moved by two crew members as they walked in place, making it seem like that they were actually walking down the hallway. Ricky

"What do you know about Troy Bolton?" Nini questioned as Gabriella.

"Troy?" Kourtney repeated as Taylor. "I wouldn't consider myself an expert on that particular subspecies." There was silence for a moment before Kourtney flipped a page on her script that was disguised by a textbook. "Uh, however, unless you speak cheerleader, as in, Oh my gosh! Isn't Troy Bolton just the hottie super bomb?"

"You know what, dude?" Ricky voiced as Troy. "Can't make it tonight. Gotta catch up on homework."

"What?" EJ replied as Chad. "Hello, we're only on the second day back. I'm not even behind yet, and you know I've been behind on homework since preschool."

Ricky laughed. "That's hilarious. Catch you later."

He patted EJ's shoulder before rushing off stage into the wings. Violetta held up her hand for a high-five, and Ricky obliged before rushing off to prepare for his next scene. EJ then stopped and stared into the wings for a second, his eyes catching Violetta's. She raised an eyebrow at him, and he seemed to snap out of his trance.

"Homework?" EJ inquired. "There's no way."

The audience laughed. He then looked back towards the wings and winked, a smile on his face. Violetta rolled her eyes playfully and shook her head, though she couldn't deny the way her face felt hot and how her heart was beating against her chest.

After a couple more scenes, the crew was gathered back together in the bomb shelter before their performance of Stick to the Status Quo. Violetta was back on her job of teaching Kourtney the choreography, but on such short notice, teaching someone new who wasn't a dancer intricate moves was near impossible. Carlos and Athena were also there to try and help.

"Just a little further, Kourt," Violetta encouraged, on the floor in her split as Kourtney tried to match her. "It's okay, you got this."

Kourtney stopped trying and stood back up normally. "Mmm-mmm. Vi, this is as far as I can split."

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for Stick to the Status Quo," Miss Jenn stated, walking into the room. "This is our biggest Act One showstopper, and you're all going to kill it because I love you. Any questions?"

Kourtney raised her hand in response. "I have a couple hundred."

"Wait, how is the Taylor dance break gonna work?" Seb asked. "Gina's tray-ography is really complex."

"I can run to the pit and have the orchestra cut that part," Carlos offered.

Words of disagreement rang through the room. Violetta took a deep breath. Cutting out Gina's choreography would change the whole course of the number. But, of course, there was someone else who knew the choreography — Violetta. She had picked up on it after watching Gina do it a lot. Violetta opened her mouth to speak, but Kourtney cut in.

"Or we could just have Gina do it," Kourtney announced.

Violetta turned. Standing in the doorway with a tray of cupcakes was none other than Gina. She had made it in time. Gasps expelled from everyone while Violetta just smiled. All of them rushed up to greet her.

"Wow, you guys, I don't wanna interrupt," Gina said.

"How did you get here?" Carlos questioned.

"A friend bought me a last-minute flight back." Missed by everyone, Gina and Violetta made quick eye contact. "I was gonna drop off these cupcakes and then hide in the gym and cheer you guys on."

"Gina, no one in the gym wants to hide more than I do right now," Kourtney admitted.

Gina then noticed Kourtney's costume. "Wait, are you playing Taylor?"

"I was, and it was nice, and now it's your turn to save my butt and do the dance." Kourtney offered her bedazzled tray. "Please. I'm asking you."

Gina looked at Miss Jenn. "Can I?"

"Of course," Miss Jenn answered, and Violetta's smile widened. "You can do the curtain call together. Let's hit the halls, people!"

"Come on, let's go get you ready," Athena told Gina.

Violetta helped Athena get Gina into her Taylor costume and apply some quick makeup to her face before it was time for the performance. Time was running pretty low, so Violetta grabbed onto Gina's hand and pulled her out of the bomb shelter. Gina merely laughed and let Violetta drag her along to their backstage. The gym doors shut behind them.

"Ready?" Violetta began, looking up at Gina.

Gina nodded and squeezed her hand. "Totally. Hey, uh . . ."

"Don't," Violetta interrupted. "I know what you're going to say. Just wait until we're both with EJ so we can discuss it, yeah?"

"All right." Gina then pushed Violetta forwards. "Go out and kill it."

All of the dancers and other cast members got onto stage, the set of the cafeteria among them (the stairs and the lunch tables.) Violetta sat at the table with her textbook with the other brainiacs and waited for everything to start. They had cut out Zeke's baking confession and the cello guy, but Miss Jenn had decided to let Violetta have her moment to shine with Martha. That meant she was starting the whole song. It was a little nerve-wracking, but she could do it.

The lights came on and the music started. Violetta took a deep breath as her cue approached, and then she lowered her textbook to show her face.

"Look at me, and what do you see?" Violetta sang as Martha. "Intelligence beyond compare. But inside I am stirring, something strange is occurring, it's a secret I need to share."

"Open up, dig way down deep," the others at the table chorused.

"Hip hop is my passion!" Violetta stood up and started to do the iconic dance moves, the others gasping at her. "I love to pop and lock and jam and break."

"Is that even legal?" one of the brainiacs inquired.

"Not another peep!" the others voiced.

Violetta frowned. "It's just dancing! Sometimes, I think it's cooler than homework."

It was then time for the big dance break. Violetta tossed her textbook into the wings and stood back, bewildered for a moment like Martha was, as more dancers came out as the music started. She snuck a quick glance at EJ, who did his basketball choreography on top of a table. Violetta skipped around the table before joining the others in the front of the stage.

"No, no, no, no," they sang. "Stick to the stuff you know."

At her own table, they switched seats before putting their hands on the table and pushing themselves up for a moment. They then got on top of the seats before jumping off.

"If you wanna be cool, follow one simple rule, don't mess with the flow, no no, stick to the status quo."

They then grouped up and started to perform all together. Violetta smiled brightly as she danced and sang, loving the way she was just having with her friends under the lights.

"No, no, no, stick to the stuff you know, it's better by far to keep things as they are, don't mess with the flow, no no. Just stick to the status quo!"

All of them dropped onto the seats on the lunch tables as Gina appeared on stage and started to perform her own choreography. Violetta then grabbed her own bedazzled tray and joined in the background. They all circled around her and did a ripple in lines on the sides with their trays before Gina sunk into the splits.

"Everybody quiet!" Seb ordered as Sharpay from the top of the stairs. There was a moment of not moving, letting the audience cheer. Violetta and the dancers turned to look at Seb. She then caught Athena's eye in the wings and gave her best friend a quick wink before focusing on Seb. "This is not what I want, this is not what I planned." Seb and Rico, the boy playing Ryan, then descended down the steps. "And I just got to say, I do not understand." Violetta moved backwards out of Seb's way at the back table. She watched as Seb and Rico started to perform their dance duet. "Something is really, something's not right, really wrong. And we gotta get things back where they belong."

"Not another peep, no, not another word, no, not another sound, no," everyone voiced. They all then got into their respective positions to perform the last of their choreography. "No, no, no, no, stick to the stuff you know.." Violetta did a calypso jump into a roll down the center, making the audience cheer louder. She stood back up, grinning brightly, before backing up. "It's better by far to keep things as they are, don't mess with the flow, no, no." On top of a table, Violetta did a handstand and allowed Kaden to catch her flat on his shoulder, and he set her down on the ground. "Stick to the status, stick to the status, stick to the status quo!"

Everything ended as Nini ran into Seb, pretending to spill cheese fries all over his outfit.

Violetta, breathing heavily, basked in the applause for a moment before getting off stage. She felt an arm sling around her shoulder, and she looked up to see that it was Kaden. Violetta obliged in his side hug and laughed happily.

"You were born to play Martha," Kaden told her over the excited chatter in the hallway. "Seriously. That was amazing."

"Well, thanks for not letting me fall off a table," Violetta responded. "Means a lot, Kade."

He shook her a little. "What are friends for?"

They then entered the bomb shelter. Athena and Ricky were the only ones in there. Immediately, Athena gasped and ran up to their group.

"Oh my God, you did amazing!" Athena shouted, giving Seb a hug before pulling Violetta in tightly. "You guys, that was so good."

"All thanks to Gina," Violetta revealed, and Gina stopped next to them. "Seriously, G, your choreo really put it all together."

"Aw, thanks Vi," Gina said, putting an arm around her shoulder and pulling her in for a moment.

Ricky's gaze was right on Gina. "Still can't believe you're actually back."

"Yeah, well, one night only. Don't blink, you'll miss me."

Violetta looked at Athena, and the two of them shared a knowing expression. She put her arm around Athena while Athena crossed her arms. The two of them started to watch this whole thing unfold — maybe that was kind of rude for them to do, but considering they were literally right in front of them, they couldn't do much.

"I didn't think we'd ever see you again," Ricky admitted.

"That makes two of us," Gina agreed.

"I wish . . ." Ricky started to say before letting out a small chuckle. "I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything. Just fly, dude."

"What?"

Gina smiled. "It's time to get your head in the game."

Carlos came into the room. "Troy and ballers in five minutes! Ricky, we need you in your harness, pronto."

One of the dancers put Troy's jersey on Ricky's shoulder. "Here you go, bro."

"Yo, gotta go," Ricky announced. He stopped next to Athena as he started to leave. "You'll come to watch me, right?"

Athena smiled at him lovingly. "Always. Go crazy, Wildcat."

Ricky kissed her quickly before rushing out the door. Violetta shook her head playfully and lowered her arm from Athena, joining Gina's side. The two of them stared right at Athena, whose face burned a bright shade of red.

Athena rolled her eyes at them. "Oh, shut up."

"We didn't say anything," Gina replied lightly.

Violetta and Gina, smirking at Athena, then turned and started to head off towards the costumes. They walked up to the rack that had the girls' costumes and found their names on the pieces of paper that separated each persons' costumes. Violetta picked out her next costume off the rack.

"EJ keeps staring at you," Gina told her quietly.

Violetta looked back. Sure enough, a little further away, EJ's eyes were intent on her. Violetta quickly looked back at the costumes, her face burning.

"Something happen between you two?"

"It doesn't matter," Violetta said quickly. "We should change."

Violetta then went over to the spot in the room where they could get changed. She let out a deep breath and started to get into her next costume. All she could hope at this point was that things could go smoothly so that she could talk to EJ later, but little did she know that things weren't going to go according to plan.

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I know they didn't include martha's scene in status quo in the show but let's ignore that <3 I need to see my baby girl SHINE