Falling Slowly | Ricky Bowen

1- The First Day

"Ah, junior year," Carlos sighed dramatically as we approached our school, "this is gonna be our year, El; I can feel it." I nod, but the sinking nervous feeling in my stomach thinks otherwise.

Carlos has been saying this every first day of school since the first grade, and typically, it never was "our year."

I guess the year was already starting out stronger than normal for him; he'd been offered the chance to choreograph the school musical. He'd offered countless times that he could get me a job behind the scenes too, but I swiftly rejected; while I supported Carlos' theatre antics fully, I preferred to stay in the audience, away from the eyes of everyone else.

"Yeah, may-" My breath hitches before I can finish my response; EJ Caswell strode past, an entourage of water polo players trailing behind him as he laughed at a story he was telling.

Carlos sighed loudly beside me, "Seriously? Still?" He asked, quirking an eyebrow at me.

I duck my head, allowing my blonde hair to cover the blush that began to coat my cheeks, "What happened to moving on over the summer?"

"I tried," I protested, and I really had, but for some reason, I was never able to shake the feelings I held for EJ Caswell, no matter how hard I tried. I tried reminding myself he is the most popular guy in school, who could go out with any girl he wants; I bet he barely knows my name, let alone wants to go out with me. It always worked for a little bit, but then I'd see him smiling as he walked the halls in his red letterman jacket or hear his laugh from a distance, and I'd fall again, no matter how unlikely we were to happen.

Carlos looked as if he didn't believe me, "Mhm, sure," he hummed, shaking his head with amusement.

Thankfully, he dropped the topic as soon as we entered the infamous east high; all around us, people were frantically running up to old friends and reuniting with fellow classmates. I didn't expect anyone to run up to Carlos and I; while everyone knew who he was, he didn't have any friends either. Everyone thought he was too weird and thought I was too quiet; I wouldn't trade his friendship for anything despite the differences between us.

"Do you mind if I-"

"Go," I cut him off, nodding towards the new drama teacher sat at the front of the gym, "I'll be fine," I reassured, pushing his shoulders slightly; Carlos glanced back at me before nodding and moving forward.

I'm fine, I reassured myself, walking up the bleachers; students had now begun filling in, all huddled together in little groups. I've always been socially introverted, but it never phased me too much; usually, I'd have Carlos with me.

I find a seat near the back, placing my bag on the other side so no one can take the available seat beside me. I hear a pair of students slide into the seats near me, but don't bother glancing over; I just grab my book out of my bag, not bothering to put it down once our principal begins announcements.

"And now, for a special introduction, this year East High has a new drama teacher; with an announcement that she swore, in writing would not cost too much money," I glanced up from my book at this, more for Carlos than anything, I may not care about the musical, but he does, so I'll be supportive.

The new drama teacher walks us, her heels clicking against the floor as she makes her way to the podium; Carlos follows behind a bright smile on his face, "Please hold your applause," She tells the dead silent crowd, she reaches back for something behind the podium, "Go wildcats!" She yells; I cringe at the noise of the T-shirt cannon she pulled out; geez, this woman was eccentric. "My name is Miss Jenn," She introduced herself, placing the T-shirt cannon in Carlos' arms. "and when I heard that the high school where High School Musical was shot had never staged a production of High School Musical, the musical. I was shocked as an actress, inspired as a director, and triggered as a millennial."

Whispers broke out amongst the students, some about the musical, most not paying any attention at all to the announcement. Carlos had refused to tell me what music they were putting on, and now I understand why; I already disliked musicals, but this one, I couldn't stand it; that had always been the one disagreement Carlos could never get past, he was genuinely obsessed with this movie.

I mean, sure, I had watched it one too many times as a kid, but I couldn't rewatch it now the way he could; it only brought back triggering memories, one's I preferred not to think about.

"Auditions are tomorrow after school; this show could change your lives, and I'm saying this as a background dancer from the original movies." I didn't need to know much about the new drama teacher to figure this was a fact she often shared, with everyone, "third from the left, back row, red headband," She continued, "and those are my real teeth, so..."

Carlos rushed forward, cutting off Miss Jenn's subtle bragging; I smiled at this; I could tell how excited he was about this from all the way up in the bleachers.

"Oh," Miss Jenn exclaimed, linking her arm through his, "and meet your student choreographer, Carlos," I shot him a smile as everyone remained silent, "you know him as captain of the color guard, I know him as an unpaid, rising star." The bell rang before she got the chance to finish her sentence, and I sighed in relief; this gym was getting stuffier by the minute, and as much as I loved seeing my best friend get the attention he craved, I also just wanted to get to class.

"Eloise," Carlos called, once I made it down the bleachers; I swung my bag over my shoulders as I walked over to him, "Miss Jenn, this is my best friend, Eloise," I forced an awkward smile onto my face, nodding hello to the new teacher, "Eloise, this is our new drama teacher, Miss Jenn."

"Eloise," She said my name, nodding her head in approval, "I like it, very British sounding, are you British?" She continues before I can respond, "You must be ecstatic for the musical, will you be auditioning?"

I simply shake my head, c'mon El, seriously, I can't even speak to teachers without feeling awkward, "El, isn't the biggest fan of musicals," Carlos explains on my behalf.

"I'm excited to watch, though," I finally speak; it's a lie, but what else am I supposed to say; "I'm gonna despise every minute, but I'll be there because I'm a supportive best friend?"

Miss Jenn quirks an eyebrow at me as if she's trying to figure me out, "Well, I should head to my office now; I'll see you later, Carlos," She squeezed his shoulders, "and Eloise, if you change your mind, you're always welcome in the theatre."

I nod, mustering a thankful smile as Miss Jenn walks away, "She seems..." I pause, trying to find a word to describe her, eccentric, passionate, loud, "nice." I decide on, which isn't untrue, most of our teachers ignore me, forget my name, or forget I exist altogether; Miss Jenn doesn't seem like that.

"She's amazing," Carlos corrected, "I mean, can you believe it, El? she was in the original HSM."

I nod, not wanting to crush his excitement, "that is pretty amazing," I agree, "alright well, we should get to class," I remind him, "see you at lunch?" He nods, but I can see a glint in his eye, as he glances around the empty gym, "enjoy rehearsing, just don't be too late for class, alright?" I shake my head as I walk away from him; Carlos just smiles, moving to the centre of the gym so he can begin rehearsing.

I dread the thought of having to hear about High School Musical for the next how many months. Still, I also can't help but feel happy for my best friend, he was finally finding his place and making his mark on East High like he'd always dreamed he would, and I'm watching from the sidelines, cheering him on, just as it was intended to be.
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^^ Eloise's outfit
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So excited for y'all to read this book!
Ricky and Eloise meet in the next chapter 🙈