𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚣𝚘𝚗𝚎 // 𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚢 𝚋𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚗 [𝟷]

1.10

Thalia is sitting with Nicholas and Alaina in the bomb shelter, waiting for rehearsals to start. She can't help but glare at Ricky and Gina, who walk in together, smiling and laughing. She discreetly rolls her eyes, but this doesn't go unnoticed to Nini.

"Have you heard anything from Carlos or Miss Jenn?" Natalie asks. "They're never late."

"It's weird. He's not responding to my texts," Seb replies.

"Did we get a good photo for the program cover?" Kourtney asks Big Red.

"That's a question I'm not ready to answer," Big Red laughs as he scrolls through all of the failed pictures they took. Thalia goes over and laughs too.

Gina goes to Big Red, Kourtney and Thalia. She peers over Thalia's shoulder.

"Hey, jumping on cue is much more complicated than it sounds," She defends.

Yup. And so is keeping secrets that were told to you in confidence, apparently.

Big Red and Kourtney laugh, but Thalia stays quit.

"Lia, can I talk to you?" Gina asks.

"What?" Thalia asks.

"It feels like you've been avoiding me. What's wrong?" Gina asks. She knew deep down, but she was hoping it wasn't true.

"Don't act like you don't know. You told Nini my secret. You knew I wanted to tell her, but you went behind my back. And for what? A stupid role in a musical. I didn't think that was worth ruining a friendship. I guess we just have different priorities," Thalia looks down and goes back to Nicholas and Alaina.

"Hey, what's wrong? Are you and Gina okay?" Alaina asks.

"Super," Thalia nods.

"Guys! Let's just start. Flip to When There Was Me and You in your script," Natalie tells us.

"Uh, should we maybe wait until Miss Jenn gets here?" Ashlynn asks.

"Well, I don't know. Apparently nobody's in charge!" Natalie replies.

"Okay, people, let's stage a number!" Carlos exclaims, walking through the door. "I'm late."

He awkwardly chuckles.

"Is Miss Jenn coming?" Nini asks.

"Miss Jenn had a small personal matter to attend to and won't be here today," Carlos replies.

~
🎥

"That seems very suspicious," Thalia trails.

~

"Oh, is everything all right?" Nini asks.

"Good question," Seb adds on.

"Everything's fine," Carlos awkwardly chuckles again. "Why would you guys even ask that?"

Thalia knew something was seriously wrong.

Nini, Seb, and Thalia all share a look.

~
🎥

"Of course, today is the day I'm supposed to stage the boldest concept of the entire show," Carlos sighs. "The good news is, the idea kinda sells itself."

~

"Okay! Gabriella, I need you downstage on this mark," Carlos grabs Nini's hands and pulls her up. "Troy, stage right. Chad, stage left box. Um, other boys, find a box."

The boys start getting on top of these boxes. Thalia squints her eyes.

"Um, are they onstage with me while I'm singing?" Nini asks.