A Summer Musical

🎶 Chapter 2 ~ Coffee 🎶

Carlos' POV

Miss Jenn had sent a text in our group chat asking us to meet her for coffee. It felt random, but I was wondering if there was a reason. If there was, it didn't feel like it was a good reason. Miss Jenn is someone who would be too excited not to say it was good news.

Seb and I had plans to hang out earlier that day, so we headed to the coffee shop together, hand in hand. We noticed the others, everyone but Ashlyn and Big Red had arrived. Well, almost everyone besides them, Miss Jenn was late too.

"Anyone have any idea what this is about?" I asked nervously, subconsciously squeezing Seb's hand. He smiled at me, which made me cheer up until I looked back at the others.

"No idea." Ricky shrugged. Nini and Kourtney nodded, agreeing. I sighed.

"Just great... last time I was here with her she told me she was getting fired." I muttered.

"But Miss Jenn was forgiven, she's not fired again. That would just be weird." EJ said to us all, but mainly me.

"Yeah, love, everything will work out!" Seb kissed my cheek.

"I wish I had your optimism." I mumbled.

"Hey, what's up?" Ashlyn's voice came to us, which was followed by giggling between her and Big Red. She skidded to a stop on her bike. It was easy to notice Big Red had been riding along with her, only either on the handlebars or the back. Either way, not the most safe, but safe can be overrated. Plus, they were on the sidewalk.

"Not much, just Carlos being nervous." Gina said.

"Shut up." I muttered, mostly playing around.

"I'm just saying!" She put her hands up in surrender, making me laugh slightly. The only other person who laughed was EJ.

"Sorry I was late, some big thing with my mom and stuff, something about a hot tub. A plumbing mess." Miss Jenn shrugged as she showed up. We never knew what she was talking about. "Okay, coffee, right?" She opened the door for us all to walk in.

After we all ordered and sat down, Miss Jenn took a sip of coffee before starting to talk. "So... I've got some bad news."

"Oh." Both Ashlyn and I said in unison, Nini soon saying the same.

"I lost my job." She admitted.

"At East High?" I asked, in shock and upset.

"Yes, Carlos." She nodded. "After the last two semesters, it seems I made one too many mistakes..."

"They can't fire you just like that!" I could tell everyone else was upset, but no one else was talking.

"Apparently they can. I'm upset about it too."

"Los, hon, a minute?" Seb whispered into my ear. I nodded and we walked outside. "We're all upset."

"But... it's just not the same." I sighed. "She was my first friend in so long. We're back to the same place as last time, but I guess we can't save her this time. But, same as last time, she was the first person to give me a chance in quite some time."

"Now you're got all of us." Seb smiled and hugged me. "I love you."

"I love you too." I responded, hugging him back. "You're the best Sebby."

"Aw, thank you. You are too." He pulled back, the smile on his face even bigger.

EJ's POV

It took awhile, but the conversation about Miss Jenn eventually ended. Nini and Kourtney left together, as did Carlos and Seb, Ricky leaving on his own. I knew Ashlyn and Big Red were going to a movie or something.

"Need a ride Gina?" I asked. "How did you get here?"

"Walked, so a ride would be nice." She smiled.

"Okay, works well." I walked to my car with her. We both got in before I started driving to my cousin's house. "How ya feeling about the whole Miss Jenn thing?"

"Me?"

"Only one here, aren't you?" We laughed.

"Yeah, I, um... I don't know. I don't like it. It's upsetting."

"I can see that. I'm already starting to miss East High in general."

"I'm glad you're staying in Utah though." She said, smiling slightly.

"I'm looking forward to it." I nodded. "We were talking about you, go back to that, sorry."

"Oh, that's super fine." She said. "Anyways, it's really odd. I guess Miss Jenn was just... kinda of a part of Utah to me? This being the first place I really connected to people, it's weird. It's not like I'm not used to loosing people, but I'm not used to... growing very close to people either. She just... she was a part of East High."

"She is, and she was only there for a quarter of my time there. I get what you mean." I nodded.

"But it'll be fine." She shrugged. "Just another thing to get used to."

"Another thing?"

"Just... among other Salt Lake things and relationships. Staying with Ashlyn, all you guys, everything."

"How is it with Ash?" I wondered.

"It's pretty fun, she's like a sister I never had. But, like... not my sister. Which... somehow kinda makes it better? Less fighting, and I guess things would be a little awkward between us."

"What do you mean?"

"Um... you know, like..." She seemed to have to think. "If I were to have actually found the sister I never had, we'd be siblings, and the two of us would be cousins. So, um, yeah."

"Seems like a bit of a weird stretch?"

"Not sure what I was saying." She laughed, sounding nervous.

"I do that a lot." I nodded. "Well, here we are." We pulled into Ashlyn's driveway.

"Thanks for the ride EJ." She smiled and gave me a quick hug. She got out of the car, smiling, and went inside. I drove away, blushing.