A Summer Musical

🎶 Chapter 17 - Fighting 🎶

Nini's POV

Today we were working on choreography, so only some of us came. Carlos, Seb, Kourtney, Ashlyn, and I were all there, but Ricky, Big Red, EJ, and Gina weren't. Miss Jenn was late, like she often was, showing up in Mr. Mazzara's car, probably back from a date.

It would be a lie to say that our group chat didn't go wild after we found out they were together. We were all supportive, but there were definitely some jokes and awkward thoughts along with support.

Carlos was working with Kourtney for choreography on her solo, while the rest of us were mostly goofing off.

"How are you guys?" I sat by Seb and Ashlyn, who were in a conversation already.

"Pretty good." Seb smiled.

"Yeah, fine." Ashlyn nodded with a smile. "How are you?"

"I'm doing great." I smiled. "What have you been up to?"

"I was really tired after last night, so not much." Seb answered.

"Yeah. Same."

"Cool. And pretty much the same for me." I nodded. There was a brief silence. "Are you guys fine?"

"Of course." Ashlyn said.

"I'm good, yeah." Seb nodded. "We lost another cow, but I already had plans to come here."

"Aw, I'm sorry." Ashlyn hugged him. I scooted over so I could do the same.

"Things will work out."

"Yeah." Seb nodded. Ashlyn kept her arm around him supportively after I pulled back.

"Ash?"

"Yes?" She asked.

"You're good?"

"Why has everyone asked me that today?" She sighed.

"Maybe because you... aren't?" I suggested.

"Yesterday was just a long day and Big Red's... been busy lately. Haven't seen him much."

"He—" I stopped myself. He had told me she wanted space, but better to avoid getting in the middle of things than to meddle. "That's on you, though, isn't it?"

"What?" She asked, moving her arm off of Seb, who took the chance to leave and talk to Carlos during the brief moment he wasn't working.

"He told me you wanted space."

"Oh."

"Can you blame him, though? Ricky said he wanted space with me and we broke up, he was probably worried." I pointed out.

"He might be worried, but he knows it isn't a break up." She shook her head.

"I don't know, but he thinks it will lead into one."

"Why did he have to tell everyone?" She complained.

"Same reason I told everyone when Ricky said it."

"But not everything is about you and Ricky."

"I never said it was." I replied.

"You've been apart for months. I know breakups are tough, and I try to be supportive... but you've been rude to Gina because of Ricky, you've prioritized yourself so much to prove points and— I honestly do not mean this in a horrible way— it gets to me, and it gets to most of us. Gina's practically my sister."

"Where is this coming from? Just because your boyfriend is upset with you—"

"It's coming from a few months, but also the fact my boyfriend is upset with me! I don't know what to do!" She said, still managing to keep her voice low enough for no one else to notice."

"Good luck, but relationships aren't a reason to be rude."

"Okay, fair enough, you can call me out. I'm calling you out for the same thing. But your boyfriend was being clingy, and as hard as it may be, you should have just told him the truth instead of keeping things from him."

"Reminds me of someone who got kissed once." I snapped.

"I told him the next day. You, on the other hand, lied straight to Ricky's face. But you can work on it, alright? Be a better you, or whatever. And stop acting supportive to your friends while you really just distance yourself from them. You can do your own thing and also tell us."

"I don't like confrontation."

"And you think I do?" She asked. "Why do you think my relationship is falling apart? We're both insecure. The two of us. Big Red too. I'm sure Ricky is, I'm sure we all are. And I don't wanna be rude, I just feel you could handle things a little more like the rest of us. Communication."

"Well, I think your relationship is falling apart because of communication problems, so you're one to talk."

"I'm done." She stood up.

"Running from your problems?"

"You've done the same thing plenty of times! During our production of HSM, dancing against North High, simply having to rehearse with Ricky. You aren't the only person who gets overwhelmed. I spent the entirety of last night sobbing when Big Red never called me."

"Whatever."

"I'm leaving."

"I drove you here." I reminded her.

"Then I'm walking." She said, hesitating before leaving. "Nini?"

"Yeah?"

"I didn't mean much of that. I mean, I guess it's something to work on, but I love you." She said. "I really am overwhelmed. I'm being hypocritical. Sorry."

"Big Red's really upset, you know?"

"Thanks for accepting my apology?"

"He loves you." I said, looking up at her, who ended up sitting again.

"I don't know." She played with her hands.

"Looks like Carlos wants me to rehearse. But he's in a awful mood right now, because of you— this was supposed to be the supportive comment. Sorry. Because of what happened between you. Talk to him."

"I'm not ready. I don't think he's ready to forgive me." She said, looking down at her feet. "He probably needs space."

"He doesn't want space. He thinks you do, that's why he's upset."

"I'll... I'll try to talk to him soon." She nodded. "And I'm sorry again." She hugged me.

"Me too."