Weightless [HSMTMTS]

Chapter 5

"I'm going to have a word with Caswell once he gets here," Ten muttered to himself as he frantically typed on his phone. "He should be here already."

At that moment, the group of drama students noticed Nini and EJ having an argument when they arrived from the staircase.

Oh boy, it did not look good.

"Could we not do this right now, please?"

"Do what? Are you mad at me?" EJ asked.

"You're mad at me. Look, there was no fitting over lunch," EJ finally said when Nini looked at him with a serious expression.

"Fine. Wanna know where I was at lunch? I was at the computer lab, bribing some hacker to crack into my phone to recover a message you deleted when you stole it."

"Wait, why do you think I—"

Ten increased the volume of his earphones, letting the music drown out Nini and EJ's fight. He would have to deal with his best friend later. Thankfully, they moved slightly further away to continue their argument.

After some discussion the night before, EJ absolutely refused to apologise to Nini. Ten had tried to lecture him about taking responsibility and how this would have never happened if he didn't steal her phone in the first place. However, Ten couldn't force his best friend to do something he didn't want, hence today.

"Hey, is the door locked or something? Why can't we get in?" Nini asked the group of drama students.

She had returned from her dispute with EJ, who had been let some distance back. Ten glanced to his best friend and raised an eyebrow in concern.

"Oh, Natalie Bagley's missing her emotional-support hamster," Ashlyn explained. "Carlos and Gina are helping her find him."

A sudden scream from inside made everyone jump in shock.

"They might have found it," Ten mumbled.

The door to the rehearsal room opened. Natalie burst out with a yellow box in hand with Carlos following closely behind. "I need a moment." She walked off quickly, leaving the group puzzled and concerned.

"Is he dead?" Ashlyn asked Carlos.

"No. Now she thinks he's in her gym locker," the boy replied.

"Why the screaming?"

"That was me. She stepped on my toe," Carlos admitted. He sighed and returned to the awaiting students. "We're ready to begin, people."

"Miss Jenn just talked to Ricky, he'll be running late," Carlos informed Nini and EJ.

"Who cares?" EJ muttered under his breath.

"You might, considering you're his understudy," Carlos continued. "We're blocking the Troy and Gabriella duet. You're on, lovers." The choreographer gave them a cheery smile.

Today's rehearsal looked like it was going to be fun. The drama students were finally able to enter the room and sat in their chairs as they went through rehearsal.

"Can you move a little closer to each other?" Ten looked up from his notes to see Miss Jenn instructing EJ and Nini. The two took a step towards each other, making a point to avoid eye contact. "Come on, guys. We're blocking this as a love story."

"I think that chair was over there," Carlos commented, pointing to a chair near the piano.

"Oh, I can move it over in the scene," Nini offered.

"Feels awkward."

"I can lift it over my head and walk."

"Sweetie, no one is walking with furniture over their head." Miss Jenn sighed. "Strike the chair, please," Miss Jenn whispered to Big Red, who was sitting at the side of the stage.