Soaring [ej caswell]

Twenty Two: The Transformation

"All right, let's get started! Hello? Let's get started!"

Gina helps me put on my blue, what I call, cape.

"Okay, Wildcats" Miss Jenn says, "Let's shake spring break out of our systems and try the Beast transformation one last time. And remember, this is the triumph of the show, the moment the audience has been waiting for. This has to work"

"No pressure, right?" Ricky leans over to me.

"Yeah"

"Ricky, try not to rush this time. We'll speed it up when you're more confident"

"Got it"

"Let's take it from..."You came back."

Ricky lays on the floor after putting on his Beast mask and I lean down beside him, holding him in my arms.

"Okay, go ahead"

"You came back" Ricky says.

"If only I'd come sooner" I say in clear distress.

"Maybe it's better this way..."

"Don't talk like that. Everything will be fine"

"No"

"We're together now. You'll see"

"I'm just glad I was able to see your face one last..."

Seb starts to play the piano.

Bella:
"We are home
We are where we shall be forever
Trust in me
For you know I won't run away"

"Belle, I..."

"Yes?"

Ricky dramatically falls over onto his stomach.

"No, no, please don't leave me. Please. I love you" I pretend to cry.

He starts to try to take the mask off but he was struggling.

"Come on. Come on!"

I cover him with my cape, trying not to make it so obvious.

"It's stuck"

"Rip the Velcro!" Kourtney yells.

He rips it off and throws it at Natalie's face and she falls into the fake trees, knocking them down.

"Cut!" Miss Jenn yells.

"Sorry, Natalie"

"It's okay. It was just my face" Natalie says.

"Guess I should practice that throw, huh?"

"The throw is great, Ricky. The mask is great. This is working. I will be in my office" Miss Jenn says walking out of the auditorium.

"Guys, we're on a long five until Miss Jenn returns" Carlos says running away.

"Hey, you okay?" I ask Ricky as I take my cape off.

"Yeah, I'll get it eventually" he sighs.

"You, uh, kinda went dark there for a little while over spring break"

"Yeah, my phone was off"

"That's half of what I meant" I say giving him a look.

"Breakups just suck, you know? Especially when it's with the same person over and over again" he says sadly and I nod.

"But I'm glad you and Ashlyn reached out to Nini about writing that song. That was really nice"

"Oh, no, no. She reached out to us. She was the one actually driving the whole thing. It was super fun" I smile at him.