sour ➪ ricky bowen {2}

Tʜɪʀᴛᴇᴇɴ.

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Episode 6:
Yes, And.

"Oh my gosh, that's what's-her-name–Lily, from our auditions!" Seb exclaimed in shock after we'd finished watching Lily and North High's cinema-budget trailer for their Beauty and the Beast show for like the hundredth time since we got here this morning. "She isn't just co-directing their show, she's starring in it."

"You mean, perfect-pitch-looks-like-an-actual-Disney-princess-super-fangirl/mean girl Lily?" Ashlyn asked.

"I wanna go with yes..." EJ said awkwardly.

"I remember her vaguely..."

"Thank you all for coming in so quickly on a Saturday," Miss Jen announced, entering the bomb shelter carrying hula hoops, with Carlos behind her carrying Target bags of pool noodles and other unknown items, while we all sat down to listen. "Or...most of you all, we're missing a teapot and a village idiot."

"Uh, Kourtney and Big Red are at the pizza place," Ricky said from beside me.

"Yeah, Kourtney texted in the group–they said they couldn't get anyone to cover their shifts." EJ nudged Seb's shoulder in warning while the rest of us shot him wide-eyed looks.

"Oh..." Miss Jen frowned as she pulled out her phone to check. "I didn't see that text."

Ricky and I shared an awkward glance.

We actually have two group chats; one with Miss Jen which is only ever used to essentially send Lin-Manuel Miranda tweets or Hamilton memes, or the occasional cat video.

And then there's the other chat...without Miss Jen. The actual chat.

"I meant the group chat with me and EJ," Seb amended, shooting us all a thumbs up. I mentally face palmed.

"Well, back to the matter at hand," Miss Jen continued, beginning the discussion we were all dreading.

I knew from the auditions that Lily was rude, when she laughed at Big Red and how she looked so smug when we made eye contact during my audition and I froze...but this is just beyond insane.

"I can't believe they stole our show," Carlos said indignantly.

"I think their Lumiere is an actual French exchange student," Ricky added.

"Miss Jen," Ash interjected, "how are we supposed to beat North at the Menkies if they're churning out this a second after changing their musical? It's like..." she trailed off, opening up an overlapping discussion with the rest of us.

"Wildcats!" Miss Jen clapped to get our attention. "North High is clearly focusing on bells and whistles. Impressive, but distracting," she said. "All we need is..."

"Friendship?" Seb piped in.

"No, Seb, all we need is to get back to basics," she replied. "Emotional performances that connect with the audience can make all the difference with these judges. And I have a plan, which is why you've all been called in here today."

My palms grew sweaty with anticipation, and also, slight anxiousness about the entirety of this situation.

"And that plan is...a weekend acting intensive! Improv! Character work, movement exercises!" Miss Jen did a sudden fan kick on the stack of yellow mats behind her and Nini and I shared a quiet laugh.