𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐁𝐎𝐘! ricky bowen

viii. The Case of the Missing Backpack

────chapter eight

the case of the missing backpack

VERONICA SAT NEXT TO Seb at rehearsal the next day, watching the dancers nail their routine of Stick to the Status Quo. They jumped and turned on the seats, all with smiles of delight on their faces, and Veronica couldn't help but feel her heart warm.

This is what theater is about, she thought. Not exes or rivals, but having fun doing what you love.

"Here comes Gina!" Seb hissed at her excitedly, and the two gaped as Gina did her big solo, jumping off the table and spinning with a lunch tray in hand. There was no doubt she was amazing.

Veronica glanced at Ellie at the piano, holding back a smile at the way Ellie was barely paying attention to the keys, her eyes completely focused on Gina.

"I thought Ellie liked EJ," Seb frowned beside her, and Veronica realized he had followed her gaze.

"Oh no," Veronica waved it off. "That was before. Ellie's moving on. I'm making sure of that."

"You should be a motivational speaker," Seb laughed. "You'd give Oprah a run for her money."

"Sorry, but I'm pretty sure I'm talking to the guy who got the whole school to participate in his campaign to remove horse meat from the cafeteria,"

"Oh that was nothing," the boy's cheeks went pink. "Nobody wanted to eat the burgers after they knew what they were made from. And who would want to hurt horses? They are the cutest, you should meet Leyla, she's my best friend at the farm."

"I'm guessing Leyla is a horse?"

Seb nodded enthusiastically, and Veronica smiled.

"Oh I definitely have to meet her," she said.

"Everybody hold!" Miss Jenn instructed, then walked over to the door where Nini had just come in, obviously uncomfortable with seeing they had already started. Nini, where were you? We have been here for an hour"

"I am so sorry," Nini rushed into the bomb shelter. "I lost my phone and spent last night living as a hunter-gatherer. Which, by the way, did you know some things are only on TV at a certain time? Okay anyway, I finally picked it up in the lost and found—wait, did you say an hour?"

"Gina sent you and me a text asking if we could come in early so she could talk through a new idea, did you not get it?"

"No, because my phone was missing."

"Look honey," Miss Jenn sighed. "You have got to keep better track of your stuff. A real triple-threat means singing, acting, and being organized."

"Got it," Nini nodded.

"If you had been here, you would know that Gina pitched a whole new dance break for Gabriella and Taylor in the middle of Status Quo, and she had Carlos work it out with her and it is just dazzling."

"You and Carlos?" Nini raised her eyebrows at Gina while the girl handed her a bejewelled lunch tray just like hers.

"Gina, why don't you hydrate and show Nini the new chores, would you?"

Veronica exhaled, neatly folding her script as Ellie approached her. Veronica opened her mouth to greet her best friend, but Ellie just took her by the arm and dragged her away from prying ears.

"I think EJ stole Nini's phone," Ellie said bluntly.

Veronica frowned. "But EJ wants her to play Gabriella, why would he sabotage her?"