A Thing Called Love

Thanksgiving - Part 1

POV JULIETTE

DAY 38 OF REHEARSALS

The rehearsals are almost coming to an end, I can feel it because we're almost there on the end of the script. But Ricky and Nini are rehearsing again for the "Start of Something New" number.

🎶 I know
That something has changed
Never felt this way
But right here tonight
This could be the start of something new
It feels so right to be here with you
And now, looking in your eyes I feel in my heart
Feel in my heart
Start of something new
Oh, yes
Now, who would've ever thought that
We would both be here tonight
Yes, and the world looks so much brighter
Brighter, brighter
With you by my side
By my side🎶

Then the bell rings, interrupting the moment.

- Yes! Yes! - EJ says excitedly, and everyone, including me, look funny at him.

- Sorry. I really love Thanksgiving. - he apologizes.

- Okay, hold on! - Miss Jenn says. - I know everyone is excited for the holiday break. But I'm me, and I have notes. Ricky and Nini, that was good! But it could be better.

- She said in the spirit of holiday cheer. - Carlos encores.

- Good save. - Miss Jenn says.

- I thought we sounded okay! - Ricky happily says.

- Heck yes! - Nini agrees. - We're kind of killing it!

- Did you mean both of us?

- Yes! - she giggles.

I may agree, they have very chemistry. And Ricky has a great voice. Wait, what I'm thinking about?

- Your homework over this break, all of you, is to please go on vocal rest. And go over your lines, too which is hard to do on vocal rest. But make it work. And remember: may nothing ever block your doorway to happiness.

- Thanks, Miss Jenn. - I say, smiling.

- Excuse me! - Mr. Mazzara arrives at the room.

I don't like him that much, but it's 'cause it's why we don't know him too well or because of what he did to Miss Jenn. Maybe it's a mix of both.

- Okay, starting now. - our drama teacher says at sighting him.

- Don't mind me. I just came to return a missing item Ashlyn. - he says, holding a big binder in his arms. - Cannot have our robotics team co-captain going home without her binder over break.

- Thanks, Mr. Mazzara.

Wait... Ashlyn is a really multi talented person, because I didn't know that she was part of the robotics team too!

- Robotics team, huh? - I say, interested, with Big Red by my side.

- There's a lot people don't know about me. I'm on the debate team, I'm in the baking club, and I'm High Priestess of the Salt Lake Renaissance Fair.

- Whoa! You must be very talented! - I say, and the three of us laugh.

- Thank you, Benjamin, and I hope you have a lovely holiday with whoever could possible love you. - I hear Miss Jenn talk to him.

- In fact, I will be enjoying three varieties of peach cobbler with a loving family so large we're renting out the Rotary Club.

- Well, I'm sure it can't compare to the candied yam bake-off that we throw every year in my home, but I wish you joy nonetheless.

- And I wish you had some joy, too. - he says, walking away.

- Cobbler sounds so nice. - Big Red says. - My family usually has three protein courses and then everybody's asleep by six.