𝐇𝐈𝐃𝐄| 𝐉.𝐁.

25: Quitting

"I'm so sorry I'm late." I pant as I keep my head down.

"It's alright dear, everything okay?" Ms. Jenn's serene voice says.

"Fine." I clear my throat, picking my head up.

"Alexis, there are no hoods allowed in the building." Ms. Jenn says, polite as possible.

"Oh, sorry." I mumble as I take off my hood and I turn my head to see Josh looking at me with his hands in his hoodie pockets.

"Thank you both for an early start today. Let's begin." Ms. Jenn grimaces and I furrow my eyebrows in confusion.

"Wait, it's just the two of us?" I ask as she hands Josh and I new scripts.

I needed a new one anyway since my mine got covered in strawberry smoothie.

"We're diving into page ninety seven." Ms. Jenn says.

"You mean the last scene? You wanna rehearse this? It's just a few lines." I say in a shaky voice.

"Yeah, I've got some too." Josh remarks and I give him the side eye.

"And then there's the kiss" Ms. Jenn grins at us and my eyes widen.

"There was no, I don't remember a kiss in what we read yesterday." I quickly say.

"It was very much there in the original film." Ms. Jenn nods.

"I only remember a hug." I say.

Oh yeah, I finally watched all three films. Troy and Gabriella don't kiss in the first movie.

"The kiss ended up being cut. A little racy for its time." Ms. Jenn says, writing something on her clipboard.

"Ms. Jenn, I can't-" I'm cut off as she gets up and drags Josh and I to the middle of the stage.

"What are you-" Josh starts but Ms. Jenn shushes him.

"Alexis, I want you to run up behind Josh and hug him. Then read your line." Ms. Jenn says and I give her an unsure look.

"Alexis, trust the process. Remember, your character only has eyes for Troy." She whispers to me and I nod, giving in as I slowly walk into my position.

I start running and I jump on Josh's back.

I let out a laugh and wrap my legs around his waist.

"Congratulations, Wildcat!" I say, glancing at the script.

"What about your team?" Josh says, setting me down.

I now walk over, so I'm standing infront of him.

"We won too!" I exclaim and Josh grins.

"Go on." Ms. Jenn says and Josh slowly walks closer to me.

His hand travels to my face, cupping it and I slowly lean in with him.

I look into his eyes and something in my stomach told me to be okay with it.

But my mind told me something else.

"I'm sorry, I can't." I say, pulling away from Josh's grasp as I shake my head.

"Okay, let's take a five minute break." Ms. Jenn says, breaking the silence.

Thank god.

"Alexis, please stay for a moment. Josh, will you please get some extra microphones?" Ms. Jenn says.

"Okay." Josh nods and jogs off.

"Ms. Jenn, why did you add the kiss, and why would start at the end of the play? I know for a fact, Troy and Gabriella hugged at the end." I sigh at her.

"Because, Troy and Gabriella always had someone between them. They never got to share that special moment. Since they didn't get the chance, now the new Troy and Gabriella will." She grins at me.

"But Ms. Jenn, I just can't kiss Josh right now. It's too messy." I huff.

"I'm guessing you guys dated?"

"Uh, no. We're just friends but we had this weird thing going on and, you know what, just forget it. I'm sorry Ms. Jenn, I can't do the play. I didn't want to do it in the first place. I only did it because I thought it would make me happy. But it doesn't, and I need to work on myself before I can do any curricular activities. You should cast Kayla Ortega for Gabriella. She's really good." I say and I turn on my heels, slowly walking away from a frowning Ms. Jenn.

"Where are you going? Come back, Gabriella!" I hear Carlos say as he helps Josh with the microphones.

"It's Alexis." I say, giving Josh a look as I burst through the doors.

"Lex!" A voice yells.

"Leave me alone, Josh!" I call out, exiting through the school doors.

"Look, just tell me what happened! We're friends!" He says, running up to me, blocking my way.

"Really, after that song, you just gonna go back to being friends?" I say as his chest heaves up and down.

"You know I like you more than a friend but I'm just trying to make it easier for you. Look, I thought there was still a little trust left between us. C'mon Alexis, tell me what's going on." He pleads.

"My sister got an extra year in jail because she acted out and my parents might be getting a divorce and my brother is a fucking delinquent in school. Happy now?!" I shout at him and he just stares at me.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Seriously, Josh? I didn't tell you because it's my problem. Not yours. Now, I have to go take care of some things." I say, walking past him.

"Let me go with you." He says, grabbing my wrist.

"Thanks, but no thanks. I can take care of myself." I say, yanking my arm away.

"What about the play?" He calls out as I walk further away from him.

"I quit! And nothing can change my mind." I say, putting my hood back up.

Alright so, scratch the play.

Maybe a sport?