one time thing | ricky bowen ¹

thirty-two

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leighton barrios had auditioned for kelsi and gabriella, yes. though never did she think she would perform as anyone else but as kelsi. gina was the understudy for gabriella and since gina was already taylor after kourtney, it would be even more confusing.

the brunette stood up and took her hat off as her hair fell down her back. glancing at the audience, she didn't see much since the lights were so bright. looking to her left she pointed to the piano player in the orchestra, a way for him to play the song.

ricky across the way was staring at leighton oddly as she started towards him in the corner. the microphone was brought to her lips as she started to sing, "you know the world can see us, in a way that's different than who we are. creating space between us, till we're separate hearts.." leighton now stood in front of ricky as the spotlight followed her.

"leigh.. what is going on? i can't go out there. not right now." ricky asked as he searched her face for answers. "uh, nini knew you would perform as troy if you were singing with me. she asked— well told me to sing. just come sing with me, please?" she told him as she grabbed his hand and looked up at him.

"eyes on me, dork." she told the nervous boy. turning back around she nodded at the orchestra to go on. the song started again and leighton started singing. "but your faith, it gives me strength.." ricky joining her as she pulled his hand to the stage. "strength to believe.."

"we're breaking free. we're soarin', flyin'! there's not a star in heaven that we can't reach." the sang together and ricky smiling at how beautiful leighton's voice was. she only sang a handful of times in front of him that wasn't her straining her voice idiotically. he loved it so much.

they got back to the stage and held hands to swing their bodies. "if we're tryin' yeah we're breakin' free." they continued. ricky doing background to the lyrics leighton was singing.

they continued as ricky looked into leighton's dark brown eyes like she told him to. even as leighton did a solo part and glancing at the audience he still had his eyes locked on her face. "there's not a star in heaven that we can't reach." ricky grabbed her waist and held her closer to him as she grabbed his chin.

everyone around them disappeared for a few short seconds throughout the last few lines to the song. they jumped around and held each other as ricky's smile grew ten times from the made up choreography.

"now's the time, so we're breaking free. ooh oh, you know the world can see us.. in a way that's different than who we are..." leighton and ricky held the last note as the audience cheered and clapped in front of them. the students freaking out in the back because of how leighton just jumped in as if she was meant to be gabriella.

ricky held leighton's hands and rubbing one with his thumb. he stared down at her for what felt like years before they split for the final scene. "woo! leighton! go ricky!" they heard from the area big red was in. both laughing and hurrying to change their clothes.

"el, i see the talent in you everyday. i mean how the heck did you become gabriella like it was nothing?" gina spoke to the girl as she laughed and hurried for her garment bag. hoping to catch up with her later.

"hey.." nini said coming behind leighton. she cleared her throat and messed with her fingers, "you were really good out there, leighton. i also know i have no right to talk to you or make you go be a character on stage at the last second, but i knew he would go on if you were there next to him. you probably still hate my guts and want to punch my face in. just know that i am really sorry." nini said a little scared the other brunette would attack her.

"oh trust me, i don't like you for what you did and everything. i just wouldn't say i want to punch your face in. thanks for letting me do that, it was a big move for you. even if someone important was watching you.. anyways, if you'll excuse me, i need to change." leighton said walking past nini. not letting things affect her anymore because slowly but surely she was letting the pain leave.

—
the kelsi outfit was now on leighton, the cute red tube top and white pants complemented her skin color. miss jenn had informed her that she would get a solo curtain call. her teacher also mentioned that she saw big things for leighton in the spring musical. it was all too much to process.

"last scene! let's go people!" natalie yelled rushing through the backstage space. the school band had gone out to play the intro to 'we're all in this together'. it was curtain call as well and the main cast waited as the dancers and the rest of the cast went out first.

everyone looked nice in their red and white outfits, the group started singing in a mixed version to get everyone out before going into full mode.

leighton watched her friends head out, she was next right after seb and following her would be kourtney and gina. gina hugged leighton and waved as she took off from the side to the middle. the brunette strutted a little as she heard nayeli and her mom screaming really loud from the audience and posing before doing the choreographed dance moves.

ricky appeared next to her once everyone else came by, she smiled at him before joining in the singing.

"we're all in this together. once we know that we are, we're all stars and we see that. we're all in this together and it shows when we stand, hand in hand. make our dreams come true" the cast sang and busting into the movie dance moves. leighton was now in the middle between gina and ej.

the smiles on each and everyone of their faces were priceless. the students loved every second leading up to the finale of the show. "once we see. there's a chance that we have and we take it." gina grabbed leighton's arm and pulled her as the chorus was starting to end.

gina told leighton they should get miss jenn out on stage to say her one line that was cut from the movie. dancing to the side leighton grabbed a tray that had the apple already placed on it to go. she skipped on stage and handed it to her teacher. "you know what to do!" leighton loudly said as the cast was still singing.

"is that the last apple?" miss jenn asked. feeling happy she got her line, she grabbed the girls shoulders to hug them both for letting her have her moment. ricky was now circled around the girls and explained how this was the best thing ever. "oh honey, wait until you see what i picked for the spring musical." miss jenn said as the teens all smiled.

leighton pulled her best friends by the hands and joined in with the rest of the students for a bow. "wave your hands up in the air, that's the way we do it let's get to it. come on everyone." they all yelled bowing with each word said.

the all rose back up and cheered along with the audience. confetti shot out from the sides of the gym and everything was magical. "we did it!" ricky yelled pulling leighton and gina towards him for a group hug. the girls only screamed and laughed at each other.

nothing but hugs were shared throughout the teens that were once strangers and now family.

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delia notes: it's coming to an end 🥺 i can't wait for the next chapter. can you? and thank you for over 140k reads!!