INTO THE SPOTLIGHT

Chapter 8

▪N I N I▪

I sat in my bedroom as Kourtney raided my closet for clothes. I was scrolling through my phone when I got message from Big Red. "Big Red says Jackie and Ricky are gonna quit the show." I said feeling guilty. "About time. They should've done that after they posted the cast list." Kourtney said. "No. I didn't tell him off to make him quit." I said looking up at Kourtney. "Sure ya did." Kourtney countered. "Ugh, I should've just minded my own business. I just..." I started before I was interrupted by Kourtney. "Can I ask you a question? Do you wanna be with EJ or not?" She asked. "Why would you even ask me that?" I asked. "Because, newsflash, your boy just booked leading man. And what you should be doing right now is a cartwheel." Kourtney stated. "They make me dizzy. But. Yes, of course, I wanna be with EJ. I'm totally over Ricky. I...I just...it's messy." I said. "Well, if I were you, I'd listen to Miss Jenn. Trust the process. Besides it's not Ricky that I'm worried about. He's not the one that you got into an argument with. It's Jackie that bothers me. That boy is a wild card. Also...why did they both quit? Maybe they thought it'd be best if they got out of your way." Kourtney said. I sighed looking down at my bed. 

J A C K I E 

I walked through the town with Mischief attached to a leash. Every few seconds she would do her business and we'd continue into town. "What did you eat today? A pig?" I asked her as walked alongside me. I sighed. I seriously needed a pie. And there's only one place in town that's pet-friendly; Danforth's. Coincidentally, it happens to be the last name of Chad in High School Musical. I walked in and ordered a chocolate pie. "Jackie?" I heard someone ask. I turned around to find Carlos. "Carlos?" I questioned looking around. "You go to Danforth's?" I asked. "Not all of the time. Who is this?" He asked looking at Mischief, who was currently turning in circles wanting to meet the new friend. "That would be my dog, Mischief. My giant fluffy lovable polar bear." I said. "Why Mischief?" He asked petting her. "She likes to get into trouble a lot. But nothing too bad she just likes to a mess in our house and occasionally chases down our mailman." I said nodding. "Feisty. I like it." Carlos said scratching behind Mis' ear. "So...how are you feeling?" He asked. "About what?" I asked. "You quitting the show. You weren't the only one to quit. Ricky did as well." He said. "Ricky quit? I thought he was my understudy though?" I asked wide-eyed. "He is--was. Ricky was your understudy and EJ was his understudy while someone understudied stepped in as Chad." He explained. 

I raised a brow. "So...." I started. "EJ is now the new Troy." HE reiterated. "Gotcha." I said with a nod. "Well. Maybe having EJ as Troy will help make the show a better musical. A showmance and a romance." I said taking a seat as Mischief laid down beside me. "I actually preferred you as Troy. You're an outsider, Jackie. Outsiders keep people on their toes. Makes them try harder and better. Outsiders throw a wrench into the playing field. Jackie...you were the biggest wrench of all. You have an amazing voice, Jackie. Your parents should be proud." He said with a smile. "Uh...it's just me and my mom...now...anyways." I muttered looking down at the table. "Oh...sorry." He apologized. "You're fine. But hey...if they ever made a musical for The Outsiders, I'd probably win the role of Johnny." I joked. "You're a man of culture, I see." Carlos said smiling. "Favorite book." I said with a shrug before sighing. There was a few seconds of silence between us. "Fine." I said. "What?" Carlos asked. "I'll come back. If you think having me in the musical is a good idea. I'm in. I trust you. That's more than I can say for Miss Jenn. She practically forced me into doing this." I said smiling. "Wait. Are you serious?! You'll come back?" He asked. "Got nothing else going for me." I said shrugging. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" He exclaimed pulling me into a hug. "Okay, okay. Alright." I said getting a bit uncomfortable. "You just saved our musical." He said before leaving the restaurant. I looked down at Mischief. She looked up at me curiously. "Don't look at me like that. You know how I get with stories like that." I said standing up and heading home.