there's not a star in heaven that we can't reach

chapter 6: and it's been a long time since someone gave me a shot

((note: tw // panic attacks)

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Carlos wakes up the following Monday more excited to start the school day than he's ever been since the first day of freshman year.

Truly, he hasn't felt this level of nerves mixed with excitement since he first walked into East High. All that day had brought him anyway was the cruel truth that high school isn't at all like the movies when you're an outcast.

Today, though. Today had promise. They had been texting and talking all weekend, but neither had been able to find the time to see each other in person before school. If homecoming was just the start of the new chapter in his and Seb's relationship, then Carlos couldn't wait to keep reading.

He walks into school with a little bit of a quicker pace than usual, anxious to get to the photoshoot for the cover of their playbill for the show. He wasn't close to Kourtney or anyone else on the costumes committee, so he hadn't able to worm anything out of them about the outfits. Whatever Seb was wearing was going to be a total surprise (for both of them) and he couldn't be more excited.

However, when Carlos got to the auditorium, he didn't see Seb or Miss Jenn. In fact, the only person he actually saw was Big Red, who was holding a camera.

"Where is everyone?" Carlos asked him.

"Kourtney is with the rest of costumes and makeup helping everyone get changed, and, uh," he glances around. "I don't actually know where Miss Jenn is."

Huh. "Oh, okay. I'll go find her, I guess," he said, turning on his heel back out of the auditorium and down the hall towards Miss Jenn's office. Maybe she had forgotten?

As he approached the room, he heard voices coming from inside. One was definitely Miss Jenn's, and the other was... the principal? He tried not to think anything of it before sticking his head through the doorframe.

"Good morning, Miss Jenn!" he said cheerfully, "You coming to the photoshoot?"

She looked surprised to see him, although honestly not more stressed than normal. (That woman seriously needed a spa day or something, she seemed stressed out 90% of the time.)

"You go ahead and get started without me, Carlos," she told him with a smile.

That got rid of some of Carlos's nerves, but only replaced them with different ones about being in charge. It never really seemed to go well for him whenever Miss Jenn left him alone with the group. This was just a photoshoot though, not like him trying to run the entire rehearsal without her.

"Okay!" he said, then headed back to the auditorium. Hopefully, he hasn't missed anyone's costume reveal yet.

Thankfully, the only person who seemed to be in costume already was Rico (who's Ryan costume looked suspiciously like a Newsie, but who is he to judge.) Natalie and Kourtney have also made their way onto center stage, which means the rest of the actors are probably coming out at any second.

Carlos gathers the two of them plus Big Red to discuss the plan for the photoshoot Natalie brings out her clipboard, reminding each of them of their roles. It's honestly a dream to see another student in charge besides just him.

"Okay, that sounds like a plan!" he tells them once Natalie finishes explaining because he still has to take some initiative.

Carlos then watches as the actors begin to file in. He has to applaud them, the costumes are pretty spot on from the movie. Although, Ricky's wig could use a little bit of work, no matter how hilarious it is to see him look more like Shaggy from Scooby Doo than Troy.