Winter break (Rini)

Trust the Process

Ricky and Nini are the last to enter the bomb shelter after school. They walk hand in hand as Nini tries to push away the thought of this possibly being the last time she'll be in here, surrounded by these people.

Everyone is hugging and making promises to hang out over winter break and the goodbyes shared are even more bittersweet to Nini. She wishes she could just tell them here and now but she still hasn't made a decision. The only person who knew about the Y.A.C offer was Kourtney, and she's been avoiding the topic ever since she brought it up at the cast party. She closes her eyes and makes up her mind. She's going to tell them today. She has to. Whether she chooses to go or not, she owes it to them.

"You're all here!" Miss Jenn's voice rings through the bomb shelter. "I know you're all eager for all the winter break festivities to begin, so I won't keep you too long."

Miss Jenn had asked them to meet her in the bomb shelter before they left and they all did. All day everyone had been whispering about the spring musical and what it could possibly be.

So, first things first," she says, looking around at the group in front of her. "I'd like to thank each and every one of you."

"High School Musical: The Musical was a success despite the chaos that ensued even as far back as the auditions," she says, looking over at Nini and Ricky's intertwined hands. "I mean, you guys have dealt with everything from rivalries and showmances, drama teacher drama, the theatre being destroyed and so many cast changes. I think that if you take one thing away from the last 4 months, it's that you're resilient and you can do anything."

"We couldn't have done it without you Miss Jenn," Carlos says, pulling them all into a group hug.

They spend a couple seconds all squished together. It really had been a crazy few months, even leading up to Miss Jenn and Mr. Mazzara almost getting fired for starting the fire in the theatre.

But they all knew they'd be starting off the new semester bigger and better than ever before. Renovations had started and the theatre would be restored over winter break. The theatre gang spent the last 2 weeks putting together an Instagram account, even choreographing and filming a complete dance number. Everyone pitched in to help Nini, Ashlyn and Ricky write the song. Nini didn't have the heart to tell them then that she might not be around to contribute much more to the Instagram account.

"And so as a little thank you gift," Miss Jenn continues, handing each of them a neatly wrapped box. "I got you these."

Everyone opens their boxes to reveal matching t-shirts with the words "Trust the Process" on the front.

"Sometimes we don't understand why certain things happen in the moment. We just have to trust the process and the fact that we'll end up right where we belong in the end."

And just like that, they're all pulled back into a group hug.

"What team?" Ricky calls out when they pull back.

"Wildcats!"

"And now the moment you've all been waiting for," Miss Jenn continues, wiping away at a few tears. "The Spring musical!"

The room is filled with whispers and chatter as everyone starts guessing what it could be.

"My stagehands and I have decided on a classic: Beauty and The Beast!"

She stands there excitedly, looking around at their confused faces.

"But Miss Jenn, we've already done Beauty and the Beast," Nini says. "Two years ago."