Mark St. Cyr said in an interview that Miss Jenn's love life would get „complicated" and be „like a love quadrangle". But I hope she'll be with Mr. Mazzara in the end, so I thought of a little story line how that could look like.
It's my first fanfiction ever and English is not my first language, so I'm excited for your feedback.
„Guys, don't act like cutlery. BE the cutlery", Miss Jenn shouted at her background dancers while they were tumbling around stage – at least two beats behind.
„Okay, cut the music!" The tune of „Be Our Guest" abruptly ended, while everyone turned around to look at Miss Jenn.
„That was….", Miss Jenn started, brainstorming for words of encouragement.
„Terrible", Carlos stated dryly. „We were terrible. If I would have known we'd be this bad I would not have dared to show my face on stage this semester."
One of the dancers playing a knife opened their mouth to protest – only to slowly close it again. There wasn't much to argue against Carlos. He was right. Everyone was so focused on beating North High at the Alan Menken Awards, that their performance just felt stiff and forced. They really needed a little miracle from the Gods of Broadway soon, otherwise they wouldn't even be considered to enter the Awards – let alone beat North High's „The Little Mermaid".
Miss Jenn looked at everyone's faces and was confronted with defeat and demotivation. She sighed and clapped her hands: „Okay, people, listen up! Rehearsal is over. Today's mandatory homework is to let loose and have some fun. Run up and down your street singing 'Defying Gravity' until your neighbors offer you money to stop…" She raised her arms and smiled to an invisible audience, while her students exchanged looks.
„She has done this, hasn't she?", Gina whispered to Ricky, who nodded slowly while keeping his eyes on their teacher, who continued: „Or have a spontaneous dance party at someone's house – please invite me if you do – or just climb a mountain and scream from the top of your lungs."
„Is reading a book okay?", Ashlyn asked gently.
Miss Jenn dropped her arms and continued with a less dreamy tone in her voice: „Yes, honey, reading is fine. Just do something that you enjoy and tomorrow we all meet back her and put together the best show this school has ever seen!" She smiled widely at her students, who looked even less motivated than before. Miss Jenn sighed. „Class dismissed." Who could have thought being a teacher was this hard?
20 minutes later she shooed Carlos, Seb and Gina out of the theater who were still trying to get a few extra moments to rehearse. When everyone had left, Miss Jenn grabbed her bag and keys, making her way to the door. Before she could reach for the handle, the door flew open. Startled, Miss Jenn jumped back.
„Jennifer!" In the frame stood the person she wanted to see the least right now: her ex-boyfriend Zack with a big grin on his face.
„Hey Zacky", she said a little to cheerfully. „What are you doing here?"
„I just wanted to see how the Wildcats are doing. You know – check out the competition." He winked and smiled even wider. Did he always have this many teeth? „But it seems there's not much to see here", Zack continued, looking over her shoulder into the theater.
„Well, I sent the kids home. In the past few weeks they have basically not stopped rehearsing and improved so much. They really deserved a free afternoon." She tried to mimic her ex's smile, while maintaining eye contact. Don't show him you're bluffing, she repeated in her head.
„Well, great!", Zack exclaimed. „That means you have a free evening, right?"
„Right!", she mimicked before realizing what he had said. Startled once again she asked: „Are you… Are you asking me out?"
„What? No, of course not", Zack laughed, while Miss Jenn could feel her face turn pink. „I have a girlfriend. Her name is Hannah and she is absolutely amazing. In fact she really wants to meet you. I though if you're free tonight we could go on a double date."
„A double date?", Jenn echoed. Her eyes were darting to the hallway behind Zack, hoping one of her students would pop up with some question that would get her out of this awkward situation.
But the only person who required her attention was her ex, who explained: „Well, a date night with Hannah and me and you and your boyfriend…" He trailed off looking at her with a raised eyebrow and a little smirk. „You have a boyfriend, right?"
„Yes, I do", Miss Jenn answered way too quickly for her brain to actually think this through.
„Great", Zack said, while Jenn's inner voice simultaneously screamed: No!
„Then let's meet at the Italian Restaurant on Belmont Avenue at 8pm", Zack proclaimed excitedly, while Jenn just nodded, giving him an awkward thumbs up. She should really spend more time with people over the age of 35. „See you then!" Zack turned around, leaving his ex standing alone in the theater wondering what the hell she had gotten herself into…. again.
After panickily brainstorming ideas for a few minutes Miss Jenn had decided on a plan to not look like a fool in front of Zack and his girlfriend. She was rushing through the empty halls of East High School looking left and right for the only person who could help her get out of this mess.
„Benjamin!", she squealed when she saw the man who had become her favorite coworker in the staff kitchen. Well, actually it almost felt like he was her only coworker. Somehow it seemed like the two of them were the only teachers at East High. If she was honest she couldn't actually remember if she'd ever seen another adult during school hours – except for Benjamin and Principal Gutierrez who hated them both for almost burning down the building.
Mr. Mazzara's voice broke through her rambling thoughts: „What do you want, Miss Jenn?" He looked down at her with a raised eyebrow, holding a coffee cup in one hand.
„Well…", she started. This was going to be an awkward conversation. „I was wondering…"
„Yes?" Benjamin looked at her questioningly.
„Could you please, please, please be my boyfriend for one night?!", she said with the sweetest smile and puppy eyes she managed to produce.
Benjamin didn't move an inch – except for raising his eyebrow even higher. „Am I supposed to know what you are talking about?"
Miss Jenn dropped the smile and puppy eyes, leaned against a counter and buried her face in her hands.
„You know the theater teacher from North High?"
„Yes, you came into my office yesterday to complain about his 'way too artsy costume design' for 20 minutes", Benjamin replied dryly and took a sip from his mug.
„Oh, right… Well, there's something I haven't told you yet." She took a quick glance at her coworker. „He's my ex-boyfriend."
When Benjamin didn't react, she continued: „We dated for two years during High School, but then he moved to New York City and became a performer on Broadway. While I stayed here…" She trailed off and put on a smile before turning her face to Ben.
„He came into the theater earlier and invited me and my boyfriend on a double date with him and his girlfriend. And because I don't actually have a boyfriend, I was hoping you could help me out and… you know, pretend to be my boyfriend?" The puppy eyes were back.
„Why didn't you just tell him the truth?" Benjamin set his coffee mug on the counter and looked at her with a look Miss Jenn could only interpret as a little judgmental. „It's not embarrassing to be single", Ben continued when his blonde counterpart stayed silent. „In fact, there's a percentage of about…"
„…probably many people who are single, yes!", Miss Jenn interrupted with a voice that came out a little too upset. „But these people probably don't have an ex who got to live their dream, while they failed again and again – taking years to find their purpose only for that perfect partner to suddenly reappear and one-up them again. I can't go on that date tonight and tell him and his probably successful, kind and gorgeous girlfriend, that I made up my boyfriend." Miss Jenn sank against the counter and bit her lip. She just had to cancel rehearsal and run into this mess, didn't she?
„So, I conclude you want me to go on that double date with you and your ex and his new girlfriend, pretending I am your boyfriend?", Ben said slowly, emphasizing every word.
„Yes", Miss Jenn muttered.
He took one long at her before saying: „I am sorry, but I am not comfortable with lying – especially in order to cover up another lie. Just tell the truth and be mature about other people being more successful. As a teacher you should really set a better example."
He took the coffee mug and walked to the door. As he walked past his coworker, he turned to her.
„Sorry", he said again.
„It's okay, you are right." Miss Jenn gave him a little smile that didn't reach her eyes.
With a simple nod Mr. Mazzara left, leaving her standing alone in the kitchen. He actually was right, but he didn't know Zack the way she knew him. She could already picture his pretentious smile when she confessed to having lied about her boyfriend. As if probably losing the Alan Menken Award to him wasn't bad enough. Oh no, what if he would tell her kids about her pathetic little lie?
Three hours later Jenn was standing in front of her bedroom mirror. She had tried on a variety of different outfits searching for something that fit the occasion – simple and chic, without looking like she tried too hard to look simple and chic. Zack should not get the idea she was trying to win him back. That ship had sailed, when her first love left for New York City, leaving her behind. Finally, she decided on wearing black dress pants, a white blouse and a navy blazer. With a sigh she took one last look at her reflection in the mirror, grabbed her purse and keys, said goodbye to her mom and left.
During the 15-minute-drive to the restaurant, Miss Jenn was trying to come up with a solution to her "missing boyfriend"-problem. She had thought about asking Mike to be her date, but she hadn't talked to him since finding out he was not only Ricky's dad, but also only split from his wife recently. They barely knew each other, so asking him for such a big and kind of ridiculous favor was not an option. Not to mention that there was no way Ricky wouldn't hear about it and immediately tell Nini and Big Red, who would tell Kourtney and Ashlyn and tomorrow the entire school would know. Are teachers even allowed to date the parents of their students? That was a problem for another time.
The only logical plan was to say her boyfriend wouldn't be able to make it to the date. Which was technically the truth, as he simply didn't exist. By the time she had parked her car in front of the restaurant, Miss Jenn had come up with a backstory for her fake boyfriend: His name was Owen. They had met eight months ago when she had accompanied her mother to the hospital, where Owen works as a doctor. Sadly, he couldn't make it to dinner as he had to spontaneously come into work to assist in a child's emergency surgery. Jenn was aware that sounded a little dramatic – her fake boyfriend could have simply caught a cold – but she was a drama teacher after all.
She got out of her car, locked it and made her way to the restaurant's entrance, hoping this evening would pass smooth and quickly.
„Jennifer!"
She took one deep breath, put on a cheery smile and turned around: „Zack!"
Her ex was walking towards her, holding hands with a woman that was even more gorgeous than Jenn had anticipated. She was tall with dark long hair and wearing a simple green dress. Both smiled widely when they stopped to give the East High teacher a quick hug, after Zack had introduced the woman. „Jennifer, this is Hannah, my girlfriend. Hannah, this is Jennifer, we dated before I moved to New York."
„Hi, I love your dress", Jenn started, not really knowing how to do friendly small talk with her ex and his new girlfriend.
„Thank you", Hannah replied and put her hands on her upper legs. „It has pockets."
Both woman laughed and Jennifer was relieved… until Zack opened his mouth: „So, where is your boyfriend?"
Jenn felt like all energy had drained from her body and her legs were itching to just run back to her car. „Well, he is…"
„Right here." Hannah's and Zack's eyes darted to fixate someone behind her. Jenn didn't need to turn around. She had immediately recognized the voice. His voice. A second later, Mr. Mazzara put his left arm around her shoulder and extended his right hand to greet Hannah and Zack.
„Hi, I'm Benjamin, Jennifer's boyfriend. Sorry, for being a few minutes late. One of my students really needed last minute help with a project."
„You're a teacher at East High, too?", Zack asked.
„Yes, for the STEM subjects, but I also help out with our musical."
While the other three continued their chitchat, Jennifer was trying to process what had just happened. He had said 'our musical' – not 'her musical' or 'the school's musical' – our musical. Benjamin was becoming a part of the theater crew without even realizing it, she smiled. And he had shown up – despite having to lie and not even knowing the people he was lying to. There was no reason for him to come here – except for helping and supporting her. Jennifer smiled even brighter and looked up at Benjamin. The tie he had changed into was almost the same shade of blue as her blazer.
„I'm getting hungry. How about we go in?" Zack's voice interrupted Jenn's thoughts. Oh right, there was still a dinner they had to get through. Her short euphoria was immediately replaced by panic. While Hannah and Zack entered the restaurant, she held Benjamin back.
„What are you doing here?"
„Well… you looked a little sad when I left you in the kitchen earlier and I didn't have other plans tonight, so… Also, I don't want the North High people looking down on East High."
„Thank you." Jenn started to feel tears forming in her eyes, so she quickly pulled him into a hug, knowing how uncomfortable crying made him. After a second, she remembered what he had told her at the "High School Musical" performance a few months earlier and immediately let go.
„Oh, I'm sorry."
„What for?"
„Touching you, you said I should never do that."
Benjamin chuckled awkwardly. „I guess we won't convince them", he slightly nodded in the direction of Hannah and Zack who were sitting down at a table, „that we are boyfriend and girlfriend without touching at all during an entire evening."
„Yeah…", was the only thing Jenn could respond. This conversation was starting to get really weird.
„Let's go inside", her coworker said, sensing the awkwardness too. She nodded, but held him back a second longer. „Thank you." Ben gave her an assuring smile, before holding the door open for her.
30 minutes later the two „couples" had ordered their meals and were engaged in casual small talk about how much the school system had changed since they had all graduated in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
„I've always hated hall passes", Miss Jenn groaned, after Hannah had finished telling a story about getting detention for leaving the classroom to get some fresh air. „I just never understood why I needed anyone's permission to go to the bathroom or grab a book from my locker."
„That's why I always give your students hall passes when running into them, so someone else won't give them detention", Mr. Mazzara said while rolling his eyes.
„You do?" Miss Jenn almost choked on her wine.
„Yes", her coworker grumbled. „I won't let your students get into trouble, because you don't believe in rules."
Hannah interrupted their banter: „Awww, that is so sweet. So you met while working at school?"
„Yes", Jenn answered matter-of-factly and took a big sip from her wine glass. She should really order another one… or two.
„And?", Hannah asked. When neither of the East High teachers said anything, she added: „When did the two of you know there was something more going on?"
Miss Jenn's brain was screaming for more wine, while she was trying to come up with an answer that wasn't going to become a really embarrassing memory. Benjamin was giving her little side glances that pretty much said: You're the actress here! So she did what her old theater teacher had always told the class during improv: Use your own experience.
„He had my back when no one else did", she started, while trying to avoid eye contact with the other three people at the table. „Last semester was my first teaching job and the first time directing a musical. I was not acknowledged by any of the other teachers and no one even asked for my name. But Benjamin was always checking in, even if it was to tell me I had made a mistake – like used the wrong printer. He made me feel like I wasn't invisible outside the theater. And even though multiple students dropped out of his Robotics Club to join the musical, he still saved our show and didn't even take credit for it, but instead gave it to one of our students who was pretty self-conscious before then. We might have really different ideas of teaching and don't have much in common, but when the students or I need Benjamin, he's always there."
Miss Jenn was now looking at Zack and Hannah, trying to avoid the stare she knew Mr. Mazzara was giving her. But when she felt a warm sensation on her hand, her eyes were immediately drawn there. Benjamin – the same Benjamin that she had to convince last Thanksgiving to balance her laptop on both of their touching legs – had placed his hand on top of hers and gave it a little squeeze. She looked up and their eyes met. Suddenly the warm feeling was not only on her hand, but also in her stomach. Oh no, that couldn't be a good sign… Or could it? She should have definitely thought this through before speaking. How long had they been looking into each other's eyes? Were Zack and Hannah getting suspicious? Jenn's thoughts were racing once again – and her heart was too, if she was being honest. The moment ended abruptly, when their waiter arrived at the table and started serving their food. Ben had to remove his hand to accept his plate and Miss Jenn was able to take the breath she had been holding for a while. For the next couple of minutes everyone was casually chatting again, while enjoying their food.
„So, Hannah, what do you do for a living?", Mr. Mazzara asked, when their plates were almost empty.
„Well, I studied musical theater, because I really wanted to become a Broadway star." She laughed. „But when I arrived in New York City I was mainly working as a waitress…"
„I can relate", Miss Jenn said empathetically. „This business is so tough and every rejection makes you doubt whether you are worthy of your big dream. I've been through that too."
„Um", Hannah looked at her boyfriend, who did his best not to meet her eyes. After a moment she turned her face back to Jenn and said with audible embarrassment in her voice: „I actually got cast in 'Mary Poppins' a few months later. After that I was in a few other Broadway shows like 'Wicked', 'Mamma Mia' and 'Rocky'… But you are absolutely right. It is a tough business, so a few years ago I went back to college – law school during the day, Broadway in the evening. So when Zack asked me to move with him to Salt Lake City, I decided to practice law fulltime." She smiled awkwardly and moved her attention to her empty plate, rearranging the cutlery on it.
Miss Jenn was frozen in her seat. Her entire life she had fought for her dream of being on stage or even in a crappy TV commercial but failed. She had lost her first love over it, because he didn't want her lacking success stand in the way of his career. Now this nice and beautiful lady was sitting right in front of her having lived the life Jennifer had always dreamed about, with the guy she had once dreamed about – talking about it like it was normal. Because to her it was. She had lived through her dream for years until it was her everyday life, even being so disenchanted that she had planned another great career long before ending the first one. Miss Jenn realized that the entire table had fallen silent and Hannah was still trying not to meet her eyes. Zack had probably never told her why the relationship with his ex had ended and that Jenn had once dreamed about the same career as him.
„So how's the musical coming along?", Zack asked with a smile.
Miss Jenn was clutching her fists under the table. Did he actually think this wouldn't hurt her? Or worse: Did he think about it and did it on purpose? She was chewing on the inside of her mouth, otherwise she might have screamed that question at him.
„It's going great", Benjamin answered, drawing her attention away from her ex. „Just the other day I was walking by the theater and I heard our kids rehearsing that opening number 'Belle'. I'm always amazed what kind of astounding voices we have in our theater program and how their voices blend together to make you stop in the middle of the hallway and just listen. I really can't imagine how Jennifer manages to get all those students to put their emotions out there for the world to see. It takes a really great and trustworthy teacher to get them to open up like that. The girl playing Belle is also in my Robotics Club and she has always been an eager and friendly person, but she always put others first and was often overlooked. But Jennifer saw her potential and gave her the lead. You should have seen that girl's face when the cast was announced. I don't think any other teacher at East High has made such a big impact on the students' lives as Jennifer has."
With a smile and tears glistening in her eyes, Jenn addressed Benjamin: „You didn't overlook her. She told me that you made her co-captain of the Robotics Club at the beginning of the school year, despite some of the other members protesting against having a girl and sophomore as their co-captain. You saw how smart and talented she was and when the other members refused to accept her position you stood up for her and showed them her latest project. No one questioned her after that anymore." She smiled widely and thanked Ashlyn mentally for telling her that story, so she could show Benjamin how much she appreciated his kind and thoughtful words.
The waiter came to their table again: „Would you like to order some dessert?"
„No, thanks!", both East High teachers said immediately unisono. There was no way, they would extend their time with Zack and Hannah.
After they had paid – Mr. Mazzara just unnoticeably shook his head when Miss Jenn had reached for her wallet – they were saying goodbye in the parking lot.
„Well, that was a lovely evening", Hannah started. „It was a pleasure to meet you."
„I think so too", Jenn smiled widely at her. „Thank you for the invite", she said with a less broadly smile to her ex.
„Well, I'm going to see you at the Alan Menken Awards", Zack said with his signature pretentious grin. „May the best school win."
„We will, goodnight", Mr. Mazzara said and got into his car, while Zack gave him a glance getting into his own.
It had been a great idea to give everyone a free afternoon, Miss Jenn thought to herself the next morning. She actually felt a lot better than yesterday during the rehearsal and hoped her students had experienced a similar boost of confidence. But before checking in on them, there was one thing she wanted to do.
„Knock, knock, good morning!" She rushed into Mr. Mazzara's office.
„Good morning, Miss Jenn", he said looking up from his computer.
„Please, call me Jennifer, I mean we fake dated for an evening", she replied perkily.
He gave her an ironic eye roll. „That was quite an evening, Jennifer."
„It really was and I wanted to thank you again for living through that with me. It was a lot less weird having you there by my side. I meant what I said. You are the person I can count on the most."
„And I meant what I said. Your students are really lucky to have you. No other teacher cares about them the way you care about them."
Miss Jenn felt like the weight, she had been caring in the last few years, had suddenly gotten a lot lighter. She loved the kids, no question, but they would all leave the school one day. EJ even in a few weeks. It was good to know there was someone who would stay and have her back.
„Is there anything I can do to return the favor?", she asked Benjamin.
He seemed to think for a moment, before shrugging his shoulders. „I actually would really like to try one of the desserts we chose not to eat yesterday."
Jenn beamed at him before saying as casually as possible: „I'm free on Thursday evening."
They smiled at each other. She remembered how eager he had been on Thanksgiving to break eye contact with her. Now he didn't seem bothered at all, which only made her smile even brighter.
„Miss Jenn!"
Both of them were startled by the sudden shout behind her. Jenn turned around to see Carlos standing behind her.
„Why are you here? Rehearsal started like ten minutes ago", he said irritated.
„Thanks for letting me know, honey, I'll be there in a minute." When her Lumière didn't move, she added: „Get everyone in position for scene 34, please." Carlos turned around and left – not before giving her a long questioning look.
Jenn turned to Benjamin again. „On more thing: How did you get to the restaurant yesterday? I didn't tell you were or when we would meet."
His eyes turned big and he only answered after a few moments: „Um, I know that you put every date in your calendar, even if it's only a few hours away and I also know that the calendar app on your phone is connected to the one on your work computer. So…"
„You hacked into my computer?"
„What, no! You never turn it off or lock your office – both huge security breaches by the way – so I just checked your calendar app. Sorry."
„No need to apologize. You really saved my ass yesterday." She turned around, ready to leave, but addressed him one last time: „If you would like to check out how the musical is coming together, you're always welcome."
„I will, thanks. See you on Thursday." With one last smile Miss Jenn left for the theater.
Maybe Broadway didn't want her, but there was a small, but amazing group of people at East High who did.