A/N: Sorry for the delay in update. Life's been a little crazy. On to the new chapter!

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Life at Hollywood Arts didn't change that much with Helen Dubois at the helm, but there were a few splashes of difference here and there.

For one, a number of students had been summoned to her office to chat with her and Lane. She was more hands-on than Eikner was when it came to guiding the students toward a career in the arts. She worked with a number of seniors who were considering prestigious colleges and universities after graduation but also made time for students in the lower grades.

In one of these consultations with Principal Dubois, Tori let slip that she was disappointed that there was no prom at Hollywood Arts.

"There was a Junior-Senior prom at Sherwood," Tori declared.

"Honey, you're not even a Junior," Helen replied.

"But I will be next year," Tori said.

Lane hesitated to jump in. Tori had a lot of things on her mind, and she had shown so far that she was poor at filtering ideas before they came out of her mouth.

"Tell you what," Helen said. "You pull together a committee to plan it, fundraise for it and execute it, I'll have Mr. Alexander here be your adviser."

Tori's face lit up. "Really?"

And here we go, Lane thought.

Helen nodded.

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Helen called Jade into her office, too.

"I thought you were only calling in people who didn't improve between their first and second audition," Jade said, stone-faced and annoyed she was being summoned.

"No, not at all," Helen said. "I'm calling in students whose auditions made me want to take a second look, too. Nothing to be alarmed about."

"Whatever," Jade muttered.

"I appreciate your style and your confidence, coming in here, knowing the full weight of your re-audition," Helen said. "To be honest, when I first met you, I thought you were all bark."

Jade scoffed. "And now?"

"I believe you've got the bite to back it up," Helen replied.

Lane nodded in agreement.

"So, why am I here?" Jade asked.

"I noticed you filed an application to book the Black Box for the end of the year."

"Yeah, is that a problem?"

Helen held up the form Jade had filled out. "Clowns Don't Bounce," she read. "Seems like an odd title for something going onto stage before the holidays."

Jade arched an eyebrow. "The only shows that go on for Christmas are rom-coms and feel-good movies. There's nothing of substance."

"And this is of substance?" Helen asked, indicating the form.

Jade held up her hands, palms up, wordlessly conveying that her work would speak for itself.

Helen didn't look convinced.

Lane even looked uneasy.

"So do I have the Black Box or not?" Jade asked.

Helen removed her glasses. "On one condition."

Jade's jaw tightened.

"This play goes up late afternoon of Tori's prom event."

"What! I filed my application way ahead of hers. That's not fair!" Jade reacted.

"That's the deal," Helen said firmly.

Jade did a quick count of what she would need to pull it off. She would have to rethink the students she was considering asking to work on Clowns Don't Bounce. A number of them would probably pick prom over a production. She scowled. She would have to make it work. "Fine. Deal."

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It took some doing, but Tori brought together a team of twelve people, including André and Robbie. They were going to call it Prome.

Jade, Beck and Cat were not on her team, because they would be busy working on Clowns Don't Bounce.

While Jade had been saddled with running her show alongside Prome, Tori was not without extra challenges in putting Prome together. She would have to ensure that the event flowed seamlessly with Jade's production – which meant striking a balance between A Nightmare Before Christmas and High School Musical 3.

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Tori was brainstorming with her team after school in one of the classrooms. They were thinking about what the theme should be.

While they were tossing around ideas, the TV in the classroom turned on and started playing a woman's loud piercing screech and flashing interwoven clips from various horror films.

"Jade…" Tori grumbled.

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Jade was doing prep work in the Black Box a few days later.

Various boxes of props were slowly taking up space backstage. She started opening the boxes that held the laser lights and stage cues.

When she got to the fourth box, it exploded in a shower of electric blue glitter. On the inside of the box was a note that said "14 days to Prome".

"Tori…" Jade said through gritted teeth.

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The week before Prome and Clowns Don't Bounce, the school was abuzz. While it was exciting that they were going to have a social event and a play, everyone was also excited for some kind of epic showdown, because they had heard about the little prank war going on between Jade and Tori.

After the glitter bomb that hit the Black Box, Jade had spent the night cleaning up the mess. She retaliated by sending Doug the Diaper Guy to gatecrash Tori's food tasting.

Tori likewise got back by switching out the scary clown gear in the Black Box with actual clown gear, sending Jade on a wild goose chase around the school, trying to find her actual costume props. They had been in Cat's and Robbie's lockers.

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André and Beck were hiding out at Jet Brew, reading through the chatter on the Slap.

"I'll be glad when this whole thing is over," Beck said.

"You know they're just playing, right?" André asked.

Beck nodded. "I know, I know, and I know Jade actually prefers it that people think she's cold and mean, but," he sighed, "the snide remarks are what piss me off."

"Like what?"

"The ones that imply that she and I haven't been seen together, and that we've probably broken it off because," he cleared his throat, "she's such a huge gank."

André rolled his eyes. "Don't listen to them. Although, Jade has been really busy, like more than you would say is normal."

Beck threw a sugar packet at André.

"I'm kidding, man," André said. "You know I hate the things they say about her even if I find her scary myself, and you know how much I hate the rumors that you broke up with her for Tori. You two can have the stage for a dance after your show. You can shut everybody up."

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Beck had a minor role in Jade's play. He was the lead detective investigating the string of murders committed by one of the titular clowns.

Jade was only there as writer and producer. She had reluctantly brought in an upperclassman named Enrique at Sikowitz's recommendation. Sikowitz was of the mind she should let someone else be the control freak director, so she could learn to trust others with her creative vision.

"And scene!" Enrique called out, as Beck's character finished checking the crime scene.

The victim, played by a fellow sophomore named Meredith, abruptly sat up. "How'd I do?" she asked – a question you would assume was aimed at the director, but she seemed to be looking at Beck when she asked it.

"You did great as a murder victim," Enrique told her reassuringly.

Meredith giggled. "Thanks," she said, still looking expectantly at Beck.

Beck, on the other hand, was pointedly avoiding contact with Meredith. He gave Jade an apologetic look.

"She'd be better if I murdered her," Jade muttered to herself. She took a deep breath and walked away to check on other things.

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"You're good friends with Beck, right?" Meredith asked Cat, while the latter was testing shades of make-up on her for the show.

"Beck? Yeah, he's like my big brother," Cat replied.

"You think he'd go out with me?" Meredith asked.

Cat was focusing on the colors in front of her, but the brush slipped when Meredith spoke. She quickly picked it back up before clearing her throat to answer. "He has a girlfriend," she stated.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean they're exclusive," Meredith said perkily.

"Yeah, it kinda does," Cat answered, refocusing on the task at hand. "He and Jade have been serious for a long time now."

"Oh, well, maybe he'd want to hang out, just as friends, for now," Meredith said.

Cat put the brush down. "I'm going to save you some time and tell you Beck is not going to be interested, and you really shouldn't be trying to break his relationship up." When Meredith didn't respond with some positive spin on trying to get closer to Beck like she expected her to, Cat started packing up. "I think I have everything I need."

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Jade was in the prop storage room, cutting up a large piece of cardboard with her scissors. She had to get away from the main stage in order to trust Enrique's process. She didn't doubt his vision for the play was faithful to her vision when she wrote the script, but the many steps between concept to output were what they had their own unique perspectives on.

There was a knock on the door.

"What?" Jade growled, tossing the latest triangle she cut onto the floor.

Principal Dubois entered.

"I see you're here sulking," Helen said.

"What's it to you?" Jade asked, her jaw twitching with irritation.

"I wanted to see how you were doing with the assignment I gave you," Helen said.

"We're doing it," Jade deadpanned.

Helen sighed. "Look, Jade, I didn't put you up to this just to make things hard for you."

"Is that so?" Jade retorted.

"Yes, it is," Helen said, her eyes widening a fraction. "You can choose to believe it or not, but I'm here to let you know I see potential in you. You're a chameleon. While there are things you pursue because you like them more than your other skills, I think your adaptability is one of your greatest strengths."

Jade shrugged with feigned nonchalance. While it was always a good feeling to be complimented, she was used to waiting for another shoe to drop, for a 'but' to come.

"You'll see it, too, someday," Helen said before leaving.

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