A/N: Would you all be interested in a Discord server? My friend and fellow Encanto fanfic author, Hearttohaato, has one, and it's great for spreading information and interacting with readers. I can post chapter teasers, memes, and alternate universe Oneshot ideas. I can also answer your questions!
Big Red sipped on his soda as he copied Kourtney's notes. He wasn't returning to school just yet so his injuries could heal more. His castmates were going to help him keep up with his classwork. He was given the week off. Ashlyn's funeral was going to be on Friday, the day before prom.
Big Red sat in a booth in Salt Lake Slices, eating a basket of breadsticks while he worked. It was either this or spending the day home alone. The latter wasn't an option Big Red considered. Ever since the crash, he hated being alone. He offered to help around the restaurant, but his parents didn't think that was a good idea.
Eventually, Big Red finished his schoolwork. He checked his phone, still being taken back by the selfie of him and Ashlyn, which was his lock screen. It was a quarter past four. He typed in the password to his phone successfully on the first try. It was the anniversary of his and Ashlyn's first date, which was a week after the school production of High School Musical. He had a bunch of texts, no doubt from the theatre department group chat. The one Ms. Jenn wasn't in. When he went to check, there was still no message from E.J.
The restaurant's front door opened, which didn't surprise Big Red. The dinner rush was going to start soon. Who entered was a surprise to Big Red. Lily, his best friend's ex-girlfriend and Salt Lake's resident, she-demon, entered the restaurant. She approached the counter. "Hey," Lily greeted. Kourtney was behind the counter. "I saw the for-hire sign."
"I'll let Mr. Rednovich know you're here," Kourtney said. There was still tension between the two drama departments. It became worse when Ricky told everyone she stole his beast harness. Everyone avoided anything North High related like it was the black plague.
To Big Red's surprise, Lily approached his table. "Hi," she greeted.
"Hey," Big Red said.
"I wanted to offer my condolences," Lily said. "Well, I want to apologize for everything. I'm trying to do this new thing called being a good person. Anyway, I heard about the crash."
"How did you know?" Big Red asked. His lawyer, Mr. Cash Caswell, said his name wouldn't be released to the press since he was a minor. Big Red wanted anonymity. He wasn't comfortable talking to the press. He barely survived doing the musicals. Big Red only lived through those because he had a while to learn his script.
"I still talk to some people from East High," Lily said.
"You can go back for your interview now," Kourtney called. Lily muttered a brief goodbye before walking off. Kourtney then addressed Big Red. "I'm sorry. Was she bothering you?"
Big Red honestly didn't know what to make of that exchange.
