6. What Team?

[Avni: Homecoming night was a whirlwind of emotions- from that little moment with EJ and the way he looked in that suit (oof) and then him dismissing anything romantic between us- but it was all behind me now. It's picture day- and honestly, I'm ready for the pink, but never for the low-rise jeans. Who thought that was a good idea?]

"Yes, Avni!" Everyone clapped and cheered as Avni walked on stage, wearing the Sharpay outfit for the first time ever.

She grinned and twirled for everyone, basking in the attention, complimenting everyone else and Kourtney over their costumes.

"Let's get some air Wildcats!" Gina came in, posing in front of the camera.

"Good morning, Gina," Ricky said to her.

She giggled when she saw him. "Pretty hair, right?" Ricky asked her.

High-fiving him, she said, "Troy you look, the best."

"Thanks, I try," he replied, flicking his hair again.

Avni narrowed her eyes at the energy there- and the fact that their hands were still clasped. She caught Nini's eye and she knew Nini was thinking the same thing as her.

What's happening there?

"Gina looked pretty cosy with Ricky earlier, huh?" EJ asked Avni while everyone was waiting for Miss Jenn and Carlos to show up for rehearsal. Gina was currently laughing at something with Big Red and Kourtney, before Big Red walked over to Ricky.

"Yeah. Maybe something happened after homecoming?"

EJ hummed in response.

Avni looked up at him. "Wait are you actually upset over this?"

"I just don't get how I keep losing girls to Ricky."

"That's mildly objectifying. Plus, you and Gina were never dating. And I'm positive you didn't go to homecoming with her without an ulterior motive."

EJ was quiet for a moment. "I suppose so," he said. "But that fight was so public- people keep asking me about it."

Avni snorted, which caused EJ to scoff and shake his head.

"What? It was such a power move on Gina's part."

"Glad to know you're impressed, I guess."

"What's going on with you and Gina?" Avni asked Ricky as they sat in Big Red's basement.

"What do you mean?" he played dumb.

"You guys looked comfy earlier."

"You and EJ looked comfy too," Ricky retorted.

"When have we not been comfy?"

"You're not dating."

Ouch.

"You've had four years to tell him-"

"He's always had girlfriends and I don't think he likes me like that."

"How do you know?"

"I just do- look, this isn't about me. This is about Ricky and Gina and their new-found thing."

"There's no thing. We just had sort of a moment after homecoming," he stated, but his cheeks were slightly flushed.

Avni and Big Red exchanged looks.

"Okay, no, it was nothing like that," Ricky defended. "Just a cheek kiss," he said, and then immediately looked like he regretted it.

"Oooohh," Avni and Big Red teased.

"So, you like her?" Avni smirked.

"She's pretty cool-"

"Yeah, and I knew that before any of you guys," Avni interjected. Ricky frowned quizzically at her, and she just waved at him to continue.

"Maybe I felt something? I'm not sure, it's too early to tell."

Avni was about to respond when they heard movement from above.

"Down here, Caden," Big Red yelled up.

Caden came down the stairs, "Hope it's cool, I invited Steph and Rico." They followed him down. Ricky and Avni greeted them.

"When you guys didn't text back-" Big Red started.

"Sorry, I had Diwali prep."

Big Red waved it aside, "I just texted some peeps. I wanted some company tonight."

The door opened upstairs again, "It's open," Big Red yelled up again. This time Ashlyn came down the stairs.

"Hey guys."

"Okay, how many people are coming?"

"That should be it."

"Actually, give it a minute," Ashlyn said.

And soon enough, the entire drama club was gathered in the basement. A silence descended over them.

"This is a terrible party. There aren't even pretzels," Natalie protested. "What are we all doing here?"

"We all ended up in the same basement after a after a really bad day, so someone should say something," Ashlyn said.

"Fine. I'll say something. I'm mad at Miss Jenn," Carlos replied

"Why? Because she's got a couple skeletons in her closet?" Gina asked.

"No, because she's giving up. She was the first teacher to not see me as a punchline -and now she's not even a real teacher?"

"Define, real teacher," Ashlyn said.

"He's got a point," Courtney said.

"Does he though?" asked Natalie.

"Guys," Big Red protested.

"Fine, why are we all here then?"

"Good question," said EJ. "This is a waste of time."

"Honestly?" Carlos started. "Because she gave me a shot. And it's been a long time since someone gave me a shot."

"Yeah," Seb patted Carlos's knee comfortingly.

"She gave me a voice," Nini added.

"Yeah, and now nobody's gonna get to hear it because Miss Jenn screwed up," Kourtney said.

"Does anyone here actually care if her past is a little bit sketchy?" Avni asked. "Anyone?"

"I do," Ricky said.

"Seriously?" Avni asked him.

"Because you live some perfect life?" Kourtney shot back.

"Not at all, because she put our show in jeopardy. And now we're all here, maybe for the last time, together," his voice cracked. "And for some of us, this has become- I don't know-"

"Family," Nini finished his sentence.

There was a pause- "What team?" he asked.

"Wildcats," everyone chimed.

"So what are we doing about it?" Ashlyn asked.

"Wait, didn't you say your parents used to be on the school board?" Nini asked EJ. "What can we do?"

"Honestly, not much. The school isn't very tolerant about these things."

"How is a hearing usually done?" Avni asked.

"There's a panel- and they ask questions to Miss Jenn. Then they sometimes open up the floor to questions. Then a final verdict is reached."

"Okay, so the attendees can pitch in with their opinions?" Avni asked.

"Well, I doubt anyone would want to hear from a bunch of kids."

"Why not?" Gina asked. "She's our teacher."

"Yeah, and our whole thing is that we don't care about her credentials, just what she means to us, what she's taught us," Ricky said.

"She's a drama teacher. We're theatre kids," Avni said. "We should do what we do best," she smiled at EJ.

He nodded, catching her drift, "Write a song."

"Mr. Bowen!" Avni called.

He turned around, "Oh, hey, Avni. How are you?"

"I'm great. Especially after- all that. Thank you, really, for saying that stuff for Miss Jenn."

"Well, I meant it. But it seemed like you guys had it covered."

"Still- you gave us a cue."

He laughed.

"Where's Mrs. Bowen?" Avni asked. "I thought she'd be here too."

"Oh, um- she moved to Chicago."

"Moved? As in permanently?"

"Well, she'll come down now and then for Ricky, I suppose, but yeah. We thought it would be healthy to get some space, what with the divorce and everything."

"I'm sorry what?" Avni asked, eyes wide. "Are you and Mrs. Bowen splitting up?"

His face fell. "Didn't Ricky tell you?"

Avni turned to see Ricky hugging Gina (or rather EJ watching Nini watch Ricky hug Gina).

She turned back round, "No," she said quietly. "No, he didn't."

"Oh."

Avni took a second to absorb the information. "I wish she'd said good bye before she left," she said after a beat. Mrs. Bowen had been a big part of her childhood, and all this felt jarring.

Plus, it would be Diwali next week, and Avni's Mom already wasn't around, now Mrs. Bowen wouldn't be there either?

"I'm sorry, kid."

"Yeah, me too. I'll see you around Mr. Bowen."

A/n

Guys, it's heating up!

Also I loved the little EJ watching Nini watching Ricky hug Gina scene in the series so obviously I added another person to the mix :)

How are we feeling so far? Comment and let me know!