Chapter 2: Lunch Break
Eh, not the best title but welcome back to another installation of "Starburst", now let's see how the student body is gonna react to the new Power Couple of East High.
Disclaimer: I do not own 'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series' or Ten from "Weightless". Ten and Jeonghan belong to my friend zealous_light. I only own my original characters. Enjoy the chapter.
Later at lunch...
EJ had invited his girlfriend Nini to sit with them at lunch to introduce her to his friends. Cress is always fine with making friends with new people. It also helps that Cress and EJ have both been in the theater club for years.
While EJ socializes with the selected few and Ten socializes with the selected fewer (he does mention having friends who go to other schools though), Cress basically talks to everyone. She's spoken to Nini and Kourtney a few times prior to EJ asking Nini out, they seem like nice people.
Plus, Nini seems like a genuinely nice person and a step up from a couple of girls EJ had previously dated. Cress was impressed at how genuinely interested Nini was at getting to know EJ's best friends.
Usually there are 3 kind of scenarios when it comes to EJ dating someone new:
One, they would just overlook or ignore his friends.
Two, be skeptical/jealous about EJ having a best friend who's a girl. (Somewhat justified because EJ briefly had a rebound crush on Cress after an ex dumped him in freshman year. And Cress is a pretty touchy kinda person in general)
Or Three (the worst case scenario and the worst option ever in Cress's opinion), said ex was side-eying Ten with poor intentions of using EJ to get closer to the stoic dancer. Or just using EJ as a rebound until someone else comes along.
Also, Cress cannot really tell if inviting Kourtney over is to either get to know his girlfriend's best friend or trying to subtly set Ten up with another girl
Ten may not fully notice it, but he has garnered quite a lot of admirers at school. The dude looks like a K-pop star, and it's absurd he keeps thinking people who give him love letters are to 'pass it on to EJ or Cress'.
"So I said to my mom 'Looking this fabulous while fighting intersectional feminism IS my summer job!'" Kourtney was telling them all about how she spent her summer break.
"Did I not tell you she's amazing?" Nini grinned, clinging onto EJ's arm.
"You're amazing!" EJ agreed wholeheartedly.
"Now that I've met your best friend, it's time for you to meet my best friends." EJ started to introduce his friends.
Nini and Kourtney already had basic knowledge of how EJ is hardly ever seen without his two best friends (Ten the "Ice Prince" and Cress the "Flirty Misfit"). But getting to know them face-to-face is another matter.
"This is Ten, my next-door neighbor and best friend since we were kids." EJ nudged Ten in the shoulder, before the Thai-American looked up from his notebook and gave a polite nod.
"And this is Cressida Kormos. She's a social butterfly, residential heartbreaker, and an absolute chaotic force to be reckoned with." EJ pointed at Cress, who immediately made an offended expression.
"Hey, rude."
"Don't let her baby face and height fool you, she's been on the school's wrestling club for 2 years running." EJ piped in cheekily.
"Cress is a makeup artist too, she is one of the best. She actually runs her own Makeup vlog channel." Ten added.
"Oh stop it." Cress chuckled, flattered by Ten's compliments.
"But seriously, you're both gorgeous girls with great style." Cress smiled, before giving Nini a wink of approval.
"You two should collaborate together. Kourtney designs her own clothes." Nini suggested.
"I can tell this is the beginning of a beautiful partnership." Cress grinned, shaking Kourtney's hand.
"So, crazy idea," EJ was talking to Nini, "What if we went in costumes to the auditions tomorrow?"
"Ok, I'm listening..." Nini smiled, looking eager.
"Whatever you wear, I'm doing your makeup." Kourtney interjected.
"I'd trust Kourney's makeup than Cress's makeup. She's talented but tends to go overboard and goes for a Horror Movie theme." EJ nodded, before Cress flicked the plastic wrapper of her chocolate bar at him. The taller boy stuck his tongue at her in response.
While EJ was telling Nini all about his ideas of a couple auditioning for a fictional couple, Cress and Ten couldn't help but notice many staring or glancing at the new couple.
Probably because Nini was dating someone else half a year ago and to return dating one of the most popular guys at school must have been a total shock.
"Babe, we're a package deal, and all the talented senior girls graduated last year." EJ seemed to be trying to persuade Nini to reconsider the couples audition.
"What am I? Dead tamale?" Cress lightly slapped EJ across the back, feigning insult as one of the few senior students at their drama club.
"I said last year." EJ corrected, preparing to shield himself from Cress, "Besides, you're not even really into acting."
"Literally, how did we not speak until this summer?" Nini spoke out, amazed by EJ. She then leaned in to kiss him.
"C'mon Cress, let Caswell have his moment." Ten called out.
"Fine..." Cress slumped her shoulders There will be plenty of other opportunities to tease him in front of his girlfriend later on.
"Ooh I think I see a couple of my friends across our table, I'm gonna go talk to them." Cress grinned, noticing a few of her friends sitting nearby and went over. "Natalie, are those new shoes?" And now she's off to compliment/chat with Natalie Bagley (the stage manager) from drama club.
"EJ! My man!" One of EJ's water polo teammates (Anthony) walked up to greet him, followed by a few other teammates.
EJ took some time to fist bump everyone and also introduce Nini to them. Anyone could see the pride, joy, and utter adoration EJ had for his girlfriend.
Once Cress was done socializing (how she's able to multitask/manage is beyond Ten), she took a seat next to Ten and glanced at what he's doing.
"Wait, you're seriously starting homework already?!" Cress's face scrunched up in dismay when she noticed Ten was actually getting a head-start with this semester's homework.
"Yes." Responded Ten without even looking up from his book.
Tch, typical Ten. Always being 38 steps ahead of his friends in terms of academics and damage control.
"You really need to get a better life other than studying." Cress shook her head.
Ten and Cress felt a pair of gazes from two boys from another table.
Ah yes, Nini's ex-boyfriend Ricky Bowen and his best friend Big Red.
She couldn't tell if it's best friend/sisterly intuition (of being wary when your best friend's new date has exes) or what, but something about Nini's ex just gets on her nerves.
Ten just gave the two teens a glare before Ricky and Big Red immediately pretended to be interested in their lunch.
Cress was tempted to say something to them, but the look Ten is giving her says "giving them the stink eye is already enough"
Lunch break was almost over when EJ and Cress approached Ten. Never a good sign...
"Ooh, here's an idea," EJ grinned.
"I am not doing another dance cover for you." Ten immediately shut down whatever EJ was gonna say.
"Oh, how about you-" Cress exclaimed, catching on to what EJ's plans were.
"I am not gonna model for your makeup vlog either." Ten added.
"But you haven't even heard me out loud yet" Cress pouted.
"Yeah, this is something you might like." EJ nodded.
"Most of your ideas usually involve you starting a fire, me putting out a fire, and Caswell having to explain why there's a fire." Ten deadpanned at his two (endearingly annoying) best friends.
"Untrue!" Cress tried to protest, before Ten raised an eyebrow at them.
"Only one time! Last year's Fourth of July barbeque party may have ended up a bit of a mishap, we have all made mistakes." Cress refuted defensively.
"I left you two alone to go grocery shopping with Ashlyn for FIFTEEN minutes." Ten rubbed the bridge of his nose. Apparently, 15 minutes was enough time for Cress to accidentally burn the barbecue grill, and EJ to livestream the chaos.
And the chances of these two brain cells uniting...Ten ain't gonna risk it
"You wound me." EJ pouted, feigning sadness.
"Is this idea of yours any less destructive than your other schemes?" Ten eventually gave in to their eager suggestions, asking them about it.
Cress and EJ are now having this conspiratorial look that's setting off all the alarms in Ten's head. But against his better sense of judgement, Ten decides to listen.
"Well...I'm in the drama club as the prop designer, obviously. Plus EJ and Nini are auditioning for Troy and Gabriella tomorrow." Cress began.
"You should audition with us!" EJ blurted out, looking excited.
Their best friend stared at them blankly for a second.
Did it work? Did the two of them managed to convince their introverted best friend to join them in the world of Theater? Did they rolled a Nat 20 at Persuasion?
(What? Cress is big into DnD and is on the same guild as Ashlyn)
"Call me when you set something on fire by accident again. Goodbye." Ten turned on his heels to speed-walk away.
"Wait, hear us out!" His two friends quickly tailed after him to persuade him otherwise.
Curses, why is Ten so fast? Cress has a gut feeling Ten joined Track Field just to be able to run faster away from her and EJ when they get too annoying.
After pestering Ten (and him strategically avoiding them) for the rest of the day, their last class of the day ended.
"You two can't really be serious..." Ten grumbled, with his two friends behind him in the school's parking lot.
"Come on, we've been friends since we were kids. Cress and I have been in the drama club for the past 3 years, it never really feels the same without you around." EJ spoke.
"And no offense to EJ and all, but it would be nice if you were around." Cress made a face at the tallest (and youngest by birth month) friend. "I don't want to stick around the entire semester watching EJ making goo goo eyes with Nini."
"Even if you're not planning to stick around under the spotlight, just please don't make me watch EJ flirt again." Cress begged dramatically.
Does Ten know how weird it is to be the third wheel watching their friends date?!
[ The answer was yes. But usually Ten is the Third-wheel/Setting the Romantic Mood for EJ's dates ]
Ten looked around before his voice lowered to a whisper, "People here shouldn't find out I dance."
"They're gonna find out eventually." EJ replied, still trying to reassure Ten.
"Not if you two say anything about it." Ten sighed.
"My dude, you look like a freaking K-pop star. A couple of people here at school have been conspiring that you were secretly a celebrity pulling a Hannah Montana for years." Cress raised an eyebrow at him.
"You are amazing when you dance, just come to the auditions with us tomorrow." EJ begged, before he elbowed Cress. The two then did their best puppy eyes impression in hopes to charm their stoic friend.
Not the puppy eyes again...
It was cute (and worked better) when they were kids, but now it just feels like Ten babysitting (or was it pet-sitting?) the human versions of a Chihuahua and a Husky.
"Also it would be nice for you to put yourself out there." EJ added.
"And what? Humiliate myself in front of the whole school and ruin my image?" Ten huffed, "No thanks."
"Oh come on, underneath that cold stoic guy is just a big ol' soft catboy." Cress said, hoping to cheer Ten up.
"I hate you guys." Ten grumbled, his tone a bit softer now.
"No you don't." Cress shook her head, taking a seat behind them.
"The drama club is a safe space for us." EJ said, before he started to drive. "Just...think about what we said, alright?"
"I'm so gonna CRUSH you guys at basketball afterwards." Cress grinned.
"For someone who's 4 feet 8, you still maintain a heightened sense of ego when all the odds are against you." EJ retorted, before their friend responded with a rude hand gesture.
"Just focus on your driving." Ten rolled his eyes and reminded them.
And that is all for chapter 2 of Starburst. We get to see more of Cress's friendship dynamics with EJ and Ten, as well as her branching out her friendship with others (Nini and Kourtney, with some brief cameos of Natalie and Seb).
Chapter Talk: -
(1.) With Ten and Cress around as EJ's friends, it rather breaks off the impression of EJ being this 'Untouchable Out of Reach Golden Boy'. Which is honestly what I was going for. Seeing him goofing off with his best friends at times like these makes him more...approachable in Nini's viewpoint. (Kourtney's as well) Also most of the student body know EJ's best friends as the Ice Prince (Ten) and the Flirty Misfit (Cress)
If I were to compare the Golden Trio it would be this: -
EJ: Extrovert but socializes with the Selected Few
Ten: Introvert that was adopted by Extroverts who socializes with the Selected Fewer
Cress: Extrovert who is the Social Butterfly and Life of the Party. She talks to everyone and knows almost everyone
(2.) Not everyone is happy to see Nini returning from summer dating EJ Caswell. (specifically Ricky Bowen) Just a heads up to all Ricky fans, Cress will not (and I repeat WILL NOT) be Ricky's biggest fan. She is primarily EJ's friend and hence may view Ricky as an annoyance.
(3.) Considering how handsome Ten is, Cress tends to joke how her best friend keeps undermining his popularity with the admirers. There will be a running gag where people may mistake Ten for being a K-pop star pulling a Hannah Montana
Cress: Brilliant news! EJ's mom just gave me childhood footage of EJ, Ten, and Ashlyn singing to Hannah Montana as kids
Ten: HOW DO YOU KEEP FINDING OUT EMBARASSING STUFF ABOUT US?!
EJ: And why does my mom keep giving you blackmail-worthy repressed childhood memories?!
(4.) So my friend (zealous_light) and I tend to headcanon that EJ is the best friend who is incredibly invested in Ten's love life (helping Cress set up on dates is not ideal since she may break more hearts than intended) and sometimes tries to set him up on dates with others. Never works.
(5.) Also yes, Cress is canonically the shortest one among her friends. She stopped growing after 4th grade and is stuck at Arm Rest Height since. But she makes it up with her spontaneous personality and charms.
Anyways, that is all for now. Feel free to fave, follow or review and let me know what you think of this chapter. Thank you so much for reading, and have a fantastic day.
