A/N: It's been a long journey so far and we are nowhere near the end! But this was a scene I couldn't wait to get it and hope it lives up to the hype.

Yesterday was the WORST DAY! So, I can't wait to show this to you and read what you think!

Love ya!

"OKAY! WHICH ONE OF YOU WAS IT?"

His voice came booming through the acoustics of the auditorium like it was the voice of God. And he was getting ready to pass judgment.

Everyone looked at Geoffrey, most of them confused, but they all shared a collective ("Oh shit!"). This was NOT going to be a good day.

"I had heard there have been some...complaints...about me. Just got done talking to Mr. Shapiro, so tell me...who threw me under the bus?"

He wasn't a physically intimidating presence but being the only senior in a sea of underclassmen, not to mention his title as director, gave him an unspoken clout.

And Geoffrey made no bones about using his position to his advantage.

Alice shook her head.

(I don't know if he's crazy or he gets off on these power trips. But I'm sick of it!)

The autocratic director turned to his stagehands.

"Was it you guys?" he pointed accusingly. "I know you felt neglected..." his inflection made it sound like their feelings were miniscule; unimportant. "...but you dime me out to the teacher? What is this, kindergarten?"

They all shook their heads no.

"Wasn't us," said a student.

Geoffrey closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"I just feel betrayed, you know? I thought that you kids would appreciate what I'm doing for you!"

He focused his gaze on poor Becky, who was Geoffrey's unofficial punching bag when he didn't have a focus in particular.

"I'm giving this play what it needs, and you aren't thankful?"

"THANKFUL?!"

The girl's voice surprised everyone as much as the loud male voice a minute ago. Just as startling was the sass in her tone.

Alice charged from the crowd of petrified cast members and crewmembers.

Her target was one Geoffrey Olson.

"Thankful?" she repeated. "Is that meant to be funny?"

The redhead was just as caught off guard by the diminutive girl's chutzpah.

"All you have done these last few weeks was be cruel to everyone! This is a school play, Geoffrey! Not a...um...uh...battleship! Yeah, battleship! We aren't soldiers and you aren't the brigadier-general!"

"I'm confused," Kyle whispered to Jenna. "Are we still talking about the play?"

Jenna facepalmed.

"Of course, we want the play to be good!" Alice continued to a dumbfounded Geoffrey. "But if everyone's scared or sad all the time, what's the point?!"

He wasn't THAT much taller than Alice, but as a director getting roasted by a production assistant, it might as well be David vs. Goliath.

"You're done."

"Yeah, I said my peace," Alice huffed.

"No," Geoffrey said shaking his head. "It wasn't a question. I meant you are done! Go on, leave! Consider yourself off the project!"

Alice scowled but hastened her attempted step backward when Billy brushed past her.

"It was me!" he declared.

Geoffrey turned around, genuinely surprised.

"You?!"

Billy folded his arms.

"Yeah, it was me. What of it? I only spoke the truth!"

Jenna came up behind him.

"That's right. And I'm proud of him for speaking up for us." She turned to her friend, with a nod. "And you, too."

Alice nodded in return and joined her.

"We've been busting our butts on this play," Billy said. "And you've been nothing but mean to us. It stops now!"

Other students gathered around, throwing in their own words of disapproval toward Geoffrey. All it took was one person to speak up. Then a few and now, the floodgates were opening. As the dozens of teens banded together, nobody was left to get Geoffrey's back.

And he knew it.

"I can see you all feel this way," he huffed.

(If they want to have it, have it then. And like Shapiro said, no repeat of Macbeth. It won't be.)

"Good luck. You've only got a month until opening night. And I won't be here. I quit!"

(It won't be because I will jump ship first instead of everyone abandoning me! Let the whole damn thing fall apart.)

"You all aren't worth the aggravation anyway!"

Geoffrey marched off, saving as much face as he could, and let the auditorium door slam in a thunderous echo.

Alice held her heart. It was beating like mad since she stepped forward to give Geoffrey a piece of her mind.

Panic was popping up among the students.

"Oh, shit, shit, shit!"

"What do we do?"

"That's it, we're done!"

"EVERYBODY SETTLE DOWN!"

They all stopped muttering hopelessly and focused their attention on Jenna.

"Come on, guys! We don't need Geoffrey! We can finish this play and it will be awesome!"

"Yeah," Billy said, putting his hand on her shoulder. "Jenna's right. We can't give up."

"But who's going to direct?" asked a girl in the back.

Jenna thought about it.

"It won't be easy. We all have our jobs to do..."

The tall girl sighed heavily.

"Damn it! Without a director working together is going to be impossible."

She's right. Like a conductor of an orchestra, the director must take the various talents and make sure they are all on the same page. Musicians can theoretically play at the same time, but without direction, are they playing together?

"You're right," Billy conceded.

"We need somebody," added Kyle.

Becky perked up and took Alice by the hand and pulled her to the front of the crowd.

"I nominate Alice as the new director!"

The freshman blushed and her eyes darted around to the increasingly enthusiastic group.

"Wait, wait, wait, WHAT?"

"That's a fantastic idea!" exclaimed Billy.

"I like it too," Jenna said. "But let's not force her, okay?"

She pressed her lips together, reminding herself to breathe.

Becky felt a pang of guilt for putting her on the spot like that.

"Can I have some time to think about this?" she asked.

"Sure," Jenna nodded. "Let us know what you decide."

She turned back to the others.

"For now, let's rehearse some more and leave a little early today."

Everyone agreed and went their separate ways to work on their parts.

RING RING RING RING RING

Tori answered her phone immediately when she saw it was from Mom.

"Hey, mom? How are you?"

"Tori, it's been too long! Congrats on the promotion!"

The Latina thought for a second. (I guess technically teacher to principal was a step up.)

"Have you been keeping in touch with Trina?"

"Yeah," Tori shrugged. "We're still friends on Facebook and she sent me a postcard from Cleveland, so...super jealous."

Her mom chortled on the other line.

"Nice to hear you're in good spirits. How is Mia?"

"She's actually doing very well. Made some new friends this year and they're all great kids."

"I don't suppose you two are coming down to Phoenix for Thanksgiving, are you?"

"Oh, um, I didn't think..."

"I mean it's fine. Trina is stopping over with Andre because they will be in Arizona that week and they are free Thursday and Friday."

"Well, that's good. And sorry about not coming. Maybe next year."

"So, what are your plans for Thanksgiving?"

"We were actually going over Jade's for dinner. Her daughter Alice and Mia are good friends."

The line was silent for a few seconds.

"Jade? Jade West? Like from school? THAT Jade?"

"Uh-huh," Tori nodded. "She moved back to L.A. a little while ago and her daughter just enrolled in Hollywood Arts."

"Uh-oh," giggled Holly. "Is she a handful like her momma?"

Tori shook her head.

"Honestly, Alice is a total sweetheart. You'd love her. And Jade? She still has some bite to her, but she's really matured. So, to answer your next question, yes we are getting along fine."

"Okay, okay," Holly said. "I'm just glad to hear things are...good."

These last few years took their toll on Tori and it broke Holly's heart. She had asked her to come to Phoenix with Mia and they could help out. Tori gratefully declined. While seeing her mom and dad was a welcome thing, she wasn't looking into moving back in with her folks, with a child no less.

The subject would swing like a pendulum from work to motherhood. But Holly was also checking in on Tori's social life. She got the impression that she didn't have much in the way of friends and was worried that her youngest might be lonely. Obviously, her romantic life was a touchy subject and Holly didn't dare to push the issue. Not that she didn't need to pry; she could already tell there was NOBODY since Sam.

Holly wasn't exactly looking into becoming a mother-in-law for a second time or anything. She just wanted Tori to have some...company. Holly knew the needs of a woman first-hand. She toyed with the idea of a relationship on the side with Gary, David's co-worker. But they saw therapy and once he retired and they moved to Phoenix, it was like a reset button, and they were in their twenties again. Holly and David have never been closer physically and emotionally.

She just wished the same for both her daughters.

(It just wasn't fair. My husband lived twenty-one years in the LAPD, but dear Sam who owned a music store was the one who got killed?)

Tori picked up on the muffled cry on the phone.

"Mom, are you alright?" she asked.

"Yes," she coughed. "I'm just a little tired. I need to have a cup of Earl Grey and lay down."

"Okay, mom. I love you."

"I love you, too my baby-angel."

Tori rolled her eyes.

"Oh, is Mia around? I wanted to talk to her real quick."

"Uh, sure. MIA! IT'S YOUR ABUELITA!"

She held the phone, waiting for the teen to bound into the room.

"Here," Tori said, handing the cell to Mia.

"Hey!" she said.

"Mia! How's my favorite grandchild?"

"You're funny," Mia smirked. "I'm your only grandchild."

Tori could hear her mom's laughter as she left the room, smiling.

Billy led Jenna to an area backstage where nobody else was around.

"What's up?" she asked.

"I was...thinking," he blushed. "Since we are playing a couple, we might...uh...might want to practice...no, not practice, that's..."

She pinned the boy against the wall.

"Out with it!"

"I want to kiss you!" he blurted out.

Her eyes grew huge and she turned red herself.

"That...came out wrong," he admitted. "What I was saying was...we have a few scenes where we kiss. I wanted it to be...um...you know...natural?"

Jenna smirked.

"I didn't think of that."

She took his hand into hers.

"I mean...you don't h-h-h-ave to..." he stammered as he turned away from the statuesque girl who was very, very close. "We can just fake it, you know? Or..."

Jenna kissed him on the cheek.

That quickly stopped the avalanche of nonsense from his mouth.

Billy looked back at her.

"Or whatever you think is good," he said softly.

Alice had been pacing for so long, she thought she might wear a hole in the floor.

(Director? ME? Has everyone lose their minds?!)

The petite girl couldn't wrap her head around the concept. Yes, she got to know most of the performers and people behind the scenes. Yes, she had a knack for telling stories. Yes, she had a way with people. Ironic since social gatherings used to make her physically ill.

Alice was determined to make this year, her first year of high school, the turning point. She didn't care if she was going to be paralyzed from her own anxiety: she was going to make a friend. And she has. Alice acquired some great friends. And one of them just asked her to take charge of the school play.

(What kind of Charlie Brown chiz is this?)

Here she was now. The number one pick for director. And it was a nearly unanimous decision. Alice was so flattered she couldn't help smiling, even though it was complimented with the feeling of wanting to throw up. It was just a school play but for the former wallflower, it might as well be getting elected as President.

(I-I-I-I don't know. Can I do this?)

Then Alice was confronted with the harsh reality that if they don't find a replacement soon, the whole play would be in danger of shutting down.

And everybody worked so hard, too.

Jenna, Becky, Billy, Kyle, the line of disappointed people she had come to care about was long.

They would never blame her and she wasn't considering this position out of guilt.

Alice saw it as a responsibility.

She was a storyteller. She loved to write and share her work with others. Mostly anonymously on fan fiction websites, but still.

There were players...

There was scenery...

All the pieces were there...

What they needed was a leader.

The freshman now felt a vigor surge through her and knew what her decision was.

Alice burst through the curtains.

"I'LL DO IT!" she declared.

Her rapturous smile immediately collapsed into an awkward grimace.

Jenna and Billy were in the throws of making out when they broke apart at the realization they weren't alone anymore.

"Huh?"

"What?"

"I see I'm interrupting," Alice chuckled, embarrassed.

The two in close proximity were just as red from the situation.

"Anyway...I decided I'll do it."

Jenna lit up.

"That's great."

Alice tried to control her breathing as the whole thing washed over her mind.

"There's so much to do!" she grinned. "I must plan!"

She disappeared through the curtain.

Billy smirked at the enthusiastic underclassman.

Her head then popped through the curtain.

"And hey!"

They both looked at their new director.

"Good stuff but can we bring it in a little bit. Keep it PG-13?"

Jenna covered her face while Billy looked away.

"That's a wrap for today, people!"