Theatre Geek - (R.B.) - Chapter 29: Chapter 29

LESS THAN a half-hour until showtime.
After a few hefty months of hard work by all the theatre students, they were now prepared for their first performance.
Courtesy of Miss. Jenn, the play was still able to go on regardless if it wasn't happening on the same stage as secured earlier. After the tragic events of the fire in the venue, she had no other choice but to try and negotiate a deal for using the school's gymnasium instead. Not like it would make much of a difference anyway, everyone was prepared - as they thought so anyway.
All of the theatre students and the backstage hands were running around in various states of anxiousness. To say they were worried would be an understatement; they were terribly troubled. Julia herself was all dressed up in her own character's clothes, and though she was currently nothing more than a mere understudy of her best friend - the two girls looked practically identical apart from the slight difference in hair and eye color. Other than that, others would say that after hanging around each other so much - they were oddly enough even starting to act like one another.
As she was one of the backstage directors for the production, Julia was given the task of perfecting any last minute decorations and backdrops, as well as aiding with the makeup of some of the cast. And although she had not a single clue of what makeup was, she still had to give it a go - despite not being the most confident in her skills.
She knew her parents wouldn't be attending; that was an obvious given their career choices. Well, it didn't bother her as much as she thought - she'd had her Aunt Cheryl attending, along with Aaron and the boys. And that, Julia thought as she painted a final stroke of eyeliner on Nini's eyes; was all she needed.
"Are you sure this isn't too much, Julia?" Nini asked, eyeing her finished makeup look in the mirror - her gaze fixated on the light, yet more bold than she'd do on a normal day, eyeshadow.
Julia nodded, patting her friend on the back. "You look gorgeous, Ni. Plus, anything less wouldn't fit Gabriella's personality."
Nini wasn't convinced, grabbing the makeup brushes from Julia's hands and practically slamming them to the vanity. "I just don't get it. You're easily more talented than me, yet you're okay with being an understudy?"
"It doesn't matter," the blonde shrugged off. "The backstage handles. . . It seems to be more down my lane."
"You're really sure?"
"Positive."
"Just. . . If you ever want to switch in between, at all - let me know. I'd be happy to do that." Nini nodded at her best friend, and stood up from her chair. After excusing herself to run an errand or two, she had stepped away.
This had instinctively left Julia alone to her thoughts, but not for long as the slightly annoying voice of Ricky was heard from behind her - calling her name in greeting.
"And look who we have here," he remarked, smiling slyly before his gaze fell to the dressed up girl in front of his eyes. Whatever he was about to say next had died down in his throat, as all he was able to muster out was a small, "wow."
"What, no wig?" Julia smirked teasingly at him, studying the choice that he had decided to ultimately go with his natural hair instead of opting for a wig.
"I have you know, my hair alone suits Troy's character more," he argued. Though his voice spoke confidently, Ricky couldn't help but begin to feel self conscious if his decision was the right one.
"Alright, alright."
"You, uh. . ." He cleared his throat haphazardly. "Look pretty - nice. Pretty nice."
"Thanks Rick." Julia smiled at him, grabbing the crumpled up script from the dressing table and tucking it under her arm. "You look pretty nice yourself."
"Where are you going?" He called out as soon as she left for the other direction.
She motioned to the pile of paper in her hands. "Think it's time I return this to Miss. Jenn."
"Maybe I, er. . . can come with you? I gotta return mine too."
"Take places, everyone! Five minutes until showtime!" Ashlynn called, stepping inside the back of the podium.
"Duty calls," Julia said, smiling warmly at Ricky - the kind she hadn't given him since they first met. "You go on ahead. I think you might need it."
"But, how about--"
"Good luck." And that was all it took and then like the flash of a camera, she had practically drifted off to the hallways of the school.
Things didn't exactly go according to Julia's plan.
One thing led to another and then soon Julia found herself standing beside Nini while Miss. Jenn came into let the girls know that there wouldn't just be one person playing Gabriella; she wanted both the girls to share if not equal screen time, but at least taking turns during certain scenes of the play.
It was mostly due to the fact that Miss. Jenn felt remorse for Julia, as she had been working hard throughout the entire process and she wanted the young girl to be able to perform at least once. Not like Nini was doing a bad job or anything, but more like Miss. Jenn thought this would only be fair to both of the girls at the end of the day.
It wasn't like Julia even had a choice in this, anyway. According to the drama teacher, it was written in bold ink on the audience's pamphlets that there would be two on-screen Gabriella Montez'. And well, to not follow the rules would probably add onto the confusion.
It was just mere moments before the cast was set to begin the performance, not before Julia had called Nini back.
"Something you wanted?" Nini asked.
"Yeah," Julia responded, smiling. "There's a surprise waiting for you out in the audience."
Nini furrowed her eyebrows, while her friend just studied her for a second, already knowing that there was a questioning look. "What do you mean? Who?"
"Let's just say, you might like this one."
"Okay, now you're playing." Nini teasingly laughed, yet there was a noticeable twitch with her fingers, a sign that indicates nervousness. "What is it? Who should I be--"
She just paused her own words, her eyes widened at Julia who was grinning from ear to ear. "No way!"
"Uh, surprise?"
Julia didn't have time to explain, it was only when Nini had embraced her in a blood-curdling hug that Julia had all the answers she needed.
"You called the Dean of the Art School!" Nini re-stated, as if trying to help herself understand the situation at hand. "That was just an 'in the moment' thing, Jules!"
"You can thank me later," Julia said before slightly nudging the brunette to the stage as the play was just about to begin.
"I just. . ." Nini gave the blonde a meaningful look, one that went out of its way to prove that no matter how hard she tried, Nini wouldn't be able to repay the effort.
Following the intro performance with Nini and Ricky, it was then time for Julia to take the stage, as requested in the updated schedule by Miss. Jenn.
Taking a seat in the small stool across from the beautiful and dark piano, Julia didn't allow herself to be daunted by the pressure. As soon as the stage lights rested on her figure, she knew that it was now or never.
Whenever she was on stage (and rarely did that happen) she would recall constantly fidgeting out of sheer nervousness. But now, glancing at the large audience that had gathered to see the first ever drama performance of High School Musical, Julia didn't even blink. She just let her hands glide over the piano keys, and off she went to her own world.
It's hard to believe
That I couldn't see
You were always there beside me
Thought I was alone
With no one to hold
But you were always right beside me
This feeling's like no other
I want you to know
I've never had someone that knows me like you do
The way you do
I've never had someone as good for me as you
No one like you so lonely before I finally found
What I've been looking for
So good to be seen
So good to be heard
Don't have to say a word
And just like that, Julia's five minutes of fame were over as she was soon led backstage for the next set of performers. She knew she'd have more time on the stage later in the play, but this was her real deal.
The time when she could finally shout out to the world that she was Julia Baker, and she was immensely proud of it. Her solo on stage was all that she needed, and the claps she heard from not just her friends, but the audience as well was enough proof that she had made it this far.
And she wasn't going to be giving up.
Ricky looked panic-stricken.
It was time for his solo performance and though everything seemed to be going according to plan, he just paused midway through the song.
He looked completely shattered, like he was having a full-on anxiety attack, and unluckily for him - everyone was watching as he quite literally ran from the stage and made a beeline for the changing booths.
Julia, naturally being one to worry, especially for her close friends, went after the boy.
The intermission had begun and she still couldn't find him anywhere. Glancing around, she was thankful when she spotted his lean figure crouched down on the floor of the changing rooms.
Worry etched her face as she plopped down next to Ricky, as he was visibly suffering from an emotional attack. "Hey, hey. . ." Julia soothed, gripping his shoulders. "Everything's going to be okay, Rick."
"N-No it's not," he stuttered, finding it difficult to see Julia through his tearful eyes. "This is a whole disaster - I feel. . ."
"What do you feel?" She asked, but just the look he gave her was enough evidence that what he would say next would stop even her in her tracks.
"Like giving up."
"No, no. . ." Julia patted his back. "You will get through this. I know you will."
And although she had absolutely no clue what had caused this sudden outburst, she knew better than to bring it up.
"I gotta tell you something," he said.
"Yeah?"
"It was my stepdad."
"Huh?"
"I-If you were wondering," he added. "Well, probably not yet stepdad, but the way my mom brings him up, I'm pretty sure they'll be married soon."
"Oh. . ." She was at a loss for words, mustering out incoherent nods.
"It's nothing, I just. . . Forget it, I just needed to let you know what caused the drama."
For a moment there was silence.
"I gotta tell you something else," he said, but didn't wait for an answer this time. Ricky glanced at Julia, who was just starting down at her hands. Instinctively, he took a hold of her hand and held it firmly with his own. At the moment, he had no worry about anyone walking in on him like this. She was with him, and that was all that mattered.
"I'm sorry. . ." He muttered, his voice just above a whisper.
"What?" Julia wasn't sure if she had heard him correctly. Was he just - why?
"F-for everything, Jules," he continued. "I've been nothing but a total prick to you ever since we first met. From making unintentional or not - mean remarks about you. For straight-up dumping your feelings on the night of the dance. For leaving you unread, for treating you like shit, for--"
"You don't have to apologize, Ricky. . ."
"I do, though!" He exclaimed, leaning closer as if to make his point.
"Ricky--"
"I was nothing but a total coward and lunatic to you from day one. I knew how you felt about me, yet I took advantage of that. All for what? 'Couse I was after someone who didn't even care anymore! I shouldn't have done that. I was a complete fool. But you know what, Jules? I might still be a fool, but now I know there's a subject behind those words. . . I'm a fool. For you. All of you."
For a moment, Julia didn't say anything. She remained quiet for a second longer before pulling her hand away from his grasp. She shook her head, slowly at first until it got faster and faster that even Ricky had to get her to stop.
"What're you doing? Jules -"
"N-No . . ." she said, unable to meet his worried gaze.
"No, what?"
"I mean 'no,' Ricky!" Her sudden outburst had halted whatever the boy was about to say next. His eyes widened, but not from surprise. It was almost as if he . . . knew that this was coming sooner or later.
"Jules?"
"You don't get to apologize. Not anymore! It took four stupid months to get you to be nice to me! And I know, you don't have to be nice to me, not everyone does, but the least you could've done is at least ensure me somehow that you weren't interested, then at least I'd know my limits. All I got was sour looks, snarky remarks, and insults to the moon which made me feel that maybe I could fix things . . . And then the night of the dance came and . . . I realized what was best for me. I suppose you could blame me as well because I was so stupid for not seeing it sooner. All I wanted was to try and be your friend, try and treat you as one, but you - Ricky Bowen - even when you were trying to be kind, eventually your true personality shone through your words and everything started from square one . . ."
"Jules . . ." Ricky pleaded but she motioned her hand in silence.
"You know why I've been so distant with you? The real reason as to why I'd suddenly started ignoring you? It wasn't because of Aaron, no. It wasn't because of Nini, or Kourtney, or Red, or anyone! It's only because of you, and I hate that I let myself get so close so quickly. I hate myself."
The tears that started to pool in Julia's eyes were falling down her cheeks, each one falling faster than the one before. She didn't even know how long she'd been holding these feelings in - for the longest time, she believed that she'd either gotten used to it, or had gotten so numb that nothing made a difference to her anymore. And now, looking at Ricky Bowen, she'd begun to lose her wits, and eventually her gaze fell to the floor as Ricky pulled her into an embrace. Her face tucked into his neck as he sat too shocked to utter a word.
"I think I know what my punishment is," he said when she'd calmed down and pulled away from him with slight embarrassment. "But first, I should let you know: I only realized my feelings for you when you'd started drifting away from me . . . I like you, Julia. A lot, even. I might even love you, and no, not just as a friend."
She wiped away her tears with her hands. "I do too . . . I used to, at least. But when everything started getting worse, I started looking at other paths."
"It's okay, I get it." Ricky smiled weakly, reaching out to hold her hand only to halt and pull back. "That's my punishment," he said after another moment. "Finding out that the girl I like . . . doesn't feel the same way."
Their conversation was cut short by Carlos unknowingly walking in on them to inform Julia that there was another duo performance of hers coming up.
A conversation that Julia knew she would address again later today. She would go after him. But right now, she had to bring up something else.
"Do you think you're ready to go back out there?" she asked Ricky, who looked purely flushed - either from the gigantic confession he'd just allowed to slip out - or from the intensity of his anxiety attack from earlier.
"No, I don't think I'm going to. There's a talent scout out there for Nini, and I'm not keen on potentially ruining her chances. I'm going to let EJ take over, he seems more worthy of the experience."
"Ricky?"
"Yeah . . ."
"Be quiet. Do not degrade yourself. You are definitely worth it, and I've seen that through your many practices. . . And that day on the piano. . . But, If you think you need a break, then I'll support you. Come find me after the performance, we can celebrate together."
"Oh, great, sure." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Thanks, Jules."
"No problem."
"Julia?"
"Yes?"
"I hope you know the thanks is for more than just the support."
And even after Ricky had excused himself to change out his costume and go and have a chat with EJ - Julia still couldn't help the small smile that made its way to her lips.
But that would be something she'd address another day.