Theatre Geek - (R.B.) - Chapter 3: Chapter 3

The results for the drama production had been released for a couple of days now. As soon as the scripts were handed out, all of the actors and actresses began practising their lines. Julia was still taught the basics of her work, which included costume design and hair/makeup, by fellow musical theatre students, despite the fact that she no longer had an actual role in the production and had settled for the understudy role.
Ricky staggered clumsily into the school's theatre, where the crew members worriedly spoke amongst themselves and the actors rushed to remember their lines. With a turn of his head, he searched the room for someone who could help him figure out what he had missed, or if he had missed anything at all and had simply arrived fashionably late.
He noticed the new girl with the circular glasses there. He couldn't recall her name, but he was certain it began with a J or something alike. He mumbled a short "hey" as he approached her, which caught her off guard and caused the papers she was carrying to tumble to the ground. Ricky knelt down to help her in picking up the pile of papers.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," he apologised as he gathered the stack of papers, one of which had the title 'musical theatre and the analytics.' Was this to indicate that Julia was still a part of the production, although as a backstage hand?
Only when papers were gathered, they both stood up and Ricky handed them to Julia, who accepted them with an appreciative nod.
"Did you need something?" she asked him.
He breathed a sigh of relief internally, relieved that no one had noticed how late he was to the first practice, but it wasn't anything new for him; he'd always been late to everything. He still remembered how many times he'd been late to his dates with Nini, but none of them had been on purpose. He assumed he was simply renowned for being that type of person.
"In a way." Ricky shoved his hands into his pockets awkwardly. It was something he always did whenever talking to someone he didn't know, or when he wasn't sure what to say. "When does rehearsal start?"
Julia looked down at the watch wrapped around her wrist and then diverted her attention back to the boy. "In about ten minutes. Did you practice?"
He wanted to say no, but he was embarrassed to tell her. He had completely forgotten about that evening's practice and just remembered it when it was mentioned in the announcements. But it was alright with him. That day's practice consisted solely of a read-through. "Something like that."
Julia studied the boy's eyes for a few seconds as if trying to figure out if he was telling the truth. "Okay . . ."
Seeing as there was no more of a reason to continue her conversation with him, she began to walk in another direction but stopped when she heard Ricky call, "Wait!"
Julia returned her attention to him and motioned for him to continue. Ricky rubbed the back of his neck and turned his gaze away from her. "I was curious as to why you⸺" He paused for a moment and shook his head. "Nevermind."
Why did you drop out of the play? It was none of his business, so it shouldn't have mattered. The girl had joined hundreds of clubs ever since the beginning of the school year. Of course, she wouldn't have had enough time for the school's production.
✩✩✩
When Ms Jenn informed everyone that the day's rehearsal had been cancelled owing to unforeseen circumstances, everyone, including Julia, packed up and left the theatre. She pulled her book bag from her locker and began walking out of the school, exhausted from the school day. She was a little nervous about being one of the remaining individuals in the school. The lights were dimmed, with only a few still being on, and the custodians had completed their shifts.
She wasn't used to being late on her way home, but she decided it was fine because no one was waiting for her at home. Her parents were away on a business trip (as they always were), so she spent the majority of her time at home alone or with her aunt on weekends.
"Julia!" She came to a halt as she heard her name. When she turned around, she spotted EJ Caswell, the son of two powerful corporate attorneys. She didn't know him well because he tended to hang around with the 'popular' kids, but he seemed nice enough, and she wasn't exactly sure how he knew her name.
"Um . . . Yes?"
"Why did you give up your role as Gabriella? I mean, now Ricky has a chance with Nini!"
Julia looked around the room for anyone who could save her if things go south, but when she couldn't find anyone, she returned her attention to EJ. "First and foremost, EJ, is it? I have no clue who Nini is or why it matters so much to you. Do I even know you?"
He gave her a baffled look while maintaining a serious demeanour.
"You don't," he replied, "But it's because of you that⸺"
"That someone who is admittedly far more talented and dedicated is having an opportunity to express their potential," she quietly interrupted. "I'm still an understudy, so I'm not completely out of the picture."
"Do you even know what you did?" EJ questioned. "Ricky and Nini . . . they have history together. Dated for a while and now Nini's dating me. The very only reason that Ricky even bothered to join this play is so he can⸺well, I'm sure you get the gist of it."
To be honest, Julia had no idea where EJ was going with his comments, but that didn't even bother her. She opened her mouth to tell him this, but she was interrupted by a familiar voice from behind her.
"Whoa. Now I'm no scientist, but I can sense when things are heating up."
Ricky walked into the room, a sly smirk on his face. Julia rolled her eyes, calmed down a bit, thankful that she didn't have to deal with EJ anymore. Not alone at least.
"It's you!" EJ exclaimed, oblivious of Julia's presence and creeping dangerously close to an unconcerned Ricky.
"Quoting songs now are we?" Ricky chuckled sarcastically. "Okay, me next⸺"
"I know what you're planning, Bowen."
"What am I planning?" Ricky challenged back.
"You want to get back with Nini. My girlfriend, or did you so happen to forget?"
"What, are you jealous that I scored the part of Troy Bolton, instead of you?"
EJ's heartbeat accelerated as he rolled his eyes. He desperately felt like punching Ricky, but he didn't want to get suspended because they were still on school grounds, and there were security cameras all over the place. He just walked away angrily, but pointed his finger at Ricky on his way out, "This is not over!"
Ricky groaned quietly, rubbing at his tired eyes. The lack of sleep from the night before was getting to him, but he wasn't exactly thrilled that he now had officially made a new enemy. He was just glad to have it out of the way and possibly save someone's life.
Julia blinked owlishly at EJ as he walked away. She grimaced and turned to face the other boy in the room, wanting to thank him for calming things down. However, he had already walked away without a word of anything, his mind on only one thing: his comfortable bed.