Theatre Geek - (R.B.) - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

PRACTICE WAS going well for the cast of High School Musical. Whenever after-school came around, everyone gave their best effort, as Ms. Jenn emphasized from the very beginning that she hoped the play would go amazingly.
Ricky was once again struggling to finish his school homework. To say he hated History class was an understatement. Sometimes when the class got so boring, he wondered why the subject even existed. Wasn't it that he would be known in history soon too? If he knew about his life already, where was the need to have others know him too?
He sighed and flipped through his notebook in search of a definition that he wrote a few weeks prior. A pink sticky-note caught his eye, and he read an algebra equation on it. Smiling, he realized it was from when Julia helped him complete the problem a few days ago in class.
5 days ago...
She was sitting in the seat in front of him. Ever since the teacher created a seating arrangement, Julia had been seated closer to him.
Not that he minded, really. Since he hated algebra class so much, it gave him the excuse to get some much-needed help from her whenever he required some. It's not like he didn't ask the teacher instead. It was more like she had a different way of explaining things.
A way that he understood.
He rubbed his forehead in frustration. The students received an assignment at the beginning of class, and since he had not a clue where to even begin, he was bound to struggle.
Tapping on the blonde girl's shoulder lightly, he called out, "Julia..?"
She looked back at him, a look that said that she was wondering what he had to say. "I need help." Ricky's cheeks tinted crimson red. He didn't mean for the words to escape desperately. Now he was nothing but embarrassed. "Erm...this math problem is weird."
Julia nodded slightly, and he was sure he saw a speck of a smile linger on her lips. She guided him through the question, writing all over his notebook. Right afterward, she wrote a step-by-step process on a sticky note and handed it to him.
A sense of relief filled his mind; she was so helpful.
Ricky closed the notebook and stuffed the slip of paper into his backpack. Standing up from his chair, he made his way to the auditorium where he was sure he'd find Julia.
Opening the entrance, he looked around where a handful of students were all over the area, setting up decorations for the upcoming school dance. A year ago, he took Nini with him, and it would be just him and a few friends this year.
Still, he couldn't help but register that sickening feeling at the back of his throat as regret. Although it had been almost a few months since his supposed break-up with Nini, he was still not over her.
Wasn't anything surprising, honestly? The bond he shared with her was beyond compare.
It was there that he saw Julia. She was wearing a yellow sundress, and admittedly, she looked beautiful. It was a style she wore often, but there was something different about it today. Perhaps because the two had gotten closer by now, he saw her differently.
As friends.
She was talking with another student who he didn't recognize. The guy had blonde hair and from where he was standing; he looked way taller than Ricky.
Stuffing his hands into his jean pockets, he made his way over to Julia. By that time, the other guy had walked the other decoration, probably to work on something else.
Julia looked up and saw him standing beside her. She smiled slightly and waved in his direction. He grinned back. "So, what're you working on?" He cringed as soon as the words left his mouth.
She gestures towards the rest of the gymnasium, hinting towards the fact that she was volunteering to set up the area for the homecoming dance. Nodding, he looks at his shoes awkwardly, finding an unusual interest in them for the first time in weeks.
Julia didn't seem to notice his change of behavior. She just continued to work through the balloon and streamed decor.
Mustering up all the courage he could, he looked up and came a little closer, causing Julia to look up from the things in her hands. "I've got to ask you something," he said just above a whisper.
"Yeah?" She finally replied, staring back into his brown-honey orbs.
"A-are you mad at me?" In the days leading up to that moment, Ricky found that Julia was acting distant towards him. Though she gave her daily smiles whenever the two crossed paths, there was an uncomfortable in her demeanor. A cold one, almost.
She didn't hesitate to deny the accusation. "No, of course not."
"You sure? You're acting different-"
"It's nothing, Rick," she interrupted his retort and gave him a soft smile. She continued to pick and prod with the object in her hand, trying to untangle the strings attached to the streamer. Her hands were shaking slightly, and Ricky seemed to notice her furrowed eyebrows.
Pushing the decorations on the table with a huff, she looked back up to him again. "I was just embarrassed, I guess," she admitted, and he grew confused for a brief second.
Of what? He thought. Wait a minute.
He realized she was talking about that almost-kiss from a few weeks ago. He found it a little weird that she felt that odd about something that would never happen.
"Why? I mean, It's not like anything could've happened anyway..." Ricky immediately regretted saying those words.
"Yeah! Obviously," she walked the other direction, towards the unknown guy's place.
Shaking his head, he hurried her way, blocking her path. She stared at him in utter confusion, waiting for him to say something to his defense.
"Do you want to go to the dance with me, maybe?" The embarrassment he felt at that moment was horrible. His ears were bright red and found it so difficult to stare back at her; she was just as red as he was.
She shook her head, causing him to frown slightly. "I would, but I have to attend to the vendor tomorrow night," she said.
Oh.
The unnamed boy interrupted their conversation, and Ricky felt a dozen times shorter compared to him. It was like his height difference with EJ, but this guy was a lot taller and seemed more intimidating.
Not that EJ Caswell made him feel weak; that was just pathetic.
"You really have to give yourself a break, Jules. We have more than enough people volunteering for tomorrow night. Have fun, we got your back," the boy said and continued to go the opposite direction, leaving no room for the two to even say anything in return.
Julia sighed and fiddled with her fingers. She looked up to see Ricky with a hopeful expression on his face, and she just shrugged. "Okay, I'll go."
He beamed with excitement. After letting her know that he'll pick her up at 7 the night of, he prepares to exit the gymnasium, wanting to dry-clean his tuxedo before it was too late.
"See you tomorrow, Jules," he lastly said before making his way out of the building.