Showtime

3. Wonderstudies

"Because you saw that she wrote one for Ricky? EJ-" Avni shook her head.

"C'mon, please."

"It has to come from you, EJ. If I wrote it, it won't be you apologising."

"That's what Ashlyn said."

"Well, she's right-"

"Guys, can you hurry it up?" Aryan's voice came.

Avni huffed. "EJ, this is my brother Aryan. Dada 3, this is EJ."

They shook hands.

"How about you just give me a few lines to start off with?"

Avni nodded, "Okay you want to say sorry- what rhymes with sorry- starry- shine like a diamond- no, that's Rihanna. Shine like a star- light- bright. Okay how about, you shine like a star and I'm not even a night light, because what I did wasn't so bright-" she cringed at the end of that.

"That was corny," Aryan said.

"Yeah-"

"No, that was perfect," EJ said, eyes bright. "Thanks, Avni," he yelled over his shoulder as he started walking away.

"No wait, EJ, it's not-" But it was of no use as he went out of earshot.

"He's going to use that isn't he?"

♡♡♡♡♡

"Okay, ready?" EJ asked, perched on the table in Ashlyn's kitchen.

"I'm just impressed you wrote a whole song," Ashlyn said.

"Yeah, it's got metaphors and everything," EJ replied, and he looked real excited about it.

"Well, I'm proud of you. Sing from the heart," Ashlyn said. EJ glanced at Avni and she offered him an encouraging smile. He nodded and cued up the music.

"Before you go and make that face you make when you're mad at me, so mad at me..."

EJ's voice filled the space.

Let's be honest, EJ had a beautiful voice and he was a brilliant performer, very engaging. But- the lyrics were just not it. Ashlyn and Avni kept glancing at each other, secretly laughing as he twirled about the house.

As the music died down, "Did you like it?" EJ asked, green eyes hopeful.

"There's a lot to admire," Ashlyn replied.

He nodded to himself, "It's too much."

"I hadn't heard the track before- but I was hoping it would be a little less boy band and a little more heartfelt. Maybe you could tweak some of the lyrics, there are words that rhyme with sorry," Avni said.

EJ deflated at her words. "You know what, I can't do this. You're right, this is her thing with Ricky, she'll see right through it. I'll just apologise to her after rehearsal."

"She might forgive you," Avni offered.

"Would you?" he asked, his eyes piercing. When she didn't say anything, he took a step back, "That's what I thought."

♡♡♡♡♡

"Hey Avni, have you seen my shoes? They're pink and shiny," Gina asked Avni at rehearsal.

"No, why?"

Gina huffed, "I think someone's stealing all my stuff. My headphones are missing and my laptop's gone- I don't know. There's no way I misplaced all that stuff in one go."

"I don't know of anyone here who would steal except for you, well- and EJ," Avni said.

"Oh, EJ told you about the phone?"

Avni narrowed her eyes, "How do you know about the phone?"

"Oh, I- um," she paused. "I stole the phone and put it in EJ's bag. I heard him talk about it with Ashlyn and I thought- well I don't know what I thought. I'm out of ideas on how to make this work honestly."

Avni took a minute to process the information. "It sort of worked, I guess. EJ and Nini are probably breaking up."

"Oh," came Gina's reply.

_______________________________________________________________

A/n

1- Dad

2- Shut up and get in the car

3- Older brother

Okay but Gina and Avni's friendship is everything.