Showtime

25. Let It Go

"EJ's in the shower, if that's who you're looking for," Ricky said.

"I'm looking for you actually."

"Why?" He asked, coming closer to the window.

Avni stared at him. "Okay. Here," she handed him a wrapped box. "Happy 18th."

"What's this?" He asked. Like he didn't know.

He'd all but outright asked for it.

"Would it be a gift if I just told you?"

He grinned and opened it. He then gasped when he saw what was in the box. "You caught my hints," he smiled, admiring his vintage mini Luke Skywalker bust. How is he 18?

"They were very obvious."

He placed the figurine very carefully back in its box, and raced out.

"Oh, now you're coming out."

He bolted out the door and hugged Avni. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," she smiled.

"D'you want a slice of cake?"

"Sure," Avni said, walking with him towards the door. "I can't believe you're eating cake without your girlfr- oh, Gina's right here. Hi, G," she said when she caught sight of her.

♡♡♡♡♡

"Nini?" Avni called. The girl was standing in the doorway of the barn- the show was going to start in five minutes.

"Hey, Avni," she smiled. "Didn't think I'd ever see you in camp again."

"Yeah, me neither." And then- "You taking a seat?"

"Umm, yeah. I think Miss Jenn's up front over there with Big Red," she pointed.

"Oh, okay. Thanks. It was good to see you Nini," Avni smiled.

"You too."

♡♡♡♡♡

They were amazing.

I don't know what EJ was so worried about.

All of them- literally every single one- Carlos as Olaf, Gina and Ricky as Anna and Kristoff, Jet as Hans, Kourtney as Elsa- all of them were crushing it.

That on-stage costume change for Kourtney was blowing her mind. She was also so incredibly proud of the way she found her nerve and absolutely powered through that power- lapse in Let It Go. Avni literally got goosebumps in the audience.

♡♡♡♡♡

"What is this hollow kind of helplessness I'm feeling? This kind of terror is new." Ricky sang, sitting in one of the most beautiful sets Avni had ever seen. Gadget had really out-done herself this time.

His voice was so soft and pure and she could tell he really meant every word he was singing.

"I thought that I was strong till I bumped into you. What do I know about love?"

He'd come such a long way since Troy auditions- with his singing, performing, just so much better at being himself- Avni's heart swelled with pride for her best friend.

"Everything I thought I did, you've gone and changed it, kid."

Avni didn't miss the little glance into the wings. She assumed Gina was standing there, and that just made her grin wider.

She shared a look with Big Red, and she knew he was thinking the same thing.

"Can you meet me in the Yurt please?" EJ texted.