Since Ophelia went with Ricky to Big Red's house, he dropped her off at her mom's before the party. Soon it was time to go to the New Years Eve party at Ashlyn's. Ophelia and Fallon decided on going to the party together since they're neighbors. They were now at Ashlyn's and most of the drama club members were already there. Ashlyn's place was decorated with New Years Eve decorations, there was music playing, food in the kitchen, and everyone was conversing with each other.
Ophelia was in the living room and she had been conversing with Fallon and Luca about how Luca's date with Gina went. It was just a simple movie night date along with playing out in the snow (and yes they kissed underneath the mistletoe. gina always wanted to do that and she was so happy that she has someone she can do that with). Luca gave Gina a necklace a heart locket that was a picture of them on opening night for the 'High School Musical' play. In the picture they're both still dressed up as the characters they played and Luca is giving Gina a piggy back ride. Gina has her arms wrapped around his neck and they're both smiling at each other. Gina told him this was her favorite gift she has ever gotten and that she would cherish it forever which meant a lot to Luca.
Now they were talking about what the next play they are doing. The whole drama club thought it would be 'High School Musical Two'. Well, besides EJ. He even grew a beard because he said he wanted to be prepared if they did the play Les Misérables (and you bet Fallon stared at him with a dreamy smile when he first arrived. can you blame her? she never saw him with a beard and in her opinion that beard just made him even more cute). When Fallon was brought back to reality when Gina asked if EJ didn't know what play they were doing. EJ questioned if the play was announced and before anyone could reply to him, Carlos quickly yelled for everyone to not say anything which only confused EJ.
The party continues on and Ophelia found herself talking with some of the dancers named Addie, Kaison, and Steph. She had gotten close with each of the dancers during her time being in the drama club and she always had made sure to talk to them, not wanting them to feel like they were left out. Fallon was sitting on the floor beside EJ and Luca was
"I'm not gonna stop, that's who I am." Ophelia perks up at hearing that familiar singing voice and glances over at the now open door with a smile as Ricky walks in. Nini follows Ricky, closing the door behind her. "I'll give it all I got. That is my plan."
He dances further into the living room, earning laughter from some of the drama club members. Nini glances at everyone with a smile before her gaze lands on Ophelia and she locks eyes with her friend. She looks at Ophelia with an expression that read 'he's crazy' and the dark-skinned girl couldn't help the laugh that left her lips. She nods in agreement and mouths to her, "He is crazy."
Nini chuckled and the two girls exchanged a smile as the brunette-haired girl walked further into the living room. Ophelia and Nini have become closer of friends ever since Nini and Ricky got back together. Ophelia isn't for sure why she never tried to become closer of friends with Nini before, but she's glad that they're close friends now.
Ricky puts his hands on the back of his head and wiggles his hips, earning laughter from his friends again. "Will I find what I lost?" He grins and points at Ophelia. "You know I can." Ophelia giggles which made him smile. Ricky jumps, hitting the floor with both hands. "Bet on it, bet on it." He stands up and points at someone else dramatically. "You can bet on me."
The room erupts into applause. "That was very entertaining as always." Ophelia commented, teasingly smiling at him when he looked at her with a playful glare.
"Bravo, Ricky!" Fallon chuckles, sending a smile to the curly-haired boy. "Zac Efron would be proud." Ricky chuckled and dramatically bowed.
EJ nods and smiles. "Alright, Ricky."
"Okay, okay, okay!" Carlos exclaims, gaining everyone's attention and the room grows quiet. "Does anybody not know we're doing 'High School Musical Two'?"
EJ perks up at hearing that. "We are?" He excitedly asks and grins. "Whoo-hoo!" Carlos groaned and fell back on the couch.
Fallon looks at him with amusement. "It's a good thing that you're pretty 'cause you ain't that smart."
EJ looks at her with furrowed eyebrows and tilts his head to the side. "Was that a compliment or an insult?"
Fallon smiles, patting his shoulder. "Yes."
EJ chuckles and rolls his eyes playfully. "Thanks, Lonnie." Fallon grinned and felt butterflies swarm in her stomach at hearing him call her that nickname. She still wasn't used to him calling her that, but she had to admit she loved it when he called her it.
As Ophelia watched Ricky and Nini sat on the couch close together she feels her lips form into a frown and for some reason she felt a pang of jealousy. She grew confused as to why she was feeling that way, but she just couldn't seem to forget about it. Feeling like eyes were on him, Ricky glances in the direction Ophelia stood and locks eyes with her. He frowns upon seeing she looked upset and he raises his eyebrows at her, mouthing to her "Are you okay?". Ophelia forces a smile and nods. Ricky slowly nodded, not fully believing her. He turned his attention away from her and back to his girlfriend and that was when Ophelia let the smile fall and her shoulders drop in defeat.
"Hey," Ophelia brings her gaze to Addie when the blonde speaks and she looks at Ophelia wth concern. "Are you okay? You seem upset."
Ophelia smiles reassuringly at her. "I'm okay, Addie."
-ˏˋOphelia is standing in front of the stairs, staring at the camera with a worried look. "Why am I feeling jealous when I see Ricky with Nini?" She shakes her head. "I shouldn't feel jealous." She smiles at the thought of Eric. "I'm in a great relationship with my lovely boyfriend. Why would I be jealous?" She chuckles. "It's not like I like Ricky that way, right?"
She nervously chuckles, fiddling with the necklace Eric got her, and looks at the camera with worried eyes. She didn't want to like Ricky romantically. She's in a relationship and so is he and plus she doesn't want to ruin the great friendship she has with him. But she couldn't help but think maybe she's starting to see him in a different light. "Right?" ˎˊ-
Soon it was time for the game that was planned. Everyone had been given a piece of paper to write down their resolution on it. Once everyone gathered in the living room, Kourtney got everyone's attention.
"Okay, listen up. Rules of the game. This is important. We need to set intentions and be accountable to one another this year."
"True that." Ashlyn agreed.
"This is a terrible party." Natalie commented.
"Hey," Kourtney points at her, looking at the brunette-haired girl with a stern expression. "Watch yourself. Okay." She laughs as she reaches into the glass bowl full of papers to pick one out. "Alright, resolution number one. Anyone's guess."
"'I resolve to...'" Kourtney's voice trails off as she reads the piece of paper she got out. She shakes her head and chuckles. "This is so stupid. I can't."
"Come on, Kourt, you have to read it." Nini encouraged her.
"I resolve to remember everyone fondly when I go to Duke'." Kourtney read off what was on the paper. "Any guesses?"
"EJ!" Ashlyn exclaims, looking at her cousin with wide eyes. "You got into Duke?"
From her place sitting on the arm chair of the chair EJ sat on, Fallon looks at him with a wide eyes and an excited smile. "EJ, that's great!" She hits his arm, causing him to wince. "You got into Duke and didn't tell me?" She scoffs, pretending to be upset as she crosses her arms. "I can't believe you."
EJ apologetically smiles at her. "I mean, have I 'technically' gotten 'into' Duke?" He uses air quotations when he says the word 'technically' and 'into'. "Did my father and our grandpa before him also 'go' into Duke?" Once again, he uses air quotations but this time when he says 'go'. He smiles and uses air quotations when he says 'a matter of time'. "Guys, I think it's just 'a matter of time'."
"Okay, I lost track of the air quotes." Ricky remarked, earning some laughter from the drama club members.
"Okay." Kourtney reaches into the bowl held to pick out another one. "Resolution number two." She furrows her eyebrows when she reads it. "Oh, I don't get this one."
Ricky smiles and points at her. "Just read it!" Everyone chimed in with their words of encouragement, all wanting to know what was on the paper.
"This one doesn't say anything except the words 'my cows'." Kourtney revealed.
"You guys," Seb speaks up. "I thought we were writing down what we're thankful for."
"Awe, Seb." Ophelia smiles. "You're so sweet."
"A for effort, Seb." EJ comments. "A for effort."
"Read another clue, Kourt." A dancer named Steph suggested, holding the glass bowl to Kourtney.
"Um, here we go." Kourtney reaches into the bowl and picks one out. "Okay. Let's see what we got. Um...'I resolve to follow my dreams however far away they take me'."
"That's gotta be Gina, right?" Ricky asked, glancing over at Gina.
Gina shakes her head. "Nope. Not me."
"Uh, it's me," Nini speaks up , nervously smiling as Ricky looks at her with confusion. "Actually." She looks back at Kourtney. "Back to the game, Kourt."
Kourtney is quiet for a few seconds before she nods. "Okay, yes, I will." Ophelia glances at Nini with furrowed eyebrows, wondering what she meant by her resolution. "Um, let's see." She turns her attention back to Kourtney when the dark-skinned girl picks out another resolution. "Next." She clears her throat before reading the paper out loud. "'All I want is for our generation to save the planet, and I would also like absolute clarity about my love life. Thank you'."
As everyone starts voicing out their guesses as to who resolution that might be, Ophelia's brings her gaze over to a stiff looking Ashlyn and it looked like she was pretending that resolution isn't hers. Ophelia smiled, knowing that the resolution was hers. Ashlyn's relationship with Big Red had been kind of complicated so she understood why the red-haired girl would want clarity about her love life. A few moments later the doorbell rang and Big Red walked in after opening the door. Everyone greeted him and Ophelia grinned upon seeing the pizzas. She didn't realize she was hungry until she saw them.
"Six pizzas. Two with lactose-free cheese." Big Red explains, walking further into the living room. "I'm here."
"Yes, I love me some pizza!" Ophelia cheers, sheepishly smiling when Big Red looks at her with offense. "And I'm glad you're here too." She quickly added and Big Red chuckled, shaking his head as he smiled.
EJ gets up and goes to take the pizza boxes from Big Red. "Yes, thank you." He smiles, taking the boxes from the red-haired boy. He furrows his eyebrows and shakes his head. "Good Lord, dude, did you fall into a bucket of cologne?" He walks over to set the boxes on the coffee table and Fallon had leaned over to smack his shoulder. He looks at her with raised eyebrows. "What?"
"Be nice." Fallon scolded him.
EJ playfully rolls his eyes. "You want pizza or not?"
"Yes," Fallon makes grabby hands in the direction of the pizza and grins. "Gimme." EJ chuckled and got her a slice of cheese pizza (she couldn't help but smile about the fact he remembered her favorite kind of pizza). After putting it on a plate he handed it to her before he got his own slice.
Ophelia sighs as she notices Big Red walk into the kitchen. She knew that Big Red shouldn't have listen to Ricky about using that cologne. When five minutes past and Big Red hasn't come back to the living room, she looks at Ricky and locks eyes with him. He looks at her with a small smile and raises his eyebrows at her in question when she looks at him with a worried look. She gestures with a nod of her head towards the kitchen, silently signaling him that he should go check on their best friend. Ricky takes a glance at the kitchen, realizing what she meant, and nods as he looks back at her. He stood up and went into the kitchen to see if Big Red was alright.
Carlos then decided now would be a perfect time to sing a 'High School Musical Two' medley to prepare them for the auditions. Ashlyn's piano was brought into the living room that Seb now sat at and EJ and Fallon now stood behind the piano. "Remember, my feedback is both precious and invaluable." Carlos said. "So, think of this medley as a pre-audition workshop." He looks at Seb with a smile. "You may begin."
Seb and Carlos started out the medley with the iconic song Sharpay sings called 'I Want Fabulous'. Then it went to Ashlyn singing the beginning of another iconic song 'You Are The Music In Me' and Gina joined her on singing parts of it. And Nini and Ricky ended the song in a sweet duet and Ophelia couldn't bring herself to watch them stare at each other with heart eyes. She had looked away and focused her attention to the floor, fiddling with her necklace she wore as the couple finished the song.
Since he was standing near her, Luca noticed her change of demeanor and concern fills his eyes. He looked at the couple who had just finished the song and were now staring at each other with smiles. He looked back at Ophelia, his eyes widening in realization.
-ˏˋ"Ophelia likes Ricky!" Luca exclaims, looking at the camera with a wide-eyed expression. He's standing near in the kitchen, facing the camera. He nods in realization. "That's why she's been acting kind of weird tonight. I noticed her look hurt earlier when Nini and Ricky first got here, but I didn't think anything of it. It makes so much sense now." He furrows his eyebrows, shaking his head. "Why does she like Ricky that way when she's with Eric and he's with Nini? And does Ricky even feel the same way?" He sheepishly smiles. "Is it bad I'm on team Rickelia?" When the camera guy looks at him with confusion he quickly explains, "Rickelia is Ricky's and Ophelia's name put together." He awkwardly smiles, rubbing the back of his neck. "I thought that was obvious."ˎˊ-
"One minute 'till midnight!" Natalie shouted and the room erupted into excited cheers. While everyone formed a circle in the living room, Ashlyn passed out party blowers and different New Years Eve items. Ophelia found herself standing between Carlos and Ricky.
Ophelia glances in the direction she felt someone nudge her which happens to be where Ricky is at. A giggle escapes her lips when Ricky put on red star shaped glasses on her. Ricky grins at her and chuckles. "Nice shades."
Ophelia laughs and flips her hair to the side, smiling at Rick. "Oh, thanks. Just got 'em." The two shared a laugh and then smiled at each other.
"Come on, Big Red!" Seb encouraged and he began to play song 'All For One' as Big Red sang.
"Everybody, all for one! Our real summer has just begun."
As Kourtney sings the next lyric of 'All For One,' Ashlyn walked around throwing out party blowers and beach balls were thrown throughout the room. "Let's rock and roll, and just let go."
"Feel the rhythm of the drums." Gina sang the next part of the chorus, sharing a smile with Luca when she caught the beach ball he threw at her.
EJ grins at Fallon beside him and Gina when she taps him on the shoulder to get his attention, laughing when he saw she was wearing blue star shaped glasses. She grins back at him, putting on a purple star shaped glasses on him. He chuckles and he looks at everyone else with a smile as he sings. "We're gonna have fun in the sun."
Before everyone got together to sing the final lyric of the chorus, Carlos sings, "Now that all the hard work, work is done."
"Everybody all for one," They sing as they place their hands in the center and simultaneously lift them. "And all for-"
"Ten seconds 'till midnight!" Natalie exclaimed excitedly and everyone cheered.
Everyone started to count down until it's midnight. They were all equally excited for the next year to finally arrive. Ophelia noticed right at the end of the countdown Ashlyn and Big Red kissed which made her smile. She knew their relationship had been a bit complicated and she was a bit worried about them, but she now knew that things would be alright with them. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed that Luca and Gina were kissing. She assumed that Luca walked across the room during the countdown like Ashlyn and Big Red did and she grinned, thinking the two were cute. Luca and Gina pulled apart from the short but sweet kiss, both smiling at each other and blushing, and the same went with Ashlyn and Big Red.
Before the group could say 'one' the door opens and a voice shouts, "I have an announcement!" Everyone grew quiet and turned to face the door to see Miss Jenn standing there.
Carlos gasps. "You cut your hair!"
Miss Jenn smiles, walking further into the living room. "Thank you." A nervous expression forms on her face. "Wait, do you like it?"
Carlos nods in response with a grin on his face. "It's amazing, Miss Jenn." Ophelia assured her, looking at the blonde woman with a smile and Miss Jenn smiled back at her.
"That's not the announcement." Miss Jenn shakes her head. "Okay." She looks at everyone and smiles. "Um..." She clears her throat. "Contrary to rumor, we are not doing 'High School Musical 2'." Everyone looked at her with disbelief and surprise. Carlos was so shocked that he almost fainted. Kourtney and a dancer named Lauryn had to catch him before he fell.
"We are doing an American classic." Miss Jenn explains. She pauses for dramatic effect before she smiles and announces, "'Beauty and the Beast'."
Excited cheers are heard throughout the room after that announcement. "And I know East High just did it a couple years ago." Miss Jenn continues as the cheers dies down. "But you didn't do it my way. And you didn't win the most important award in all of theater."
Guesses as to what award it was were thrown in the room like the Tony and the Drama Desk, but Miss Jenn quickly tells the group of teens what it is before they continue to guess. "Everyone, calm down! This semester, we are entering the Alan Menken Awards for High School Musical Theater." A smile forms on her lips. "And we are going to win."
Everyone starts speaking at once about how awesome this is, not being able to contain their excitement. "Um," Everyone calms down as Carlos speaks up. "That means beating North High, Miss Jenn. They have a thousand-gallon 'Little Mermaid' aquarium."
"Then we will have an aquarium too." Miss Jenn nodded.
Luca shakes his head and chuckles. "Wrong movie, Miss Jenn."
"Okay, I need to study the text." Miss Jenn sheepishly smiles. "So, who is ready to show the world they deserve to get that scholarship to NYU?" When confused looks were all she got, she continues. "I mean, who is ready to go from amateur thespians to statewide award winners?" She got a loud and excited cheer of response after she asked that.
Ricky walks over to stand beside Miss Jenn and faces everyone. He outstretches his arms with a smile on his face. "What team?"
"Wildcats!" Everyone chorused.
"O!" Ophelia glances at her left when she felt someone hugging on her arm and she smiles at seeing Fallon. Fallon links her arm with Ophelia's and grins at her. "This is your moment to shine! You would be perfect for Belle." Ophelia had to admit, she would love to try out for the play in hopes of getting the female lead. But she never acted or sung in front of an audience before and the thought of that just made her feel like she was going to faint.
"I second that." Luca chimed in as he joined the two girls.
"Oh, I don't know." Ophelia shakes her head, her gaze trailing over to where Nini was at talking with Ashlyn and Gina. She bites her lower lip, overhearing them talking about Nini being Belle. "There's someone else more perfect for the female lead than me." She winces as she felt someone punch her shoulder. She glances at Fallon after realizing the brunette-haired girl was the one who did that. "Lonnie, what the heck was that for?"
"Stop comparing yourself to others!" Fallon tells her. She sighs. "O, you are talented and beautiful, okay? You shouldn't let your shyness get in the way of you preforming."
Ophelia smiles a bit. "Thank you, Lonnie. And yeah, I know." She sighs. "I should try to get better at singing in front of people."
"And the only way to do that is practice." Luca said. He sends her an encouraging smile. "Trying out for this play would be great practice."
Ophelia is quiet for a few seconds as she mentally debates with herself as to what she should do. She smiles when she came up with a decision. "Okay, yeah. I'm gonna try out for Belle."
Fallon squeals excitedly and unlinks her arm from Ophelia to wrap her arm around Ophelia's shoulders and pulled her in for a side hug. Ophelia laughed and wrapped her arm around Fallon's waist to hug her back. Fallon then grabbed Luca's wrist, pulling him over so he could oin the side hug. He chuckled and stood beside her, wrapping his arm around her. The three best friends shared a laugh, but this sweet moment shared between the three was cut short at Nini's sudden confession.
"Ricky, I'm moving to Denver."
Everyone glances at Nini with surprise and Ophelia looks at Ricky, feeling her heart beginning to break at seeing how sad he immediately got. A balloon popped loudly, startling everyone. Ophelia jumped, a small yelp escaping her lips as she looked around with wide eyes. She had no idea how a balloon got popped, but that happened at the worst time in her opinion.
-ˏˋ"I have absolutely no clue what's going to happen this year." Ophelia sighs and shakes her head. "But it's kind of ironic how so far this year is looking like a beast." She smiles a bit. "Hopefully it turns out to be a beauty." ˎˊ-
A/N luca now knows that ophelia likes ricky ! also did you guys see what i did there at ophelia's lil talk with the camera ? & there were literally so many cute moments with all the ships in this chapter, i loved it