It's finally the opening night of 'High School Musical'. Ophelia went with dressing up a bit for tonight. She wore an off shoulder plaid blouse, a black skirt, and black vans with star prints on them. She wore makeup that would match her outfit, her hair was curly like she normally has it, and she wore some rings as well.

Even though Ophelia was only helping out with the tech she was still nervous. Ophelia's mom dropped her off when she was supposed to go and told her she and her dad would be there despite the fact she's only helping with the tech. Her parents said they were still going to go to support the drama club which meant a lot to Ophelia. Eric had even texted Ophelia to let her know he was going to watch and the two planned to go on a date tomorrow since there was going to be an after-party for the drama club after the play. Some of Ophelia's friends from the yearbook club said they were even going to go watch the play to support the drama club.

Ophelia couldn't believe that Miss Jenn manage to convince Principal Gutierrez to let them use the gym, but she was very happy that they had a place to put on the play. The drama club were gathered in the bomb shelter, getting ready for the play that was going to start in thirty-five minutes. Ophelia was conversing with Fallon and Luca who both were dressed as their characters and were equally nervous about tonight. 

"Don't worry, you guys." Ophelia assures her two of her best friends. She smiles. "You both are gonna do great."

Fallon and Luca smile at her. "Thanks." 

"We've got mystery flowers, people!" Carlos announced, walking into the bomb shelter as he carried a big basket of flowers. Ophelia looked at the flowers with wide eyes, exchanging a surprised look with Fallon and Luca.

"Wow," EJ looks at the big basket of flowers with a wide eye expression. "Those are massive."

"Why mystery?" Big Red asked.

"There was no card, so I'm guessing it's dealer choice." Carlos responds and chuckles. "But if I had to bet, I'd say it's for our leading lady." He pointed at Nini with a smile on his face.

Nini smiles and glances at Ricky. "Awe!"

Ricky shakes his head, sending her an apologetic smile. "Not from me. Sorry."

"It's okay." Nini assured him.

"Heads up, Caswell." Kourtney said to the boy who was looking at his phone as she fixes his makeup. "You know Miss Jenn says this is a phone-free zone."

EJ nods. "I know, but this is important." 

He glanced at Fallon and when they lock eyes, she raises her eyebrows at him in question. He nodded at her and smiled. Fallon grinned, knowing that meant their plan was in motion. The two friends made a plan to get Gina back in time so that she can see the play. Things just wouldn't be the same without Gina and they knew that she deserved to at least see the play.

Kourtney rolls her eyes. "Always is."

"Okay," Ophelia taps Fallon's arm to get her attention and the light-brunette haired girl glances at her with raised eyebrows. "What was that little look you and EJ just gave each other?"

Fallon's eyes widen, looking at her and Luca who smiled teasingly at her. "What?" Her face turns a light pink color. "It-It was nothing."

"Yeah," Luca scoffs, shaking his head and used air quotations when he said the word 'nothing'. "Okay. And my feelings for Gina are 'nothing'."

"Speaking of Gina," Ophelia points at him, looking at him with a small smile. "How are things going between you two?"

Luca smiles. "Despite the fact that she's not living here we still manage to keep in contact with each other." He shakes his head and sighs sadly. "It's not the same though. I miss her."

"You won't miss her for long." Fallon mumbled under her breath. she looked down so her hair would fall in front of her face and block the grin that tugged on her lips. Ophelia and Luca exchanged a look and they looked at Fallon weirdly.

"What was that?" Luca asked.

"Oh," Fallon glances at him with wide eyes, feeling her face heat up out of embarrassment, and she hoped that Ophelia and Luca didn't hear her. "Nothing! I-I was just gonna say, um," She looks at Ophelia with a smile and playfully elbows her. "How are you and Eric?"

Ophelia smiles dreamingly. "We're doing good. We're actually going on a date tomorrow and he's coming to watch the play."

"Awe," Fallon smiles. "That's so sweet of him." She tilts her head to the side, raising her eyebrows at Ophelia. " And how are you and you know who going?" She asked, gesturing with a nod of her head to Ricky.

Ophelia glances at Ricky and locks eyes with him. She ignores the butterflies swarming in her stomach when he sends her a smile and she couldn't help but smile back at him. She looks at Fallon and Luca, shrugging her shoulders. "I mean, we're good." She furrows her eyebrows. "Why wouldn't we be?"

"Well, have you guys talk since what happened at the El Ray?" Luca inquired.

Ophelia chuckles. "Nothing happened between us. He just almost kissed Nini."

"Yeah," Fallon points at her. "Maybe because of you."

"We don't know that." Ophelia reminds her and Luca. "We shouldn't assume anything." She shrugs, a smile tugging on her lips when she thinks about Eric. "And besides, I'm happy with Eric."

Fallon and Luca exchanges a knowing smile and they look back at Ophelia and nod. "And we're happy for you." Fallon told Ophelia.

"Half hour!" Natalie announced.

"Okay, last touches, anyone?" Kourtney asks, glancing at everyone. "Speak now or forever hold your face."

"Why?" Seb turns in his chair to look at her with confusion. "Where are you going to be during the show?"

Before he could get an answer, Miss Jenn walks into the bomb shelter. "My beautiful babies, let's gather around for some housekeeping." Everyone forms a circle in the middle of the room and that's when Miss Jenn notices the flowers. "First of all, who brought Versailles?"

Carlos shrugs. "No one knows."

"Well, I suppose we'll just have to share, then." Miss Jenn smiles at everyone. "Oh, and speaking of sharing, most of you know that our dazzling Taylor had to leave under family circumstances. Gina sends her love and support to all of you, but unfortunately she's on the East Coast and won't be able to make it tonight's performance."

"And so, I have asked Kourtney to fill in in her stead." Miss Jenn gestured to Kourtney and everyone cheered for her.

"So now, what I would like to do is, please think of a word or phrase from the show that expresses where your head is or goals for tonight." Miss Jenn continues. "If anyone wants to share?"

Some of the drama club members went around with saying the words or phrases they thought of from the show and it ended with Miss Jenn saying, "And I'll just say, no matter what happens tonight, we're all in this together."

A moment of silence fills the room before Miss Jenn claps. "Okay, Wildcats, take a moment to settle your nerves. If we had a curtain, it would be up in twenty minutes!" Everyone cheered excitedly and the main cast gathered in the hallway to do a prayer circle before the show. 

****

Anxiety rose in Ophelia as it got closer to the start of the show. The audience was filling with people and it made her happy to see her parents sitting next to Fallon's parents and Luca's parents. She also noticed Eric sitting in the crowd next to her yearbook club friends which made her smile.

She was standing at the sound system next to Big Red on the higher platform above the audience. Ophelia shifts her weight on one foot to another, biting her lower lip as she glances at the different buttons. "Maybe we should've labeled all of theses." She's good with technology, but now that it was so close to the start of the show she was beginning to fear she would forget everything she knows about it.

"Don't worry," Big Red assures her. "I'm sure things will be okay."

When Miss Jenn softly told the two to dim the lights, they started looking for the right switch. Ophelia found it, and was about to pull down the lever that would dim the lights. But Big Red thought he found the right button and pressed it before Ophelia pulled down the lever. Ophelia cringed when the national anthem started playing. 

"Red, that's not the right one." Ophelia muttered and she quickly pressed the button Big Red press to turn off the national anthem before anyone stood up. Looking at Miss Jenn with confusion silently asking her what she wanted them to do, she furrowed her eyebrows and exchange da confused look with Big Red when Miss Jenn told them to disco ball down. Why would they need the disco ball now?

The two teens search for the button that would bring the disco ball down and Big Red is the one to find it. After he presses it the disco ball appears and some laughter came from the audience as the stage crew were quick to bring out the first set. 

Ophelia groans and facepalms. "This is a nightmare."

Soon the play started and the first scene was going good so far, but Big Red and Ophelia were now panicking because they couldn't remember which button was the firework sound. "Oh gosh! Sounds like the fireworks started. Can you hear them?" When Nini said that, that was their cue on turning on the firework sound. Big Red pressed a button in hopes it was the right one and it wasn't. Instead of fireworks, it was the score board alarm blaring. 

"Turn it off, turn it off." Ophelia hissed, reaching over to press the same button he did. 

She furrows her eyebrows, glancing at the sound system in front of her and Big Red. "Where is the stupid fireworks button?" She muttered.

"Need a hand?"

Big Red and Ophelia look over with relief when they see Mr. Mazarra. "Man, how many have you got?" Big Red questioned.

Ophelia nods in agreement. "I'm normally really good at this kind of stuff, but I think I have opening night jitters. We need all the help we can get." She looks at Mr. Mazarra with a pleading expression. "So help us, please."

Mr. Mazarra chuckles and nods. "I will, Ophelia. And just remember to calm down."

Ophelia sighs heavily and looks at the sound system nervously. "I'll try."

"Okay," Miss Jenn said and that's when Ophelia realized Miss Jenn was now standing by them. "I'll leave you three to it!"

"Not so fast." Mr. Mazarra stops Miss Jenn from leaving. "Maybe you could have an usher spread the word during the intermission." He hands her some robotics club stickers. "I've got a whole box for you."

Miss Jenn smiles. "Consider it done." She then walked off and Ophelia stepped to the side when Mr. Mazarra moved to stand beside her and Big Red.

Mr. Mazarra puts on the extra headphone set, slapping Big Red's hand away when the red-haired boy reached to touch a button. Ophelia covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.

The next scene was with Kourtney and Nini as Taylor and Gabriella and then EJ and Ricky as Chad and Troy. Ophelia thought that Kourtney did amazing as Taylor. Ophelia knew the dark-skinned girl was nervous about remembering her lines, but they had it where Kourtney could have her lines hidden with her. She also thought the boys did amazing with their scene as well and it seemed like the audience continued to be loving the play.

****

Meanwhile, back in the bomb shelter everyone was getting ready for the 'Stick To The Status Quo' scene which was next. Kourtney was having trouble with her dance she had to do, but Carlos and Fallon were doing their best to try and help her. 

"Come on, you can do it!" Fallon encourages the girl trying to split. "You almost got it!"

"Mmm-mmm." Kourtney hums in disapproval as she stands up. she looks at Fallon and Carlos, shaking her head. "You guys, this is as far as I can split."

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for 'Stick To The Status Quo'." Miss Jenn announces, walking into the bomb shelter. "This is our biggest Act One showstopper, and you're all going to kill it because I love you. Any questions?"

Kourtney raises a hand. "I have a couple hundred."

"Wait." Seb speaks up. "How is the Taylor dance break gonna work? Gina's trayography is really complex."

"I can run to the pit and have the orchestra cut that part!" Carlos suggested.

Fallon shakes her head. "No, Kourtney can do this!"

A relieved expression forms on Kourtney's face when she sees someone walking into the bomb shelter. "Or we can just have Gina do it." Luca looked at Kourtney with confusion when she said that. She had to be lying, right? Gina wasn't there. If she was, Luca thought that Gina would've told him she was going to be there.

"Gina!" Fallon exclaimed excitedly, being the first one to run over to the dark-skinned girl. Everyone followed her, but Luca, who stayed where he was with a shocked expression on his face. He couldn't believe that Gina was actually there. He would actually get to speak to her in person again. Maybe even hug her. Maybe now he should tell her how he feels about her before she leaves again.

Gina is pulled into a group hug after she set down the cupboard of cupcakes down on the nearby table. "Wow, you guys I don't want to interrupt." She smiled.

"How did you get here?" Carlos asked her.

"A friend bought me a last-minute flight back." Gina locks eyes with Fallon and smiles at the light brunette-haired girl. Fallon grins back at her. Gina looks back at everyone with a smile, gesturing to the cupcakes she brought. "I was gonna drop off these cupcakes, then hide in the gym and cheer you guys on."

"Gina, no one in the gym wants to hide more than me." Kourtney remarked.

"Wait," Gina glances at Kourtney's outfit and her face lit up. She looks at Kourtney with a smile. "Are you playing Taylor?"

"I was," Kourtney nods. "And it was nice, and now it's your turn to save my butt and do the dance." She reaches the tray to Gina. "Please. I'm asking you."

Gina glances at Miss Jenn with a hopeful expression. "Can I?"

"Of course." Miss Jenn smiles at her. She looks at her and Kourtney. "You can do the curtain call together. Let's hit the halls, people!"

Everyone separated to go finish getting ready for the next scene. Luca finally felt like he could move his feet and he found himself walking over to Gina. Gina looks at him with a bright smile. "Luca, hi!" 

"Hi, Gina." Luca smiled back at her, surprised when she suddenly pulled him in for a hug. He didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around her. The two teens held onto each other so tight as if when they let go they would disappear.

 "I missed you." Luca muttered.

"I missed you too." Gina mumbled, holding onto him tighter. She missed him so much and during her time away from him she realized her romantic feelings for him.

They reluctantly let go of each other when someone clears their throat to get their attention. They pull away from each other, looking over in the direction they heard someone clear their throat to see Carlos sheepishly smiling at them. "Look, I hate to ruin this lovely little reunion between you guys," He points at Gina. "But Gina, you need to get ready."

Gina nods. "Right." She exchanged a shy smile with Luca before she went to the dressing room.

Luca smiles shyly, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. He glances at Carlos, raising his eyebrows to see that Carlos was smiling knowingly at him. "What?" He asked Carlos.

"You two so like each other." Carlos spoke.

Luca feels his face heat up and he shakes his head. "Shut up, Carlos. I-I gotta get out there for the next scene." He stuttered and quickly went out to the hallway to get to the gym before Carlos could talk to him about his feelings for Gina anymore.

****

Thanks to Mr. Mazarra's help, things with the sound system were easier for Big Red and Ophelia. The 'Stick To The Status Quo' scene was awesome. Everyone remembered their choreography and everything that they were supposed to do. At the end of the song, the gym erupted into cheers. 

Back in the bomb shelter, everyone was chatting excitedly with each other about how great that scene was as they got ready for the next scene. Luca and Fallon couldn't help but notice the little moment between Gina and Ricky. 

"So," Fallon speaks, bringing her gaze and Luca's gaze finally away from Gina and Ricky and they both look at each other. "Are you gonna finally sing that song you finished to Gina before she leaves?" She smiles at Luca. "I think you should. She deserves to know how you feel."

"I know." Luca sighs, not even bothering to deny because he knows that Fallon would get the truth out of him one way or another. He crosses his arms, his lips forming into a frown. "I just hate that even if I tell her my feelings she's still has to leave."

Fallon smiles sadly at him. "I know, Luca. But i mean, maybe she feels the same way, and then you two could try a long distance."

"I don't know about that." Luca shakes his head. "But I do know I will try to sing that song to her before she leaves."

"Troy and ballers in five minutes!" Carlos announces as he walks into the bomb shelter. He looks at Ricky. "Ricky, we need you in a harness, pronto!" 

"That's my cue to leave." Luca said, looking at Fallon with a small smile.

Fallon grins at him and gives him a thumbs up. "Break a leg!" She nervously bites her lower lip. "I mean, don't break a leg, but you know, I'm just wishing you good luck."

Luca chuckles and nods. "I know, Lonnie. Thanks."