"I was just wondering based off of your reaction during homecoming last week. It just didn't seem that way," EJ said with a shrug.
"Oh really? And what did it seem like?" Izzy asked and EJ seemed to finally notice her change in mood.
"I...I don't know. Maybe like there were some...some unresolved feelings?" EJ said, his tone weak, and Izzy glared at him. He could not be seriously asking her that.
"EJ, I wasn't upset because I was still in love with you, I was upset because I thought we still had some semblance of respect for each other, but you chose to lie straight to my face," Izzy said sharply and EJ shrunk away slightly.
"I'm sorry, I misread the situation then," EJ said and Izzy deflated slightly as she sighed, some of her anger leaving her body and the tiredness returning.
"It's fine," Izzy said before turning away from him and facing the stage again. Her eyes fell on Ricky and Nini, who were standing together and laughing.
"They seem to be friends again," EJ said and Izzy didn't have to turn around to know that he was staring at them too.
"That's because Ricky is mature and can handle being friends with his ex without lying straight to her face when she tries to offer friendship," Izzy said before walking away from EJ, leaving him staring at Ricky and Nini.
.⋅ ✯ ⋅.
Izzy was sitting alone in the auditorium at the piano bench. It had been 20 minutes since the end of their disastrous attempted rehearsal without Miss Jenn and when everyone had scattered, Izzy had found herself drawn to the empty auditorium.
She hadn't expected the possibility of the show ending prematurely to hit her so hard, seeing as she had only auditioned in the first place with ulterior motives, but she had grown to love the show and the people in it. It hurt to know that it could all be ending so soon.
"Are you going to play something?" A voice from behind her made Izzy spin around in her seat. She hadn't noticed Ricky sneaking up on her.
"Yeah, actually. I was planning to practice the piano part of 'What I've Been Looking For'. Seb's been teaching me it, but he said I need to practice on my own too," Izzy said as Ricky walked over to her.
"That's very dedicated of you, especially considering the fact that the show might be canceled tomorrow," Ricky said as he came to a stop beside the bench.
"I've decided to have faith." Izzy said with a shrug and Ricky raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"You don't really come across as the hopeful type, aside from your love of romcoms," Ricky said, leaning against the piano.
"I said faith, not hope. There's a difference," Izzy said, and Ricky gestured for her to explain further. "I don't know, I guess I've always viewed hope as just wishing on something blindly, but faith is different to me. I'm choosing to trust and to...to believe. To believe in Miss Jenn and the show and...and us," Izzy finished, her voice faltering near the end, and Ricky raised his eyebrows again.
"Us?" He questioned and Izzy hoped he didn't notice the slight blush that had appeared on her cheeks.
"Yeah, all of us in the show. A collective us," She said quickly and Ricky nodded slowly.
"Right. Well, can I hear what you have so far?" Ricky asked, gesturing down to the piano.
"I don't know, I still need to practice," Izzy said hesitantly.
"Come on, I'll help you if you need it. You'll be great," Ricky said, sitting down beside her on the bench. After a moment's hesitation, Izzy set her fingers on the keys and began to play.