CHAPTER NINE !
"repeated mistakes"

🎸 .  .  . RYAN / HARDING HIGH

Ryan had always prided himself on being the upbeat one, the one who could bring a smile to anyone's face.

But lately, he'd been struggling to keep that smile on his own face. The reason for his turmoil was simple: Emmaline.

He had tried to push his feelings for her deep down, reminding himself repeatedly that they were rivals.

Yet, no matter how hard he tried, thoughts of Emmaline kept creeping in, persistent and unrelenting.

During rehearsals, he often found himself glancing at her, captivated by her talent and beauty. He knew he had to stay focused, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the growing attraction he had always felt.

As he walked to the main stage for yet another rehearsal, Ryan couldn't shake the feeling that something significant was happening, something involving both Emmaline and Christian.

Christian had been acting strange, and Ryan couldn't help but notice the way his best friend seemed to be distracted, especially when Emmaline was around.

The main stage was bustling with activity as students from both schools prepared for the warm-up. Instruments were tuning, voices practicing scales, and the air was filled with the energy of young artists honing their craft. Ryan quickly spotted Christian in the crowd, his best friend’s demeanor as mysterious as ever.

"Alright, everyone, let's take it from the top!" the instructor called out, clapping his hands for attention.

Ryan took his place on stage, trying to push his concerns aside. But as the rehearsal went on, he couldn't help but notice the way Christian's attention seemed divided. Every so often, Ryan caught him glancing at Emmaline, a look of longing and conflict in his eyes.
After the warm-up, Ryan made his way over to Christian, determined to get some answers.

"Hey, man," he said casually, leaning against the piano. "You've been kind of distant lately. Everything okay?"

Christian looked up, a bit startled. "Yeah, just... a lot on my mind, you know?"

Ryan nodded, not entirely convinced. "You sure? Because it seems like you've been disappearing a lot. And you keep looking at Emmaline."

Christian stiffened slightly, a flicker of guilt crossing his face. "It's nothing, Ryan. Just trying to stay focused."

Ryan frowned but decided not to press further. "Alright, if you say so. Just know I'm here if you need to talk."

Christian gave him a tight smile. "Thanks, Ry. I appreciate it."

A few days later, Ryan was heading to his next class when he spotted
a brunette girl and Christian talking quietly in a secluded corner of the courtyard.

He paused, hiding behind a nearby tree, watching them intently.

The girl looked nervous, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her jacket. Christian seemed equally on edge, his eyes darting around as if checking to see if they were being watched.

Ryan took a good look and recognizes those brown hair. It was Emmaline.

He couldnt help but feel betrayal when he saw the girl reach up to kiss him

"What's going on with those two?" Ryan wondered, his heart sinking. He felt a pang of jealousy, mixed with a sense of betrayal. Christian was his best friend, and seeing him so close to Emmaline felt like a punch to the gut.

He quickly turned away, not wanting to see any more. He needed to clear his head, to focus on their upcoming performance. But the image of Emmaline and Christian together lingered in his mind, a constant reminder of the complicated emotions he was grappling with.

As the pressure of the upcoming competition mounted, tensions ran high among the students of Alderidge High. Rehearsals were intense, and the slightest mistake could throw off the entire performance.

One afternoon, as they were practicing a particularly challenging piece, Ryan made a crucial mistake, causing the entire ensemble to falter. Frustration bubbled up within him, and without thinking, he blurted out a harsh comment directed at Emmaline who was trying to help.

"Stop trying to fix everything. You're always so focused on yourself, you can't even get through a simple rehearsal without messing up."

Emmaline's eyes flashed with hurt and anger. "How could you say that?" she snapped, her voice trembling with emotion.

Ryan's heart sank as he realized the weight of his words. "I-I didn't mean it like that, Emmy. I'm sorry."

But Emmaline had already turned away, her shoulders tense with anger. Ryan felt a pang of guilt as he watched her walk away, the distance between them growing with each step.

Determined to make things right, Ryan sought her out after rehearsal. He found her standing alone on the rooftop, her back turned to him as she stared out at the city skyline.

"Emmy," he said softly, approaching her cautiously. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Emmaline didn't turn around, but he could see the tension in her posture. "You have a funny way of showing it," she muttered bitterly.

Ryan winced, feeling the weight of his mistake. "Please, Emmy, let me explain."

Emmaline finally turned to face him, her eyes filled with a mixture of anger and pain. "Explain what, Ryan? How you left us? How you broke your promise?"

Ryan's heart clenched at her words, memories flooding back. "Emmy, I never wanted to leave. My parents—"

"Don't," Emmaline interrupted, her voice sharp. "Don't make excuses. You left, Ryan. You left me and Dante when we needed you the most."

Tears welled up in Emmaline's eyes as she spoke, her voice cracking with emotion. "Do you remember our promise, Ryan? We said we'd get married when we grew up. I believed you, Ryan."

Ryan's chest tightened at the reminder of their childhood pact. "Emmy, I..."

"And then you just disappeared," Emmaline continued, her voice trembling with anger and hurt. "You left me with this stupid crush, Ryan. I was just a kid."

Ryan felt a lump form in his throat as he listened to Emmaline's words, the weight of his actions crashing down on him. "Emmy, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you."

Emmaline's shoulders sagged, her anger giving way to sadness. "I know," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But it still hurts, Ryan. It still hurts."

Ryan stepped forward, reaching out to gently touch Emmaline's arm. "I wish I could take it all back, Emmy. I wish I could go back and make things right."

"Yeah. So do i." Heart sinking Emmy walks away.

EJONA SPEAKS!

oooh drama...
I cant wait to see what will become of them hehehe.
Also get ready cause now they know of Chris and Emmy so they'll do a lot of stuff to separate them.