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𝒙𝒊. ━━ 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆

( ✧∘* ೃ ⋆｡˚. )
━━━━ STEAL YOUR HEART,
well, this is awkward. . .

      𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒆𝒅, hesitating on walking into the conference room of where the first table meeting of high school musical: the musical: the series would take place. she had been casted as tatum archer—nini salazar roberts' childhood best friend and love interest to ricky bowen. she had been so excited when she got cast, but now that it was time to meet to meet her cast mates, she was nervous as hell.

breathe harley, she mentally scolded before exhaling shakily and walking into the room. harley was greeted to the sight of her cast members, and the producer of the show. harley smiled when she noticed olivia rodrigo and sofia wylie in the room, olivia had been one of the few people who knew of harley joining the cast, seeing as they ended up doing a chemistry read at harley's audition.

     olivia grinned when she noticed harley, jumping up from her seat and ran to her. harley let out a surprised yelp when olivia slammed into her, wrapping her arms around harley's waist. harley was quick to reciprocate the hug by wrapping her arms around olivia's neck. harley hadn't realized how much she needed a hug until she found herself fighting back a bay of tears that wanted to fall until she was in a pool of her own tears.

"i am so happy you're here!" olivia mumbled happily into harley's ear, making harley smile softly, she really needed olivia's positive attitude in her life at the moment and could not be more greatful for her.

"i'm so happy to be here," harley responded, letting olivia pull back from the hug.

      olivia frowned, along with everyone else watching the interaction, when she saw the tears, "are you okay?" she questioned quietly.

      harley swallowed harshly, feeling all the eyes on her. olivia's eyes softened, feeling harley tense. the cooper girl forced a smile on her face, "yeah, why wouldn't i be?" she questioned, olivia arched a brow in response.

     "happy tears," she lied, and though olivia didn't believe her, she dropped the subject, dragging harley to meet the co-stars they would be spending six to seven months with. great first impression dumb ass, harley thought, inwardly rolling her eyes.

      after everyone introduced themselves, harley finally decided to ask about the games scattered around the conference room, "i'm allowed to ask about the games, right?" she joked, earning laughs from everyone and a nod from the producer, tom federle.

      "well, easy way to put this—i want you guys to bond," tom smiled, "all this week, 8 hour work shifts." harley glanced at her cast mates, smiling lightly at the fact that they all seemed excited about what tom said.

      harley accidentally made eye contact with joshua and internally cringe but smiled at him nonetheless. joshua took that as his chance to approach her, tom had just left the room and the co-stars were still deciding on what game to play.

"well would you look at this, it's joshua 'pick up line' bassett," harley greeted, teasing the boy slightly over their awkward dms.

joshua let out a laugh, his cheeks tinting pink as he remembered their conversation. harley felt her heart race at hearing his laugh, it was melodic. joshua smiled at her, "well if it isn't miss harley cooper, what a pleasant surprise."

harley smiled at joshua, going to open her mouth to respond when matt cornett shouted from across the room, "hey, harley! bet i can beat you in a game of battleship!"

matt was grinning smugly and harley narrowed her eyes, scoffing at the ludicrous bet. harley was competitive, really competitive, this trait is what stopped a lot of game nights early in the cooper household on numerous occasions. "oh, in your dreams, matt cornett!"

joshua bassett watched harley laugh at some joke matt said and his eyes softened, he liked seeing her smile—it was a good look on her but he couldn't help but notice how it didn't reach her eyes and in that second made a decision, not realizing that this decision would change both of their lives for the better.

he had made the decision to do everything possible to change that, he wanted her to be happy and have a smile that reached her eyes. he wanted to heal her broken heart, and possibly heal it enough to where he could even potentially steal it.