AN: I'm back from break. Got enough chs for a stable update this week. So, gimme those powerstones.
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[17 Again Set]
The basketball court on the soundstage was lively in the morning as the crew set up the lights and cameras for the first big scene of 17 Again.
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller moved between the monitors, making quick adjustments as the extras got into position in the stands. Today was the first day of shooting, and the air was filled with nerves and excitement typical of the first day on set.
Jack stood just off the court in his basketball jersey, rolling his shoulders to stay loose and did a quick little jump for a quick warm-up.
The polished wood reflected the overhead lights, and for a second, he just took it in and thought, 'Finally, I'm here. This is where it starts and I'm gonna give it my all. There won't be any space for "we'll fix it later." No. I have to make it perfect.'
A group of cheerleaders stood at center court, already in position, going over the routine one last time with quiet counts under their breath. Jack had practiced with them enough to know the timing. Still, he was feeling a little bit nervous in his heart.
...
Haley sat in the spectator section with Phil right beside her, both of them wearing visitor passes that the directors had happily handed over. Phil grinned like a kid at his first game, while Haley tried to play it cool even though her eyes kept drifting back to Jack. She had promised herself she would not make this weird, especially after they talked everything through about the upcoming kiss scene.
Phil leaned closer and whispered, "This is gonna be awesome. Look at him out there. My boy is owning this set already. I wonder if they will show us in the movie. How cool would it be?"
'Ohhh~ He looks so handsome and sexy. I heard he has a private trailer. Maybe I should sneak in for a couple of kisses,' Haley thought with a dreamy smile.
...
Across the court...
Everything was ready.
"Let's keep the energy high from the start," Phil called out. "We want this to feel alive, like the game matters before the game even starts."
Christopher nodded, adding, "And remember, Mike O'Donnell comes in like he owns the place. Confidence first, everything else follows."
Jack caught that and gave a small nod to himself. 'Confidence first. Got it.'
The assistant director clapped loudly.
"Quiet on set!"
The chatter faded quickly. Background noise dropped into a low hum before disappearing completely.
"Take positions."
Everyone went to their marks. The cheerleaders too the center of the court.
"Rolling!"
"Speed."
"Camera A rolling."
"Camera B rolling."
A beat.
"Scene 1A… Take 1... Action!"
Music hit.
The cheerleaders burst onto the court with high kicks and synchronized claps, their routine popping with youthful bounce under the bright lights. The music track pumped through the speakers, filling the gym with an upbeat rhythm that made it impossible to stay still. The rhythm was fast, confident, loud enough to feel in the chest.
Jack waited exactly half a beat, just like they practiced.
Then he stepped in with a confident look on his face.
He moved straight into the formation, catching the rhythm immediately. His footwork matched the beat, shoulders loose, movements clean but not overdone. It didn't look like he was trying too hard, which made it work better. He blended in for a second, then naturally started to stand out.
A spin, a step forward, a quick sequence that shifted the focus onto him without breaking the flow.
...
On the bleachers, Haley's eyes widened slightly. "Okay… I didn't know he could dance like that."
Phil leaned closer, equally impressed. "OMG, he is a pro."
...
Jack hit the next mark perfectly, syncing with the lead cheerleader as the formation shifted around him. The choreography built, then transitioned into a moment where he took center for a few beats, confidence carrying through every move. And it looked like he was enjoying it.
Behind the monitors, Phil Lord grinned slightly. "Yeah, he got moves and that expression... Interesting."
Christopher Miller nodded. "He's got presence. The camera likes him. And I don't think we'll need another take for this one."
Back on the court, the routine hit its final beat. The cheerleaders snapped into their ending pose as Jack finished the last step cleanly, landing exactly where he was supposed to.
A split second of silence.
"Cut!"
The tension broke instantly. The room filled with movement again, voices picking up, people shifting back into motion.
"That was solid. Let's check the playback," Christopher said with a little wave.
Jack let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. One of the cheerleaders gave him a quick high-five with a little wink. He smiled and shook his head. Then he jogged to the sideline, grabbed a water bottle from the crew in charge of water and towels, and caught his breath. Sweat already dotted his forehead, but he wore a satisfied expression. He glanced toward the stands and spotted Haley and Phil right away, giving them a quick wave that made Haley wave back enthusiastically.
He twisted the cap off his water bottle and took a long drink, still catching his breath as the noise of the set slowly returned around him. He wiped his forehead with the back of his wrist, then glanced once more toward the stands. Haley was still looking at him, smiling like she had just discovered something new, while Phil gave him an exaggerated double thumbs-up.
Jack let out a small breath, then turned and jogged toward the monitors where Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were already leaning in, focused on the playback.
"Let's see what we got," Christopher muttered, eyes locked on the screen.
Jack slowed as he approached, not wanting to crowd them, but close enough to see. The footage rolled. Music, movement, timing, everything played out exactly as it had seconds ago, except now it looked sharper, more intentional. The camera caught his entrance cleanly. The transition into formation looked smooth. The center beats landed with confidence.
Phil Lord tilted his head slightly, watching closely. "Look at that entry. He doesn't hesitate even a little."
Christopher nodded, his attention still fixed. "And the timing with the formation shift is tight. No drift, no lag... Perfect."
Jack stayed quiet, arms resting loosely at his sides, but his focus was locked on the screen. He wasn't looking for praise. He was looking for mistakes.
The routine hit the final sequence.
The cut came.
Silence hung for a second.
Then Phil Lord leaned back, a slow grin forming. "That's… actually kind of ridiculous."
Christopher let out a quiet breath, shaking his head once. "We planned eight takes minimum for that. Maybe more if the energy dropped."
He looked at Jack, then back at the screen like he wanted to double-check it was real. "But that's clean. Like, really clean."
Jack blinked once, processing that. "So… we're good?"
Phil Lord looked at him, half amused. "We're more than good. That's a one-take."
Jack let out a breath, tension leaving his shoulders without him realizing it. "Oh."
Christopher smiled faintly. "You were worried about something, weren't you?"
Jack shrugged lightly. "Just didn't want to mess up the first day."
Phil Lord laughed under his breath. "If this is you not messing up, I'm excited to see what you do when you're actually trying to show off."
Jack huffed a quiet laugh at that, scratching the back of his head. "I'll try not to peak on day one."
Phil Lord clapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Too late. You already set the bar."
Christopher turned, raising his voice slightly toward the court. "Hey, can we get the cheer squad over here for a second?"
The cheerleaders gathered quickly, still a little breathless but smiling, clearly riding the same energy.
Phil Lord nodded at them. "That was tight. You all stayed locked in the whole way. No one broke formation, no one rushed the beat. That's not easy with that kind of opening."
Christopher added, "Seriously, that level of sync on a first take is rare. You made it look easy, which usually means it wasn't."
A few of them exchanged excited looks, one girl letting out a quiet "Yes" under her breath.
Jack gave them a small nod. "You guys carried the energy. Made it easier for me to just fit in."
One of the lead cheerleaders laughed. "You didn't 'fit in,' you kind of took over."
Jack smiled slightly but didn't argue.
Phil Lord clapped his hands once, looking around. "Alright, that's a strong start. Let's keep going with this energy."
Christopher nodded, then glanced toward the crew. "We're going to reset for the next setup. Lighting needs a shift and we've got a different angle coming in."
The assistant director stepped forward, already picking up the cue. "Alright, everyone, listen up."
The chatter dipped again as people turned.
"We're taking a one-hour break while the set gets adjusted for the next scene. Stay close, don't disappear too far, and be ready when we call you back."
A small wave of relaxed energy moved through the set. People stretched, grabbed water, checked phones, or drifted into small groups.
...
//Phil Dunphy's confession//
Phil sat on the folding chair, still wearing his visitor badge.
"Okay, first of all… those cheerleaders?" he said, pointing emphatically as if they were still right in front of him. "Elite. Tight formations, clean transitions, strong finish. That is not beginner level pep spirit, that is precision cheer."
He nodded with deep respect, letting that sink in.
"And I would know."
Phil leaned back, looking very pleased with himself.
"Former cheerleader. High school and college. Fresno State."
He paused, then added with a proud grin, "Go Bulldogs."
Sitting up straighter now, he got more animated.
"I mean, I've done routines. I've hit counts. I've lifted people. Emotionally and physically."
He demonstrated a quick clap sequence with surprising confidence.
"Five, six, seven, eight. Boom! Energy, smile, sell it to the back row. That's the job."
Phil leaned in slightly, clearly impressed.
"And today? They delivered."
Then his expression softened into something warmer.
"But let's talk about Jack."
He pointed off to the side.
"That kid walked onto that court like he owned it. No hesitation, no 'uh oh I forgot the steps,' none of that panic sweat I used to get right before a pyramid."
Phil nodded, pride practically radiating off him.
"He just… went. And the camera loved him. I mean, I loved him, but in a totally normal, future son-in-law, supportive way."
He lifted a hand quickly, as if to clarify.
"Normal amount."
A grin spread across his face.
"And I gotta say, as a former cheerleader, watching him hit those beats, stay in sync, and then casually become the center of attention without even trying?"
He shook his head, impressed.
"That's star quality."
Phil leaned back again, satisfied.
"So yeah. Today I got to see a professional cheer squad absolutely crush it…"
He smiled, softer now, more personal.
"…and my daughter's boyfriend, who also happens to be one of my favorite celebrities, own the floor."
He paused for a second.
"I'm not saying I'm emotional about it…"
His eyes got just a little watery.
"…but if someone played 'We Are Family' right now, I would not be okay."
//Phil Dunphy's confession End//
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