and school was hardly an ___. Crossword Clue

 The answer to the crossword clue "and school was hardly an ___" is HABIT. This is a 5-letter word that means a settled or regular tendency or practice.

In the context of the clue, the word "habit" is being used to suggest that school was not something that Ava enjoyed or took seriously. She was more interested in spending time with Dana and pursuing her music career.

The word "habit" can also be used to describe a physical or mental addiction. In this case, the clue is suggesting that Ava was so focused on her crush on Dana that she was not paying attention to her schoolwork.

I hope this helps!