Author's Note: Hey! Thanks for checking out my story. This is my first fanfiction ever, so please remember I'm new to this! Please review, I'd love to hear your opinions. I don't own Highschool Musical or any of the songs or song lyrics from the movies. I do own Ella though! :)
I don't believe in fairy tales. Or, at least, I didn't. Until one day, not so long ago, when I came face to face with the beginning of my story, that would end in happily ever after. But I didn't know it then. No, then "happily ever after" was the farthest thing from my mind. I had bigger problems. My name is Ella Bolton, and this is the story of of my real life fairytale...
"Ella?" The sound of my name cut through the hazy mist of sleep and I opened my eyes. Blinking, I sat up in bed, then looked at my dad who was standing in the doorway. "It's almost time to go sweetheart. I think you overslept."
"Wha-?" I mumbled, then glanced at the clock. Nine forty-five. Did I have to go to school? No, it was summer break. Why was my dad waking me up? Then it hit me. Drama practice!
"Dad! Why didn't you wake me sooner?" Leaping out of bed I didn't even wait to hear his answer before I said, "Ready in ten! Now leave please so I can change!" I heard my dad chuckle before I slammed the door and raced to my closet.
Ten minutes later I sprinted out of the bathroom where I had just brushed my teeth and hurriedly brushed my hair back into a slightly sloppy braid. Standing in front of the mirror in my room I quickly applied some mascara and eyeliner, and then a thin coat of lipgloss. I did a quick check in the mirror and smiled at the results. My orange hoodie and ripped jeans looked casual and cool at the same time. My hair wasn't the greatest, but it would have to do. Quickly I grabbed my script from it's place on my desk and slipped it into my incredibly large purse. I never understood those people who carried those tiny handbags. Where did they put everything they needed?
Finally, I opened my jewelry box and picked up my golden locket with "Love" inscripted on the front in old fashioned letters. It had been a present from my dad on my tenth birthday and since that day I had worn it almost constantly.
I quickly fastened the necklace around my neck and walked out into the living room. "Ready!" I said. My dad put down the newspaper he had been reading, and smiled at me, his blue eyes twinkling.
"You look lovely sweetheart." He came over and kissed me on the top of my head. I smiled up at him. Most teenage girls would probably be embarrassed when their dads said stuff like that to them, but my dad and I had always had a special relationship. It might have something to do with my mom dying when I was just a baby. We were all eachother had.
"Thanks. But we really gotta go now!" I bounced from one foot to the other, something I did when I was really excited.
He laughed. "Okay, okay I get the message! Let's go."
"Okay!" I ran out the door and was standing by the car before my dad had left the house. He laughed as he locked the door.
"Excited much?"
I grinned. "Very." As we both climbed into the car I continued, "I just love acting. I know that sounds kind of dorky, but I think I always will. It's kind of a part of me."
"Trust me darling, I get that." My dad started the car and pulled away from the curb. "Back when I was in highschool I loved singing. I was a jock, so most of my friends were pretty shocked when they found out I had auditioned for the school musical. I was actually pretty surprised myself."
"Well what made you do it then?"
"Like I said, I really loved it. Plus, there was this girl..."
"Oh, I get it now." I smiled. "Was she pretty?"
"Yeah she was...gorgeous." I looked over as he shook his head. "We were... close, I guess you could say. For awhile anyway."
There was something about my dad's eyes, which looked as if they were reliving very vivid memories, that made me speak in almost a whisper. "What happened?"
"Life happened." For a minute everything was quiet. Then he smiled and cleared his throat. "But everything worked out right? I married your mother and I got a beautiful daughter."
"Right." I said quietly. But I couldn't help but think there was something that my dad wasn't telling me.
"Well here we are!" My dad sounded almost too cheerful as we pulled up to the old theater where I had my acting classes. "Have a good day Ella."
"You too Dad. Bye!"
"Bye!"
I grabbed my purse, jumped out of the car, and headed for the door.
"Hey did you hear what happened to Miss Adams?" My friend Nate said as we all sat in the theater seats talking.
"No, what?" Miss Adams was our acting teacher and had been preparing a special project for us to perform at the end of the summer. I had noticed she wasn't here. I hoped nothing bad had happened to her. "Did she get hurt or something?"
"No, no, nothing like that. She got a supporting role in a brand new Broadway show!"
"No freaking way!" I couldn't believe it. "That's so amazing for her! What show?"
"It's called Out of the Blue. It's about an angel who comes down to visit earth or something like that."
"Sounds cool. But wait..." my heart sank, "does that mean no more acting classes?"
"No, Kelly was supposed to get a replacement."
"Oh." I glanced over at Kelly, the assistant acting coach who was talking to a group of students a few rows away. "I hope she made a good decision."
Nate nodded. "Me too."
At that moment Kelly walked up on stage and clapped her hands. "Hey everyone! So as I'm sure you all know by now, Miss Adams will no longer be teaching this summer program." Mixed groans and whispers ran through the group. "But never fear, I've found an excellent replacement. She just moved here from California and will be working as a math teacher and a drama teacher at East High School in the fall." I smiled. East High School was where both Nate and I attended school. Kelly continued, "Please welcome... Miss Montez!"
A pretty woman with black hair, brown eyes, and tanned skin walked onstage. She smiled at all of us. "Hi everyone! I know it must be a little strange for you all to suddenly get a new acting coach, but I hope we can all still work together to make this coming performance a great one. And with that I'd like to make another announcement. I can now reveal that this entire group is going to be perfoming in Cinderella: The Musical! The play will be the last two weekends in August so we don't have much time to get this together. But I have faith in all of you and I know we're going to have a great time! Auditions will be held in three days right here, same time. Please prepare a short piece from the script and a song. Kelly will pass out the scripts to you as you leave today so make sure you get one before you head home! Thank you!"
Kelly took Miss Montez's place onstage again. "Alright everybody, I know you all have scenes to perform, so get with your scene partners and wait your turn."
In the confusion that followed, Nate whispered to me, "Ella, you have to try out for Cinderella. You'd be perfect for that role. I mean, even your real name fits."
"Uhhh, I'm not so sure about that." I bit my lip nervously. "I don't really...uh... sing, that much."
"Well at least think about it. I know you could do it." Nate smiled at me and I smiled back a little reluctantly.
"Okay, I'll think about it.."
I was getting ready to leave at the end of class when I felt someone touch my shoulder. I turned to see Miss Montez smiling at me. "Oh, hi." I smiled back at her.
"Hello.. Ella isn't it? That's a beautiful name."
"Yes, it's Ella. Ella Bolton. It's nice to meet you." I offered her my hand. "And thanks."
Miss Montez's smile vanished for a minute as she shook my hand. "Did you say your last name was Bolton?"
"Uhh yeah. I know it's not as pretty as Ella..." I laughed nervously at my own joke, wondering why she suddenly looked so sad.
"Oh, no it's fine. It's just that...," for a moment she seemed lost in thought, then her smile reappeared, "I knew someone with that same last name when I was in highschool."
"Oh." I smiled awkwardly. "Did you not like her or something?"
"Actually it was a him. And why would you say that?"
"You just looked kind of upset there for a minute. I hope I didn't say something wrong..."
"Oh! No sweetie you're fine! He was an old boyfriend of mine, that's all."
"Oh, I see." I really didn't, but I smiled anyway.
"Anyway," Miss Montez cleared her throat. "I just came over to tell you you did an excellent job on your scene. You're a very talented young actress."
"Thanks! It helps a lot though when you're working with your best friend." I glanced over at Nate, who was watching us talk. I smiled at him and he waved. Miss Montez waved back.
"Have you been friends with him for a long time?"
"Well, since the sixth grade. Some guy in my homeroom was bullying me and one day Nate just turned around and punched the guy in the nose! Then when the kid jumped on Nate I nearly tore his hair out. We both got detention that day, but we've been best, best, best friends ever since!" I laughed at the memory.
"Aww, that's sweet. Well anyway, the real reason I came over to talk to you is that from what I've seen today, I think you could be an excellent Cinderella."
"Really?" I flushed with pleasure. "Thanks... but I don't think so."
Miss Montez blinked, surprised. "Why not?"
"I don't really sing... and since it's a musical... I don't know, I think maybe I should just be hanging out in the chorus for this one. Where no one can hear me screeching."
"Have you ever sung in front of anyone?"
"Well, once..." I blushed and Miss Montez gave me a strange look. "I know this is going to sound like I'm a total wimp, but I tried to sing a solo in my church choir once. One minute I was looking at the audience, about to sing. The next moment I was staring at the ceiling." I laughed, then glanced down at my shoes, still a little embarrassed by the memory.
I looked up to find Miss Montez staring at me. "Did that really happen to you?"
"Yeah." I blushed again. "I know, I'm a loser."
"No, no, no. I wasn't thinking that. It's just the exact same thing happened to me when I was about your age."
"Really? That's weird!"
"Yes, it is." For a minute Miss Montez just stared at me. Then she shook her head a little and laughed awkwardly. "I hope you don't mind, but just how old are you?"
"I'm almost sixteen. A sophomore."
"I see." For a minute she studied my face, as if searching for something. Then she muttered something underneath her breath, something that sounded like, "Those blue eyes..."
"Excuse me?" I said, trying not to appear as creeped out as I was.
She snapped out of it, then blushed. "I'm sorry! You probably think I'm crazy or something. It's just that you remind me so much of someone I once knew."
"Oh..." I glanced at Nate. "I'm really sorry Miss Montez, but I should probably go. Nate is riding home with me and my dad is probably waiting."
"Oh of course. Well here's a copy of the script. And I hope you'll at least consider auditioning for the part of Cinderella. Maybe it could be the start of something new for you."
"Yeah... I'll think about it." That was the second time I'd said that today, what was I thinking? I certainly was not going to think about going up there and making a fool out of myself by passing out or hitting every wrong note. "Well, goodbye." I started to walk away, then stopped. "Miss Montez?"
She turned around again. "Yes Ella?"
I bit my lip. "This might not be any of my business, but did you ever sing again after that one time?"
She smiled slowly, and nodded. "Yes I did. I actually starred in two of my school's musicals."
"Wow." I paused and mulled over this information. "Well, I just wondered. I'll see you later then. Bye!"
"Goodbye Ella."
I walked up to Nate who said in a hushed tone, "What was that all about?"
"She just wanted to talk to me about auditioning for Cinderella."
"Really? That's awesome! So are you going to do it?"
I glanced behind me at Miss Montez who was talking to Kelly at the front of the theater. "I don't know... we'll see."
