I Did Not Leave South Side For This!

Chapter I - Introductions are made

East High...

Where do I begin?

My name is Tia Brown and I am a senior in East High.

Yeah. That's a good start.

I came to this school about three months ago having moved from Oregon because of my mother's job. I thought this school was pretty cool when I looked around it with my mother. I mean all the students seem rather nice and the teachers seemed friendly enough. They also have pretty up to do facilities as well and have a very good reputation. My mother and I were both pleased with what we saw and the information we have gathered about the school as whole.

So I chose to go there.

At first I was thrilled with my decision and viewed it to ne the right one. However after about a week of going there I began to notice things... Odd things. No. Odd is a massive understatement. I began to notice huge enormities. They were only small at first and I rubbed them off as it just being my imagination. But they got bigger and bigger until I couldn't ignore them anymore!

The students sing...

Now I know what you're thinking, what wrong with that? Bit of singing doesn't hurt anyone. However these guys don't just sing. They sing disney princess style. They'll just break into song and pull of an entire dance number like its nothing. It makes me feel really uncomfortable. My nerves are climbing up the wall, I'm scared that anyone will burst out into song at anytime.

Apparently it's just me who thinks something is up. I've checked with my friends and other people, they think nothing of it. In fact I don't even think they know they're singing and dancing half of the time. It's like living in a freakin' musical. The students even call this place high school musical!

I hate musicals and now I have to live in one.

I did not leave South Side for this.

What have I done to deserve this, Lord?!

The amount of times I have been asked to join the drama department is unreal. Just because I play the ukulele it apparently automatically 'one of the team.' I ain't joining no drama department where hella creepy people just burst out singing. It's surreal. I've had this blonde girl come up to me once and demand why I wasn't joining the drama department. When I explained I hated theatrical stuff she gave me a flabbergasted look and stormed off in a fit of rage. My initial thought after meeting her for the first time was that she needed to tone down the pink.

I see that blonde diva around school occasionally. She's still trying to get me to join. "Tia, it'll be good for college!" Or "Tia, we need more ukulele players."

I have no clue how she knows my name.

I avoid her like the plague.

Everyone seems to love the basketball them, which is fair enough. I mean I would be pretty supportive of my basketball team if they were one of the top in the country. It's kind of strange East High doesn't have a football team though. Just saying. Even the basketball team sings. I mean I understand the cheerleaders with them having specially plan routings and all. From what I've heard there was a massive moment when the Wildcats won the basketball final last year and then everybody just burst out singing. I would of gotten the fuck out of there as possible.

The cheerleading team are lovely, not like my old cheerleading team. Seriously they were exactly like the mean popular girls you see on TV. I was on the colour squad last year. It was so much fun! This year it is my mission to get on the prom committee, the school news paper and the colour guard. That's a lot, I know but a girl can be ambitious.

I looked up from my journal to a voice calling to me. "Tia!" My face paled and a horrified look appeared on my face. It was her. That blonde bimbo from before. Okay Tia, I thought to myself and inhaled and exhaled calmly. Grab the ukulele and your books, then make a beeline out of there. I reached into my locker in a rush and grabbed my precious ukulele before grabbing the books needed for my next class, Home Economics. I slammed my locker shut and pretended I hadn't notice the blonde. I tried to walk away in a dignified manner, my head held high.

Note 'tried', I didn't make it two steps from my locker before I bumped into someone and my books went flying everywhere. I cursed under my breath and began to collect up the seven books I had dropped.

"I'm sorry!" I shook my head as I gathered up the last of the books. "It's alright." I counted the books under my breath. I had six, where was seven?

"I do believe you are looking for this." A book was held out in front of me, the one I couldn't find.

"Thank you." I said softly, smiling.

I looked up to see a blonde dude wearing a beige hat with a blue ribbon. He was dressed in a white shirt, jeans and wore a sleeveless grey v neck sweater over the top of his white shirt. The startling similarity to the blonde bimbo made my smile faltered. He stopped smiling when he notice me frown. I grabbed the book and cradled my precious instrument before taking off again.

For the second time that day I failed in getting away.

A hand clamped down on my shoulder. I was forced to turn round. I plastered a smile on my face as I turned. "Hello Sharpay." Who calls their kid Sharpay?! What was going through this girl's mother's head at the time of her birth? "Why aren't you in the drama club yet?" I groaned and banged my head lightly against my hard books. We had this conversation every freaking time. I was seriously having a hard time keeping my cool.

I looked up tiredly. "I've already answered this a million times! Let me lay it in an way you will understand." My voice was rising and so was I in temper. "I. Don't. Do. Drama."

The guy and Sharpay shared a look. "You have your ukulele with you we could really use that." The blonde guy noticed.

My hand wrapped itself protectively around the instrument. "You're not having my ukulele! Do you have any idea how long I've had this thing?" I yelled, giving him a horrified look that he would even suggest such an idea.

Sharpay gave her brother the same look and hit him lightly on the arm. "Ryan! You can't separate a musician from her instrument! It's like removing the bread from butter, it's not right." Now wasn't the right time to comment that I didn't have butter on my bread. Sharpay then turned her attention back to me. She pointed one very carefully manicured finger at me. It made me feel embarrassed about my stubby ones I bit. "Tryouts. I expect to see you on Tuesday after school." She turned to her brother. "Come Ryan!" With that she started walking off, giving her hips that extra kick to attract the boys' attention.

Ryan glanced to me and shrugged. He sent me a thumbs up and a friendly smile. "See you on Tuesday, Tia." I watch him go. He seemed to be the friendlier one of the pair. I went on the assumption they were twins with them being in the same year and looking so startling alike.

I sighed.

I was not going along to some prancy drama club, no thank you. It isn't my thing plus I' had to study for a Chemistry Test and write a Mythology essay. Much more important in my opinion. The bell sounded for my next class to start.

Home economics here I come.

I am not going to lie. I am having so much fun writing this. So what do you think Tia should do? Go to drama club or flunk it? What would you do if you were in High School Musical?