A Christmas Carol
East High School could not be more ready for the holidays. The lost-and-found overflowed with gloves and woolly scarves, a wreath of holly hung festively over each classroom door, and the suspiciously prop-like fountain on the school lawn was now adorned with icicles and drifts of snow.
Even Ms. Darbus was in a cheery mood. "Congratulations, students, I think we've all earned the next two weeks off! I hope that you will spend this winter vacation exploring your inner selves, delving deep into the inner muses of humanity which are so movingly portrayed through theater…and as for the pranksters who egg nogged my house last year, this time I've invested in a taller electric fence!"
Sharpay sighed. This whole joyful spirit thing was not her cup of peppermint tea. Usually she and Ryan spent a few days of winter break visiting their aunt in New York City and took in a Broadway musical.
Or six.
But what reason did Sharpay have for holiday cheer? She was no longer the star of every East High production - not since Little Miss Montez showed up. And with Troy Bolton taken, Sharpay knew she would never fully rule the school as she had once dreamed of doing. So there would be no merry Christmas for her. Not this year.
As Ms. Darbus sauntered out of the auditorium, the students followed suit and began gathering their things to leave.
"Excuse me, just where do you think you're going?" Sharpay snapped.
Uneasy glances were exchanged. Finally, Kelsi was the first to speak up.
"It's 4:00. We've done enough work for today, haven't we?" The other members of the drama club nodded supportively.
"People, we have six weeks till opening night. I want this to be the best winter musical ever. And that means everyone had better get back to work," the more forceful Evans twin insisted.
"Come on, Sharpay, it's the last day of school," pleaded Ryan.
"Technically, school is over," Kelsi pointed out before she was silenced by a nasty look from Sharpay.
Suddenly Coach Bolton barged into the auditorium.
"Troy, what are you still doing here? Ski trip, remember? Our plane leaves tomorrow morning, and you still need to pack."
All at once, the other students began mumbling excuses about how they had other things to do as well.
"Okay!" Sharpay shouted, hands on her hips. "Anyone who's too busy with their little holiday preparations to care about our school musical, leave now."
The auditorium cleared out in under three minutes.
Sharpay ran out into the hall desperately, Ryan close behind. A smile crept up on her face. She had found who she was looking for.
"Troy! Gabriella!" she said sweetly, stepping between them. The pair raised their eyebrows at each other in a subtle manner. "I'm sure you guys would love to stay and help. You wouldn't let me down, would you?"
Perfect. She knew these two would come in handy one day.
Hesitantly, Gabriella spoke at last. "I need to go help out at a charity dinner for my mom's company. Sorry, Sharpay."
The platinum blonde frowned, then turned towards Troy with a candy-coated smile. "What about you?"
"I…really have to go pack," Troy said gently. Together they walked off at a quick pace to avoid seeing her disappointment.
The drama queen was less than ecstatic. "Fine, then. If everyone's so wrapped up in the holidays, who needs them? Ryan and I can handle it ourselves. Right Ryan?"
The boy stared at her blankly. "Actually, I think I'm gonna go too." He made off after the other teenagers faster than Rudolph on steroids.
Now alone in an empty hallway, Sharpay kicked the nearest locker. "Some friends they are," she raged. Stupid no-good holidays. What was the point? As if she needed an excuse to buy gifts for herself.
"Sounds like somebody could use a dash of Christmas spirit!" a feminine voice spoke from behind her. Sharpay whirled around in full karate stance. "Who's there?"
In response a petite, brown-haired figure emerged from the end of the hall. Though she looked familiar, she was oddly dressed in a plain, shoulderless white gown.
"Kelsi? You weren't wearing that a minute ago."
The figure laughed. "Wrong again. I am the Ghost of Christmas Past."
"But you look just like-"
"Silence!" the figure ordered.
Now Sharpay was convinced; there was no way Kelsi could be this bossy. The mysterious girl crossed her arms. "Let's not make this any harder than we have to, 'kay? I am here to teach you about the true meaning of the holidays and all that good stuff."
Sharpay eyed her suspiciously. "How do I know you're really a ghost? I mean, the guys at the A/V lab are pretty good with visual effects-"
"I like your necklace," the ghostly specter interrupted. With no visible effort whatsoever, the blonde's crown-shaped pendant snapped off her neck and landed neatly in the palm of the other's hand.
"Cool. Wait, can you turn people into toads?" Sharpay inquired.
"Only during the off-season," the ghost that shared Kelsi's appearance answered casually. Next she conjured up a thin, sharp, metal object and held it out to Sharpay. "Here. You must prick your finger with this needle."
Sharpay cringed. "Couldn't I take a bite of a poison apple instead-"
"Do it!"
Sharpay obediently brushed her finger against the tip of the needle. She was overwhelmed with an acute, painful sensation that transported her to a memory of long ago…