Chapter I

New beginning, new choices

The first day passed away so quickly that I haven't even noticed. I woke up next morning with one of those baaaaaaad feeeelings...of course, I has overslept whole 1st class that day, which was held at 8 AM. Great. Now I'll end as a lazy careless dude who treats his scholarship as a way for good party. I got out of the bed and plugged my MP3 player to the tiny speakers I had with me. If couldn't look brainy , I had to at least look good. What to choose ? Hard choice as always.

Don't you want it all ?

You want it, you know that you want it

The fame and fortune and all

You want it all !

You want it, you know that you want it

You gotta have your star on the door

Doesn't good tune help in dressing up ? Most boring clothes were on top as always, when you want it aaaaaaaaaalll , waaaant it, waaant it. Finally I managed to get my favourite t-shirt out of the my bag's guts. Amazing that it didn't get wrinkled in there. Snow white with blue contour of 1955 Buick and Route 66 logo. Sexy and stylish, best connection ever. Linen-look shirt over that, open or buttoned ? Who cares, will see outdoors.

I want it all

I want it, I want it, want it

My name in lights in Carnegie Hall

I want it all !!

Pale blue jeans and brown trainers for some casual appearance too. Now I really can have it all !

I took the MP3 and went out. Sun hit me in the eyes, of course didn't took my sunglasses with me. Was too lazy to go back for them. I bumped on someone when I was walking out – it was Kelsie. She was wearing a red-flowered dress this time and seemed to be waiting for me

"Hi Kelsie" i said

"Hi James. I heard what happened later yesterday with Brent and came to check out if you're allright"

"Yeah, I'm in one piece constantly. Wouldn'y have been if not that guy...what was the name...Troy or something. If you could see how he treated them...their jaws banged on the floor..

"He beat them ?!"

"Oh no , no, he said a few words in cold and calm tone and they didn't dare to touch him, and even gave me back the blouse...oh not, not this one, this is nicer" – I accented – but she didn't care.

"We need to go, there's notification that you'll have exercises on-stage today"

"What ?!" I yelled , dropping my books – "Now? Today ?"

"Yes...what's so strange..."

"I thought they'll learn us some theory before that...or something..."

"Sure they will but it's connected with exercises"

Second day and they want me to mess with lights already. I dreamed about it so long and now I was gonna do it...I kind of stopped enjoying it now when I had to do it all in real...I'll screw something for sure and it will be the most expensive piece of equipment for sure...

"James, you going ?"

"Umm ...yeah, sure. American schools and their practical mode of learning, Geez. – I was mumbling quiet enough for her not to hear."

We went straight to the stage building where most of my class was waiting too. Kelsie went into building without even waving to me with "bye", strange from her side but I had bigger problems now. Was (as always) standing on the edge of group, looking like the beggar or aquisitor more than a part of the class. For now it was normal but I knew it's probably gonna be like that for the rest of school year. My choice was always to stay away from hard situation. Is it hiding ? Sure. But easier choice than stepping up to solve the problem and I was always lazy....

Movement of people got me out of my thoughts, we were walking in after some not very old man in jacket and jeans, the teacher probably.

Inside, some rehearsal was running. The decoration was changed, it was garden on there now. Some guy was just singing last words, in dimmed lights and spotlight on him. I was nearly sure it was that Troy who saved my butt yesterday, but I wasn't sure.

"I'm Gordon Blake, and will be giving you exercises and theory of Stage Lighting. It will be the main subject this year, and the final exam will give you the biggest amount of points in overall view. We'll be having parallel courses which will help you see how the theory is thru applications and devices - which you'll learn to use – applied directly in real environment of theater. "

He lead us onto the stage and contacting thru radio receiver with the operator booth was telling us all about the elipticals , Fresnels, PARs and other types of the lamps that were hanged there and gradually turned on.

When he finished the lesson, he asked " And now who's that James that I heard so much about?" A wave of whispers went thru group, and that was all.

"Mike, you're sure it was the 1-st year group" – aksed the teacher thru the radio receiver

"Yes mister Blake, that's what I know". – came the response from the speaker

"All right, it's nothing bad that I heard. Actually it was pretty impressing if actually done by amateur and a foreigner also, as I've been told".

A couple pairs of eyes went on me. I had no choice but risk being the wrong James eventually.

"If...he has to be a foreigner, then it can be me possibly" – I said walking in front of the line.

He turned his head on me.

"So you're behind all that crazy background for miss Evans in "Touch of Love" ?

"Yes, that's what Kelsi said the show was named like. It was for "You drive me crazy"

"Correct. Very creative composition, a little bit rough in some parts but with great potential."

"It was just couple of ideas tied together which the tunes brought to my mind at first. Nothing very sophisticated" – I decided to build some longer sentence, hoping it will follow the rules of grammar. Was always better in writing than speaking.

"It was better than what our graduates did for final show last year. Please stay a moment with me, can you ?"

I nodded. He dismissed rest of the group, the lesson was finished after all. He told Mike to turn off the unneeded lights.

"So, you really created all that project just from listening to the song ?"

"Well...mister Blake..."You drive me crazy" isn't new...I listened to it many times, and I know how changeable it is. It's perfect for driving a lot of lights, at least I imagined the lighting like that for it. So I gave Mike some ideas on better use of what the school has here. Haven't seen what was the final effect."

Mr Blake smiled

"I like it when someone can be honest and don't take credit of someone else's work. But from what you say, Mike must have been following you advises quite strictly. And what's very strange, Miss Evans was satisfied with something for once in her history of performances." He added, smiling.

"So Sharpay's last name must be Evans, this description matched her behaviour I saw yesterday" – I thought

"Would you like to come see the final effect then ? " – asked the teacher

'Umm, sure , if I can " – I was trying to be polite, but I wanted to jump and shout from joy and being proud and noticed by someone

"All right, be here at 5 PM, the full rehearsal will be held"

"Thank you very much mister Blake"

"Thank you for sharing your ideas with us, mister...- he looked into the list – Beckerson" he replied.

I jumped off the stairs leading to the stage, dropping the book and my folder with notepad and pens of course. But I quickly picked it up and run out, I wanted to shout from the rooftops, I was being noticed at 2nd day here ! They won't regret they gave me the scholarship...maybe it wasn't that bad choice to come over here ?

This is 1st chapter for my story "American dream". You all, dear readers, should be warned that English is not my native language, so it can be awkward sometimes at places, but I put my best to make it sound gramatically correct.

Unfortunately, the rules that are enforced here required me to change the plotline a little. It was inteded to be a cross-over between HSM's world and real world. Since no actors can be used in fanfictions, Zac had to be converted to Troy, what, I guess, in future chapters will cause great problems with his behaviour not matching what you'd expect from Troy. Oh, life.

So, let's take another day in the unprecised theater college somewhere in USA and let's see how James will start off his new beginning.