Chapter 3: Battle of the Rehearsals

In the East High Auditorium, Troy, Gabriella, Taylor and Chad sat on the front row. Kelsi is practicing her music while Sharpay and Ryan stood on the center stage, vocal exercising.

"What's even more surprising is you're reading what's written there!" Chad said pointing to the newest episode of the Wildcat's World (Newspaper) Taylor is holding.

"Yeah. I'm sure it'll overwhelm you, Chad, but if you want I could teach you how to do it. Come on! Try it with me… M-Y B-I-G…"

"Do you have any plans after the musical?" Gabriella asked Troy.

"Well… no… no I don't have um… do you want to go to the movie um… this Friday?" troy asked.

"Ofcourse! I love too" Gabriella said then she hug him tightly.

"Are you implying that I can't read? For your information, Taylor, I just finished Shaquille O'Neal's biography… on DVD!" Chad said.

Then Zeke and Martha walk in "Do you guys think that if I made Sharpay some meringues she'd agree to go out with me?" Zeke asked that was over heard by Sharpay on stage and said "I don't think so Tall Person!" she snap.

Well, well, well" Darbus said a soon as she walk in. "Actually not well, not well at all. We'd better get a few things straight at once." She said walking to her sit. "This is a musical we aren't here to laugh and play" she said as she sat down and fix her glasses "Our task is to sour on the wings of art. Commit yourselves to flying lest ye be cast down into a sea of detentions!"

She then walk to troy and said "Mr. Bolton your place is on stage with Sharpay not here."

He stood up and walk to the stage, the left of Sharpay. Sharpay smirk at him.

Holding a bunch of papers, Mrs. Darbus walk to Gabriella, she stood up "Miss. Montez, with me, the rest of you I want SILENT"

"Here are the songs, the music, the lines, the description of the backdrops and the lighting. Learn them by heart" She handed her a bunch of papers "Then go over the stage with Taylor, Chad, Martha, and Jason, the lightning with Zeke and the dance with Ryan. I'd say that will do for starters!"

Can I do this? Why of course I can! Gabriella thought.

"I told you, being co-director is a very hard task. You don't wish to change your mind do you?" Darbus asked Gabriella.

"No… no" she replied nodding her head.

"Mrs. Darbus" Sharpay called "Mrs. Darbus" she called again politely.

"Yes Sharpay" She said turning to her direction.

"I thought of something" Sharpay said "If we want Twinkle Seine to be a musical worthy of it's name which is what we want" she look over Ryan who nodded. "Given that Frank Ropers, the theatrical agent, is coming to see it… we need to have a real rehearsal schedule. Obviously those who don't follow it will have proven that the theater isn't in their hearts nor is…" before she could finish Darbus cut her off.

"Nor is the musical" she said continuing Sharpay's sentence "That seem right to me. I'll entrust you with that task Miss Evans" she said. "And may it be professional as possible" she add.

"Oh, you can count on that, Mrs. Darbus. You can count on that" Sharpay said. Troy rolled his eyes still on Sharpay's left side.

………

After rehearsal Troy, Gabriella, Taylor and Chad walk out of the auditorium.

"Everyday! Afternoon and evening! Same hours as practice…" Troy said as he scan the schedule that was given by Sharpay earlier in the auditorium.

"Yeah, I'm also stuck in detention! I think I cannot go practice this week" Chad said.

"And if you get another detention for next week" Taylor added that made Gabriella giggle.

"Ha-ha! Funny Tay, anyway… maybe you should give it up, I mean, It's not that important" Chad said.

"Would you give up now?" Gabriella asked.

Then Kelsi walk past saying "I don't want to defend Sharpay but I practice everyday because my dream is to compose music" she said "And I don't think is a burden at all" she said entering the music room.

"I think she is right" Taylor said.

"Yeah" Gabriella replied.

Then Martha, Zeke and Jason walk to them "Hey! Want to go to the ice cream parlor?" Martha ask.

"For ice cream!" Jason said everyone look at him in a 'duh' face.

"I heard they have new flavors!" Zeke added.

"I guess ice cream won't hurt!" Chad said.

"Yeah!" Taylor said.

"Sure! Ice cream will be good for this moment" Troy said.

"But not to much if you don't want to ruin your voice" Gabriella said and troy smile at her and give her a peck on the cheeks. (A/N: I'm eating ice cream now! Cookies and cream!)

…………

"Troy, Have you read the script Mrs. Darbus gave to you?" Gabriella asked eating her spoon of strawberry ice cream sundae.

"Um… no, not yet maybe later at home" he replied eating his cookies and cream ice cream on cone.

"Well… the story is nice" Martha said eating her ice cream sandwich.

"Yeah… I think so too" Jason said.

"You have read the script?" Taylor asked he nodded yes "that's a shock!" Everyone laugh.

"Hey! How about tomorrow let's play a basketball game, girls versus boys!" Chad offered.

"Sure why not. It would be fun" Martha said.

"Um… guys we have some bad news" Zeke said holding his phone so they can see "Sharpay send me a text message"

"To all amateurs, be they be in detention or not, extra rehearsals in the auditorium in 5 minutes" Taylor read.

"Already? But I didn't even finish my sundae" Chad said.

"Well… we better get going" Gabriella said.

"Yeah, if we don't want her in a bad mood, again." Taylor added.

They all got up and walk towards the door.

…………

"I know they're not going to show up" Sharpay said to Ryan.

"I guess so sis" Ryan said.

Sharpay walk to Mrs. Darbus "Mrs. Darbus Troy and Gabriella…" Before she can even finish her sentence the door burst open.

"Are here for rehearsals just on time!" Troy said as he and Gabriella run down the aisle. Troy climbed up the stage next to Sharpay who was glaring at him.

"Very good" Darbus clap her hands together "Now let's start with the first scene, Jean-Luc in Paris…"

"We decided to do our best Sharpay so don't put that glare on me…" Troy said facing Sharpay.

"Hey! Don't you talk to me like you're my father!" Sharpay scolded.

"Ok… I'm sorry" Troy sigh "We are doing our best by taking part of the rehearsals that's what a musical means… working together, but having fun together too." Troy explained sticking his hand out to Sharpay. "What do you say you and Ryan join us for a game tomorrow?"

"We aren't going to your stupid game" She said harshly "But tomorrow rehearsals are suspended… until the day after tomorrow" she said softly grabbing troy's hand and shaking it politely. Troy has a huge smile on his face.

"Thanks" He said hugging her. Gabriella saw this and looked away.

"Your welcome but can you stop hugging me?" she said with a little chuckle.

"Oops. Sorry" he said letting her go with a grin still on her face. Why did I just do that? It's suppose to be a friendly hand shake, just a hand shake. Troy thought.

"Ok Let's start!" Gabriella said, cutting troy in his thought.

…………

"You we're all great!" Gabriella said "But Jean-Luc needs to be more surprise to see her. He sings like as if she were a ghost. A dream…" Gabriella trailed of. "Zeke lightning needs to be softer!" she said "Guys, the props need to leave as much space as possible for the two of them and Ryan, we need the dance slower here!" she sighed "Guys, if we keep doing this well, it's going to be a fantastic musical!"

They all nodded.

"Well then see you all on Friday, afternoon and evening!" Sharpay said.

"The last one leave! Turn off the lights" Mrs. Darbus reminded them.

…………