Chapter 3
The following day Taylor and Gabriella met up out front of the school.
"Hey, where'd you go to last night?" Gabriella asked.
"Hey, sorry Chad and I had to leave. My parents got home early so Chad's parents drove us there for a small celebration. They were really proud of Chad," Taylor explained.
"That's awesome Tay," Gabriella smiled widely, "I'm so happy that your families get along."
Taylor laughed, "it's amazing really. Our families are completely different but they are get along really well."
Taylor and Gabriella laughed as they walked into the school together. They headed to their lockers to get their books.
They headed to homeroom, unsurprised that their boyfriends arrived just as the bell rang.
Taylor was sat behind Chad and couldn't help but smile at his obvious thrill about the win yesterday. Even Ms Darbus seemed happy about it.
"...top-to-bottom championship," Taylor only heard the end of Ms Darbus sentence.
"That would be back-to-back Ms D," Chad grinned.
"Whatever the case it was a grand slam well done," Ms Darbus said.
Taylor smiled widely at his enthusiasm and leaned forward to whisper in his ear, "great job wildcat."
Chad grinned at her as he watched Taylor walk to the back of the classroom where she revealed the blackboard which listed the various groups that were formed for the lead up to the end of senior year.
Chad smiled as he listened to Taylor talk, he loved hearing her voice. Taylor always had a way with words.
"This years theme is the last waltz but don't be the last to pick up your tickets," Taylor said as she slapped her pointer stick on Chad's desk.
Chad jumped a little, he hadn't expected that.
"...questions?" Taylor asked.
Chad's attention was immediately on her at that point.
"Yeah, what's the lunch special in the cafeteria today?" Chad asked.
Everyone laughed but Taylor didn't hesitate in answering, "New York Deli."
Taylor smirked as the laughter turned against Chad.
"Anyone else?" Taylor asked but Ms Darbus interrupted her.
Taylor sat back down behind Chad who turned around to smile at her.
Taylor just smirked as Ms Darbus spoke again.
Neither of the couple focused much on this though, they weren't exactly into the 'theatre'. Although Sharpay's last comment made them both want to groan, Taylor face palmed in disbelief. They had all hoped that the summer had changed Sharpay, at least somewhat, but no such luck.
"Perhaps even a one woman show," Sharpay suggested.
At Darbus announcement that Kelsi had managed to sign up almost their entire homeroom everyone turned to glare at Kelsi.
Taylor considered Kelsi a friend but she was not happy about this. Her senior year was already completely jam packed and now she had to add a musical to that list.
Chad wasn't thrilled about it either, he was already going to have trouble spending time with Taylor based on her schedule, a musical would make their alone time impossible to find.
Taylor slowly gathered her things together for chemistry while Chad all but ran from the room with Troy for maths.
Free period was after their first classes and no one was looking forward to it. The last thing that they wanted to do in their senior year was to be in a musical. A fact that they made very clear to Kelsi at the start of free period as they all walked onto the stage.
They each had their own complaints to make to Kelsi and Kelsi wasn't happy about any of them.
"We've got a yearbook to edit so no," Taylor said looking from Gabriella to Kelsi.
"Sorry, jeez I just thought since it was the last show everyone would want to do it," Kelsi snapped.
Everyone started talking at the same time again.
"No it's not that we don't want to do it, there's just no time," Taylor said.
Gabriella tried to convince everyone but to no avail.
"No I just don't think it's a good idea," Taylor tried.
They all sighed when Troy said he would participate. If Troy would do it then everyone else would, something that Gabriella had counted on.
Taylor and Chad shared a look and shrugged, it was the last chance that they would have to do something fun like this.
"Okay, how long will it take?" Taylor asked Ryan who grinned at the prospect of having a full cast instead of just him and Sharpay.
"What the heck is the show about?" Chad asked realising that he wasn't going to be able to get out of this, plus he figured he would be able to spend time with Taylor.
"You Mr Danforth," Ms Darbus said as she walked onto the stage.
Everyone looked at her in shock, they were couldn't believe what they were hearing, particularly Sharpay who looked like she might faint.
"Me?" Chad asked in confusion.
Ms Darbus clicked her fingers and Chad threw her his basketball, "the spring musical is all about you."
Then Sharpay really did faint, Taylor had to try really hard not to laugh.
"Hold on if it's about me then can I have my ball back please?" Chad asked as he walked towards Ms Darbus.
Ms Darbus tossed the ball back, "it's about all of you and all of you will create it. A show about your final days at East High. We'll call it 'Senior Year'."
The chatter began again.
"Playing a role is easy, playing yourself is much harder," Ms Darbus said, "Kelsi will compose, Ryan will choreograph and I will direct. Now I have some very important news from the Juilliard School in New York City, America's pre-eminent college for the performing arts. And for the first time in East High history Juilliard is considering four of you for one available scholarship. Miss Sharpay Evans."
"I'm already packed," Sharpay gushed.
"Mr Ryan Evans," Ms Darbus continued.
"Dance," Ryan grinned.
"Miss Kelsi Nielsen," Ms Darbus went on.
"They got my letter?" Kelsi asked in shock.
"They certainly did," Ms Darbus enthused, "and lastly Mr Troy Bolton."
After that announcement no one was listening to Ms Darbus, they all just laughed at looked around in confusion.
The confusion continued as Troy said that he had never even heard of the school, how could someone be up for a scholarship if they hadn't even applied and didn't even know about the school.
"Line up down stage please," Ms Darbus ordered.
Everyone did as they were told and wondered what Ms Darbus was going to make them do.
"Let's begin with Mr Danforth," Ms Darbus began, "step forward please. Your future?"
Chad grinned, "that's easy it's U of A, hoops all the way."
"Miss McKessie," Ms Darbus continued.
"I'm gonna be the president of the United States of America," Taylor said confidently, "well I'm gonna finish college first of course," Taylor continued as she looked at Chad.
"Martha Cox you're late," Ms Darbus said, the others turned to watch as Martha entered the stage.
"I'm sorry Ms Darbus I just thought that maybe we could use a few more dancers," Martha said as she opened the garage door.
A large group of seniors came rushing onto the stage much to the relief of the current occupants of the stage, they didn't want to be the only ones in this musical.
"Mr Bolton," Ms Darbus called, "Mr Bolton your future?"
Troy snapped the Juilliard booklet closed as he thought about what to say, "well yeah, uh, um, uf, you know um, uh, I'm thinking about."
Gabriella stepped forward to save Troy from having to answer, "uh, I think we should stage the perfect prom."
"Golly gee how adorable," Sharpay said, "what do I want? Gosh I wouldn't know where to begin but I know where it ends. Centre stage, a single spotlight, a huge marquee that reads Sharpay Evans."
Everyone, including Ryan and Ms Darbus rolled their eyes.
The bell rang signalling lunch and Ms Darbus released the seniors.
Troy and Gabriella headed off with the other seniors, leaving Chad and Taylor behind.
Chad took Taylor's hand in his free one and they walked slowly towards the cafeteria.
"So, are you sure that we want to do this?" Chad asked.
"Chad I'm sure that I want to do anything that I can to spend more time with you. If this is what it takes then I'm all in," Taylor smiled.
Chad nodded, "then I'll put in the effort. Spending more time with you is all I want."
Taylor smiled as they walked to join the queue in the cafeteria.
This year wasn't exactly going to plan but at least they were able to fit in more time together.
Chad grabbed two New York Deli Platters for Taylor and himself as Taylor led the way to their usual table where Gabriella, Troy, Kelsi, Martha, Jason, and Zeke were already waiting for them.
The rest of the day was pretty dull by all accounts and spent in a variety of emotions as reality set in that exams were fast approaching.
