Chapter Three: The "What I've been Looking For" Hat
Sharpay's Note: See what my brother does? An exchange girl comes to East High for a few days and he finds the opportunity to take advantage of her! I wave to warn you, Ry, if you start flirting all the time ever again and start coming up late for our rehearsals; I'll ditch you for Troy Bolton. That would be such a shame! You know we are the best drama partners that could ever be! One day we will be on Broadway, star in original productions and travel all over the world!
Well, that's our dream, isn't it? Apparently your dreams include Troy Bolton as well but…
No they don't! I'm so over him! I just like his voice.
Come on, Shar! Everybody knows he didn't do his own singing in the movie! He was replaced by a certain Drew Seeley. How unprofessional is that! Our duet, on the other hand, even if it has its ups and downs manages always to Bop to the Top. And this brings me to another song we've sang together, which is no other than "What I've been Looking For".
This was our audition song for the winter musical, or "musicale" as Mrs. Darbus wants to call it. Sharpay and I were constantly rehearsing until very late. Basically, this meant one thing: having to listen to her yelling and screaming all the time. She wanted everything to be perfect, but she was rather keen on correcting our smallest mistakes.
"Ryan!" she would scream unexpectedly, scaring me.
"What now?" I would ask, in a rather frightened tone.
"What now? Only that you've got to say? You get it all wrong! You are not supposed to turn that way. Your foot must be more on the right. Then, try to move your arms more gracefully. Remember, you are supposed to be dancing, not standing still as a scarecrow! And when you are singing, try to sound fuller on the high notes and don't forget to speak out clearly all the consonants! Understand now? "
"Yes Shar," I would have to say patiently. Then, I would go back to work and practice thrice as hard, only to be interrupted two and a half minutes later. You may wonder why I do not protest. In a sense, I believe she is right. Art is all about giving all your attention to details. Then, I could never ask Sharpay to change her bossy ways. After all, that's who she is and we need to accept everybody with one's talents and faults. Once, when we were younger I had taken the courage why she hurled all the time. She had replied:
Because if I didn't, we wouldn't stand where we stand now, having participated in nine school productions! Remember when we were still thirteen, Ry? I guess what you said about applying attention to detail is true. That's why…
…After Sharpay thought we had mastered our song and moves, she started thinking about the direction. She read more and more fashion magazines in order to find us something to wear. She worked particularly hard on this point for more than two weeks. At last, everything was ready just in time, one day before the auditions. Well, that's what she thought. Something crucial was missing.
"A hat? What would you need a hat for?" she asked me when I told her, feeling definitely annoyed. After all it's only an audition. You don't have to always wear a hat, don't you?"
"Indeed I do," I confirmed shyly.
"But Ryan, if wearing a hat to the audition is such a necessity, why don't you take one from your closet? I mean, you must have trillions in there!"
"I know," I sighed. "But no one will do".
"What do you mean no one will do. I can find you one that fits with your clothing".
"It's no use Shar. I tried on every single one of them. Nothing of them is what I am lookinf for as far as "What I've been Looking For" is concerned. No one of my show hats will do. I know this seems trivial to you, but you always said how we need to pay attention to details. Hats are no details of course, but the feeling that you wear the right one is."
"All right," she said. "Fine! I'll take you to the mall to buy a new one."
I got into Sharpay's Porsche and she drove us to the mall. My favourite hat stores were there and I secretly hoped there was a sale. Indeed there was! I rushed out, taking Sharpay by the hand. In the end of the day, we came back to the car carrying more than twenty bags. Actually, I was the one that was carrying, as my sister was talking to her mobile phone.
"I hope you are happy now," she said as we finally reached home. "Let's see what we got here. Well, what do you say? Do you like my new dress?"
It was a deep blue, salsa style dress, flowing and elegant. "It's great," I said. "You never know when this might come in hand. I think it will look great on you".
"Everything does," she remarked. "I always Bop to the Top, and I feel like I will do once more in this dress. But let's come back to you. Did you find the ideal hat for our show?"
Everything I had bought lay on the bed. There were a lot of hats, one on the other, creating an untidy mess. I liked all of them and I thought I could use any one for the show.
"It's somewhere in that pile" I said as I rushed to organize them. "It could be this, or this, or maybe that one" I said. Then I sighed once more. Nothing was up to the job. "Nah, who am I kidding! I'll never find the perfect hat for our song. We are doomed to fail!"
Sharpay looked at me so intensely that, if looks could kill, I'd be dead.
"What! Ryan, you bought twenty seven new hats at the mall and still nothing feels right. This is crazy. I quit. But then, no! I never quit. Listen to me, Ryan Evans! I personally will choose a hat for you and you will wear it tomorrow in the audition! You want to star in Twinkle Town, as much as I do and we are not going to lose the lead because of a hat!"
I nodded. There wasn't anything more I could do really.
"So, what about this one?" she said, pointing on a lime flat that fallen near my pillow. "I think this one is really nice".
I looked at the hat and gasped. Of course! How could I have forgotten! My lime green flat! That was exactly it. That was what… I had been looking for. It was a casual hat really and quite an old one that I used to wear to school but… it was perfect.
"Shar, you are a genius! You are born to be a fashion guru" I exclaimed and hugged her.
"I know but thank you," she only said.
I felt so happy, I needed to sing: "It's hard to believe that I couldn't see that you were always there beside me…"
"Well, thank you! You mean a lot to me too, Ryan" my sister said again.
"I was singing to the hat," I clarified. "But I love you too. So lonely before, I finally found what I've been looking for!"
"Well, certainly this feeling's like no other," Sharpay joined and we both laughed.
"We'll do great tomorrow!" I told her.
"Toodles!" she cried, still laughing. "We are going to rock the school!"
So, the outcome had no surprises. Well, the audition did, as Troy and Gabriella showed up and it turned up they could sing. That's why they got the supporting roles. But Sharpay and I got the leads, as expected, and I feel I owe it to my hat. Now, I feel that you who have watched the movie are a little confused. I can hear you wondering. "What about Bop to the Top, then? Why did you have to sing it?" Well, my beloved readers, you'll soon know the answer, if you first do me a favour and rate and review!
Ryan Evans
