Chapter 4

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Friday...

We come to Ms. Darbus's class in the morning where the students are entering the class and started to take a seat at their desk, as the bell rang. We see Sharpay up at the teacher's desk and she handed what seems to be a big giant red candle to the teacher.

"Just something for you." Sharpay smiled and walked back to her desk.

Ryan and Gabriella had walked in talking a bit before going to their desks followed by Troy and his friends. As the basketball star entered he saw Ryan and he remembered what happened the day before and started to get a warm feeling and his stomach started to do flips. He had no idea what's going on with him but it felt like that butterflies in your stomach kind of feeling and he wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not.

'Am I having feelings for Ryan?' Troy thought to himself and at that moment the said boy looked up at him and he quickly turned his head away, blushing a bit.

Ryan, who was seated at his desk, felt that someone was watching him and looking up, he sees Troy staring at him but immediately turned away when the other boy realized that he was noticed.

"Well, I expect we all learned our home room manners by now since Monday people, correct?" Darbus walked up to the front of the class.

"If not, we have some dressing rooms that need painting." the teacher continued as Troy started to try to get some sneak peeks at Ryan without the other boy noticing.

"And now a few announcements. This morning during free period will be your chance for the musical auditions, both single and pairs. And I will be in the theatre until noon for those who feel bold enough to extend the wingspan of your creative spirit..." as Darbus announce the audition times and schedule.

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Later that morning...

In one of the many halls at school was Troy, who was at his locker putting away some books from his recent class. Closing his locker, Chad came bounding around the corner of the hall and was carrying a basketball like always.

"Yo! What's up man? So uh look, the whole team is hitting the gym during free period where will you have us run?" Chad greeted his friend.

"Uh dude, I can't make it. I uh, gotta catch up on some homework." Troy replied awkwardly.

"What? Hello? It's only the first week back and I'm not even behind on homework yet and you know I'm behind homework since preschool." Chad gave an unbelievable expression like Troy was crazy.

"That's hilarious. I'll catch up with you later." the star player laughed at his friend's joke before taking off.

"Homework? There's no way." Chad watching his friend leaving and tried to follow him.

Chad followed his friend down a hall which Troy who already noticed that he was being followed, tried to lose him and entered a nearby class and started to talk to a group of student.

"What's he doing?" Chad wondered as he watches his friend from the doorway of the class.

Then suddenly another student walks right up to the player and started to do a greeting which made Chad turned his attention away from Troy for a moment. Seeing the distraction, the basketball captain immediately headed to the back of the class and exited through the second back door of the room. Chad who turn back towards inside the class and seeing his friend was gone, quickly glanced around inside. While Troy walked out back into the hall and behind his friend and quickly sneaked off.

Dashing down the stairs and he manage to get outside and around the school where when he walked around a corner, his dad came out from one of the doors and thought he saw his son. Coach Bolton walked up to the corner of the building and looked around but no one was there. Going through the garage of the car shop class of the school hoping no one would spot him and well he was about to make it back inside of the school, he bumped into the teacher of the class.

"Short cut, late for class." the excuse that Troy gave as the teacher looked at his watch, opening the door he manages to ended up back inside of the school and entered a hallway.

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In the auditorium...

Troy manages to get himself into the backstage of the auditorium and he was pushing a janitor's trolley around to hide himself with which was full of cleaning supplies and with mops and brooms. Wheeling the trolley up behind a camel prop, Troy looks around the stage and sees that the auditions hadn't started yet. Wheeling the trolley further up, he sprinted up to behind the curtain of the stage and looked out to the front and sees Darbus and people who were auditioning for the musical walking in and quickly stepped back away from the curtain and disappeared. The drama teacher walked right up onto the stage as the people who were auditioning sat down at the seats in front of her.

"This is where the true expression of the artist is realized. Where inner truth is revealed through the actor journey where..." Darbus stopped when the bell rang.

"Was that a cell phone!" she shouted and the students started to search themselves.

"No ma'am that was the warning bell." a girl in glasses next to Darbus told her.

"Ah. Those wishing to audition must understand that time is of the essence, we have many roles to cast and final callbacks will be next week." Darbus continued and at the front entrance of the auditorium we see Troy pushing the janitor's trolley in hiding behind it as he watches.

"First you'll sing a few bars and I'll give you a sense whether or not the theatre is your calling. Better to hear it from me now than your friends later. Our composer Kelsi Nielsen will accompany you and be available for rehearsals prior to callbacks. Shall we..." Darbus continued and introduced the girl beside her.

First up was a girl with frizzy hair and a red hair bow tie attached to the top of her head. Wearing a white dress blouse with a light blue wool vest on top and a dark green skirt with leaf patterns on it. Her singing was hyper and excited like she was high or something and her voice was off tune badly.

"It's hard to believe that I couldn't see, that you're always right there beside me.

This feeling's like no other, I want you to know!"

In the audience we see Sharpay who was sitting with Gabriella right next to her they both stared at the girl and couldn't believe she came to audition.

"Yes...thank you. Next!" Darbus stopped her while smiling.

Next was a guy in a brown dress suit with a red tie and combed back hair and you can see he was nervous as he started to sing which was more like reading.

"It's hard to believe that I couldn't sneezed see, that you're always right there next beside me.

This feeling's like no other..." the guy messing up the lines and kept looking at his hand.

"Alan I admire your pluck, as for your singing...that's a wonderful tie you're wearing. Next!" trying to put down the boy gently.

The next girl who was wearing pink and was standing behind the piano that Kelsi was playing, her singing was better than the first two. But what set Ms. Darbus off was the eye contact she kept making with her only which made her uncomfortable a bit.

"Uh, stop."

The next girl sang in a quite a strange way which was mostly in a high note of a voice, almost like she was going for the opera or something. As she sang, she went higher on the scale making her voice hard to hear and it was hurting people ears. At the end she only sang one high screeching note which made the audience, including Darbus covered their ears with their hands.

"Ah Cyndra, what courage to pursue a note that is not been accessed in the natural world. Bravo, uh Brava! Perhaps the spring musical." as Darbus uncovered her ears.

Next was a guy who just bounded onto the stage like a ballet dancer without even singing a word and it surprised everyone. He danced around the stage a bit and Darbus thought finally a good one but the dancer danced off to the right exit and a loud crash could be heard.

Then was an African American girl who took a deep breath like she was about to sing but just froze in her tracks and stared at Darbus.

"Thank you...Next." the teacher took a drink from her cup and waved the girl away.

Finally was another guy who came dancing on the stage but this time the person actually sang and was doing quite well. Darbus's face immediately lit up in joy and excitement and was smiling, thanking there was actually a good one out of the one she seen so far.

"It's hard to believe that I couldn't see, that you're always right there beside me. This feeling's like no other, I want you to know!" as the guy sang he started to dance towards the back of the stage and suddenly he just disappeared.

"My, that was just wonderful and finishing with a disappearing act." the teacher got up to clap.

"Um actually, someone left the trap door open." Kelsi interrupted as she stood up from the piano and looked over at the spot where the person disappeared too.

"Ugh, next!" Darbus stopped and sat back down dropping her pencil and groaned.

Back over at the entrance of the auditorium...

Troy was still hiding behind the janitor trolley and was so busy watching that he didn't even noticed that Ryan walked in from the front entrance. Ryan who came into the auditorium to watch the auditions was surprise to see Troy there hiding behind a mop and was wondering what the other boy was doing here.

"Troy?"

The sudden call of his name made the basketball star jumped a bit in surprise making him nearly topple over the cart.

"What are you doing here?"

"Uh hey Ryan. Shouldn't I be asking you that question? I thought that you'll be the first one to be down there with Sharpay." Troy asked and greeted awkwardly.

"I would if you hadn't forgot that the leading couple roles are gay and lesbian and I don't think anyone would want to audition with the school's fag."

"Oh right, that." Troy started to feel sorry a bit for the other boy.

"Why are you hiding behind a mop?" Ryan asked with the trolley that Troy was still holding onto.

Troy just forced a laugh, being a bit embarrassed as he pushed the cart away from him with his hand.

"Your friends don't know you're here, right?"

"Right."

Back with the auditions...

The auditions for the lead couples had started and we see two girls going for the lead female couple. The weird thing is that instead of singing, the two were reading song lines like poetry and both were doing this hippie like dance style. Starting from waving their hands in front of their faces then going into waving their arms to one side like a hula dance and rolling onto the ground and crawling like a cat, it made their entire act just weird. Darbus was just watching the entire thing weirdly as she toss her pencil onto the desk. Well Sharpay and Gabriella just turned and stared at one another before turning their attention back on stage, thinking 'Okay...'.

"Well...that was just...very disturbing, go see a counsellor. Next!"

"Wow, what talent people have at this school." Gabriella said to herself.

Next was a boy who was auditioning for lead male couple but he was all by himself and was carrying something.

"Uh, where is your partner?" asked Darbus but the boy just held up his hand in a 'just a moment' gesture.

Then he took the thing he was carrying and placed it on the piano and opened it revealing it was a laptop computer. Typing something in on the keyboard and then gestured to Kelsi to begin who didn't know what was going on so she started.

"It's hard to believe that I couldn't see, you're always right there beside me." the boy began to sing.

"Thought I was alone, with no one to hold." a computerized male voice sang out from the laptop and Darbus stopped them or him.

"When I asked for couple auditions, I was asking for a partner that happens to be alive. Next!"

Next was a girl who came out with a...bird cage with a parrot in it and she set the cage on the piano and she began.

"It's hard to believe that I couldn't see, you're always right there beside me." the girl began to sing.

"Thought I was alone, with no one to hold." the parrot squawked out.

"Heh, heh better then the last one but I was hoping for a partner that is human! You should try out for our school's talent show this year. Next!"

Back with Troy and Ryan...

"Uh, Ms. Darbus is a little...harsh." Troy commented as he watched.

"You have seen nothing yet." Ryan turned to the other, "The Wildcat superstar is afraid?"

"No, no, not afraid...I...just...scared." the basketball star was about to lie but instead he decide to tell the truth.

"Me too."

"What? You? How could that be? You and Sharpay had starred in all of our school's productions, how could you be scared?" Troy looked at the other boy with surprised expression.

"I already have enough people pick on me because I'm gay, I don't want to be stereo-typed even more because I decide to go for a gay role."

"And finally for the lead females roles we have Sharpay and...my how interesting...Gabriella Montez." the sudden shout from Ms. Darbus made both boys jumped a bit and quickly they grabbed the janitor cart and hid behind it.

"I think it might be useful for you to give us a sense of why we gathered in this hallowed hall."

Immediately Sharpay got up and head towards the stage followed by Gabriella who stood up slowly and was a bit nervous. In the back Ryan and Troy quickly sat down at a pair of seats near the entrance to watch as they were surprise that Gabriella was here and had signed up with Sharpay.

"What key?" Kelsi asked Sharpay as she got on the stage.

"I had a rehearsal pianist to do an arrangement."

"Oh."

Once both girls were on stage, Sharpay snapped her fingers and the curtains were drawn closed in front of them and they were given mikes.

"Isn't this a bit over doing it?" asked Gabi nervously as she remembers the song that they practice and how it was changed from the original.

"Listen, nothing is over doing it in show business. Now remember how we rehearsed it." Sharpay reassured her partner.

"But I only rehearsed it for one night."

"Don't worry, you'll be fine."

"I can't believe I'm doing this." Gabi groaned and slapped her hand over her face.

Then the music started to play the song that the students had auditions with, with a more hip hop beat to it and the curtains opened and the two began.

Sharpay:
It's hard to believe,
That I couldn't see

Both:
You were always there,
Beside me,
Thought I was alone,
With no one to hold,
But you were always,
Right beside me

Gabriella:
This feeling's like no other

Both:
I want you to know

(Ms. Darbus was moving to the tune of the song and couldn't believe what a great voice that Gabriella had. She watches merrily as the two did the dance routine to the song, well mostly Sharpay did it and Gabriella was doing it partly.)

Both:
I've never had someone,
That knows me like you do,
The way you do,
I've never had someone,
As good for me as you,
No one like you,
So lonely before,
I finally found,
What I've been looking for

Gabriella:
So good to been seen,
So good to be heard

Both:
Don't have to say a word

Sharpay:
For so long I was lost,
So good to be found

Both:
I'm lovin' havin' you around

Sharpay:
This feeling's like no other

Both:
I want you to know

(In the back Troy and Ryan who was watching also couldn't believe what a great singing voice that Gabriella had and was surprised.)

Both:
I've never had someone,
That knows me like you do,
The way you do,
I've never had someone,
As good for me as you,
No one like you,
So lonely before,
I finally found,
What I've been looking for

Once the song ended, Sharpay gave a look at everyone which had made them clapping to their performance. Breathing hardly a bit, both girls bowed to their audience and Darbus started to stand up as Troy and Ryan ducked behind the seats in the back.

"Well are there any last minute sign ups?" the teacher called out.

Back on stage...

We see everyone was starting to leave and as Sharpay started to leave, she was stopped by Kelsi.

"Oh! Actually if you do the part with that particular song, imagine it much slower..."

"If we do the part? Kelsi, my sod off sun time. I've been in 17 school productions and how many times have your composition been selected?" asked Sharpay

"This would be the first..." the composer replied slowly

"Which tells us what?"

"Ah, I need to write you more solos?"

"No, it tells us that you do not offer for direction, suggestion or commentary and you should be thankful that I'm here to let your music out of its current obscurity. Are we clear!" the drama queen started to advance on the girl pushing her back.

"Yes ma'am! I mean Sharpay."

"Nice talking to you." Sharpay laughed a bit and started to leave.

"Any last minute sign ups?" Ms. Darbus called out to the auditorium as Troy motioned to him and Ryan to leave.

"We should go." Troy whispered.

"No? Well then what a shame, it looks like I have to tell the principal that we will have to go to our back up musical since no one successfully tried out for the leading male couple." Darbus announced out.

"But Ms. Darbus..." Sharpay called out.

"Sorry. As I said before that if no one auditioned for the leading parts then we will have to cancel."

Sharpay sighed in disappointment and left the stage as Darbus turned off the desk lamp that was on the desk she was working at and started to leave and heads towards the main exit. Back with Troy and Ryan who was hiding back in the main entrance hall, Ryan who couldn't stand it anymore and he had to audition since he had starred in almost all shows and there was no way he was missing this one. Making up his decision and not caring anymore of other people's views, he walked out from his hiding spot.

"I like to audition, Ms. Darbus!" Ryan called out as Troy just looked at him and grabbed his own head and wondered what the other boy was doing with an unbelievable expression.

"Ryan? Where have you been all this time. I would have thought that you would be here on time for the auditions of all people. As you know time limit means something in the world of theatre young man. The individual auditions are long, long over there are simply no other pairs and besides you need a male partner to audition with you for the male leads. And I see that there is no one else with you, so that's that." making Ryan looked down sadly.

Troy who was still hiding had no idea what came over him so suddenly but there was no turning back now, since his mouth made the decision before he could think about it.

"I'll sing with him." the sudden announcement surprised both Darbus and Ryan as they turn to the entrance as Troy came walking around the corner with his right arm up.

"Troy Bolton...Didn't think a person of your social stature would come here to audition for these kinds of parts. Where is your sports posse? Or whatever it's called."

"Team...Uh but I'm here alone, actually I'm here to sing with him." Troy gestured to Ryan who he was standing beside now as Darbus walked towards them.

"Well yes...well we take these shows very seriously here at East High, I called for the pairs audition and you didn't respond and free period is now over. So Ryan maybe next time you should think about signing up earlier like you sister did." and the teacher started to leave.

"But, but, but..." the basketball player started.

"Perhaps the next musical." and Darbus left.

"Why did you volunteered?" Ryan turned to the other wondering.

"Well I was helping a friend in need." not sure what to answer so Troy gave the best one he could think of.

"You consider me as a friend?"

"Well yeah."

Back up on stage...

No one was left in the auditorium except for Kelsi was gathered up her music and stood up and was about to leave when she trip and fell, sending all her music sheet scattering to the floor. Seeing this Troy and Ryan sprinted up onto the stage and knelt down and help pick up the music sheets that were on the floor.

"So you're a composer? You wrote the song Sharpay and Gabriella just sang?" Troy asked Kelsi and the girl nodded.

"And the entire show? Well that very cool, I uh can't wait to hear the rest of the show." handing back the sheets of music to the girl and shook hands with her as all three stood up.

"So, why are you so afraid of Sharpay? I mean it is your show."

"Hey! That's my sister." Ryan elbowed him.

"I don't mean it as a bad kind of way." Troy kind of apologized to the boy.

"Anyhow sorry, Sharpay could be a bit demanding sometimes." the school's drama king turned to the girl and apologized for his sister's behaviour.

"Its alright, I kind of get that most of the time but the show being mine, it is?" Kelsi asked unsure of Troy's comment.

"Isn't the composer of the show, kind of like the play-maker in basketball."

"Play-maker?" the girl was still unsure.

"You know the one that makes everyone else look good. I mean without you there wouldn't be no show. You're the play maker here, Kelsi."

"I am?" Troy nodded at the girl in a yes.

"Do you want to hear how the duet suppose to sound? It was originally written for a guy and girl but it'll work in any pair along it is a couple." girl went back to the piano and sat down and placed the music in front of her as Troy and Ryan walked over and stood near her, next to one another.

Kelsi then started to play the song what it originally suppose to sound like, a soft, drawn out slow song and nodded at Troy to start singing the first part.

Troy:
It's hard to believe,
That I couldn't see,
You were always there beside me

(As Troy started to sing, Ryan turned to him in surprise finding out what a great singing voice he has and smiled a bit as Kelsi nodded him to sing the next part.)

Ryan:
Thought I was alone,
With no one to hold

Both:
But you were always right beside me,
This feeling's like no other,
I want you to know

(Both boys started to sing together in great harmony as they turned to one another and smiled as Troy started to get that warm butterflies in your stomach feeling again.)

Both:
I've never had someone,
That knows me like you do,
The way you do,
I've never had someone,
As good for me as you,
No one like you,
So lonely before,
I finally found,
What I've been looking for

"Wow...that's nice." Troy commented as the song finished.

"Bolton, Evans, you have a callback just in case of any other last minute auditions. Kelsi, give them the duet from the second act. Work on it with them." Darbus called out to the three suddenly as she was back in the auditorium hearing the two sing and she left again.

"If you guys want to rehearse, I'm usually here during free period and after school even sometimes during biology class. You can come and rehearse at anytime or you can come to my house for breakfast, I have a piano we could rehearse there. After school before school whatever works, after basketball class..." Kelsi for one was very excited and handed the two each a copy of the song that they need to practice on.

Ryan for one was happy that he got the male leading part, well sort of and with Troy no less but Troy was totally confused at what just happen. Flipping the pages of the song, Troy just looked totally confused.

"What?"

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Anyways thanks for all the reviewers that pointed out the truce mistake at the end. I knew there was something wrong with the word but I didn't know what. So read and review please!

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