"Ten Months of Bliss"
Chapter 7
by TehFuzzyPenguin
Disclaimer: Disney and all its conglomerate minion companies have their claws all over HSM. I can't even begin to touch it.
Warning: Dorky theater talk ahead. It's not very cumbersome, but in case you're feeling lost, you can skip the technical stuff...
February
----
Sharpay, Ryan, Gabriella, Mark, and Olivia paced around onstage.
Sharpay looked like a hooker. So did Gabriella. Ryan was dressed in torn art bum clothing. Mark twirled his pimp hat. Kelsi sat by her piano, yawning. It was seven in the morning. Everyone but Olivia and Kelsi had on stage makeup.
Olivia toed a piece of fading yellow spike tape. "Scrim line," she said. "Montez. Don't be past this line when you finish singing. Because the silhouette scene is right after your number, and we don't want to catch you in front of the scrim." Gabriella nodded. "Opening night is tomorrow; whatever you do, do not get caught in front of a scene."
Sharpay looked impatient.
Ryan smothered his second yawn.
Olivia said, "Okay, so we're out of class today—" Gabriella raised her hand. "—no exceptions. And we need to get our big numbers worked out. Choreography tightened, characters figured out, prop arranged, costume changes timed, come on babe we're gonna paint the town all that jazz." She flicked her hair out of her face. "So. Run-through once or twice. Ensemble comes out, does their Greek tragedy prologue thing—"
"—Shakespeare does it in Romeo and Juliet!" Kelsi said.
"—still tragic," said Olivia. "Ensemble goes back, scene opens on street corner..." She trailed off as Ryan pushed a street sign in from stage left and Mark pushed on the set backdrop and they both set up lampposts in the background. "I love the art kids," Olivia said, admiring the downtown scene. "Anyway. Enter Melody and Jordan from backstage center."
Gabriella looked at Sharpay. "Go backstage and enter!" said Olivia, her hair drifting back into her face.
They did so. Olivia flicked her hair out of her face.
"All right. Fuck, why is Darbus taking a personal health day—"
"She's old," Sharpay said.
"If the cast is done interrupting God?!" Olivia said.
"Who's God?" Mark asked. Olivia looked at him. "Retracted."
"Thank you, Cohen." She turned to Kelsi. Kelsi stopped yawning. "Something keeping you up, Nielsen?"
Sharpay winked at Kelsi from behind Olivia. Kelsi stiffened. "Nothing," she said. "Can we get started?"
"Yeah. Enter Melody and Jordan. Begin 'Friday Night'..." Kelsi poised her fingers over the piano. Her fingers were tapered, thin, pale, light. Sharpay held her breath waiting for them to lower. Olivia whispered, "Now."
The music started.
The song started.
The show started.
----
Sharpay stood fanning herself under the spotlight. Olivia sighed. Sharpay felt like demanding a bottle of water. Ryan scratched his head with his free hand, his other one in Sharpay's right hand. Garrett had just propositioned Melody and discovered the music in their souls or something like that. Two hours: homeroom, honors English, economics, and too much of Olivia's fast talking had gone by.
Gabriella and Mark stood to the side. Sam was explaining to Jordan the finer points of prostitution and why Melody was a better streetwalker, the least of which was because "Jordan" was not, and never would be, a good stripper name.
Olivia said, "Intermission. Take fifteen, guys."
Sharpay said, "Oh!" and wandered backstage for water.
Gabriella followed her.
Gabriella asked, "Why didn't we do this last year?"
Sharpay found a half-pint of Disani and twisted the cap off. She said, "Because this isn't Twinkle Town."
"Well, yeah."
Sharpay swallowed. Gabriella waited for her to say more. Sharpay waited for another question.
Mark asked, "We got any snacks?"
Ryan said, "Raid Olivia's stash, she's got a thing of Jolly Ranchers somewhere." He patted Sharpay's shoulder consolingly as he went past.
Sharpay said, "That's the reason." Gabriella looked confused. Sharpay said, "I'm not being a diva, Montez." She wandered away to find Olivia's Jolly Ranchers.
Kelsi walked up to Gabriella and looked after the three drama kids. "They're freaking addicted," she said.
Gabriella said, "To the spotlight?"
Kelsi said, "To sugar." She looked at Gabriella's face. She said, "That really is the reason. And only Sharpay can do that sneer."
"Does she own that, too?" Gabriella muttered.
Kelsi frowned. "You just don't do it right."
"I found Jolly Ranchers!" Ryan said. He shook a bag that crinkled.
"You found Jolly Ranchers!" Sharpay said.
"Jolly Ranchers!" Mark said.
"You guys had better not be eating my Jolly Ranchers!" Olivia said. She stalked backstage. "Drop it, Evans."
Sharpay dropped her water bottle. She smirked at Olivia. "You didn't specify which one." Ryan unwrapped the rubber band from the bag.
Mark yelled, "Watermelon, I want watermelon!"
"Get the fuck out of my Jolly Ranchers!"
Kelsi looked at Gabriella and shrugged. "There's too much punctuation back here. You stay with drama kids too long, you'll start throwing cups at walls and yelling 'OPAH!'" She paused. "Damn it."
Jolly Ranchers showered over Gabriella. Kelsi stepped tactfully away.
"It's a festival," Mark said. "Your favorite flavor is in there somewhere."
Olivia said, "Okay, candy mountain is closed, get back to the house, we got stuff to do." Gabriella, Mark and Ryan followed Olivia back onstage.
Sharpay shoved a handful into her purse. She kept one in her hand. With her eyes on Kelsi, she stuck one end between her teeth, unwrapped it, and slowly let her tongue capture the hard candy.
Olivia poked her head back around the curtain. She said, "Sharpay, stop flirting with the writer and get—the—fuck—on—stage."
The bell rang.
Olivia flicked her hair out of her face.
"Get out here!"
----
Sharpay felt like she'd sweated all her makeup off. She pushed her hair back in a ponytail, pulled on some sweatpants, and headed out the door for lunch. Ryan, Kelsi, Mark and Gabriella followed her. "Olivia, you coming?"
Olivia said, "I don't yell 'OPAH!'"
"You're missing out."
They took their usual seats on the balcony. Gabriella was painfully awkward. Chad came up to greet them. He brought Troy along.
"Hey Sharpay," Chad said. "How's rehearsal?"
Sharpay closed her eyes, opened them, and fluttered them closed again. "Death," she said, by way of explanation.
Troy hugged Gabriella and kissed her quickly.
Ryan said, "Thanks for the coffee this morning, Chad."
Chad shrugged and said, "No problem. You guys owe me, though."
Ryan waved his hand. "We'll make it up for you." Mark handed him a packet of Caesar dressing. "You weakling," said Ryan, and tore it.
Gabriella asked, "Are you coming to opening night tomorrow?"
Troy looked disappointed. He said, "Uh. Oh—god, Gabi, I know it's a big deal for you, but—my dad got tickets to the U of A game tomorrow, and he went to a lot of trouble to get them..."
Gabriella nodded. "It's okay. Yeah—yeah, that's fine. You, Chad?"
Chad twisted his lip and said, "I'm going with Troy. Sorry guys, I really am. Sorry Sharpay."
"You'll be missing pimps," Mark said. He poured the dressing over his salad.
"And prostitutes," Ryan said.
"And lesbians," Sharpay said.
"There are lesbians?" Gabriella said.
"There are no lesbians!" said Kelsi.
"Are there?" said Gabriella.
"No," Chad said, quickly. He already knew the story. "Sharpay, it's very tempting, but—"
"I know," Sharpay said. "It's a U of A game. Have fun."
Chad leaned down and kissed her. He said, "Valentine's Day, next week. You, me, an Italian restaurant, a greasy dude playing the violin and a fat lady singing." Sharpay pretended to swoon. He smiled. "Love you, Sharpay."
Sharpay said, "Don't you forget." She waved them off.
Mark watched them go. He said, "There isn't one really, is there?"
"There isn't one what?" Gabriella asked.
Kelsi stomped on Mark's foot. Mark said, "A real needle. For when Sharpay shoots up." Sharpay cleared her throat. "For when Melody shoots up."
"I doubt it," Gabriella said.
She explained why it would be a bad idea.
Ryan didn't bother stifling his yawn.
When Gabriella wasn't looking, Sharpay shook her head at Mark. He looked confused. Kelsi leaned over and mouthed "no" in his ear.
Mark looked confused.
Sharpay made a circle with her left hand, thumb to the nonopposable fingers. She pointed at Mark with her right hand. She shoved her right index finger through the circle. "Money shot," she mouthed.
Mark looked surprised. He mouthed, "Really?"
Sharpay nodded smugly. She put a finger to her lips.
Mark mimed zipping his own.
Ryan said, "It's okay, Gabriella, they're not using a real hypodermic whatever."
----
Olivia sat cross-legged onstage. She'd finally found a rubber band and tied her hair back. "Okay," she said. "We've done two run-throughs, and it's finally working out. Get the curtain call right this time, and we only have to rehearse once this afternoon, and you won't have to sing. Okay?"
Ryan nodded slowly.
"All right," said Olivia. She cued Kelsi. "Okay. Tragic Greek ensemble—"
"They're not Greek," said Kelsi.
"—God is talking!" said Olivia. "Okay. We all know the curtain call dance. After that: Ensemble comes out, bows. Our two-bit whores come out, bow. Our street bum artists come out, bow. Then Jordan and Sam, do your bows. Then Ryan bows individual, then Sharpay, your bow, then all four of you back to the center, clasp hands, pretend that the last four weeks haven't been bloody hell, smile for the audience, and bow. Acknowledge the orchestra, acknowledge Darbus who isn't here, acknowledge Kelsi, acknowledge the fucking stage crew, acknowledge God, bow one more time, the end."
Kelsi started finishing the curtain call dance. Olivia raised two fingers. Kelsi ended the dance. Olivia's fingers dropped.
"Ensemble bows." Imaginary people bowed. "Two-bit whores. Street bum artists. Jordan and Sam. Ry—Garrett. Melody. Okay, bow together. Company bow. Orchestra." The four reached out to the empty stage pit. "Director." The absent Mrs. Darbus. "Writer." Kelsi. "Stage crew." Backstage. "God." Olivia. "And last bow. Disperse in a civilized manner. Yay."
Everyone clapped. Ryan cheered. Sharpay smiled, reached out for Gabriella, and exchanged theater kisses. Mark ran off stage and picked Kelsi up. He brought her back onstage and deposited her in the middle of the pack. They had a group hug.
Olivia broke away and said, "Any questions?"
Gabriella raised her hand.
Mark said, "You don't have to raise your hand."
Gabriella said, "This doesn't have a happy ending."
Sharpay palmed her face and wiped the sweat from her eyes.
Mark said, "That's not a question," and had anyone else said that, Gabriella would have probably tried to sneer.
Instead, Gabriella asked, "Why isn't it a happy ending?"
Kelsi said, "It's...not a happy musical. I mean, the people are happy, but they don't live in a...a happy place."
"But—"
Kelsi was on a roll. She said over Gabriella, "I mean—well, Melody's pimp constantly owes people money, okay, and her best friend dies at the end right when we thought it was going to be okay, and I mean—I mean, it's a story. But if we ended it right before Jordan's death, okay, then it is happy, and if we ended it with Melody having a baby, then that's happy, it's just—where this story ends, okay, and all they have right then are each other, and that's what's important."
Sharpay watched Kelsi. Ryan looked at Mark with concern. Gabriella paid attention.
"They—They're together," Kelsi said. "Even after all this, they're together. And that's all that matters to them. And—and that's what should matter to us—to them."
"Amen," said Mark. "Viva La Vie Boheme."
"Oh please no," said Ryan. "I can't sing your character right now."
Olivia flicked her bangs out of her face. "Thank you, Nielsen. Any other questions? Comments? Concerns?" Before anyone could move, she said, "Good. Go home now. Eat. Sleep. No milk, understand? Tea, fine. Coffee, black. Sleep well. Don't forget what we worked on today. Break a leg. I'll respike the stage today when you guys leave. Get a good night's sleep. I'll see you again in a few hours."
They went backstage to change and clean up as much as possible.
Gabriella left first.
Then Mark and Ryan.
Then Sharpay and Kelsi.
Olivia started respiking the stage.
----
"I thought Olivia said we were supposed to get a good night's sleep," Kelsi said. Kelsi's hair was down, and it wasn't curled.
Sharpay said something. Her voice was muffled.
"What?" said Kelsi.
"Idssssst mfftr wh livia shhnnhhs."
"What?"
Sharpay raised her head. "It doesn't matter what Olivia says, and Nielsen, I am trying to take your bra off with my mouth, must you make conversation about our stage manager?"
"But she's God," Kelsi said.
Sharpay said, "Now you decide to grow a wit." She slowly licked her way down Kelsi's chest to said bra and snapped her teeth.
Kelsi shuddered.
She said, "Why isn't Chad coming tomorrow?"
Sharpay sighed. "You don't need a cockblocker." She rested her head under Kelsi's chin. "Now that you've effectively killed the small vestige of sexuality I had left, what was your question?"
Kelsi almost brought her hand up to stroke Sharpay's hair, but Sharpay's own fingers were circling Kelsi's ear, so the writer decided to just lie there. Kelsi asked, "Chad?"
"Oh," Sharpay said. "Well, he said. He's going to be with Troy."
Kelsi said, "I thought Chad was mad at Troy."
Sharpay said, "He was. He is. He—it's complicated."
Kelsi asked, "More complicated than us?"
Sharpay said, "You haven't slept with Gabriella, have you?"
Kelsi shook her head.
"Then, yes. Much more complicated."
"But you're—okay with this?"
Sharpay turned her face to Kelsi's collarbone, the dip between that and her shoulder, and inhaled. She said, "You would ask tonight." She said, "I'm with you. We're together, and that's what matters, isn't it?"
Kelsi said, "You can't use my words." Kelsi moved her hand, but not to Sharpay's hair, and Sharpay tightened her arms around the body beneath her.
Sharpay said, "I use your words all the time."
Kelsi said, "I'm your backstage affair this year."
"Yes," Sharpay said, and hesitated. She didn't know what to say after that.
"So you're letting Chad have his own—locker room affair."
"That is a terrible joke," Sharpay whispered. She said, louder, "Well, I know he's coming back."
Kelsi said, "Must be love."
Sharpay rolled her eyes. "It's a funny story."
"About what?"
"Redemption."
"Us or them?"
"Them, of course."
"Then what's ours about?"
Sharpay breathed some more. "Discretion," she finally said.
She heard Kelsi sigh. "That's a good one," Kelsi said, and Sharpay felt the vibration of her voice through her ribs.
"A good lie or a good story?"
"Both."
Sharpay raised her head and looked at Kelsi, moving up so they were nose to nose. She looked carefully at Kelsi. Sharpay said, "You're Jordan."
Kelsi stuttered. "What?"
"In Red Light. You're Jordan. You wrote Melody for me, and then you put yourself in Jordan."
Kelsi whispered, "Not every piece of work is autobiographical."
"Well, you're not dead." Sharpay hovered over Kelsi's lips. "But. Jordan's in love with Melody."
"I'm not a lesbian," Kelsi whispered.
"I know," said Sharpay. "Neither am I. But you know the line."
"I do?"
Sharpay nodded, her nose bumping against Kelsi's. "People," she said. She didn't sing it like Barbara Streisand, because that wasn't what she meant.
"Oh," said Kelsi. She had known.
"You shouldn't love someone who loves someone else," Sharpay said.
Kelsi closed her eyes and said, "I know."
They breathed a litle bit of each other's air. Sharpay's eyes flickered to the lamp, to the headboard, to every individual eyelash curling away from Kelsi's face.
There were five days of performances, and the backstage affairs would end. Sharpay was in love with Chad. Kelsi was in love with Sharpay.
Sharpay braced her elbows above Kelsi's shoulders on her bed. Her hair fell around their faces. Kelsi blinked as some of it dropped on her forehead. Sharpay looked straight down into Kelsi's eyes.
She said, "I'm sorry."
She lowered her mouth.
----
Edit/Explanation: I'm sorry this took so long to put up. I got in a car wreck, and the ensuing angry mother has taken up most of my time/energy. I'm okay! I am, no one got hurt, but my license is gone and I basically have no freedom, and my crackpot mother is making up theories as to how I got hit, none of which are even plausible. So. I don't have a March yet, but I'll try! Back to the normal AN.
Well, hopefully, my fake musical has been made somewhat clearer. Dedication to Stessa, because--I don't know. I just know I finally found the perfect way to end this chapter after reading her fics. And I love the ending. I know, it's more Kelpay than anything, but that's not the real ending! I promised Chadpay. The line is "I fall in love with people." "OPAH" was just a govschool drama thing, but it was still pretty bizarre and very dramakid-ish. I'm just a stage manager.
Review!
