Gabbi came frolicking into Spanish, and when she spotted Taylor, immediately went over to her. At once, she spilled her latest secret, and Taylor squealed over it with her. They chattered on like monkeys for another ten minutes before Senior Rodriguez came over and shushed them, because he was calling role. Gabbi was a bit surprised to hear Sharpay say a small "Here" instead of her usual loud peppy one. In fact, she hadn't known that Sharpay had even arrived yet. This was because instead of Shar sitting with Taylor and Gabriella as usual, she was sitting on the other side of the classroom, buried in World History homework. Taylor and Gabbi looked at each other, seeing if the other knew why Sharpay had all of a sudden become so interested in homework habits. Neither did.

Once Rodriguez had called all the names and assigned the worksheets, and general mayhem had commenced, Taylor and Gabbi walked over to Sharpay.

"Hey" Taylor said cheerfully.

"Hey" Sharpay said in a monotone voice, not looking up.

"Why are you working on homework all of a sudden?"

"Why not?" Taylor looked at Gabbi with furrowed eyebrows, and shrugged her shoulders.

"It's just that you usually chat with us during this class, and work on homework later."

"I'm not in the mood to talk today" Sharpay said grouchily, pulling her books closer.

"You were earlier," Gabbi pointed out, "you talked the entire car ride this morning."

"Well, I am not wanting to talk now," Sharpay said icily,"please leave me alone" At this, Taylor stomped her foot.

"What's your problem Sharpay Evans? Just because you didn't get Troy—"

"This has nothing to do with Troy" Sharpay growled loudly, rising to her feet, glaring daggers at the both of them. "It has to do with a promise broken, someone being mislead, and pure rudeness."

"If you're getting to something," Gabbi yelled back, her temper rising, "come out and say it!"

"IF YOU DON'T REALIZE WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO SOMEONE WHO IS BARELY HAPPY AS IT IS, GABRIELLA MONTEZ" Sharpay screeched, "THEN I SEE NO REASON TO TELL YOU ANY TIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE!!!" By now the entire class (including the teacher) was watching. After making her resounding proclamation, Sharpay stormed up to Mr. Rodriguez, turned in her work, quickly acquired a pass to drama, and stomped out of the room. Gabbi stood fuming at the desk, with a disgruntled and confused Taylor at her side. The silent class stared at the door, and then at Gabbi.

"What are you all looking at?" she said in an uncharacteristic snappish tone. "Keep on talking!" Slowly, the mayhem resumed, and Senior went back to his dozing. Taylor and Gabriella made their way back to their seats.

"Now what was that all about?" Taylor asked, flopping into her seat.

"I dunno…" Gabbi wondered aloud, still cooling down, "but I do know one thing."

"And what's that?" Gabbi gave Taylor a crafty smile.

"Drama is going to be one interesting class."

♫

Kelsey and Jason walked into drama class holding hands. They had been dating ever since that fateful basketball game the year before. He usually helped her out carrying her books and sheet music, and they talked about everything together. Currently it was about drama in general (she had only lately convinced him to join the elective).

"It's usually pretty fun, but slightly boring," she told him, "nothing out of the ordinary ever happens."

"Do the Evans twins still rule the stage?" Jason asked her.

"No, not really. Ever since their success last year, Troy and Gabriella have gotten most of the main parts. Sharpay and Ryan usually get side parts now."

"I'll bet Sharpay isn't too thrilled about that"

"No, but she's gotten used to it. But I have a feeling a storm's brewing."

"Why do you say that?"

"Gabbi and Troy are now dating, which will fuel the fire in Sharpay. And the Winter Musical is coming up."

"What is it this year? Oliver Twist, isn't it?"

"Yep. But there's also something else that adds onto the drama. Whoever does the best acting (most likely the Oliver) will get to guest-star as Oliver in the new stage production of Oliver. They will actually get to do it up on the big stage when the acting company comes to town!" Jason shook his head.

"This is going to be crazy"

"Tell me about it" Kelsey responded, shaking her head.

"How come I haven't heard about this 'opportunity' before?" he asked.

"I heard it last Friday afternoon from Ms. Darbus when I was helping her organize files. So everyone will find out about it today."

"You were right; I diffidently feel a storm coming."

"More like tornado if you ask me."

Kelsey and Jason were there far before anyone else was. Soon the class rolled in, Troy and Gabbi coming in last. But something was wrong. Kelsey looked around. The usual 6 were not together. There was Taylor, Chad, Gabbi, and Troy…but the Evans twins were sitting on the other side of the classroom. Ryan sat closest to the four, but Sharpay put herself far back in the corner. Yep, a tornado was on its way. The signs could be seen most clearly on Ryan's green face.

Ms. Darbus appeared, dramatically coming out from behind her desk as she always did right before the belle rang.

"Hello my pupils, and welcome to my Chapel of the Arts" During this sentence, Darbus took in the unenthusiastic face of Sharpay, Ryan's sickly one, and the two couples' distracted ones. "I hope you will all focus on what I shall say next," she added, "for it shall impact your acting -or singing- lives' greatly." There, that had gotten their attention. Ms. Darbus relished in their attention for a moment, then grandly continued.

"As you all know, we are doing the magnificent and classic play of Oliver Twist for our Winter Musicāl." No one said anything. "What you do not know is that a traveling acting company is also performing this very play at the Music Hall downtown. They always let the city they are visting choose the part for Oliver, because they have no young actors in the company, and want to keep it realistic." Everyone stared fascinated at Darbus now, hanging on her every word. "The School Board has recommended our very own Drama Class (or club, whichever you prefer) to pull the actor from." Here Darbus beamed with pride. "Their recommendation has been accepted and one member of the school board will be at our performance to pick the best-suited actor (sorry ladies, you shall not be included) to play Oliver. I hope this news will encourage you all to practice very hard for the upcoming tryouts. They will be taking place during free period, as always, in the same place. I shall now release you to practice among yourselves."

Nobody really got in very much practice for that first half hour. Gabbi and Taylor talked among themselves what it would be like to see one of their friends up on that big stage. Troy and Chad talked about what it would be like being up there in the spotlight, singing in front of the biggest audience you could possibly want. Sharpay pleaded, yelled, and ordered Ryan to try out for Oliver. Each time he just clenched his jaw and shook his head no. He didn't say one word the entire time.

Finally Darbus called everyone to order, and instructed they were going to the auditorium so that the people trying out for Oliver would have room to practice the dance. Mrs. Teats, the dance teacher, would be teaching them the moves. Dancing as well as singing and acting would count in the auditions.

Mrs. Teats turned out to be a very strict teacher. She glared at Troy when he fell sprawling in the middle of a dance step, and looked like she was about to snipe Ryan when he let out his hacking cough. Looking down at Sharpay, Gabbi could see her mouth tighten with worry. Ryan kept on coughing at intervals, no matter how hard he tried to stop. But it was easily covered up by the elephant-like thunking of senior boys trying to dance.

Teats took them aside one by one to see how they were doing, while the rest kept on practicing. She raised an amused eyebrow at Chad's pitiful attempts, but showed some interest in Troy. She complimented him on his vast improvement, and moved on to Harry, who was desperately trying to turn everything into a ballet move. When Mrs. Teats reached Ryan, she made him do it a second time, trying to find some fault. When none was found, she shook her head in an amazed sort of way, and continued onto the next boy. Gabbi could see Sharpay beaming at Ryan from her seat in the audience. His face showed no emotion besides tiredness. Oh, how she wished she could wipe that smile off of Sharpay's face, and make her pay for embarrassing her in Spanish. As it ended up, Gabbi wasn't needed to wipe the grin off. Someone else did a far better job of it than she ever could have.

Teats pulled Troy, Ryan, and Harry out from among the others, wanting to see them do the steps again. Ryan had a very weird, constrained look on his face.

Troy went first. He actually did not all that bad, considering he was a basketball player and had about zero experience in dance.

Ryan was up next. He was doing perfectly until he stopped to give out a hacking cough. Shaking it off, he was able to do another step before it came back. Only this time, it wouldn't leave him alone. Ryan couldn't do anything but stand there, doubled over, and cough like heck. Ms. Darbus rose to her feet nervously.

"Mr. Evans," she said, adjusting her glasses, unsure of what to do, "are you….Mr. Evans?" Ryan had fallen to his knees, his entire body shaking with each racking cough. He couldn't stop.