I only own Kayla, and HSM2 never happened.
Chapter 10: Auditions
Two weeks later…
It's been two weeks since my "get to know you" day with Gabi and Kelsi. The three of us are a lot closer now. Actually, we're all a lot closer. The five of us girls have weekly sleepovers together now, though Taylor, Sharpay, and I sometimes get together an hour or so beforehand if we want to talk about something we can't talk about with Gabi or Kelsi. They've been let in on most of our secrets, but there are still some that we have to keep for now. Sometimes we hang just us girls, and sometimes we hang with the guys. Since we can't sit and talk together in class, lunch is the only time the ten of us can get together. The second week of school, we tried to get together everyday at lunch, but between basketball and decathlon practice, the only people who made it everyday were Kelsi, Ry, Pay, and I. Eventually, we decided to just get together on Monday and Friday, or if something big was going on. Since today is Monday, and there is something big going on, I expect everyone will make it to lunch.
"Hey guys" I said as I sat down, joining Pay, Ry, and Kelsi who were already seated.
"Hey Kayla" they all responded.
"Kelsi, I'm sorry your script didn't get picked" I said.
"Don't be, it's not like you had a vote. Ms. Darbus has been wanting to do this since forever, and now that there's enough interest in drama club, she had to act on it. Besides, this gives me time to get everything the way I want it for next time" Kelsi told me.
"Well in that case, I look forward to one day performing your work" I said with a smile.
"Hey guys, what are you talking about" Taylor asked as she and everyone else joined us.
"Just Ms. Darbus' drama selection" I said.
"I'm surprised she chose a musical" Ryan said.
"What's wrong with her picking a musical" Gabi asked.
"We usually have a fall play, not an autumn musicale" Kelsi told her.
"Is it really that big a deal that she decided to have an autumn musicale instead of a fall play" Chad asked her.
"Not really, it's just tradition" Kelsi responded.
"Well all traditions aside, I'm happy we finally get to do Grease" Sharpay said.
"Me too, so who's all auditioning" Ryan asked.
"I'm definitely in. Grease is one of my favorite musicals" Gabi said.
"And of course Ryan and I are trying out" Sharpay said, with Ryan nodding in agreement.
"I'm going for it since last year was so much fun" Troy said.
"I'm in too. Grease is so much fun to put on" I said.
"You've done Grease before" Kelsi asked.
"Yeah, I was Sandy. I'm trying to figure out who I want to try out for" I said.
"You don't want to be Sandy again" Gabi asked.
"Nope, she was too much of a goody-goody for me. And as my old drama teacher says, a true artist can never grow if she plays the same role" I said.
"If you don't want to be Sandy, you should definitely go for Rizzo. She's the school's bad girl, and you'll get to look older" Sharpay suggested.
"I have always liked Rizzo, I think she's just misunderstood, not bad. But why do I need to look older" I asked her.
She looked at Zeke out of the corner of her eye.
"Oh" I said, "so is anyone else trying out?"
Taylor, Jason, Zeke, and Chad just looked at each other.
"No" Taylor said, answering for all of them.
"Not even you Chad" I asked.
"Kayla, you really have been gone too long" Troy said.
"Yeah, Chad doesn't sing" Jason said.
"Or dance" Zeke added.
"He doesn't" I asked.
"Well, he dances at school dances and parties, but that's it" Taylor said.
"Oh, is that so" I said turning to look at Chad.
"Kay, can I talk to you, over there" Chad asked, pointing to a quiet corner of the cafeteria.
"Sure" I said getting up and following him.
"Kay, you can't tell them that I can sing, or dance for that matter" he told me.
"Why not, you're really good" I responded.
"It's just I can't, not after" Chad started, looking over at our table.
"Oh, I see. You don't want people to think you're doing this because Troy did it" I said.
"Well yeah. I mean when Tay and I started dating again, people said it wouldn't last because I was trying to be like Troy, you know, date a smart girl. But it's not like that" he said.
"Well, what if you had to audition, and everyone knew that you had no choice, and that Troy had nothing to do with it, would you do it then" I asked.
"Yeah, but how would that happen" Chad asked me.
"Leave that to me. Little sister is on the case" I said, grabbing his wrist and heading back to our table.
"So, did you guys have a good chat" Taylor asked as Chad and I sat back down.
"Yep, we decided that Chad would audition" I said.
"We what" Chad asked.
"You heard me" I replied.
"But Chad doesn't sing or dance" Troy said.
"Actually, he does, and very well might I add" I told him.
"Seriously, you sing" Zeke asked Chad.
"Yup" Chad responded.
"And dance" Sharpay asked.
"Yes, but I'm not auditioning" Chad said.
"Oh yes you are" I told him.
"No I'm not, and there's nothing you can do to make me" he responded.
"Oh really? I think mom and dad would be interested in that little secret you told me two years ago" I threatened.
"You wouldn't" Chad said.
"I would. You do what I want, or I go singing to mom and dad" I said.
"Fine, I'll do it, but you take that secret to the grave" Chad responded.
"You participate in the musical, and we have a deal" I said.
"I thought I just had to audition" Chad complained.
"You agree to my terms, or the deal is off" I told him.
"Fine, I'll audition and do the musical if I get a part" he said.
"Of course you'll get a part" I told him.
"Whatever" he responded, shaking his head.
"Wow Kay, blackmailing your brother to get what you want. You've made me so proud" Sharpay said, wiping away pretend tears.
"Hey, what can I say? They taught me the art of negotiation at GLA" I replied.
"Well, I just want everyone to know that I am being blackmailed into participating in the musical" Chad said loud enough for our table, as well as those around us to hear, while nodding at me.
"Whatever, no one cares" I said, nodding back at him as word that Chad Danforth was being blackmailed into participating in the autumn musicale.
Of the eight people sitting with us, only Taylor noticed our small gesture.
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That Friday, Audition Day
Since auditions were during lunch, we decided to all meet up in the auditorium. Six of us were auditioning, three were coming to cheer us on, and Kelsi was coming to play for everyone. Taylor and I were the first to arrive, and took a seat in the back.
"Do you wanna tell me why you and Chad have been lying to everyone since Monday" Taylor asked me.
"Tay, what are you talking about" I asked her.
"I'm talking about Chad auditioning. Why is he really doing it" she asked.
"He's doing it because I'm blackmailing him" I said plainly.
"No you're not" she said.
"What? You were there, you heard what I said to him" I told her.
"Yeah, I heard what you said, but I also saw what you did, nodding at each other" she told me.
"Oh, you saw that" I asked.
"Yeah, and I know that you would never spill someone's secret, so threatening to tell your parents was a lie. I also know that you love your brother and would do anything for him, and would never blackmail him, so what's up" Taylor asked me.
"Ok, this has to stay between me and you, but there is no secret. I just said that because Chad really wanted to audition, but he" I started.
"Didn't want people to think he was doing it because Troy did it" Taylor finished for me. "I heard what people said about us when we got back together."
"Oh" I said, wondering how Taylor knew what I was about to ask.
"So you decided to pretend to blackmail him so he would be protected" Taylor said.
"Well yeah, but you won't blow our cover will you" I asked her.
"Of course not. I love Chad just as much as you do, and if he's happy, then so am I. One question though, is he any good" Taylor asked me.
"Of course, he is related to me after all" I said smugly.
"Yeah, you two are definitely related" Taylor said laughing.
Soon everyone arrived and Ms.Darbus got the auditions started after giving a long speech about the chapel of the arts, or something like that, I zoned out after a little while.
Of the six of us, Gabi was first. She and Pay were both auditioning for Frenchy, with hopes of getting called back for Sandy, while Ry and Troy were both auditioning for Kenickie with hopes of getting Danny. Chad and I, on the other hand, were just aiming for one part, Sonny and Rizzo respectively. Ms. Darbus decided to change the audition process for the lead roles because of the stunts my siblings pulled before last year's winter musicale. Now instead of having pairs audition for the lead, everyone has to audition for a smaller part, then she picks who she wants to audition for the lead based on the first audition. She also announces who got which role once everyone has auditioned.
After Gabi sang "Hopelessly Devoted", Troy sang "Sandy", Pay sang "Hopelessly Devoted", then Ry sang "Sandy", and I sang "There Are Worse Things I Could Do." Once I finished, I took a seat next to Pay as Chad was called to the stage. He also sang "Sandy" since it was the only song the guys could audition with.
"Wow, he's really good" Pay whispered to me as Chad finished.
"I told you so" I whispered back, smiling.
"Whatever" she whispered back, rolling her eyes.
"Alright students, auditioning for the roles of Danny and Sandy are Mr. and Miss Evans, Mr. Bolton, Miss Montez, and Mr. and Miss Danforth." Ms. Darbus announced after everyone had auditioned.
"But Ms. D, I don't want the lead" Chad said.
"I don't want to audition for the lead either Ms. Darbus" I told her.
"Mr. Danforth, you will refer to me as Ms. Darbus, and as for you and Miss Danforth, you will both audition for the leads. You two have very good voices, and I would like to hear you do the duet. Now will the six of you please go to the stage." Ms. Darbus asked.
"But" I started, only to be cut off by Sharpay as she shook her head and pushed me toward the stage.
"Ok, now two of you will sing the leads to "Summer Nights" while the other four sing background. So that I can get a feel for how you will sound, you will each sing with each other. First up, Mr. Bolton and Miss Danforth" Ms. Darbus said.
After we finished our auditions, Ms. Darbus allowed us to take a short break.
"Oh my gosh, I never want to hear that song again" Chad said as we sat down.
"Yeah, nine times was a bit excessive" I agreed as I leaned on him.
"You two stop complaining. If we want to be the best we have to practice. And besides, we sounded great, so it was totally worth it" Sharpay said as she leaned on Ryan.
"Shar's right. We sounded good together without practicing, imagine how we'll sound once we've practiced. No matter who gets the leads, we'll sound great anyway" Troy said as Gabi leaned on him.
"Most definitely" Ryan agreed as Ms. Darbus cleared her throat to get our attention.
"As you all know, the theater is where dreams come true" Ms. Darbus said as she began another one of her long speeches.
I made myself comfortable on Chad as I zoned out. He nudged me once Ms. Darbus got to the roles we tried out for.
"In the role of Sonny, we have Mr. Danforth, and Miss Danforth will play Rizzo" Ms. Darbus said.
"Congrats big bro" I said, not bothering to move from my comfortable position.
"Same to you little sis" Chad said to me.
"Mr. Evans will play Kenickie, and Miss Montez will play Frenchy. In our lead roles of Danny and Sandy, we have Mr. Bolton and Miss Evans, with Mr. Evans and Miss Danforth as the understudies. Congratulations to you all, and thank you for coming. You can collect your passes to class from Kelsi" Ms. Darbus said as she dismissed those of us who auditioned. Auditions ran late, so everyone who wasn't auditioning had to leave after lunch was over.
"Ms. Darbus could I speak to you for a minute" I asked her as everyone else left.
"Of course Miss Danforth, what do you need" she asked me.
"Why did you pick me for understudy? I'm more than happy just being Rizzo, and I know Gabi wants it more than me" I said
"That may be true Miss Danforth, but you have potential that you aren't even trying to use. I can see the passion you have for acting, it was evident in your first song. Your passion, as well as your potential, rivals that of Miss Evans, yet you aren't willing to act on it. You should embrace the gift you've been given and use it" Ms. Darbus told me. "Do you understand?"
"Yes Ms. Darbus" I replied.
"And Miss Danforth, I wouldn't worry about having to play Sandy. Miss Evans is very reliable, but you still need to practice" Ms. Darbus added.
"Ok" I said as I left the auditorium and headed to class, hoping I hadn't missed too much.
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