Hello, once again! I had to get my head in check, because I wrote C10 straight after C9, but I'm posting it separately, so there's an even-ish gap.
Trust me, it can get a little confusing, you have to remember that your readers are at a different part of the story than you are.
Well, I hope you like this chapter!
Recap
"Maybe I know her. What's the woman's name?" asked Kelsi.
"I think her name is Cassandra, but she calls herself Cassie Wade."
Kelsi's mouth opened in surprise.
Wade. Cassie Wade . . . Candi Wade . . .
Cassie Wade was Candi's mother.
Ding-dong. No answer. Wait.
Ding-dong. No answer again. The bell isn't working . . . ?
Knock knock. Movements this time. Shouts. Yells. Footsteps.
The door opened.
"Hiya babe, you must be Kelsi! Did your Dad bring you?" came the voice. Kelsi blinked and took in the sight.
She was quite young, for a Mum, (A.N. Sorry, Mom) and her hair was bright red, a rich scarlet, and Kelsi was in awe straight away. She was wearing the clothes that young girls might wear, like out-going clothes, but it suited her well.
"Um, no, I walked, it's only a few blocks." Stammered Kelsi, nervous at this woman's bubbly-ness.
"Okay, well, I'm Cassie Wade. Come to the garage, that's where all the instruments are."
Cassie led Kelsi to the garage, and the moment she saw it, her mouth issued a loud 'wow' before she could stop it.
Colour everywhere. Acoustic guitars, electric guitars, keyboard, piano, drum set, microphones, it was amazing. Everything had it's own space, so the garage looked a lot bigger than it was.
"So there's the piano," Cassie pointed at it, "So feel free to drop by, get the key, and play when you like."
"Mrs Wade . . . you've only just met me, but you're treating me like a family friend. " asked Kelsi suspiciously.
"But you are!" Cassie grinned, and two people came into the garage. A teenage girl with bright pink hair and a child boy with blue highlights.
"Hey kel," Grinned Candi like her mother, and gave her a hug.
"So this is her!" said the boy. "I'm Charlie, by the way, but don't call me that. Just call me Charm or something, I don't mind. I wanted my hair dyed too like Mom and Candi, but Mom won't let me." The boy pulled a face.
"God knows why he called himself that," Candi said, rolling her eyes. "I call him Charzard, so you can call him what you want, Kelsi."
"Well, nice to meet you!" smiled Kelsi, and Candi said,
"We all shortened our names. Cassandra to Cassie, Charlie to . . . whatever, and Candice to Candi."
"I never knew your name was shortened! I thought it was your actual name!" Kelsi exclaimed, and Candi grinned. Somehow, she reminded Kelsi of Troy. Confident and quite intimidating, but she didn't care much about her rep, which is how she got so popular!
Getting bored, the boy went and started playing on the drum set. He was quite good for an eight year old. Candi hurried to a guitar and played the tune, and Cassie played the bass line on another guitar.
Kelsi found herself nodding her head to the beat. What a musical family!
"Okay, stop showing off now," Candi said, and abruptly stopped playing. She usually got tired of things fairly quickly. "Did you like it?"
"It was . . ." before Kelsi could finish; her mobile (A.N. Sorry again, cell) rang.
"Hello?"
"Thank god I reached you, you'll never believe what just happened!" came Taylor's voice, breathless and eager.
"You talked to Troy?" asked Kelsi, a little taken aback by Taylor's unusual attitude.
Candi dramatically mouthed 'Oh my gosh, you talked to Troy Bolton?' then mimed fainting. Kelsi poked her. Taylor, who obviously wasn't around to see that, went on,
"Well duh! I waited after school until he finished basketball practice, then I told him a bit of the truth, to see how'd he react."
"What did he say?"
"At first he said I was jealous. I know! Jealous of Gabriella? I admit, she's amazing and talented, but jealous? Per-lease. So anyway, I said I didn't care what he thought, I just wanted him to know the truth. Then he said I was twisted and delusional."
"No way!"
"Yes way."
"A way?" came another voice, and it started to laugh. "Run away far away?"
"Shut up, Chad." scolded Taylor, and he went on laughing. "Anyway, I wished he hadn't said that, because Chad went nuts. He almost beat Troy to death!"
"He deserved it," Chad voice uttered in the background, suddenly not laughing anymore, and had a dark tone o it. "How dare he say that to you?"
"Chad, maybe he did deserve it, but that's not really for you to decide . . ." said Taylor.
"So then, Gabriella came and put her big fat foot in it, telling Chad to stop. Troy didn't fight back at first, he was too stunned, but then he did fight back. When Chad didn't stop, Gabriella said 'Taylor, make him stop!' and I said . . . I said . . ."
"What?" said Kelsi softly. Taylor sounded like she was choking.
"I said 'why?'. I was so angry at her . . . but Troy didn't . . . Chad shouldn't . . . I should've . . ."
Chad's voice was heard in the background, "Jeez, Tay, don't cry, he had it coming! Ignorant ass. Calm down . . ."
Kelsi listened as they were muffling noise, and then Chad's voice could be heard properly as he took the phone.
"She'll calm down soon. We're walking home now anyway. Where are you?" Kelsi wasn't sure what to tell him, so she said
"At my piano tutor's house."
"Awesome! You're doing piano again! That's pretty cool . . . What's Sharpay's secret?" said Chad casually, trying to catch Kelsi out, and Kelsi said absent-mindedly,
"Can't say."
Taylor and Chad gasped.
"So there is a secret!"
"You said there wasn't!" Hearing their protests, Kelsi sighed.
"It's a long story, probably because it's the same story that got me into this mess," Kelsi said goodbye and hung up.
"You done?" said Candi. "Finally. Now we can do some jammin'!"
HSM HSM HSM HSM HSMTuesday morning, Kelsi woke up. She went through the usual routine, make bed, brush teeth, have shower, etc. After that, she decided to have breakfast before packing her school bag.
When she'd finished breakfast, she went upstairs to her bag.
She opened it.
She shrieked.
"Kelsi! My god, sweetie, are you okay? You scared the daylights out of me!" gasped Mrs Nielsen from downstairs.
"Um . . ." said Kelsi standing away from her bag, gazing at the navy A5 book she knew so well, the one she'd sworn that she'd chucked in her locker yesterday.
"I'm fine . . ."
HSM HSM HSM HSM HSM"Oh my god!" screamed Sharpay, furious. She was the first person to speak after herself and everyone around had stood staring for five minutes. Of course, that meant that loads of people were gathered at the doors of the school, so the people behind couldn't really get in. (A.N. sorry, but that is just funny. I can imagine it now . . .)
Kelsi was standing beside Ryan, who was standing beside Sharpay. All everyone could do . . . was look at the absolute mess.
Every single locker was flung open, and the contents lay on the floor, everywhere all down the hallway. Now that Sharpay had broken the silence, people were starting to talk.
Kelsi, with a sudden jolt, wondered if anything had been taken from her locker. She broke away from the still crowds and ran.
Just like Sharpay speaking, now that the first person had moved, everyone started running around, looking for their things, treading on each other's toes and fingers.
It was a riot!
Kelsi got to her locker. It too had been broken open, and nothing was inside. Suddenly, Kelsi realised that when she put the Navy Book in yesterday, there was nothing else inside, so she was fine. But how did the book get to her bag? Kelsi frowned her way to class.
HSM HSM HSM HSM HSMClass was horrible.
Ms Darbus acted normal towards her, because as a teacher she had to, but Kelsi was sure Ms Darbus wanted to throttle her. Kelsi couldn't even meet her eyes out of guilt.
She was so glad when Lunch break came, and she immediately went to seek out Candi.
"Hey! What's up?" asked Candi casually, chomping on a piece of pink gum.
"Everyone's going nuts about the locker thing, and Ms Darbus is really angry with me, even though she's not showing it."
"Well, of course she's angry, you, like, violated the art of performing, or some shit like that. As for the locker thing . . . did you see the notebook in your bag? It's dark blue, about half a page of A4, I think. It is yours, isn't it?"
"What, you put it there?"
"Duh!" Kelsi gave a huge sigh o relief, glad that she wasn't going crazy, and Candi rolled her eyes. Kelsi giggled and thought, if she keeps rolling her eyes like that, they'll fall out!
"You quit the show, so you didn't have after school rehearsals. You had time to go to your house and then to my house straight after." Candi paused, blowing a bubble with her gum, and then she continued.
"I, however, had to do after school rehearsal, then when everyone had left, I ran into Adam from the soccer team. He said that Mickey, Dave, and Kennedy are doing a locker raid, and that I should get out anything valuable. So I broke into yours, hope you don't mind."
"No, I guess not, thanks," said Kelsi, feeling relieved. She'd hate if someone found the book lying in the hallway!
"Gotta run Hun, got Rehearsal. Are you coming over, after school? You didn't even get to play the piano yesterday, Charzard hogged it the whole time."
"Yeah, I might as well. See you!"
"Ciao." Replied Candi coolly, and she left. (A.N. I think that's pronounced 'Chow' . . .)
Kelsi decided to go to the library, because she hardly ever went there. Inside, she saw the nerds hanging around, and Martha wondered over to her.
"Hiya, um, I know we don't usually talk, but I wanted to say that Sharpay wants you to meet her in the auditorium after school."
"Okay." said Kelsi, instantly dreading it, and Martha rejoined her group. Kelsi found a small table, and slowly took out the Navy book.
She really shouldn't have, but since she's locked it away, an idea for a story had been building up, and she needed to get it down on paper.
She slowly opened the book she straight away the pen was on the paper.
Ryan's Glamorous Genie
Ryan Evans was a normal guy. He loved shoes; he had more pairs of shoes than you can count, in every colour, (A.N Remind you of something? It begins with 'h' . . . and ends with 's' . . . and has 'at' in the middle . . .) and was quite a levelheaded person.
He had always been an only child, and often sat in the attic looking at his baby pictures. One day, in the attic, he came across a pink fur purse. He picked it up, and stroked it, feeling its softness. Then he unzipped it to see if anything was inside.
Suddenly, there was a gust of wind and a figure floated out of the purse!
"Ahh! A ghost!" squealed Ryan, pushing himself backwards on his butt (as he was sitting down.)
The 'ghost' slowly formed into the figure of a teenage girl, wearing a baby pink coloured robe with the hood up, so he could only see her nose and mouth.
"I'm not a bloody ghost, you fool! I'm a genie!" scowled the girl. She lowered the hood to reveal blonde hair and eyes the same colour as his. "Don't you know who I am?" she asked, frowning.
"No . . ."
"Trust them to not tell you." She said. Ryan didn't know who 'they' were. "I'm . . . my name is . . . " she shook her head. "Never mind. I am you magic genie for today!" she declared proudly. Ryan, being a bit slow, was lost in thought.
"I thought genies came in lamps!"
"Then you obviously read too many stories. This isn't Aladdin, you know. Do I look like a big blue genie to you? Because you sure don't look like Aladdin to me!" she ranted. Ryan apologised quickly.
"Anyway, I didn't want to be put in some greasy, rusty lamp! I asked the Creator himself to be put in something else."
"The Creator?"
"The person who made the order of the world! He keeps the world in balance. Without him, we're screwed."
"Oh . . ." Ryan's face brightened. "So I must get wishes then! How many? Three? Five? Ten?" He asked eagerly and Genie smiled cheekily.
"Um, yeah, you would think that, wouldn't you? Actually it's four."
"Huh?"
"I know, I don't really get it either. There are rules as well, though. Four of them, which figures, really."
Genie snapped her dainty fingers and in a puff of smoke appeared a scroll. Ryan took it from her, and began to read.
Les Règles"Oops! I have an English copy somewhere . . ."
Le Regole"Nope, that's Italian."
Die Richtlinien"German . . ."
"Why is it written in other languages?"
"So that people from different nationalities can understand it, duh! It means 'The Rules', by the way.
"I do know that, thanks very much. I did study languages at school you know!" Ryan said irritably and sarcastically, and read.
The Rules
1. You cannot wish to kill another living thing or yourself. If you try, your wish will not be granted, and you would have wasted it, so you're a twisted person if you try. Obviously, you can't kill non-living things.
2. No ridiculous wishes. No wish is too big for your Genie, but if it is too ridiculous, it won't be granted. For example, wishing for all fishes in the world to disappear, or wishing to be God. Please. Just don't go there.
3. You must use your wishes – you cannot wish for your genie to go away. You brought this upon yourself.
4. Don't blink.
"Huh? What does the last rule mean?"
"What it says. Don't blink while wishing. If some sort of curse put on Genie Wishes." Genie conjured a pink mirror, and gazed into it.
"So if I do . . ."
"Something bad happens. I don't know what, I've never seen it happen. The Creator thinks that your wish will go wrong."
"So what are we waiting for? Lets start wishing!"
"What are you gonna wish for then?"
"I dunno . . ."
"Well, hurry up then. I don't like getting bored."
"Okay, okay." Brushing imaginary dirt off his shoe, he held his eyes open wide and said, "I wish my family was rich." with a blink at the end.
"Ryan!"
"Sorry."
Genie clicked her fingers anyway, and gave a little smile at him. Ryan looked back uncertainly.
"W-was that it?"
"Yep. Now lets go downstairs to see the effects. If they are any."
X X X
No doubt, Ryan went downstairs to see his mother crying happily, and his father cradling a piece of paper in his arms.
"Let me guess – we won the lottery or something?"
"Oh Ry . . . your father got promoted, with a big fat pay check to go with it! We're rich!" His mother started dancing round the room.
Ryan just smiled. It was unrealistic, but that's just because he knew he'd made it happen. Genie appeared beside him, this time in baby blue robes.
"So, what's your next wish? Don't worry they can't see me." She raised an eyebrow at the deranged parents. Ryan frowned.
"Dad, can't I see that check?" said Ryan reaching for it. His Dad flinched away and hissed at him not to touch it.
"This is just too weird."
"That's what happens when you blink. There are . . . side-effects . . ."
"You're telling me! My Dad is singing lullabies to paper, and won't even talk to me. Not to mention my Mom, who's acting like a loony. I wish I wasn't here!"
He said, not realising he was blinking. Genie clicked her fingers.
X X X
"Where are we?" They were on a sandy beach, with the sun blaring down on them.
"I dunno. Mexico, Jamaica, Greece, the first place I thought of."
It was a beautiful view, Ryan knew his girlfriend Gabriella would love to see it. Gabriella. Ryan shouted, "I know what my third wish is!"
Genie stopped floating in the air wearing green robes, and said "Fire away."
"I wish Gabriella was here!"
Genie frowned, and clicked her fingers. "Okay, but you should really stop blinking, you're ruining your wish!"
Suddenly, there were golden sparkles – so bright, it was hard to see – and Gabriella appeared.
"Wha . . . ?" she said, confused. "Where . . . am I? One moment I was . . . Ryan! What's going on?"
"I brought you here! I knew you'd love it, look, I have this Genie-"
"Ryan," cut through Gabriella exasperated, "We haven't seen each other in ages."
"But . . . we're still going out, aren't we?"
"We live in two different parts of America! I think it would be tricky to keep seeing each other, don't you? And for your information, you just 'summoned' me here from Taylor and Troy's funeral!"
"What?"
"They were in a car accident, Ryan. Chad escaped because he'd chosen to walk. If he had gotten in the car . . ."
Ryan was in despair. He didn't know what to do. Gabriella left, and Ryan said he'd send her back, but she snarled at him to 'leave her alone'.
"You blinked, didn't you?" said Genie sceptically. Ryan hung his head. He was sure he didn't! She sighed and disappeared, saying she'd be back soon.
Suddenly there was a roar, and Ryan looked at the Sea. A huge wave was rising above the waves, higher and higher. 'I'm in trouble now . . . ' Ryan thought, staring in shock. It wasn't a Tidal wave . . . It was a Tsunami!
Just before it reached him, he yelled, "I wish I was with my Genie so that-"
Silence.
X X X
Ryan was up high, looking down at the world. The view was awesome. But where the hell was he?
"What did you wish now?!" said Genie, annoyed.
"That I could stay with you." Said Ryan quietly. Genie's mood switched, and she gave him a smile.
"Aww, you're sweet." Genie looked nervous. " You know . . . I've been meaning to tell you something . . ." Ryan looked questioningly at her.
"My name is Sharpay Evans . . . I'm your sister." Ryan just gawped at her.
"Mom and Dad never said I had a sister!"
"A twin sister. It was Cot Death, I think. It was no one's fault, just . . . fate."
Sharpay sighed, and walked over to a man wearing a multi-coloured robes. He was standing lone, sparkles floating around him. You couldn't see his face. She beckoned Ryan over.
"This . . . is the Creator." Sharpay said in a hushed voice.
"Greetings, Ryan," said The Creator in a deep, slow voice. "We have matters to discuss. I assume the first thing you want to know, is why you are here. To be blunt, you have died."
Ryan swallowed. " . . . I see." The Creator went on,
"Because of your tendency to consistently blink (A.N. which basically means he keeps blinking while wishing), all of your wishes have gone wrong, apart from the last, because you didn't blink."
"You did not finish the wish, but the first part was to 'stay with your Genie'. You were dead when it was granted anyway, so that's fine."
"So I can stay with you?" said Ryan cheerfully, and Sharpay laughed.
"Yes you dope. And more good news! I've been aGenie a long time, so the Creator has decided to release me! Now, as we're dead . . . we can rest in peace."
And so they did.
As for the 'others' . . . Ryan/Sharpay's parents would have remained crazy for the rest of their life, but Ryan had died – the wish was broken. Ryan's death certainly broke them in two.
Gabriella was transported back, because the wish about her was also broken. Her annoyance disappeared and she tried to find him, only to learn of his death from his parents. She felt guilty ever since.
The last change that happened at Ryan's death was the result of the Tsunami. Everything went back to normal.
Or a normal as life can be.
Kelsi opened the auditorium door, and walked inside. Her thoughts were still on her story, and she was disappointed that the ending had turned out so lame. It wasn't very creative at all (A.N. I agree! The ending was just urgh.).
Sharpay was there, and her alone, arms folded, looking more vulnerable than ever. She opened her mouth to speak.
"I think . . . we need to talk."
Well, that took FOREVER!
The mini-story formed perfectly in my head (or should I say Kelsi's head, which is really mine (LOL)), and came out wrong when I wrote it out, (ESPECIALLY THE ENDING) so I hope you liked it.
Next chapter may not be out for a while. I know I say that a lot, but that's so you don't get your hopes up, because it's a possibility. I have LOADS of homework right now!
Mzdarkstar x x x