Finally! I managed to get inspiration to actually continue. I'm so sorry for the long hiatus. I hope you guys can forgive me for not updating for a LONG time! Oh yes, the idea for this certain chapter was given to me by a comment from rocklesson86. Thank you!
Disclaimer: I don't own the High School Musical. Sadly. But maybe if I wish hard enough, I will own it someday. Maybe.
After the way she treated Ryan, the blond never seemed to have a reason to talk to her or even look at her. Kelsi felt much more peaceful this way, it was as though they never met and this was how she thought they should be. You can never really be friends with someone who crushed your heart - it was like playing Fur Elise with a badly tuned piano. Although Kelsi felt a bit bad that their friendship - if you can still call it that - ended that way. They were such a nice team together and Kelsi knew she can never find someone else like him.
But of course, life has to move on. She had to move on. Dwelling in this memory wasn't going to help her find people for the musicale and they were doing bad enough as it is. Kelsi's eyes searched the audition sheets posted on the bulletin board for the third time that week and its already Thursday. It was as good as empty - except for Sharpay's curly signature, of course. No one was giving her musicale a chance and it almost made her want to cry.
"Excuse me," A male voice with a distinctive British accent broke her thoughts. Kelsi wiped the tears forming in her eyes and she sniffed then stepped back, "Are you alright?" The voice asked softly, making Kelsi look up and meet the eyes of the owner. The boy smiled at her, his brilliant green eyes glistening under the light. He was not familiar to her and she knew almost everyone in East High.
"Oh, yes." She answered, taking off her glasses and wiping them with the end of her shirt, "I was just, um, going to wipe something off my, uh, glasses."
The boy laughed at her then withdrew something from his pocket. Kelsi slipped her glasses back on and saw a plain white handkerchief on the boy's hand - he was offering it to her. She shook her head and smiled shyly but the boy frowned, "No, I insist."
Kelsi bit her lip to prevent herself from smiling as she took the handkerchief from him, "Thanks," Then she finally let her curiosity get the better of her, "Are you new?"
The boy nodded, "Aye. Dylan McGregor." He introduced himself, offering her the same hand which brought her the handkerchief. Kelsi took it and shook hands with Dylan, "My mum's the new chemistry teacher." He said then, Kelsi noticed, his eyes went for the audition sheets hanging empty against the dark blue bulletin board, "Are you going to sign up?"
"No," She then watched as his expression go from curious to surprised.
"Then why were you looking at this?" Dylan asked, his eyebrows meeting in wonder. Their eyes met again and Kelsi saw a playful smirk playing on his lips, "I thought you were already auditioning, getting teary-eyed and all." That made her laugh, "So, girl whose name I still haven't heard, why are you getting so emotional?"
"The name's Kelsi. Kelsi Nielsen." She told him and she saw his eyes light up in recognition. Her name was printed at the near top of the audition sheet, alongside Ryan the director. "I was just disappointed that no one's trying to audition other than Sharpay." Talking to him was too easy since Dylan looked like he understood what she was trying to say.
"Actually," Dylan's lips broke into a sheepish grin, "I was thinking if I could audition." His words made the small brunette turn her head and beam at him, "I have been looking at it for about two days now." He raised a hand and rubbed his nape, "But I never really had the guts to write down my name here."
"Then why don't you?"
"Why don't I what?"
"Write down your name here."
Dylan looked at Kelsi with a look questioning her sanity then afterward, he smiled. "Fine." He took out a pen from his pocket and wrote his name down, "But if I get turned down and my ego gets shaken, I'm suing you." Dylan said with a serious expression and upon seeing Kelsi's alarmed expression, he chuckled softly, "I'm just kidding." He shook her hand again and eased his messenger bag, "See you later, Kelsi." The boy turned and ran off to his next class.
Kelsi stared after him.
Did she seriously just made someone sign up for her second musicale?
The girls were silent for awhile, every one of them stared as Dylan McGregor entered the cafeteria. Kelsi told them about the incident which happened earlier in the corridor and they were curious about this new student. Their eyes followed as Dylan took a tray and a good look at the food by the line; everyone assessed that he was definitely good looking. What they couldn't figure out was if he was harmless or not. They weren't positive that Kelsi can handle anymore problems so they have to know if this guy is going to be trouble.
"Definitely not a problem." Martha whispered, bringing everyone's attention to her. "Kelsi, that guy is cute." The comment made the others laugh softly, "What? I mean look at him." The girl's eyes went back to his tall and lean figure, "Why haven't we noticed him before?"
"I have no idea how that guy managed to hide." Sharpay commented then she smirked at the pianist, "Well well Kelsi, good job on spotting Mr. Dylan McGregor."
"Mrs. McGregor did say she had a son," Gabriella spoke, remembering when she had met the woman, "I didn't actually think he's attending East High." Then she turned her eyes on Taylor who was smiling to herself, "You know something about him, don't you Tay?"
Taylor nodded enthusiastically, "When Kelsi mentioned something about him, I was curious so I hit the books and looked him up. You'll never guess what I found." Although Taylor wasn't the kind to be dramatic, which originally belonged to Sharpay, she had paused and lengthened the suspense, "Kelsi Nielsen, you just found yourself a London School of the Dramatic Arts student. He was Puck in the staging of Midsummer Night's Dream in London last year."
That wasn't all, Taylor went on telling them about the boy's theater background. Dylan McGregor had been acting ever since he was little, his first role being Kurt from the Sound of Music. By the end of her report, everyone was impressed.
Sharpay's eyes widened in delight, "Fabulous!"
"NEXT!"
Mrs. Darbus' voice made Kelsi jump up in surprise. Even from the stage, the woman's irritation made her feel a bit apprehensive. By Monday when the auditions started, students who wanted to be in the musicale flooded in. Most of them, Mrs. Darbus commented to her and Ryan, did not even have an inch of star quality in their veins. Kelsi felt pity for these students, imagine having the guts to audition and in the end just getting turned down by someone.
"Uh, hi." Dylan walked to the center stage, he looked a bit shy and unsure of his purpose here. He smiled at Mrs. Darbus, who was already a bit red by that time, and Ryan, whose eyebrows were threateningly close. The two have yet to find someone decent to play a part. Then Dylan's green eyes found Kelsi's small figure by the piano, watching him. "Hi Kelsi." He whispered then looked back in front when Ryan cleared his throat.
Mrs. Darbus held up her audition list and read his name, "Dylan McGregor." A smile broke through her face, "Finally, we meet." It was obvious that like Kelsi, she knew about his theater background. Ryan, who didn't know, turned his eyes on his teacher and wondered silently why she looked so happy. "You're auditioning for which part?"
"Well, I was hoping I could play Marvin." Though when Dylan said that, Kelsi disagreed silently. Marvin was one of the minor roles in the musicale, Kelsi was thinking maybe he could be Robbie, who was the lead. Dylan continued, "Or well, uh, someone else."
Kelsi was not the only one who disagreed on his choices, Mrs. Darbus voiced her opinion and made Dylan audition for the lead role - so he sang a few lines from a song in Kelsi's musicale. It was obvious how perfect he was for the part. He had the boy-next-door vibe and his voice was excellent. But Dylan seemed a bit conflicted when Mrs. Darbus asked him to reconsider. Kelsi didn't understand why he was like this, she thought -being a theater actor- that he'd jump at the opportunity. When Dylan finally made up his mind after a few minutes, he said okay then looked at Kelsi and he gave her a grin.
The pianist let out a soft giggle which she concealed behind her hand.
"I guess I'm not going to be suing you any time soon, huh?"
The familiar accent made Kelsi turn around. She had stayed in the school after the auditions, Kelsi still had to talk with Mrs. Darbus and Ryan about the ones who would get a call back. She didn't expect anyone, or him of all people, to still be here at this time. But sure enough, Dylan was there. He leaning on the wall, with one hand thrust in his pocket and the other on the strap of his bag. He lifted his tall figure from the wall and walked towards her. "Can I walk you home?" He offered with a lop-sided grin, "I was wondering maybe you can give me an idea about the musicale I just auditioned for."
Kelsi didn't know what to say. For the past few days, after meeting him, Kelsi and Dylan were in talking terms. They would casually greet each other in hallways and whenever Dylan finds Kelsi in the library, he'd chat with her. But this was the first time he ever asked to walk her home.
She thought that she shouldn't make a big deal out of it. After all, they were friends and friends do this... don't they?
"Sure."
Just when she answered, Ryan stormed out of the building - his expression stoic and his stance deadly. He passed them without a word but Kelsi, even Dylan, was sure that his sharp blue eyes were on them as he walked by.
So yes, I am putting a Brit cutie named Dylan McGregor to spice things up between Kelsi and Ryan. If anyone's interested, I am picturing James Gaisford for Dylan. haha. Reviews are very much appreciated! Thanks!
