The story only has a few chapters left! I can't thank you all enough for reading it.


Chapter Twenty-Eight

The past few weeks have been crazy. We have been practicing very hard for this musical to be perfect. I am scared that I will not live up to Sharpay's expectations. To make things worse, we have finals coming up.
So my days have been like this: School, play practice, come home and study, and then go to bed. It's the same cycle for the past week. Luckily exams come a week before the play does. This then would give me time to breath a sigh of relief. When I walk into practice I see Ryan and Kelsi standing there. What are they doing here? I thought that they were still in New York. I then mind my own business and just go onto the stage.

"Alright, so I invited my brother and my sister in-law to help us out with our musical." Sharpay says. "Both of them work on Broadway productions and Ryan, my brother has even performed on Broadway. So please give them your undivided attention."

"Ok, so first of all I want to work with the leads, Jessica and Chris." Ryan says. "Everyone else go over to the piano to work with my amazingly talented wife, Kelsi." We then disperse. Chris and I walk over to Ryan.

"First off, do either of you have any dancing experience?" He asks.

"No." Chris says.

"Well, I took ballet when I was four, but I don't remember anything from it." I say.

"Ok, so we will be starting from ground zero." He says. "Which is no problem. I sort of like challenges like this."

"Ok, so what kind of dancing will we be doing?" Chris asks.

"That is a good question." He says. "I have many ideas, and I can't wait to teach you the choreography that I have in mind." We then start. I am not the best in the world, but I hope that Ryan has a ton of patience.
If not, he will need it desperately.

"Don't you think that this is a little much for a high school musical?" Chris asks Ryan.

"No, I know that to you guys it seems like it is going to be annoying, but trust me it will be spectacular." He says. "Now go back to the beginning." We then rehearse for a little bit longer. After some time we are done.

"So tomorrow do either of you have a free period?"

"We both do during third period." I say.

"Which is at what time?" Ryan asks.

"Ten o'clock." Chris says.

"Ok, how about we work some more tomorrow in the practice room." Ryan says. "I know that both of you can sing, but I want you both to be performers."

"Ok, we will meet you there tomorrow at ten." I say.

"Awesome, see you both in the morning." Ryan says. We both then leave together.

"So, how did you feel about all of the dancing?" Chris asks.

"It was fun, but I am not a dancer." I say.

"I feel the same way." He says. "And I feel like Ryan wants us to be as good as some of the people on Broadway."

"Maybe we could just do one big dance number and then keep it very simple for the rest, like let us just play around with it and be ourselves." I say.

"I agree, but it's Ryan." He says. "He is hard to reason with."

"Not nearly as bad as his sister though." I say.

"That's true." He says. "And then we probably will have to work with Kelsi on the songs just to make sure that they are perfect, especially since she wrote the music."

"She did, how did you find that out?" I ask.

"Her name was on some of the sheet music." He says.

"Oh, I wasn't paying attention I guess." I say.

"It's alright, that is normally how I am." He says.

We both then laugh. After a little while, I go home. When I walk in the door there is no one at home. I then go upstairs and start working on my homework. Ever since my dad has signed that contract, he has been busy. They are already advertising that he is a part of the team. He has had to do interviews with sports center, and do so many things. As soon as the team is done for the season, he will start practicing with them. I secretly hope that they go extremely far in the playoffs so that I will see my dad for a longer period of time. Then again, I will be in the same state that he is in, but he will be traveling all over the country. After a little bit I hear my dad and brothers coming in the door. I then work some more on my homework. Then Zane comes barging through my door.

"Would you play basketball with us?" He asks.

"You already have enough to play." I say.

"No, Caleb has baseball practice." He says. "Would you please play?"

"I don't know." I say. "I have some homework left to do."

"Please." He says. He looks at me with his brown eyes that are way too cute.

"Ok, fine, but only a quick one." I say. I then follow him downstairs. We end up playing a two on two game. Zach and I against dad and Zane.

"Ok, so the first team to make twenty points wins." Dad says.

"Ok, that shouldn't take too long." I say.

We then start the game. Zach has the ball and passes it off to me, I go in for a shot and miss, Zach gets the rebound and makes a basket. Then dad gets the ball and goes in for a layup and makes it. For a while it just goes back and forth like this. Finally the score is tied at eighteen to eighteen. I have the ball, I pass it off to Zach. Zach then dribbles down the court he acts like he is going in for a layup. Zane then gets on him. He then fakes and passes the ball to me, I then get quick on my feet and go in for a goal and we win. The next few days pass by slowly. It is awful all that we have to go through for this musical to go flawless, I had no idea what was involved in this. I then lean my head back once rehearsals are over with. "You're tired?" Chris asks. He then sits down beside me on the ground.
"Yeah." I say. "Between rehearsals and school I am wiped out."

"I know the feeling." He says. "And Ryan's choreography doesn't help anything."

"I agree." I say. "But I guess that he just wants to prove something to his school."

"Maybe I guess." He says. "Well, I'm going to go ahead and go on home, I am exhausted." He then starts to walk off. He then pulls something out of his pocket. "Oh, before I forget this is for you. You don't have to open it right now."

"Ok." I say. He then hands me a letter and then walks off. I then put the letter into my bag and leave the theater and head on home. When I get home, I go upstairs and start on my homework. I can't help but wonder what is in the letter. After much hesitation, I pull the letter out of my bag, and open it up. It says;

Dear Jessica,

So there is prom coming up, and I was wondering if you would do me the honor of taking you as my date.

Your Friend, Christopher Danforth

P.S. A little birdie told me that you liked hand-written notes.

I then smile after reading the note. That is super sweet! I can't believe that he took the time to write the letter. It is a perfect promposal. I then pull out my phone and call him.

"Hey." He says.

"Hey, so I read your note." I say. "It was very sweet! I can't believe that you thought to do something like this."

"So what is your answer?" He asks.

"What do you think?" I ask.

"No." He says. I laugh.

"No, my answer is yes." I say.

"I was kidding about you saying no, anyhow." He says.

"I know." I say. "You are so crazy."

"Well, I'm going to be an even crazier prom date." He says.

"You are right about that one. "I say. "Well, I need to go this homework isn't going to get done on it's own."

"Alright, I'll talk to you later." He says.

"Alright." I say. "Bye."

I then hang up. I am so excited to be going to prom with Chris. I figured that at some point he would ask, but he picked a very sweet way. It seems like something out of a movie or book. I can't believe that he thought to do this all on his own. It is so precious! When my mom comes home, I run down the stairs and go to my mom. I then hand her the note.

"What's this?" She asks.

"Just read it." I say. She then reads it and smiles.

"That is beyond sweet." She says.

"I know, I still can't believe that he came up with this on his own." I say.

"I know, boys sometimes surprise you." She says.

"Well, he definitely did." I say.

"Well, what are you thinking of wearing to prom with him?" She asks.

"I not know." I say.
"Well, how about in a little bit we can go shopping and see if we can find something." She says.

"Ok, that sounds like a good idea." I say. After a little bit, we head out to a dress shop. When we walk in, I am overwhelmed by all of the different types of dresses that there are.

"So, is there anything I can help you with?" The sales lady asks.

"We are looking for a dress for my daughter's prom." My mom says.

"Well, we have a huge selection of dresses." She says. "Do you have an idea of what you want?"

"I don't know." I say.

"Well, I have a few ideas, so how about we start trying on and see if we can get you something today." She says.

Before I know it, I am in the dressing room trying on dresses. The first one I try on is a purple ball gown. It has sequins at the top and it has a tulle skirt. I then walk out of the dressing room.

"Jess, that is really pretty." My mom says. I then look in the mirror.

"So what do you think of this one?" The sales lady asks me.

"I don't really like this one." I say.

"What about it do you not like?" She asks.

"It is too big." I say.

"Ok, well we can rule out ball gowns." She says. I then go back into the dressing room and try on a few more dresses. Every dress that I try on is either too gaudy and flamboyant or I don't like the color.

After a little while, I try on a simple black mermaid style dress. It has a sweetheart neckline and just a small amount of beading on the bodice. When I walk out, my mom smiles.

"So, mom, what do you think?" I ask.

"I love it, it looks so beautiful on you." She says. "What do you think of it?"

"This is the one." I say. "I really love it."

"Alright, well that was much easier than I thought that it would be." She says.

"Ok, well I'll ring you up and then you can go on your way." The sales lady says.

"Do you think that Chris will like it?" I ask.

"I think that he will think that you look beautiful in your dress." Mom says. "I like that it is simple and doesn't take away from your beauty."

"Thanks mom." I say. After we pay for the dress we go home. I am so excited for prom. I can't wait to wear it!


Next Time: Prom! Also next week I'll give you guys an update on the twins names. I'm super excited, please go ahead if you haven't already and vote for what names you want to see. The poll is located on my profile. As always tell me what you think, I'm am always interested. Or if you have any questions or comments feel free to let me know.