When the Wildcats Met Kings Row

"Is everybody ready?"

It was early in the morning in front of East High. The Wildcats were going on a special retreat for their performances the past year at the science decathlon finals, the big basketball game, and even the last school show they did the month prior. Ms. Darbus stood in front of the familiar group of high schoolers, who were all still groggy and not as focused as she was. Then again, any teenager would likely be that way when being forced to wake up at 4am. But regardless, most of them did not respond right away, except for one.

"I sure am! But hey, I'm always ready for whatever comes my way. You know me!"

Everyone groaned, as only Sharpay Evans would kiss up to Darbus. Knowing how loyal her best theater student is, she smiled proudly and patted her on the back.

"Leave it to the ice princess to butter up Darbus the Merciless..." Chad groaned.

"And leave it to the neanderthal to want to go back into hibernation" Sharpay snapped back.

Everyone either laughed or groaned further.

"As much as I hate to say it" Taylor began, "I'm with Sharpay on this one."

Chad took this as a surprise. Normally, Taylor and Sharpay would go back and forth with differing opinions on things.

"I've always wanted to try getting up earlier, that way I can get more accomplished. Perhaps this trip was the best opportunity to start!"

"Very astute insight, Miss McKessie" commended Darbus. "We can all aim to have her ethic around here. Do I make myself clear to SOME of you?"

Obviously, this question was aimed at the likes of those whose minds specialized in basketball rather than academics and theater. Specifically, Chad, Jason Cross, and, to an extent, Zeke Baylor and Troy.

Another voice called from inside the bus that was currently being loaded with all the teens' stuff:

"Are you putting down my boys again?"

Darbus turned to the bus to find Coach Jack Bolton coming out the doors. Troy, who had been helping him load the bags, rejoined his friends and watched on as his father once again duked it out with the drama teacher.

"Look here, Coach, nobody asked you to be the chaperone on this trip."

"Nobody asked YOU either. I myself wanted to so I could reward my son and his fellow teammates."

"I wanted to do so as well, that way I could be alongside the students I treasure and ensure an enriching and enlightening experience for all."

"AHEM!" boomed a loud, commanding third voice.

The two teachers turned to the side to be greeted by Jack Scott, school PA announcer, AV nerd, and a kid who knew his way around special voices. Patiently, he wedged his way between the two and spoke in a calm, refined manner.

"Let us all say that you love your students and want to share the experience with them, as the two of you deserve this trip yourselves for having done a fine job as educators."

"He's got a point, dad" Troy smiled.

Sharpay sighed in agreement. "You definitely are the best drama teacher I have."

"Um, you mean the best drama teacher WE have?" Ryan, who was as awake and ready as she was, corrected his twin sister as he nudged her.

"Yes, yes", Sharpay brushed him off.

"Good..." Jack beamed as peace was finally achieved, then he sprung up and cried in a much higher pitch, "now let's get this show on the road!"

He immediately joined the group of students and went right next to his best friend, Kelsi.

"I take it my favorite red-hot composer babe is going to be dishing out some fine tunes during this retreat?" he asked her in a suave accent.

Kelsi giggled. "Yup. My mini keyboard is all packed and ready to play once we get there."

Troy and Gabriella watched them and laughed to themselves.

"I can't wait to get there myself" Troy said. "How about you?"

"Yeah" Gabriella replied, "though I'm a little nervous. I mean what if something happens?"

"Gabriella, we're going to be in a private lodge up in the Catskills, not in a tent in a desert. What's the worst that can happen?"

Chad, having heard their conversation, decided to mess around.

"Maybe we'll get robbed and splattered by a mad, upstate slasher! Whoooooooooo!"

Troy took his best friend by the hair.

"Dude, knock it off! Trust me, we'll all be fine. It'll just be us up there and nobody else."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the US in the state of Connectticut, a much familiar scene was playing out. Coach Williams looked at her boys. For the fencing team of Kings Row Boys' School, nobody seemed to enjoy getting up at 4am. Nobody, except for Seiji Katyama, who took this time to train. He looked at his teammates and gave his trademark frown.

"Normally, I'd be with my coach training by now. And by now I would be well awake."

"Seiji..." Coach Williams said sternly. Seiji simply shook his head.

At this point, another voice rang up.

"Boy, Seiji, the others are right when they say you take life too seriously."

It was Nicholas Cox. He and Seiji were polar opposites. While Seiji's fencing skills were on par with that of an Olympic champion, Nicholas lacked technique. Seiji was uptight, Nicholas was more rough and tumble. However, they were still on the same team and even forced to room with each other. This time, though, they were going to be sharing the same living quarters with everyone else on the team, including...

"Sorry we're a few minutes late, Coach" apologized Harvard Lee, with his best friend, Aiden Kane in tow. "Someone thought it was a clever idea to sleep in when he knew we had to leave early for this reatreat!"

Everyone stared at Aiden, who simply shrugged in his trademark pompous fashion.

"Can't a man get his beauty sleep around here?" he jokingly asked.

"You can do that once we get to the retreat, Aiden" Harvard scolded. "That way" he added, also in a joking fashion, "you'll be well-rested for all those dates you'll dump after we return."

Everyone laughed at that remark, only to be silenced by Coach Williams.

"Alright! Enough of that! We're already running behind schedule, and I don't want to waste anymore precious time forcing any of you to do 200 suicides for lollygagging. Let's get in the bus and get going!"

And so Coach Williams, Assistant Coach Lewis, and all the fencing team (plus Dante Rossi, who was just there for Bobby) all filed onto the bus. Nicholas thought he'd be sitting by himself on the ride there when suddenly, a larger body sat right next to him and asked:

"Psyched?"

Nicholas looked to his right and saw Eugene sitting right next to him. "Oh, hi Eugene. Yeah. Can't wait."

"Figured I give my fellow reserve some company during the bus ride to the place. Say, you don't think we'll run into some crazed mountain freaks where we're heading, right?"

"Nah, Coach says it's just a private lodge in the Catskills. Chances are there's security and stuff there. It'll be just us and nobody else."

Back in Albuquerque, the Wildcats were on the bus. Jack Scott, having also been hired to keep record of all happenings and stats during the trip in addition to being invited along by his friends, had just taken role call.

"Is everyone present?" Ms. Darbus asked.

"Indeed" he replied. "We got 10 Wildcats, that's 5 guys and 5 girls...of course, counting me it's 11 Wildcats with the guys outnumbering the girls by one. 2 adults, one of each gender. 1 miniature keyboard for Kelsi. 1 cooking set for Zeke, speaking of which I canNOT wait to try his berry pancake recipe! 8 basketballs. 20 books for recreational reading. 7 brides for 7 deadly dwarves. 3 stooges. 4 seasons. 525, 600 minutes in a year. 12 angry men...AND a partridge in a pear tree."

That was too much for everyone to wrap their heads around, so Jack just looked around and headed back top his seat and squeaked, "Proceed."

So, both parties were heading off to a retreat in the Catskills. Little did they know, these entirely separate teams, made of their own unique sets of faces and personalities, were about to become intertwined. It should have been a seal of fate when both Coaches declared simultaneously:

"Alright, to the Catskills! Let's go!"

It was only a matter of time until the paths would meet. But for now, all they had was a bus ride...