Disclaimer: High School Musical is Disney's latest Romeo and Juliet. Gabriella is narrating and the boy's name is Troy.
The Start of Something New
I don't sing in front of people. What are they thinking? First my mother forces me to go to this party, and now some cocky DJ is pulling me away from my already neglected book to get up in front of all these people and perform.
The spot light seeks out another wayward party-goer, and he is pushed toward the stage as I climb up. Eyes wide, he looks momentarily at me before facing front.
I freeze, the light blinding me so I cannot see the many eyes looking at me or the boy standing at my side. They are there, even if the glare is hiding them from my view for the moment. I feel rather than see the numerous other kids swaying and shifting in a random sea of movement around the stage.
The words of a song flash up on the screen in front of us, blurred to my vision so they are impossible to read. I can't do this, I can't sing in front of all these people. I stare blindly, face hot and stomach twisting in impossible knots as I wish to be anywhere but here. Why is this happening?
Over the backup music, the babble of the crowd is unmistakable. I imagine what they are thinking: look at her, she's going to choke and make a fool of herself. I didn't choose this! I look around wildly for some means of escape as the opening chords of the song pass.
Suddenly, there is a new sound. The boy, realizing that I was not about to start the song, has opened his mouth to sing the first few lines. There is a tremor in his voice that I can hear through all the other noises of the room, and he looks as frightened and unwilling as I feel. But he found the courage to start, which I could not do. I watch him with a mix of embarrassment and relief.
His verse ends, and he turns away. No, don't leave me! I think desperately. How can I get him to stay? The words to the song flash in front of me again, and I take a deep breath, struggling with the lump in my throat. There is only one way to stop him, to keep his company on the empty stage. I sing.
At my first notes he looks back at me. I barely notice, too worried about messing up the verse to look away from the video screen in front of us. But then his comforting voice joins mine in harmony, and I glance over my shoulder to see him watching me.
He has beautiful eyes, I realize dimly as he holds my gaze. I draw out the last note of my verse slightly, and we sing the refrain together. He echoes my words, mixing in his own notes with a sweet harmony as we both grow bolder and more comfortable. Our voices and movements respond with this boldness, and the beat of the song encourages me to dance while the boy wails in earnest into his mike.
The rest of the song passes all too quickly as we enjoy ourselves, bringing the room around us to a happy frenzy. But I don't notice anyone but my singing mate, and he seems to be feeling the same attraction. I blush as the music winds down.
He smiles, and I echo the expression. As he takes my hand and we walk out to the open deck to cool off, my mind wanders into a happy realization. The words of that song were perfect. Who knows what can happen next?
I know that something has changed
Never felt this way
And right here tonight
This could be the start of something new
It feels so right
To be here with you
And now looking in your eyes
I feel in my heart
That it's the start of something new
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