Disclaimer: I don't own High School Musical or its characters.

Author's Note: And here we come again... please review! Thanks!

High School Drama
Based on 'High School Musical'
By Fiyero Oberon
Chapter Nine
Light My Candle

Sharpay was sitting in the back of the auditorium, pouting.

Taylor had been asked to fill in for the Wicked Witch of the West.

Taylor McKessie was replacing Sharpay.

And Sharpay was not happy about it.

Onstage, Taylor attempted a cackle, which resulted in a small coughing fit. "So. You won't take warning, eh. All the worse for you, then. I'll take care of you now instead of later." A fishbowl had been flipped upside down and a black light bulb inside it glowed a brilliant purple. Taylor turned to her "crystal ball." "When I gain those ruby slippers, my powers will be the greatest in Oz."

Sharpay let out an exasperated sigh. Taylor had no emotion behind her words – she spoke her lines in such a monotone, non-Witchy way it made Sharpay sick.

The set was being changed to the Wizard's Throne room because Jim Blake had finally decided to show up. The "crystal ball" was rolled off stage and replaced with a giant head made of paper machete, green paint, and a pair of huge, rolling eyes. Two green posts were brought on and Sharpay knew that they were the special effects – fire balls would emerge from them and evaporate three feet in the air.

Gabriella, Troy, Ryan, and Zeke stood onstage, huddled together. Zeke whimpered. "Look at that, look at that!" he screamed, looking at the audience over his shoulder.

Darbus came rushing down the aisle. "I said project, Ezekiel, not scream,"

"What's the difference?" he asked. "And my name is Zeke, not Ezekiel."

"Make your regular voice louder," she said, "don't scream. Ryan, explain it to him please."

Ryan broke into the "projection speech" he and Sharpay had memorized in the third grade. After three minutes, Zeke knew the history of projecting, how to project, and why screaming was harmful to the voice.

"Very good," Darbus said. "Continue, please."

"I am Oz, the Great and Powerful!" Jim voice said, booming through the speakers as the mouth of the paper machete Head moved. "Who are you?" The quartet huddled closer together as Darbus had instructed. "Who are you?" the voice repeated. Fire balls emerged from the pillars and evaporated as planned.

"If you please," said Gabriella, stepping forward carefully in her regular, black shoes (the ruby slippers had not yet been found). "I am Dorothy… the Small and Meek. We've come to ask you –"

"Silence!" said Jim's voice. Fire balls flew out – but didn't evaporate. The flames continued to burn, getting higher and higher. An ear of the head caught on fire and Gabriella let out a scream, running offstage, followed by the three guys. Sharpay jumped up, rushing out of the theatre as set pieces caught on fire like dominos.

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