I stared into the audience . . . or at least empty chairs. It was the day . . . or the day before the day technically. It was the dress rehearsal . . . our last chance to run through the entire musical before we had to perform in front of everyone.

The highly publicized event was even shown on certain local news stations in our area, so even out of school, Troy and I were like local celebrities.

Staring into the empty chairs made me feel accomplishment. It made me feel like I was finally doing something right. But it also made me feel scared, like I wasn't good enough to be here, or that I would mess up and run everyone's hard work.

Troy actually felt energized by it. I couldn't believe it. He said it was like right before a basketball game, when you get scared and excited all at once, and the adrenaline flows through you. I admire him for it . . . I wish I was more relaxed like him.

One funny part was the fact that Troy was wearing make-up. It was stage make-up, but it was still make-up. I think it made him feel less masculine.

"No one will be able to tell," I tried to convince him.

"Yeah . . . the basketball team will, and so will my dad of course," he pointed out.

"Well, no one is really going to be watching today, so you can wait until tomorrow for them to laugh at you!" I joked.

"Very funny," he smirked.

"So when are we started anyway—"

As soon as the words left my mouth, Sharpay came charging onto the stage.

"PLACES!" she screamed, "I know more about plays then you do, so you better listen to your stage manager!"

She was so . . . subtle, I thought sarcastically.

Troy and I took our places, and got in the mind set to become Arnold and Minnie.

The thing with acting was . . . when Minnie was mad, I was mad. When she was happy, so was I. I became her, and I know everyone else could feel it too. The musical went by in a flash, and like the blink of an eye, it was through.

Mrs. Darbus applauded the performance as "our best yet" but still had a million little comments. I somewhat tuned her out, and imagined doing the same thing tomorrow night. I imagined the seats full, my mom in the audience, Troy's family as well, and all the beaming faces cheering for us, or hoping for our failure (in Sharpay's family's case).

From off stage, I could just make out Ryan's silhouette lurking in the shadows. I shuddered as the lights dimmed out. It was as though the lights were creating the setting for a darker scene. Strangely enough, it was predicting a real life scene.

At that second, a figure appeared in the doorway of the auditorium.

"Gabriella Montez!" the person was yelling.

My heart started to beat faster. What was going on? Troy and Mrs. Darbus turned their attention to the person as well. As the figure ran to the stage, I realized it was the principal who was calling for me.

"Gabriella, your mother is here," he explained, "You have to leave with her immediately."

I breathed in deeply. Something was wrong. Something was not right.

It had to be about . . . Carlos.

I shout backstage to discard my Minnie costume. Glancing at my panic stricken face in the wardrobe mirror, I decided to leave the thick make-up on and get out as fast as I could. When I started to run out of the room, I was stopped by someone standing in my way.

Troy.

"Gabriella, do you want me to go with you?" he asked.

I knew he knew what this was all about.

"It's okay, go home and I'll call you later when I know what's going on," I explained, anxious to find my mother.

He took my hand and smiled, "You better call."

"I will . . . bye!"

I darted out the door

I could have sworn I heard him say, "Tell Carlos I said hi."

But I didn't hear for sure, and I definitely was not going to get my hopes up that this was a good thing.

My mother explained that Carlos had been moving in his "sleep" and they believed he could wake up fairly soon.

My thoughts glimmered with hope. Three weeks later . . . I could see my brother again.

He could see the musical.