Chapter 7

Sharpay woke up with a start and immediately hit her head on something. It really didn't help the terrible headache that she already had. She cursed. She seemed to be in some sort of enclosed space.

'Hello?' she called, hoping someone would come and save her. There was no reply. Trying not to panic she turned on to her front and started to wriggle, there must be a way out somewhere!

After what felt like hours but was probably seconds she turned a corner and finally saw light! Wriggling a bit further, she suddenly fell out of whatever she had been in and landed on some damp bark chippings. She grimaced, but got up slowly, brushing them off the bikini she was still wearing. She turned around to see that she had escaped from the children's playground tunnel. She didn't remember getting there but she had been drinking heavily. She shivered and rubbed her arms. She hoped that no one had seen her climbing out of the tunnel; it couldn't have been graceful.

Sharpay decided that the best move was to go straight home, but as she set off she noticed a pair of legs sticking out of the windmill on the crazy golf course that was next to the playground. She'd recognise those designer flip flops anywhere.

'Ryan?' she called.

There was no reply from the windmill. She glanced around quickly to check nobody could see her, then hurried over.

'Ryan!' she yelled, knocking loudly on the outside of the windmill. A bit of paint chipped and fell off. Still no reply, so she grabbed one of his flip flops.

'Those are PRADA!' he shouted, wriggling out of the windmill.

'What are you doing in the windmill?' Sharpay asked. 'I've been looking for you for ages!' she lied, to cover up the fact that she also woke up outside.

'Well where did you wake up then?' Ryan asked, looking accusingly at her outfit.

'In my bed, obviously,' Sharpay replied.

'And you decided to wear your pink bikini again today then?' asked Ryan skeptically.

'Er...yes,' Sharpay said. 'It's actually a little cold though, I think we should go home and change.'

Ryan didn't believe her but there's no arguing with Sharpay. They headed back to their shitty accommodation.

'Do you remember anything from last night?' asked Sharpay as they walked.

'Bits and pieces,' said Ryan. He wasn't going to mention the cute boy he'd met, she'd only tease him. 'I think someone mentioned a talent competition?'

Sharpay gasped in excitement.

'We should sign up!' she squealed.

'Of course!' agreed Ryan.

They discussed what act they should enter and decided that it should be a singing AND dancing number to best show off their talents.

'Definitely Humuhumunukunukuapua'a,' said Sharpay.

'With the jazz squares?' Ryan asked hopefully.

'No,' said Sharpay.

'Jazz squares are a crowd favourite!' Ryan almost shouted, then winced at how loud his voice was. He had a horrible headache.

When they arrived back at the apartment, they had to take turns at getting changed in their bedroom. Sharpay put on her favourite pink silk pyjamas and sat down on the sofa bed next to Peaches, who was staring at the ceiling.

'Mom, I'm putting the TV on,' she said.

'Mmm,' said Peaches, still staring at the ceiling.

Sharpay was trying to decide which of the three channels to watch when Digby came in, closing the door very carefully so it didn't come any further off the hinges.

'Sharpay,' he said. 'I've just been by the kitchen and Zeke asked me where you and Ryan were?'

'Why? Does he have a crush on me? How embarrassing!' said Sharpay, smirking.

'No, Sharpay, you're meant to be at work,' replied Digby.

Sharpay froze. Surely she wasn't expected to go into work with a hangover? 'Are you sure he didn't mean someone else?' she said hopefully.

'Not unless there are another Sharpay and Ryan at this Bontins,' Digby said, attempting to sit down on the corner of the sofa bed. This turned out to be a bad idea as it tipped the sofa and they all ended up on the floor.

Sharpay got up in a huff and flounced back into the bedroom to get changed again for work.

Ryan and Sharpay hated their dishwashing job at the best of times but touching wet food with a hangover was the worst thing they had ever experienced. Zeke told them this was their final warning, and they'd be fired if they showed up late again. Personally Ryan felt sceptical about this because he doubted Zeke would be able to find anyone else to do the job. They had washed maybe three dishes each when Kelsi appeared in the doorway. She gave Ryan a quick wave then yelled, 'Ezekiel!'

Zeke dropped a bag of flour. Kelsi pretended not to notice, and marched cheerfully through the cloud of flour.

'I need you at the talent show meeting tonight,' she said, handing him a flyer. 'We're going big this year. People from outside Bontins are going to come.'

Zeke looked at the flyer. 'Talent 'work' out,' he read, 'bring the skills your job has taught you and enter our talent competition!'

Kelsi nodded enthusiastically. 'Isn't it great? I think it's really going to show off all our talents. Coach Wildcat says he's going to do typing, you know, like he does in the office. And Trey is going to install a lampshade.'

'Uhh, sounds… exciting?' said Zeke. 'I guess I could bake a cake?'

Sharpay sidled over. 'What's this about a meeting?' she asked.

Kelsi handed her a flyer. 'It's an interest meeting for the talent show, bring your best ideas!'

Sharpay read the flyer. There was a lot of clip art. She didn't like the idea of 'work themed' but she could make them change that at the meeting.

'We'll be there!' she chirped.

She returned to the sink, where Ryan was working on a greasy oven tray. 'Scrub faster,' she told him. 'We have a lot of work to do on this talent show.'