Chapter 14
The dressing rooms were chaos. Ryan couldn't believe that they'd been storage cupboards only yesterday; with everyone running around in their costumes, it felt like a real show. No, he corrected himself. It was a real show. They'd worked really hard on this and it was more important that anything he'd done at Juilliard. Ryan went to the curtain and peered out. His parents hadn't arrived yet, but Coach Wildcat was in the front row, and had put on a bow tie over his costume. The auditorium was already pretty busy, there were more people here than he'd ever seen at Bontin's before this. Where did they all come from?
"How many tickets have we sold?" he asked Kelsi as she walked past. She looked harried and he felt a bit guilty for distracting her but then she grinned.
"Nearly a full house!" she exclaimed. "We've got like ten seats left to fill and I think people are buying on the door!"
Ryan peaked back out again and saw his parents hurry into the auditorium. They were both smiling, looking happier than he'd seen them in months. He was about to go out and say hello when he heard his sister's voice.
'Gather round everyone!' Sharpay yelled. 'Your directors have something to say to you all.'
Kelsi hurried over to join her. Everyone else stood around them in a circle.
'So tonight is our show, as you might have noticed,' Sharpay began. There was some nervous laughter. 'And honestly when we started rehearsing, I wasn't sure we would get this far. Mainly because I refused to take part.'
Ryan smirked.
'But my brother persuaded me to come back, and I'm really glad I did. You guys have worked really hard on this, and I think it's gonna go really well. We've got a massive audience so let's get out there and crush it!'
The cast cheered and Ryan joined in too, buoyed by the energy in the room.
'Anything to add Kels?' Sharpay asked.
'I know working at Bontin's has its ups and downs, but this show has been the highlight of my time here, and I know that the money we make on this show tonight is going to keep us in business. I'm so proud of how hard you've all worked, so let's have fun and save our holiday park!'
Everyone cheered again.
It wasn't long before Coach Wildcat appeared to let them know they had five minutes before showtime.
'Go get 'em wildcats!' he said encouragingly.
Kelsi rolled her eyes. They had never been called wildcats but he wouldn't stop trying.
They formed a line side-by-side behind the curtain, waiting for it to rise so they could begin their opening group number. Ryan actually found himself feeling nervous. He'd been in so many shows before, but this one really mattered. Their home was hanging in the balance. Chad was standing next to him. He seemed to realise Ryan was nervous, because he reached out and squeezed his hand.
The group number went off without any problems, miraculously. They'd even managed to slot Trey in at the last minute. He was a surprisingly fast learner, considering how he only ever used a hammer to 'fix' things. Next up was Zeke and Kelsi's jive, followed by Martha, Sharpay and Taylor doing their amazing Destiny's Child cover. Ryan waited nervously backstage for his big dance with Chad. They'd had it down in rehearsal, but it was so different now the audience was here. He listened as Gabiella, Troy and Trey closed the first act with an emotional song about being a throuple.
Ryan was buzzing, the show was going really really well. No one had even messed up yet, well except for Troy wearing the wrong costume in the opening number, but the audience didn't know he wasn't supposed to be dressed as half a pantomime horse.
'Ryan, Dad wants to speak to us,' said Sharpay.
'What now?' asked Ryan. ' We can't go out there, we're in costume!'
Sharpay huffed. 'That's what I told him but he said it was important.'
The two snuck out of the dressing room area. After telling everyone else they weren't allowed to be seen in costume, they couldn't let anyone see them doing exactly that.
Digby was waiting for them, beaming. 'Guess what your mother and I have been doing today,' he said excitedly.
'Don't you want to say anything about the show?' Sharpay reminded him.
'Oh right yes,' Digby said. 'It's very good. Very good. My favourite since Twinkle Towne.'
'OK, go on with whatever you were saying,' Ryan allowed.
'You have to guess!' said Digby.
'No,' said Sharpay.
Digby looked slightly disappointed but dropped it.
'We've been in a business meeting all day and I have some very good news for you both!'
'What is it, are we getting moved to a deluxe apartment with more than one set of cutlery?' Sharpay asked.
'Better than that!' Digby said. 'We found an investor! Someone wants to buy Bontins from us.'
'Like, for money?' Ryan was astonished.
'Yes, and it's a good deal as well. Honestly I think hearing about your show cinched it for them.'
'You mean… we're not poor anymore?' asked Sharpay, gaping.
'We're not as rich as we were but we've certainly got enough to get back to our life as it was.'
Sharpay screamed with joy and Ryan laughed in disbelief. If he never had to eat beans on toast ever again it would still be too soon. From now on he would only be eating something if a Michelin starred chef had cooked it.
'Your mother and I have even found a house we like,' Digby said.
Sharpay gasped. 'Where is it?' she asked excitedly.
Digby smiled. 'It's actually… our old house! They hadn't managed to sell it yet because of the ghost.'
Sharpay nodded seriously, it had been a huge problem for them.
'Wait,' said Ryan. 'Our old house? In America?' He frowned.
'I thought you'd be happy,' said Digby.
Ryan had thought he'd be happy too.
'We have to go back, it's nearly time for the second half!' said Sharpay. She ushered Ryan back to the dressing rooms, chattering about how she couldn't wait to get her old room back.
Ryan couldn't find the same energy he had had before the show, however much he told himself it needed to go well. He waited in his dressing room, lost in thought as the second act progressed. Why wasn't he as happy as Sharpay had been, didn't he want to get away from this nightmare place?
Deep down, he knew that he didn't, but not because he had any love for Bontins. He would miss the people. One person in particular…
'Ryan it's nearly time for your duet!' said Kelsi, sounding rushed. 'Where's Chad?' she asked.
'I don't know,' said Ryan as he stood up. 'In his dressing room?'
Kelsi shook her head. 'He's not there. Zeke said he hasn't seen him since the interval.'
'What? But-'
Kelsi didn't have time to sort this out. 'Go find him!' she instructed. 'Either that or you're a soloist now.'
'How long do we have?'
Kelsi looked at her watch. 'Seven minutes, ten if I can get Jason's hula hoop routine to last a bit longer. I'll go throw an extra hoop on him.' She hurried back towards the stage and Ryan dashed out into the hallway. After checking every dressing room, he tried the bathroom as well, even checking for feet under the cubicle doors. Nothing. Panicking, he ran outside and scanned the area for any sign of movement. There wasn't anyone outside now; they'd either gone in to watch the show or gone to bed. He was about to turn around and go back inside when he spotted a figure on top of the climbing frame.
'Chad?' he called, hopefully. The figure reacted, confirming to Ryan that it was the man he was looking for. He ran towards the playground.
'What are you doing out here?! We're on next!' Ryan yelled urgently.
Chad didn't reply.
'Chad!' Ryan stopped in front of the climbing frame, a little out of breath from running. 'Come on, we've got like three minutes before our dance.'
'What's the point,' said Chad. It took Ryan a moment to register what he'd said.
'What?!' gasped Ryan. He couldn't be more shocked if Chad had punched him in the face.
Chad was sitting with his knees up to his chest and his arms wrapped around them. Ryan frowned worriedly.
'Are you OK?' he asked, and climbed up to sit next to Chad.
Chad sighed. 'My heart's not in it anymore,' he said.
Ryan couldn't believe what he was hearing. 'So you're running away? You're just gonna bail and let everyone down? Let me down?'
Chad turned towards Ryan, looking angry. 'Isn't that what you're doing?' he snapped.
'What I'm doing?' Ryan was baffled. 'What am I doing?'
'I heard you talking to your dad in the interval,' Chad said, looking away again. 'You're going home.' He sighed. 'It was stupid of me to think you really cared about Bontins. You were just waiting to go back to your fancy music school. You even said so yourself but I- I hoped-' He shook his head. 'Never mind.'
Ryan didn't know what to say. He knew he should be happy about going home, but it didn't feel right. This wasn't like when they'd had to come to Bontins. He had a choice. And his mind had been made up since that night at the sleepover.
'Chad,' he said. 'I'm not going.'
Chad looked up. 'What?'
'I'm not going. I do care about Bontins. To start with I just wanted to leave and go back to how my life used to be, but I don't anymore. I wasn't living in the real world. I like that I kind of know how to cook now. I like feeling useful. I like… having you in my life.'
Chad breathed in sharply. Ryan grabbed his hand.
'So will you please come back inside and dance with me?' he said. He didn't know how long they'd spent out here but he was sure that Kelsi would be tearing her hair out, and as for Sharpay, well. She would murder him.
Chad smiled. 'Yeah.'
They were out of breath when they arrived in the wings, which wasn't a great way to start a dance.
'What took you so long?!' Kelsi whispered frantically. On the stage, Jason was manically hula-hooping with ten hoops.
'I'm sorry!' Ryan whispered, pulling on the hat he was wearing for the performance. 'I'll tell you later!'
Kelsi nodded at Jason, who looked extremely relieved and brought the hoops to a gradual stop. After a graceful bow, he exited the stage from the other side. After a short break for applause, Ryan and Chad made their way onto the stage. They took their positions and the opening bars of (I've Had) The Time of my Life began to play. Ryan let his mind clear and focused only on the dance. It was just him, Chad and the music. The audience gasped and cheered when they did the lift and Ryan grinned as it was the best they'd ever done it. When the music faded out, the auditorium filled with the sound of applause. Ryan looked out into the crowd and saw his parents clapping for them. Coach Wildcat was cheering loudly, and Dracula whistled.
'Thank you, thank you everybody,' Sharpay said into a microphone as she came back onstage with Kelsi. 'Wasn't that amazing? Ryan and Chad, everyone.'
There was more applause.
'It's the end of our show now, and I have some amazing news,' Kelsi said. 'I just spoke with our accountant Taylor and we have raised enough money to keep Bontins open!'
The crowd went wild. Chad looked at Ryan. 'You're really staying?'
Ryan grinned. 'I'm really staying.'
Chad pulled Ryan close and kissed him.
'I like you,' he said when they broke apart. 'I'm glad you're staying.'
Ryan beamed.
'I like you too,' he said.
The rest of the cast joined them onstage for the final bow. As his friends assembled around them, Ryan had never felt more at home.
THE END
