I Did Not Leave South Side For This!
Chapter V - Why Does Nobody Here Know They're Singing?
"Gotta get it together." The captain started to sing first, playing basketball like he had been doing it all his life. He probably had, knowing that his father was Coach Bolton. "Yeah, pull up and Shoot, Score!" Yet an another incredible goal for the Wildcats. "Are ya ready? Are ya with me?"
I broke down laughing, causing me to receive some looked. All I could picture now was the wildcats in spongebob squarepants outfits. "Are ye ready, kids?" I mumbled to myself, still giggling.
The rest of the basketball team seemed to respond to his question almost immediately, like this song had been planned beforehand. "Team Team Team Yeah!" I scowled, what kind of people sang about exercise? Crazy people, that's what.
"Shake em with the crossover." The captain sang as he dribbled around an opponent. He then passed the ball to Chad. I recognised him from his iconic t-shirts and frizzy hair. We had spoke once when we had bumped into each other into the hall. He seemed nice enough.
The crowd screamed. "Wildcats!" My eyes widen. Fuck no. Now the crowd was getting involved. I looked around me, everyone in the crowd was immersed in the game. Did they not realise they were watching a totally random song number unfold on the court?
"Tell me, what are we here for?" The captain asked as he marched along.
"To win." The crowd replied. My ears ran from the shouting.
The fizzy haired dude and the captain ran along both sides of the court, trying to get the ball. Chad swiped it and got it to the captain. Score. There was a massive cheer from our side of the team. I had hoped that the singing would stop after that as the numbers I had experienced before never actually lasted that long
Oh God I was so wrong.
Hell had only just begun.
"Oh this is our school's most important game in the history of games, let's start singing and we'll win." I said with as much sarcasm as I could muster. I was really beginning to hate this game.
"Cause we know that we're the best team." The captain passed our spot at the front, causing Jay and I to stare. His biceps were rippling. He was covered in sweat and- No Tia, this was not the time to get distracted by hot bodies, I thought to myself. I blinked a few times and forced myself to focus back on the game. I sat down, placing my dictaphone besides me so that the music could still be heard, and began to jot notes down about how weird this game had gotten.
Jay shared a look with me, which made us both flush. We knew exactly what was running through each other's head. I would tap that. By that we meant the basketball captain, or Troy as I was later informed.
The Wildcats' coach clapped a few times, trying to get his boys enthused about the game. "Come on Boys. Come on Boys. Come On!" If I had been the coach then I would have promised my team humongous bars of chocolate, everyone likes chocolate. Well. Unless you're allergic, or a vegan, or just don't like chocolate in general. Then you, my friend, are strange. The only reason I haven't gotten fat from chocolate is having to run halfway across the school to get away from Sharpay, surprising it really does keep a person fit. Either that or I have a really fast metabolism. It's probably the latter.
"The way we play tonight. Is what we leave behind. It all comes down to right now. It's up to us."
"Wow. Real motivational, Captain." I muttered to myself sarcastically. "Nothing like stating the obvious." I turned my attention to other players on the team and began to scribbled down notes on them. Why did it have to be about the captain all the time?
"So what are we gonna be?" Screamed Troy. I leaned back in my seat, pulling a disturbed face. Screaming was a bit much for a school basketball game.
However his team seemed to be reared on by the ludicrous screaming of their captain and responded with just as much force in their tones. "T-E-A-M. Team!" They ever did those stupid fist punches guys do when they are pumped.
Another three points was added to the scoreboard, but this time for West High. I jotted it down and wondered if the West High Knights were having the same reaction I was. A few of them looked a bit perplexed at least.
Troy threw his arms in the air in celebration of the goal. "Gotta work it out. Turn it on!"
The crowd seemed over the moon at another goal and cheered as the Wildcats were winning once more. The atmosphere of the hall was exhilarating.
"Come on!" Yelled the ever faithful wildcat cheerleaders. Screw those ladies, they were the backbone of this entire uncalled for musical number. Yeah. Screw you attractive cheerleaders.
My head was really beginning to hurt now from all the shouting and singing. The court was hot and stuffy. There is only so much of sweaty guys and rippling biceps a woman can take. I was sick of watching basketball and that number. All I wanted to do was go home, eat cake, put Taylor Swift on and scroll down Tumblr. Let's get real. Tumblr was the babe. But unfortunately I was condemned to this hell and get this story, people were depending on me. Maybe it was a bad idea to join the school newspaper.
"This is the last time to get it right. This is the last chance to make it our night. We gotta show what we're all about." The captain and his team mates continued to sing. "Work Together. This is the last chance to make our mark. History will know who we are! This is the last game so make it count, it's now or never."
And that's how to rest of the game went. Troy and his crew singing their hearts out to some basketball game that wouldn't even be that important in the long run. That was until there were sixty seconds left to the game and Troy fell.
Uh oh, man down. I winced at the captain skidding across the floor. That had got to hurt. The referee blew his whistle and instantly Troy was swarmed around by his concerned team mates. I stood up, notebook in hand, desperately trying to see what had happened to the boy. We couldn't see anything due to the amount of people crowding around him. People were stupid. You want to get the juiciest gossip for a story and people just happen to be in the way, preventing you from doing so. I shared a look with Jay, who head nodded to the court. She was asking if we should run onto it and see what was up with Troy for the newspaper. I sighed and shook my head before sitting back down. As much as I wanted to pester people with questions that would have to wait until after the game. I was no Nancy Drew and Jay was no Sherlock Holmes, no matter how much either of us wanted to be.
That would be cool though.
I would love to be Nancy Drew and fight crime.
I would be awesome at it.
Ah nerds and their whimsical fantasies.
Troy was soon up on his feet again. He looked fine, if anything just a bit shaken up. I rolled my eyes at him. He was such a baby. The whole hall went quiet as Troy stood and the wildcat fans lifted red and white cardboard, creating white paws on a red background. I turned to stare at this is confusion. I didn't realise we had to bring cardboard with us. I looked to the guy next to me and saw him removing the cardboard next to his seat. I looked next to mine and sure enough there was a piece of white cardboard. I shrugged and picked up, raising it over my head. The lights were lowered and a spotlight found its way to Troy. What the fuck. I was pretty sure that basketball games didn't have spotlights, that was more of a drama thing. Drama... I lingered on that thought and my eyes widened when I realised what was happening. Solo. I was forced to watch in perturbed dread Troy Bolton, the most popular guy in school, sing a solo without the help of his team.
He opened his mouth.
I shut my eyes.
Here it comes.
"Troy. Trooooooyyyyyy!" Someone sang, a female from what I could make out. My eyes opened and I removed the piece of cardboard above my head. I pulled a face of puzzlement and looked around for the singer. I spotted Troy and followed his gaze. A pretty girl in a white dress just was stood up, singing down at Troy. Everyone remained oblivious to this.
"Right now I can hardly breath." Troy answered, his breathing heavy.
The random girl smiled down at him lovingly. I felt myself nearly puke from the sickly sweet look upon both their faces. Ugh love, gross. Who needed love a person when you had the Internet? That's what I call true love. I looked around me, completely perplexed by what was going on. How could the rest of the hall not see this? Was I high? Was that the reason why I could see people singing? I don't do drugs so that ruled out that possibility. I wasn't drunk either so...
Magic.
Magic had to be the answer.
Magic was what was forcing me to live through this musical hell.
Fuck you magic.
"Oh, you can do it. Just know that I believe." The girl drew a hand to her chest and encouraged the captain. I raised an eyebrow at her. That was a little bit cliché. This was not a movie or anything.
The captain stood straighter. "And that's all I really need." My eyes adverted to Troy, a let out a dry laugh. Are you kidding me? He just fell. He needs to be checked over by the school nurse. He is not fine. Singing does not magically heal people, unless you were Apollo. If Apollo is reading this then I meant not offence by what I said, I love your work.
"Then come on." The darkness was beginning to fade.
"Make me strong." The girl in the white dress nodded at the captain reassuringly and proudly. "It's time to turn it up. Game on!" The darkness disappeared completely and the game commenced like nothing had happened.
Was I the only one who had epiphanies around here?!
I will spare you the details of the rest of the game. It's as boring as basketball can get. Basically some guy, who can't play basketball, was brought on with sixteen seconds left and ended up scoring the final goal that the Wildcats needed to win. So yay! We were the champions. I half expected the hall to break out singing Queen's 'We Are The Champions.' But it appeared they had no taste for classic rock music.
Jay and I made our way down to the court so we could interview the players for the school newspaper.
"Jay."
"Yes Tia?" Jay jumped down the steps leading the court. She waited for me to catch up, smiling at me all the while.
When I caught up to her I was gasping for breath. Like I said I am highly unfit. "You didn't happen to hear the singing that happened in the game, did you?" I huffed, my tone had a little hope in it.
Jay just looked confused. "Singing? You mean Troy and Gabriella?"
My eyes filled with hope. "Yes!" My voice was full of excitement at the possibility someone else heard them. "The black haired girl and the Wildcats' captain! Yes them!"
Jay's face cleared of all confusion and she beamed at me. "Yes! They are singing, right over there!" She pointed to where the basketball captain and his girlfriend were walking hand in hand, humming a sweet tune.
My face fell as we wandered over to the pair.
Jay, you little troll.
"Troy!" Jay called rushing over with all her equipment. I trailed behind, basking in my thoughts.
Troy's face lit up when he spotted Jay, they obviously knew each other. "Oh hey Jay! I didn't know you were on the school paper." Gabrielle waved a small hello and a smile at my friend. When I reached them they were talking about the big game.
Jay grinned when I reached the trio. "Guys, this is my new friend Tia." I gave a small hello and a wave.
Gabriella look like she recognised my name. "Are you the same Tia who bunked out on auditions?"
I sighed and lifted my hands sheepishly. "Well yes, that would be me. I was told that I drove Sharpay insane since I didn't come." A small smile played on the edge on my lips.
Gabriella grinned at me in her oh so sweet way. "Oh yeah, she was super mad. But that's your choice whether to come or not! Let nobody pressure you into doing anything." She placed a hand on my shoulder in comfort.
I stared at it in alarm. I did not consent to this contact. Get your carefully manicured hand off my shoulder foul demon!
Gabriella noticed how uncomfortable I had become from the touch and removed her hand. She shot me an apologetic look with a smile. My eyes narrowed at her, making the smile vanish. I lifted my head in the air and turned my attention to Troy. "Troy, can we get an interview for the school newspaper?" I asked with as much politeness as I could find.
I had to dig real deep to find the politeness lurking inside of me.
Troy answered with a smile. "Sure! Anything for the school!"
I sighed. Was everyone here a 2D character in a movie or something?
I proceeded to ask him a long line of questions, recording it all with my dictaphone. Jay took photos of us all. She took so many I was tempted to tell her that this was not a photoshoot.
To finish I decided to ask a question that was lingering in the back of mind. "Great singing back there in the game Troy. That duet with your wonderful girlfriend was simply spot on." Troy and Gabriella shared a look of bewilderment. I raised an eyebrow. "Tell us what was that pretty little number called?" I asked anxiously. I needed answers to why everyone sang at this school. I would go to high hell to find them.
Troy looked at me like I was mad, a look I had gotten use to over these pass few months. "I'm sorry but I have no clue on what you're talking about."
"What?"
AN: End of chapter! I'm such a tease ;). This took so long. This is for the anon who said they wanted Tia to have more interaction with the canon characters of HSM. Tia is actually a canon character, she just doesn't have a name. Go watch I want it all and you'll see her and Jay. Thank you for reading my lovelies!