A/N: Hey everyone. Sorry for the late delay, but I am back, with another update. Just to clear things up, the couples are Troypay, Ryella, Chaylor, and Jelsi. I just wanted to clear that up. But their will be Troyella friendship. Anyway, this chapter will finally have the death of the first main character. Hope you enjoy. Here is chapter 5. It is pretty long These are the names of the people in the play:

Sharpay- Darla

Troy- Phil

Gabriella- Chantal

Ryan- Jake

Chad- Mike

Taylor- Nicole

Zeke- Brad

Kelsi- Jen

Jason- Larry

Disclaimer- I do not own High School Musical, except this story.

Warning- This chapter contains scary scenes, and some language. This may be a little scary. You have been warned.

Alone With the Stranger

Chapter 4: Flickering the Lights

It was 4th period, which was the lunch period. Troy, Gabriella, Taylor, Chad, Zeke, Kelsi, and Jason sat together in their lunch table.

"I can't believe Ms. Darbus is actually going to make a play." Taylor stated.

"And a horror at that." Zeke added.

"I don't know. I think this will be fun." Jason said as he took a bite out of his sandwich.

"You also think that collecting stamps is fun." Kelsi retorted, making Jason pout.

"I agree with Taylor." Gabriella said. "I mean, it is odd that Ms. Darbus wanted to have a play and not a musicale."

"Yeah, but like she said. She wanted to try something new." Troy commented. Just then, Sharpay and Ryan past them, and walked to their table. Troy noticed.

"Troy, what you looking at?" Chad asked his friend.

"Nothing. I was just thinking that we should invite Sharpay and Ryan to sit with us." Troy casually said. Chad spit out his milk, which landed on Zeke.

"Hey, watch it!" Zeke shouted.

"Sorry." Chad told him. He turned his attention to Troy. "Listen, dude. Why would you want to ask the Ice Queen and her follower to come sit with us?"

"Don't call her that." Troy said. "I was just thinking that we should all get along. I mean, we are going to have to perform a play together."

"Troy is right." Gabriella admitted. "We won't be able to work together if we can't get along."

"Fine." Chad muttered. Troy and Gabriella grinned.

"Hey Sharpay, Ryan." Troy called out. "You guys want to come sit with us?" Sharpay and Ryan looked at each other. Ryan seemed to be okay with the idea, but Sharpay insisted that they stay where they were sitting.

"Looks like they don't want to sit here." Chad said. Troy eyed Chad, who went on to finish eating his French fries.

"Guy, come on. We are talking about the play." Troy called out. He could see Ryan trying to convince Sharpay into sitting with them. Finally Sharpay sighed, and stood up. Ryan gave them the thumbs up. Sharpay and Ryan walked toward them. Ryan sat next to Gabriella, while Sharpay sat next to Ryan. While Ryan started up a conversation with Taylor and Gabriella, Sharpay remained silent. She was too observed in the play to speak to anyone.

"So, is the play any good?" Troy asked Sharpay. She ignored him.

"Face it, she won't talk to you." Chad told his friend. Troy went back to eating his hamburger.

"You do know we have to kiss." Sharpay stated. Everyone looked at her.

"Are you talking me?" Troy asked, unsure.

"Yes, I am talking to you, Bolton." Sharpay snapped.

"Oh. Well did you say that we have to kiss?" Troy asked.

"Yeah." Sharpay muttered. Zeke looked irate.

"Only Ms. Darbus can have a horror include romance." Chad said.

"Well, you and Taylor get to share a kiss onstage, along with Gabriella and Ryan." Sharpay told them. Chad wrapped his arms around Taylor's waist, while Gabriella and Ryan blushed.

"Hey! Me and Kelsi don't get to share a kiss!" Jason exclaimed.

"No, you're dead in the first 10 minutes of the play." Sharpay explained.

"Cool, I die first!" Jason shouted. Sharpay just rolled his eyes.

"So, how does Jason die?" Kelsi asked.

"Um… I don't know. It doesn't say how he dies." Sharpay said, flipping through the pages. "It doesn't even say who is the next person to die."

"That's weird." Gabriella muttered.

"Maybe she didn't give us the whole script." Chad suggested.

"I don't know, it's not like her." Ryan said.

"It's also not like her to have a play." Sharpay added.

"Speak of the devil." Taylor muttered. "Here she comes." The gang turned around, and saw that Ms. Darbus was walking toward them.

"Remember, rehearsals are today. So have this scene memorized by… today." Ms. Darbus declared. "Good luck." Ms. Darbus left, leaving the gang stunned.

"Did she just say… that we have to memorize the scene… today?" Taylor asked in disbelief.

"Yeah." Gabriella muttered. Everyone took out their scripts, and began to memorize the scene.

The gang walked toward the auditorium, and were amazed at what they saw. The stage was already set up for the first scene.

"How did… this all get finished?" Sharpay asked in disbelief.

"Usually nothing is finished for another two weeks." Ryan said.

"Well, I guess she really wanted to get this done." Gabriella stated.

"Let's go." Sharpay muttered. They all walked toward the stage, where they were greeted by a fair skinned, blonde girl with green eyes. She was wearing a pink track suit.

"Hi guys." she greeted them in her valley girl accent. "I'm Sandra. This is going to be so much fun."

"What do you mean by that?" Kelsi asked.

"Oh, I'm gonna be in the play with you guys, silly." She giggled. "I play Carla."

"I'm sorry, but it says nothing about a girl named Carla in the script." Sharpay stated.

"Are you sure. Because Ms. Darbus gave me the same script you guys have," Sandra explained. "Check the cast page." Sharpay checked the page, and gasped.

"What the…" Sharpay could not believe it.

"What is it?" Ryan asked. Sharpay showed him the page. His eyes widened, and he flipped through his script.

"How did that happen?" Sharpay said to herself. "I mean it wasn't here, before."

"Maybe you misread it." Sandra told her in a smug tone. "Anyway, Ms. Darbus is waiting for you all backstage." She flipped her hair, and walked toward the backstage.

"This is weird." Jason mumbled.

"You can say that again." Taylor responded.

"Come on." Troy said. "We should get going." They all followed Troy to the backstage.

"Okay. Let's start with the first scene. And for those who haven't memorized their lines yet, you can read your scripts. Okay, places people." Ms. Darbus announced. Sharpay, Troy, Ryan, Chad, Gabriella, Taylor, Kelsi, Zeke, and Jason walked onstage. Gabriella, Jason, Kelsi, and Ryan are talking to each other about the news.

"I can't believe they found his body in his closet." Gabriella said in a disgusted tone.

"Well that's not all they found, Chantal." Ryan told her. "They also found his heart in the kitchen cabinet."

"That is disgusting, Jake." Chantal scoffed.

"I think that's pretty cool." Jason stated.

"You are so weird, Larry." Kelsi mumbled.

"And that's why you love me." Jason told her. Kelsi playfully punched him. Meanwhile, Zeke was trying to talk to Sharpay.

"Um, Darla?" Zeke asked.

"Yes, Brad?" Sharpay asked.

"I was wondering… if you would… like to go out to the movies on Friday night."

"I would love to…only I can't. I have dance lessons." Sharpay told him.

"Oh." Zeke muttered. "Maybe some other time."

"Some other time would be great." Sharpay said. Zeke exited the stage. Troy walked toward Sharpay.

"Hey Darla." Troy greeted

"What do you want, Phil?" Sharpay asked.

"I wanted to know if you wanted to go out on Friday?" Troy asked her.

"Can't. Have dance lessons."

"You're lying."

"How would you know if I was lying, Phil?" Sharpay asked him. Troy walked closer to her, and looked into her eyes.

"Because you have dance lessons on Thursdays, not Fridays." Troy grinned.

"How did you…"

"I asked your brother."

"Well… I still can't go out with you." Sharpay told him.

"And why is that, Darla?"

"Because… I don't feel the same way for you." Sharpay walked away from Troy, and towards Ryan. "Jake! Let's go."

"But…"

"But nothing. I said let's go!" Sharpay exclaimed. Sharpay exited the stage. Ryan turned to Gabriella.

"Got to go. Darla seems upset." Ryan said.

"Okay. Well, I'll talk to you later, okay Jake." Gabriella told him.

"Okay." Ryan exited the stage. Gabriella walked toward Troy.

"What did you do to her, Phil?" Gabriella asked.

"I asked her out." Troy muttered.

"Why would you ask her out? She doesn't even like you." Gabriella stated.

"I don't know. I just… had to ask her. Don't you understand, sis." Troy explained.

"Yeah I do." Gabriella muttered. Just then, Chad and Taylor walked toward them.

"Yo, what's up, Phil." Chad greeted him. "You too Chantal."

"Hey Mike." Troy and Gabriella said in unison.

"Chantal, guess what?" Taylor shouted.

"What is it, Nicole?" Gabriella asked.

"I heard from Barbara, that Jake totally likes you!" The two girls screamed.

"Jake, as in, Darla's brother?" Chad asked.

"Yeah, why?" Gabriella asked.

"Good luck trying to get some alone time with him." Chad muttered. Taylor gave him a glare. Chad turned to talk to Troy.

"So anyway, I say you should make a move." Taylor told her. Troy heard what Traylor said.

"No way." Troy stated.

"Why not?" Gabriella asked.

"Because you're my sister, and I say that you won't go out with him." Troy explained.

"Ugh! That's not fair. You can ask Darla out, but I can't ask Jake out!" Gabriella exclaimed.

"That's right!" Troy shouted.

"Ugh!" Gabriella shoved past Troy and exited the stage.

"Chantal, don't you walk away from me." Troy said, as he exited the stage.

"You see what you had to start something." Chad told Taylor.

"You a jerk!" Taylor exclaimed, and slapped Chad. She stormed off the stage.

"Ow." Chad muttered, as he exited the stage. Kelsi and Jason were left all alone on the stage.

"Why can't you come to my house today, Larry?" Kelsi asked.

"I told you, Ms. Carbol wants to talk to me about my English grade." Jason explained.

"I can't believe you're failing." Kelsi whined.

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Well, will you come me later?" Kelsi asked.

"Totally."

"Okay, bye." Kelsi exited the stage, leaving Jason all alone. He began to hear noises.

"Hello?" Jason asked. "Ms. Carbol?" Jason started to walk toward a door, and he decided to open it. "Hello?" The lights started to dim. He grabbed a lighter from his pocket, and turned it on. "Ms. Car… Ah!"

"And cut." Ms. Darbus shouted. The lighted turned on, and the stage was being taken apart, by the stage crew.

"Good work guys. Remember, to try and have your lines memorized by tomorrow." Ms. Darbus explained. "If anyone needs me, I'll be in my office." Ms. Darbus grabbed her belongings, and left. He gang met offstage.

"Well that was scary." Kelsi stated.

"Yeah." Taylor agreed. "I still have goosebumps."

"It wasn't so scary." Chad said.

"Well I'm just glad, that Sandra wasn't in the first scene." Sharpay muttered.

"You don't like her?" Gabriella asked.

"No." Sharpay mumbled. "Well, I'm out of here. Come on, Ryan, let's go."

"Okay." Ryan said. "See ya guys tomorrow." The two began to walk away.

"Sharpay! Wait!" Zeke shouted.

"What is it, Zeke?" Sharpay asked. "I don't have all day, you know."

"I was just wondering if you would like to go out on Friday?" Zeke asked.

"Sorry, can't. I have piano practice." Sharpay told him.

"Oh." Zeke softly said.

"Toodles." Sharpay and Ryan disappeared, leaving a disappointed Zeke.

"You tried, Zeke." Chad told him.

"Yeah. I'm gonna get going" Zeke mumbled. "See ya guys." Zeke left the auditorium.

"We should all get going too." Taylor stated. The rest of them, left the auditorium, and walked toward the parking lot.

"So, I think today was productive." Troy told them.

"Yeah, at least I am done with my part." Jason said.

"Lucky." Chad muttered.

"So, Gabi. I'll call you later." Taylor told her friend.

"Okay." Gabriella softly said.

"Come on, Chad. Let's go." Taylor and Chad walked toward Taylor's car.

"See ya later, guys!" Chad shouted, as they drove away.

"Well, it's getting late, and my mom will kill me if I'm late." Kelsi told them.

"Oh shit." Jason muttered.

"What is it?" Troy asked.

"I left my car keys in the auditorium." Jason told them. "I'm gotta go get them."

"You want me to come with?" Kelsi asked.

"No babe. Um… Troy, is it alright with you, if you can take Kelsi to her house?" Jason asked.

"Yeah sure." Troy said. "I gotta take Gabs, anyway. No problem."

"Thanks man. Kelsi, I'll see ya later." Jason told her.

"Okay. Well call me later?" Kelsi asked.

"You know it babe." Jason kissed Kelsi, and ran toward the school. Meanwhile, Kelsi, Gabriella, and Troy headed toward Troy's car.

"Isn't it weird that we're doing this play. It freaks me out." Gabriella said, as they boarded the car.

"Don't be worried. It's not like this is real." Troy assured her.

"I hope Jason will be alright." Kelsi mumbled.

"I sure he will be." Troy told her, as he drove away from the school, and away from Jason.

Jason walked toward the auditorium, and to his surprise, everyone was gone. The only light was from the stage. "Crap. How am I going to find my keys." he mumbled. He then remembered he forgot to put away the lighter that was meant for the play. He took it out, and began to flicker on the light. "Eureka." he said. He began to look around, row from row, in search of his keys. After a few minutes, he found them. "Thank god."

"Jason." a voice called out. He turned around, wondering who called him.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" Jason called out. No one answered. "It's probably y imagination." He left the auditorium, and began to walk in the empty hallway.

"Jason." a voice whispered.

"Who's calling me?" He started to panic. "If it's someone trying to scare me… it's working."

"Jason." He looked around, noticing that someone was with him. He let out a sigh that he had been holding when he realized the light was coming from Ms. Darbus's office. He walked toward it, and knocked.

"Ms. Darbus. You in there." He could here voices coming from in there. His curiosity got the best of him, and he carefully twisted the knob. He peeked through, and saw that no one was there. The light was coming from one of Ms. Darbus's lamps. Just as he was about to close it, he heard noises. They seemed to be coming from a closet. He went inside the office, and slowly walked toward the closet. He opened it, and it was pitch black. "Ms. Darbus, Are you in here."

"Jason." the voice whispered. Jason pulled out his lighter, and turned it on. He could see a figure emerging from the darkness.

"Ms. Darbus is that you?" The figure said nothing. "Ms. Darbu… Ah!" The figure pulled him in, the closet door slamming shut.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The lamp dims down, until it turns off completely. The office door, slowing closes shut. Silence filled the air.

TBC

A/N: Poor Jason. Died so fast. Anyway, hope you liked. This chapter was pretty freaky, but I think it turned out alright. So please review. Hopefully we can get to 100. How about this, I won't update, until I reach 100 or more reviews. I know it may seem like a lot, but I know we could do it. So until then, you know the drill. R&R.