I do not own the celebrities or plot from HSM. (Duh, how could I own a celebrity?) I do, however, own this story's plotline and OCs. The e-mail addresses, phone numbers, et cetera are completely made up. I also do not own the song "Hopelessly Devoted to You" by Olivia Newton-John from Grease

Chapter 2

"I can't believe you made me do this!" I groaned to Serena as we stood in the queue to have me sign up.

"Don't worry about it," Serena answered soothingly, "You are way prettier than all of these girls. You probably sing better too!"

"They all look so much older!" I whined, "I look like I'm 12 and I'm 15!"

"Now, now," Serena tutted, "We'll go to the washroom and apply some make-up and PRESTO! you'll be fabulously 15!"

Once my father signed the parental consent form he wandered off in the mall while Serena dragged me to the washroom. I pinned the number 200 to my shirt and stood still as Serena did my make-up.

"There," she said approvingly, "The mascara gives you eyelashes and the silver defines them. Good thing your lips are naturally red." I looked at the girl in the mirror. It was me, but it wasn't me. The blonde girl staring back at me was what I dreamed I'd look like if I were prettier.

"Thank you Serena!" I swept her up in a big hug.

"No problems as long as you get me in the inside."

"The inside?"

"Yeah, you know, once you're dating Zac Efron-"

"Shut up!" I interrupted.

"Then you can introduce me to Drake Bell," Serena finished.

I sighed. There is no arguing with a delusional friend. "Fine," I agreed.

An announcement came onto the PA. "Attention all participants. Please make your way to the ice rink for the auditions. The first round will be acting."

Hundreds of girls swarmed around the stage. I was the very last person they allowed to enter so I was extremely nervous. Thousands of girls screamed as Ashley Tisdale made her way to center-stage.

"Hey girls? How y'all doing?"

The screaming continued. I wanted to slug someone.

"For the first round you will each be handed a page of the script where the character, Sharpay's cousin Ashlene, speaks. Read the part on the stage. Half of you will be disqualified."

A staff member handed out the pieces of paper as you went on stage. The acting was completely improv. You could not read the script beforehand. As I walked on stage I quickly glanced at the sheet. Ashlene's parts were highlighted in yellow. I began to read.

"Troy, leave me alone!"

An actor read Troy's lines for him. "Tell me what's wrong!"

"You wouldn't understand!" I cried, willing tears to form in my eyes.

"What wouldn't I understand?"

"Your biggest problem is choosing between two girls. How could you ever understand mine?"

"Just tell me!" I quickly read the lines and dropped the paper.

"Blake broke up with me. I'm completely utterly alone. The guy who said we'll always be together and gave me a flippin' promise ring," I threw the ring I was wearing on my right hand to the ground, "broke up with me!" There was a moment's pause as the actor recovered.

"I-I didn't know."

I turned my face from the audience. "How could you? You don't understand what it's like to be cast away like I always was."

"Ashlene, any guy who casts you away doesn't know what he's missing." I turned back to the audience, a smile on my face.

"Really, Troy?" I pretended my face was being lifted.

The actor continued, mesmerized. "I would never let you go." I smiled and curtsied to the audience before hurrying off stage. The entire crowd was silent. A large cheer came from the back.

"Way to go Blondie!" I heard Serena shout. The crowd joined in. I knew that I had done it; I had passed the round. It came as no surprise when Ashley Tisdale called my name to move on. Only 100 contestants left.

"Next you will be divided into 4 groups of twenty-five and will learn a choreographed routine. You have one hour. The staff will lead you to your designated areas.

I stood at the back of the group as the choreographer showed us the steps. I had the steps memorized, but I couldn't get the order right. I knew the other girls were laughing at my ungraceful steps and forced smile. Serena came to the side and watched.

"Yeah, Sonja, go Sonja! You can do it!"

"No I can't!" I shouted back to her.

"Yes you can! Think about those hot guys!"

"I think I can!" The smile didn't come so forced and I began to get the routine. Soon we were asked to perform. I made one or two mistakes, but they were minor. One girl in the front did 3 steps wrong in a row and I was worried our group may be disqualified because of her.

At the end of all the routines Ashley Tisdale took the stage again.

"Congratulations girls on making this far. Only 1 group will make it to the final round. Would group A and D please come up here." Reluctantly I got up on stage. Group A had done and almost flawless job on their dancing.

Sulking I stood at the back of my group again.

"One group did an obviously better job at performing the routine, but that's not what our judges were looking at. Unknown to the contestants, judges were observing the improvement the girls made from the beginning of the dance to the end. So the winners are: Group D!" I gasped. I was in the final round. I, Sonja Gerhardt, made it to the final round!

Laughing I jumped over to Serena. There was a half hour break before I had to be back. In that time I had to learn the tune of the song I was given.

Serena brought the fries and burgers over to the table I was sitting at.

"What song is it? Maybe I have it on my iPod," Serena offered. I shook my head.

"I doubt it. It's Olivia Newton-John's 'Hopelessly Devoted to You' from Grease."

Serena smiled and shook her head. "Sorry, can't help you."

"Don't worry about it. I know the tune off by heart. I've watched the movie one too many times."

Nervously I took the microphone from Ashley Tisdale. She had just announced me as the last contestant of the day. Slowly I stood in the spotlight and nodded to the sound crew. The music began to play.

"Guess mine is not the first heart broken, my eyes are not the first to cry.
I'm not the first to know, there's just no gettin' over you.

"Hello, I'm just a fool who's willing to sit around and wait for you,
But baby can't you see, there's nothin' else for me to do;
I'm hopelessly devoted to you.

"But now there's nowhere to hide, since you pushed my love aside.
I'm not in my head, hopelessly devoted to you,
Hopelessly devoted to you, hopelessly devoted to you.

"My head is saying "Fool, forget him", my heart is saying "don't let go".
Hold on to the end, that's what I intend to do.
I'm hopelessly devoted to you.

"But now there's nowhere to hide, since you pushed my love aside.
I'm not in my head, hopelessly devoted to you,
Hopelessly devoted to you, hopelessly devoted to you."

At the end the crowd took a deep breath and there was a moment of complete silence before the crowd erupted into cheers. I smiled gratefully. That had been the best rendition of the song I had ever done.

I stood by Serena silently as the judges evaluated the last 25 contestants. Ashley Tisdale took an envelope from the judges and walked on stage.

"Congratulations girls on making it to the final round. The judges had a very difficult time and had to look at your overall performances to decide the winner." Slowly Ashley opened the letter.

"The person selected to play Ashlene in HSM3 is… contestant 200, Sonja Gerhardt!"