The next few days were a whirlwind of activities for Troy and Gabriella. Troy led basketball practices with energy and authority, back on top of his game. Gabriella ran through formulas with the Scholastic Club, more focused and impressed than they had ever seen her.

Today, Troy was the first one out of the entire team dressed. He ran down the hall of the locker room, stopping at a mirror to check himself out. Gabriella was explaining a chemical formula to the other members. She glanced at the clock and realised how late she was.

Julie: Oh. Gotta go. See you guys later.

She hung up her apron and goggles and ran out of the chemistry lab. Troy stood by his locker and looked at his watch on his wrist. Just then, Gabriella ran past him, grabbed his hand and they ran off towards rehearsals together.

Ben: Whoa! You're late.

Gabriella only giggled as they reached the music room.

Both: But your faith, it gives me strength, strength to believe.
Julie: We're soarin'.
Ben: Flyin'.
Both: There's not a star in heaven that we can't reach.

Sharpay and Ryan came out of their own rehearsal. Sharpay was still singing their callback song when they walked past the music room and heard singing. They leaned over and heard Troy and Gabriella rehearsing.

Ben: If we're tryin'.
Both: Yeah, we're breaking free.
Ben: Oh, we're breaking free.
Julie: Ooooh.

Cash: Wow. They sound good.

Sharpay scoffed and walked towards the door of the music room. She looked through the window and saw Troy, Gabriella and Kelsi rehearsing.

Ben: Can you feel it buildin',
Like a wave the ocean just can't control?

Sharpay walked back towards Ryan.

Kai: We have to do something.

They started walking down the school hallway as Sharpay came up with a plan.

Kai: OK. Our callback's on Thursday, and the basketball game and the Scholastic Decathlon are on Friday. Too bad all of these events aren't happening on the same day...at the same time.

Ryan didn't understand what in the world was going on.

Cash: Well, that wouldn't work, because then Troy and Gabriella wouldn't make the----.

Sharpay gave him a look and waited for the implications to sink into her brother's dim brain. Finally, his face lit up.

Cash: I'm proud to call you my sister.

Kai: I know.

Later, Sharpay and Ryan have cornered Ms Darbus in the auditorium and spent some minutes talking earnestly to her. What they didn't know was that Kelsi was behind the piano, listening to the entire conversation.

Ms Darbus: I don't want to hear anymore about Bolton and that Montez girl. So, if you're telling me, as co-presidents of the Drama Club, that changing the callbacks is what's best for our theatre program, then...I might actually agree with you.

She walked away. Sharpay was beaming. There was no way that Troy and Gabriella wouldn't make the callbacks.

Cash: Is that a yes?

Sharpay gave him a wink. Then, they walked away...with Sharpay still singing a damn callback song! Kelsi had witnessed everything...including the wink.

The next morning, Troy, Gabriella, the basketball team and the Scholastic Club arrived at the school early so they could practice for callbacks, the championship game and the Scholastic Decathlon. They found Kelsi standing at the bulletin board, her face ashamed. Troy and Gabriella read the bulletin board. In front of the callbacks sheet was a sign that said: MUSICAL AUDITIONS RESCHEDUALED TO FRIDAY 3:30PM.

Ben: Callbacks the same time as the game!?

Julie: And the Scholastic Decathlon.

Gwen: *puzzled* Why would they do that?

Kevin: *darkly* I smell a rat named Darbus.

Kelsi: Actually, I think its two rats, neither of them named Darbus.

Everyone turned to see who had spoken. It took a minute – the petite Kelsi was almost lost among all the basketball players who towered over her.

Kevin: Do you know something of this...small person?

Kelsi nodded and stood in front of the bulletin board, the basketball team and the Scholastic Club.

Kelsi: Ms Darbus might think she's protecting the show. But Ryan and Sharpay are pretty much concerned with protecting themselves.

Chad's face tightened with anger.

Kevin: Do you know what I'm going to do to those two overmoussed show dogs!

Ben: Nothing, nothing. We're not gonna do anything to them. Except sing, maybe. Now, this is only going to happen if we all work together. Now, who's in?

Troy held his hand out. Gabriella placed her hand on top of his, beaming at him...which was soon followed by the other members of the basketball team and the Scholastic Club.

Kevin: You know I'm in.

Chad and Taylor hi-fived each other in the air...but soon intertwined fingers. Everyone was breaking out in huge grins. They had a plan...

And it is going to go into motion first thing tomorrow morning.