Disclaimer: So, I'm still writing these. I have a lot more to go. There are many more of these that state…'I do not own the recognized characters' and what not. And things like 'I do own the unrecognized characters' and what not. Well, anywho…
Chapter 24: Cl-yan
In the car, Sharpay was dead silent. The terrors of what would happen to her reputation crawled through her mind. She might be able to pass it off as a new fad or she could just say she was on a strict diet and ate too many strawberries.
She found it hard to concentrate on her problem due to the fact that Rachael wouldn't shut up. "What do you think will happen in school?" Rachael asked. "If you don't stay quiet, we'll all be doomed." Sharpay screamed at her. "Gee, Sharpay. You don't have to get all mean about it." Rachael retorted rather angrily.
"Oh, someone shoot me now!" Sharpay stated in frustration. Suddenly, there was a loud bang as a paintball exploded on Sharpay's window. "I didn't mean literally." Sharpay squealed in fright as she held onto her seat. "Maybe you should try to take it easy, Shar." Ryan suggested as he continued driving.
"But someone just shot at your car!" Sharpay protested. "There are more important things to worry about right now." Ryan responded. "I'm pretty sure it was more than a coincidence that it happened exactly when you said you wanted it to happen." Cloe stated her opinion, "I'm positive someone was aiming for you."
"That's scary." Sharpay realized what that meant, "Do you suppose someone knows about us?" "No." Ryan answered, "It's very impossible for that to happen." "It could just be bad luck." Rachael spoke up. Throughout the rest of the ride to school, no one spoke.
They had just managed to get there on time. Cloe had reminded them all to use their pagers in an emergency. English was first period so Cloe, Ryan, and Sharpay were all sitting in Miss. Darbis' room waiting for class to begin.
Out of everyone, Cloe was most worried about Rachael. Who knew what would come out of that girl's mouth? Cloe prayed that nothing would go horribly wrong. It was then that Cloe realized that the Musical auditions were today. She and Rachael had only managed to practice enough at the mansion. Cloe wasn't even sure they were ready, but she knew they had to go through with it.
Sharpay had smothered any visible part of her body with cover up. And it had worked. If she hadn't know that a while ago Sharpay was pink, she never would have noticed the difference. Of course, she'd smothered it on, and then dried it with the hair dryer she kept in her locker.
As the bell rang, Cloe knew it was going to be a long and complicated day. Free period was the scheduled time for the auditions. By second period, Rachael had managed to yell at a teacher twice and Cloe had to get her out of. She's also managed to remind Rachael of their audition.
Free period came to quickly for Cloe. As the bell rang, Cloe grabbed Rachael and rushed to the auditorium. They made it just in time. The two met up with Ryan and Sharpay while Miss. Darbis introduced the pianist, Kelsi.
"Hey, guys." Cloe whispered, "How's everything?" "Fine for now." Ryan answered softly. "Great idea for hiding your pink, Sharpay." Cloe stated in a low voice, "You look great." "Thanks." Sharpay whispered. "Good luck you two. You'll do great." Cloe said quietly. "You too." Ryan returned the message as Cloe and Rachael took a seat with the rest of the single auditioners.
When Miss. Darbis was finished with her speech, the first few people auditioned. From what they all saw, it seemed the four of them were the only people with talent in the room. Cloe rolled her eyes and Rachael cocked her head to the side as if she was in deep thought.
When they were finally qued on, they got up on stage. "Miss. Darbis, we've prepared a little act of our own for this song, so we were hoping we could perform it together. It looks much better this way." Cloe asked. "Oh, all right." Miss. Darbis responded in hope of some other entertainment, "After all, you arre the only freshman that showed up today. Go ahead, wow us!"
"Will do." Rachael confirmed getting serious. "Kelsi, if you'll be so kind as to start for us…" Cloe said. "Sure thing." Kelsi responded. She started off the song the same way she had with everybody else. Cloe started off singing, then Rachael joined. When the song broke off into music, Rachael started tap dancing, then she stopped and Cloe started jazz dancing the way Rachael had taught her to. Then, they ended it off with a simple grabbing hands and leaning to the side with jazz hands.
"That was lovely, girls." Miss. Darbis stated and clapped. Ryan and Sharpay even clapped for them. "That was the most remarkable act we've seen out of this group of performers." Miss. Darbis continued as Cloe and Rachael returned to their seats, "And, for the lead roles of Arnold and Minnie, we only have one couple signed up. Sharpay and Ryan, I think it might be useful for you to give us a sense of why we gather in this hallowed hall."
They both got up and Sharpay left the row first with Ryan in tow. "This should be good." Cloe said to Rachael as they waited for the two to get ready. Cloe did remember that Sharpay had their rehearsal pianist do an arrangement for them.
When auditions were over, Cloe and Rachael congratulated Ryan and Sharpay. "Ryan, you and Sharpay can go to lunch. Rachael, you can go if you want to. I'll catch up with you." Cloe said. "Okay!" Rachael said and the three left to go to lunch. Cloe headed over to the pianist, who looked very unhappy at the moment.
"Hey, Kelsi." Cloe said, walking onto the stage, "You did a great job. Did you write that song?" Kelsi nodded, but didn't say anything. "Well, I think it was really great. You know, the version you wrote." Cloe stated with a smile, "You shouldn't worry about Ryan and Sharpay. They really aren't that bad."
Seeing that she wasn't going to get any answers out of the timid hat-loving pianist, Cloe just turned around and left. Before she left completely, she saw Troy and Gabriella standing still as Miss. Darbis walked away from them. There was a shock sent to her communicator and Cloe saw that Sharpay and Ryan were in the cafeteria in some kind of trouble. Cloe ran to lunch.
The moment Cloe burst into the cafeteria, everyone stared at her. 'I know I'm late, but this is ridiculous.' Cloe thought as she continued heading for the signal. When she got to the table she normally ate lunch at, she saw Sharpay had her head in her hands, Rachael was giggling, and Ryan was scowling at her.
"What did Rachael say, this time?" Cloe asked realizing that was why everyone was staring, and the reason she was called into the cafeteria. "Happy Birthday Cl-yan!" Rachael giggled. "She managed to tell nearly the entire school about us dating." Ryan stated rather angrily. "Think of it this way, at least now no one can think you're gay." Rachael laughed.
Cloe sat down next to Ryan and grabbed his arm in comfort. "She's right, plus it was bound to get out sometime." Cloe attempted to calm him down. "I know, but I really don't care about what they say about me. I care more about what they'll say about you." Ryan explained.
"Yes, you're so charming. Can we just forget about all this right now?" Sharpay spoke up, lifting her head from her hands, "What about mom? We need to find a way to find her and Rachael's." "I don't think we can do that yet." Ryan said to her. "Maybe Zac can help us." Rachael suggested.
"Sure, we'll leave it to Zac-achael to do all the dirty work while the rest of us just sit here and figure out what to make of all this." Sharpay stated flatly with a hint of dry sarcasm. "What more of a chance do we have?" Ryan said realizing he had squished his water bottle when he'd gotten angry.
"Not much right now." Cloe answered, "You guys are in no shape to do anything now." "But we can't afford to wait any longer." Sharpay protested. "You don't have a choice." Cloe retorted. "I hate it when you're right." Sharpay stated as she crossed her arms and pouted, "Ryan, why did you have to run into the girl with all the answers?" "I guess it was just a stroke of good luck." Ryan suggested as he looked at Cloe and smiled at her. She squeezed his arm in return.
(A/N) Did you like this chapter? I really hope so. I'm starting to feel depressed that I don't know what most of you really think. The story gets better. Please R&R!