Author's Note: pretty much when I have time I will add dialogue within the first half that I did but for now the first half will be the backstory of the first half of Junior Year. Yet this chapter mainly focuses on Jimmie. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: read the first chapter

Chapter 2

Junior Year

The Start Of Junior Year

Jimmie, Donnie, and Heather started the school with promising futures ahead of them within the first quarter it was without a doubt talk about students going back to their old professions whenever there was talk about it there sometimes was a mentioning of Tiara's name, so it was known that Status Quo was creeping back up. Jimmie and Donnie was doing their best to reassure them. When they were in Ms. Darbus class she announced that there will be a prize for the student who put the best efforts in class. And at the end of third period, whoever does put their best efforts in the plays and theater work, will win the lead role of any play they choose as long as it's one the entire class could be in.

Basketball games couldn't get any easier as they were making their way to the championships and for Heather to be part of cheerleading Donnie couldn't be happier.

November

It was known to Tiara that Jimmie was doing well so she spied on Donnie and Heather for a while and saw a pattern that Jimmie was asking for Donnie to help him with stuff and it was taking time when he was with Heather. Tiara got to Heather and had told her that Jimmie will always pry into their time. Heather didn't want to believe it but soon later, Jimmie had been showing up. It came to the point where Donnie, was now getting a bit irritated with Jimmie as he was telling him that he should be needing him for everything.

Almost mid-terms was here and Tiara was smiling brightly she got to Jimmie and mocked that that when he danced with Sharpay and people were laughing they weren't laughing with him they were laughing at him. And to save himself from more humility he should just stick to basketball. This got to him a bit, plus all this time he did not have his speech which was needed before a certain time before the third period was up. And once again Jimmie needed Donnie again to help him with his speech. And his timing couldn't be any more badder for Donnie was helping Heather. Heather now got heated with both of them that she was now going to break up with Donnie. When she did, Donnie got mad at Jimmie as he told him that Heather needed his help as well. Upon the frustration of losing her, he no longer considered Jimmie his friend, which left Jimmie alone. Before the year was up Jimmie and Donnie never spoke to each other. And Donnie never got a chance to make up with Heather. Tiara who saw all of them could only smile as she thinks that now she got the lead role, in the bag.

Jimmie was after school all alone. He stayed for a while shooting hoops and looking at the theater wondering what should he choose he was back and forth and back and forth. He wondered if he had pushed Donnie too far to cost his best friend his relationship with Heather. But with the way he was angry at him it was for certain that he felt like Donnie wanted nothing to do with him for a very long time if probably not anymore.

January

Within the next few days, he missed practice he spent that time walking around the neighborhood during one of those times when he walked near the Bolton's house, Jack saw Jimmie walking alone and managed to talk to him before he got too far.

"Jimmie Zara."

Jimmie turned around to see Jack.

"Coach."

"Out here, you can call me Mr. Bolton."

"Oh, well is there something wrong Mr. Bolton?"

"I haven't been seeing you for the last 3 practices, why?"

"I have a lot going on in my mind right now Mr. Bolton. About me choosing which profession, and the fact that I lost a very good friend in Donnie."

"Oh."

"For the first time in however long I can remember, this is the first time I'm alone."

"Jimmie, come inside I want to tell you something."

Jimmie went into the Boltons' house and Jack led him to Troy's room where Troy still has his things except his yearbook. Jack had Jimmie to sit down on the bed as he got a chair and sat across him.

"What have gotten into you two?"

"Well, Me and Donnie we were able to help each other. Yet still I was learning and I needed Donnie's help, whether it be homework or a project and especially to keep the school from going into Status Quo again."

"When have you heard that the school was going into Status Quo again?"

"I've seen it. Everywhere at lunch was groups from skateboarders to music people all at their own lunch table. At one point I had a friend who loved to be an artist has now reverted to being a scientist. I'm certain you know how it went the day East High changed."

"I did. And at first I thought it was a bad thing because I thought Troy loved basketball and basketball only. But as it turns out what I was doing to him was exactly what you described even when it came to the college we talked about: I kept sticking him to the Status Quo."

"Well anyways we got into a fight because somehow when I needed him his girlfriend needed him as well and when she saw how much I kept needing him they broke up which in turn of us not being friends anymore. I didn't mean to hurt anybody's feelings. Because I'm still learning myself and Donnie was always there to help me out."

"That seems to be your problem, Jimmie, you were always relying on your partner."

"Mr. Bolton?"

"You keep saying you're still learning, the thing is: Donnie's still learning too. He mentioned to me before that he wanted to be some kind of agent or manager. And you were preventing him from doing that."

"But how? He was a very good one with me."

"He was but a manager has to look after all of his employees like a coach has to look after all of his players. Do you think Heather was another Employee that needed as much help as you did?"

"Yes."

"Good. Thing is Jimmie there are some things you will just have to learn on your own."

"Well I ended up failing to keep my promise to Troy about keeping East High free from Status Quo. Just how am I going to do this alone?"

"Let me tell you a secret, Jimmie."

At this point, Jimmie was paying close attention.

"When I was in a student in that school to me it was all about the teammates of my basketball team until I met Lucille, she was beautiful, smart, reasonable. At that time I had to choose between what was right and what was easy. Now my heart was telling me that I needed to be with Lucille we had great chemistry we became the very best of friends and we had things in common, and then there was the team who I felt I betrayed them, but in the end they betrayed me. But before our days at East High was over my heart was right on my choice and my teammates apologized and we became the best of friends that year I was MVP of the season."

"Wow."

"When I saw you and Donnie lately I made a guess as to who was the closest of being like my son was. I can only hope before your time is up at East High that I guessed right. So now you need to decide on what is right and what is easy."

"But how..."

"You're prepared, Donnie prepared you. Take all you've learned from him and believe in yourself. You know what to do is right."

"Okay. I'll give it a try."

Jack and Jimmie have shared a handshake, and Jimmie left to go home, that night Jimmie had a plan to finish up for the junior year but there's something he needed to do first.

The very next day Jimmie ran into Heather at the lockers.

"Hey Heather."

"Hi, Jimmie."

"I need to talk to you."

"About what?"

"Donnie."

"It's over between us, his time helping you out was too precious to him when I needed his help and comfort."

"Okay. Look it's my fault, all right? At the time I was still learning and Donnie was there to help me out I just didn't..."

"Didn't what?"

"Thing was, I've always needed him. It didn't strike me then that I was a needy, obsessed, jerk. But look I have to apologize to you on my behalf and say that I'm sorry."

"Did Donnie put you up to this?"

"How can he when he and I are not friends anymore?"

"When has this happened?"

"The day that you two broke up."

Heather felt a bit sad to break up with him like that.

"That man has been my best friend since we were in the second grade we've always had each other's backs and yes this year I've been as much needy in my entire life because we're drawing closer and closer to our future, but never have I heard him go off on me like that about you. He really does love you Heather. You're the best thing that has ever happened to him."

"Do you really think so?"

"I know so."

Jimmie gave Heather a handshake before leaving to lunch.

"Jimmie where are you going?"

"To do the right thing."

Jimmie left to go to lunch however unbeknownst to both of them, Donnie was eavesdropping on their conversation nearby.

At lunch it was the same as it was when Jimmie mentioned the situation to Jack about people talking to their own kind. He gave a whistle as everybody looked at him.

"I know all of you would probably want to finish eating and talk about your classes and what you do best, but just hear me out. If you do not want to listen that's fine, but I'm still going to keep talking whether you want to ignore me or not. Now lately I know all of you want to stick at what you know and what you do best. Pretty much all of you want to stick to the Status Quo. But seniors and my fellow juniors, If many of you would know and still remember the great speech of Wildcat Legend Troy Bolton, he said that East High is a school where teachers allow us to break the Status Quo and define ourselves as we choose. Just because some student tells you you're better off where you're at or were, because they are better than you at something you want to do, doesn't mean for you to give up on what you really want to do. Now I may be one man, alone, but I believe in the power of teamwork, and I believe in all of you achieving what you want to achieve, just because I'm alone doesn't mean that you are, if you look at each other in this school and this entire cafeteria right now, you have other people who can help you. As Troy said East High's a place where we'll have friends to remember for the rest of our lives, because when all is said and done, the truth is we are all in this together. Let's make our dreams come true."

As Jimmie left to hang out on the rooftop leaving the cafeteria, he had got such a huge applause from the students. As he hung out there he wondered if he could really do it. Hours in without his partner and already he has made an huge influence. He had to think long and hard about what Tiara had said.

"The theater was laughing at you not with you, you're better off with your basketball."

He soon spent a little more time on the rooftop before knowing what to do next as he headed for that theater he realized that everybody was gone for today was the day that he needed to bring his speech if he were to qualify into being the lead of his own play he chose before the final period of the school year. He missed out by doing the right thing but at this point he made a difference and he rekindled the relationship between his best friend in his view and Heather.

"Mr. Zara."

Jimmie looked around to see Ms. Darbus. Who was near the steps to the stage.

"First off I want to say congratulations on making a speech."

"I didn't write one Ms. Darbus."

"No, you didn't but I heard the entire motivational speech in the cafeteria, I was on my way to lunch myself until I ran near the Café, great speech and bonus points for improvising."

"Thanks, Ms. Darbus."

"What inspired you to make that speech?"

"Well, I guess you can say that a fellow Wildcat has a family who told me what to do between what is right and what is easy."

"If you keep that up Mr. Zara you will most definitely win the lead role."

"Thank you."

"The way I see it: you and Tiara Gold are the only two in the running for the lead role. Keep it up, Mr. Zara."

"I will Ms. Darbus."

It was a surprise to find out that Jimmie was blind auditioned. And that now he had to be more serious than ever if he were to win the lead role.

Two months after midterms, the three's curse was not broken, for the East High Wildcats did not win the championship this time around. With the basketball season gone, Jimmie was now more determined than ever focus on his goal. The theater group was in the school theater in which Ms. Darbus was giving an announcement.

"As you are all aware there are two students in the lead for the lead role for their play, Tiara Gold and Jimmie Zara. Before the third quarter is over, each student will be performing a short scene. Some of you could team up with other students some could use other people not in our class to help out the maximum is four people. There's still a chance that one of you could win this besides Jimmie and Tiara but with the way they want this those chances are slim for you guys so I would need a brilliant performance from all of you. You can do your scene either in class, at lunch, or after school. Good luck to all of you."

As the class left it was time for lunch and Tiara got to Jimmie.

"How is it that a blockhead like you could be close to me in lead?"

"Well. As you should know, Ms. Gold our theater isn't the only stage here in East high."

"Do you really think you have a career in the theater? When are you going to learn that people don't like you? Sure in basketball they do but not in theater."

"Let me see, last I checked I was huge during our freshman year's involvement of 'Senior Year.' And they seem to like me. However I'm not going to go further, I'm going to be a gentleman here. If all you see in me is the stereotypical dude who rather lift weights and play sports, then to tell you something Tiara: you are in for one huge surprise."

"Fine. I was trying to save you from the humility."

"How when you thought I'm a blockhead? If you was that concerned about me you would agree on me giving it my all instead of being so negative towards me."

"The only reason I'm negative towards you is because you don't belong in theater."

"Hey! Watch how you talk to my client like that." Jimmie looked back and saw Donnie walk up to them standing by his side. "Seriously you have no Idea what he's capable of."

"Actually I think I do. Skills that will turn him into a laughingstock as he becomes humiliated."

"Excuse me..."

"Donnie, I don't need you fighting my battles."

"Well you know what, Tiara. Let's let the school find out shall we?"

"Sure, it's your funeral."

Tiara left to go to lunch and Jimmie left to go to the rooftop. While he was walking. Donnie was behind him waiting for Jimmie to slow down but he didn't stop. But while they were heading up Heather was right behind them, when they got to the top they spoke up.

"Jimmie!" Donnie said. "Can we please talk?"

"Donnie thanks but I need to do this on my own okay? Besides you and Heather have each other. I need to prove that I can be a great actor."

"But Jimmie, you already did." Heather said. At that point Jimmie turned around and saw them.

"Look Jimmie, I'm sorry about saying those things about you not being my best friend anymore, but it was because the point that I lost Heather."

"Look let's just drop it all right because, it was me who should be apologizing. For the years we we're together, having each other's backs..."

"Yeah, I know I heard it all when you spoke to Heather again."

"Then you must understand this year will be the first year that I can do this on my own."

"Jimmie, all this time we've been covering for each other, you needed my help, and I needed your help. And throughout it all we never did this kind of thing because we didn't ask each other."

"Ask each other about what?"

"I think Donnie and now as well as I are saying, we want to help you."

"Thanks, but Coach Bolton told me that you have prepared me Donnie if I were to do things alone."

"But Troy was never alone. And I don't want you to be." Donnie said.

"We're you true to your word of believing in the power of teamwork?" Heather asked.

"Yes and I meant it." Jimmie replied.

"Jimmie, I always knew you could hold your own. Even though I've had you prepared for this I knew you could hold your own, but we still are in this together."

"Will you please let us help?" Heather asked nicely. Jimmie has given it much needed thought, but after a while he looked at them and only smiled after.

"Okay, You two can help."

Soon The three got into a group hug and Jimmie and Donnie did their handshake. And they we're on their way back.

"But Heather, I just noticed; aren't you still Tiara's assistant?" Jimmie asked.

"You know she'll put you in a firing position." Donnie added

"Please, after seeing Tiara's true colors I plan on quitting. Although I'm not a quitter I would much rather have her fire me."

"Why let her fire you? Quitting the job would save you the humiliation. Of being fired."

"That's understandable but at this point all I'm listening for are the words 'you're fired.' Because they won't know what they will have until they lost it."

"That is true." Jimmie said agreeing.

When they got back to their class, Ms. Darbus informed Heather that She will be performing with Tiara and not with Jimmie and Donnie.

"Ms. Darbus, me, Donnie, and Heather we're going to tell you that we're teaming up."

"Sorry, Mr. Zara and Mr. Dion but it was first come first served. Ms. Gold mentioned that she was determined to team up with Ms. Clark. Had you told me earlier I would have teamed all of you up."

"So she can't team with us for extra credit?" Donnie asked.

"Since this is to see who will have lead role in our final play of the year unfortunately not. I'm sorry Mr. Dion."

Jimmie looked at Tiara who had a wicked smirk on her face. She waved to them seductively for a chance to make Jimmie angry. During the time in the theater room Tiara and Heather made a scene whereas Tiara was going to give Heather a lecture before firing her.

"... Just how can I be great in like with you messing up my plans? Through the time we've met you have been nothing, useless! Your work is sloppy, not to mention how you couldn't do a single thing right!" Tiara said.

"But I was doing all I can!" Heather yelled.

"You was doing all you can?! Well all you did was not enough. With that your fired!" Heather was shocked for Tiara to tell her that. But unbeknownst to Tiara, Heather took her seriously as if she fired her for real. "Get your things and get out!"

Heather grabbed a few props and left before turning back to Tiara to respond.

"You know, 'boss' your company and future deals and plans will fail, because you are ungrateful, selfish, greedy, delusional, self centered, and manipulative. If you took the time to appriciate the work that your employees have done and credited them, your business wouldn't be failing. Anyways' thank you for firing me. I know I'll make my mark somewhere else. But just know when I finally come to rise, when you finally fall, you'll wish you wasn't so evil."

"Please my employees are nothing more than my servants."

"Well good riddance!"

Heather left the stage and that was it for their scene. The class applaud them both.

"Brava! Excellent work for the both of you. Now is there anyone else who would like to do a scene?" Ms Darbus asked. And Jimmie stood up.

"I would Ms. Darbus."

"Okay. Then you and Mr. Dion get to the stage."

Jimmie and Donnie got to the stage and did their scene. Their scene was Jimmie who feels as if the entire world is against him and Donnie wanting to join him.

"So how about you mister? I know you know how everybody looked at me like I ruined this world for everybody. All I wanted was to make this world a better place. But no matter what I do, they look at me like I'm ruining it!"

"Well that is their fault they just don't know that you are trying to do what is easy for everybody."

"Maybe that's the thing, I'm sick and tired of doing things the easy way, it's time that I've done right. And if they are going to hate me after, then I'll just be an exile."

"I understand. Because you know; these people should give you a chance to show that you meant no harm. And if they don't approve your contribution then I'll join you in exile."

"You truly are a good friend, but I cannot be responsible for you giving everything up for me. Live your life they way you want to. And keep holding everything you have dearly. This is something I have to do myself."

"All right. But know this: should this world look at you like an outsider, then I will speak out to the world and explain everything to my wife about my action before joining you. When I first met you, you came here with a noble cause and if people can't accept nobility. Then they will miss out."

"Never have I had a close friend who cares so much about me."

"No matter what, We're in this together."

"Thank you."

"Now do what you think is right."

And with that Jimmie left the stage and the scene ended the class cheered as well for them. As they sat down they saw a few other students do their part.

"How do you think we did?" Jimmie asked.

"I think we did well enough." Donnie replied. "We won't know until the beginning of the fourth period."

"I just hope we did well enough. Which reminds me, I got to choose a play one in which everybody could join."

"Don't count your chickens yet Jimmie."

"What's wrong with being prepared If I do get lead?"

"Let's just see what the period brings first okay?"

"Sure."

They did their secret handshake and class has ended as well as school, Jimmie and Donnie had left along with Heather. In which she told them about how she let Tiara blindly fire her hoping on the fact that when the period comes and Tiara shows her true colors Heather would save her the trouble.

April

Fourth period was here and they all were at the door to Ms. Darbus' room, three minutes was not up as Jimmie, Heather, and Donnie talked until Tiara interrupted them.

"Heather I just wanted you to know that if you haven't got the clue already... As to why I didn't need you..."

"Let me guess. You're firing me?"

"Yes. Nothing personal, I didn't want you to perform with them just so I can sabotage Jimmie. Like all wanderers you outlived..."

"Save it, Tiara." Heather said stopping Tiara. "Somehow I knew you would fire me after you needed me. I could have tanked our scene but it would have affected me as well. Which is why, when you told me that I was fired in our scene, I took it as you fired me for real. So thanks for the experience of letting me be your assistant. It really helped me out with my upcoming dream.

"Of becoming somebody's secretary? That's a dead end job if you ask me."

"Well hey, if her boyfriend like that..." Donnie said as he wrapped his arm around Heather's waist.

"Then I have no problem with it." Heather kissed Donnie on the cheek and they went inside Jimmie just looked at Tiara before heading in. During the class Ms. Darbus was getting ready to announce the winner.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of all of you, I want to thank you for giving it your all in this it has made all of you the people and stars that you are today. So with that in mind when I announce the winner there should be no hard feelings. The winner will be the lead of a play he or she chooses which will be for our final in the school year." Tiara looked confident as she will get the part Jimmie just looked at everybody and had focused on how had he worked.

"This winner showed excellent performance here in the entire school, and this outstanding individual thought outside the box, I congratulate this thespian's amazing creativity, so with that... Jimmie Zara..." Jimmie looked at Ms. Darbus. "Congratulations! You have won the lead of your own choice play!"

Everybody congratulated Jimmie on his lead role in a play. When school was over, Jimmie, Donnie, and Heather went to celebrate. They noticed a woman walking into Ms. Darbus' room. Upon eavesdropping they found out that the woman was Tiara's mom, and that she came to pick up Tiara. However at the time, Tiara was not in the class. Jimmie, Donnie, and Heather listened on.

"My daughter told me that she didn't get the lead role." Tiara's mom said.

"That is correct another student put more time and effort in his works to earn that kind of a role."

"Oh, okay that was understandable."

"Mrs. Gold has Tiara had trouble in the past?"

"You might say she did. Back in London, she loved theater so much that acting was her greatest passion, she idolizes every London female legend. Before she graduated middle school she volunteered for a bunch of plays. However one of her ultimate dreams before she graduated high school, was to play a lead role in her school."

"Did she get a lead role?"

"She did. But a jealous young woman who was her understudy gave my daughter an accident and didn't come clean until the play was completely over. My daughter became devastated. And ever since then she developed a manipulating personality because she figure if it was easy for someone to get a lead role by doing that then why can't she. I hope she wasn't a trouble to this school, I heard of this school being an opportunity for her to excel."

"Of course. But tell me did Tiara had any friends back in London?"

"Not real friends. She felt like if she wanted to accomplish something she want to do it on her own without anybody's help."

The three just kept on listening, but somewhere they heard crying and kind of wondered if it was Tiara who was crying. Jimmie walked in on them.

"Ms. Darbus I hear someone crying."

"Okay well I'll see who it is. Thank you Mr. Zara."

Jimmie and everybody had left out not wanting to hear no more after that. The next day Ms. Darbus asked Jimmie for a favor to choose a play which has a female lead role as well. Now of course Tiara would have to earn it, but Jimmie wanted to make sure she earned it the right way this time. It took a while because she didn't feel like being a part of a play where Jimmie was a lead role. When the auditions came and she tried out, she got the part and it was fair and square to Tiara one of her ultimate dreams came true. When the finals was over Everybody left to go home and was ready for school year to finish As Jimmie was leaving to go home he was stopped by Tiara.

"Wait."

"Yes, Tiara?

"I know that you chose that play. Yet coincidentally it's my favorite play as well. But did you choose that play to feel sorry for me that I didn't win the lead role?"

"No, although I did hear about your past incidents within theater, that's not why I did it."

"Then why?"

"Because I wanted you to earn that role the way you earned your last role before you changed."

"How did you know?"

"I'm not the dumb surfer stereotype you think I am. I have my bad boy moments and of course I'm a improving gentleman."

"And yet you showed that by letting me earn the lead role."

"I'm sorry to hear what happened to you in the past if anything the one that have stole your lead role, couldn't have been greater than you were."

"You think so?"

"Matter of fact, I'll assume years from now, she probably won't be as great or in the acting business anymore."

Tiara and Jimmie laughed for a bit then they both had a moment of silence looking at each other before one of them spoke up.

"Look Tiara, can we start all over, as friends?"

"That is very gentleman like of you to ask that. I'm very sorry for how cruel I've treated you and your friends."

"Well of course it's not too late to apologize although you did hurt other people's feelings too by..."

"I know. I'm truly sorry."

"Look. Just know you're not alone. You have friends. Real friends."

"Real friends."

"Real friends stick by you. Real friends don't bring you down with them when they're in trouble. Real friends support you. But most of all, real friends care for each other."

"You care about me? After all I've done to you?"

"It just goes to show that if, time and opportunity willing, you give me a chance, I can be a good boyfriend, one who's supportive, and caring."

"As much as I would love to I'm afraid it won't last, due to me being an exchange student."

"Well then I should at least make our time together a memorable one."

"All right Jimmie, I'll give you that chance."

And with that the two left the school to go home. Days when they were only there was to finish the school year. Tiara was able to apologize to some people but not to the seniors who already graduated. They were sure by now that some of them were to change their mind during college.

And during the summer, they all worked at Lava Springs again and made it as a group effort to win the Star Dazzle award