Grease is the Word
So I've had a few asks to do a Holly and Jason story, so here you go. And what better way to do that, then with a cliché high school drama performance!
"And the school play for this Christmas is going to be the ever popular musical, Grease!" Mr Blake announced at the end of the 'beginning of the year assembly'. Groups of teens began widely chattering (mainly the drama fanatics) as Patrick tried to hush them all.
When they eventually did he smiled, looking down at his notes once more before looking back to his students. "That is all for now. Everyone have a good school year, for a lot of you it will be the most important year in your life and I want to wish everyone the best of luck. Now if you head to your first lessons."
The teens all grumbled lightly, though began filing out of the hall, still talking about the new musical. In previous years, the students of Hollyoaks High had performed boring and safe plays, which didn't capture anyone's attention and as such only got the bare minimum of performers needed. Patrick sorely hoped that his risk of choosing a well known but risqué musical would pay off. The students were definitely excited about it.
"Are you sure about this?" Mr Lomax, the school's new performing arts teacher asked.
"I'm never sure about anything Danny," Patrick replied as he watched the students leave the hall. "But life is all about risks and why not start with the school play? Grease is a widely popular musical and everyone knows it."
"It's just... I've been talking to the other teachers and the school has never had a lot of luck with getting a large number of students to sign up before and Grease is going to need a large cast."
"It will be fine," Patrick promised before he left the hall, leaving behind an extremely worried drama teacher behind. He sure hoped so.
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The sign up sheet was pinned up on the school's notice board at break-time that day, and just as Patrick had predicated, dozens of names had already been written up. Including Holly Cunningham's.
"I just don't get why you've signed up." Her close friend Jade said snidely. "The school play is full of losers, why are you putting yourself through that?"
"I like performing," Holly replied simply. And it was true. In her old boarding school she had always signed up for the plays, loving the thrill she got from being on stage. Through the years, as she got older, her roles always got bigger and she'd had a number of solos in the last play she'd taken part in. This year, she was desperate to get the lead. "And I look like Sandy so it's pretty much clear I'll get her role."
"Right," Jade snorted. "You're a year eleven love, the sixth formers always get priority roles, always have done. And the school don't exactly care if you look the part or not. You should have seen who played Jasmine in Aladdin last year."
Rolling her eyes at her friend, Holly made her way to Maths, already planning her audition song.
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"This is just pathetic," Jason groaned, looking down at his woefully empty CV. "I'll never get into my first choice university if I don't get more things on here." His tutor, Mr McQueen, picked up the slip of paper and read through it.
"Your grades are all fantastic, but I admit it does need a bit more fleshing out." John Paul had started off his first tutor session of the year by promising to help all his students out with whatever they needed. Whether that be personal problems or help with moving on from the school at the end of the year.
That included writing letters of recommendation and helping the kids with their CV's and personal statements. No-one could say that he wasn't passionate about his job.
This was the reason why Jason found himself in the English classroom as he desperately tried to think of more things to add to his own CV. "Is there anything I can do this year that will help?"
"Well you already have a job so that aspect is covered," John-Paul mused, trying to think of something that would help his panicking student. "You could always audition for the play?"
Jason let out a short bark of laughter before he realised that his teacher was completely serious. "Uh no way. I don't do things like that, crippling stage fright."
"It's the only thing that the school offers for your age group," John Paul said regrettably. "Although there are a number of clubs, they are directed at the lower years. And there's no harm in auditioning surely."
Jason sighed, trying to think of anything else that would mean he wouldn't have to do the play. He knew he had a decent enough voice, but the thought of making a prat out of himself in front of the school was something he was not looking forward to.
"Fine," he sighed, glaring at John-Paul's triumphant look, when he realised there was nothing else he could go for.
He gathered his books as he made his way to the notice board, scribbling his name down on the already full sheet. A lot of people had signed up, he probably wouldn't even get a part. Right?
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Auditions were held a week later, and as the final bell rung, a noticeable percentage of the student population didn't pass the school gates, instead making their way to the assembly hall, which also contained the stage.
"Hello everyone," Danny begun when everyone had found a seat. He was pleasantly surprised by the turnout and hoped it would mean the play would be a success. "When I call your name I want you to come up here to the stage, tell me the part you'll be going for and what song you'll be auditioning with. Once you've auditioned feel free to leave, though no-one will make you.
"However, if you cause any sort of disturbance or mock anyone for their audition then I will eject you and your audition will be counted as void, meaning your potential place in the musical will be cut. Am I understood?"
The various pupils all nodded, looking slightly nervous at the prospect of having to perform in front of their peers. It was a good exercise though and why Danny had chosen it. If they couldn't handle auditioning in front a few extra people, then they wouldn't be able to cope performing when the place was packed.
It instantly cut out a few people from the process and made his job that bit easier. "Well let's get started." he said, calling out the first name and watched as a nervous year nine made her way onto the stage.
Overall the audition process went very smoothly, a few people had frozen on stage, whilst some others were completely tone deaf, but there had been others who were absolutely fantastic. Halfway through, Danny was pretty sure he had found his leads in two talented sixth formers.
"Holly Cunningham," he called, watching as the petite blonde bounced up the stairs and Jason felt like crying as he watched her. If performing in front a load of people wasn't going to be bad enough, he would now have to do it in front of Holly herself.
He didn't even think this was her sort of thing and he could only hope that he didn't make a fool in front of her. Or that she simply decided to leave once she was done, though it wasn't looking likely. The majority of people had stayed on after the auditions and Jason knew it would be just his luck that Holly would do the same thing.
"I'm going to be auditioning for the role of Sandy," she said clearly, ignoring the sniggers from the upperclassmen who weren't impressed that she was going for the lead. "And I'll be singing Taylor Swift's, Love Story."
As she sang softly into the microphone Jason was captivated. Her vocals were sweet though there was hidden strength present too. He'd be really surprised if she didn't get her part, younger student or not. All too soon she'd finished and was making her way off the stage, smiling and laughing as her friends congratulated her.
But Jason couldn't focus on the interactions in front of him as Danny read his name out next.
Swallowing down his nerves, he made his way to the stage though he couldn't help the sick feeling that rose as he saw the number of people watching him intently, one of those being Holly, a look of amusement written all over her face.
"Urmm I'm auditioning for Kenickie," he started, refusing to look anywhere but at Mr Lomax who shot him a reassuring smile, obviously sensing his nerves. "And I'll be singing Sia's Titanium."
"Interesting choice. Good luck," Danny said, already making notes on his papers. Taking a deep breath, Jason began singing, getting lost in the music as the meagre audience melted away. His confidence only soared as the song continued and all too soon it was over.
"Thank you Jason," Danny said, a genuine smile on his face. Jason nodded, rushing off the stage as his nerves came back in full force. Unlike the majority of people he quickly left the hall, completely missing the way his peers looked utterly impressed.
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A week later, the castings were released and everyone who had auditioned went rushing to the listings. Many of them left looking disappointed when they saw they didn't get the part they wanted and were instead given much smaller roles, or even none at all.
One of those people was Holly. The year thirteen that Danny had instantly seen as Sandy had been chosen much to the blonde's annoyance.
"Told ya," Jade said shrugging, still reading through the listings. "You still got a big part though," pointing at Holly's name.
"Rizzo," she smiled. The character was a good one and would be great fun to play. "Wait, who's Kenickie?" She quickly found the part, rolling her eyes as she saw the accompanying name. "Just great."
Just down the hall, Jason was hanging back, his nerves obvious for everyone to see. "Just go," Robbie told him, oblivious to how he was feeling. "You'll have obviously got a part."
"You don't know that," Jason snapped back.
"Uh yeah I do. You're great at singing Jase, Lomax would be stupid not to put you up." Robbie replied, pushing Jason forward. Glaring at his twin, Jason steeled himself and made his way to the listing.
He found his name quickly and couldn't help but laugh in relief. "I got it," he called over to Robbie who ran over to him. "I got Kenickie!"
"Course you did mate," Robbie said, laughing at his twin's dramatics. "Who got Rizzo?"
"Holly," Jason breathed when he found her name.
"Ey ey," Robbie laughed again. "All your Christmases have come at once."
"Oh shut up." Jason said softly, not believing his luck.
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The first audition was a quiet affair as Danny handed out the scripts and talked them through his 'vision' for the play. He quickly paired up all the couples and got them reading out their scenes together, desperate to see if they had the needed chemistry to make the play a success.
Before Holly and Jason could start, Holly stared him down. "Look, I know you have this obsessive crush on me, but you better not start acting freaky. I need to show Sir I can do this if I want to get the lead next year and you are not ruining this for me. This is not a crappy rom-com and just because we have a kissing scene doesn't mean I'm going to fall madly in love with you. Am I clear?"
"Crystal." Jason snapped, bristling at the tone the younger girl used on him. He was there not because he wanted to be, but because he needed to be to get to a good university.
He didn't need the experience to be ruined further because the girl he was acting with was going to be the biggest bitch going. Mad crush on her or not.
Shocked at Jason's hostility, Holly nodded, picking up her script, reading her line as Jason said his back to her. This continued for a few more minutes until Danny made his way round to the pair.
"Woah guys," he said, effectively interrupting them. "What is this?"
"Us reading out our lines," Jason deadpanned, causing Holly to smile, surprised by his sarcasm.
"Yes it is," their teacher agreed with them, though he didn't sound impressed. "But where's the chemistry? The lust? The spark between Rizzo and Kenickie that everyone loves so much?"
"Oh no sir, Holly doesn't do that," Jason said before Holly could even open her mouth. "She thinks so much of herself that if either us show any sort of emotion, I'll fall madly in love with her."
"I never said that," Holly gasped, speechless by what the usually meek boy had just said. "You're twisting what I said, just because I didn't want-"
"Oh please," Jason interrupted, much to the amusement of Danny. "You're just so up your own-"
"How dare you," Holly spat, effectively interrupting the older boy once more.
"And that is what I'm talking about," Danny said loudly, before either of them could do or say anything they'd regret. "There's that passion I want. Now, if you could just put it to the script." He looked pointedly at them, until they began reciting their lines once more.
Even they could see the improvement, the 'spark' that Danny had been talking about was there. The lines heavy with innuendo now as they flirted easily, trying to outdo the other, continuing even when the teacher was out of earshot. The rest of rehearsal went by smoothly and the next forty minutes passed by in a blur until Danny called everyone back together.
"That was brilliant guys," he said honestly. "And now that we've sorted out everyone's chemistry," at this he looked pointedly at Jason and Holly, "I think I know I was right in casting everyone. Next rehearsal is on Monday and we're going to start working on the dance routines. They will undoubtedly be the hardest thing to figure out, so we're going to spend three of the four rehearsals working on those, whilst every Thursday afternoon will be solely focused on running through scenes."
The cast all smiled, buzzing for the next practice as they began packing up. Jason watched as Holly left the classroom with a friend and couldn't help but smile. This year sure would be interesting.
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For the next few weeks rehearsals went smoothly. Dance moves were perfected, songs were learnt and lines were not just spoken, but acted. Danny was becoming more and more confident that the play would be a success as all the cast were working better with each other with every passing day.
This also rung true for Jason and Holly. The need for them to be with each other so much, meant that they learnt a lot about the other and what they found out, they liked.
Jason had realised that his suspicions about the blonde had been right, that whilst she was frosty and seemed like a bitch to many people, there were hidden depths to her and she wasn't a bimbo that the majority viewed her as. There was a warmth to her too, and once you'd uncovered it, it never left.
What Holly had learnt about Jason had been completely surprising for her. She had originally viewed him as incredibly meek and someone who would never stick up for themselves due to lack of backbone.
But as she got to know him, she realised that couldn't be further from the truth. He had a very sharp sense of humour and many times she had been left gasping for air as she tried to control the laughter that shook through her. And as for never sticking up for something he believed in, well she was proven wrong a month into rehearsals.
Bobby Walters was probably one of the most... unpleasant people in the school and Holly would never know how he had managed to wrangle himself a role in the play (despite how small it was). He had always made her skin crawl, even though Jade was besotted by him and the pair had been dating for the past few months. Had been, being the correct phrase.
He'd been caught with another girl at a house party the previous weekend, leading to Jade very publicly dumping him only days later. Safe to say Bobby had been furious and was a ball of angry energy throughout the day, snapping at everyone, just itching for a fight. His terrible mood had cast a dark cloud over rehearsals and he had spent the majority of his time glaring at Holly, no doubt for simply being friends with his ex.
When Mr Lomax had left the room in search of sheet music, Bobby had instantly sprung up, sauntering over to Holly who had frozen. "I bet you're loving this Cunningham," he snarled. "You've never liked me, always shooting me these little looks like you're all that. Yeah, well you're not."
"Bobby," Jason had said flatly from beside her, the warning in his tone obvious for all.
"Oh, isn't that cute. Got your little lapdog to fight me have you?" Jason's cheeks flushed an impressive red and Bobby turned back to Holly. "You're just a teasing little bitch. You all are, promising guys all that and then never putting out."
"Hey!" Jason snapped, standing up suddenly and blocking Holly from sight. "Don't talk to her like that."
"And what are you going to do? You're just pathetic Roscoe, trailing after her and begging for her to notice. You're not man enough for her,"
"And you are?" Jason snarled, ignoring Holly's pleas for him to sit down.
"I don't think anyone's man enough for a little slut like her,"
"Mr Walters!" Danny yelled, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Detention for the next two weeks for using that language. And if it's not already clear, you're out of the play."
"Fine," Bobby snapped, grabbing his bag and pushing roughly past the teacher, leaving a heavy silence in the classroom. Holly's breathing was shallow and she tried not to jump as Jason sat closely next to her.
"Are you okay?" he asked, noting her panicked look. She nodded, not trusting herself to speak, though Jason didn't let her out of his sight for the rest of rehearsal.
It had been nice, she'd never had anyone stick up for her like Jason had and she couldn't help but change her opinion on him. After that she couldn't help but notice other things about the older boy. His kind nature, the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, the way he fiddled with his sleeves when he was nervous.
With a month left to go till the first performance, Holly had to admit it to herself. She was falling for Jason Roscoe.
"So today we're going to do the scene where Rizzo and Kenickie are interrupted in the car park by Leo and Cha-Cha who then challenge them to the car race," Danny said, starting off that evening's rehearsal.
Holly and Jason exchanged a nervous look as they realised what their teacher was also implying. Today would be the first time they did their kissing scene, and whilst they had read through the scene a fair few times, they had never acted it out, and both were feeling incredibly nervous for obvious reasons.
They hopped up onto the stage and begun the scene, flirting furiously with one another before they leant in. As soon as their lips touched, the rest of the world melted away. They forgot that they were surrounded by a dozen or so of their peers, getting lost in the motions until Danny loudly cleared his throat. The pair sprung apart, blushing furiously as the others laughed loudly.
"If we could continue with the rest of the scene?" Both Jason and Holly nodded sharply, trying to get through their lines as well as they could, though both were solely focused on what had happened just moments before. Oddly enough, Danny didn't ask them to redo the scene, choosing instead to skip to a much 'safer' part of the play, where there was no kissing involved.
The last thirty minutes was a blur for Holly as she tried to think of what to do next. She had been suspicious of her feelings for the youngest Roscoe for a while now and that kiss had confirmed that she did have genuine feelings for him. She'd have to tell him, it was only fair. And maybe (hopefully), he'd still like her could see it now, he'd be the perfect boyfriend and her hands were clammy just thinking about it.
But as she turned to Jason at the end of rehearsal, he was no-where to be seen. Whirling around, she saw him slip out of the door and she pushed past the rest of the cast in hope to reach him. Everywhere she went, Jason was always out of earshot, always turning around the next corner, unaware that Holly was desperately chasing after him. It was like a sick game of cat and mouse and when she reached the school gates, he was no-where to be seen.
Telling herself that she could talk to him tomorrow, she turned back to the school, having left her bag in the drama classroom.
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But Jason wasn't in school the next day. Or the next. On the third day, Holly spotted him in the canteen, but by the time she'd reached his table, he'd disappeared once more. She sighed and quickly left in hopes to see him again, not noticing the odd look Robbie was giving her. Holly had pinned it all down to coincidence, that they were missing each other due to bad luck, though that all changed in that night's rehearsal.
When he appeared in the drama room that evening, he walked straight past Holly and his usual seat, choosing to sit with some guys in his year. When she shot him a questioning look, he turned to Danny and didn't look her way for the rest of the lesson.
That was when it hit Holly, they hadn't been missing each other, Jason had been purposefully ignoring her. But why? They'd been fine, no better than fine, they'd been great. Until the kiss. Realisation struck as Holly figured out she was too late. Jason had been crushing on her for months, but when she finally admitted to herself that she felt the same way (and was brave enough to do something about it), he was no longer interested.
She wanted to laugh and cry at the irony of the situation. She was too late, she'd missed her chance to be with the one person that could make her comfortable in her own skin. She'd never been so thankful that her and Jason weren't doing any scenes together that night.
This pattern continued for a few more weeks, Holly and Jason not even interacting unless they were rehearsing a scene together. No-one had noticed that anything was wrong, their chemistry on stage was still as brilliant as it had been before, and it made Holly want to cry even more at all the possibilities that were now impossible.
They hadn't done the kissing scene again (though they had done everything around it) and for that Holly was thankful. She didn't think she'd be able to cope, knowing that she had something so right, so magical and knowing it wasn't real and never would be.
"So we're performing next week and you've all been amazing guys," Danny said, truly proud of all his students and what they had achieved in just a few short months. "There's just one scene that needs a little work and that's Sandy and Danny's first date. So if we just go and run through that a few times."
Everyone positioned themselves, beginning effortlessly when Mr Lomax motioned for them to do so. The first part of the scene was easy enough, Holly noted. All she had to do was flirt with Jason, she could do that, she'd been doing that for months now. The rest was harder though. Arguing was difficult, unlike the flirting she couldn't throw herself into the scene, scared she'd lose control and start demanding answers from him.
Unfortunately Danny had also noticed that she wasn't putting her all into it (and surprisingly commented on Jason's unwillingness to be there too). He got everyone else to get off stage, only leaving the pair, instructing them to do the scene again. Danny read out all the other lines, as both Holly and Jason recited theirs, nerves growing as they got ever closer to their character's arguments.
It would be different to all the other rehearsals, they could both feel the electricity crackling between them as they spoke, and they knew that whatever happened would be explosive.
"Oh great, I've been stuck with the check again," Jason groaned, rolling his eyes exaggeratedly."What is with you tonight Rizz? You've got the personality of a wet mop."
"Don't start with me. Not when this is all your fault in the first place." Holly snapped, wincing as she broke character. Half of that wasn't in the script, and whilst it wasn't far from what Rizzo would have been feeling (if she had been real that is), it definitely hadn't been scripted.
The extra part from her had startled Jason and he paused as he tried to get back into character, mentally making sure his response would still make sense. But his pause was just a bit too long, and Holly's anger bubbled up once more. As he opened his mouth, she beat him to the punch.
"Don't you dare start on me. What the hell have I done to deserve the way you've been treating me for the last few weeks hey? You've been completely ignoring me and I've got no clue why, what the hell have I done? I thought we were good, I thought we were friends."
"And that's just it," Jason exploded, Danny's head banging on the desk as the whole situation lost control. "We're just friends. You wanted to know why I've been ignoring you? It's because it hurts too much otherwise. I thought it would be easier, to leave you alone instead of being publicly rejected once again."
"What?" Holly breathed, shocked to the core. "I'd never do that."
"Is that right? So am I mistaken when I remember you calling me a freak and obsessive?" The rest of the hall gasped, fully enjoying the current turn of events.
Before Holly could respond, Danny ran onto stage, effectively splitting them up. "I think you two are done. How about you go, cool off and sort out whatever the hell is going on." Holly and Jason glared at one another, before making their way out of the hall. An awkward silence blanketed them, and they simply stared at one another uneasily.
"I don't think you're a freak," Holly began slowly. "I never did."
"Huh, could of fooled me."
"And why are we acting like I'm in the wrong for something I said months ago? We moved past that, we were friends. You've been the one ignoring me Jason, I just want to know why."
"Because I still like you!" he practically shouted, shocking Holly into silence.
"What?" she asked dumbly, not daring to believe what she was hearing. Did... did she still have a chance?
"I still like you," Jason repeated himself, looking like it physically pained him to do so. "And I thought I had gotten over it or that I could get over it, but when we kissed I just..."
"Felt something." Holly whispered, fighting hard to control her smile. "Oh my God, we're so stupid." she laughed, as she realised their whole argument was down to a simple miscommunication.
"What?" Jason asked, his confusion clear.
"On the day that we did that kissing scene I tried to find you after rehearsal."
"Yeah?"
"Uhuh," Holly nodded, taking a deep breath as she prepared herself to say something that had been on her mind for the past few weeks. "I had felt something between us before then, but when we kissed I knew."
"That you knew what?" But he was smiling and Holly knew that Jason knew what she was implying.
"That I liked you," she said, blushing lightly. Jason's smile only grew as he walked over to Holly, taking her hands in his. They stared at each for a moment before they leaned in for another kiss, even more magical than the first one had been.
Holly vaguely realised that her life was becoming just like a crappy rom-com that she promised herself it would never do, but she couldn't bring herself to care as she lost herself completely in the kiss.
"If you two are done," their drama teacher's voice once again interrupted them. Turning they couldn't control their laughter as he was blocked by the door, obviously having walked in on them. "I'd really like to get rehearsing again." Still laughing the young couple walked into the assembly hall, hands entwined.
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"I can't do this," Jason panicked. It was a week later and the night of the first performance. The hall was packed as families and friends alike eagerly waited for the play to start.
"Calm down Jase," Holly tried to sooth her boyfriend, though he paid her no mind. Although they had been only dating for a week their relationship was going well and getting stronger by the day. "Jason, just look at me. Look at me!" Finally Jason turned, though the panic was still there.
"I can't do this Hols, God why did I even audition?"
"Because you're amazing and you've got one hell of a voice," Holly told him sternly though it didn't seem to have gone in, as he only paled when Mr Blake began welcoming everyone in and going through the fire drill.
"Oh for the love of-" Holly sighed, pulling her boyfriend (and she still hadn't gotten used to saying that) into a searing kiss. "Better?" she asked, when they pulled away.
"Uhuh," Jason nodded dumbly.
"Good and now I need to redo my lipstick." She smiled, pulling Jason into a tight hug. "You'll be fine, I promise. See you on a stage," and with a wink Holly left Jason, venturing further backstage, feeling his gaze on her until she turned around the corner.
How had she gotten so lucky? She couldn't help but wonder as she reapplied her make-up, quickly running back to the wings when she was done and catching Jason's eye as she went.
"Break a leg," he mouthed from the other side of the stage.
"You too," she replied, smiling as she stepped onto stage and into the role. Maybe being the lead wasn't all that, after all.
Aww, so much fluff! Hopefully everyone enjoyed reading this as I did writing it!
Next Story – Frindsey, we finally get some Freddie and Lindsey! Though it's not exactly smooth sailing.