HUGE shoutout to Pumking king5 and my good IRL friend The Princess of Books for reviewing. You guys keep me going! Also thanks to you who are favouriting and following the story! I love getting reviews and I know how many who are reading so is it possible to get a couple of more reviews/opinions on the story? I know alot from last chapter was directly quoted from the movie but it fitted. I don't own anything related to Disney or High School Musical. The only thing I own is Etrea and things acociated with that. Enjoy!
Friday 21st of September
The next morning a loud scream could be heard all over East High. "Call-backs!" Sharpay yelled frantically. "Aah!" she screamed.
"Callbacks for roles Arnold and Minnie next Thursday, 3:50 PM," Ryan started reading. Sharpay and Ryan Evans, Gabriella Montez and Troy Bolton," Ryan read out.
"Is this some kind of joke? They didn't even audition!" she exclaimed.
"Maybe we're being punked?" Ryan asked.
"What?" Sharpay questioned frowning.
"Maybe we're being filmed right now. Maybe we'll get to meet Ashton!" Ryan said shaking his sister's hand.
"Oh, shut up, Ryan!" Sharpay replied angrily. The basketball team who was listening laughed.
"What's wrong?" Chad asked reading the pink paper.
"What?" Chad questioned looking at Ryan then back at the paper.
"Uhh!" Sharpay said stomping away before Chad too walked away from the group.
Chad found Troy in the gym during one of their breaks. "Hey hoops," Chad said and got his friends attention. "Hi," Troy said taking the ball as it re-bounced to him.
"So did you hear the ice princess this morning?" Chad questioned.
"No? Was I supposed to?" he questioned passing the ball to Chad.
"I don't know. I suppose so," he said bouncing the ball before taking it again.
"What do you talk about?" Troy questioned.
"Minnie and Arnold," Chad said looking at his friend to judge his reaction.
"Oh that," he said getting the ball from Chad.
"Yeah that," Chad said. "I didn't know you could sing?" he asked.
"I don't do it that much really. It was a spur of the moment kind of thing," he tried to explain.
"So the fact that you sang with Gabriella didn't mean anything?" Chad clarified.
"No," Troy said trying to shoot but hit the backboard before the ball bounced back to him. Troy jogged off to retrieve it before walking back to his friend.
"The singing wasn't a spur of the moment but not planned either. I don't know how better to explain it," Troy said.
"Just a fair warning that the jocks aren't seen with the drama freaks," Chad told his friend.
"I told you Chad I don't know how it happened," he defended himself.
"Tell me then," Chad challenged.
Troy took a breath and told Chad about everything from when he said no to the basketball to him meeting Gabriella in the auditorium and then ending up in the callbacks.
"Wow," Chad said. "That's strange," he said. "Do you even want to?" he questioned.
"The strange thing is that I think I do," "I mean if we get the part," he added and Chad nodded.
"So you remember what is happening next Friday?" Chad questioned.
"Of course. The game against North high," Troy said. "Got to keep your head in the game," Troy stated making Chad laugh.
"Now come on'," Chad said stealing the ball from Troy and the two boys started messing around playing just for fun.
After homeroom that Friday Troy and Gabriella walked out of there and put their stuff in the lockers grabbing their Spanish books. Their friends had been thrilled when they told them about their growing relationship earlier that day. The couple walked hand in hand towards Gabriella's house.
"I'm nervous to meet your mother," Troy said looking at her while they walked.
"It will be fine. You should get along great," Gabriella reassured her boyfriend. They reached her house and walked inside.
"Hello," Maria greeted coming out from the kitchen.
"Hi mom," Gabriella said giving her a hug. "Mom this is Troy. Troy this is my mother Maria," Gabriella introduced.
"It's so nice to meet you, Troy," Maria said shaking his hand.
"Likewise," Troy smiled.
"Gabriella told me you had a project going on, so I'm going to let you work on that," she said smiling at the two teens.
"Thanks, mom. We'll be up in my room," Gabriella said and Maria walked back into the kitchen. "Come on," Gabriella said taking his hand guiding him upstairs. "This is my room," she said opening the white door. Troy looked around her room. It was nothing like he had seen before. The rooms were medium sized and her walls were a green colour and filled with pictures of her friends and other memories. She had double French doors leading out to a small balcony. Her bed was a normal sized double bed with pillars that were draped with a soft cream coloured fabric. She also had a white desk and bookshelf. Her bookshelves were filled with different books and Troy recognised some of them as being Etrean authors.
"Do you read a lot?" he asked shifting his gaze from her bookshelf back to her.
"Yeah, my favourite book is this," she said handing him a blue book with golden letters. It was a nonfiction book named Stars of Magic by Maryl LaflammeTroy knew the author all too well. She was a friend of his family and she had written a book about the royal family when Troy was fourteen. Hopefully, Gabriella hadn't read that book.
"Have you heard about her?" she asked bringing him out of his thoughts.
"Yeah, I have," he said putting the book back on the shelf still looking at all her books.
"We should probably start our assignment," Gabriella said sitting down on the bed. Troy also sat down and they took out their Spanish books starting on their project.
An hour later Maria walked up the stairs but stopped when she heard laughter. It warmed her heart that someone could make her daughter so happy. When she walked to the door they were just sitting in bed with their books open laughing. "Troy, Gabriella, dinner is ready," she said.
"Thanks, mom. We'll be down in just a second," Gabriella said. "Honestly Troy? You need to strengthen your vocabulary," she smiled.
"I'm sorry," he smiled laughing too about his word choice.
"Come on," Gabriella said getting off the bed. Troy gave her a kiss before they walked downstairs. They sat down at the table and Maria put a dish on the table that Troy had never seen before.
"This is one of my favourite dishes. It is inspired by all the Mexicans living here in New Mexico. This is Stacked enchiladas with green chilli," Gabriella explained.
"I have never heard of this," Troy admitted curious about the food on the table.
"It is almost like tortilla you use for ataco, but already filled with meat and sauce," Gabriella explained trying to give him a better understanding of what it was.
"It smells amazing," Troy said as the smell was all around the kitchen.
"Digg in," Maria said putting the spoon in the dish.
"Gabriella told me you're not from here," Maria said while they ate.
"Yeah," Troy started not knowing how to approach this. "I'm from Etrea. My whole family is from there," Troy said not revealing much.
"What is it like?" Maria wondered curiously about his home country.
"It's wonderful. Very peaceful. There is this annual parade during the spring when the threes blossom. It is celebrated because we believe it will bring good luck for the country. The book you have Stars of Magic is inspired by the festival," Troy explained.
"It sounds like you know a lot," Maria said and Gabriella gave her mother a look.
"It's common knowledge for most Etrean people. They learn it at a young age," he said easily.
"It sounds like people in your country has a broad knowledge of culture and history," Maria stated.
"They do. Etrea is a fertile land with easy access to fresh fruit and vegetables, and has a special history and culture," he said hoping he hadn't said too much.
"I would love to visit it someday," Gabriella said sensing Troy's discomfort. "It sounds amazing," she continued.
"This was delicious Maria," Troy complimented.
"I'm glad you liked it, Troy," Maria smiled relieved.
"Do you need any help cleaning?" Troy offered once everyone was finished.
"No thank you, Troy," Maria said touched by his thoughtfulness. "Let's go upstairs and finish," Gabriella said and they once again walked back upstairs and continued on their project.
"My mom really likes you," Gabriella said once they sat down on the bed.
"I'm glad," Troy smiled. His phone started beeping and he looked at it before closing it. His girlfriend looked at him when he looked back up. "It was my mom," he explained.
"You can talk to her," Gabriella said nudging towards the phone that was beside him.
"She was probably wondering how it was here. I'll call her once I get home," he told her. "Ok. Then it was Spanish," Gabriella said and they continued to work.
At eight their project was done and they had been talking for the past half an hour.
"I think I should head home," Troy said and got up from the bed collecting his stuff.
"I'll see you at school," Gabriella said and gave her boyfriend a kiss on the lips. They walked downstairs and Troy said goodbye to Maria before walking home.
When Troy came home that day he called his mother. He had sent her a text earlier but he wanted to talk to her. "Hello mom," he said once she picked up.
"How was your day?" she asked her son.
"Great! It was fun seeing how it was like in a normal family, and Maria made the best enchiladas. It's like a tortilla with meat and cheese," he tried to explain to his mother.
"That sounds good," she said and Troy could hear the smile in her voice.
Monday 24th of September
On Monday before school started Gabriella meet Kelsi to practise for their callbacks the following Thursday. "You sound great!" Kelsi exclaimed after they had sung through he song.
"I don't know," Gabriella said doubtfully looking at her classmate.
"I'm sure Gabriella trust me. You and Troy will get the part!" Kelsi said.
"I'm just happy it's on Thursday," Gabriella said relieved.
"Oh?" Kelsi questioned not getting what she meant. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"The declaration team has a match on Friday. We need to pass this to qualify to compete for a chance in the finals. Besides the basketball team has the championship game that day," Gabriella explained.
"I'm sure everything will work out. But probably shouldn't mention it to Sharpay," Kelsi said smiling a little.
"Yeah," Gabriella agreed nodding.
"Now what do you say to go through it once more?" Kelsi asked and they continued to rehearse.
After school, Gabriella and Taylor had a meeting with the declaration team preparing for the upcoming contest while Troy rehearsed with Kelsi. When Wednesday came around Kelsi sat behind the piano in the auditorium during lunch.
"Ms Darbus the callbacks are on Thursday, but as the president of the drama club, I think it would be best if we moved it to Friday," Sharpay said not noticing the pianist behind the piano.
"Are you sure?" Darbus questioned uncertainly.
"Of course. I would only do what is best for the drama department," Sharpay said determined with a fake smile.
"Of course you would Miss Evans," Darbus said.
"Fabulous," she smiled walking off. Kelsi dropped her pencil and dunked her head on the piano.
On Thursday morning she stood in front of the information board at East high.
"What is going on?" Troy asked once he saw Kelsi there. "The callbacks are at the same time as the game?" he asked shocked.
"And the declaration competition?" Gabriella added upset.
"What did Darbus do," Chad said angrily.
"Well there was two rats and neither of them is named Darbus," Kelsi said.
"Do you know anything little person?" Chad questioned looking down at Kelsi.
"Darbus isn't waring pink or designer clothes," Kelsi said and the others immediately understood her message.
"Why would Sharpay do such things?" Chad asked.
"She stated that she wanted to protect the Drama department, but in reality, all she wanted was to protect herself," Kelsi said looking at the small group there.
"There is nothing we can do about it," Kelsi added frustrated and a little sad.
"No no-way. I am not letting her win! We can do it but only if we're all in this together," Gabriella said putting her hand in. One after one Chad, Taylor, Zeke, Jason and Kelsi put their hands in. The only one left was Troy.
Troy's POV
I was seriously doubted about this as people put their hands in. What if someone found out who I am by this? What would my parents and grand-parents think if they found out? Deciding to live with the possible consequences I put my hand in.
"This is my plan," Gabriella said starting to explain.
So that was it for now! I hope you all enjoyed it. I wrote the last part just now and I apologize for any spelling mistakes since the clock is 00:30 am. Please, please leave a review with your thoughts!
FreeFlyingWriter