Mrs. Carpenter glanced around the room and sighed when she finally spotted her only son. He was curled up in the corner with a book, as usual. Walking over, she plucked the book from his hands. "It's New Year's Eve. Enough reading," she scolded, though with a fond smile.

Tumblebrutus looked up, startled at that. He made a soft sound of protest, "Mom, please?"

"You do remember the young adult party going on right? I picked out clothes and set them on your bed and everything. We're here on vacation dear, try to enjoy it."

He sighed at that, finally rising, "I'm almost done though. Can I have my book back? I promise to go to the party."

"Have fun at the party," his mother pressed, handing the book back out to him.

The teen took the book, and offered her a slightly nervous smile, "Yeah, I will."

She patted his shoulder. "Good luck. At least kids your age tend to be fun and you won't have to listen to economic figures like I will at the adult party."

He managed not to respond with exactly how fun he considered most kids his age, offering another smile, "Well, I'd better go get dressed then."

"Go on!" she said, pushing him lightly. "Go into the dragon's lair of kids your own age! Be strong for me!" she teased.

That finally got a bit of a laugh, "Alright, if you insist…"

"I insist," she said, waving at him before heading toward her own more adult oriented party. He sighed and went to get changed before heading for the teen party downstairs.

o.o.o.o

Mrs. Hollister sighed as she looked over her boys. "Did we really fly all this way just to play more basketball?"

Her husband and son paused. "We didn't?" Tugger joked, getting a glare from his mother. "You're all dressed up." She twirled. "For the New Year's party, remember?" Her husband paused, face drawing horror as he remembered. "Now, both of you go shower and get dressed!"

"Wait, why am I?" Tugger protested. "I was practicing this one shot and-"

"There's a kids party for you downstairs in the Freestyle Club."

"Kids?" Tugger gaped at her in horror.

"Young adults," she amended. "Now go shower."

Shooting the ball up one more time, Tugger sighed before trudging back to do just that. He knew when not to argue with his mother.

o.o.o.o

Tumble had arrived at the party and promptly located an out of the way couch where he could curl up to finish his book rather than have to socialize. He'd concoct some conversation or other later to tell his mother about, but for now he'd settle on the couch and ignore the others and hope they ignored him.

Tugger entered the party just as the latest people on stage were cheered off from the karaoke machine. He laughed silently at them, shaking his head. Really, singing? He would so rather still be at the gym.

Crossing his arms he leaned against the wall, glancing around as the man in charge of the karaoke machine started looking around for new volunteers. Finding none the man gestured to someone with a spotlight to pick some new victims out.

Tumble startled, blinking up against the blinding light as one of the spotlights located him. He felt himself being pulled up from the couch and all but herded toward the stage. Oh, hell no. The teen started trying quickly to make excuses, but the DJ and the other teens seemed to have none of it and he found himself very quickly up on the stage, next to one of the karaoke mics.

Tugger's eyes widened as the second spot light found him. "I don't sing," he protested, already being shoved on the stage. "Seriously, I do not sing!" he repeated, a final shove sending him on the stage and next to the second mic. He glanced at the boy beside him, shifting back.

"Someday you could thank me for this," the DJ told them. "Or not," he added, quickly ducking off the stage.

Scowling, Tugger glanced around as the music started. With a final sigh, he gave up to peer pressure, singing the first few lines of the song, glancing at the other boy on stage with quite a few times.

Tumble had frozen when he'd found himself on stage, but he glanced at the other teen and finally managed to pick up the song just in time, his voice more sure than he had expected it to be. If he could just get through this maybe he could slip away unnoticed and head back to the suite he and his mother had.

Just about ready to leave the stage after the first verse, Tugger paused when the other finally started to sing. Shifting, he returned to the song with just a bit more force, spending almost all his time gazing at the other, only occasionally glancing at the lyrics.

By the third verse, Tugger pulled off the brown jacket his mother had set out, tossing it to the crowd, who were starting to get into the song. However, it revealed the practically floral print along the sides of his shirt.

Tumble had turned to watch the other a bit more after the first verse, his focus only about half on the lyrics. His brows rose and he stumbled over a couple of words at the sight of the shirt the other was wearing. He grinned, but did manage not to laugh outright.

The song ended finally and he set the mic down, hesitating. It was his chance to put his retreat plan into action, though he'd have to fight his way through the crowd for his book. For some reason though he wasn't sure he was as inclined to leave as he had been.

Pausing when the song ended, Tugger stuck out a hand. "Tugger," he introduced himself, eyes locked on the other's.

The smaller boy startled slightly at that, but offered a faint smile as he shook the offered hand, "Tumble."

"You have, quite the voice," Tugger offered, not wanting to let go of the hand. "You're a singer right? Which is totally unfair to pair me with a singer."

Tumble shook his head, finally drawing his hand back, having left it there a moment longer than necessary, "Not really. Just some choir work. Tried a solo once...nearly fainted. Y-you've got a great v-voice too. Do you sing much?" He mentally cursed his stutter as he carefully retreated from the stage, waiting for Tugger to follow.

Tugger blinked and followed promptly, the coordinator already picking on other kids to sing. He trailed after Tumble outside, where there was a light dusting of snow falling. "Yeah, me, sing a lot. My showerhead is deeply impressed by my vocal talents, let me tell you."

That earned a quiet laugh, "I'm s-surprised." He paused for a moment, looking at the shirt the other was wearing, "Where'd you g-get the shirt?"

"This shirt?" he asked, holding his arms out and glancing down. "Not sure, why? You like it?"

"It's very..." he tried to find a complimentary term, "retro."

"Yeah?" Tugger offered. "Isn't retro, vintage-y stuff in now?"

"I guess. I'm not really up on the latest fashions," Tumble shrugged. "It looks good on you."

After a heartbeat, Tugger grinned. "Thanks," he said. "Hey," he glanced back as the kids inside suddenly started counting down. "Can I get your number?"

"Um...I...sure?" He pulled his own phone out of his pocket, "If I-I can g-get yours?"

"Yeah, here," Tugger said, handing him the phone. "Put your number in and I'll return the favor, yeah?"

The smaller boy nodded, handing his phone over and quickly typing his number into Tugger's.

"You know," Tugger remarked, glancing up as the countdown got louder. "There's a tradition somewhere saying you should kiss someone at midnight on New Year's," he said it jokingly, as if testing the waters.

Tumble blushed at that, "I-I thought that was Ch-Christmas and m-mistletoe."

"Really? I think it's both," Tugger said, flashing the other a grin and finally handing the phone back.

The other murmured a quiet thanks, offering Tugger his own phone as he took his. The blush wasn't improving, "I-I see."

Tugger opened his mouth to say something else just as the fireworks went off and a cheer came from inside. He raised a brow, wondering if he should pursue the thought or leave the other boy be.

Tumble jumped at that, turning to look up at the fireworks, "I-I guess I sh-should go find my m-mom and wish her a happy n-new year."

"Yeah, me too," Tugger said, trying not to sound at all disappointed. "I mean, my mom not yours. And dad too I suppose."

"W-well, it was good to meet you. A-and I have your number n-now."

"You'll call sometime, right?" Tugger asked, actually reaching out and touching the other's arm when it looked like the shorter boy was going to retreat.

That got another startle out of the smaller teen, "Y-yeah?" He turned his wide, brown eyes on the other, "Y-you could always call me t-too."

"Sure," Tugger said with a grin and waved his phone. "Will do."

Tumble offered a faint smile at that, "Well, I should g-get going…"

"Happy New Years," Tugger beamed at him.

"H-happy New Year," the other's smile brightened a bit, before he turned to head back into the building. Tugger watched him go, a goofy grin on his face.

o.o.o.o

Tugger bounded up to Mistoffelees' locker, nearly running into the shorter boy. "Championships in two weeks!" he said, vaguely aware the rest of the basketball team was in the near area. It was the third of the month, school back in session just in time for everyone to recover from New Years.

Mistoffelees' brows shot up. "You're chipper," he remarked, pulling a book out and closing the locker.

"It was a good break," Tugger said.

"Try the other one, it has bells," his friend told him. "You're unbearably chipper. Somehow good break doesn't cover it."

"Good break and we'll win the championships in two weeks?" Tugger replied, hedging.

Mistoffelees rolled his eyes. "Yes, you'll lead us into a blaze of victory for the Wildcats that will be talked about forever." His eyes moved around the campus as the student body filed in.

Munkustrap closed his locker, across the hall and three down from Mistoffelees'. He shouldered his bookbag and came over, "Hey guys. Looking forward to practice after school?"

"He is," Mistoffelees said promptly, pointing to the team captain.

"Like you aren't too," Tugger said, shoving his shoulder against the smaller man's.

"Sure," Mistoffelees said. "I love being yelled at by your father for hours."

"Winning championship and becoming famous in exchange?" Tugger offered, still grinning. "How was your break, 'Straps?" he asked the other player as Mistoffelees rolled his eyes again.

The other teen shrugged, "Pretty good. Got away from you lot for a couple of weeks anyhow." He offered them a bit of a smile to show he was joking.

Pouncival came sliding up next to them, depositing a couple of books in his locker and glancing at the others, "Heya guys."

"I feel so loved," Mistoffelees was telling Munkustrap as Pounce came up. "Pounce!" he greeted. "Finally, the only other sane member of the team, here to save me."

"Sane? I'm sane?" His brows shot up at that, "Hey, I'll take it."

"Comparatively," Mistoffelees said, holding his arms out.

"I'm not sure I want to know what pip-squeak's comparing anyone too," Macavity said, approaching, his reddish hair looking a bit wild as usual. Mistoffelees made a face at him as Tugger turned to their second best player.

"Mac! Good break?"

"You're cheerful," Macavity said, arching a brow.

Pounce glanced at the new arrival, "I'm apparently the only other sane member of our team."

"Which I'm taking as a personal insult," Munkus supplied.

"Sorry," Mistoffelees told him with a shrug and grinned.

"Shorty thinks he's sane?" Macavity asked.

"One of these days you have to refer to me without mentioning my height," Mistoffelees drawled.

"No I don't."

Munkus glanced down the hall, "Look out, Zimmermans at twelve o'clock."

Sure enough, the Zimmerman twins were on their way down the hall, Tantomile's posse trailing behind them. Both young brunettes were dressed tastefully and expensively as always, Tantomile's skirt at just the right length to show off enough leg to qualify as hot without crossing any lines, her heels adding length to them. Her brother, Coricopat, followed about a pace behind her left shoulder, dark jeans and a white half-zip sweater forming his outfit. A brown and white ivy cap completed his ensemble, his grey eyes attentive under the brim. He scanned the hallways, even as he trailed after his sister, nodding and agreeing with whatever she was chattering about now.

Mistoffelees' eyes had snapped that way, even as he took half a step back, not wanting to deal with the group or mess up Tantomile's entrance in any way.

"Wonder where the ice queen went on her vacation, her native land?" Macavity remarked, arms crossed over his chest.

Tantomile was now ignoring her brother and the girls trailing after her in favor of her phone. Coricopat's gaze drifted to the basketball players as Pounce replied, "Probably shopping for mirrors like she always does."

"Guys," Mistoffelees offered, almost warning them. It was one thing to tease among their group, it was another thing with outsiders.

"Come on," Macavity said. "She's like the greatest diva in the world with her very own twin sized poodle."

Mistoffelees just glared at him, Tugger unable to help from chuckling. Munkus shrugged, "Not like either of them look down from those ivory towers long enough to hear what we poor folks say, anyway. I'm with Mac, I think Tantomile's the Snow Queen in disguise."

Pounce glanced at his teammate, "And that makes her brother who then?"

The black-haired point-guard shrugged, "The Goblin King?"

Coricopat's gaze skittered away from the five other boys at that. His expression was unreadable as he and his sister passed them, though he sidestepped to Tant's other side to put some distance between himself and the ballplayers. He took a half pace forward to better hear what his sister was saying again.

Watching the richer student, Mistoffelees scowled. "You know what? You guys are all jerks some days."

"Come on, Misto, it's just fun," Tugger said, offering him the basketball that seemed to constantly be in Tugger's grip.

Mistoffelees batted it away, though he smiled faintly. He still looked annoyed at the entire group though.

"Besides," Pounce offered, "It's not like they haven't said worse about us since Elementary School."

Mistoffelees looked like he wanted to say something about sinking down to their level and just shook his head. "They have bigger vocabulary to insult us with too," Macavity pointed out.

"No more than the nerds do," Mistoffelees pointed out as said scholars walked by, Macavity's eyes gluing themselves to a blonde in the group.

"Oh hush, pip-squeak."

Griddlebone Laurent's gaze slid over to the jocks, her lips quirking upward slightly as she met Mac's eyes. She turned back to her group, continuing the discussion they'd been having regarding a particular branch of biology.

Mistoffelees rolled his eyes. "Alright, that's enough hormones to last me the day. Shall we get ourselves to our first class?"

Macavity shouldered him and the smaller teen just grinned.

Munkus nodded slightly, "Wouldn't do to be late first day back, I can just hear the grief we'd get for that."

"Especially from Mrs. Harris," Tugger said with a shudder. "Her voice is shrill enough to shatter glass."

Mistoffelees tossed his basketball back to him. "We should get going then."

The team headed to their first class, getting in with plenty of time to spare. The Zimmerman twins arrived moments later, talking about something, Coricopat leaning on his sister's desk as she double checked her appearance in her compact.

About a minute and a half before the bell rang a new student slipped in, checked in with Mrs. Harris and managed to weave his way back to his assigned seat in the very back of the room.

Tugger's eyes tracked on the new student instantly, eyes widening. That was the same boy, it had to be. Even as Bombalurina Harris started to lecture the class, heels tapping on the ground as she walked, he slipped his phone out, pulling up the singing boy's number and sending a blank text.

Tumble jumped about a foot and a half in the air as his cell phone went off. He was sure he'd silenced that. Coricopat and Tantomile both rifled for their phones to make sure it wasn't theirs, flipping the phones open and shut a few times to confirm.

Bombalurina had just started her lecture on the winter activities, lingering over the winter musical and paused with a frown as Mistoffelees checked his own phone. "Mr. Dranias, this is a place of learning, not an entertainment center." She held a basket out and he shamefully dropped the phone in. Continuing around the room she gathered the Zimmerman's phones, Tumbles, and stopped in front of Tugger. "This cell phone menace has landed you all in dentation."

All the basketball players tensed.

Tumble paled at that. Munkustrap started speaking quickly, "Mrs. Harris, that's not a possibility today. You see, ma'am we have basketball practice and Tugger and Misto..."

"Would you like to land in dentation yourself?" Bombalurina asked, tilting her chin at him. Macavity snapped his own mouth shut as Mistoffelees and Tugger stared at her in sheer horror.

Munkustrap's eyes widened, "No, ma'am." He dropped his gaze to his desk.

"Good. Now, after that interruption, if we may return to literature?" Bombalurina asked with a daring tilt of her brows, looking over her students. She received several subdued nods at that.

o.o.o.o

Tugger left the classroom quickly when the bell rang, hiding by the door. Mistoffelees arched a brow when he passed by. "What are you...?"

"Shoo, shoo!" Tugger waved at him. Arching a brow, Mistoffelees shrugged and continued down the hallway.

Tumble was the last one out of the classroom, having paused long enough to apologize quietly to the teacher for the earlier disruption. He had his gaze focused on the map and class schedule in his hands and he emerged, turning to head down the hall.

"Hey," Tugger said, just about jumping the other boy.

The smaller teen startled, nearly dropping his schedule, "T-tugger!"

"Hey, thought it was you," Tugger said with a grin. "I mean, I was sure it was you and all since I couldn't forgot you in like three days but hey! You go here?"

"Just moved here." He glanced back at the classroom as he started down the hall again, "And it's off to a great start..."

"Sorry about that," Tugger said, not actually sounding terribly sad. "There's a bit of a long break right now, if you want a quick tour. Or even a gaze at the pillar of winter activities."

"I really should see about finding my classrooms, I'd rather not try to do so while f-fighting my way through the halls."

"I can show you those too," Tugger said, plucking the schedule from Tumble's hands.

The other made a half-hearted lunge for the paper, "Hey!"

"What? I'm just showing off the school to you."

"But...my schedule?"

"I'll give it back," he replied, glancing it over. "Hey, we have a couple more classes together. Your schedule's not actually bad, though you might want to watch out for a couple teachers."

"O-oh? Which classes?"

"Well, you've already encountered our delightful English and Drama teacher, Mrs. Harris, but Mr. Smith is also one to watch out for. He can be harsh."

"I see, well, I'll do my best then," Tumble turned down one of the other halls, pausing near the bulletin boards.

Tugger looked it over as well with a grin. "Hey, you should totally try out for the winter musical."

Tumble blushed at that, glancing at the sign-up sheet for auditions, "I don't think so. B-but if you auditioned I-I'd come see it?"

"Yeah, no, that's pretty much completely impossible," Tugger said, leaning back slightly.

"What's impossible, Tugger?" A decidedly feminine voice that sounded as though it was trying far too hard to be smooth came from behind them. Tantomile Zimmerman sidled up, "I wouldn't think 'impossible' is even in your vocabulary."

Tugger nearly jumped out of his skin, leaning away both from the girl and the signup sheet now. "Oh, erm, I mean, no, of course it's not. Nothing's completely impossible, that's what I was saying, surely."

She looked Tumble over, a brow rising sharply and her smile almost patronizing, before she brightened it as she looked at Tugger again, "So nice of you to show our new classmate around while you talk." The girl pulled out a pen and signed her name across all but the top line of the pairs' section of the sign-ups, effectively blocking anyone else from managing it.

"Oh, erm, sure," Tugger said, eying the signup sheet with the massive writing on it.

Tumble's brows rose at the signature. Tant turned to them, her eyes widening in a half-attempt at innocence, her gaze focused on the new student, "Oh, I'm sorry, were you thinking of signing up? My brother and I have starred in all the school's productions and we really do welcome newcomers. After all there are a lot of supporting roles, and I'm sure Mrs. Harris could find something for you."

The boy's smile was forced in reply, "No, j-just looking at the bulletin boards, lots going on around h-here."

"Nice penmanship," Tugger murmured, not actually making it a compliment at all as he continued eying it.

Tant looked from one to the other even as Tumble carefully took his schedule back from Tugger and murmured a farewell. Tugger watched the other boy leave, looking crestfallen for a moment before clearing his expression.

"So, Tugger," Tantomile started again, "I missed you over vacation. What did you do?"

"Oh, you know, snowboarded and skied a little, played basketball," he shrugged. "What about you?" He managed not to ask her if she shopped for mirrors, but only barely.

"Oh you know, this and that, Cori and I have been working on our audition, that sort of thing." She smiled up at him, 'You'll come see me in the play, right?"

"Um, sure," he managed, not looking sure about that at all. "I mean, you're pretty sure you'll be the lead."

"And who else would they cast?" she demanded.

"Well, I don't know," he shrugged. "Just saying, pretty confident."

"Well, either way, you promise to come?"

"Sure," he said, plastering on a smile. "Just don't forget to cheer the basketball team on."

She grinned, "Go Wildcats."

"Yeah," he said as the bell rang. "Well, I'll see you around?" he offered and retreated at full speed.

Tantomile smirked at his retreating back, "Count on it."

Welcome one and all to a new story. I hope people will be willing to give it a chance despite it's source material. XD (Though, honestly, if you take out about half the songs and ninety percent of the choreography, the films themselves are not that bad for the genre they are.)

This really started by a discussion between us how we were both forced at different points to watch at least some of High School Musical and that the only two interesting characters were Chad and Ryan, which were promptly cast by Misto and Cori. This story is going to be dealing with a fairly large array of pairings and even though the first part is just about exclusively Tugger/Tumble, the story over all is much more of a Misto/Cori story. We'll be covering, roughly, all three of the films though with some pretty massive twists and turns along the way.

We hope everyone enjoys because this story really is way too much fun to write. Especially once we get the basketball players snarking at each other. And yes, Mistoffelees is on the team at 5'4''. He's short for a player, but for high school basketball he could work on the team. He'd probably never manage college basketball though. (And the Goblin King line is totally a jab at David Bowie's character in Labyrinth).