Location:

East High School

Senior Year

The First Day

Albuquerque—where the summer's are hot, and it's basically always hot no matter what season. It was seven in the morning and the sun was well-passed rising. The empty halls of East High slowly began to fill as more and more students showed up for the first day of classes.

Freshman tried not to make eye contact as they nervously attempted their locker combinations for the first time, sophomores felt awesome as heck because they weren't freshmen anymore, and juniors were just so done with school—though school hadn't even started yet.

Then there were the seniors of East High, though really just like any seniors: Excited for new beginnings, as well as deathly afraid of new beginnings. Ready for it to all end, totally in denial that it's all ending. Obsessing about college applications, while also putting off college applications to the last minute. Wishing that summer had lasted for just another day, or twenty.

While most students greeted each other having not seen one another all summer, there were several arriving seniors who had spent the entire summer together who hadn't experienced much separation anxiety. Chad Danforth approached the familiar building in his brand-new-but-also-incredibly-used truck. Pleased, he pulled into his assigned parking spot and tossed his parking slip onto his dash.

Giving his steering wheel one last squeeze, he couldn't help but sigh at the fact that this truck had cost him all of the money he'd managed to earn over the summer at Lava Springs. His parents had chipped in as well, and well...all of his money was gone.

"Would it really be another school year if I wasn't flat broke as usual?" He said to himself, grabbing his backpack and slipping out of his vehicle.

Walking through the large double doors, Chad waved to many familiar faces—even some he didn't know—as he made his way to his new locker in the senior hall. Re-checking his combination, he'd successfully opened the door when a familiar voice sounded behind him.

"Chad Danforth." Taylor smiled, looking prim in a light blue sweater vest with matching plaid pants. Her small backpack hung on her right shoulder, swinging once Chad engulfed her in a hug, bringing her up on her toes.

It was a bit of a dramatic reunion, considering they had only been apart for two weeks. Their jobs at Lava Springs ended at such a time that it allowed everyone two weeks of real summer break. Everyone had meant to hang out, but most had gone off on family trips so it just hadn't happened.

"Taylor! You would be here so early, and looking more put together than any of us." Chad commented, smiling down at her even though his heart rate spiked slightly.

He had asked Taylor out last year and they had been on a few dates over the summer, but Chad wasn't quite sure how to take things...further? Did he even know what that meant? They typically had a good time whenever they were together, Chad just had this inkling that something wasn't right. It was like he was constantly waiting for something to come out of no where, and that something was going to be Taylor breaking up with him. Because somehow...when they were together, it was like there was one piece of the puzzle that refused to fit.

Chad secretly worried that Taylor felt this too, but she hadn't said anything yet.

"It's a little early, but walk me to homeroom?" Taylor asked, dusting off the shoulder of his green tee that read, 'I'm still asleep'.

"Absolutely, madam~" Offering his arm, they strolled the bustling hallway.

Turning the corner, the pair saw Troy, Gabriella, Kelsi, Martha, and Jason—were staring at the cork board. Most of the group looked pensive, Jason just looked kind of bored. Taylor waved to the girls, giving Troy a nod as they approached.

"Hey, man." Chad said, clasping hands with Troy, then Jason, in greeting. "What's going on?"

"The first musical of the school year is RENT." Kelsi stated, clutching a small binder full of papers. She glanced at Troy and Gabriella one more time. "These two should be signing up to audition, but they're acting like they won't."

"C'mon guys, it'll be fun." To make a point, Martha stepped forward and signed her name on the sheet.

"Oh my gosh, yes! You all should sign up!" Kelsi exclaimed, to which Chad tensed visibly, Taylor shaking her head, while Jason merely yawned. Gabriella remained silent.

"Look...Kelsi," Troy started, moving his hand through his hair awkwardly, "Last year was fun, but...it took up a lot of time. This is senior year. There's a lot going on. I mean, I want to spend my time with my friends—you guys—and we can't make the most of the little time we have if we're just in school the whole time... It was fun...but I think it was a one time thing."

"Not to mention we are gonna kick some major basketball ass this year!" Chad interjected, relieved to hear that he wasn't going to have to share his best friend with theater for another year. High-fiving Jason, Chad's happiness would be short-lived.

"Well actually..." Gabriella started quietly, all eyes falling on her, "If we all auditioned and got in, then we would be spending so much time together. Even if we were just ensemble, it could be a lot of fun. I know you enjoy it, Troy. You want to do this."

Troy stared at Gabriella quietly, not willing to outwardly admit his opinion quite yet. Smiling, Gabi turned back to the group.

"We should do this!"

"I'll pass." Taylor said, surprising everyone with her blunt response. "I enjoy theater, but it's not something I've ever done. Of course I'll come to see the show if you guys are in it."

"Taylor..." Gabriella protested, meeting her friend's eyes. Taylor smiled, though she seemed exasperated there was a hint of reluctance as she adverted her gaze.

"Taylor, I heard you sing this summer. Your voice is really nice. You should show it off at least once." Kelsi stepped toward Taylor, offering her a smile. They'd gotten closer over the summer, and she sincerely thought her friend would enjoy being in the musical.

"Guys," Kelsi continued, "You can do this musical, this one musical. There's another after the new year, and you don't even have to do that one. This would be such a fun memory."

"I'm in." Jason spoke up, catching the group off guard. "Dancing is kind of cool, I think."

With the ice completely broken by Jason and Martha, Gabriella was the next to sign. Kelsi batted her lashes, and Taylor caved, laughing with Gabriella as she penned her name. Kelsi signed, and with a quick hand-squeeze from Gabriella, Troy stepped forward to add his name as well.

Chad remained where he was, even with all his friends staring at him. Damn it.

"No way." He shook his head, his hair twisted to-and-fro as well. His friends protested, gaining volume, and Chad became annoyed.

"C'mon man!"

"Chad...don't be that way."

"This'll be so much fun!"

"Troy's doing it! C'mon!"

"Hey! I have never pretended that I liked this stuff!" Chad exclaimed, letting his temper get the better of him if he were to admit, "My opinion? It takes way too much time, and it's a distraction from the team. It's a musical! It's so—"

Chad held his breath, managing to stop himself before he went too far. His best friend really liked theater, and he didn't want to hurt him over it again. Not to mention, he didn't want to really bash it. It was just hard to stop himself when he was on a roll; it was something he was working on.

"It's so what, Danforth? Fantastically awesome?"

The voice came from behind Chad, and he watched as his friends broke out into grins. Turning, brown eyes met blue, and the memory rushed into Chad's head like a sharp thump.

Hey batter, batter,

Hey batter, batter,

What?

Lips dry, Chad resisted the urge to run his tongue along them as he kept his gaze with Ryan Evans'. Beside him was his sister Sharpay, holding hands with Zeke.

"I'll second that," Chimed Sharpay, smiling sharply at them all, "Why is everyone talking about theater?"

Ryan's sassy comment could have been more intimidating if it weren't for the white button-up he was wearing patterned in little black boots, with complimentary all-white pants and fedora. Chad shifted uncomfortably, allowing the three to join the circle, but turning his body more toward the arch the original group had made.

"We've all signed up to audition, Sharpay, we're trying to get Chad to sign, too." Gabriella offered with a direct, sweet smile.

The two had settled things over the summer, with tension still high, but Gabriella was determined to make Sharpay her friend. For the principal of it all, but also because a school year without a Sharpay-scheme would be just perfect. It was Sharpay's turn to tense, but she didn't object.

"Zeke, would you like to audition? You'd spend more time with Sharpay." Jason offered sincerely, earning an eye roll from Chad and Troy.

Zeke looked at Sharpay, who looked like she was considering the idea. Suddenly she smiled brightly, liking the idea. If she was going to have to deal with the whole motley crew, at least she should have more people she enjoyed being around.

"To be honest, I've been interested in this sort of thing for awhile now! Time to see what draws Troy in so much!" Exclaimed Zeke, stepping up with Sharpay to sign their names on the list as well.

Crossing his arms, Ryan turned to face Chad with a friendly, albeit slightly-challenging smile on his face.

"So Chad, most of your friends are in. What do you have to lose? We already know you can dance."

It was a perfectly innocent joke that elicited perfectly innocent chuckles. Chad bristled.

"That was a one-time thing. And you lost the game anyway." His voice was sharp, sharper than he'd meant.

"Ouch." Ryan turned his gaze to the side, moving awkwardly to the sign-up sheet to sign his name. He might Chad's eyes as he turned again.

"I hope that what you said after the game wasn't a one-time thing. Because it means a lot to me to have us all be friends for our senior year." Ryan smiled, feeling more introverted than he ever had, as the rest of the group smiled. Ryan looked visibly relieved as his smile widened.

"Of course, Ryan." Gabriella said happily, pulling him in for a hug. It was Troy's turn to bristle.

Damn it. Embarrassment and regret flooded over Chad and he looked down. He didn't even understand why he was making a big deal out of this. He could've just signed his name and there wouldn't have been any fuss.

Resigned, Chad stepped forward, and wrote his name underneath Ryan's. His friends cheered at the same time as the warning bell sounded—three minutes until homeroom. Turning, he faced Ryan again, who smiled happily this time. Chad couldn't bring himself to respond. Ryan extended his hand, and Chad forced himself not to hesitate in reaching out to take it.

Hey batter, batter,

Hey batter, batter,

What?

"I'll see you at lunch, Chad." Taylor said, and Chad broke contact with Ryan.

"Sure thing." He smiled at Taylor as she kissed his cheek before hurrying down the hallway.

Oh right, class. Chad looked over to find that the entire group had disbursed, including Ryan. Feeling a little uneasy, Chad made his way to homeroom as well.

Darbus.

Walking into the class, he stopped as literally everyone he'd already been talking to in the hall looked over at him.

"Seriously? Why didn't we all just walk together?"