Ms. Darbus' Office (Open to Students/Staff)

[Ms. Darbus]

Ms. Eleanor Darbus entered her office with a flourish. She quickly shut the door behind her, and spun around to face her large office. She sighed heavily, and quickly walked to her large mahogany desk. She slammed her clipboard down, as it made a loud bang in the office. She looked up, and smiled slightly as she looked around her safe haven.

The walls were covered with posters of great Broadway productions. Each one holding a special place in Eleanor's heart. She walked over to her favorite musical, Into the Woods. She looked at it fondly, and ran her hand gently over the poster. She turned and looked at all the old programs of musicals she had directed at East High, all along the far wall. There were pictures everywhere of productions and friends.

She felt a slight tear fall from her eye as she remembered her troubled past. How she wanted to be a big Broadway star, and how she wanted to be in so many productions in her youth. Unfortunately it never turned that way. She walked over to her desk, and slowly sat down in her large dramatic chair.

Eleanor opened a bottom drawer, and slipped out an old worn photograph. It was a picture of young Eleanor graduating high school, with her long term crush, Jackson Edwards. She ran her fingers over the photo, and remembered following Jackson to college. She wished for him to finally ask her out, but soon discovered he was going steady with another girl. Eleanor was crushed, and then threw herself into her studies and into the theatre.

She held onto the photo, as it trembled in her hand. All these memories of how theatre saved her from her miseries with Jackson, and how she came back to East High to give back to these students to maybe make a difference in their lives, how the arts did with her.

Eleanor quickly put the photograph away, and suddenly remembered why she came into her office in such a bad mood. It was him. That egotistical, stubborn Bolton. Just thinking about Coach Jack Bolton made her blood boil. He always was out to ruin her arts program, or trying to sabotage something near and dear to her heart. Of course, she knew that the real reason of all this hatred was that Jack really reminded her of Jackson. How they both were into sports, and both were, well....very good looking. Eleanor swore she would never let another man toy with her emotions, and she cursed herself loudly as she knew she really did, in fact, like Bolton.

Eleanor quickly got up out of her chair, and paced in her office. She needed to get over him, and get over him fast. But how? She needed someway to make her so angry at him, that he would seem like the worst person ever. How she was going to do this? She had no idea, but Eleanor knew it was the only way.

[Zeke Baylor]

Zeke took a deep breath and walked up to Mrs.Darbus’s door. Why was he going up to her? He wanted to befriend Mrs.Darbus, and not be her enemy. What was he going to say? "I forgot did we have any homework?" That was okay. Not great but okay.


He took a deep breath. Emma wasn't by his side, he didn't feel safe. He shivered that he was right in front of her door. He started to walk backwards. He shouldn't do this. He knew he shouldn't.


He then found himself walking back towards the door and then his arm lifting up and knocking the door. Zeke crossed his arms. What was he doing? He then waited and looked down.

[Ms. Darbus]

Eleanor turned as she heard a knock on her door. She looked suspiciously at the door. She knew none of her regular visitors, like the theater students would be here at this hour. They all were off in other classes. Meaning it had to be someone else. Eleanor's heart skipped a beat at the possibility of it being Jack. She turned, and quickly fixed her hair, and her large shawl, and marched towards the door. She placed a slight smirk on her face and flung open the door dramatically.

She looked to see it was Zeke Baylor at her door. She looked at him with quite surprise. Why was this jock here at her door? She eyed him suspiciously. She also felt slightly disappointed it hadn't been Coach Bolton. Eleanor felt almost sick when she realized what she was thinking. She shook her mind of these thoughts, and refocused on Zeke standing in front of her.

"Mr. Baylor? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in class?" Eleanor questioned Zeke, folding her arms across her chest. She looked down at him, as her large glasses slightly slipped down her nose.

[Zeke Baylor]

Zeke's eyes wondered to the twisting doorknob. His hearted raced like crazy. He was about to jet until he heard Ms.Darbus's voice. He looked at Ms.Darbus through her huge glasses. He smiled slightly. He opened his mouth to say something, though nothing came out.


He then heard one little word slip out. "Hi." was the word that slipped out. He then slightly waved. Zeke looked down. He had to say something or Ms.Darbus would slam the door in his face. He then coughed slightly and looked back up to the crazy but yet, okay teacher.

"I was wondering if... you ever had played basketball." he spilt out quickly but slow enough she could understand the babbling idiot. He then narrowed his eyes of stupidness and shook his head. "Wondering if you ever played basketball what the heck Zeke?"


He the focused in at Ms.Darbus and smiled slightly. How stupid could have Zeke been?

[Ms. Darbus]

Eleanor looked down at Zeke with surprise. She almost wanted to scoff at his question. She was a theater teacher, obviously she had never played a sport such as basketball. She also knew that this couldn't be the real reason he came to her office. Maybe he was sent to spy on her by Jack Bolton. She uncrossed her arms, but still kept the same intense look at Zeke, as if to see what he was really thinking in his mind, or at least make him crack under her stare, and tell her the real reason he came here.

"No, Mr. Baylor. I have not played basketball." Eleanor replied. She paused and kept staring at Zeke. "Is there any other impertinent questions I can answer for you, or are you going to tell me why you are really here?" She waited to see what Zeke was up to.

She glanced slightly at the clock right inside her office. Just 20 more minutes until the next class began. She hoped Zeke wasn't here for anything extremely important requiring her to be late to her next theater class. Not that the students weren't important to her. They were her first priority whether they were a theater buff or a basketball jock. She just didn't want to be late for her theater class with the Evans in it. They both inspired her so, and she was definitely sad to see them leave after this year.

[Coach Bolton]

Bolton looked through his files for the grades for the incoming players on his basketball team. Well, the ones he knew he was going to have. The ones like Jason Cross, Chad Danford, and of course his very own sun... Mr. Troy Bolton. Troy was the captain how could he turn him down? He wouldn't turn down his son! He wasn't that cold hearted!! Well, if his son stunk, then of course he would turn him down. Though Troy didn't stink he took the shots, and usually made them.

Everything was fine, until that Miss. Montez came along on New Years Eve. They sang, changing Troy's feelings for basketball! He didn't like this girl! He didn’t like her at all. She made Troy from the best player, to a singer, who sang about getting your Head in the game. If that wasn't bad enough... he sang in Twinkle Town! Were soaring, flying...? What was with those lyrics anyway? Life wasn't like that! Life isn't like that. It sounded like something Hannah Montana would sing only less bouncy.

He sighed and then went to Zeke Baylor. One of the other changers of the team. He was the top defender of the team, because he was so tall. He was great, and he always was, even when he gave his secret away of cooking. Oh well, guys can cook right? Right. He took out his file and looked at his grade. They had to have a 2.0 in every subject at least. He looked at the grades. A D in every class?? He stood up in rage grabbed the file and ran out of his room. He slammed the door in rage and walked around the school for Baylor.

He looked in the gym. No sign of him. Looked outside. No sign of him. He looked everywhere, but still no sign of him! He walked to the teacher’s lounge, to get a drink, and mooch of the brownies that were always there. He passed the Theater, and he forgot to check there. He ran in there to take a quick glance and saw the boy in the office. He was always there because he was a trouble maker. He rolled his eyes and sprinted to the office.

"BAYLOR!" his voice boomed through the office. "EXPLAIN THESE GRADES!! WE HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR A FEW DAYS AND D's IN EVERY SUBJECT!! START TALKING!" he yelled. He then looked at Darbus and shook his head. "Your fault. If you didn't ramble on about that crap you called core content,

[Ms. Darbus]

Eleanor was waiting for Zeke to respond, when suddenly she heard a loud voice booming. It sounded strangely familiar. She turned to see Jack Bolton walking towards her and Zeke, yelling at him about his grades. She felt her stomach jump at the sight of Jack. Her heartbeat quickened as she tried to think clearly. Was he here to see her? She looked and noticed Zeke still standing there. Right! Right....he was here for Zeke.

Eleanor crossed her arms defensively as she heard Jack turn and accuse her of Zeke's low grades. Her jaw dropped in shock, as she felt her blood boil. Only Jack could make her feel love and hate at the same exact time. "It is not my fault Mr. Baylor chooses to spend his time on no-sense basketball then his own studies! It has been proven fact, Bolton, that students who are involved with extra curricular activities such as the fine arts, are more likely to exceed in school and get better grades. Where as those who choose to participate in sports, are more likely to flunk out of high school. I'm glad to know I support something that helps the students, rather than hurt them." Eleanor glared at Jack, a slight grimace on her face. She was ready to attack this man at any moment.

"If you don't mind, I have a class to teach in 10 minutes, and I feel like I owe my students to be properly prepared so they can learn in the arts and continue to thrive in school, instead of failing at it." Eleanor turned and started to walk into her office, a smug look written all over her face. She knew she had won this battle.

[Coach Bolton]

" Oh sure, blame it on basketball." he said angrily. "Baylor out." he said point towards the door. He crossed his arms. "What about Michel Jordan? Did he fail? Well I have to answer that for you because you know nothing!!" he yelled. They were alone so he could say anything he wanted to this women. "Look, no one wants to hear Disney Songs, which have nothing to do with life itself." he sneered.

"Bop, Bop, Bop, Bop to the Top?" he yelled. "What is that mean? That you need to Bop people out of the way, so you can beat everyone like little Miss. Sharpay Evans and her Gay Poodle Ryan Evans?" he yelled. "You turned my Star Basketball Player into a singer who goes gaga over Miss. Montez." he said setting his hands on the desk.

"Let the kids go listen to the music they want to! Like Jonas Brothers for the girls. Daft Punk for the rockers, and Soulja Boy or whatever for the people who want to waste there ears on the rap." he said madly. "No one wants to listen to stupid words like Bop to the Top. What I've been Looking For, or Breaking Free." he said his voice booming again.

"So don't waste your time on these kids." he mumbled.