An Unexpected Twist (Open to all)

[Jimmie "Rocketman" Zara]

Jimmie had just been sitting there, letting his eyes follow Sharpay around the auditorium, he watched as she walked up to two of the crew members that he had seen before but hadn't quite gotten their names. It didn't matter really because he usually just called almost everyone 'man' or 'dude'. Sometimes, if they were lucky and close to them (mainly the guys), he'd even call them 'bro'. The only name he could really remember aside from Troy's was Sharpay and that was due to her liking him. Which brought him to think that if she liked him then why was she playing so hard to get? No way would Troy be lying to him. Plus Troy did say it was a secret crush, he could see why she would be denying it. At least in front of everyone anyway. Maybe if he was lucky, she'd take him aside later when no one was around and actually say something nice to her. That would be awesome.

He was in the middle of debating whether or not to get up and go try one more time with Sharpay when the girl Sharpay had been talking to called him over. Looking up and over to the stage, he groaned. Although this wasn't exactly why he was sticking around the theater, but he guessed he could help. If it made everyone happy anyway.

Popping up out of the auditorium chair, he walked over to the stage giving a small head nod to Bebe. "What's up?" Shoving his hands in his pockets, he looked down at Bebe, giving a small grin just so she wouldn't see how disgruntled he was by being called up on the stage to work. Jimmie believed he had done enough set work. Plus, it was the last rehearsal what more work could be done?

[Kelsi Nielsen]

Kelsi now rested her chin on her hand as she placed her elbow on the ledge of the piano, turning towards Ryan to take a closer look at him. Her eyes rested on his piercing blue ones, as the words slipping out of his mouth just felt like a flurry of air around her. She knew Ryan was giving out instructions, which she knew by heart anyway, but she felt like the longer Ryan talked and explained things, the longer time she would have to stare at his beautiful eyes again, even just for a few more moments.

Oblivious to everything around her, including Ryan's growing irritation and probably confusion as to how she was acting lately, and Sharpay watching her every move, Kelsi now placed her fingers over the keys per Ryan's instructions, as she looked up and smiled at him ever so sheepishly, as Ryan was now giving visual cues to help her "understand". Kelsi sighed as she couldn't help but admire how Ryan looked when he was serious and indulged himself in something, as he now put his hands over the keys, which was right beside her hand, as he pressed the chords for the introduction of the first song. Kelsi stared at their hands that were sprawled side by side on the keys, something that Ryan probably didn't notice. Somehow, she felt this urge to put her hand over his, as she wanted to know if she'd feel that certain spark she heard lovers usually felt....it was weird thinking about Ryan Evans that way, but somehow, dare she even think about it....it just made sense.

Kelsi was almost about to touch, to feel the pale skin of his hand under hers, when his voice broke her entire reverie. "Got it?" And for the first time in 5 minutes, she spoke. "Yeah", she replied, giving him a small smile, while she hid her frustration.

Kelsi eagerly waited for Ryan to sit beside her, it just felt different now that she knew she already had feelings for Ryan. She was eager to have him in close physical contact with her as much as possible, the heat emanating from his body soothing to her. She now placed both hands over the piano keys, getting over the chord progression while stealing glances from Ryan from time to time. In between her glances, she noticed that Ryan's mind seemed to drift off somewhere, like he was busy looking for something. This baffled Kelsi a bit, but likewise she didn't think of it as anything else.

But then his sister Sharpay came into view, as she strutted over the place as usual, and upon seeing Ryan seemingly relieved and stiff all the same....Kelsi's heart broke into little pieces. It was funny, she was jealous of his own twin sister of all people. But it wasn't that per se, it was more of the fact that he could give his own bossy sister more attention despite the fact that she basically makes him look like her personal Tinkerbell, instead of her, the shy playmaker....the one beside him at the time.

"I think my sister needs me, will you be okay running this through by yourself for now?" Kelsi stopped playing the keys abruptly after he'd asked permission to go over his sister's side for a moment....she needed him. As usual.

"Oh....um, sure Ryan", she basically half-whispered, once again hiding the sadness in her voice as she watched him get up from his seat and go over to Sharpay....she felt as if he was slipping away from her, though he probably saw Kelsi nothing more but a friend.

I can never have him. Kelsi stared at Ryan one more time with sadness in her eyes. He may not have a girlfriend at this point, or at least to Kelsi's knowledge- he did ask her to prom after all, even if he left her anyway to who knows where he went. But the fact that he was attached somewhere else and would never have his undivided attention made it even more frustrating. Kelsi had never wanted to bang the piano keys so hard since Sharpay and Twinkle Towne the past year.

[Bebe Tenko]

Bebe could tell that Zara felt himself above the task of painting, which is one of the major reasons she called him over to help. The kid needed to be put in his place. That grin was just proof. Zara was doing his best, Bebe would admit, but, when it came to liars and their facial tics, Bebe was the expert to beat.

"Okay, Zara, I need you to put glitter on the windowsills for... Troy-san and Sharpay-sama," Bebe finished with a distasteful air. Sharpay and Troy did not blend well together. They did not dance well together. Troy NEEDED Gabi, much like Sharpay NEEDED Ryan - to look good on stage, that is. Bebe didn't understand why Sharpay felt that Troy was her prize, her entitlement.

"Take the paintbrush and apply a light coat," Bebe instructed, demonstrating. Small paintbrush, a few globs of glitter paint, and in one quick stroke, she had an even coat of glitter on the sill. She turned to Allison and smiled. "Alis-kun, can you finish up the house for me while I do the supervising? Thanks."

Bebe turned back to Zara and crossed her arms. "I know you're thinking this is the last rehearsal and you shouldn't have to do jack sh**, but let me tell you something. If there's work to be done in the theater, you need to work." Bebe leaned in close to the basketball dunce, spitting out her words with precision. "And since Darbus-sensei is busy with vocal training, and Sharpay-sama is redecorating things or something, you get to work for me. Got it?"

Menace. Oh, how Bebe loved torturing irritating jock underclassmen.

[Jimmie "Rocketman" Zara]

Taking one look at the paintbrush Bebe held in her hand and to the windowsill that the glitter paint was going to go, he shook his head. Perhaps the one thing he disliked about Sharpay was the whole glitter thing. Not only did it get everywhere, but it was hard to wash out when you actually had time to take a shower and try to scrub it out of your skin. Ever since he had gotten detention for chasing after Troy and Chad, trying to receive his clothes, he had been around glitter way too much for it to be a masculine thing anymore. It was funny though that none of the other guys seemed to mind it. Unless they were that use to it or something.

When Bebe showed him how to add the glitter to the window, he wanted to roll his eyes, but didn't. It honestly wasn't that hard to paint a windowsill with glitter paint. He was almost certain that a five year old could do it, too. Not that he'd admit it or anything, but the glitter made the window look good and made it stand out.

He had been about to take the paintbrush and start working his glitter magic to the window when Bebe got up in his face about working. Jimmie simply held up his hands in a protective manner and took a step back. "I'm here to help, babe," he said, a small barely there smile on his lips. "I can paint glitter on a window, watch." As if he had to show a teacher that he was doing the problem on the board correctly, he followed her example and managed to paint a thin, even coat of glitter paint on the window, making it shine it exactly the right places.

At that, he couldn't help but grin and dipped the brush into the glitter paint again. "Want me to add glitter anywhere else besides the window?" If he was stuck with the glitter he might as well use it.

[Allison Nicolette Stone]

Alis smiled at the nickname she'd been given "Sure Bebe-chan." She said as she went off to get the paint as Bebe when to talk to Zora. She came back with two paintbrushes and two cans of paint. The paint in one hand and the brushes in the other. She watched a Zora went way over the top and just glared at him. "Bakades boyo."She muttered under her breath feeling very much like an anime nerd at the time and desperately wanting to go into sailor moon's 'Tiskini koiye Oh shok yo.' but refraining.

She turned to the poor Japanese girl patting her back comfortingly. She did not envy her job in the least at the moment. “I’ll be here while I’m not on stage. I’ve got a few lines and songs, but nothing too over the top like Sharpay, so I’m here.” She said with a kind smile before walking away. She knelt on the drop and took the lid off the paint with her pocked knife’s screwdriver and dipped the clean, but obviously used brush head and started to evenly apply the paint where needed.

She turned her head towards the stage and noticed Sharpay and Ryan still there. “Hi.” She said to the two with a smile still painting. She had never really had a full out conversation over the four years that they had been in drama together. She was more of an honorary techie with cast roots while they were full out cast. Even when she’d had leads she was more techie than anyone. She’d help with Spots in club variety shows and props and paint during shows before performances. Allison was trying to make more cast friends this year and so far she was failing miserably.

[Bebe Tenko]

Bebe nearly gagged. Did... did Zara just call him "babe"? Yes. Yes he did. Bebe rolled her eyes and watched as he put the paint on perfectly. So maybe Zara did have his uses. The glitter even shone away from the actors' eyes - Bebe was impressed. No one, not even Allison, had managed to get that one right on their first try. Bebe simply nodded at Zara's work and, when he asked if anything else could be done with the glitter paint, she knew just what to say.

"Yes, the leaves need some glitter painted on their leaves. To represent morning dew," Bebe explained. "Don't ask me how that's supposed to work. Darbus just said to do it."

Bebe then turned to Allison, who was doing a perfect job, as predicted. She was, after all, a theater genius. Bebe got the feeling that Allison didn't really know how gifted she was, and now was not a time to be speaking about it. So instead Bebe joined Allison in painting the walls of the house.

"So, Alis-kun, it's almost over," Bebe murmured. "Has anyone told Sharpay-sama that her duet partner will likely be..."

Bebe looked back to Zara. He did look a bit angelic in the dappled, glittery light reflecting off of the windowsill - wait. Bebe caught herself quickly. Thinking Zara was cute?! No. Cannot happen.

"...will likely be Zara?"

Bebe was afraid of the answer she'd get.

[Allison Nicolette Stone]

Alis let out a small chuckle as Bebe asked if they'd informed Sharpay. "Oh We've all told her, but that doesn't mean she'll listen. She's actually got her heart set on Troy-sama." she said looking ad her work so far and nodding at what would only get passing in her perfectionist view, but she was always too hard on thing, they always turned out practically perfect. Usually because Bebe-chan knew what she was doing. She couldn't help the look at Zara and how it looked a little approving. She also didn't miss the flash of confusion and disgust that crossed the Asian's gorgeous face.

'No please not again!' she though to herself only masking her emotions with her acting skills. At times like these she was very glad she had spent an entire three years perfecting her control over her face all the way down to her eyes. She learned the eyes where the only parts of the body it was difficult to work on. they showed emotion and would not be controlled; at least for most people. Allison Stone was not most people. That burden came with a heavy price though, and she knew it all too well.

Now was not the time to think her past over however so she got some more paint and started to evenly move the brush over a new part of the house to finish what she had started. "He's not doing so bad actually. Sharpay's just too overtaken by Tory and her brother to notice he's not that bad. He seems to have many talents. What do you think about him Bebe-chan?" she asked. He seemed a bit pompous and he tried way too hard, but you didn't have to be into his type to know he was attractive. She just didn't feel the pull; she was impervious and she's earned that ten times over.

[Bebe Tenko]

Bebe blinked. Was Allison trying to get her to say nice things about Zara? Probably. Allison was always trying to get her out of her shell, and it was probably for the best. Bebe had a habit of retreating when she should've been outgoing. Bebe had a feeling that her lapses had cost her Chad.

But that wasn't something worth talking about at the moment.

"Oh, I'm sure Zara's talented," Bebe scoffed. "He's here, isn't he? Darbus-sensei put Jason-kun straight on his butt when she found out that he was talentless." But he meant well. Bebe should've added that he meant well. It wasn't his fault that Kelsi gravitated to Ryan.

Kelsi was banging on the piano rather hard at the moment. Once upon a time, Kelsi had promised to write Bebe a song to sing. That was freshman year. That was also before Sharpay took the song for herself. Kelsi's talents had only grown.

"I... I guess Zara has talent," Bebe said again, unsure of how to continue. She grabbed some rather ugly tortoise-rimmed glasses out of her pocket and put them on her face. So she looked like McLovin. Big freaking deal. She needed the glasses to see really close-up details, like making sure Zara's coat of paint really was completely even.

And it was. Bebe smiled in spite of herself. "Scratch that, Alis-kun, he has talent. He managed to make a completely even coat of paint."

[Ryan Evans]

Ryan gave one last perplexed face before shaking his head and walking away, muttering something that sounded indistinctly like too much paint inhalation. He took of his hat slowly and ran his hand through his hair as he walked up the stage steps. It was strange how even with all the chaos on the stage and in the auditorium, all Ryan could see was Sharpay sitting off further from everyone.

As he got closer to her, he grabbed one of the chairs along with him and dragged it in front of her, sitting down. "Hey you." He said softly, a slightly concerned look on his face. "How you holding up?" He asked, trying to notice any outward things he should be worried about. "Do you want me to go toss Troy2.0 off the stage or something?" He asked with a quick laugh as he pointed a thumb to where Jimmie had been standing. Ryan sighed slightly, cracking his neck slightly and stretching out again. "And I mean really," He continued, lowering his voice to an even softer whisper. "are you okay?" making a knowing face at her, before clearing his throat.

He turned around for a second to make sure no one had wandered too close to where they were seated, not wanting anyone to hear their discussion now especially. As he turned back to Kelsi who seemed to be mentally wandering off at the piano, his lips pursing for a second as he shook his head again before turning back to Sharpay. "Back to the show for a second, I think we might need a replacement pianist on hand, I think Kelsi has finally snapped." He shook his head again, chucking nervously as he took off his hat again, balancing it between his knees.

[Sharpay Evans]

Sharpay's face lit up as soon as she saw Ryan finally moving away from the now frustrated looking pianist and going to her direction finally. As Ryan was getting closer, she was starting to forget everything else that she was thinking of at that moment -- the creepy Troy wannabe, Tiara and Troy still missing, the sets, Kelsi, everything...she could only see Ryan, and that was enough to make her feel better. And once he was sitting in front of her, she had finally managed to smile again. "Glad you've finally escaped," she grinned at him, taking a glance at Kelsi. "It seemed like she didn't like it though," she said, tilting her head slightly towards Kelsi. "But I'm so glad you're here now. I need you here." She looked around, and as soon as she was sure no one was paying attention, she slowly took his hand in hers and gave it a small squeeze.

She giggled when Ryan mentioned throwing "Troy 2.0", that name seemed very fitting for that kid. "It wasn't just him though, I was just really stressed out I guess. I mean, Troy is not here yet and we haven't even rehearsed our number again. I especially don't want that number to turn into a chaotic mess, but if it does, I blame him." Sharpay tried to calm down, breathing in deeply and slowly breathing out, but what was really helping her was Ryan being there and listening to her. And when he asked if she was okay, she stretched her arms gracefully as well before leaning in to whisper, "Love, you know I'm more than okay." She winked at him before leaning back again, her cheeks warming up slowly. At this point, everyone was so busy with their own businesses to notice their actions, which she was really thankful for.

As Ryan brought the subject back to the musical again though, more specifically to Kelsi, Sharpay just shook her head, smirking once again at her clueless boyfriend. "Ryan, love," she said in a softer voice as she patted his cheek, "you don't really see it, do you?" She asked him, taking a glance once again at the pianist who seemed so frustrated at the piano. She made him face Kelsi, then back to her again. "You are so oblivious...and so cute," she shook her head at him with a grin, her hand that was on his face rested on his knee. "It's quite obvious, Ry. She's acting weird like that because she likes you. And I do mean like-like, to make it even clearer," she laugh slightly, watching Ryan's reactions, her hand patting his knee gently.

[Bebe Tenko]

Bebe had grown used to the silence that surrounded her as she painted the set. It was completely ordinary... no one really talked to her when she was in her groove. It would've been nice for Allison to acknowledge what she'd said about Zara, but that wasn't likely.

Bebe hated Zara. He was brash, irritating, loud, but damn it if he didn't make a perfect coat of paint. Bebe sensed that he was going to become her new painting slave. Her old painting slave had broken up with her. But Chad wasn't so great at set design, anyway.

She began to sing to herself, her silver hoop earrings jangling as she painted the windowsill again.

"The moon is cool... my arms are empty," Bebe whisper-sang, so that no one would hear her. "All night long, how I've pleaded and cried... oh yeah... but you always said the day that you would leave me... would be a cold day in July..."

And wasn't it true.

[Tiara Gold]

Tiara was late. Ever since she had arrived at East High, she had been busy in trying to make the Drama Department hers and thus her lateness wasn‘t anything new. After all, its co-presidents were leaving at the end of the year, which wasn’t that far away and she only had to worry about the pair’s dominant half, whom was ironically a girl. Along with the takeover, she’d managed to get the part of ‘Sharpay,’ while the Drama Club’s Musical’s leading lady unfortunately had to leave and its leading man ran after her. And because of that, parts were switched and understudies were put into the musical in their respective parts. She had entered the spring musicale as an understudy and now there she was-in her dream role. All this was her fault, in a good way of course. It couldn’t have been more perfect. Tiara could help but smile to herself as she thought about it.

She had walked across backstage, strutting her way past a couple of people. A small bag hung loosely on her forearm. She would use it as an excuse for Sharpay. Before making her way onto the stage, she stopped, noticing several people onboard. Some were adding last minute touchups to the sets, whilst the small pianist, Kelsi worked diligently at the piano. As she continued to look around, she spotted the Evans sitting down. Of course. She rolled her eyes at the pair, but only slightly. She couldn‘t let anyone see her facial expression since she is suppose to be ‘nice’.

It seemed like rehearsals hadn’t even started and today happened to be the last day. Nevertheless, Tiara didn’t care. She almost had everything she wanted. So far, everything was going good. She began to walk once more and down the stairs. She went towards the front of the stage and set her bag down, sighing contently.

[Shane Luck]

(I'm here to annoy people yet again)

Shane was one of the people expected to show up because well, he tried to do everything. To colleges, he wanted to seem like he can do anything and everything. Shane, clad in a suit and a Bullet For My Valentine t-shirt he stole from his brother (the term was actually borrowed without knowledge). He was stiff, his walk was stern and brisk, like a businessman's walk. His dirty blonde hair was combed back neatly. His pale face was the only thing to light up his face. The lilac of his eyes popped against his skin.

He walked towards the stage. Boy, some people are really taking this seriously. He wondered what his brother, Michael, had seen in music. Shane only knew of poetry. Then again, wasn't music just poetry with a certain tone and some instruments? Shane guessed so as he walked towards the stage. "Hey, sorry, I'm late." He said to anyone who cared to know. Shane's voice was as serious as his walk.

He didn't look like he had time for fun. He didn't look fun at all. His t-shirt was hidden. His personality was all planned out. The eighteen year old looked ten years younger than he really was as he gave a toothy grin at how the stage looked like. He walked to the stage, looking at it, standing, still grinning like a maniac. "Can anyone tell me what to do? I'm new at this, as can be seen." He hated his own voice. Boy, did he sound like some British idiot.

The used to be Colorado prisoner continued to stare at the set. His toothy grin dimming as memories struck him. He seemed lost in thought for a moment then reality hit him with a bang. He realized where he was and laughed at himself, sure that everyone can hear. "Sorry, did I forget to mention that I need to be directed to help you?"

[Jimmie "Rocketman" Zara]

Jimmie had been so caught up into his work, that he hadn't noticed what anyone was doing. Although painting glitter onto fake things was hard work, he was trying to show Bebe that he wasn't as incompetent as he seemed. After all, one couldn't be incompetent if they were an understudy. And an understudy such as himself did lots of other things around the auditorium. Of course he flirted with Sharpay and Tiara, he still knew how to paint evenly, without the blobs of paint sticking out. Only a idiot would be able to do that. And he wasn't an idiot.

He had taken his eyes off the thing he had been painting and caught sight of another little blonde walk across the stage. His hand with the brush dropped down as he watched her walk down the stairs. Such a simple act could really make him go dumb. It was very interesting though how Tiara had that affect on him where as Sharpay just made him try as hard as he could to make her like him. Different girls did different things to him.

Placing the brush back into the can of paint, he walked as slowly as he could go without making it obvious that he was in a hurry to talk to Tiara. He managed to get there without anyone really seeing (or so he thought) and stopped in front of her, giving her his trademark grin. "Hey, babe," he said, looking her over once. She always seemed to match with what Sharpay was wearing that day, but of course he liked to believe Tiara looked better in it. "What's going on?"

[Bebe Tenko]

Bebe noticed Zara running off to flirt with girls almost immediately. It irritated her, but she was too busy figuring out why her stomach dropped when Tiara Gold appeared. Bebe didn't like Miss Gold, almost as much as she didn't like Zara, mostly because she thought she was entitled to everything, having gone to the prestigious London Academy, aka LAMDA.

Bebe had the option to go there, but then she assaulted her sister, and the offer was retracted. Fun times.

She noticed a young British boy wandering around aimlessly. She narrowed her eyes in confusion - it had to be Shane Luck, who Darbus-sensei had said would be doing backstage management.

"OI! LUCK-SAN!" Bebe called to him. She was basically unofficial master of the stage; Shane would be under her command. Bebe glanced one more time at Zara and Gold, feeling miserable.

Damn it, I'm not Bella. Snap out of it.

"Do you need help?" Bebe asked Shane from halfway across the room.