Fourteen years, two months, twenty nine days. That's how long Juliette Mason was encased in ice for, mirroring Captain America without all of the cool superpowers. Her life is turned upside down as she realizes what's going on all those years later...
"So, I heard East High is doing High School Musical: The Musical. You should audition." Mom, no. I have yet to forget a single line of the movie, so that's a hard pass.
"I want to be normal. Plus, our drama teacher was in HSM." Her reaction is the opposite of what I expected.
"She probably doesn't even remember you. And don't even try me, your voice is amazing." There's also this thing called stage fright. "You need to get over your stage fright. You have so much to say to the world if you just tried."
"How about I become part of the crew?" She won't let it go until I submit to her pressure, so compromise is the next best thing.
"Okay, but you belong on that stage." Alright, mom. Never going to happen, though.
"I have to go to school, now. Bye, mom." I wave goodbye, acting as if she didn't just say that and head to my car before she can say anything else towards the matter. As soon as I arrive, I see way too many posters about auditioning for the musical, trying out for sports, student council flyers, and I ignore them so I'm not completely overwhelmed.
By the end of the day, there's only so much High School Musical talk I can handle without blowing up. Especially when none of the kids in my last class realize it's the exact room that was used as Mrs. Darbus' homeroom. Granted, it looks much different now, but I remember the room number. Not like it was that long ago in my memories. It's the curse of every person bearing a photographic memory—you never forget anything.
"Come on, Juliette, you should come," Nini says, basically dragging me towards the theatre.
"Alright, fine. But I'm only there to support you, not to audition." Following closely behind her, I try to push every memory of HSM out of my mind that continues to pop up even as I should be paying attention to where I'm going, but that doesn't do anything to help the fact that I run into someone I've never met.
"I am so sorry. I was not paying attention to where I was going," I apologize as I see Nini and him exchanging googly eyes. Her boyfriend. Why did I have to run into her boyfriend, of all people?
"No worries. Are you auditioning for the musical?" He asks, but I still don't know his name.
"Not a chance. I have way too much stage fright." The three of us walk towards the theatre, when I finally learn his name. EJ Caswell. Senior, like me; class treasurer; captain of the water polo team; 4.3 GPA; played the lead in last year's spring musical Gypsy. Where does he have the free time to have a girlfriend with all of that on his plate? I'm tired just thinking about it.
Until I'm snapped out of my thoughts at the sound of the drama teacher's voice. Every time I hear it, I just think about how much I missed HSM and the amazing cast we had for the movie. In the last few months, I haven't even bothered to watch the released movie, not that it's any different than I remember it being. I also haven't watched High School Musical 2 or 3 either.
Jennifer Poppoli was my best friend. My sister from another mister. Before I'd gotten lost—I assume I got lost because I barely remember the morning of the day I went missing—she was my companion on a two-day hike through the mountains in Canada. Just to get away from the drama. Granted, it was all my idea, but she agreed to go because she would rather come with me to ensure I came out.
That plan backfired.
I was planning to tell her what all went down with her line that night, but there's no way I can stand here in my seventeen year old body and explain that to her. So much would make sense if I had just aged fourteen years instead of stuck the way that I am.
"You look oddly familiar. Do I know you from anywhere?" I should be insulted that my best friend doesn't remember me, but it's a blessing. If she doesn't recognize me, I can fly under the radar.
"No. I must just have one of those faces." I shrug, taking one of the places towards the back to watch the warm-up. Seems there's another new kid, too. Number one. Watching as Carlos, the choreographer, shows them a series of movements, I imagine them in my head, although still able to sit perfectly still. Seems the new kid with the number one attached to her shirt has quite a bit of flexibility.
"Alright, that's it for the warm-up. Everyone, sit here and let's start with the Troys." Following her directions, I sit kind of close to Nini and Kourtney, with EJ next to Nini dressed in a number 14 jersey. The number was actually ten originally the number, but I convinced them to change it to fourteen part-ways through filming. To honor Jeff Hornacek, who taught many of the cast how to play basketball and a Utah Jazz basketball player who had a number 14 blazing on his jersey for seven years on Utah's team.
EJ gets up, taking a spot at the center of the stage, reciting lines from the script in his hands, but I'm not feeling it. He looks the part, but nothing else is there. Weirdly, though, he is actually okay for Chad. And once he starts singing, I feel none of the emotions I put into the original song, and hope he gets Chad instead. But, it doesn't even look like anyone else is even trying for the role.
The new girl, who's name I learn to be Gina, auditions for Gabriella, and the same thing applies to her. She's perfect for Taylor, and with her confidence, she'd be perfect for the part. As soon as she's done, Nini heads to center stage, hoping to impress my ex-best friend.
"Am I too late? Am I too late?" And that's when the kid that nearly ran me over yesterday runs into the auditorium. I never realized how cute he was.
"You can read with the Chads after the Gabriellas." Miss Jenn looks at him, and I realize just how oh-so-ironic it is that he arrived late.
"I only studied the Troy scenes from the movie." Well, for one, you're doing it for a girl, two, you arrived late after trying to get here on time, and three you've got the personality and charm for it. I wouldn't mind if he got the part of Troy, and I wrote the songs.
"Well, Troy would have arrived on time." No, he would have tried to arrive on time, and based on his panting breaths, I'd say he did just that.
Author's Note: The amount of things I've had to research just to determine what was popular and what didn't exist in early 2006 is insane. But, hopefully it's all paying off and you guys are enjoying what I'm writing! Vote, comment, let me know you guys enjoy this story!
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