High School Musical (Complete)

Chapter Eleven - Intro to She (Silas)

Watching as the overhead lights switched off, I straightened up and tried not to stretch out too much since I knew that the seats weren't suited to people of my size and I didn't want to elbow North or Gabriel.

"Fuck yes," Gabe whispered, earning himself a slap on the back of the head as the people around us settled.

The stage lights arrowed in on the centre, their strength muted by the blue covering which turned made it seem intimate and isolated.

Jade walked out dressed in what I believe dancers called a leotard, her footsteps the only noise as she dropped a bag onto the ground and began to stretch.

The first notes of a piano sounded, coiling through me as one of the lights slowly left Jade to illuminate a storage bench behind her in what I guessed must have been a scene set from a ballet studio.

"Aggele Mou," I whispered, my body straining forward. She was sitting on top of the bench and honestly, I felt the breath leave my body.

She was the most beautiful creature that I had ever seen, her legs crossed as she gracefully sat with her head down.

"Look at that dress," Gabe whispered, his voice filled with happiness.

"Shh," I hissed, my eyes never leaving her as she slowly lifted the microphone.

Young girl, don't cry

I'll be right here when your worlds starts to fall

Young girl, it's alright

Your tears will dry, you'll soon be free to fly.

I wasn't the only one in the audience to draw in a startled breath at the beauty of her soft voice. I'd heard the song before but as Jade began to dance gracefully across the stage, it seemed as though Sang's rendition transported us all so that instead of seeing a dancer playing a part, we could see her life. See what tormented her soul.

When you're safe inside your room you tend to dream

Of a place where nothing's harder than it seems

No one ever wants or bothers to explain

Of the heartache life can bring and what it means.

When there's no one else

Look inside yourself

Like your oldest friend

Just trust the voice within

Then you'll find the strength

That will guide your way

You'll learn to begin

To trust the voice within.

Jade leapt through the air, her movements strong as Sang stayed still behind her. My angel lifted her eyes to the audience and I swore that for one moment, she looked out at me. The bodice of her navy cocktail gown was fitted and glittered with circles of sliver, as her small bare feet remained motionless, hanging towards the floor.

I couldn't concentrate on anything else but how haunting the scene was.

Sang was the voice of Jade's character, Hailee. The lyrics conveying more emotion than could have been done through the most aching of dialogue.

A quick glance revealed that my brothers were as mesmerised as myself, with Gabe's eyes filled with tears and North wearing nothing but a stunned look of worship.

She was a goddess and we were nothing more than her captives.

Slowly, she lifted a hand as Hailee lowered to her knees, her body aimed towards the audience.

Young girl, don't cry

I'll be right here when your worlds starts to fall.

The lights switched off once more as the piano died into silence.

"Holy fucking shit," Nathan breathed. "What was that?"

"I..." Kota shook his head. "She was..."

"Magnificent," Mr Blackbourne finished, his lips pulled up into a wide smile. 

"Shh," Luke ordered just as the vibrant opening notes of 'Bad to the Bone' came from the stage; Jay stood off in the corner, dressed in leather with the electric singing underneath his fingers as Rocky came roaring onto the stage.