Seb's Sophomore Year **!!DISCONTINUED!!**

First Day of Sophomore Year

As Seb opens his eyes to his annoying alarm clock. Seb slams his hand down on the alarm clock before attempting to drift back asleep for five more minutes. Almost immediately he sits strait up, as strait as he can be anyway, and throws off his blankets. He rushes to the bathroom and knocks and, to no surprise, he hear's one of his little brothers, Evan, yell "I'm in here!" and Seb runs to the kitchen to grab some Cinnamon Toast Crunch and the milk that has been in the fridge since last Tuesday. 

He quickly pours milk into the bowl, along with the cereal. His sister, Christine, gives him a disappointed look and he finishes the bowl quickly. After that, he practicality tears down the door to the restroom. A few moments later, he starts to brush his teeth and fix his hair, then runs to his room to find a cute, I mean, nice outfit for the day. 

Seb, barely having any energy left, walks downstairs and tells Christine  to get in his pick-up truck. "What are you doing..?" Christine stops Seb and Seb replies, "We are going to be late! Come on!" Christine stands in front of the door. "Move! I want to get to school! I can't be late on the first day! Not again.." Christine and Seb turn to see their older brother Alexander laughing his head off. 

Christine then turns to Seb and asks "Seb... What time did your alarm say..?" Seb stops. He hadn't checked. He had been in such a rush, he didn't realize that it was 6:30 in the morning. "Ha! At least you won't be late." Alexander says, smirking at them. "I hate you." Seb says under his breath. "Thank you, Chris, for stopping me." "Don't mention it. I'm pretty sure we can get him back." Christine replies. An hour later Seb got in his truck and drove to school.

After Seb said goodbye to his sister, he went to his new locker. "4578" Seb whispered to himself. He turned the corner repeating the locker numbers under his breath. "4575, 4576, 4577... 4578.". He quickly put in his code and put away his books. He didn't hesitate to put up his Wicked  magnet he had gotten when he went to the book store last week. 

After getting his locker fixed up, he headed to the Gym for the assembly. He didn't think anything would be different this year. He sat on the forth row with Natalie Bagley, one of his best friends. He had known her since Kindergarten. She had always been there for him, as he had for her. She knows almost all of Seb's secrets. 

The principal had announced all the same stuff besides the seniors getting to wear hats on Fridays. Seb was about to die of boredom when a new voice made and announcement. He looked up to see a woman holding one of those t-shirt cannons.

"Go Wildcats!" The woman yelled, shooting a t-shirt that did NOT flatten out. It actually hit one of the Juniors. 

As the woman talked on, Seb was getting more and more excited. She was explaining how she would be preforming a version of High School Musical. Seb had only watched the movie, like, a million times. He had always wanted to play Sharpay, and now was his chance. 

"Oh, and meet your student choreographer, Carlos! You know him for being captain of the color guard. I know him as a unpaid, rising star!" As she said that, Seb's cheeks flushed a pale pink. He had had a crush on Carlos since Middle School. Seb had always imagined them being together, but, who was he kidding? He'd never have a shot with Carlos. Or so he thought.

During lunch, he told Natalie about wanting to audition, and how he wanted to play Sharpay.

"I'm really thinking about auditioning, Nat." Seb knew she wouldn't judge him. "The only problem is, I want to play Sharpay." "How is that a problem?" She asked. "Well, Miss Jenn might say I want to read for Ryan, and I'm afraid that I won't have enough courage to say I want to play Sharpay." Thankfully Natalie was there, otherwise he might've been sitting alone at a table, questioning himself. "How about you ask Carlos?" She moved her eyebrows up and down while she said it. "Ask Carlos?" Seb had started to blush as he thought about his beautiful hair, and those big brown eyes... "Seb!" Natalie had nudged him and Seb laughed, nervously. "W-what do you mean?" "I mean, tomorrow, before auditions, ask him to correct Miss Jenn or something." Seb nodded. That was a good idea. That way he wouldn't have to worry about screwing up his audition. "Right. I'll try later." Seb replied, ecstatic that he had an excuse to talk to the other boy.

                                           ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alright. I can do this. It's just a quick conversation with Carlos. He's only my crush. What if I screw up, and words don't come out of my mouth? What if he doesn't want to talk? What if I'm annoying him? UGH. You know what? I'm just going to go ask him. There he is. He looks like he's not too busy... Alright. I got this.

"Hey, Carlos?" I say maybe too nervously. "Yeah?" He replies with a smile. "I was just wondering if you could do me a favor tomorrow? For the auditions?" Did that sound like I'd be trying to bribe him? "Seb! I didn't know you liked theater?" He said, surprised. "Oh, yeah." I threw in an awkward laugh and continued, "I actually love musical theater. Not a lot of people know that about me though. My family knows, along with Natalie Bagley." Carlos' face had lit up. "That's so great! What's your favorite musical?" He said with a big grin. "I like Dear Evan Hansen." I replied, I loved seeing his face light up like that when Carlos suddenly stopped. What did I do now? "No. Way." He said getting excited. "That's my favorite too!" Carlos looked so happy and his face had completely lit up. "Anyways," I say, trying to get back on track," I want to audition for Sharpay tomorrow." I winced as I said that. He, somehow, looked even brighter than before. "Seb! That's amazing!" I smiled a bit while blushing, of course, and continued, "Thanks! The only problem is that I might not have the courage to stick up for myself if Miss Jenn says I'm reading for Ryan. So, I was wondering, could you correct her if she says something like that? I'm not good at sticking up for myself." That was the stupidest question ever. He's probably too busy. He'll think I'm trying to "Cheat" myself into getting Sharpay. "Sure! I understand. The nerves can get bad before an audition. I'm also pretty bad at sticking up for myself. Plus, I couldn't think of a better Sharpay!" He blushed slightly and grinned. "Thank you so much! I've been so nervous." Carlos had stood up and gave me a quick hug. You know, the kind a friend gives to you after getting a present or something. I wish it had lasted longer. "Bye, Seb! Break a leg tomorrow!" He had lit up after the quick embrace. "Bye, Carlos! I'll do my best!"

I walked away and I went to the parking lot. I mean, it was the end of the day. I needed to get home anyway. I popped in Defying Gravity from wicked and started to sing along. I sort of forgot where I was and completely zoned out while singing. The song had ended and I came back to Earth when I heard a taping on the glass. It was Carlos. I immediately rolled the window down. I blushed out of embarrassment. "Sorry, I was about to start tapping on the glass, like Ben Platt, and then I heard you singing one of the best songs EVER." He was grinning, and I smiled back. "Thanks. I forgot I was at school for a minute." I put in a nervous chuckle. "I have a good feeling that you will be happy about the casting tomorrow." Carlos had smiled and started walking away. I turned into a tomato and waved goodbye.

As I started to pull out of the parking lot, I noticed that Carlos' was staring at his tire which, by the way, looked like it had melted onto the pavement. I tapped on the glass of my window and waved. The once happy Carlos waved back, but he looked stressed. As I re-parked next to his car, I got out and came around the cars. 

"Everything ok?" I asked, genuinely concerned. "Not really. My tired was popped by this rock when I was pulling out. I don't have the tools to fix it." He looked flustered, and then looked at me desperately. "You know," I said nervously, "I might have the materials to fix it?" Carlos looked at me guiltily. "Really? I hate to ask but..." Before he could finish, I had interrupted. "Don't worry about it! I'll get my tools!" His face lit up like it did earlier except, this time, it was more of a, you-saved-my-life look. "Thank you so much, Seb!"

About an hour later, I had finally finished the car. As I came out from under the car, I was surprised to be embraced tightly by Carlos. The hug lasted about 10 seconds, which, to me, felt like a lifetime. 

"How can I thank you for this?" He looked so thankful that I'd been there. "I know." I said, innocently. What I would've liked to say was, another hug, or kiss, but instead I said, "Just correct Miss Jenn for me, deal?" He looked thrilled. "Deal." He said. He then gave a quick hug, and hopped into his car. (I had already put the tools up.)

He waved goodbye as I saw him pulling out of the parking lot. I should probably call Mom. I thought as I put my phone on speaker, and told her about the delay.

After eating, I ran upstairs and pulled out my keyboard. I instantly started practicing for tomorrow. It was my best shot at getting a big role. It would also be me basically coming out to my family. I can imagine my family seeing me as Sharpay and going, "Well. He''s gay. Like, completely gay."

As I fell asleep I dreamed of me on that stage singing Bop to the Top with Carlos. That was an easy way to fall asleep.