Ding Dong. Ding dong.
"I'll get it!" Mum shouts from the living room. I sit back down on the bean bag in the rumpus room. I continue with my book and hear a squeal from the front door. One of Mum's weird high-school girl squeals that she usually does when she's released a new item of clothing.
I roll my eyes but close my book and lay it gently beside me on the floor. I scramble off the bean bag with an oof and walk out to see what the fuss is about. I yawn while I walk, I woke up an hour ago, but I'm still tired since I was up late last night studying.
"Oh. My. God," I say, my hands dropping to my sides when I see the person at the door. My mouth falls wide open and I stare at the girl in front of me. "AHHHHH!"
I sprint forwards and launch myself at my best friend. She drops her bags and hugs me back. "Hi!"
"You're here! Wh- what... how?" I stammer, climbing off her.
"Surprise!" she says, smiling and doing jazz hands. I grin at her.
"How are you here?" I scream.
"I thought I'd come for your birthday," Adele shrugs. "Mum and Dad bought me the tickets and so I fly over since its school holidays. And... well, here I am!"
"C'mon sweetie, come in, come in, I've got your bed made," Mum says, beckoning her in.
I gape at my mother. "You knew she was coming?"
"Well, it wasn't called a surprise for nothing," Mum says, placing a hand on Adele's back and helping her with her bags.
We walk into my room and I see the single mattress lying on the floor. When did that get there? It definitely wasn't there a few hours ago.
"Ooo! Its so nice," Adele says, dumping her bags on the floor and jumping onto her bed.
"Thanks," I say. She looks around, swinging her legs.
"I can't wait to meet Bubbles," she says. I nod and lie down on the bed next to her. "Hey, why aren't the curtains open? Its soooo dark in here!"
Before I can stop her, just like Mum, she opens the windows wide and starts to unlock the french doors, her handbag swinging from off her shoulder. She opens them and turns around to me, mouthing, 'he's hot!'
I make big no! actions with my arms but she smiles at me and walks back out onto the balcony, waving with a beam. I turn round and whack my head into my pillow, screaming silently. When I calm down I pull my head out of the pillow and listen at what she's saying.
Adele: "You must be Alex!"
Alex: "Yeah, that's me. You're Adele?"
Adele: "Yup," she pops the 'p.' "Nat's told me so much about you."
I glare at the open doors, wishing I had laser eyes that killed both the wall and my best friend.
Alex: "Really?"
Adele: "Oh, yeah."
Alex: "You live in Paris?"
Adele: "Yes."
Alex: "You like it?"
Adele: "Yeah. Now, listen here.."
I lean forward to listen to their conversation they're having. I hear bits and pieces that I can't put together. "Yeah, yeah, 'course.... If you do actually.... I understand.... yeah.... I know.... We aren't...."
And then, from Adele, "Anyway, I'll see you later. Are you hanging out."
"Not today," I hear Alex say quietly. "I don't think she will want to."
Adele walks back into the room and sits down with me on the bed after closing the doors. She smiles widely at me. "He is amazing. Hot, smart, cute, funny, kind," she lists on her fingers, her grin never fading. I shake my head sadly and fall back onto the mattress.
"Adele, he has a girlfriend!" I say. "What did you say to him? I couldn't hear."
She shrugs, an evil glint in her eye. "Nothing much."
"I don't believe you," I shake my head. "But I'll let it go anyway. Let's go see Bubbles."
"Let's do it!" Adele claps. "Is there something wrong with you and Alex, or do you always just... ignore each other."
I shrug and look down, picking at my nails. "Nothing's wrong."
***
We decide to meet Bubbles at cafe extra from lunch When we arrive there she's waiting for us at a booth to the side of the restaurant.
"Hi! Hi! Hi!" she squeals and runs over to hug Adele.
"Hi, Bubbles!" she says. They pull away and Bubbles beams at her.
"I'm soooo happy!" she says as we its down, swirling her straw in her Coke. "I didn't even know you were coming!"
"I'm down for Nat's birthday," Adele says, looking around. "It was a surprise! So, you guys work here?"
We talk for a while about school, work, college and boys, much to my dismay. When they ask what's up with me and Alex I mumble, "nothing," and they continue with the Callum subject.
Our meals arrive from Sara, who says a quick hello to Adele before returning to the back room for more waitress duties.
"You doing the musical, Nat?" Bubbles asks, digging into her burger.
"Yeah. Who are you auditioning for?" I ask, biting into a chip.
"I can't sing, so just the chorus or a cheerleader or something," she shrugs. "Alex'll get Troy. They changed it to just H-S-M 3 because we did the other two a few years ago but then decided to do Romeo and Juliet and interrupted the series. I nod, cutting up my chicken and sipping my lemonade.
***
"Hi."
"Oh, um, hi," I say and turn back to focus my attention on the blank wall in front of me.
"You're auditioning?" Alex asks, I look at him through the corner of my eyes without turning my head.
"Yes," I say in a clipped tone.
"Your friend's here," he says, watching me, I can feel it.
"Yeah she came from Paris for my birthday," I say, looking down at my Nike kicks. He shuffles around awkwardly and I breathe in his scent but quickly turn my head the other way.
"What d'you want for your birthday?" he asks.
I shrug. "Not much."
"Nat, I-" he starts but is interrupted when the door swings open and reveals Ms Carters.
"Natalie.." she squints down at her clipboard. "Bennett?"
"That's me," I say, standing up.
She smiles. "Whenever you're ready."
I gather up my books from the day and shove them in my bag, slinging that over my shoulder. I turn back to look at Alex. His hair is messy as always and his blue eyes are hidden behind his Ray Bans, making his sharp jawline look even more prominent. He looks... defeated. Before I can say anything else to him, I turn and walk away.
As I put my hand on the door handle, there is a shuffling behind me. Someone places a hand on my arm and spins me into them. I hit his chest, hard, and let out an 'ow.'
"Sorry," he whispers, his warm, minty breath blowing into my face. I look up at his face and fight the instinct to brush his hair off his forehead. We stare at each other for about a minute before I look away.
Instantly, I blush when I see everyone in the waiting room watching us. About five of them have their phones out, taping us. "Um," Alex clears his throat and I look back at him, failing to hide my sadness. "Good luck."
I nod and turn to walk away. I only realize he's holding my hand until it slips off me and I close the door behind me.
a/n: whoa. dramatic.
***
"How'd it go?" Bubbles asks me as we walk into my house after school.
"Alright," I shrug.
"Really? Alright? You sure? Not: 'I was the top of the lot,'" she says, wiggling her eyebrows.
I shake my head and smile. "I was not."
"Well, they announce it at assembly tomorrow," Bubbles says as I unlock the house. We step inside and see Adele on the couch, watching some Netflix on my computer with some popcorn in hand. She smiles when we walk in.
"Ha, sucker, you had to school!" she says.
"Yeah, we had to school," Bubbles slings her bag down and takes some popcorn. We watch 'Anne with an E' for about two hours before shutting off the laptop and walking up the stairs.
We collapse on my bed and the other two take out their phones. I lay on my bed and look up at the ceiling. The curtains are open, but Alex isn't in his room. I sigh and fall back on the bed. Maybe we'll make up if we get into the musical.
I don't realize the others are watching me until they sit up and bluntly stare at me. I look at them and lean my back against the pillows. "What is it?"
"What's up with you and Mr Darcy?" Adele asks.
"Not much. Its more him and Elizabeth... There isn't a Natalie in Pride and Prejudiced," I say, confused.
Adele rolls her eyes. "No, you idiot, Alex."
"Oh," I shut my mouth quickly. "Nothing."
Bubbles joins in the conversation. "C'mon, you and him haven't not spoken a word to each other since... that thing before homecoming."
I bite my lip. "That was different. Now... I dunno, we're not really friends anymore."
"WHAT?" Bubbles jumps off the bed and starts passing. "The ship is sinking, the ship is sinking. I'm dying. You have to speak to him."
"No thanks," I say, shaking my head. My phone vibrates a few times in my pocket and before I can read the name "babe" Bubbles snatches it off me and answers.
"Hey, babe," she says, actually sounding like me. My mouth drops open. She puts the phone on speaker."
"Oh... Hi, Nat, I was.. uhm, worried you wouldn't pick up," he says. I look at the ground.
"Yeah, by the way. I'm really sorry I'm mad at you for some reason. We should just get together and you can kiss me and hold my hand. You should give me flowers and sleep with-" Bubbles starts. I get up at grab the phone from her.
"Sorry, Alex," I say.
"That Bubbles?" he asks.
"Yeah," I say, walking into the bathroom and shutting the door. "Where are you?"
"Football training," he says.
"Oh.. uhm, cool," I say, sitting down on the toilet. "I, um-"
"I'm-" he starts but the line goes static and I can't hear him.
I sigh and lean my head on the tiled wall. Adele knocks on the door and I stand up, opening it and walking outside.
"Hey," I say, as though I didn't see her only two minutes ago.
"What'd he say?" Adele asks.
I shrug. "Go die in a hole."
Bubbles' face drops. "Aw, no! But... but.. but.. I thought he was as sweet as Callum!"
I laugh. "He didn't really say that. He told me he was at footy training. Then there was no signal."
"BAM! Right there, Bubbles, that is why you don't go on your phone in the bathroom. ON the toilet."
I roll my eyes. "Shut up."
"I like him," Adele states.
Bubbles fake gasps. "But... But Adele! Alex and Natalie.. they.. they're just meant to beeeee!" She says in a French accent.
We laugh. Adele turns back to me. "Seriously though, I do like him. If you're really fighting, make up, sista. I ship 'me too, Bubbles."
Bubbles beams and they return to their phones. I sigh and sit on my desk chair, crowding myself with study.
***
I'm seated in a comfortable cushioned chair. Bubbles sits beside me, with Kate on my right. The seniors were called to an assembly after school. So here we are, in the theater, sitting on our cushioned seats, eager to find out what it's about.
"Oh," Bubble says, nodding when Ms Carter walks out on stage. "She's announcing the musical stuff. I thought they announce it to the whole school. Obviously not, they'd do that later. Get excited!"
I roll my eyes and slouch back in my seat. This might take a while, and I have to be at work by four thirty.
"Hey everyone! Happy Tuesday!" she says. Everyone groans. Ms Carter continues. "So, as you all know, we're doing High School Musical 3 this year! Over three quarters of your cohort auditioned, I would hope that would be to awaken you to the wonders of theater, but, quite obviously it is most likely to boost your social status-' that earned a few laughs "- Anyway, as most of you know, we did the first two high school musicals a couple of years ago, but didn't get to complete the series. We were going to do h-s-m i, 2 and 3 but we decided that is a lot of stuff to memorize, so we scrapped that idea," she coughs, swallowing deeply before continuing. "So, since the title is 'senior year' we thought it would be best to tell you the cast list before the rest of the school, since most of the leads are from 12th grade."
Everyone lets out 'woops!' I see Amanda sit up in her seat when Ms Carter says the word, 'cast.' She puts one leg over the other from where she is in the front row and beams at Ms Carter before turning around and winking seductively to Alex. What a little fish butt.
I sigh and lean back in my seat. Ms Carter dramatically pulls out a list of names. Everyone sits up straighter, except me, I don't wanna know.
"So... For the chorus we have... drum roll please...." everyone drums their hands on their knees and listens. "Chloe Adamson. Jasmine Clarrols. Jasper Wright. Harriet Stacy. Julianna Gardiner. Harry Ger. Jemma Forkner. Kaylee Jones. Dave Frederick. Martin Phillips. Cameron Gallagher. And Stacy McAdamsons," Ms Carter says. "Other chorus members are from the junior, sophomore and freshman years." A few people cheer and squiggle in their seats to hug friends. Bubbles slouches in her seat, joining me with a frowny face. I look at her with sympathy and lay a hand on her arm.
When everyone is settled, Ms Carter pulls out another list of names. "SO!" she yells, quieting everyone. "How this is going to work... The characters that don't have large roles will be sent to you on email, but the leads will be read out right now. So.. here we go, drum roll, puh-lease!"
Everyone starts clapping their thighs with their hands and over-eager people lean forward. Ms Carter clears her throat. "Ms Darbus - Jessica Halemson. Coach - Noah Ross. Martha Cox - Kiera Moore. Rocket Man - Callum Boyle. Zeke Baylor - Jason Borneson. Chad Danforth - Leo Jasons. Taylor McKesie - Meghan Glover. Kelsie Nielson......" there is a dramatic pause. "Kate Harris."
We all turn to Kate, who beams. We smile at her and she accepts the congratulations around her, as Meghan does too.
"Ryan Evans," Ms Carter continues. "Luke Farson. Tiara Gold - Amanda Harper."
Everyone turns to look at the front of the room as Amanda springs to her seat and screams, loudly. Yeah, with that performance even I'm surprised she didn't get a main lead. "WHAT?"
"Is there an issue, Miss Harper?" Ms Carter stares down at Amanda.
"An issue? An ISSUE!" Amanda screeches. "Of course there is an effing ISSUE! My boyfriend is going to have to kiss some other random cow! I will not let this happen! Give me a lead!"
"Amanda, perhaps you should begin to be grateful for your position. After all, you did get a lead. Please be grateful, most girls did not get a position at all. And with your boyfriend. If he does get the main lead, you should be happy for him, not jealous of the girl that gets to kiss him. If you were so cautious about him kissing another girl, maybe you two shouldn't have applied at all. And perhaps you may be broken up and the leading couple together on the day of the show. Now, where were we?"
Amanda lets out a humph and walks to the aisle, to the corner where Alex sits. She takes his hand and pulls him up. "We're leaving!"
Alex laughs. "C'mon Amanda. Some people didn't even get a position. You should be overwhelmed, not outraged."
"Well, I am! And we're leaving! You are not going to be kissing some random cow!" she says.
"Amanda, chill out. Maybe I'm excited to see who I'll be kissing. Depends on who it is," he says. Bubbles slaps my arm playfully and I roll my eyes.
Amanda lets out a furious groan and storms out of the theater.
"Well, that was very amusing," Ms Carter says and the cohort chuckles. "Anyway. The main, main leads. Sharpay Evans.... Drum roll please! Claudia Stephenson!"
I cheer loudly, finally sitting up in my seat. Bubbles' mouth hangs wide open as people clap her on the back and squeeze her arms. I throw my arms around her and she comes to her senses and hugs me back. "But I can't sing!" she yells over the noise. I pull away from her.
"You're probably someone who doesn't sing but is really good, or you'll lipsync while someone sings for you!" I say. Something washes over her face and she grins at me, waving off the 'well done's.'
"D'you know what this means?" she asks. I look at her with confusion. "Alex always gets the main male lead, ever since tenth grade. And since you ain't Sharpay, they'll put you as Gabriella!"
I laugh. "I highly doubt it. They best I could do is Kelsie, and so my chances are demolished. I could be the one singing while you lipsync! We could practice together!" I say. Bubbles shakes her head but smiles.
"And Troy Bolton goes to Alex Collins," Ms Carter announces. Most of the grade cheers loudly. I see Alex getting congratulated on the role. I sigh when he pulls off the Ray Bans and takes out his toothpick. He turns around and looks at me. I quickly look away and only turn back ten seconds later, when he's turned back around. He's only nodding and giving people half hearted smiles when he gets punched in the shoulder or tapped.
I look away quickly, back at Bubbles, with a smile. She's looking at me with a motherly expression on. "Don't tell me you're smiling because you broke the poor kid's heart just then. Even more."
I roll my eyes and wait for Ms Carter to continue speaking. She smiles at Alex and looks back down at her list. "And Gabriela goes to... Vanessa-"
People immediately start cheering for a popular cheerleader who looks very smug. She winks at Alex and I don't look to see his reaction.
I bite my lip. I didn't realize how strongly I felt about someone else kissing him until this annoying cheerleader was told she gets to. What is happening to me. Bubbles elbows me. "He's looking at you."
I look at Bubbles and glare at her. "I don't care! We aren't friends."
"He looks sad," she says, looking over my shoulder. I shake my head and bend down to tie my shoe lace, which has come un done.
"Oh, no, guys.. I meant Vanessa Hudgens as a joke, ah, sorry," Ms Carter looks guilty and Vanessa the cheerleader's expression crumples. I tighten my shoelaces ad look up again. "Gabriela goes to Natalie Bennett!"
I pale immediately. Everyone turns to look at me and Vanessa Cheerleader runs out of the room. I feel guilty immediately. There are so many angry faces, none from guys, maybe from Noah, but I always get angry glares from him. Girls are killing me with their eyes and Bubbles is holding onto my wrist extra tight.
One girl points to Alex and mouths to me 'he's mine,' other cheerleaders follow her lead, trying to be subtle. Meghan and Chloe hug me and I hug them back, hiding my face behind them and holding onto them for longer to avoid the glares.
"Woop!" someone yells. I let go of Chloe and turn to look at Alex, who claps once and turns back to the front, hiding his grin from me. What a doofus.
Ms Carter coughs. "Thank you for coming to today's assembly! Have a great evening!"
Everyone starts to stand up when someone yells, "wait!" everyone turns to look in the direction the yell came from and people begin sitting down. I look at Bubbles with a 'what?' expression on my face. She shrugs and sits down. Then her face lights up and I follow her gaze to the front of the room where Alex stands with the microphone, in his hand. He clears his throat. Is Amanda back? Is he going to withdraw his name for her?
"Uh, hi," he says. There is a chorus of 'Hey, Alex,' from most girls. He smiles slightly. "Ah, sorry, most of you have places to be, but I, uhm, haha, have to say something," he chuckles awkwardly. I look at him with confusion, his gaze finds mine. "Uh, so a few days ago... I did something bad, like really bad-"
"Was it really that bad?" Bubbles whispers to me and I shrug self consciously. She lets out a 'yes!'
"-And I.. well, I wanted to apologize. It was a douche thing to do, and I'm sorry," he says. I slouch down in my seat and he smirks. "But yeah, she's really embarrassed now. Anyway, I wanted to say I'm sorry. Like, really sorry, dude. And, yeah. I want you to forgive me. Cause.. uhm. I... I miss you."
I look at the ground when he says those words. But he continues. "But, yeah. You probably wanna flip me the bird but... yeah, I'm not good at not talking to you," he chuckles. "I'm sorry. Anyway, everyone! Continue!"
Everyone shuffles up and start speaking about Alex's little speech. I get out of there as fast as humanly possible, ignoring the "Natalie!" calls Alex is giving me.
I dash into my car and race out of the car park, heading to work and drowning my confusion in waitress.
***
A/N: I recommend listening to 'Can I have this Dance'when you read this bit!
When work finishes I try to start up my car, but it won't turn on. I call mum and dad's insurance company they signed me up with and walk home in the pouring rain with my waitress outfit on. My hair is soaked and has fallen out of its bun. I run up to my house and unlock the door, dashing inside. My family is at Lucas's and Paul's parent teacher interviews so I couldn't call them. Adele doesn't have a car and I didn't want to call her. Bubbles is probably celebrating with her family.
I shove my keys into my pockets and dash upstairs, into my room. Adele is snoring on the couch in front of the TV, which is playing TVD.
I open the door to my room and feel like flopping on my bed and drying myself up. Instead, I freeze in shock, the cold water dripping down me has made me numb and I just stare at the balcony.
Damn, why'd he have to choose now to be standing on my balcony with a bunch of sunflowers and his wet, curly hair probably made damp from a shower.
And then here I am, my white shirt sticking to me like I'm a lady bug and my clothes are my dots. My hair is slightly wavy and hanging in strands around my face. My tiny shoulder bag is hanging from my right side and my black ballet flatz are all soggy.
Alex doesn't judge. Instead, he starts playing some music. I just get even more confused. He walks inside and hands me the sunflowers. I open my mouth to ask what the hell is going on when he holds out his hand and starts mouthing the words to 'Can I have this Dance.'
"Take my hand," he lip syncs. I raise my eyebrows at his outstretched hand. He looks at me with a questioning expression. I bite my lip. He's acting so much like Troy Bolton that its funny. And also, he was lip syncing to Gabriela's voice. I try and bite back my smile but it slips out even when I try and twist my lips to hold it back.
I place my hand in his and he pulls my into him, placing a hand on my back. I put one on his shoulder and he continues to lip sync. I put my flowers down on my desk as we dance past it. "Won't you promise me?, That you'll never forget, To keep dancing wherever we go next."
He's doing such a great job at lip syncing that I giggle as he pulls me around the room, dancing like the high school musical love birds did on the roof.
He twirls me around and I laugh. I put my hand back on his shoulder and step little steps around my room, letting out a few gasps of laughter when I get twirled around.
"It's like catching lightning, The chances of finding someone like you, It's one in a million, the chances to feeling, The way we do, "by this point Alex has stopped lip syncing and we're just dancing around my room to the music. He lifts me up and I let out a burp of laughter.
"Take my hand, I'll take the lead, And every turn will be safe with me, Don't be afraid, afraid to fall, You know I'll catch you through it all, And you can't keep us apart," we continue to waltz. He twirls me under his arm and I giggle.
We keep gliding around the room, our hands clasped together. I laugh when I step on his feet and apologize.
"Oh, no mountain's too high and no ocean's too wide, 'Cause together or not, our dance won't stop, Let it rain, let it pour, what we have is worth fighting for, You know I believe that we were meant to be, yeah," Alex lets go of my hand and holds them both firmly around my waist, dipping me and pulling me back up. I laugh loudly and hold his hand again.
We keep waltzing until the song ends and I let go of his hands. He smiles and flicks his Ray Bans down. I'm about to say something when another voice interrupts us. "Whoa."
Adele is standing in the doorway, throwing popcorn into her mouth, watching us with raised eyebrows. She smiles Alex smiles back. He kisses my cheek, says "See you tomorrow, Greg," and jumps over the railing. I look after him then turn back to Adele, opening my mouth to explain. She just looks at his retreating back with a popcorn-filled grin.
"My BFF's Boo is Romantic."
___________________________________________________________
Hullo!
Did you enjoy this chapter? Tell meee
Also, Who is your favorite character and how do you picture them? (A load of people didn't comment and I really wanna know!!!)
Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. What do you think is gonna happen next?
Comment! Vote!
Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
-Abbey