chapter two
good news and arriving at camp

The next day, Dylan awoke full of excitement. Today was the day she was going to meet her friends at camp. She was going to do the road trip with her friends but her dad practically begged her to allow him to take her after demanding that he has a chat with her before they go. The thought scared Dylan — why did he need to speak to her so desperately? But nonetheless, she told him that it was okay and she would simply meet her friends there.

The girl had been packed for about a week, knowing that last minute packing would stress her out and so deciding not to risk it. Once she was out of bed, she jumped in the shower, before putting a black crop top with a pair of black denim shorts and one of EJ's jackets over the top, in case she got cold. She grabbed her suitcase, hauling it down the stairs before placing it in front of the front door.

She made her way towards the kitchen, the smell of food invading her senses. She stepped into the room to see her dad cooking at the stove, while Evelyn sat at the kitchen table, laptop in front of her as she stared at the screen. Dylan smiled, moving over to sit opposite Eve, who was editing a magazine double page spread.

Sebastian smiled over at his daughter from where he was cooking. He plated their breakfast up bringing over Dylan's and Eve before placing them in front of the two. He pressed a kiss to Dylan's head, Eve moving her laptop to the other side of the table as Sebastian made his way over with his own breakfast. Dylan quickly tucked in, the pancakes and bacon with maple syrup looking absolutely incredible.

Both Seb and Eve ate their breakfast in silence, looking over at Dylan every few seconds after sharing a couple of glances. Dylan furrowed her eyebrows when she noticed both of them acting weird. She stayed quiet for a few more moments, eating her food happily before the awkwardness and silence was too much for her.

"Why are you two acting weird?" She asked suddenly, catching the two adults by surprise.

"We're not." Eve stated, sharing a look with Seb.

"Yes you are." Dylan raised her eyebrows. "Why?"

The two both shook their heads, adamant that they were fine and not acting weird in anyway. Dylan continued to raise her eyebrows at them, looking between the two adults before staring at her dad for a few seconds.

"We're getting married." Sebastian blurted.

"Sebastian!" Eve scolded.

Dylan froze, her eyes wide. When her dad had said he had something important to tell her she didn't expect this, nor did she expect him to just blurt it out. She should have though, it was in her father's nature after all.

"Dylan?" Seb and Eve looked over at the girl, who was still frozen in shock.

"What?"

"We're getting married." Eve stated softly. "You're dad proposed a few days ago, we were just waiting for the right time to tell you."

"Wait, you set up a proposal by yourself?" Sebastian nodded, resulting inn Dylan's mouth dropping in shock before an offended look passed over her expression. "You planned a proposal without me!"

"I'm sorry?" Seb furrowed his eyebrows.

"You should be."

"Wait, you're not mad, or annoyed?" Seb asked his daughter.

"Why would I be mad?" Dylan retorted.

"Never mind." Sebastian shrugged. "Anyway, I was wondering if you and the drama club would sing or something as you're all invited. EJ showed me your dance at Carlos' quinceañero and I loved it."

"Uh, sure. I'd have to check with everyone but I'm sure they'd love to." Dylan smiled. "You're guys are getting married."

Sebastian smiled once more, before standing up. He takes the finished breakfast plates, placing them in the sink before kissing Eve and walking towards the living room, leaving the two girls alone. Dylan smiled at the woman in front of her.

"I'm sorry for hating you, when we first met." Dylan spoke up.

"You had a reason, it's in the past." Evelyn shrugged it off.

"I know but I was horrible to you, and you didn't deserve that. You are an incredible woman, and I'm sorry I didn't see it before. It's just my mother she..." Dylan trailed off.

"I know." Evelyn nodded understandingly. "I'm here now, okay? If your mother won't be, I will. I will be there, after this wedding even if your father and I werent going to get married, if we were only dating, I would be there. I will be there at every one of your graduations. I will be at all of your dance competitions and concerts. I will be there to make a speech at your wedding if thats what you want and give you my wedding dress if thats what you want to wear or I will come dress shopping with you. I will be there to be the grandmother of your kids, many years in the future. I will be there to do your hair and make-up for prom and I will be there every time you fall over or embarrass yourself. And I will be there through every breakup and argument with your boyfriend or even your dad. I will be there every time you need to laugh with someone or if you need to cry or some advice or to gossip with or just someone to talk to. I will be there. I will be there because I see you as my daughter now and if your mum isn't going to step up and be the mother of an incredible, gorgeous, intelligent daughter like you then I will happily take the place."

"I love you so much." Dylan stated. "You are going to make an amazing Valdez."

"I love you too." Eve smiled. "And I want you to be my maid of honour."

"Really?"

"Yes, really." Eve nodded. Dylan smiled excitedly, standing up and hugging Evelyn tightly.

"I'm guessing she said yes." Sebastian spoke up from the doorway.

"I'm going to be a maid of honour!" Dylan practically squealed, rushing over to her dad and hugging him as well.

"Okay, okay." Seb laughed, kissing her head. "Come on, we gotta get you to camp."

Dylan smiled, following her father towards the front door. The man grabbed her suitcase, lugging it towards the car while Evelyn locked the house up. The three valdezs all got in the car, Dylan in the back. She decided to sit in middle, allowing herself to lean forward in between the front seats.

Evelyn plugged her phone into the aux, pressing play on her car playlist — she had a separate one for when it was just her and Dylan, seeing as they had to listen to different music when they were with Sebastian. The familiar guitar strum of Hey there Delilah echoed throughout the car, all of them smiling when they recognised the song.

"Hey there, Delilah. What's it like in New York city?" The three sang along happily, "I'm a thousand miles away but, girl, tonight you look so pretty. Yes, you do, time square can't shine as bright as you. I swear, it's true."

"Hey there, Delilah. Don't you worry about the distance, I'm right there if you get lonely. Give this song another listen, close your eyes. Listen to my voice, it's my disguise. I'm by your side." Dylan smiled as they sped down the roads of Salt Lake City, nearing the border of the city.

"Oh, it's what you do to me. Oh, it's what you do to me. Oh, it's what you do to me. Oh, it's what you do to me, what you do to me." The song continues as they drive down the roads, windows down, wind blowing through their hair while the sun shines on them. After a few more song, Sebastian huffed.

"These songs are boring." He complained. "Why don't you sing us one of your songs Dylan?"

"Oh, please do." Evelyn nodded excitedly. "Do perfect harmony we never heard it."

Dylan hesitated, looking between her dad and Eve, the two sending her reassuring looks. Dylan sighed, leaning over the back of her seat to grab her guitar. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she remembered the chords, it usually being played on her piano.

"Step into my world. Bittersweet love story 'bout a girl. Shook me to the core. Voice like an angel. I've never heard before." Dylan sung softly, the two adults smiling as they drove. "Here in front of me, they're shining so much brighter than I have ever seen. Life can be so mean but when he goes, I know he doesn't leave."

Dylan remembers writing that line as if it was yesterday. She remembers exactly what she was thinking of when she did as well. She was thinking of how EJ would always give her advice, leaving the room after he did but they both knew that would never actually leave her.

"The truth is finally breaking through. Two worlds collide when I'm with you. Our voices rise and soar so high. We come to life when we're in perfect harmony." Dylan thinks back to how she felt at Carlos' birthday party, when the two were singing and dancing together. She remembers how alive she felt when she was with her friends, when she was with EJ.

"Woah-oh, woah-oh. Perfect harmony. Woah-oh, woah-oh. Perfect harmony." Dylan continued to sing, beginning the next verse. "You set me free. You and me together is more than chemistry. Love me as I am. I'll hold your music here inside my hands."

EJ never judged Dylan for being her, instead he made her feel better about herself. He loved her for her, in his own words, she was perfect just the way she was. And when they were together, Dylan felt free, she felt as if she could be her, and embrace every imperfection she had because he would love her no matter what.

"We say we're friends, we play pretend. You're more to me, we're everything." EJ always meant more to her, even if she didn't know it. They danced around their feelings for far too long and now she just wanted to be with him. "Our voices rise and soar so high. We come to life when we're in perfect harmony. Woah-oh, woah-oh. Perfect harmony. Woah-oh, woah-oh. Perfect harmony."

Dylan smiled subconsciously as she sang the bridge. "I feel your rhythm in my heart. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You are my brightest burning star. Woah-ooh, oh-oh. I never knew a love so real, so real. We're heaven on earth. Melody and words. When we're together we're in perfect harmony. Woah-oh, woah-oh. Perfect harmony. Woah-oh, woah-oh. We say we're friends, you're more to me, we create perfect harmony."

Dylan held the last note, strumming her guitar one last time as the song ended. She smiled, placing her guitar back into its case, and putting it back over into the boot. The brunette turned back to see both the adults smiling at her. Her eyebrows knit in confusion, her face scrunched up.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She questioned them.

"That was really good D." Her father complimented her.

"Yeah, I mean, you can definitely tell that you not only love singing, but writing songs and EJ." Eve smiled softly, turning around to face the teen, whose eyes had widened.

"I do not love EJ." She spoke firmly.

"Hmm." Evelyn nodded, her eyebrows raised, and her response clearly sarcastic.

"Ooh, Dylan loves a boy." Sebastian teased in a sing song voice. Dylan sent him a look, closing her window to stop her hair from flying all over the place.

"You do know that you're my father right, aren't you supposed to scare the boys off?" Dylan asked him incredulously.

"I already did that at dinner after your opening night." Sebastian shrugged. "Now I get to tease you about him."

"Gee, thanks." Dylan grumbled. What time is it from High School Musical 2 because to play through the speakers, Evelyn having pressed play on her playlist once again. Dylan laughed as they all sang along, Dylan looking up at the sign for Camp Shallow Lake as they drove into the parking lot.

Dylan quickly jumped out of the car, going to the boot to grab her suitcase, excited to see her friends again. Eve and Seb both rounded the car, waiting for the girl to get her stuff and turn back to them. Once her suitcase was on the ground, and the trunk was closed, Dylan faced her parents again.

"I can't believe my baby's going to theatre camp." Sebastian pouted, bringing Dylan in for a hug.

"It's only for two weeks, okay? And then I'll be home in time for the wedding planning." Dylan squeezed the man. Sebastian pressed her kiss to her head, pulling away so she could face Eve. "Don't let him get into too much trouble."

"I won't." Eve nodded, hugging her as well. "And have fun, okay? Don't stress about anything."

"I will don't worry. And have fun in the Bahamas." Dylan pointed to both of them, giving them both a hug before she grabbed her stuff and made her way through the crowds into camp. She lugged her stuff, scanning around for anyone she recognised. When she heard a familiar voice, her head snapped in that direction, following the sound of, what she hoped, was Kourtney Greene's voice.

She continued to follow the voice, until she caught sight of her group of friends. She pulled her suitcase until she was close enough that she wouldn't lose it before she dropped it, a smile making it's way onto her face.

"EJ!" She called out, making her way over to the group. EJ spun around quickly, catching the shorter girl and spinning her around happily.

"Dylan, you're here, finally!" EJ spoke, placing her feet back on the ground.

"I thought you'd never make it." Gina told her, Dylan turning around and hugging her before hugging Ashlyn, Kourtney and Carlos in greeting.

"My dad had something to tell me." Dylan smiled, looking up at EJ, who had wrapped his arm around her waist. "My dad and Eve are getting married."

"Oh my god."

"Really?"

"That's amazing."

The group all let out a series of responses, Dylan's smile not leaving her face as she teased, "Yeah, and because EJ is stupid and showed my dad Carlos' birthday video, he wants up to perform or do a dance at the wedding."

"Ooh, Glee style." Ashlyn nodded. Dylan laughing at her reference, while the others stared at her. Ashlyn looked at everyone's confused faces, her own eyebrows furrowing. "Furt wedding episode, Finn and Kurt's parents, Claire and Burt get married? Have you guys never watched glee?"

Ashlyn received blank looks in response, EJ smiling at his cousin. "I got your reference, Dylan forces me to watch re runs on tv. You do not know how many times I've watched the same episode of criminal minds."

"Do not bash reruns." Dylan turned to him, an offended look in her eyes.

"I don't want to watch the adverts!" EJ exclaimed, forcing Dylan to let out a scoff, shaking her head with an amused smile on her lips. Before she could reply, another voice that she didn't recognise spoke.

"Rocketman, you got another friend." Dylan spun around to face a brunette girl with a orange camp shallow lake top on, holding a bucket full of phone, Dylan recognising her friends' phones on top . "I need your phone."

"EJ, who is this girl and why is she trying to take my most beloved item?" Dylan stared at the girl, wide eyed as she spoke.

"Dylan, be nice." EJ whispered quietly.

Dylan spun to face him, pouting slightly. "How am I suppose to speak to Nini if I don't have my phone?"

"You could, hear me out... write her a letter." EJ's mouth dropped like he had just proposed a million dollar idea. Dylan sent him a deadpan look. "Come on, Nini isn't going to forget you, she'll write you letters. You don't need your phone."

"It's camp, baby," Dylan's heart melted. "you gotta have the full camp experience."

Dylan sighed, turning around and staring at the girl for a few more moments before huffing and placing her phone in the bucket. Kourtney cried once more as the girl left, Dylan assumed she had already taken the others hence her comment when she first walked over. The group of East Highers all shared a smile before they dispersed to explore. Gina stayed with Dylan, the two laughing as they wandered around camp, before they all went back to where EJ was stood.

Dylan placed her chin on his shoulder, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "This camp is exactly how you and Nini described."

"You shouldn't have doubted us." EJ shrugged, a teasing smile on his face.

"She doubts a lot of things that you say." Gina told him.

"Well it's going to be the best summer ever." EJ announced.

"I am happy to not doubt you on that." She smiled, leaning up and kissing him for a few moments, EJ smiling into the kiss.

"Just wait until you meet the celebrity guest." EJ spoke excitedly, wrapping an arm around the brunette's waist.

"Okay, since you refuse to give any clues at all, I'm just gonna go ahead and assume it's Gloria Steinem." Ashlyn told them, as her Kourtney and Carlos approached the trio.

"I'm going with Oprah because Oprah." Kourtney gushed.

"Legally, I'm obliged to say Greta Gerwig." Carlos shrugged. Dylan smiled at the mention of Seb, oh how she missed him.

"It's all going down at the amphitheatre tonight." EJ explained. "You guys are gonna be all 'damn-phitheater."

Everyone stared at him incredulously, well except for Dylan who let out a small giggle at the joke, EJ squeezing her side in appreciation.

"God, she likes him so much, she's laughing at his jokes." Carlos' eyes widened. "It's only occurred to me now I've that revelation that you two are going to be a thing all summer."

"Well, as a thing-in-law, I have never been prouder." The couple laughed softly.

"Yeah, and as one of your best friends, I'm glad you finally admitted it because hearing both of you complaining and moping because of each other, I would've parent-trapped you." Gina looked between them.

"Amen, sister." They all looked towards Kourtney, Dylan raising her eyebrows at the girl. "Don't look at me like that Dylan, if I had to stay up late to listen to your voice memos of you freaking out about EJ once more, I was going to throw my phone at your head, and that's saying something."

"Love you too Kourt." Dylan laughed, untangling herself from EJ to side hug her friend.

"Okay, so, basketball is over there. Pool is behind me. And if you follow my gaze to the south here, you will see the Camp Shallow Lake barn and playhouse, where young EJ has played such roles as Danny Zuko, of course, the dentist from Little Shop, and the Music Man."

The five all gathered in a row as EJ spoke, strolling through the grass, looking the direction EJ was pointing in to catch a glimpse at each thing he was talking about. When he finished talking, Kourtney turned to him, eyebrows raised.

"Speaking of rotten eggs, yes, I know what you did last summer." Kourtney told him.

"And that concludes the tour. Now if you'll follow me this way..." EJ led them to where three hits sat, pointing at each as they huddled around him. "Boys' bunk, girls' bunk, mountains, ocean, and sometimes there's bears."

They all shared slightly scared looks.

"Got it."

"Okay, I will se you all tonight for the big announcement." EJ picked his bag up, beginning to walk away before quickly turning back around again. "One more thing."

EJ ran bag, leaning down and kissing Dylan once again, their friends all staring at them in disgust as he did. After a moment, EJ pulled away, smiling as he kept his face close to her's. Dylan laughed slightly before pushing him away gently.

"Go." She urged, a smile on her face as she watched him go.

( 💌 ) isobel's notes
chapter two :)
some cute family moments this
chapter and some cute caldez
also the group teasing
dylan and ej >>
dylan and maddox next chapter