chapter six
dylan valdez IS elsa confirmed

"Do you wanna build a snowman?" Gina's voice sung loudly. "Do you wanna build a snowman?"

Nope. It was way too early for this.

Dylan groaned, rubbing her eyes. "No."

"Get up!" Gina screamed.

"Why are you yelling?"

"I'm yelling because the cast list is posted." Gina explained, and even through her sleepy state, Dylan could hear the excitement in her voice. "You should really come look at it."

"Five more minutes."

"No, now."

Dylan sat up, blinking a few times to clear her vision, "Is it big news?"

"Would I have come to get you if it wasn't?" Gina sent her a look. "Come on!"

Dylan slid out of her bunk and put on a pair of flip-flops so she wasn't barefoot. She grabbed a hoodie that was definitely EJ's and pulled it on, making sure to pick up her glasses as she left the cabin. She didn't need glasses, only when she was sleepy or had to do lots of reading. Dylan followed Gina across the lawn to the barn, where a crowd was already gathering around a wall of the barn.

She pushed past Kourtney, who was stood smiling at her. Dylan scanned for everyone else's names first. Ricky for Kristoff — typical — Jet got Hans, Gina got Anna, EJ got Sven, Carlos got Olaf, two younger girls named Emmy and Alex got young Anna and Elsa, and the rest — including Kourtney and Ashlyn — got ensemble.

And finally, her eyes found her name last. She found it at the top of the sheet. Dylan blinked, wondering if she was still dreaming. She snapped out of her shock filled trance when Gina hit her arm a few times.

"Did I- Am I dreaming?" Dylan asked.

"You're awake D!" Gina replied. "It's real."

"I got Elsa!" Dylan breathed in amazement.

"See, I told you you'd get Elsa." Kourtney told her from her other side.

Dylan turned around and surged forward, tackling Kourtney into a hug. Kourtney laughed and hugged her back tightly, the two rocking and forth. Dylan let go of her friend and looked back at the cast list, a deep breath being released from her.

"We're gonna be sister!" Gina's voice cut in, her voice now high-pitched. "It's a dream come true."

Gina let out a squeal. Dylan laughed slightly and took Gina's hand in hers, lacing their fingers together. She squealed with Gina. The thought of them playing sisters was incredible.

"Wow!" Ricky's voice exclaimed from behind them. "I didn't know your voices could even reach that register." The two turned around to face the boy. Ricky made eye contact with Dylan, knowing how excited she was to finally audition for a big character. "You got Elsa?"

Dylan nodded, practically squealing once again. "I got Elsa, baby!"

Ricky smiled happily, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around one of his closest friends. Dylan threw her arms around his neck, hugging him back as he lifted her up slightly. Neither of them seemed to notice the glare that Gina sent their way. Dylan had EJ, why did she need to flaunt her friendship with Ricky too. God, it was bad enough she had a perfect relationship, and now the boy Gina was in love with was spinning her around happily.

"Plug your ears, I'm about to join them," Carlos revealed. "I can't believe I'm playing..."

"Olaf!" Ricky said, letting go of Dylan, the two stepping away from each other again. He looked towards the cast list. "Congrats, bro. And I'm Kristoff. That's..."

"A person. Congratulations on being an actual species, Ricky. What? First, Lumiere and now Olaf. Am I destines to play an inanimate object for eternity?"

"Make way for Belle!" Ashlyn dramatically, making her way through the crowd. "Make way for..." She stopped at the cast list and stopped in her tracks upon noticing where her name was. Dylan winced slightly. "The ensemble? I mean, hey—" she turned towards them all "— the ensemble. You can't do a show without the ensemble. There are no small parts, only small actors right? Don't count your lines, make the lines count."

"All right, all right, everyone calm down." EJ interjected, pushing through the crowds as well. "Let's just be professionals."

"Professionally, mazel tov. Especially EJ. Personally, I will be backlogging photos of him in antlers for all future blackmail purposes."

Dylan pointed at her. "And I will come to you when I need them. Which I probably will. Actually, let me frame on in my room."

"W-what are you talking about?" EJ inquired over all the laughter.

"Your good friend Val cast you as Sven, the reindeer?" Carlos told him.

"But— no, no. I'm not in the show. I'm directing the show."

"Check the list. Looks like you'll be joining the ranks of character actor-hyphen-directors."

"Oh, like Greta Gerwig!" Gina commented, her anger faded.

EJ shook his head. "No, this has to be a mistake."

They all started to chatter amongst themselves. Dylan yawned. While she was still excited about her role but it was still early. Dylan leant her head on EJ's shoulder, him now standing next to her.

"You asleep?" EJ asked her.

"No." Dylan shook her head. "I'm awake."

Her body betrayed her. She let out another yawn. She turned to place her forward against his chest, pulling his arm around her so he was hugging her. Her forehead landed against his chest. She felt him laugh, his grip tightening around her.

"You sure sound awake." EJ responded, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Also, how have you managed to take all of my clothes."

"Most of my wardrobe is your still." Dylan answered. "It's my job as your girlfriend to steal your clothes."

"Quiet your voices!" Maddox ordered, and Dylan turned her head to look at the girl on the porch of the barn, her cheek now pressed against EJ's chest.

"Morning, stage manager." EJ greeted. "You got everything ready?"

"Sure do, Rocket Man. It's Newbie Initiation Campout Night, folks. A night in the woods among the wildlife. And spirits. Pack your tents. Oh, and rest your vocal cords. You'll be screaming tonight."

Dylan picked her head up, staring at EJ's smiling face with wide eyes.

"Oh, and by the way, Carlos, we have cameras in the stage manager's office, but, uh, nice try recasting the show." Maddox said.

Dylan's eyes widened even further and she looked at Carlos. Recasting the show? Okay, maybe it was a little hard for him to not be a part of casting the show like he had done with Miss Jenn, but, like, fully recasting the show? What was he trying to do?

"I've got to go get ready back at Honeycomb." Dylan told EJ as people started to trickle out. She pulled back from his embrace, grabbing onto his hands and extending their arms as far as they could go, "I'll see you later, though."

EJ smiled at her, "Yeah, I'll see you later."

"All right." Dylan let go of his hands and started to walk off, but she looked at him over her shoulder. "I'll save you a seat at the campfire if you decide to join us."

"Thank you, darling."

Dylan shook her head at his teasing tone, grinning to herself. She went back into Honeycomb and get ready for the day. Dylan got in a pair of comfortable, tracksuit bottom type shorts, a white cropped tank top, black high-top converse, and Nini's jean jacket. Her hair was slightly curly, and so she simply got a small crocodile clip and put it half up.

Dylan was now sitting on her bunk, listening to Maddox as she absentmindedly ran the planet Saturn charm on her necklace back and forth along the chain.

"It's the most wonderful time of the year!" Maddox exclaimed from her place on the swing. "Not Christmas, not Tax Day..." she hopped up from the swing. "Newbie Night! Oh, you guys are gonna have so much fun. Once we reach the camping spot, we start by setting up the tents. Then we gather around the campfire for a little sing-along experience, followed by the world-famous retelling of..."

She turned back around. However, she sat that only Dylan was paying attention to what she was saying. Dylan offered Maddox a smile and a small wave.

"Am I talking to myself? I'm talking to myself."

Dylan went to speak to Gina about sharing a tent with her when the sound of paper ripping was suddenly heard. Dylan looked over to see Ashlyn, on her top bunk, crumpling a piece of paper in her hand while letting out a small huff. She had been scribbling furiously on it for the past couple of minutes. Dylan's eyebrows knit in concern. It was clear that Ashlyn was struggling with getting the ensemble.

"Are you okay?" Gina questioned.

"A hundred percent." Ashlyn answered. "Just journaling. Reframing the news from this morning so I can make it a win."

"Oh, I get it." Maddox stated. "You're a Leo Rising."

Dylan's eyes widened. She knew how Ashlyn was extremely obsessed with astrology. She knew basically her entire chart, but Maddox was mixing things up.

"Capricorn Rising actually." Ashlyn corrected. "I'm all Earth and Air signs in my big three."

"Really?" Maddox continued. "I totally get fire sign vibes from you."

"Look, I know myself. I'm a Ravenclaw, and ENFP, a Belle, and a Samantha."

Dylan blinked in confusion. Who in holy hell is Samantha?

"The American Girl Doll, Samantha." Ashlyn explained. "And I'm definitely a Capricorn Rising."

"Yeah, okay." Maddox replied, smiling brightly. "Tonight's gonna rock."

The sound of the blinds opening was heard. Dylan looked over to se EJ, lifting up the blinds and sticking his head through the window.

"Hey Dyl, can I talk to you?" EJ inquired.

All of them, except Dylan, began to complain at the way he was sticking his head through the window.

"It's my head." EJ protesting.

Maddox sighed, "I'll allow it."

"Well, now I need to come in the rest of the way." EJ said.

"You got two minutes. Go."

EJ ducked down from the window and rounded to the front. He stepped through the door, holding a bunch of flowers in his hand, smiling widely. Dylan got off her bed, making her way over to her boyfriend.

"Aw, thank you." He handed her the flowers.

"Sorry to barge in." EJ apologised.

"Do not worry."

"I knew you'd get Elsa, you're a star." He complimented her. "How do you feel?"

"That means a lot." Dylan smiled softly before letting out a breath. EJ stared at her in concern when she started to make her way towards the door, placing her flowers on her bed as she passed it. EJ, with furrowed eyebrows, followed her, out of the cabin and around to the sit. Dylan sat on the floor, EJ sitting next to her. "Sorry, they're all in there, and I can't deal with it. And we always have important conversation sat up against a wall like this."

"I get that." EJ laughed slightly. "I have you that necklace in your house hallway, sat like this."

"One of my favourite memories." Dylan told him.

"What's wrong?"

"I've never had a role like Elsa before, you know? Like all the other roles I've had, have been side character that aren't that important to the show, but Elsa is like the whole reason this show happens. And not only that but, it also means I have to sing Let it go. And how am I supposed to play a character who the show is based around her finding herself and learning to accept the worst part of her when I don't know, who I am, what I want to do, nor will I ever be able to accept my flaws." Dylan rambled on.

EJ sat quietly, listening to her every word before interlocking their hands that were only a few centimetres apart on the ground. She looked over at him, calming down slightly at the reassuring and supportive smile on his face.

"Dylan, you are going to be an amazing Elsa, okay? And the show isn't tomorrow, you have time to find yourself. And even if you don't that's okay, you have this part of yourself, and that part's perfect." EJ told her, reassuringly. "Also, you write your own songs that are the most beautiful things I have ever heard. Let it go will be a cake walk for you."

"You always know what to say, don't you?"

"It's part of the Caswell charm." EJ joked, repeating her words from the previous day.

"I hate you." Dylan shook her head.

"No, you don't." EJ shrugged.

"What's up with you?" Dylan asked him. "Still freaking out?"

"Corbin is coming tomorrow, film crew and everything for the first read-through, and I haven't done anything for it. Like I still need to get the script done." EJ explained, beginning to freak out. "And he's Corbin Bleu, he was Chad. I can't disappoint the Chad, especially not the first time I actually meet him."

"EJ you are gonna be okay!" Dylan reassured him once again. "I don't know how many times I can tell you this. Besides Carlos will help you, he's done this before."

"It's just—"

"I know." Dylan cut him off, moving to kneel in front of him, placing her hands on his shoulders so they were at eye level. "I know. But you are gonna be just fine. We're gonna be alright. Summer of love remember. Summer of success!"

EJ didn't say anything, letting out a breath with a small smile on his face. He made a face, "You're incredible you know that."

"I've been told." Dylan shrugged.

"I lo–"

"Hey D!" Gina's voice shouted, cutting EJ off. "Two minutes are up."

"Duty calls." Dylan smiled, turning to make eye contact with Gina before spinning back to EJ. "See you later."

For the first time that morning, Dylan leant forward and pressed her lips to his. And for the first time since she found out about her role, Dylan felt peace, at ease. She wasn't overthinking, she wasn't having to take constant deep breaths to calm herself, she was simply in the moment, feeling the same butterflies in her stomach that she feels every time her and EJ kiss.

And as for EJ, all of his worries went away the second she smiled at him, but this, this kiss that lasted for many long moments, solidified everything he felt for the girl. But it wasn't the right time to tell her, it really wasn't, and clearly the world was telling her that as every time she tried to tell her someone or something interrupted him. However, he knew how he felt, and he knew that when it was the right time he would tell, and hopefully, pray to God, that she would feel the same.

If only he knew that she felt exactly what he felt and so much more.

( 💌 ) isobel's notes
i always dip on this book for like two months
and then post one chapter and say i'm
coming back but i never do so i'm sorry for
that :)
ej and dylan are sooo happy and will continue
to be FOREVER

i actually cannot wait until season 4
i might make dylan sharpay so so sorry to
kourtney cause dylan keeps stealing her
roles lmao
and dylan feeling separate from the group
because ej and nini aren't there and all her
friends are focusing on other things — ricky
and gina, ash and maddox etc etc — causing
her to get close to mack 🫣 jealous ej? 🫣🫣