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chapter two
NEW YEARS
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(new years eve, pt ii)

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Finally it was New Years' Eve. Dylan sat in Ashlyn's bedroom with Kourtney, Ashlyn and Gina, the three getting ready. Kourtney had suggested the four of them dress up in a theme; 2007 in celebration of Miss Jenn announcing the Spring Musical at midnight. They all had a feeling it would be high school musical 2 which came out in 2007 hence the theme choice.

Dylan went with an Ashley Tisdale inspired outfit. She curled her hair and put on a white cami top paired with a small black jacket over the top and a pair of black shorts. She had gone with some red knee high socks with fishnet tights over the top that she had cut so they only went up to her knees.

Dylan walked down the stairs with Kourtney, hugging Carlos and Seb who stood at the bottom of them as they spoke about the upcoming musical, Carlos upset he couldn't tease people with the fact that he knew the musical they were doing and they didn't.

"Hello, hello!" Ej greeted as he walked through the door, Dylan stood next to Ashlyn in the kitchen as the party went on in the living room.

"EJ!"

"Caswell nice of you to join us." Dylan greeted.  "I was starting ot think you'd forgotten where your cousin's house was."

"Funny." He smiled at her. "Hi! I'm sorry I'm so late. I was volunteering at the soup kitchen with the water polo guys."

"Pics, or it didn't happen." Carlos joked, walking into the living room.

"I'm actually taking a break from social media, so..." EJ trailed off, following Ashlyn towards the rest of the party.

"Wow. New Year, new you." Ashlyn stated before turning back around when she noticed EJ hadn't moved. "Are you gonna go in, or..."

"Sorry. I'm just taking it all in. Not to be like your stereotypical second-semester senior, but starting to realize that every day is the last time I'm doing stuff with you guys." EJ admitted looking around.

"Oh, that's actually really sweet!" Ashlyn admitted surprised. Dylan walked up to the two.

"Don't get sappy on us now Caswell, you're breaking the jock stereotype." She stated, smiling at him.

"Nice to see you too Dyl." He smiled back at her before turning to Ashlyn once again. "It's weird. You literally look so young to me now."

"And he's back." Dylan commented.

"Oh, I'm growing a beard." EJ rubbed the stubble on his chin.

"Oh. I thought that was dirt on your face." Ashlyn told him.

"Might grow it out. Depends on what musical we're doin'. Jean Valjean isn't Jean Valjean without the facial hair." EJ shrugged. Ashlyn stared at him for a moment before walking into the living room, EJ watching her confused.

"Wait." Dylan turned to the boy as Gina walked over to them.

"Have you seriously not heard what musical we're doing?" Gina asked.

"No. Was it announced?" EJ questioned.

"Nobody say anything!" Carlos suddenly exclaimed not wanting to ruin the surprise for EJ.

"Okay."

"You look great by the way, I like the outfits." Ej complimented Gina and Dylan, mainly looking in the latter's direction.

"Thanks." Gina smiled. "Kourtney decided we should go with a 2007s theme."

"And I love Ashley Tisdale I couldn't help but go with an outfit inspired by her." Dylan stated.

"Well you look great." Ej told her, smiling.

Later, Dylan was sat chatting with Gina and EJ when Ricky walked in with Nini behind him, the boy singing bet on it as he did. The living room full of people cheered and clapped for him.

"Okay, okay, okay!" Carlos exclaimed over the clapping. "Does anybody not know we're doing high school musical 2."

"We are?" Ej asked both shocked and excited. "Whoo-hoo!"

Carlos groaned and fell back onto the coach.

"I can't believe you didn't know." Dylan stared at the boy next to her in confusion before shrugging.

Conversation flowed easily throughout the living room for a little while. Soon another year would have come and passed. Sure, the year might have been full of good and bad times but Dylan was going to end her year on a high note, surrounded by all of her best friends.

"Okay listen up." Kourtney said, making the room go silent as she held the glass bowl full of resolutions. "Rules of the game. This is important. We need to set intentions and be accountable to one another this year."

"True that." Ashlyn agreed.

"This is a terrible party." Natalie Bagley commented.

"Hey watch yourself." Kourtney scolded. "Okay."

She laughed while pulling a piece of paper out of the bowl. "All right, resolution number one. Anyone's guess. I resolve to..." Kourtney laughed once more. "This is so stupid, I can't."

"Come on Kourt, you have to read it." Nini encouraged.

"I resolve to remember everybody fondly when I go to Duke. Any guesses?"

Ashlyn's eyes widened along with Dylan's, as the Valdez slapped his shoulder.

"Ej, you got into Duke." Ashlyn exclaimed.

"I - I mean, have I technically gotten into Duke?" EJ inquired using air quotes. "Did my father and our grandpa before him also go to Duke? Guys, I think it's just a matter of time."

"I lost track of the air quotes." Ricky admitted.

Everyone laughed and Kourtney pulled another piece of paper out of the bowl, "Okay, resolution number two. Oh I don't get this one."

"Just read it!" Ricky told her, agreements sounding all around the room.

"This one doesn't say anything except my cows."

"You guys I thought we were writing down what we're thankful for." Seb stated.

Dylan chucked, pouting at how adorable he was, Carlos doing the same while hugging his boyfriend's arm. "Aw, Seb."

"A for effort, Seb." EJ voiced. "A for effort."

One of the dancers held up the bowl. "Read another clue, Kourt."

"Um, here we go," Kourtney responded while pulling out another piece of paper. "Let's see what we got. Um... I want to be open to trying new things and meeting new people without judging them first."

"Dylan." EJ and Gina spoke in sync almost immediately.

Dylan blinked, turning to look at the two. "How did you know that?"

"I pay attention." EJ admitted quietly.

"And I know you." Gina told her smiling.

"Okay, fine, it's me." Dylan revealed shrugging. "I'm far too judgmental for my own good and I want to change that because if I continued to judge theatre like I used to and Nini didn't drag me to auditions against my will, I wouldn't be here or be friends with half of you guys."

"Aw, Dylan, we love you and you theatre hating nature." Gina smiled.

"Next one." 

"Okay, let's see." Kourtney opened the piece of paper. "I resolve to follow my dreams, however far they take me."

"That's gotta be Gina, right?" Ricky asked after a few minutes.

"Nope, not me." Gina shook her head.

"It's Nini." Dylan whispered quietly looking over at the girl, who smiled sadly in her direction, obviously upset her boyfriend hadn't gotten her resolution before she spoke up.

"Uh, it's me actually." Nini revealed awkwardly, the room silent. "Back to the game Kourt."

Kourtney got another paper from the bowl and cleared her throat. "All I want is for our generation to save the planet, and I would also like absolute clarity about my love life, thank you."

The room erupted in chatter about how who it could possibly be, but Dylan's eyes went straight to Ashlyn. Ashlyn was acting very stiff after that resolution, which told her that she was the one to write it. The relationship between her and Big Red had been kind of a touchy subject for a while. Both of them were a little confused, but Dylan knew that they just needed to find their way. A couple of seconds later, the doorbell rang. Dylan turned to see Big Red enter the house with a stack of pizza boxes and she smiled wide. Everyone greeted him excitedly.

"Six pizzas," Big Red explained, a little out of breath. "Two with lactose-free cheese. I'm here."

"Yes, thank you," EJ replied while taking the pizzas from him. "Good Lord, dude, did you fall into a bucket of cologne?"

Dylan, who was getting up to grab some pizza, stopped before slowly turned towards Ricky to see him with a sheepish expression while Big Red backed into the kitchen. "Ricky, you did not."

He broke underneath her gaze. "Okay, okay, fine. I gave him Throb. Is it really that bad?"

"That stuff is awful."

"But the pheromones!"

Dylan sighed. "Oh my God, you're impossible. Please go check on him, he seems a little frantic."

Right then and there, the game of resolutions decided to end as Ricky followed Big Red into the kitchen. Dylan let out a deep breath. Carlos then apparently decided that this was the perfect time to do a High School Musical 2 medley to prepare them. Ashlyn's piano was pushed out so it would be easier to play, and Dylan stood next to EJ behind the piano.

"Remember, my feedback is both precious and invaluable," Carlos said. "So, think of this medley as a pre-audition workshop. You may begin."

Seb sat down at the piano and began to play a familiar tune. "It's out with the old and in with the new, goodbye clouds of gray, hello skies of blue. A dip in the pool, a trip to the spa, endless days in my chaise, the whole world according to moi." He looked at Carlos. "Just sing it."

Carlos joined in with him. "I want fabulous, that is my simple request. All things fabulous, bigger and better and best. I need something inspiring to help me get along, I need a little fabulous, is that so wrong?"

"Take it, Ash!" Carlos urged.

Ashlyn then sat down at the piano and began to play one of Dylan's favourite songs from the trilogy. "Na na na na, na na na na, yeah. You are the music in me." She then looked up, making eye contact with Dylan, urging her to join.

"You know the words once upon a time, make you listen, there's a reason." The two sung together, Dylan not noticing EJ's awestruck gaze on her.

"Come on, G." Ashlyn spoke to the girl, who had walked over and stood by Dylan. Dylan placed her head on Gina's shoulder as the three harmonized together.

"When there's a dream, there's a chance you'll find. A little laughter or happy ever after."

Ricky then tapped Ashlyn on the back to signal for her to stop playing as he came in on his guitar, Nini joining in with him. The couple sang beautifully only staring at each other like the world had faded away. Dylan noticed Gina's fallen expression, squeezing her hand, her head still on her shoulder. Gina smiled, placing her head on top of Dylan's.

"One minute till midnight!" Natalie shouted. 

All of them rushed to move in a circle. Dylan moved to stand in between Big Red and Nini. Ashlyn went around and began to offer them party blowers and other New Year's Eve items for celebration. Many people opted to grab beach balls to highlight their High School Musical 2 theme. 

"Come on, Big Red!" Seb encouraged. 

"Everybody, all for one," Big Red sang. "Our real summer has just begun." 

Kourtney went next. "Let's rock and roll, and just let go." 

"Feel the rhythm of the drums," Gina added. 

"We're gonna have fun in the sun," EJ stated. 

"Now that all the hard work, work is done," Carlos voiced. 

"Everybody one for all," everyone chorused. They all put their hands in a circle and lifted them up. "And all for one. All for—" 

"Ten seconds till midnight!" Natalie announced. 

Everyone excitedly began to count down. Dylan held onto Nini's hand and the two of them counted down together. Starting the year together and ending the year together — just like it always had been and should be. 

Dylan then noticed Ashlyn and Big Red walking towards each other. She repeatedly tapped Nini's shoulder and got her to look. And finally, for the first time since opening night, Big Red and Ashlyn pressed their lips onto each other's for a sweet kiss.

"I have an announcement!" Miss Jenn's voice called out exactly after everyone said the last second. 

Carlos gasped. "You cut your hair!" 

"Thank you," Miss Jenn replied. "Wait, do you like it? That's not the announcement. Okay. Um . . . contrary to rumor, we are not doing High School Musical 2." 

Dylan blinked in surprise. Well, that was not what she was expecting. Carlos apparently wasn't either, because Kourtney and Lauryn, another dancer, had to catch him from falling over. 

"We're doing an American classic," Miss Jenn continued. "Beauty and the Beast."

Dylan's eyes widened, she absolutely loved that musical. Everyone else apparently did too based on their reactions. "And I know East High just did it a couple years ago, but you didn't do it my way, and you didn't win the most important award in all of theatre." 

"The Tony?" Gina guessed. 

"Okay, the second most important award." 

Seb pointed at her. "The Drama Desk?" 

"Everyone, calm down!" Miss Jenn cut in. "This semester, we are entering the Alan Menken Awards for High School Musical Theater, and we are going to win." 

"Um . . ." Carlos trailed off. "That means beating North High, Miss Jenn. They have a thousand-gallon Little Mermaid aquarium." 

Miss Jenn nodded. "Then we will have an aquarium, too." 

"Uh, in Beauty and the Beast?" 

"Okay, I need to study the text. So, who is ready to show the world they deserve to get that scholarship to NYU?" Nobody said anything. "I mean, who is ready to go from amateur thespians to statewide award winners?" 

Ricky moved to stand next to Miss Jenn. "What team?" 

"Wildcats!" Everyone answered.

"This is gonna be everything!" Gina smiled, turning to Nini and Dylan.

"I love Beauty and the beast." Dylan gushed.

"Yeah. You were born for this show." Big Red told Nini as he joined in the conversation.

"I can already picture you in Belle's gold dress." Ashlyn added.

"I'm in, if you're in." Ricky stated, gesturing over to the group suggesting he would be the Beast.

"Nini, you need to -" Dylan started to say before Nini cut her off.

"Ricky, I'm moving to Denver." Nini blurted, Ricky's face dropping immediately as the entire room went silent.

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𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗕𝗘𝗟 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗦
hello everyone !! how are we all??
sorry for such a long wait for a new chapter - wonder has so many reads now and i just want to thank all of you !!
does anyone have anything they really want in this books - any specific songs or scenes - no idea is a bad idea and i'll take anything you want into consideration
xoxo