chapter twelve
saving their teacher

After a night fully of song writing and choreography, it was time for Miss Jenn's hearing. The theatre kids had spread out around the cafeteria, ready to begin the performance that had come up with. Dylan was sat next to Ashlyn, the two slightly nervous but mostly excited for what was to come.

"Miss Jenn, it may not surprise you to learn that we have heard earfuls about your unorthodox style ever since you got to East High," Principle Gutierrez announced.

"Personally, I always chalked it up to the well known fact that people in the dramatic arts are insane."

"Thank you," Miss Jenn replied.

"But now, we have news that your resume is exaggerated. Your teaching credential is from obscure online university, and even your official name might be some version of a stage name. What do you say to this charge?"

"I have always done my best by these kids—" Miss Jenn began.

"Just answer the question," Principle Gutierrez stated.

"Excuse me," Mike Bowen voiced, Dylan looking shocked at the man speaking up. "Can I say something?"

"I'm sorry, we're not opening up the floor to parents on this."

"Let him speak," one of Nini's moms argued.

"Ugh I love her." Dylan whispered to Ashlyn, who laughed quietly.

Principle Gutierrez sighed. "Go ahead, Mr. Bowen."

"I'm a little late to this party, but I gotta say the real crime here would be botting a teacher who's making a positive impact," Mike continued. "I've never seen my kid this invested in anything, and I don't think that's something we should punish, Your . . . Honor."

Sebastian Valdez then stood up. "I agree. My daughter has always had a love of singing and dancing but never found a place where she could feel comfortable doing it. Now she comes home and shows me these dances she does and tells me all about the family she's made and you're just taking that away from not only her but everyone in that production."

Dylan smiled at her father's words. She had found a family, a place where she felt comfortable enough to sing and dance without being judged. Ever since Nini dragged her to auditions and she was casted as Ryan, she's felt... at home.

"Mr. Bowen, Mr. Valdez, I appreciate your statements, but I think we can all agree that theater isn't unique in this regard," Principle Gutierrez stated. "It doesn't have some special fairy dust that can't be filled by another extracurricular."

Kourtney then started to hum from her place on the balcony above. It was time.

"What's that?" Principle Gutierrez asked, tapping his microphone. "Who's humming?"

Immediately, all of the theater kids stood up and joined in with the humming. Dylan turned and smiled at Ashlyn, sharing a quick glance with EJ. Ashlyn looked to Nini, who then pointed at Ricky, who then pointed up to Kourtney. Kourtney raised a radio above her head and the humming got louder. Kaden and Ricardo then moved Miss Jenn's table out of the way.

"Don't say another word," Kourtney started.

Nini stepped into the aisle between the chairs. "Some of us need to be heard."

"You want her big confession?" Ashlyn and Nini harmonized.

"She never saw Dear Evan Hansen," Kourtney replied, and all of them gasped.

"Whatever you think about her," Dylan and Ricky dueted standing next to each other before walking down to join Ashlyn and Nini with Big Red trailing behind them.

"The show can't go on without her." Ricky gently pushed Dylan to the side, the two laughing as they went to opposite sides of the room. They all broke into choreography.

"Maybe her class could be a little more classy," Kourtney continued.

"Maybe her head's not in the game," the rest of them chorused, Dylan sharing a bright smile with Gina as they spun around.

Carlos went next. "Maybe her past is just a little bit sketchy."

"We need her all the same."

"She's the one who cheers us on," Seb sang. "So what if she's dropping the ball?"

The group continued the choreography, Dylan smiling widely as she did what she did what she loved most.

"She stands for truth, justice, and songs in our key. She stands for us, and we believe."

"Before she got here, we were so off track," Ricky stated.

"Then Miss Jenn gave us a chance," Gina added.

Ashlyn then went. "We used to fall asleep in chemistry class."

"Now it makes us want to dance," the rest of them joined in with her.

Natalie appeared behind Miss Jenn's chair. "She's the show that must go on, so we're putting in a good word, 'cause we heard."

"She stands for truth, justice, and songs in our key. She stands for us and we believe."

Dylan watched as Ricky jumped onto one of the tables, laughing at him slightly before running over to where she had to sing with Nini next.

"What's my motivation?" Nini questioned, her and Dylan shimmying their shoulders as they walked down the aisle towards Miss Jenn.

"She provides the inspiration." Dylan pointed at their teacher.

"Whatever about her reputation," Kourtney voiced.

Ashlyn walked in front of the table where Principle Gutierrez was looking thoroughly unimpressed. "Seems about time for a modulation."

Now, it wouldn't be a full performance without a dance break. Dylan and the rest of the dancers then began to dance the wonderful choreography they had come up with the night before. Dylan could feel her father watching her so she quickly turned her head to made eye contact with him.

When they did, her father smiled, a proud look in his eye. Dylan was born to dance, anyone could see that. When she danced, she had the biggest smile on her face and looked at ease, content almost with what she was doing, the whole world fading away as she focused on the music and the way her body was moving. Carlos then pulled Miss Jenn up from her chair while another dancer took it away. They continued to dance to the choreography while cards spelled out Miss Jenn behind them at the back of the cafeteria.

"She stands for truth, justice, and songs in our key," all of them harmonized. "Jazz squares in the choreography. Sharpay and Ryan, you know they'd agree, she stands for us and we believe."

Nini grabbed Miss Jenn and put her in the middle of the circle, all of them doing jazz hands around her. "She stands for us and we believe."

They held out the last note for a couple of moments before releasing. The room was completely silent for a moment, and as Dylan looked at Principle Gutierrez's face, she had a horrible feeling their plan didn't work. However, the room then erupted in clapping and cheering.

"Settle, people!" Principle Gutierrez exclaimed. "Settle down. Settle down."

The room went silent again. Dylan took a deep breath, her leg bouncing up and down as they anxiously waited. Principle Gutierrez looked to the other people at the table. "Do we have any further questions?"

"Just one," one of the teachers at the end of the table announced. She stood up with a microphone in her hand. "So, how do I snag two tickets for opening night?"

She busted out a pop, lock, jam, and break, making everyone erupt in cheers again. Dylan turned and immediately tugged Ashlyn into a tight hug. Her plan had actually worked. Miss Jenn was still going to be the drama teacher and High School Musical: The Musical would be continuing to get ready for opening night. Dylan went around and gave hugs to Carlos, Nini, Ashlyn, Big Red, and Seb until she turned to Gina.

"It worked!" Athena shouted, hugging Gina, who hugged her back tighter.

"All thanks to your amazingness." Gina praised.

"Thank you, thank you." Dylan fake bowed, the two laughing at the action. Dylan then turned around, bumping into EJ.

"We did it!" Dylan exclaimed, smiling at the Caswell boy. Without thinking, Dylan threw her arms around him in a moment of pure excitement. EJ froze for a fraction of a second before wrapping his arms around her waist, lifting her off the group for a moment.

When her feet touched the ground, it was almost like she had been put on Earth again and reality set in. Clearing her throat, she stepped back.

"You were great." She told him.

"So were you." He replied, a small smile on his face.

"Um, I'm going to go see Nini or find my dad." Dylan quickly spoke before leaving the boy alone. She walked through the cafeteria, catching sight of Nini, who was staring at Ricky spinning Gina around.

Dylan moved closer to Nini, who had a sad look on her face, but stopped short when Nini turned around and made eye contact with EJ. Dylan took a breath, taking a step towards her best friend when a voice spoke up.

"What was that?"

Dylan jumped slightly, spinning back around to see her father stood in front of her. The brunette huffed slightly, with furrowed eyebrows. "God Dad, seriously I'm going to put a bell on you. And what was what?"

"That little lifted off the ground hug." Sebastian made a face and did a little spinning motion with his index finger. Dylan nodded, realising he was asking about EJ. The man then pointed to EJ, who was stood behind Dylan, a little bit away from them. "I don't know him, who is he?"

"Oh that's EJ. He plays Chad." Dylan explained, smiling as if to tell the man to stop asking questions.

"I thought you didn't like the guy who played Chad. For someone who doesn't like him you sure did seem quite close." Sebastian recalled what he had observed.

"Well I still don't like him so I don't know what you've been watching." Dylan shrugged, smiling at Ashlyn, who had been listening to the conversation before walking off.

Sebastian watched his daughter go over and speak to Nini, carefully assessing Dylan's behaviour. He then turned to Ashlyn, a mischievous glint in his eye. Ashlyn had become close to her friend's father because of the amount of times she was at the Valdez household, the man being basically a child and therefore easy to get along with. Sebastian was friends with most of Dylan's friendship group, all of her friends (Ricky, Nini, Ashlyn, Big Red, Kourtney and even Gina) liked Sebastian the same amount, if not more than they like Dylan.

"10 bucks says they'll be together by May next year." He proposed a bet to Ashlyn, who smirked slightly.

"I think February, around Valentine's day." She suggested.

Sebastian held his hand out, "Deal."

Ashlyn shook the man's outstretched hand, "Deal."

( 💌 ) isobel's notes
a bit of ashlyn and sebastian at
the end, who did you think
will win the bet??

anyone watched pll: original sin?