The Wonderstudies Read online

  Copyright © 2021 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Published by Disney Press, an imprint of Buena Vista Books, Inc. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. For information address Disney Press, 1200 Grand Central Avenue, Glendale, California 91201.

  ISBN 978-1-368-06486-6

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  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Prologue: Homecoming Dates Can Sometimes Be Late

  Chapter 01: Plotting at Homecoming

  Chapter 02: Homecoming Without Nini

  Chapter 03: New School, Big Plans

  Chapter 04: Playing to Win

  Chapter 05: So Much for a Fun Homecoming

  Chapter 06: Maybe I’m Not Born to be Brave

  Chapter 07: When YouTube Becomes Your Bestie

  Chapter 08: Ashlyn’s Pep Talk

  Chapter 09: Maybe I Can Fit in at East High!

  Chapter 10: Can We Go Back to Drama Camp?

  We were on the official countdown to opening night of East High’s production of High School Musical, when the creative team gives the show over to the cast. Miss Jenn said it can be a strangely emotional time. Maybe that is why I actually found the nerve to ask Seb to the homecoming dance. As Miss Jenn’s assistant and the student choreographer on the show, I had worked with all the cast members on their dance routines. But I always found extra time to practice with Seb.

  We were rehearsing his big “Bop to the Top” dance number before school, and it was going really well. He said he needed more practice dancing with someone who actually knew how to lead. I took that as a compliment—and the perfect opening for me to ask him to the dance.

  “Well, are you busy tonight?” I said, trying to sound all casual and chill.

  “Tonight?” Seb repeated.

  “Yeah, you know, homecoming,” I said.

  “You mean like you and I…dancing together in front of all the non-theater kids?” he said with a little hint of a smile.

  “As far as I know, that’s how homecoming works. This would be my first time going,” I told him.

  Seb put his things in his backpack and zipped it up. “Text me a pic of what you’re wearing,” he said as he walked out the rehearsal room door.

  I couldn’t believe it. I had a date to homecoming!

  When I arrived at the gym for the dance later that night, I was pretty excited. Mr. Mazzara was manning a table by the front of the gym, checking people in and handing out dance tickets. I got mine, and I walked through this white fabric tunnel decorated with twinkling lights into the gym. Inside, the gym looked like a big red-and-white circus tent, with fabric draped on the walls and ceiling. Before you headed to your assigned table, you were supposed to stop at a wall decorated with balloons to get your official homecoming picture taken. I decided I’d wait for Seb to arrive so we could take a photo together. I looked around the gym and took it all in—more twinkling lights, a whole lot more balloons, and kind of a festive vibe overall. It was my first school dance, and I was really excited to share this night with Seb.

  Seb had wanted me to text him a pic of my outfit, so I’d laid out what I was going to wear on my bed at home. I wasn’t sure if he wanted our colors to coordinate or if maybe he was going to get me a boutonniere to match what I was wearing. I took a quick picture of my ensemble and texted it to him before I got ready. I have to say, once I put it on, I thought it was pretty cute. My maroon shirt, black tie, and cool maroon-and-black coat really worked well together.

  Seb and I had tickets to table ten, where the other theater kids were also sitting. When I got there, Ashlyn was the only one who had already arrived. Then Ricky and Big Red came over and took their seats, but still no Seb. I was starting to get a feeling of dread in my stomach. Where was he?

  As the gym started to fill up and others arrived, Ashlyn could see I was getting nervous. She told me not to worry, that Seb would be there.

  “Maybe he’s still trying to figure out what to wear,” she suggested.

  “I sent him a picture of what I was wearing, like he asked me to,” I said. “Do you think he didn’t like my outfit?”

  “No, you look amazing,” Ashlyn said, reassuring me. “He’s probably checking in with Mr. Mazzara right now.”

  I saw E.J. across the gym. He was with a girl in a sparkly sequined dress, who was not Nini. As they got a little closer to us, everyone at table ten went silent, so I looked up.

  E.J. had brought Gina as his date to home-coming. What the…was all I could think as I looked at the two of them together, trying to smile so I didn’t look kind of shocked.

  And for a second, I forgot that my date hadn’t arrived yet.

  I paced around my house, and then I checked my phone. E.J. was late. Where was he? This was my first homecoming dance and I didn’t want to miss anything.

  “Gina, one more,” my mom begged, taking a couple of pictures with her phone. “You look fantastic.” She beamed at me. “That dress is just perfect!”

  “Mom,” I said, rolling my eyes. I tugged at my new sequined dress. I had gotten new shoes and a bag, too. I flashed my mom a smile.

  “And maybe one more by the fireplace?” my mom asked.

  “Enough,” I told her. My mom had already taken a dozen photos. “When E.J. gets here, we don’t have time for more photos. We’re late.” I checked my phone again. “We really need to get to the dance.”

  I wasn’t exactly sure what was going to happen once we got to homecoming. I just knew Nini would not be happy about seeing me with her ex-boyfriend E. J. Caswell. Sure, it took guts for me, a sophomore transfer student, to ask the senior water polo star and class treasurer to the homecoming dance, but it was all part of my plan. Something had to be done about E.J. and me being understudies. Sure, we could be wonderstudies, but we were better than that. We both wanted to be the leads in East High’s High School Musical.

  A car pulled up in front of the house and I saw E.J. He honked the horn. I grabbed my purse. “Bye, Mom!” I shouted as I headed out the door.

  “Have fun!” my mom called.

  I smiled. Fun wasn’t at the top of my agenda for the night.

  I was on a mission.

  When E.J. and I walked into East High, Mr. Mazzara was sitting at the entrance to the gym, checking people in. He had a list of everyone who had bought tickets to the dance. I boldly grabbed E.J.’s hand and gave his name. Mr. Mazzara scanned the list. He looked up at me when he saw Nini’s name next to E.J.’s. “Wait, when did you become Nini?” he asked.

  I saw E.J. wince and then roll his eyes.

  I smiled at Mr. Mazzara. “There was a last-minute cast change,” I said coyly.

  I pulled E.J. to the photo wall, where a photographer was taking pictures of couples as they entered the gym. Someone had spent lots of time blowing up all the red and white balloons for the photo backdrop. I had to hand it to the decorating committee. The gym looked amazing. I hammed it up for the photographer and leaned into E.J. with a huge smile. I was up for playing the happy homecoming date. I lifted my phone and snapped a couple of shots of us. Those photos were going right on my Instagram. If people assumed E.J. and I were a couple when they saw the post, that would be just fine.

  “So what’s the plan?” E.J. asked as the photographer snapped more pictures.

  “Relax,” I told him. “All will be revealed.” I flashed another smile for the camera.

  As we moved through the decorated gym, I scanned the room. I didn’t see Nini. I started to pani
c, but I kept my cool. I’d hoped Nini would get so upset when she saw E.J. and me together that she would quit the play or something.

  “Look—table ten,” I said, avoiding another one of E.J.’s questions. I took his hand and crossed the room to our table. “Are these seats taken?” I asked.

  Ashlyn, Carlos, Ricky, and Big Red gaped at us. Clearly, they were surprised to see E.J. and me together.

  I noticed that Seb was not at the table and Carlos had his head lowered. I’d heard they were going to the dance together. Seb didn’t seem like the type of guy to stand someone up, but I could tell there was some drama going on. I heard Ashlyn tell Carlos that Seb probably had a reason for being late. She was being really sweet.

  I smiled at Ricky and Big Red across the table. For some reason, Ricky just scowled at me. I wasn’t sure why he would be angry at me. I thought we’d had a connection at the skate park the other day. I knew he didn’t like E.J., but why would he care if we were together? Big Red looked happy to be at the dance. He, like me, I think, had never been to a school dance before.

  I turned my gaze to my date.

  E.J. glared at me.

  With Nini nowhere in sight, I knew I had to quickly revise my plan…only I couldn’t think of any other plan at the moment. I couldn’t count on Nini seeing my Instagram post with E.J. and getting jealous. E.J. looked bored and very annoyed…not a great look for a homecoming date.

  I leaned into him and smiled, pouring on the charm. “Could you get me some punch, babe?”

  At least I could put off telling him my plan for a little bit while I devised a new one. I held my breath, hoping he would take my lead and play the doting date.

  “Sure, babe,” E.J. said, going along with it.

  As soon as E.J. got up, Ricky slid into the seat next to me. He leaned in close. “You can do better than E.J. That guy is bad news,” he said. I stared at him, not believing he was going to call me out for coming to the dance with the recently single senior—as if Ricky was someone I would take relationship advice from.

  “I sort of thought you were classier than this,” Ricky went on. “But maybe you really are what people say you are.”

  “And that is?” I asked defensively.

  “A little too ambitious for your own good…or anyone else’s,” he replied.

  I felt like he had slapped my face. Everyone at the table heard what he said. There was a long, awkward silence. I glanced at Big Red, who looked mortified that Ricky had said that to me. Seriously, how dare he?

  I got up from the table, keeping my eyes on E.J. Clearly I wasn’t going to win a popularity contest at table ten. I knew E.J. was losing patience with me, too. I had to think of something fast.

  I wasn’t giving up on that night or my plan to have us move from wonderstudies to leads. I could totally be E.J.’s Gabriella. I just didn’t know yet how that was going to happen. I tossed my head back and glued a smile on my face as I walked toward my homecoming date.

  How did I wind up at my senior homecoming dance with Gina Porter, a sophomore transfer student I barely knew?

  I was supposed to be there with Nini. And there I was standing in front of the punch bowl waiting to get a drink for Gina, who had lured me to the dance with the promise of a plot to help us move into the leading roles of the fall production. Before long I found myself wondering if she had any kind of plan at all.

  A few weeks earlier, my life had looked very different. My senior year was off to a perfect start. I was co-captain of the varsity water polo team, I was senior class treasurer, and I had an awesome girlfriend.

  Nini and I had been inseparable since our summer drama camp show-mance. When I heard the new drama teacher at East High was directing High School Musical, I knew the lead roles were meant for us. The previous year’s senior girls were very talented, but they had graduated, leaving space for Nini to land a major role. She had come into her own that summer at drama camp and was definitely ready to take on a lead opposite me. Troy and Gabriella were our roles to lose.

  And I’m not accustomed to losing….

  On the day of auditions for High School Musical, I’d slipped on my red Wildcats basketball jersey and looked at my reflection in the backstage mirror. “You got this,” I said, smiling at myself in the mirror. “You, E. J. Caswell, are going to be Troy Bolton.” I pinned my audition number on my jersey and stepped back to admire how I looked. It was my idea to come to the auditions in costumes. I tried to get Nini to go full V. Hudge and wear the iconic red dress, but she opted for her favorite gray East High sweatshirt. Nini said it was her good luck sweatshirt. She didn’t need any luck—and she would look great in anything she put on.

  I was feeling good about the audition. I had been the lead in the past couple of East High productions, and I was meant to play Troy Bolton. The jersey looked great on me, and I knew I could sing, dance, and dribble a basketball.

  Miss Jenn called us to the stage. She sat at a small table in the audience with Carlos Rodriguez, who was her assistant and student choreographer. Carlos must have seen the movie High School Musical a hundred times and was pumped to be working on the show. He said casting Troy Bolton would be first. The stage was dark except for a couple of lights. Walking out to the spotlight, I held my basketball. Seb played the piano and I sang “The Start of Something New.” Miss Jenn and Carlos beamed. I could tell they were loving me. I felt like I’d nailed the audition.

  When I was done, I walked backstage with Nini to wait in the wings before her Gabriella audition. Gina was onstage. She was crazy good. She was a triple threat—she could dance, sing, and act. When I asked Nini a question, she started speaking with a kind of vague British accent, so I knew she was really nervous. I knew my girlfriend so well.

  “You got this,” I told her. I looked into her beautiful brown eyes. “There’s nothing for you to be nervous about. You went on this summer for the lead role with twenty minutes’ notice. You didn’t miss a beat, and you did that yourself.”

  “I really appreciate that,” Nini said, again with the British accent. “Oh my god, I’m doing the accent again.”

  “Yeah, you are. You’re a total weirdo,” I joked. “And one hundred percent real, and that is why I love you.”

  I definitely surprised her with my declaration, but it was the truth. I had never felt so strongly about anyone. Nini made me a better person. She was special, and I wanted her to know how I felt. She didn’t say I love you back. I knew I had caught her off guard. She looked as if she was thinking of something else. She was probably concentrating on her audition.

  Nini stepped out onstage. She still seemed a little unsure, but I knew once she started singing, she would be great. She was about to begin when Ricky rushed into the auditorium. I guess his late arrival surprised Miss Jenn, because she spilled coffee on the lighting board, which made the stage lights short out. Nini was such a pro that she continued her audition—even in the dark.

  Ricky walked toward the stage holding up his phone flashlight to shine a spotlight on her, so I leapt up to do the same. After all, Nini was my girlfriend and my leading lady.

  When Nini finished, Ricky had his chance to audition. He stumbled over some lines and then played some sappy love song on his guitar, staring directly at Nini. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I didn’t like him singing a love song to my girlfriend. Everyone else seemed to be loving the song, but I didn’t.

  I was glad when auditions were over, and I gathered up my stuff. I figured we’d have to wait a couple of days for the cast list to be posted. I was already planning a special date for Nini. I would take her out for dinner to celebrate. We would go to a nice restaurant and post our news on Instagram. Maybe we’d even record a few bars of “Breaking Free.”

  I headed out of the auditorium and heard Carlos yelling as he ran past me.

  “Clear!” Carlos called, pushing his way through the crowd in the hall. He waved the cast list in the air.

  I was surprised Miss Jenn had decided on the cast
so quickly. I stood next to Nini. I smiled at her. I wanted to savor the moment. We would look back one day and remember the feeling of getting the leads. This would be part of our story—a big part of what was perfect about my senior year.

  And then I saw what was written on the green piece of paper taped to the trophy cabinet.

  “Chad?” I said, my voice cracking.

  I shook my head in disbelief. Troy Bolton…Ricky Bowen, and Troy understudy…E. J. Caswell?

  “She thinks I’m a Chad?” I said, staring at the cast list. Miss Jenn actually cast me as Chad?

  What?

  Nini squeezed my shoulder. She was Gabriella, but I wasn’t her Troy.

  How was this possible? I was an understudy. And Nini’s ex-boyfriend, Ricky, was Troy Bolton?

  I watched Ricky. He slowly made his way to the list on the wall. He looked about as stunned as the rest of us. I felt Nini’s gaze and gave her a look of disbelief.

  I was not used to being number two. I was not used to being anyone’s understudy.

  This was not how my life usually went.

  I couldn’t get over Ricky’s harsh comments. I didn’t expect that from him. I guess I misjudged him. After changing schools five times in seven years, I was a little scarred from trying to make friends and didn’t always know who to trust.

  I thought that East High would be different. I was actually excited to start school there. I thought back to when my mom and I first arrived in Salt Lake City. We both had high hopes for the place.

  On the first day of school, I made gluten-free pancakes for breakfast, which was somewhat of a first-day tradition for my mom and me. It was also my mom’s first day at the local FEMA office. I was proud of her. She was really making a difference in many people’s lives by running disaster relief initiatives. I just wished she could stay in one place longer than six months so my own life wouldn’t be such a disaster.

  “To first days,” my mom said, raising her glass of orange juice. She took a sip and then put her glass down. She rested her hand on my arm. “We have the potential to stay here for at least a year.”