If I could say that being married and being a parent to twins was easy all while still in high school, then I'd be lying. I love Benny and Marie. I love Troy, but going to school and being a wife and mother was extremely hard. I never really liked school to begin with, but I had already gotten this far, even considering I had gotten pregnant last year with twins and gotten married, so I wasn't going to just stop now. Troy and I were set for graduating with the rest of our class this coming May and neither of us were giving up.

And it's not as though we were taking care of Benny and Marie on our own, like most parents. We had Troy's mom to take care of the twins during the day while we went to school, and even my mom helped take caere of Benny and Marie on her days off. Lucille was amazing though, especially considering she was pregnant herself. Troy's parents told him they were going to have another baby the day Benny and Marie were born. Neither Troy nor I knew what to think about this, but Lucille was happy, Jack was happy, and that's all that mattered. But I knew as soon as the baby was born, we would have to find another option for Benny and Marie during the day.

Even though I didn't particularly care for school, I knew I had to keep my grades up so I could continue to be in Ms. Darbus' performances. Acting was my passion, and I was never giving it up. I would do whatever it takes to continue to act, even if it is just on this high school level. We were barely only a month into the semester, and Lucille and Jack's baby was due at the end of next month, so Troy and I had a lot to think about, even if we were keeping on top of our school work, and auditioning for the school fall musical.

We were doing Grease. Ms. Darbus was especially excited for it. I was as well. It was one of my favorite plays. Although, I was having a huge issue. I wanted to play a role that wasn't the main role. I didn't usually go for the smaller parts, but this part wasn't necessarily smaller than the main part. I wanted to try out for Rizzo. She was my favorite character and she had always been. However, I knew Troy would be best in the role of Danny as opposed to the role of Kenicky. And if I did try out for Rizzo, that almost surely meant Sharpay was going to audition for Sandy. I didn't know if I could deal with that.

"You gotta go out for the role you want to go out for, Gab," Troy told me as we stood in front of the signup sheet. "But you should really sign up for Danny," I told him, really hating the dilemma I as creating for myself. I really did not want Sharpay's lips all over Troy. I knew it was just acting, he knew it was just acting, but Sharpay would take it to mean a whole lot more. She still wanted him, I knew she did. Everyone in the school knew that Sharpay wanted Troy. Ryan had even told us that she is always telling him of how she's going to break my marriage to Troy up. She wasn't going to be happy until Troy was hers. But there was no way that I was going to let that happen. I was even seriously giving up playing the one role I always wanted to play in Grease just so Sharpay wouldn't have the main role.

"Listen, Gab," Troy said, taking me by my shoulders and turning me to face him. "You sign up for whatever role you want to sign up for. I'll sign up for Kenicky, if that's what you want?" I shook my head. "No, Troy. Sign up for Danny. You'd be amazing as Danny. Don't just sign up for Kenicky because I'm signing up for Rizzo. Kenicky only has speaking roles, and you definitely need to be in a singing role too. You need to showcase your full potential." She sighed. "I'll just sign up for Sandy," she told him, realizing that she should be trying out for the lead as well, not for a part that wasn't the lead. Troy shook his head. "No. You sign up for Rizzo. I'll sign up for Danny. Everything will be fine.

"And besides," he said, laughing and shrugging his shoulders slightly. "Maybe Sharpay won't get the role of Sandy. Ms. Darbus is a fair director. If Sharpay is the best for the role, she'll get it, if someone else is better, then she won't." I knew he was only trying to make me feel better, but it wasn't working. I knew Sharpay would be cast as Sandy if I didn't audition for her, and I didn't know how I would get through rehearsals and production watching her with her claws all over Troy. Sandy and Danny kissed a lot too. I didn't want to see Sharpay kissing my husband. Anyone else, I could possibly handle it. I was an actress, I knew it was just acting, but Sharpay would take it as an overture.

"Troy, you and I both know Sharpay will get the part. She may be a bitch, but she's a good actress." I could admit that. I wasn't bigoted. I could admit when someone was a good actor. Even if they weren't a good person, I could certainly admit when they could act. There were several actors in Hollywood that I couldn't stand personally, but I really admired their acting. Not that I admired Sharpay's acting skills, but that didn't mean she wasn't good. If she tried out for Sandy, she was most definitely going to get the part.

Troy nodded, rubbing my arms softly. "It's just acting, right? That's what you always say, it's just acting. If I'm going to be Danny, it's not going to be me up there with Sharpay. It's going to be Danny and Sandy." I nodded my head, looking down between us. It had been six months since the twins were born, but I still wasn't used to not seeing my stomach when I looked down. I had gotten my figure back rather easily. I hadn't expected to loose all that baby weight so quickly, but it wasn't long before I was back down to my usual size, wearing my usual clothes. It was nice, even if a part of me missed being pregnant. But that didn't mean I wanted to get pregnant again so quickly. Troy and I hadn't talked about having more children, not really. I knew he wanted more, but we hadn't actually sat down and talked about it. But I was sure I didn't want to have anymore at least for a while.

"I know, Troy. You're Right. At least I know that, but Sharpay doesn't." Troy shook his head, pulling me into his arms and kissing the top of my head. "But the thing is, you and I do. That's all that matters." I smiled, hugging myself against Troy for the moment. I could hear his heart beating in his chest. That was my favorite sound in the world. I could lay against Troy's chest and listen to the sound of his heat every second of every day and I would never get sick of that sound. I guess that's why the babies liked being held against either Troy's or my chest. They had been in my stomach for so long, and they could hear my heartbeat all the time. It soothed them. So, it only stood to reason that that's what soothed them since they were born.

"Alright," I spoke softly. "I'll sign up for Rizzo." Troy kissed the top of my head again. "Good. I know you'll be great." I had already made Troy watch Grease several times since we'd been together, and he probably had it memorized as much as I did. We usually said Danny and Sandy's lines, and sang their songs together, but we did the same with Rizzo and Kenicky as well. All the other parts, we just let the movie take care of them, but that didn't mean we didn't have those parts memorized as well. "Who knows," Troy said, pulling back and looking down at me. "Ms. Darbus may cast me as Frankie Avalon." I laughed, shaking my head. "There's no way, Troy. You have more talent than that one song bit part." He laughed with me and I hugged him again.

"I love you, Troy," I told him, inhaling him deeply into me. "I love you, Gab," he said, before pulling back and reaching for the pen. "Ready to do this?" He held the pen up by the string that was holding it to the signup sheet. I looked at the pen and then I looked at him, taking a deep breath and taking the pen from his grasp. "Ready." I signed my name in the "Other Roles" area, and writing Rizzo next to my name. I looked over at Troy, handing the pen over to him. "Your turn." He smiled, taking the pen from me and signing his name under the "Leading Roles" header. I smiled up at him as he let the pen drop.

"Oh, my God. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little," we heard Sharpay's annoying voice from behind us. I looked up at Troy, sighing heavily. He gave me a knowing glance before we both turned to look at her. "Oh, I'm sorry. I broke up your little love fest," Sharpay said, coming up in front of us. "Well, you should know that Mr. Matsui doesn't like students fraternizing in the hall. Oh!" She smirked at us. "That's because of you two. He doesn't want any more girls getting knocked up in the school."

I felt Troy tense up. He didn't like her talking about me like that. I didn't either, but I knew how Sharpay worked. To her, it was all my fault that I had gotten pregnant last year. Troy was completely blameless, but that's just how she looked at things. "Thanks, Sharpay," I said, keeping Troy's arms around me. "But I think we're ok. We are married." Sharpay smirked again. "Oh, but then you're not being a good example for the rest of us, don't you think?" Troy inhaled deeply. "Do you really think we're worried about being a good example?"

Sharpay shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I mean, didn't you make an agreement with Mastui that you'd keep your grades up in order to be involved in extra curricular activities? How can you concentrate on your grades if you're always all over each other." Of course she would have figured that out somehow. She is the nosiest busybody anywhere. "You know, Sharpay, we're managing just fine." She pursed her lips, nodding. "I'm sure you are." She turned to look at the signup sheet and then turned back to look at both of use wide-eyed.

"Gabriella, you're not auditioning for Sandy?" She was being so sarcastic and fake. "Why ever not?" I let out a long breath. "Well," I said, as fake and sarcastic as she was, "I don't think I need to tell you that, now do I?" Sharpay scoffed, shaking her head. "Well, I guess Mama Dragon's flue must be backed up. Oh well!" She turned around, signing her name, plus a big heart, next to Troy's name. Now I wanted to pull out her extensions, but Troy held me tight in his arms. She turned back to us, smiling so incredibly fakely. "Well then! Looks like It will be Troy and me in the leads. Thank you oooh so much, Gabriella! We're going to have soo much fun."

She crinkled her nose and smirked before walking off. I turned to look back up at Troy. "Seriously, Troy. She's going to be reading into EVERY little thing you do while you're up there on stage. She's going to find someway to use that against us." Troy shook his head. " Babe, you don't have to worry about anything she thinks she can use against us, because NOTHING can be used against us. You're my wife, and I love you, and nothing is going to come between us. Nothing." I smiled softly, reaching up and wrapping my arms around his neck, hugging him down to me. I didn't feel as secure as he did, but I knew he loved me and if it were up to us, nothing would ever come between us, but outside forces would always be at play. I knew it.

Ms. Darbus came out to pick up the signup sheet, bursting loudly when she came up beside us. "Troy! Gabriella! I trust you've signed up on the list," she said, pulling it off the wall and looking over it. "Yes, Ms. Darbus. We did," I told her, biting my lip and waiting for her to look over the list. She looked up at me. "Gabriella, you're not auditioning for Sandy?" I winced slightly, shaking my head. "No, Ms. Darbus. I've always liked the character of Rizzo, and have always wanted to play her." Ms. Darbus looked very worried, shaking her head. "But, Troy's signed up to audition for Danny. I'm sure you know, they're not together. They are pretty much exes."

Troy and I both nodded. "We do know, Ms. Darbus," I answered for both of us. "We've discussed it, and it's only acting." Ms. Darbus crossed her arms over her chest, holding the signup sheet at her side. "I've grown accustomed to having both of you in my leading roles. Are you sure you won't reconsider, Gabriella?" I nodded, smiling over at her. "I'm sure, Ms. Darbus. Besides, it would be nice for audiences to see someone other than us as the lead roles together, don't you think." She shook her head adamantly. "No. No, I don't. You're the best duo I have, Gabriella. I really don't want to sacrifice the quality of my shows." I looked at Troy and back at Ms. Darbus.

"Actually, Ms. Darbus. I think it's best that Troy and I expand our talent base. We don't always have to play lead roles. It would be nice to give other roles a boost, don't you think?" That sounded so conceited to me, but it was Ms. Darbus who thought Troy and I were the best thing that's ever happened to her drama department. I was just playing to her whim. She regarded the two of us closely before nodding her head. "I suppose you are right, Gabriella. You will shine in any role you two play, even though I wish you would play my leading roles every time." I smiled, both at her and then back at Troy. "And usually we will, Ms. Darbus, but I think this time it will be best." She nodded her head slowly, making a hmmm sound.

"Maybe you're right, but anyway, we'll still have to hold audtions. You will be there?" Troy nodded. "Definitely. We wouldn't miss it for the world." Ms. Darbus nodded in return. "Good. See you there then." She walked away toward the auditorium, and I turned toward Troy. "She's not happy," I said, giggling slight. Troy laughed, shaking his head. "No, she's not, but we can't monopolize the leading roles all the time." I shook my head as well. "No we can't." I stepped back, taking his hand. "Shall we?"

Troy nodded and we followed off the way Ms. Darbus went to the auditorium. Coming in through the back, Sharpay was already on the stage singing Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee. She noticed us walk in and stopped. "TROYYYYYYY!" She squealed, turning toward Ms. Darbus who was sitting a few rows back from the stage in the middle of the auditorium. "Ms. D, is it alright if Troy and I sing You're the One That I Want?"

Troy looked down at me, and I sighed. "She's starting already." Troy sighed as well, nodding his head. "We knew she would, babe." I nodded my head, continuing to walk down toward the stage. "Ms. Darbus turned back to look at us and then back at Sharpay. "I suppose if Troy would like to." Sharpay looked over at Troy, holding her hands up like she was praying, pleading with him. "Please, please, please, please, Troy." Troy rolled his eyes and nodded. "Sure. Why not?"

He kissed the side of my head, leaving me at the isle by Ms. Darbus and headed up onto the stage. I walked into the isle, sitting down by Ms. Darbus. She smiled over at me and then turned back up to Kelsi at the piano. "Kelsi, come in with the intro when Danny and Sandy say their lines." Ms. Darbus cued her. Kelsi nodded. "Yes, Ms. Darbus." Ms. Darbus turned to Troy as he came up on stage next to Sharpay.

"It's just the few lines. Do you know them, Troy?" Ms. Darbus asked Troy, and he nodded down to her. "Sandy? Right?" Ms. Darbus nodded. "That's right. When you're ready," she told them, waving her arm. "I'll go off stage and walk in all sassy like," Sharpay said, turning and walking off the stage. Troy turned to look at me, shaking his head and rolling his eyes. I giggled at him and he smiled back at me before stepping back and letting himself get into character. I smiled up at him and sat back to watch.

Sharpay walked onto the stage and my eyes about popped out of my head. She couldn't walk more like a slut if she tried. I was beginning to think I'd made a mistake, not wanting to try out for Sandy. Not if this was the Sandy people were going to have to watch. Troy turned to look at her, doing a double take, and I was sure it was mostly Troy, not Danny, but it worked. Kelsi started playing the music and Troy started. "Sandy?" Sharpay smirked at him. "Tell me about it... Stud!"

Troy looked around, looking back at her, starting to sing with the music when it was time. "I've got chiiiiiillls, they're multiplyin'. And I'm looooosin' contro-ol! Cause the power, you're supplyin' – It's electrifyin." Sharpay walked over to him, placing her hand on his chest, pushing him back as she continued walking. "You betta shape up. Cause I need a man." She stopped pushing him, turning away from him, as he started to follow her like a forlorn puppy. "And my heart is set on you," she sang, turning back to face him.

She turned back and started to walk way from him again. Both she and Troy were getting into the music, dancing along with it. "You betta shape up, if you betta understand," she turned back to face him, pushing him back again. "To my heart I must be truuuu-uuue!" Troy shook his head, dancing her backward this time. "Nothing left. Nothing left for me to do!" They started dancing together, as they both started singing.

"You're the one that I want, You are the one I want. Oooh Oooh. Oooh. Honey, the one that I want. You are the one I want, oooh. Oooh. Oooh. Honey, the one that I want. You are the one I want. Oooh Oooh, ooh. Wanna see?" Sharpay, slid her hand down between her breasts over her pink leather shirt. "Oh yes indeeeed." And with that, Ms. Darbus called out. "Ok. Ok. We're good. You two can have a seat now." She was as upset as I was with the performance, looking over at me, pleading with me. But Troy and I had made our decision.

"Would you like to do your audition piece, Gabriella?" she asked, obviously relenting to the whole idea of Sharpay as Sandy. I looked up at Troy and then back at Ms. Darbus nodding. "Ok." I stood up, walking up and toward the stage. Going up the stairs, Troy and I passed, and he quickly gave my hand a quick squeeze. "I love you," he whispered, and I quickly whispered it in return before walking over and standing in the middle of the stage.

I nodded over at Kelsi, and she started playing the music. I waited the few bars that played, wrapping my arms over my breasts, and then started singing. "There are worse things I could do then go with a boy, or two. Even though the neighborhood thinks I'm trashy... and no good. I suppose, they could be true, but there are worse things I could do." I started, walking slowly toward front center stage.

"I could flirt with all the guyyyyys. Smile at them and bat my eyeeeees. Press against them when we dance, make them think they stand a stance, then refuse to see it through. That's a thing I'd never do." I paused, looking out into the empty space toward the ceiling of the auditorium. "I could stay home every niiiiight. Wait aroooouuuund for Mr. Right." I looked down at the floor of the auditorium.

"Take cold showers every day, and throw my life away on a dream that won't come true. I could hurt," I sang, turning toward my left and walking along the edge of the stage, "someone like me... out of spite or jealousy." I turned my head up. "I don't steal, and I don't lie," I sang out, nodding my head firmly. "But I can feel and I can cryyyy!" I stopped and the corner of the stage, shaking my head. "A fact I'll bet you never knew." Lifting my head, I looked out into the audience, toward where Troy was sitting, next to Ms. Darbus. "But to cry in front of yooooouuu... That's the worst thing... I couuuuuld doooooo."

Kelsi finished out the last few bars of the music and Troy and Ms. Darbus applauded uproariously. I shook my head, smiling softly. Walking down off the stage, Ms. Darbus stood, ready to leave. "Well, if we don't have anymore auditions, then I will have the parts posted at the end of school today." I walked over to Troy, taking his hand as he walked over to me.

"Wait, Ms. Darbus," Kelsi called from the stage. "I... I'd like to audition." She slowly stood from the piano, a little heasitant. Ms. Darbus turned to her, disbelieving what she'd even said. "You, Kelsi? Which part would you like to try out for?" Kelsi walked over toward the center of the stage. "I'd... um... I'd like to try out for Sandy, if that's alright."

Sharpay about flipped out. "What?" She quickkly looked over at Ms. Darbus as Ms. Darbus eyed her down. "I mean, she didn't sign up, Ms. Darbus. She can't try out." But Ms. Darbus hadn't been impressed with Sharpay's Sandy, so she was willing to let Kelsi try out. "I say," she said, turning her head back toward Kelsi. It's a wonderful, idea, Kelsi. Ryan?" Ryan popped his head out from backstage.

"Ryan," Ms. Darbus continued. "Do you think you could play whatever song Kelsi wants to try out too?" Ryan looked form Ms. Darbus, over to Kelsi, smiling brightly. He nodded his head, turning back toward Ms. Darbus and walking over to the piano. "Of course, I can, Ms. Darbus." He sat down at the piano, flipping through Kelsi's sheet music, looking over at her. "The one you were singing last night?" he asked her. "Yes, please."

Ryan nodded, laying out the music, starting to play it. Kelsi took a deep breath and we all sat back down in our seats. Sharpay was fuming over on the side of the auditorium, but that didn't matter. She could suck it, for all I cared. If my sister wanted to try out, she should be able to try out. I could tell Kelsi was nervous, but I think it was actually adding to the song she was going to sing. I was proud of my sister. I never expected her to try out, but I loved it anyhow.

"Look at me," she started singing softly. "There has to be. Something more than what they see. Wholesome and pure... oh, so scared, and unsure. A pawn then... Sandra Dee." Ryan continued to play the music and I spoke from where I was sitting down in the audience for Frenchie. "Sandy! Sandy! Danny won! Isn't that great?" Kelsi smiled, nodding her head softly. "Yeah." I sat forward, smiling brightly, even though smiling wasn't in the script. I was really liking Kelsi's Sandy.

"What's the matter? Aren't ya happy?" I could see Kelsi actually swallow, shaking her head. "No, not really, Frenchie, but I think I know a way I could be..." She looked at me, as if she really needed something from me. "Could you help me?" I smiled, nodding my head quickly. "Of course!" Kelsi smiled, but only softly. "Could I come to your place?" I nodded again. "Sure, come on..."

Kelsi sat down on the stage, crossing one foot in front of the other, letting them dangle down into the orchestra pit. "Sandy... You must start anew. Don't you knoooooowwww what you must doooo? Hold your head high," she sang, inhaling deeply, becoming more sure of herself almost instantly. "Take a deep breath and sigh." She let out her breath of air slowly. "Come on, Sandy!" I called out, sitting back beside Troy, knowing Kelse had this in the bag. "Gooooodbyyyyeee to Sannnndraaaa... Deeeee," Kelsi sang, finishing out the song.

We all stood, cheering her on, clapping loudly. All of us except for Sharpay. She sat there, glaring at Kelsi. She couldn't believe Kelsi was stepping in and taking her role away from her. She was furious. "Brava, Kelsi, brava!" Kelsi stood up on the stage and turned to Ryan who came over, wrapping his arms around her, kissing the side of her head. "Thank you," Kelsi said, meekly, not just to Ryan, but to everyone else in the room.

"Well, well! I think I know exactly who to cast in every role!" Ms. Darbus said as the bell rang for us to go to our next class. "I will have the parts posted where the signup sheet was earlier once school has been dismissed for the day. "Thank you everyone for trying out and may the best actor win!" She headed up the stage and behind the curtain toward her office. Troy and I walked up onto the stage and over to Kelsi. I wrapped my arms around her once Ryan stepped away, giving her a tight hug.

"Congratulations, Kelse! That was amazing!" She smiled brightly, hugging me back. "Thank you, Gabby. I never thought you wouldn't audition for Sandy, but I though, since you weren't, I could." I shook my head, looking at her, still holding her in my embrace. "You know, I wouldn't want anyone else playing Sandy. You were amazing!" We heard the door slam at the back of the auditorium and knew that Sharpay had stormed out of here, obviously pissed off at the outcome. We all looked around at each other, none of us really caring she was upset. Kelsi was amazing, and we all knew she was going to have the lead in this fall's musical.