Author's Note: Ok, I do not own High School Musical or any of the characters. I do own this plotline. Basically, I thought Jason needed some character development because he doesn't have any fictions about him unless they involve Kelsi. So I took Jason, created a person for him, and made him best friends with Ryan Evans. (Sort of like I did for Tapeworm in The Suite Life and Sam in Life With Derek). Wa-lah, magic, Jason's a person. I hope you like it. Review, please.

Chapter 1:

I nod weakly at Troy, feeling a bit odd and out of place, holding this sweaty ticket in my hand. "Yeah, I'll be there."

God, ever since Troy figured out that whole musical thing, he's become obsessive. He's trying out for ever single part he can get, and he gets all the good parts too! I'm happy for him—I mean, he's found what he really loves, but why on earth does he have to invite me to every single one of them?

Ok, I admit—The Sound of Music was pretty good, I know. So were The Music Man and The Fiddler on the Roof. But after I saw West Side Story and Bugsy Malone, the thrill's wearing off a bit. God, how many stupid musical things can there be?

Chad says it's a phase. Yeah right. That explains the fifty three tickets Troy's swiped for the team to let them come and watch him when we say that we don't have the money to buy one. Anyway, what does Chad know? He once said that he'd never fall in love. Well, he's head over heels in love with Taylor—never saw that coming, did he?

Yeah, ever since the whole musical thing, everyone's in love, and it's bugging me. Yeah, ok, I admit I'm jealous. I'm not in love.

I mean, Sharpay hooked up with Zeke, Troy's with Gabriella, and Chad's with Taylor. I used to really like Kelsi, but then we found out we didn't really have much in common. She's in love with Alan now.

The only other person that's not head over heels in love is Ryan Evans. Oh yeah, did I mention him? He happens to be one of my closest friends at the moment. Sue me—yes, the drama dork is my friend. I'm ashamed I used to think of him like that, actually. Ryan doesn't mind—he's different now. Ever since Sharpay found Zeke to boss around, Ryan's his own person, not always dodging around in his twin's shadow anymore. And I've found out how really kind he is.

Not that my other friends are bad or anything. But see, they've all found their own things and are on top of the world now. I mean, Troy's found drama and Gabriella. And he dominates at what he's good at. So now he's the basketball guy, the singing guy, and the guy who got the pretties girl in the school. (I always knew he'd come out on top). Chad—well, Chad's really nice, but he's involved with Taylor now, and he's always been Troy's best friend, not my best friend. Zeke's busy baking cookies like every day for Sharpay—it's a wonder she's not fat with all that Crème Brule he makes for her. And well, Ryan's the only free guy that I can hang around with now. So I do.

And I've learned a lot.

I think I forgot to mention who I am. Jason. Jason Cross actually. New friend of Ryan Evans, and one of the only people that is single. Which is not a lot, let me tell you. Anyway, I'm holding this ticket to Mary Poppins? and debating over whether I should just chuck this ticket in the trashcan or actually go to Troy's musical. He'd probably be hurt if I didn't show up, I decide, so I stuff it into my back pocket and go on with my business.

Yeah, I have P.E. now, otherwise known as Physical Education. I head over to the gym, get changed into my red and white uniform, and head out to the fields. Ryan's there already.

Coach Bolton—he also teaches physical education—gives me this huge corny grin and asks if I'm going to see Troy in his new play after barging in between me and Ryan. He's never really cared for Ryan—thinking he's just sort of a worthless singing kid—and Ryan's looking at me with sort of a hurt look, but he's used to it. Coach Bolton's treated Ryan like this for awhile—rather, since Kindergarten—favoring Troy—well, of course. Troy is his son.

"Maybe," I mutter, and Coach Bolton takes that as a "yes." He flashes me this huge smile and thumbs-up sign, saying, "I'll see you there!"

Yeah, ever since Coach Bolton found out how good Troy was at singing, he's become obsessive. Now, not only does Troy have the potential of becoming the next Michael Jordan, he also has the potential of becoming the next Ryan Cabrera! Big whoop, who cares?

You've probably noticed I've been almost attacking Troy. I don't know why. Troy's a great guy—he really is, I mean, he's always open and energetic and eager. I've been friends with Troy for almost forever.

But ever since this whole musical thing, Troy's been all wrapped up in himself and Gabriella. I mean, nobody else notices because they're all wrapped up in themselves too. Ryan doesn't care. Ryan and Troy have never hit it off so well ever since Troy told Ryan he was scared to death of Sharpay. What kind of person tells that to a twin about his other twin?

Anyway, Ryan's right next to me now.

"Sorry about that," I say, apologizing for Coach Bolton's rather crude treatment of Ryan.

"No problem," he says, grinning. "So, what's up?"

Ryan Evans. If somebody had told me last year I'd end up being friends with Ryan Evans, I would have told them to go and jump off a cliff because that was never happening. Yeah, his whole weird dramatic self bugged the death out of me. I mean, I wanted to murder him for that neon pink hat and all the other junk he wore.

Yeah, this year, Ryan's let it down a little on the crazy clothes. He wears more decent stuff now—like jeans and t-shirts. It's true. Ever since Sharpay has someone else to go after, Ryan's sort of come out of his shell and shown the real person he is. (Now Zeke's the one who shows up in bright-highlighter colored clothing. He must really like Sharpay, going through all that just to please her).

"Nothing." I fish out my Mary Poppins ticket. "Do you think I should go to this?"

Ryan shrugs. If there's one thing that bugs me about Ryan, it's that sometimes he doesn't have a definite answer to anything.

"Musical?" he asks, arching his eyebrow and scratching his chin. Ryan seriously does things like that. I always have to fight the urge to laugh. "Maybe. Go. Troy needs your support."

"Yeah, ok." I put it back in. I really don't want to think about Troy prancing around as Bert, or whatever character he got.

Now that we're on the subject of musicals, Ryan starts going on about that new musical that Kelsi wrote. It's called Time to Fly or something like that. It's about this place where everybody lives on Candycane Lane or something weird like that.

Ryan doesn't know if he should try out basically. He doesn't know if Sharpay wants to do it this year—seeing how wrapped up she is with Zeke—and he's never starred by himself before. Never. This is since Kindergarten's Cinderella.

"Come on, do it," I'm telling him. I mean, Ryan's got a way better voice than Sharpay. He really should do it.

"I don't know," he says, kicking the floor with his shoes and stretching in his red and white uniform.

"Dude, you have to try out! You own the theater, Ryan! You love drama, come on, you can't quit!"

"I don't know…" he breaks off, looking shyly at the ground. "I've never done anything by myself before. I don't know what Sharpay would think…"

"Forget Sharpay!" I'm saying. "It doesn't matter! Sharpay's found her own thing, and you've fought so long to get away from her! I mean, just do it, Ryan. Do it! You can be the star for once! You'd make it, I swear!"

"I don't know…" Ryan says again. I think I'm going to grab his head and slam it against the blacktop if he says that one more time.

"Come on, Ryan! You can do it! You know what? I'll try out for the stinking part if it means you will!" I don't know what I'm saying anymore.

"Really?" He arches an eyebrow.

"Yes!"

"Ok, I'll do it," he decides. I'm happy, because Ryan will get the recognition he deserves.

Then I realize what I said. And what I've gotten myself into.

Author's Note: Jason's in a musical? ((Gasp)) Wow. This is something new. Want to find out what happens? Review.

-Finn