Ashlyn and E.J.

**The Caswell Cousins** is the familial relationship between Ashlyn Caswell and E.J. Caswell. In The Read-Through it was revealed that they are first cousins.

## History

E.J. Caswell and Ashlyn Caswell are first-cousins who are both the only children of their parents. They're really close and have a brother and sister relationship. Ashlyn acts as a sort of moral compass for E.J especially when it comes to matters regarding his relationship with Nini Salazar-Roberts, while E.J reluctantly tries to listen to her. E.J is quite well-known by the students of East High School making Ashlyn known as his cousin leaving her talent and other interests as a lesser known things about her.

## Moments

### Season 1

#### The Auditions

* They both Audition for *High School Musical the Musical*.

#### The Read-Through

* Miss Jenn says that even though all the Drama Club students walked in as strangers they are all going to become like family. Ashlyn tells Miss Jenn, "Actually E.J. is my cousin".

#### The Wonderstudies

* After school E.J. picks up Ashlyn from school.

### Season 2

#### The Storm

* When E.J. arrives in the Bomb Shelter Ashlyn says "E.J. you're alive?"

### Season 3

#### The Real Campers of Shallow Lake

* Ashlyn calls E.J. by his full name "Elton John Caswell" in front of everyone.

## Quotes

My cousin is everyone’s best friend. She has a way of making everyone—including me—feel better. Ashlyn has always been there for me. Our fathers are brothers and live in the same town, so we grew up in each other’s houses. When we were little, we bonded over theater and performing. We would put on shows for our parents, singing and dancing. Ashlyn wrote the songs, and we would hide out in her basement practicing while our parents visited. After dinner, it was showtime. Our performances were legendary. We made every family meet-up special. While those little shows might have started as nothing much, the more Ashlyn and I got involved in theater productions, the better our performances got. Even now, we will sometimes perform a new song or something from one of the shows we are working on.

- E.J.'s thoughts about Ashlyn in *The Wonderstudies*

### Season 1

#### Opening Night

Ashlyn: EJ?

EJ: Yes?

Ashlyn: You know, you know we're putting on an actual show, right?

EJ: Hey, thanks, Ash I have the power of sight.

Ashlyn: You want to get off your phone for ten minutes and be part of the team?

EJ: Sorry, yes.

Ashlyn: Forgiven.

### Season 2

#### New Year's Eve

EJ: It’s weird. You literally look so young to me now. Oh, I am growing a beard now.

Ashlyn: Oh. I thought that was dirt on your face.

## Trivia

* They are both the reason why Gina Porter comes back to Salt Lake City and stays. E.J. Caswell buys Gina Porter a last minute Plane Ticket so she can come back and be apart of the show on Opening Night. Ashlyn Caswell offers Gina Porter a place to stay at her house so she can still go to East High School without moving around a lot with her mom. In New Year's Eve, Gina Porter moves in at Ashlyn Caswell’s house.
* Ashlyn gives E.J. relationship advice on his relationship problems. In Season 1, Ashlyn gives E.J. advice on Nini Salazar-Roberts. In Season 2, Ashlyn comforts E.J. when he thinks his crush Gina Porter only sees him as a “Big Brother figure” because that is what Gina’s older brother Jamie Porter said to him.
* Despite being first cousins they were casted as on-stage love interests in *Beauty and the Beast*. Ashlyn was casted as Belle and E.J. was casted as Gaston who has a crush on Belle.