Author's Note: Hi, guys! Welcome to my story! I hope you like it. This chapter is just a quick introduction; a new chapter will be added every Saturday unless the story is complete.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hairspray or any of its characters. Happy reading!
Chapter 1: New Ending, New Beginning
The warm spring day heated Baltimore and excited nearly each person for the fact that summer was just around the corner. Each school student was making summer plans, all except Amber Von Tussle. The blonde beauty sat in the makeup room of The Corny Collins Show studio, sulking in self-pity as she stared at herself in the mirror in front of her. Beside the mirror on the table was a beautiful potted white orchid with a farewell card addressed to her. It was Amber's last day on The Corny Collins Show, for she would be graduating high school in just a week and was no longer eligible for being a part of the show. Most of everyone else had already left to go home, except for a few people from the crew that ran the show. They usually stayed later than everyone else to make arrangements and preparations for upcoming shows.
Amber sat still in her chair, lost in her own little world inside her head when she heard a voice. "Amber?" Startled, Amber jumped in her seat and looked into her mirror to see who was behind her. "Oh, hi, Corny."
"What are you still doing here? Thought you'd be happy to be out of here for the summer and to start your new life as a free woman," he said, half-humorously with a slight smile on his face. "I suppose I should be, shouldn't I?" Amber asked, looking down at her lap. "Amber? Are you all right?" Corny asked as he walked over to sit in the chair beside Amber. She slightly turned her gaze to him and gave him a questioning look with narrowed eyes. "Okay, look. I know we're not the best of friends," he started with an assuring voice, "but I'm all you've got right now if you need to talk about something." Amber was without a doubt bothered, but was also too proud to admit it. She just waved a hand in protest with a smile. "Oh, no," she laughed as she rose from her chair. "I'm just tired like every other day of rehearsal. I'm quite glad to be finished with the long, tiring days, to be honest," she stated matter-of-factly.
"You didn't have to stay on the show if you didn't want to."
"I never would have heard the end of it from Mother."
"Touché."
"Anyway, I'm off for new adventures and bigger, better things—possibly Broadway." A hint of arrogant certainty leaked from Amber's voice. Corny crossed his arms and slowly nodded his head, pretending to be excited for her. "Sorry to see that the show was holding you back from those bigger and better things—like Broadway," he teased. Amber wasn't his favorite person; it wasn't hard to see why, but he did somewhat care for her. After all, she was still a human being like any other person, she had hopes and dreams like everyone else. He wanted to see her succeed, but if he were honest with himself, he didn't see much hope in what little humbleness and morality she had. Brainwashed by her mother, no doubt. The Von Tussles were the types of people you feel sorry for half of the time due to who they were as people, but who also made you want to strangle them the other half for the same reason. "Aw, Corny. Of course the show wasn't holding me back, it just wasn't…big enough for me. It was good for the small things in show business, but now I'm ready for the real deal!"
"Well," Corny started as he stood up from his seat, "you will be missed and wished the best!" Of course, Corny only meant half of that statement; he certainly wouldn't miss her, nor could he think of anyone who would. With a smile, he turned and walked away, leaving Amber to just herself once more. The studio was dark; it was time to go home. Velma, Amber's mother, would be wondering where she was. With a dainty huff, Amber collected her things and made her way out the studio doors. On her way home, Amber thought to herself, and felt she was right. She was off to do more things that would be more beneficial for her than The Corny Collins Show was. She could practically hear New York calling her name. It was an exciting thing to imagine, but it wasn't reality yet. Amber still had to finish up the school year and just a few days after that would be her eighteenth birthday. Perhaps over the summer Amber would get to take her first trip up to New York City. She was sure her mother had plans for her; she could only wait and see what those plans were. Looking at the sky, Amber realized how low the sun was. Had she really stayed at the studio that long? With her orchid strapped securely in one arm and her purse clutched against her ribs with the other, she quickened her pace to get home. Hopefully, Velma would be in a good mood when Amber got there. Amber wasn't afraid of much, including her angry mother, but it definitely would save a bunch of fuss if Amber got home on time, which didn't seem like it was going to happen. Oh, well, Amber thought. Sometimes you just have to face the music.