"You're going to tell him that you need your money now, and then you're going to quit," Anna muttered to herself, cleaning the bar in small, circular motions. There was no need for her to mutter, the bar was empty - as always - but talking to herself in any tone above a mutter seemed crazy. Talking to yourself at all is crazy, but in a small town, you take what company you can get. It turns out that yourself is the best company you'll ever have.
"You can do this, Anna. There's some feistiness in you somewhere, you'll just have to dig a little to find it…"

Her reverie was interrupted by a small chime that rang from a bell above the door, signalling the arrival of a customer, or a deadbeat boss returning from his lunch break.
"Hey, Mr Wilson! I really need my money today," Anna called as he strode across the room, almost surprised at the authority in her voice until she added a shaky "please" in hesitation. The tall man stopped dead, scaring the girl slightly. She was twenty and could hold her own most times, but her boss could easily overpower her.
"You'll get your money, Annie," he spoke flatly, continuing to storm towards his office.
"It's Anna," the redhead forced a smile. "And I really need that money now, I - I quit!"
Mr Wilson simply laughed, walking into his office. Before the door closed, he called out to her. "Annie's much prettier. Get back to work."

"Annie. That's a new one," she grumbled, rolling her eyes. "If he thinks I'm staying, he's got another thing coming."
As petite as she was, Anna stormed over to the cash register, taking the money that she was owed. With a gleam of pure determination taking over her blue eyes, Anna walked out of the diner for the last time.

It didn't take her long to rush back to her apartment and pack what little she owned; Anna made a habit of only buying things she needed and saving the rest of her money for this exact moment.

"I'm going to L.A.!" The words were almost incoherent, mixing with excitement and giggles as they left her lips.

The journey to Los Angeles wasn't pleasant to say the least - but, finally, Anna had arrived. And this was where her dream began. Everything was how she imagined it; letters spelling out "Hollywood" in capitals everywhere, a word had never looked so magical; the sun shining down as if the state had a constant spotlight and the people walking down the street either looked insanely rich, or like they worked for the insanely rich.

And so, Anna began the job hunt, practically radiating positivity. Positivity which didn't last as long as she had hoped it would.
"I know my vocals need some work, but I have talent there, I can do this," she pleaded at another audition which - judging by the panel's faces - didn't go as well as she originally had thought. The look on their faces told the redhead all she needed to know. Defeated, she turned on her heel and left the building.

The sun had set now and the town of dreams seemed less magical to Anna as she walked down a dark street that she didn't even know the name of.

Then the lights hit her.
They were bright and colourful and they called out to her, spelling out the words 'Burlesque Lounge'. The wonder of the building drew her towards the door, Anna barely having anything to say in the matter, though she didn't attempt to protest.
"Always nice to see a new face here. That'll be twenty bucks," an encouraging doorman stated, causing Anna to jolt out of her daydream.
"What is this place?"
"Oh, darling, only the best Burlesque Lounge in Hollywood," he answered with a smile and a wink.
"What is that? Like some sort of strip club?" Anna asked innocently, peering into the main room where a group of beautiful girls gathered on a stage. Casting her gaze back to the doorman, he was disgusted by the words that had just came tumbling out of her mouth. Eventually he seemed to let it go, his features softening a bit.
"Are you coming in or not? I have a club to fill with or without you, honey." He raised an eyebrow at her until she handed over the entry money. "Welcome to Burlesque."

Alone and slightly nervous, Anna made her way into the main room and towards the bar, hoping to gain some liquid confidence.
"What can I get you?" A tall, blond bartender asked her. 'Tall' could actually be considered an understatement, with a muscular build that backed it up.
"What do you recommend?"
"Nothing made by the girl over there with the pink hair, even though she informs me it is 'fuchsia' and I'm pretty sure that's the name of an alien race."
Anna laughed, briefly glancing at the bartender in question. "Okay, well just surprise me and make sure it has as much alcohol as is safe for a human to consume."
"Coming right up," he gave her a wink that almost made her melt and busied himself making her drink.
"Is it company policy that you have to wink at every customer? Creepy doorman already did that…" Anna called, reminding herself that she was engaged. Engaged. No matter how cute the bartender was.

The drink was everything she could have needed in that moment, cheering her up and bringing her nervousness down. The girls who danced were perfect; they danced with confidence, sensuality and beauty.
'I could do that,' Anna thought to herself, though it may have been the alcohol talking for her. She was never sure, but she was determined to be on that stage. Turning back to the bar, she flashed the blonde bartender a smile.
"I never caught your name…" She smiled, leaning towards him slightly.
"Kristoff. What's it to you?"
"I'm Anna," she held out her hand, leaving it there for a moment while Kristoff looked at it and carried on cleaning the bar. "So, Kristoff…who do I need to flirt with around here to get up on that stage?"
"In the back, you'll find a woman called Elena, though, she doesn't swing that way and I didn't think you seemed the type either," he smiled, handing her a card. "Tell her Kristoff sent you."
"Thank you. I totally owe you for this!" She giggled, before jumping off the stool and practically skipping towards the door leading backstage.