Disclaimer: I do not own Frozen—it belongs to Disney. Forgot to mention this too, but North and Sandy belong to DreamWorks. I do not own any musicals mentioned, either.
Author's Note: If you skipped my A/N in the previous chapter, do note that the prologue has been drastically changed. If you've already read everything…welcome back. To the 16 people Following this story and the 7 people who Favorited…Thank you. Thank you for taking an interest in this tiny driftwood lost within the sea of Elsanna. It means a lot to know that you've read all the way through to this point.
So thank you. So much. This one's for you guys, even if it's a bit long. Over 12k words this time, but I like writing long chapters. I usually write 7-8k, though. Next chapter, we'll actually have Elsa and Anna talking with each other, and hopefully it'll be shorter. [EDIT: It turns out it's not. Over 13k, actually.]
I was actually thinking of going along with a different quote for this chapter, but after reading chapter 36 of Tempest (back when I began typing this chapter up)…Needless to say, I couldn't help but fall back on something sappier, considering MY DAMN FEELS GOT TRAMPLED OUTTA NOWHERE HOW DARE YOU KAISERKLEE—
…Only to be torn into further pieces and cast into the fires of Death Mountain by An Awkward, First Something's recent update (at that time), as well.
And Searching for a Perfect Day's latest update with Ben being an asshole to Elsa and WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHIT IS ONLY JUST STARTING TO HIT THE FAN LIKE IT HASN'T ALREADY FOR THE PAST FEW CHAPTERS AND THANK GOD FOR HAYLEY—
…
…Enjoy.
The Song in My Heart
Chapter 3 – Backward Glances
-x-x-x-
"Who I am, from the start.
Take me home…to my heart."
There was a dull 'thud' as Anna's forehead connected with her locker door.
"Fuck."
Thud.
"Transferring."
Thud.
"Fucking."
Thud.
"Grades."
The aggravated redhead drew her head back for another round, but a large hand loosely gripped at her bangs, effectively stopping her. Teal eyes lazily glanced over to see a familiar smirk on the face of a certain burly blond. He easily spun her around with a twist of his wrist, saving her forehead from further abuse as she slumped back against her locker.
"So…what's got you bummed out, not-so-feisty pants?" her childhood best friend teased, withdrawing his hand to cross his arms as his smirk grew. "You were a hell of a lot more excited earlier."
Anna scowled as she mirrored his pose, the tips of her ears growing hot with embarrassment. "Oh, don't act like you don't know, Kristoff! You were even there for it in Chemistry! Laughing your ass off!"
"Hey, the look on your face was priceless. And I don't see what's the problem with a harmless study session. I mean, you have to admit, you kinda need it if you really want that A that badly," the burly blond chuckled, managing to avoid a punch to the arm. "There's only so much you can do on your own, and losing brain cells by banging your head on your locker isn't exactly helping here."
"Yeah, but it's not just Tiana who'll be there!" the redhead exclaimed, pulling at her face in exasperation and earning more than a few looks from other students heading home. "She also invited Jane and a few others along! Wouldn't say who, but it's gonna be so embarrassing! Just think of all the people with front row seats to see how much of an idiot I am!"
"Relax, Anna. Tiana wouldn't be friends with people who'd look down on you or something. Besides, you're not an idiot, as far as I can tell. Well…academically, of course. Maybe not a genius, but you're not C-average either." Kristoff suddenly furrowed his brow, the smirk on his face vanishing as his voice dropped to a softer tone. "This isn't about your older sister, is it?"
Anna couldn't help herself—her hands fell back to her sides as she stiffened. The burly blond sighed heavily, beating her to the punch before she could even deny it.
"You're not Amelia."
Although he most assuredly meant well, those words still stung. Anna bit her lip, fiddling with the end of one of her braids as her gaze fell to the floor. The random skid marks and dust bunnies spanning the tiles suddenly looked a lot more interesting, and she vaguely wondered if they had their own secret society that no one knew about. Expectations and disappointments—the whole shebang.
"…I know."
From the corner of her eye, she registered Kristoff run a hand through his hair, jaw set as his eyebrows drew even closer. "No, Anna, I don't think you know. While you were at Corona, you told me how ridiculously proud your mom and dad were of her. Probably still are considering she's…what? A General now?"
"A Captain. Navy, Kris. Aiming for Admiral soon enough, given her track record as one of the youngest female Captains in history, and bagging more pirates than I care to remember in the past 4 years," Anna muttered listlessly as she kicked at the floor. "But if you're trying to make me feel better, you're doing a shitty job of it so far."
Kristoff sighed again, and she could see his broad shoulders drooping with the motion in her peripheral. "Look, feisty pants…so what if you might not be on your way to being valedictorian in high school? Or graduating with top honors in college?" Anna felt his gaze drilling into her, and she tightened her grip on her braid as his words hit closer and closer to home. "That's not you. Hell, I bet deep down inside, you even know it's not you! You're not the academic one! You're the fun one—the one who does what she wants to do! Who cares if you're not the smart one?
"And your grades right now? That's not your fault; anyone short of being a genius would have problems transferring in with only a month left to go. You're even doing better than I am, and I've been here all year!"
But don't you see? That's not good enough, Kristoff. Anything less than an A is unacceptable, and one month is plenty of time. Can't you see that I'm an idiot compared to her?
"Amelia could've done it," Anna mumbled weakly.
"And is your name 'Amelia'?" the bury blond countered with a snort.
She tore her gaze away from the floor to frown at him, and was met with genuine concern in his brown eyes. Whatever retort she wanted to strike back with abruptly died in her throat as the tips of her ears burned in shame. He only wanted to help, after all. And as the only friend in Arendelle who still remembered her after 8 years…
Heaven knows you need more of them in a place that's both familiar and foreign compared to upbeat and sunny Corona…
"…Both of our names start with 'A'," the redhead muttered instead, unable to meet his eyes any longer.
Thankfully, he accepted her awkward peace offering. Strong arms came up to pull her into a reassuring hug, which she reciprocated after a moment of hesitation. Kristoff was much taller and stronger than her, threatening to swallow up her smaller form in his embrace like he had done when Anna had first returned. Up close, he smelled of wet dog and sawdust, along with the faintest hint of metal.
"Believe it or not, you have friends here, feisty pants. Friends aside from me, and it's okay to rely on them for help sometimes. Better than me—I'm pretty sure any attempt at studying between us would somehow end up with playing video games," her childhood best friend chuckled, releasing her just enough to keep her at arm's length. His brown eyes were still filled with concern as he managed a small smile. "You're not Amelia. You don't have to do this alone, and none of us will judge you for it. But if you're still stubborn about trying to match up to her, then just know that we'll be there for you."
Kristoff gave her arm a solid pat as he fully let go of her, straightening up to his full height. "Just because you need help doesn't mean that you're stupid, or anything. It just means that you have something new to learn from them; something to help you reach your fullest potential." His smirk returned. "And hopefully, you'll come to your senses and realize that this whole thing is not you. God knows I don't need another friend who worries all the time."
Anna stared up at him, unblinking as her mouth parted slightly in awe. Who is this guy? He looks like an older Kristoff, and he still smells like Kristoff, but…
"When did you get so wise, big guy?" she whispered, feeling a lot better already as she managed a shaky smile, trying not to tear up at how much her old friend had grown while she was away.
She did not expect the sad flicker in his brown eyes, so fast she almost didn't see it. Before she could call him out on it, Kristoff reached out to trap her in a headlock, ruffling her hair despite her protests. "I live with Grand Pabbie, remember? He's bound to have rubbed off on me a little," he laughed as she wiggled in his grasp, spinning them both around. Fortunately, they were the only ones left in the hallway, since everyone else had already gone home.
"Kr-Kristoff! Let go of me!" the redhead huffed, trying not to laugh as well. "Geez, you're almost as bad as Rapunzel!"
"Almost, huh?" the burly blond said as he finally released her, shrugging off the halfhearted punch she gave to his arm. "I guess that means I'll have to work harder. Wouldn't want to lose to your current best friend, after all."
"Oh, please. You're both my best friends, you big lug," Anna scoffed as she tried to fix her hair as best as she could, aiming a smirk in his direction. "Though I honestly don't know why, seeing how you both are such dorks."
Kristoff smiled at that, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "I'd love to meet her sometime. Compare notes on the best ways to terrorize you, and maybe brainstorm some new ideas. Share stories you're too embarrassed to tell me."
She playfully shoved him, managing to push him back an inch or two. "I'm Skyping with her this Sunday, so drop by if you want. Ooh! And bring Sven! She loves animals! Like, she has this chameleon named Pascal, and I swear the little guy can understand everything we say."
"Sven can too."
"What? No he can't."
"Oh, c'mon! Why do you think I have to speak for him? People just don't get him right away, but he knows what's up. Definitely."
Glad to see some things haven't changed. Anna rolled her eyes, crossing her arms with a huff even as she tried not to smile. "Punzie's going to have a field day when she meets you…" she mumbled to herself, shaking her head in mock dismay. Kristoff's ensuing chuckle meant he had heard every word.
Still, it would be great—awesome, even—if the two of them got along. Anna and Kristoff had been best friends before she had to move to Corona 8 years ago. She'd spent many days over at the Bjorgman household, eating Bulda's delicious cooking with the rest of Kristoff's foster family and listening to Grand Pabbie regaling them with stories of magic and fantastical creatures. Dragons and trolls, gods and goddesses of old, heroes, knights, kings and queens…
Sadly, all this came to an end when they moved to Corona. Anna was still able to call him—and text when her parents gave her a cell phone in middle school—and she kept in touch with him over the years. She confessed to how lonely she felt the first few years, but that quickly changed when she met Rapunzel in middle school. Anna and the brunette had become fast friends, growing even closer to achieve best friends status when they joined the drama club, choir, and art club together. Anna had even texted him a picture of their goofy, paint-covered faces one day during an impromptu paint fight.
Rapunzel had also been the one to show her around Corona, horrified to discover how little she had explored on her own. Anna had discovered the local archery range this way, and that was how she had met Merida, her other best friend, though not as close as Rapunzel. Although the fiery Scottish girl went to a different school than them, the three of them often went out to the city together to hang out and have fun. Well, it was mostly Rapunzel and Anna fawning over the latest clothes in the stores and Merida scoffing at almost everything. Then it would usually lead to Anna and Merida having an eating contest at a café or restaurant while Rapunzel tried to apologize to any patrons horrified at her friends' behavior.
They sometimes studied together too, and Anna had easily been the most studious out of the three. Merida often got bored during these meet-ups and even tried to carve her pencil into a bow one time with the Swiss army knife her father gave her. Rapunzel would usually indulge in her friend's goofiness, and it took every ounce of Anna's willpower not to join them. Neither of them knew of Amelia, even though they heard about her on the news. As her sister grew more and more accomplished, it became harder and harder for Anna to decide whether or not she should tell them.
So she didn't.
Most of this, she recounted to Kristoff over the phone or by text, but there had been a strange period early in freshman year where he had been a lot busier. He didn't answer the phone as much, or texted as often as he used to. Seeing how the burly blond had mostly been a loner even when they were kids, it was almost as if he had finally made other friends. Anna had felt happy for him—she still did—but much to her frustration, Kristoff had been initially tight-lipped with some of them. He spoke a lot about Olaf, Aladdin, Kida—mostly in frustration—and much later on, brief mentions of some girl named Elise, or something. Ellie? Ellen?
Whatever the name was, Anna had made it quite clear to him that she intended to meet his new friends, one way or another, when she came back to Arendelle. The redhead had been sad to leave Corona, Rapunzel, and Merida behind—they all agreed to keep in touch, though—but she had also been excited to go back and see how much things had changed from 8 years ago.
Apparently, not so much after all, Anna mused as she reined her thoughts back to the present.
Across from her, Kristoff had pulled his phone out of his pocket to check the time. She knew he was part of the tech crew, but he didn't like to talk about it too much compared to Charlotte, who sometimes wouldn't stop bemoaning her unfortunate cut from the cast. Jane, on the other hand, had little to say on the matter despite having been put in the same position.
"Your shipmates need you?" Anna joked, referring to Charlotte's declaration of him as 'Captain of the Fly Rails.'
"Yeah, I gotta check the lines and make sure they're still good and balanced for tonight. Jim still doesn't have enough experience, and neither Olaf nor Wally are strong enough to handle any unbalanced lines," Kristoff sighed as he slipped his phone back in his pocket. "And we all have to get the set ready ahead of time…y'know, the usual preparations so we can relax by the time the cast members start coming in. Jane and Charlotte usually go home right after school, but we're fine without them."
"Well? What are you waiting for? Get going, you big lug!" Anna exclaimed as she pushed him in the general direction of the auditorium. "You better have a damn good performance ready for me tonight!"
"Um…most of that depends on the cast, feisty pants," the burly blond chuckled as he allowed her to continue pushing him. "But I'll see what I can do."
"You better!" she all but growled as she gave one last push.
"Right, right…I'll see you later, then," Kristoff called over his shoulder as he walked away, sparing a lazy wave. When he rounded the corner, he glanced back, only to receive a frantic 'shooing' gesture from the redhead. After a loud laugh at her antics, her friend was gone.
Left alone, Anna decided to leave for home, seeing as the show wouldn't start for another 3 hours or so and Kristoff would be busy doing techie things. Her footsteps echoed in the silent hallway, and she took out her phone as she rounded the corner, doors in sight. After unlocking the screen, Anna saw that Rapunzel had left her a text. Before she could respond, however, someone opened the door just as her free hand reached for the handle.
"Oops! Sorry, hon!"
Anna blinked at the sight of the Southern blonde back in the school, still with her bag in tow. She could've sworn the girl had already gone home with the first wave of students. "Charlotte? What are you doing back here?"
"Oh, Mr. North just texted me 'bout some meetin' when I was halfway home, so I got my driver to turn back 'round and drop me off," her friend drawled as she slipped past her. "Said it was mighty important or somethin'."
The redhead furrowed her brow, puzzled. "Kristoff didn't mention anything about a meeting."
"Oh, really?" Charlotte stopped to look at her over her shoulder, arching an eyebrow as she giggled. "Guess it must just be li'l ol' me, then. Ooh! Wanna come along? Might as well show you the place you'll be performin' in the future."
Well…since Charlotte invited me, I guess I could… "Sure! I could take a quick peek before I head home!" Anna said as she bounded over to join the sprightly blonde. "I probably could've tagged along with Kristoff, but he's got a job to do. Well, technically you should have a job to do too, but, erm….whatever! Ooh, this is so exciting!"
"Hon, you and I have different ideas of excitement, then."
Anna was excited, alright. She almost let out a squeal at the sight that greeted her.
"Shh! We can't let 'em know you're here," Charlotte whispered from beside her as they both peered through the slightly open door. "Auditorium's off-limits to non-techies before the show, so jerks won't make a mess of the seats or aisles. Olaf told me rooms are open though, 'cause of orchestra or band kids who wanna practice a bit, but the techies'll shoo 'em away after half an hour on show days. They should be empty if you wanna take a peek, too."
Anna's gaze was still fixated on the massive, gorgeous red curtain, drawn back to reveal the crew hard at work checking the set and running through cues. Black-clad teenagers moved like a well-oiled machine, shouting warnings when something was flown in—like the massive chain-link fence for the Rumble scene—or smoothly wheeling about the different set pieces and climbing on top of them with all the skill of a monkey, in the case with the balcony scene.
The lights danced upon their forms, shadows playing across a stage covered with a myriad of scratches and marks. The house lights were also on, revealing the first few rows of red seats upon the equally-red carpeting that she could see from her position, as well as the orchestra pit at the front of the stage, music stands and speakers standing like stoic sentries waiting for their musicians to return.
Anna nudged the door open a little wider, allowing her to see banners of past, well-known performances hanging on the black walls, as well as the signature purple and green colors of their school and the town. The ceiling reached high, high up; probably 3 or 4 stories high, by the looks of it. Although Anna couldn't see the catwalk from her limited view, she had a feeling it practically blended in with the blackness of the ceiling.
To top off what she could see, two giant, golden theatre masks representing the traditional tragedy and comedy faces were affixed high at the point where the two sides of the red curtain would meet. From there, intricate golden music notes and staff lines sprung from behind each mask, forming a winding, downward arch that nearly touched the floor and ended in two giant treble clefs.
"—nna…Anna, are you listenin'? Anna!"
Fingers snapping in front of her quickly brought her attention back to the amused Southern blonde at her side.
"O-Oh, I'm sorry. Did you say something?" Her voice sounded embarrassingly dazed even to her own ears.
Charlotte rolled her eyes, failing to suppress a wide smile. "I was sayin' that I gotta meet with Mr. North now, but you could go check out the choir room, practice rooms…all that good stuff so long as you ain't caught by the crew," she said with a lazy, dismissive wave before placing her hands on her hips and pouting. "I trust you not to wander in any places you ain't allowed, y'hear? So don'tchu go and prove me wrong now!"
Anna beamed at that, carefully closing the auditorium door as they both stepped away from it. "And mess up my chance to be in the cast next year? No way!"
Although, I can't make any guarantees once I actually have a role…
She held back her evil chuckle for Charlotte's sake.
The Southern blonde puckered her lips, narrowing her eyes suspiciously as if she had heard Anna's errant thought.
For her part, Anna merely flashed an innocent smile back; only partially fabricated. She really wouldn't do anything to ruin her chances, of course. New school, new director…I have a lot to prove.
"Well, then!" Charlotte clapped her hands together as she smiled. "I'll be seein' you later tonight, Anna! Make sure you cheer for us like there's no tomorrow when we give our bow!"
"Sure thing!" the redhead called as her friend walked away, heading off to wherever this Mr. North's office was.
Left alone once more, Anna allowed herself to let out a muted shriek of delight, hopping excitedly in place before she dashed for the direction of the music hallway nearby, where the choir room, practice rooms, and various other 'rooms were located. Nearly ten steps into said hallway, she suddenly remembered that the crew wasn't supposed to catch her in this area, seeing as school ended more than half an hour ago.
Good thing too, since voices were approaching from an adjacent hallway a little further on.
Oh, no! Gotta hide, gotta hide, gotta hide! Her braids nearly smacked her in the face with how fast she whipped her head around, searching frantically for a hiding spot. But where—?
She seized the nearest doorknob—a practice room, given the sign on the wall—and flung herself inside, managing to shut the door behind her with a soft 'click' before her momentum sent her tumbling to the carpeted floor. The contents of her backpack shifted louder than she would have liked, and she immediately scrambled to her feet as the voices outside grew closer. The only light available to her came from the dim glow of the small tinted window in the door, so Anna found herself stumbling through the semi-darkness of the room, nearly tripping over a few stray chairs and music stands.
The voices where almost to the door just as her clammy hand landed on something hard and cold. Her sweat made the metal surface uncomfortably slick, but she grinned nonetheless at her discovery of a large cabinet…which was fortunately, not locked.
Yes!
Anna barely had time to congratulate herself before her ears picked up the sound of a hand coming to rest on the doorknob. Carefully, with her heart pounding wildly in her chest as each second passed, the redhead slipped inside, maneuvering around the lone bongo drum within, and lightly pulled at the door so it rested close enough to seem like it was fully closed. She wouldn't want to lock herself in, after all.
Light suddenly flooded the room, manifesting as a thin vertical slit in the darkness of her hiding place. Anna fought to keep still as her nose decided to itch at the worst possible moment. Her arm was pinned to her side, and she didn't want to risk accidentally hitting the cabinet's walls, alerting her presence to the techies.
"Are you sure you heard something, Jim?" a young—really young—boy's voice drifted over, clearly skeptical.
"…I don't know, Lewis," she heard an older boy say, sounding uncertain. "I thought I did. Could just be some echoing from the auditorium…or rats."
…Hold up.
RATS?!
Anna bit back a scream as she heard the older boy laugh, only for a grunt to follow as the other techie presumably hit him.
"That isn't funny, Jim!"
Yeah, no kidding!
"Dude, what the hell kind of punch was that? I bet Olaf could punch better than you, and the guy practically has sticks for arms."
"Well, maybe you shouldn't scare me with talk of rats! You know those tunnels get really dark!"
"And that's why we're slowly setting up a light system, yes?" Anna could hear their feet shuffling on the carpeted floor as they headed back out to the hallway. "Along with that other project, of course."
"Which one? The security, or…Oh, that one."
The lights went out, plunging Anna back into an inky darkness after having gotten used to the small amount of light filtering in to her hiding place. After Jim's mention of rats, she couldn't help the hitch in her breath as she imagined beady red eyes, sharp teeth, and claws scratching at the walls, or—
"Why did you keep the orb back in your locker, though?"
"If people bumped into me in the hallway, I didn't want it to get messed up inside my backpack. Besides—"
Whatever Jim was going to say next was lost to her as the door slammed shut. Their voices were muffled as they continued their conversation further and further away from the room, completely oblivious to the redhead trying not to hyperventilate in the metal cabinet.
That Jim guy was just joking, right? There wouldn't be any rats here…right?
A faint sound reached her ears, barely audible over the loud beat of her heart. If Anna had taken the time to realize that it sounded absolutely nothing like the squeak of a rat, perhaps she might've been able to open the door and calmly leave the room to head back home.
Unfortunately, she hadn't.
Shit, shit, shit, I have to get outta here!
She flailed around wildly inside of the cabinet, overcome with panic. Anna pushed against the cabinet's door, and found that it wouldn't budge—somehow in her blind fit, she had locked herself in. Her breathing grew more and more erratic as she pounded on the metal walls, her eyes stinging with tears as a scream bubbled its way to her throat.
One of Anna's fists brushed against something above her, and she suddenly fell through the back of the cabinet as that particular wall slid to the side. She tumbled through the darkness, a metallic ringing filling her ears as her shoulder eventually slammed into what felt like another cabinet door. It gave way, and Anna unceremoniously rolled out onto another carpeted floor, looking back to see the flash of a metal panel sliding shut at the back of…another…cabinet.
The redhead stared with wide eyes at the large metal object before her, door slightly ajar from when she had fallen out. Her mouth opened and closed several times as she struggled to comprehend what the hell just happened. Teal eyes swept over the new room as she shakily rose to her feet, the contents of her backpack audibly shifting once more. There would be time to think about the secret panel later, but for now…
Her shoulder throbbed, and Anna gingerly rubbed at it with a pained hiss, her gaze continuing to take in what she could see of the room from the light shed by the non-tinted windows in the double doors to her left.
There were rows and rows of music stands and chairs, all arranged in a gentle arc around a podium opposite of the doors. Cages containing cellos and smaller instrument cases lined the walls, broken only by a few large metal cabinets here and there, a small bookshelf, and a door tucked into the far corner.
Probably an office, Anna acknowledged distantly as she slumped against the cabinet she had come from, closing the door in the process. The redhead took a few minutes to calm her erratic breathing until her pulse was normal again, and she wasn't sweating through her palms like a hog. She exhaled loudly, and snuck over to the double doors, careful to avoid the long rectangles of light shining down on the carpeted floor. As soon as Anna was pressed against the door to the left, she dared to peek her head up to the window.
Save for what sounded like muffled music in the distance, the coast was clear.
Anna carefully pushed open the door and exited what was obviously the orchestra room, the door closing behind her with a soft 'click'. Alright…now let's see if I can try this again, she thought dryly as she tiptoed down to the end of the hallway, avoiding the adjacent one where Jim and Lewis had come from, and ignoring any doors marked as practice rooms, or simply left unmarked. If she was going to get caught, might as well do it in a place that wasn't off limits, or something.
Now that she was outside, the redhead could clearly hear music playing somewhere, even if it still sounded a bit muffled.
And singing.
She carefully peered around the corner at the end of the hallway, and saw a door marked as the choir room. The music was coming from inside, and as Anna tiptoed closer to look through the door's clear window, she noticed a light coming from the tinted window of a door on the opposite end of the room.
Someone was in there.
Overcome with curiosity, the redhead placed her ear to the cool surface of the door, biting her lip as her brow furrowed in concentration.
"—One question haunts and hurts,
Too much, too much to mention…"
Before she knew it, her hand was on the doorknob and carefully turning it, wanting…no, needing to hear more of the singer. If their voice sounded this good with a door or two in the way…
"Was I really seeking good?
Or just seeking attention?"
Teal eyes widened as its owner dazedly stepped inside, the door closing softly behind her. Well, you definitely caught my attention…The music sounded clearer now, and the mysterious singer seemed to be female…But then again, with that damn door in the way, a guy with an incredible range could be a possibility. Anna blushed at the thought of a certain male singer on YouTube, and hastily shoved it away.
…A small, distant part of her subconsciously noted that it sounded vaguely familiar, though.
"Is that all good deeds are when looked at with an ice-cold eye?"
She found herself carefully moving through the semi-darkness, eyes fixed on the blurred figure that darted into view of the tinted window from time to time.
"If that's all good deeds are,
Maybe that's…the reason why!"
Anna nervously swallowed in anticipation as her feet slowly drew her further away from the doorway, and closer to whoever had this amazing voice. That sustained note on 'why' was just—
"NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED!"
…Holy shit.
Anna's jaw literally dropped at the power and ease in which the mysterious singer belted out the line. She froze in place, goosebumps rippling up her arms as a chill slid down her spine with all the tenderness of a lover. Even from the middle of the room, with a fucking door still in the way, that voice was—
HOLY FUCKING SHIT.
"All helpful urges should be circumvented!"
Her feet jerked into motion, her steps quickening as she neared the door. The figure's outline slowly became clearer with every step towards the tinted barrier.
"No good deed goes unpunished!"
She had to know.
She had to know whose voice could hold such strength, such…such a melodic timbre that threatened to make her knees shake.
"Sure, I meant well, but look at what well-meant did…!"
Unfortunately, Anna failed to notice the chair in her way, having forgotten that choir rooms usually arranged the chairs in an arc and…just having thrown caution out the window in her burning need to know who the hell was behind that fucking door. The semi-darkness wasn't helping, either.
The redhead winced at the brief, but loud—so uncomfortably loud—screech of the chair as she accidentally bumped against it, causing it to skid a few inches on the tiled floor. She froze, staring at the door in horror as the mysterious singer failed to deliver the next line, leaving only the instrumental music to fill in the silence.
Shit! Why does this always happen to me?!
Anna reached both hands behind her to hold onto her backpack to keep any more unwanted sounds to a minimum as she darted to her right, knowing that any good choir room would have elevated floors. Her previous bad luck must have balanced out, for not only did she manage to hurry up the steps without bumping into chairs or music stands she knew would be there, but she also found a large, dark something on the third step—probably another cabinet or just a stack of boxes—she could hide behind in case the mysterious singer turned on the lights.
No sooner had Anna ducked into her new hiding place did the music suddenly stop, accompanied by the brief crackle of a speaker somewhere inside. A few moments later, she heard the sound of a door opening and tentative footsteps on the tiled floor. Desperate to catch a glimpse of this mysterious singer, Anna peered around whatever it is she was hiding behind, and nearly growled in frustration when she saw that the light inside the other room—probably an office—was turned off.
Even without that additional light, she could still make out a dark figure moving in the semi-darkness, soft footfalls the only sound piercing through the silence of the room as the singer crossed the distance to the door. Anna's eyes strained for a glimpse of some defining feature on the figure as they drew closer to the light from the hallway—hairstyle, build…anything, really—but a sudden burst of light from the pocket of her jeans abruptly tore her attention away to her phone.
Damn it, Rapunzel! Couldn't you have picked a better time to text me?! Anna glared at the name showing up on the offending object, stabbing a button on the side to turn off the screen before she stuffed it back in her pocket. She'd respond later, when her heart wasn't racing from the sudden fright she received when her phone's light almost gave her away.
The redhead anxiously bit her lip, and turned her gaze back in the door's direction.
…Of course, she thought with a defeated sigh. What was I hoping for?
The mysterious singer was gone; having left at the same moment Anna had been preoccupied with her phone.
Anna sighed again—heavier this time—as she stood up from behind…whatever it was she had been hiding behind. Frankly, at this point, she didn't care to know anymore. Using the light of her phone's screen to make her journey a lot easier than before, Anna quickly left the choir room. After the door softly clicked shut behind her, she slumped against it, taking a moment to fully process the last few minutes.
The last few incredible minutes.
If this is the level I'll be competing with…then I have a shit-ton of work to do, Anna thought grimly as she ran a hand through her fiery bangs, only mildly surprised to find that they were slightly plastered to her forehead. With the number of scares she had today…
With another sigh, Anna pushed away from the door, intending to head back home. She'd seen enough for today. Well…heard, more like. Her thumb quickly typed in her password to unlock her phone as she walked, finally deciding to see what Rapunzel's messages were about, and maybe scold the brunette for ruining her chance to find out the identity of that wonderful singer.
Maybe she'd ask Kristoff about it some time.
The burly blond in question lingered at one of the few doors that connected the Cave to the rest of the network of tunnels, passageways, and whatever chambers there were. Most of the other crew members had already left to head back up—so as to avoid any suspicions with the cast—but Eugene and Marshall had stayed behind to finish up their pool game. The taller techie was currently frowning at the formation on the table, stick looking comically small in his large hand, while the goateed junior smirked in smug satisfaction.
Kristoff shook his head at them as he walked back into the cavernous room, making his way to where Elsa was still seated on one of the barstools around the kitchenette tucked into the corner. The platinum blonde had an open book in her hand, but it was obvious her mind was elsewhere, gazing thoughtfully at the high ceiling, where snowflakes of various sizes hung all over and gently spun with the air blowing in from the vents.
"Hey, Ice Queen," he called with a smile, immediately drawing her attention away from the ceiling to meet his gaze. "Got a lot on your mind?"
His best friend tentatively smiled back as he plopped onto a stool beside her. "I'm just…thinking about what Beast said to me last night when I went to make sure he wasn't…If he was okay, and all."
Even though Adam was one of his few exceptions, Kristoff still frowned as a wave of protectiveness surged inside of him. "What did he say to you?" he asked curiously, leaning forward slightly in concern, as well. "He's not picking on you, is he? Because if he is, I'll punch him for you, if you want."
"Oh, please. Beast's been picking on me for years," Elsa said as she rolled her eyes, her tone surprisingly light for someone who just admitted they were being bullied by a supposedly trusted cast member. Have I been wrong about Adam this whole time? But…he tried to help back then. He almost di—
"And no offense, Kristoff…but it would take a lot more than a punch from you to knock him down. Even more to render him unconscious." The platinum blonde bit her lip as she closed her book, gaze falling to the gleaming silver letters on the cover. "Yes, he…he can hold his own just fine."
Except for the one time he didn't.
Kristoff exhaled loudly, uncomfortable with the sudden, tense silence that settled between them from the unspoken words. He could already feel the chill creeping down his spine. "Look, I…I know Adam wouldn't try to pull something like that on you, considering…you know," he said as he rubbed the back of his head for lack of anything better to do. "I'm just trying to look out for you whenever I can. Call me overprotective, but better safe than sorry, right?"
And 'sorry' is such a huge understatement in this case.
Elsa sighed, idly fiddling with her braid as she offered a small smile. "I understand your concern, Kristoff. It's comforting to know that there are so many people looking out for me. But…you don't have anything to worry about with Beast. Adam. Whichever name you prefer. He may be an ass at times, but he's a well-meaning ass."
The burly blond chuckled at that, but knew that the tension would stick around for a little bit longer with his next question. "So…are you going to do the same thing you did last night for his foot? I'm surprised he didn't notice anything with how much you had to use to cover the swelling."
As expected, Elsa stiffened, biting her lip as her fingers suddenly tightened on her braid. "I'll have to see it myself to know for sure," she began carefully, "but I'm hoping I won't need to."
Kristoff grinned a little as he raised a hand, flexing his fingers. "Think you can find us fly rails some special gloves to use? Rope burn isn't fun, I'll tell you that."
She playfully smacked his arm with her book, trying to scowl at him, but he could see a glimmer of amusement in her ice-blue eyes. "Funny…Eugene didn't mention anything about rope burn."
"I heard my name!" the junior called out from over by the pool table. "You better not be talking shit about me, Ice Queen!"
Elsa's pale cheeks flushed a light pink at the affectionate way Eugene used her supposedly infamous moniker. Kristoff knew it wasn't just Eugene—the whole crew was included, and he knew Elsa still couldn't get over it, even though it's been over a year since then. Whereas several members of the cast and many other students used it daily as an insult, as a cruel title for her standoffish attitude towards them…the crew knew better. It was a term of endearment, occasionally a good-natured joke, and a nickname so fitting, that even Kristoff sometimes couldn't fight the amused grin that twitched at his lips.
And as someone who had actually been there on that day…that said a lot.
"Don't worry, Flynn Ryder," Kristoff snarked good-naturedly, "Your precious ego is still intact."
"I don't think I like your sass, Bjorgm—Wh-What?! How the hell did you manage to sink those?!"
The burly blond rolled his eyes at Marshall's surprise 'attack,' turning his attention back to his best friend, who was glancing at the aftermath of the game in amusement. "You would think Eugene knows of my cousin's mathematical skills by now," Elsa said, her melodic voice carrying through despite the hand hiding her smile. "I've been tutoring him for years, after all."
"Remind me never to play pool against you, then," Kristoff chuckled, rubbing the back of his head as he grinned at her. "So…how about those gloves?"
Three hours later, Anna was back at school, minus her backpack and wearing a purple and gold Corona High School T-shirt along with a pair of black jeans. Sure, she went to Arendelle now, but she hadn't quite built up enough loyalty to wear their gear just yet. Her parents stood behind her in the line, with her mother glancing curiously at her surroundings while her father scrutinized the tickets they had bought.
"West Side Story, huh? I haven't seen that musical in ages," Agdar chuckled to himself. "Do you remember, dear?"
Idunn smiled sheepishly, and Anna knew where she had inherited that look from. "To be honest, I don't remember much. There was dancing at a gym, a chain-link fence, and that song about…Maria, was it?"
"Maria…I just met a girl named Maria," her father sang slightly off-key, grinning at them both as he reached out to tenderly hold his wife's hand with his free one. "And suddenly that name, will never be the same…to me! Maria! I just kissed a girl named Maria!"
"And suddenly I've found…how wonderful a sound can be!" Anna joined in with an equally broad grin as she grabbed her mother's other hand.
"Maria!" they harmonized together, ignoring the blush quickly gaining in strength on Idunn's cheeks, as well as the amused looks thrown their way by the others also waiting in line for the doors to open. "Say it loud, and there's music playing!"
"R-Really, now! People are staring…"
"Say it soft…and it's almost like praying…" they continued together, grins never ceasing even as they sang in a softer tone. "Maria…We'll never stop saying…Maria…"
Her mother arched a delicate brown eyebrow. "Keep this up, and I just might be jealous of all the attention this 'Maria' is getting from you two."
The whole family shared a laugh at that, with Agdar pressing a kiss to his wife's cheek, and Anna giving her mother a brief, one-armed hug. "It's a shame your name only has two syllables, dear," her father chuckled as he released his wife's hand. "Otherwise, the timing would've been perfect."
"You know what would've been more perfect, Papa?" Anna began, smirking as she placed her hands on her hips. "If you had sung a modified version when you first asked Mama out."
"If your father did that, you and your sister might not have been born," Idunn teased, playfully jabbing at her husband's arm as he feigned a look of indignation.
"Excuse me?"
"You're excused, dear. Do try to hold it in next time."
Someone behind them snorted in laughter, unable to help themselves, and Anna quickly followed suit, the situation made even more hilarious by the fact that there were others listening in on their antics. Her father's face rivaled the shade of her own hair as he sputtered in disbelief, hazel eyes eventually fixing a glare at her mother, who merely offered an innocent smile in response. Yup…Like mother, like daughter.
"…I hate you."
"I hate you too."
Anna rolled her eyes at them, trying not to smile as she turned her head away so Idunn could give her father a kiss and calm his nerves. Even though she had already seen them kiss several times when she was growing up, it was still a weird thing to see, considering they were her parents. In doing so, she caught sight of a certain blonde walking alongside the line, fashionable purse hanging from her shoulder, and heading for a certain hallway Anna had started to become familiar with.
"Charlotte!" the redhead called over the light buzz of conversation in the line, waving an arm for good measure.
The Southern blonde looked up from her phone at the sound of her name being called, and she beamed, all but sprinting over to where her friend was waiting. "Anna! You're still alive!" she exclaimed, giggling as she pulled the redhead into a brief—but bone-crushing—hug. "I was half-expectin' one of the crew members to show up at Mr. North's office with your li'l ass in tow!"
Anna gasped, lightly swatting at her friend's arm. "My ass is so not little!"
"I do not need to hear this conversation," she heard Agdar deadpan nearby.
Anna laughed, gesturing for Charlotte to follow her into the hallway to spare her father of any more unwanted details. The blonde had been heading in that direction anyway, and she trusted her mother to hold her spot in the line.
"So…what was that meeting all about?" she asked curiously.
To her surprise, the Southern blonde gnawed at her lip instead of immediately ranting or gushing as she usually did. "Well, it definitely was mighty important," she finally drawled, hesitant as if choosing her words carefully. "I can't tell you, though—tech crew business and all—but…it's still kinda a lot to take in."
Anna frowned, her eyebrows scrunched together in worry. "You're not in trouble, are you?"
"What? Heavens, no! Mr. North just needed to tell me 'bout some stuff I was startin' to guess at," Charlotte giggled, looking more like her usual self as she daintily patted the redhead's shoulder. "But look at you, bein' a cutie and worryin' 'bout your friends."
"Friends who apparently got caught sneaking notes away," Anna commented dryly.
"She packed beignets for dessert! Now if you've had any o' those sinfully delicious things, you just can't keep away, hon!" Charlotte sighed dreamily, no doubt thinking back to said food. "You just can't keep away…"
The redhead rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as she glanced back at where the line was, noting that even more people had shown up, judging by the din seeping into their hallway. "Shouldn't you be getting ready? The show should be starting in like, 15 minutes."
"I usually arrive at this time, so I'll be fine," her friend said with a dismissive wave. "The rest of the crew's taken care of everythin' important. I mean, y'know Mr. Sebastian told Mr. North to make me the Stage Manager, so all I gotta do is manage stuff durin' the show." She giggled deviously. "He didn't say nothin' 'bout before."
Anna's palm met her own forehead at that.
Geez, no wonder Kristoff doesn't like her. The guy takes crew seriously, and—Oh…wait a second! That's it!
Teal eyes lit up excitedly at the new option presented to her, and she bit her lip, thinking of her next words. "Hey, uh…Charlotte?"
"Yes, hon?"
Anna found herself rocking back and forth on her heels, hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt for lack of anything else to do. "I was just wondering if you knew anyone on the crew who could sing really well? Like, really, really well? I mean, if I was being completely honest here, it would have to be really, really, really well—amazing, actually—but that's a lot of 'really's' already, but it's just that they're so fucking good at it that—"
She cut herself off mid-ramble at the confused look on her friend's face. Charlotte's nose was slightly scrunched up, and a single eyebrow was raised, rosy lips parted slightly. "Um…Anna. Sweetie. If anyone sings as well as you're sayin', then why in heaven's name would they be on the tech crew? It just wouldn't make sense, hon."
"So what you're saying is…you don't know anyone who might?" the redhead asked weakly, shoulders drooping visibly.
Charlotte shook her head, blonde locks bouncing with the motion. "As far as li'l ol' me is aware, no. I doubt Jane would know, either." She clapped her hands together, brow furrowing a little as she puckered her lips slightly in thought. "Although, on breaks durin' rehearsals or before then…Aladdin 'n' Olaf might sing a bit. Sometimes Milo. Nothin' to write home 'bout, and I doubt that's what you're lookin' for."
"So aside from that…?"
"Aside from that, I dunno. I'm sorry, hon." The blonde grinned suddenly, probably hoping to cheer her up. "Maybe it's just a student who managed to evade the techies? I'm sure it could've happened before! Ooh, or a cast member stayin' after school? I mean, I dunno anyone who does that, but still!"
A cast member, huh…? That could be a possibility. Ugh, I just want to find them and know who they are! That singing was very close to giving me an eargasm, I swear! If that damn door wasn't in the way—
She must have been voicing her thoughts aloud again, because Charlotte was giggling, eyes twinkling with amusement as she daintily patted her shoulder once more. "There, see? I'm always tellin' Tia to look at the bright side, and you should too!"
"So you're telling me that the person I'm looking for could be part of the cast?" Anna asked, hope seeping into her voice.
"Hon, you're the one who heard 'em singin', so I wouldn't know," her friend said with a shrug, readjusting her purse as she slowly inched further down the hallway. "Now I gotta go, or Jane's gonna yell at me for bein' too late, if y'know what I mean. Hope you find who you're lookin' for, though!"
Charlotte waved over her shoulder as she sashayed away, disappearing down the hallway Anna had heard Jim and Lewis coming from earlier. Must be where the actual theatre sort of rooms are, she thought as she walked back to the line to reunite with her parents. Fortunately, she hadn't missed much in her absence—her father was no longer embarrassed, and her mother was now humming "Maria" under her breath.
The doors were opened two minutes later by a hulking techie with dark brown hair shaved into a buzz-cut, his black shirt clinging to his muscled arms as he easily reached up to the mechanism to prop the doors open. "Tickets," he rumbled in an avalanche-like voice as he set a bin down by his feet, extending a large hand to the first person in line. The poor boy was obviously scared shitless by the techie's huge stature, but he nonetheless held out his ticket, which the techie quickly ripped. He tossed one half into the bin and handed the stub back to its owner, directing him inside to where another techie currently hidden from Anna's view would hand him a playbill.
What the hell does he eat?! Anna couldn't help but think as the line quickly began to move, spurred on by fear of the techie towering over them. Judging by Idunn's own wide-eyed expression, her mother must have been wondering the same thing.
"Is he a crew member, or a bouncer?" she heard her father mutter to himself.
Probably both.
Before she knew it, Anna was craning her head to look up at the giant in question, trying not to quail as his dark eyes flicked down to hers. He plucked the tickets out of her hand, noted her parents behind her, and ripped through all three of them before handing back the stubs. "Arendelle is better," he grunted as they walked past, and Anna allowed a small grin at the defensive set to his jaw.
Even after catching a glimpse of the auditorium from earlier, Anna was still blown away by how lavish it all was for a high school. Then again, it made sense, considering that—according to Tiana—the school was founded around 100 years ago by the eccentric millionaire, Walter Whitmore. His equally eccentric—if not more—billionaire grandson Preston must have maintained his grandfather's projects, if the shiny gleam to everything was anything to go by.
While her mother and father stared at the intricate design around the stage area, Anna directed her attention to the rest of the auditorium that she hadn't gotten a chance to see before. The banners continued all the way to the back wall, behind the very last row of seats and flanking the tech booth on both sides. The booth in question did not have a window like Corona High's, but rather, a large, open space where various wires and plugs from the different devices snaked down from the opening to occupy the few outlets beneath. There probably weren't enough outlets inside. She could make out some figures bustling about, but the distance didn't allow her to see much.
A glint on the wall nearby caught her eye as other families and students walked past her, revealing a small column of plaques that ranged from dedications, to various awards for best high school performance in the district. All of them were polished to a healthy sheen, even the top one, which dated back...around 100 years ago?
From the beginning of the school, huh? Anna thought as she peered closer. Let's see…"Dedicated to Bethany Grof, an ardent lover of theatre, and without whom this school would not be standing here today."
There was another line at the very bottom of the plaque, so small she almost didn't catch it at first.
"In memory of S—"
A tap on her shoulder quickly drew her attention, and Anna jumped a little, turning her head to see a young man with brown hair smirking down at her, brown eyes clearly amused. In one hand, he held a stack of playbills, and the other had retracted from tapping her shoulder to stroke his well-kept goatee. "While it's perfectly fine to take in the sights, I think the others would appreciate it if you admired from your seat, hm?"
Her parents were waiting at the foot of some stairs nearby, with her father trying not to laugh as her face reddened in embarrassment. Anna spluttered as the techie handed her a playbill with a flirtatious wink, patting her shoulder before gently pushing her in their direction. Her mortification allowed her to find some good seats in the center in record time, breezing past idling families as her parents followed behind at a much slower pace. As soon as they all settled in, Anna buried her face in her playbill, hoping that no one was giving her any weird looks.
After a few seconds, the redhead grew bored of having a paper on her face, so she decided to copy Idunn and have a look at the playbill. She recognized a few of the names in the cast, and a couple more from the pictures provided next to their brief bios before she eagerly moved on to the crew in the hopes of spotting which ones were Kristoff's elusive friends. Unfortunately, the crew didn't have any pictures, save for their Tech Director's—Holy shit, he looks like a badass Santa Claus!—but Anna was still able to recognize Olaf, Aladdin, Kida, and...
Oh. So it's not Elise or Ellen, after all, Anna thought, her eyes tracing over the four letters of the girl's name, and wondering what her last name was. The crew was the only group with just their first names—for whatever odd reason—and she found herself wondering if it would be just as pretty as her first.
Elsa.
Something stirred even further in the depths of her subconscious.
Unaware of such a thing taking place inside of her, Anna glanced down at the stage, noting that the famous red curtains essential to any good show were a lot bigger and more majestic than Corona High's. And somewhere behind those curtains, Kristoff was probably checking some last-minute things and worrying, as usual. Excitement welled up inside of her at the thought of being able to join her best friend next year, goofing around until the show started and it was Anna's time to shine.
"So…next year, hm?" her mother said with a smile and a twinkle in her eyes drawing her out of her thoughts as if she had heard them. "I look forward to seeing my baby girl onstage."
"Every day is a musical with her, Idunn," her father chuckled from the other side of the brunette woman. "Are you sure you can handle more?"
"Shh! It's about to start!" Anna whispered fiercely as the house lights began to dim, and with it, the general chatter of the audience. Soon enough, the only lights left where the small lamps mounted to the music stands down in the orchestra pit. Various instruments warmed up in unison to a concert B flat, gradually swelling into a moderate crescendo that effectively halted any lingering conversation in the crowd.
As soon as the music died down, a brief crackle came from unseen speakers, and a man's voice patched through, thick with a Russian accent. "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen! Tonight is last performance of West Side Story, and we hope you enjoy! Don't forget to shut off your cellular devices, and picture-taking or recording is not allowed until after show. Until then…enjoy!"
A light applause went around as the man finished his announcement, and Anna fiddled with her playbill, eyes fixed on the impressive graffiti-marked canvas hanging up on the stage, hiding the set behind it. The redhead's nerves hummed in anticipation, her stomach churning slightly at the thought of finally catching a sneak peek of what she would be getting into next year.
At an enthusiastic sweep of the stout, red-haired conductor's arm, the orchestra readily jumped into the overture—a lively mix of brass and percussion reminiscent of the 1960's. Having already seen the movie with Rapunzel and Merida back in Corona, Anna knew that the song had been trimmed for the sake of time.
As the music flowed into the prologue, a spotlight followed a lone actor climbing onto the stage from the right, probably coming in from a side door nearby. Dressed in a collared shirt messily rolled up to his elbows and khaki pants, the boy casually walked across the stage, whistling a tune as he shook the canister of spray paint in his hand. He stopped before an unmarked space on the graffiti-covered 'wall' and proceeded to spray "Jets rule!" in white on the black surface.
Anna couldn't help but grin at that, already looking forward to when the Sharks showed up to chase the boy off their territory before Riff and the other members of the rival gang arrived and segued into "Jet Song."
As soon as the Sharks finally ran off, the 'wall' was slowly flown out by the crew, and Anna stifled a giggle at the tall, black-haired young man with a ponytail swaggering about the stage and leading the gang of Jets. This guy is playing as Riff? Seriously? The moment he opened his mouth to speak to his gang and start singing, however, Anna blinked in surprise at the power in his voice. Back in Corona, there were only a few boys who could reach that strength, considering puberty and all.
Unfortunately, it wasn't as powerful as the singer she had heard earlier, and the actor's voice was too deep.
But that's okay! I have like, until the end of Act I to find them! She found herself leaning forward in her seat to watch the cast down below like a hawk, ears pricked and ready for even the slightest hint of that voice. I mean, how hard can it be? West Side Story doesn't have as big of a cast as, say, Les Miserables, or something…
Apparently, it was going to be very hard, after all.
For a good deal of Act I, Anna had anxiously gnawed at her lip as she listened intently during each musical number. With "Something's Coming," she immediately ruled out the actor playing as Tony despite his tender, vulnerably hopeful voice that would've made him perfect for Christian if they had done Moulin Rouge instead. After the scene at the gym—Oh my god, this thing is so infectious like they should put that velvet rope thing for VIP stuff to keep people from jumping onstage to join—his rendition of "Maria" only served to solidify the idea.
Especially when her mother had teared up a bit with the musical accompaniment, having already heard her and her father's spontaneous rendition earlier. She had not failed to notice how Idunn had reached over to slip her hand into her husband's, either.
The colorful and vibrant "America" proved to be just as useful as "Maria," in that none of the many singers there had fit what Anna was looking for. She had effectively ruled out all of the Sharks and the rest of the 'Puerto Ricans,' along with Riff and a few members of the Jets, as well. Which meant that the actress playing as Maria, and the last few Jets had been her only hope left.
"Tonight, tonight…
There's only you tonight…
What you are, what you do, what you say!"
Scratch that.
It had seemed that Maria wasn't her mysterious singer, either…even if her voice was amazing. Anna tried to pump herself up for when the Jets started singing "Cool," but she somehow knew, deep down inside, that she'd have no luck with them.
And she was right.
At least "One Hand, One Heart" had her smiling at how cute the boy playing as Tony—Eric, was it? She'd have to check the playbill again later—was with the Arabian girl playing as Maria. Or at least, Anna thought she was Arabian. Either way, the "Tonight Quintet" that followed caused that smile to grow even further at how well the different groups worked so well together, their voices blending until coming together for that last, great note.
The Rumble scene was next, where the two rival gangs would face off for a fight to settle things once and for all. Anna remembered crying at this part, since not only would two people die, but Tony…poor Tony not only lost his best friend—his brother practically—but also killed his girlfriend's dear older brother.
Her mother whimpered beside her as the lights faded to the sound of police sirens; Riff and Bernardo's bodies lying on the stage. She heard the chain fence fly out as the red curtain swept in, illuminated faintly by the light from the orchestra pit. A resounding applause rose up for a spectacular ACT I—even if Anna had been slightly distracted for most of it—and she could see a few people standing up as the house lights slowly turned back on.
"Oh my god, what is Maria going to think? Tony killed her brother, and now the Sharks will want to kill Tony," Idunn whispered in horror, her playbill clenched tightly in her fists.
Her father leaned over, allowing Anna to see him arch a sandy eyebrow quizzically as he smirked, his pencil-thin mustache twitching with the movement. "You already know what happens, dear."
"Agdar, it's been years since I last saw it! If anything, I'm surprised you still remember so much!"
"Well, Papa watched half of it with us when Rapunzel and Merida came over for movie night that one time," Anna piped up, feeling the need to save the sandy-haired man from getting whacked on the arm by his wife's playbill. He already had to go through the fart thing, after all.
A sudden flash of blonde bouncing along caught her eye, and Anna turned to see Charlotte standing near the door they had gone through earlier, waving in her direction. At first, she was confused as to how the Southern girl had found her so fast, but then she remembered—Damn it, that guy must've told her about me! After informing her parents she was off to see a friend, Anna hurried through the row and down the steps, excitedly bouncing on the balls of her feet like her friend.
"Didya like it? Didya like it? Huh? Huh? Oh, tell me what ya think!" Charlotte giggled out, a grin splitting her face.
"Ooh, I loved it!" Anna exclaimed, clapping her hands together as she laughed. She wasn't lying—even with her quest to find the mysterious singer, she was still able to appreciate the show so far. "Everyone's just so good! I really need to step up my game if I want to get a good part!"
"Oh, hush, Anna. I'm sure you'll do fine for auditions," the sprightly blonde said as they slowly stopped bouncing, a mischievous gleam in her eye. "So…didya find the mysterious singer you were lookin' for? Jasmine's pretty good as Maria."
"Ugh, don't remind me, Charlotte," Anna groaned as she ran a hand through her fiery bangs in exasperation. "I kept an ear out every time someone new sang, but none of them came close to what I'm looking for. I mean, they're all pretty great, but I just…wanna hear that person again."
Charlotte giggled. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're smitten, hon!" She barely stifled a gleeful shriek, her hands hovering over her mouth. "But it's just a voice. Now if your mystery singer were a strappin' hunk o' man, or a woman so sexy she'd make everyone swoon with a sway o' her hips, then—"
"Okay! Okay, Charlotte, I get it!" Anna almost screeched, trying not to show how hot and bothered her friend had made her with those descriptions, particularly that last one. Oh god, just imagine hips that most definitely do not lie…No! No, bad Anna! Get your mind out of the gutter! You don't even know what this person looks like!
"I don't even know what this person looks like!"
"Don't know what who looks like?" a familiar voice cut in from nearby.
Anna turned, and smiled at the newcomer, throwing her arms around his neck in a brief hug. "Kristoff! You guys did great, especially with the timing in that gym scene, and the Rumble!"
"Aw, thanks, feisty pants. I'm glad you like the show." The burly techie grinned at her, ruffling her hair slightly with his navy-blue gloves before turning to the other blonde, the grin vanishing. "Olaf made me come out here to bring you back. He's handing out a gift to all of the techies."
Charlotte narrowed her eyes in suspicion, lips puckered slightly. "What sorta gifts are we talkin' 'bout here?"
"You know Olaf," the dirty blond scoffed, crossing his arms. "Something sentimental and nice. I swear, the guy doesn't have a single mean bone in his body."
"Hmph! I wish the same could be said for you!" Charlotte exclaimed, nose in the air as she turned her head away from him.
Feeling uncomfortable with her two friends arguing in front of her, Anna quickly stepped between them, hands held up in a placating manner. "Hey guys, let's just…just calm down, okay? No one said anything mean, understand?" She looked back and forth between them for confirmation, receiving reluctant nods under her unrelenting stare. "Good. So now you two are going to go backstage and get your gifts from Olaf. Right now. And you're not going to try riling each other up, understand?"
Kristoff worked his jaw. Charlotte scrunched her nose.
"Understand?"
"…Ugh, fine! Whatever you want, feisty pants."
"You're lucky you're such a darlin' to be 'round, Anna, else I'd refuse!"
Anna beamed, placing her hands on her hips as her two friends reluctantly headed backstage to meet with Olaf. Satisfied with a job well done, the redhead made her way back to her parents, settling comfortably into her seat and taking another look at her playbill for any more clues as to the rest of Kristoff's friends. She had a feeling she'd take a liking to Olaf, but as for the others…
The redhead tapped her chin thoughtfully, staring at a certain four-letter name again. Her lips parted, and she tested the name out loud, no more than a whisper.
"Elsa..."
She was surprised to find how easily the name rolled off her tongue.
Free of the distraction of finding her mysterious singer amongst the cast, Anna had been able to enjoy the rest of Act II a lot more than she had Act I. She almost cried along with her mother when a heartbroken Maria held Tony's lifeless body, and applauded just as loudly as everyone else when the lights faded to black at the end when Officer Krupke finally led Chino away in handcuffs.
The lights came back on, vibrant and upbeat to match the orchestra's lively playing for the curtain call. The cast members surged back onstage, holding hands and bowing together. First the Jet girls, then the Shark girls, the Jet boys, and so on until Tony spun Maria around in his arms after their bow. Anna, who by this time was already up on her feet and cheering loudly, cheered even more when a group of black-clad teenagers melted out from the shadows of the backstage to gather in the center for their bow. They certainly were an odd sight to behold, with the hulking techie from earlier, a tanned girl with snow-white hair, and so on—they looked more like a band of misfits than a tech crew.
Misfits who look out for each other, Anna thought as she saw the happy grin on Kristoff's face as he took a moment to glance at his fellow crew members. To his right was a black-haired boy that barely came up to his chest, smiling at the crowd with all the radiance of summer. To her friend's left, however, was a girl with platinum blonde hair ending in a braid draped over her left shoulder, and windswept bangs. Her alabaster skin stood out against her black clothes, but in a good way, like a genuine Scandinavian beauty.
Unlike her fellow techies, her smile was demure, as if afraid to go any further beneath the brilliant lights of the stage. But it was a smile nonetheless, and Anna found that she rather liked seeing it on the girl's face.
"Yay, Kristoff! Whoooo!" Anna shouted, cupping her hands around her mouth as she bounced on her feet excitedly.
She'd like to think he heard her, for she saw the burly blond laugh as they all held their entwined hands in the air before bowing in unison and straightening back up again. They all broke contact while the entirety of the cast gestured to the orchestra pit still playing, and the tech booth above. Even so, Kristoff had slung an arm over the shoulders of the black-haired boy beside him, and clapped his other hand to the girl's shoulder on his other side.
And that's when Anna saw it, amidst the colorful chaos and the lively din reverberating off the auditorium's walls.
The platinum blonde smiled. No longer the demure kind, before she quickly hid it behind a pale hand, much to the obvious chagrin of Kristoff and his other friend as they tried to tease it out of her again.
Anna found herself clapping harder and louder, no longer thinking of the cast and the show.
A distant, subconscious part of her, the small part that remembered snow and raspy words and pretty blue eyes, sat back…and marveled at the truth of that little girl's words from long ago.
And it wondered if that voice would be just as pretty…
Just as beautiful.
A/N: I know I glossed over the musical, but I didn't want to spend too much time on it since it's a super minor thing in comparison to everything else. Just needed a musical as a background to kick things off before the good stuff happens.
I am not satisfied with the very first scene in this chapter where Anna's older sister is mentioned, but I've rewritten it so many times that I've just thrown my hands up in the air and wanted to be done with it. Amelia, of course, is Captain Amelia from Treasure Planet. Anna is still the same fun-loving girl we all know and love, but in terms of academics, she always feels so inferior compared to her sister, even if her parents don't care about that. She thinks she's an idiot whenever she can't match her intelligence and doesn't like it when that shortcoming is revealed to a group…even if they've never met Amelia. In Corona, if she was doing badly—according to her standards—she wouldn't study with Rapunzel and Merida.
Hopefully, that clears up any confusion with that particular part of the scene and what Anna's situation is. I promise that future chapters won't be as horribly-written as that one.
Also, there is a reason why "Defying Gravity" wasn't used in this chapter. All I can say is…tip of the iceberg. Ha-ha, which is funny…Yup. "Defying Gravity" will be used later on though, and it's going to be pretty fucking epic when it happens. And not to worry—the two of them will actually be talking in the next chapter, for those of you wanting more Elsanna interaction…even if the feelings aren't there yet. Chances are, probably only 25 or so of you guys will read on, anyway. Just…let me know if you're still here, or something.
Berserkeroo, if you're still here for this, thank you for your review. Hateful/rude reviews will not be tolerated and will be deleted upon sight. It's because of people like you that amazing writers like freudianslip13, Hunhund, and many others have left the fandom. Thanks a lot, assholes.
Author's notes will also hopefully get shorter.