After scrubbing her feet meticulously, Emma had a lie down. She couldn't drop off again even though she was exhausted and at 9 am she finally caved and got out of bed. She finished off the coffee and grabbed the bearclaw she'd been thinking about all morning and began searching the internet for jobs. She looked at a few admin roles but could not imagine herself sat behind a desk all day pushing papers. The thought alone made her skin prickle. The only experience she'd ever had was running after people and she felt as though her old job was the only thing she'd ever be able to do. Soon enough she was bored and clicked off the job ads. She searched local attractions in the area realising she hardly knew anything about where she was currently residing other than where the best burger joint was. She'd been meaning to look around, maybe take a walk. She decided today would be the day she did so. Emma dressed herself and shoved her hair in a messy bun. She grabbed her phone, wallet and keys and left the apartment on an adventure.

...

Regina made it to New York by 9 am and dropped her things off at the apartment. She quickly applied some light make up and ate another of the pastries Emma had so kindly given her. She was grateful for the sugar as her energy levels were pretty low after such little sleep. She took the items she needed for the audition and psyched herself up in the mirror before leaving. It was a short walk to the place the audition was being held so she took the time to go over her routine again in her mind. When she reached the building, she wasn't surprised to see just how many people were there all vying for the same parts. What did surprise her though was seeing Ursula in the line. A mixture of curiousity, regret and annoyance raged inside her and she thought she would just join the back of the line and hope the woman didn't see her.

"Regina?"

Too late. Ursula had seen her and her questioning tone had a certain bite to it. Regina took a deep breath and composed herself. She turned around and plastered the largest, fake smile on herself as she could stomach. "Ursula. What in the world are you doing here?" Attack! She thought. Get her on the defensive.

Ursula figeted with the folder in her hand and looked quite flustered. "Oh, I erm, had the morning free and I.. well, I thought it wouldn't do any harm to cast my net a little wider." She looked pleased with herself but Regina could tell the woman was clearly lying and uncomfortable at being seen waiting in line.

"What happened with Westside Story?" Regina asked with just a little smile pulling at the corner of her lips.

"Oh, I'm still there darling. I'm just bored with it all."

Regina could feel her anger bubbling up inside her like a cauldron. She hated that this awful woman had the part she dreamt of since such a young age, that she wasn't even grateful for it and that she was now standing in line for the same audition as her willing to throw it away. It didn't add up. Why would anyone give up a lead role for a chorus line part? "So you auditioning for chorus? That's a bit of a step down wouldn't you say?"

Ursula worried her lip. "Alright. Fine. It's stupid anyway. I never had the lead. I was understudying. You just happened to be in town the night I got my chance and I suppose I wanted to show off a little bit. I didn't think you'd be back for good. What are you doing here anyway? I thought you'd got a cushty job teaching brats."

Regina was still focusing on the first thing the woman had said and her mind was going a hundred miles an hour. "What do you mean, you were understudying?"

"I got fired last night."

"I thought you were married to the director? How did you get fired?"

"Well technically, we weren't exactly married, more like lovers and when his wife found out, well, let's just say Maria wasn't too happy and threatened to leave. It was either me or her and the bastard made his choice."

Regina suddenly felt a bit sorry for the woman. She'd been so focused on her own jealousy that she hadn't seen the signs. Thinking back, she hadnt even checked the billboard before walking into the show that night let alone look at the programme.

"I'm sorry to hear that Urs. I really am."

Ursula looked at Regina with a curious expression. "I know you always wanted that part Regina. It's all you ever used to talk about. Look. They are holding urgent castings today to replace me down at Devill's. Don't say you heard it from me. If you run, you might just make it before it goes public."

Regina raised an eyebrow. "Or you just don't want me to audition here."

Ursula shook her head exasperatedly and pulled out her phone. She hit the screen and immediately Regina's phone started to buzz. "Regina darling, I've done some shitty things in the past and I hope one day you will forgive me for that but I am not lying this time. If you are serious about getting back in the game, you need to get yourself down there. You were made for that part and think of this tip as my apology for that awful business with your injury."

Regina's stomach lurched at the memory. She'd always wondered if Ursula had anything to do with her accident but she'd brushed it off for years and blamed another of their old friends. She'd talk to her about that in more detail another time. She looked at her phone and sure enough there was an internal message screen shot from the theatre company calling for urgent recasting for the Maria understudy at 10 am today. Her heart was in her throat. She'd never had the opportunity to audition for that and even if it was just for understudy, it would mean the world to her. She looked at Ursula with a mix of pain and excitement.

"Go Regina! Why are you still even here?"

...

Emma walked aimlessly around the streets taking in the sights, sounds and smells. She came to a strip of quirky boutiques and old fashioned looking stores. She peered through the windows and pressed up against the glass curiously examining the antiques. She'd never been one for window shopping or shopping in general but she felt drawn to this particular store. She went inside and looked around. The place had a musty smell which was comforting for some reason. She trailed her hands along the wooden furniture and picked up a few objects. Then she spotted a book shelf in the corner of the store. There were old and newish books all jumbled together. She picked out some 50s pulp fiction and took it to the counter.

"Five bucks." The old lady said behind the cluttered counter and bundled the old books into a carrier. Emma left the shop unsure why she had been drawn to the place and why in the hell she'd bought a load of dusty old books. Very out of character. As she walked along, she saw a photography store and decided to get some supplies so she could develop and print her recent pictures. Then she went to a hardware store and picked up some huge black refuse sacks and a small LED light. Filled with a new sense of purpose and motivation for the day, she headed home to set up her make shift dark room.