Disclaimer: I don't own the song "I Can Hear the Bells" from Hairspray.
A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait, but I'm trying to go as fast as I can for you. I know this story seems confusing, but everything will be revealed in due time. Makes it all the more exciting and fun to read, huh? Big thanks to my beta Halley! Don't forget to review!
Chapter Seven:
I Reach Out in the Darkness
The try-outs for the spring concert came and went, once more proclaiming Sarah Robins as victor. Emmy did her best in congratulating her while inside she was seething. Once. Just once she wanted to put that Lindsey Lohan in her place. And the one thing she loved, she failed to defeat her.
The harsh feelings were so because, after Maggie's constant nagging and encouragement, she did audition and ended up cracking halfway through "A Whole New World". Perhaps if Mrs. Anderson had helped her instead of Sarah, Emmy probably would have had a better chance in winning. Then again, that was only wishful thinking. So Emmy tried once more to negotiate with the parents.
"I'll pay for them!"
"No Emmy." Gloria sighed and glanced away from her daughter's pleading cow eyes. "No voice lessons. We went through this before."
"I know but I'm old now, I'll get a job and I'll pay for them. You and Daddy won't have to pay a dime!" Emmy knew she was getting to close to whining, but she damnit needed those lessons!
"That's fine. Get a job but no voice lessons." Gloria stirred the chicken broth on the oven while dumping in the baby carrots for dinner. "Sweetheart, I know you want to sing like Christine Daae, but there's a difference between the two of you. She's a character and you're not."
"I know that Mom!" Emmy groaned, exasperated that she would bring something so unconventional up. "I'm sixteen not six anymore. But I don't see why I can't have those lessons."
"Because I know you," Gloria stated, bringing the flame down low for the soup to cook. Turning around, she crossed her arms over her chest. "If these lessons don't go according to your plan, then you'll get upset. Look at the ballet lessons that your father and I forked over. I just don't want to see your hopes get dashed, honey. Take a look on the bright side. You're part of the choir and next year possibly Varsity," she pointed out. "Besides, Mrs. Anderson says you sing well—"
"How does she know?" Emmy retorted, jumping out of her seat. "She spends too much time with Sarah that she doesn't take the time in helping the ones who want it the most! I want to do a solo before I graduate. Is that to much to ask for?"
"Amelia, of course not," Gloria said. "You can when you try-out."
"And if I don't get it?"
Gloria shrugged. "Then it wasn't in the cards."
Emmy grunted angrily, making her mother glare at her. "Emmy, listen to yourself! This is way getting out of hand. I'm sorry I ever encouraged this little obsession of yours. Truly I am."
The young girl glowered. "Do you want me to stop liking the Phantom then?"
"No. I didn't mean it like that," her mother replied, shaking her head. "But when you're thinking of about becoming the next Christine Daae has me worried. There's a big difference and I'm not sure if you know it."
"I DO!" Emmy shouted, growing angrier by the second. "And for one thing, it's a PASSION, not a some Joey Buttafuoco crazed love thing!" She stormed out, huffing along the way. She doesn't understand. They never understand! Her mind yelled. Emmy was in a blind fury that she didn't see her brother, Tony, coming at her.
"Ow! Watch it!" she cried, rubbing her head, staring daggers at the Cheshire grinning twelve-year-old.
"Emmy can't have her singing lessons!" he mocked, laughing madly at her. "What's she going to do with her life now?"
Clenching her fists, the first thought was to punch her annoying burden of brotherhood, but decided that would lead to further troubles she rather not tread into. So she compromise on the next best thing.
"Get out of my face, you little mongrel!"
"Mom! Emmy called me a—"
Her door slammed, blocking out the muffled shouts. She slid down her door and burst into tears. Why? Why? I come this far and once again I have to kiss it good-bye.
Sniffling, she wiped her eyes, and stood up, looking at her wide collection. Nothing was fair anymore. Especially when your own mother was a hypocrite. "Follow your dreams, Emmy. Don't let nothing stop you," her mother once said.
"How can I, Mom? How can I when you won't let me follow?" she whispered aloud. Blinking back another onset of tears, Emmy sat on her bed, suppressing a shudder.
She offered to pay for the lessons herself. She offered and was told a blunt "no". Emmy wouldn't cancel them, no way, not when this was the opportunity to shine. But no. Always no!
Reaching out, Emmy grabbed a plush red rose and placed the velvety petals into her face. It was moments like these, when Emmy truly wished she had an Angel of Music to take away her gloom. Her life was too boring, too routine. There was nothing exciting or startling that happens. And worse of all, no one understood her. No one, but Maggie. At least she had a friend she could count on for support. But sometimes that alone wasn't enough.
"Why couldn't I be her?" Emmy asked to her room. No response ever came back.
xxXXxx
Emmy was thankful that the school year was almost over. A couple of more weeks' left and summertime.
She tried to use the normal cheery thought to raise her spirits, but lately everything seemed to put a damper on them. On the news the other night, Emmy heard more information about the strange disappearance and death of the young Miss Shirley West.
It was true; there was never any history of heart problems in her family. So why did she died of a sudden cardiac arrest? The eerie answer was that it seemed to be of a high case of stress upon her body. Something pushed her over the edge to the eternal abyss. But what, no one could seem to find the answer.
And her friends' interviews held another eerie tone. The "admirer" that Shirley had never came forward, but friends did admit that she did act strange whenever she was out in public. Always checking the area, glancing behind her back, jumpy near shadows, the list went on. One friend said that Shirley got into habit of crashing at a friend's house for the night.
"She was almost afraid to go home alone. And when I asked her why, she couldn't answer," was the similar response when questioned.
The only valid reason behind this was due in large part to her boyfriend's disappearance. Shirley could have snapped and somehow pushed herself to hard causing her heart to stop. After all, she was completely distraught over it. It was plausible, but Emmy found the police's deduction unsettling.
What if this happens again? The occurrences were too unusual to ignore and no way was this some random unfortunate case.
I think I've been watching too many Unsolved Mysteries, Emmy mused as she entered the auditorium. The lights were off but she managed to get down to the stage. Climbing up the small stairs, she gazed out into the empty seats.
That one time when she stayed after was the only time she heard the Voice. Since then she never had any luck of hearing that beautiful baritone. Eventually, Emmy gave up and figured she must have been daydreaming. Perhaps I really spend too much time thinking of the Phantom.
Closing her eyes, Emmy could hear the music playing, the applause of the adoring crowd going crazy as she finished a dramatic aria. Her parents and friends would be out there, beaming and cheering the loudest. And Sarah… she'll be burning with anger. But the one that will the matter the most would be Trey. He would break up with Sarah after the performance after being captured by the diva. The girl he was meant to be with…
"I can hear the bellsmy head is spinning
I can hear the bells
Something's beginning…"
Her voice came out soft, but gradually grew. Despite how off-key and out of tune she was, Emmy was flying in the air.
"I can hear the bellsToday's just the start 'cause
I can hear the bells
And 'til death do us part
And even when we die
We'll look down
From up above
Remembering the night
That we two fell in love
We both will shed a tear
And he'll whisper as we're
Reminiscing
Listen!
I can hear the bells!"
As Emmy slowly faded out, a tear made its way down her cold cheek. Panting softly, she whispered, "All I want is to sing and be loved."
Then a bright light shined down on her.
TBC…