Chapter 6: Shannon

I had just gotten back from a nice little jog around my old neighborhood when I heard the distinct melody of my cell phone ringing in the other room. I quickly grabbed a bottle of water from the kitchen refrigerator and walked into the den where my cell phone was lying on a nearby table. I looked at it and sighed.

"Hello Kristy Thomas," I said as I could practically hear Kristy grinning on the other side.

"Hey Shannon! How are you doing?" Kristy asked.

"Fine, thanks. Just got home yesterday and believe it or not I already miss Indiana," I stated. This was true, actually. I missed many of my college friends, one in particular. He was sort of my boyfriend, but we had agreed to go separate ways since he wasn't sure where he was going to be getting a job yet, and I was going to be in Chicago in the fall to pursue my musical theatre career.

"That's good. I hadn't heard from you since graduation and just wanted to confirm that you were still going to make it to the BSC reunion on Saturday," Kristy asked.

I rolled my eyes. Kristy seemed awfully nervous about this reunion. Like we wouldn't all show up. Hell, even Logan Bruno was going to come for a bit. I don't know why she was so nervous!

"Yes Kristy, for the hundredth time. 6 o'clock, your parents place. If I'm not there you can always send Karen over to drag me across the street!" I replied with a laugh.

Kristy groaned. "Okay, okay. I get it! I'm just worried about this weekend. We all haven't been together in the same room even, for so long and I just want it to be special, you know?"

I nodded even though Kristy couldn't see that. "I understand. But you don't have control over how everyone reacts or is. All you can do is organize it and hope for the best. I'm sure we'll have a blast catching up and just seeing how everyone is doing."

Kristy sighed, "You're right, I KNOW you're right." I was about to respond when my phone beeped and I saw that Anna was calling. "Kristy, I have another call and need to go. I can come over early and help you with set-up, just let me know, okay?" I offered.

Kristy brightened. "Okay, maybe Abby can help us too. I'll talk to you later," Kristy said as we both hung up and I clicked over to Anna.

Anna Stevenson and I became really good friends in high school. We both shared a great love for music, though hers has always been more classical based. I honestly don't really care for opera much (though I do enjoy much symphonic literature), and much prefer musical theatre stuff (hence the fact that I hope to make a career out of it!). Anyway, in high school both Anna and I ended up getting part-time jobs working for a local theatre company. The Stoneybrook Note (I know, how original!) sponsored all sorts of programs, and also had a small symphony that Anna has been playing with during the summers while she was in college. However, in high school we both got hired on as promotions assistants who helped the theatre out with all of their special events. During the summers, I also assisted with the children's musical theatre program (Kristy was so proud!). Anna and I got close through working at the theatre.

I knew what Anna's call meant. It meant that she had picked up Abby from the airport and was ready for me to head over and hang out. We hadn't seen each other since Christmas, so we were planning a girls' night: wine, chick flicks and munchies.

I chatted with Anna briefly and made my way upstairs to shower and get ready for this evening. Anna said that she had invited Abby to join us (I almost suggested inviting Kristy but I really didn't want to spend all night talking about the upcoming BSC reunion, so I opted not to) but she said Abby didn't really seem all that interested. Anna hadn't told me much, but I did know that Abby had not had the easiest time in college and something happened to her that really messed up her view of love, men and what the future held for her in that category. I hoped that we could help break her out of whatever mood she was in. Abby deserved to have a little fun!

A little over an hour later, I was ringing the doorbell on the Stevenson's porch. Anna opened the door. "Hi!" she squealed as I squealed "hi" back and we hugged.

While Anna and Abby are identical twins, they really are two very different people. Both were born with this really curly, beautiful brown hair. Anna, however, has taken to straightening her hair and was wearing it much longer than her sister. We walked into the den and I noticed that Anna had already prepared for the evening. There was a bottle of wine open, some snack foods set out and she had raided her DVD collection. I glanced briefly at what was sitting on the table and saw a few of my favorites: When Harry Met Sally, Sixteen Candles, How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Dirty Dancing…and many more.

"Geez Anna, how long did you expect me to stay? If we watch all of these I'll miss the BSC party and have one pissed off Kristy Thomas at my door!" I stated as Anna laughed, as well as Abby, who walked into the room with us. She quickly quieted her laughter and turned sullen.

"Hey Abby, I hear you're moving to Chicago with me," I said, hoping to engage Abby into conversation. Abby brightened. "Oh, yeah! Did Anna tell you? I'm going to be a member of 'The Second City!'"

It was nice to see Abby smile and be happy about something, and with a quick glance at Anna I could tell she was pleased as well. "Well, I'm planning on looking at some apartments in two weeks, you should come with me. Chicago is pretty expensive; it might be cool to find a nice place that we could split, that is, if you are cool with having a roommate."

Abby smiled. "I'd love to, that would be great! We'll both be poor starving artists together!" Abby joked. I smiled. It was nice to see the old Abby back.

"Awesome, we'll make some plans then. Anna, I'm starved. What eats do we have planned for the night?" I asked.

"Well, I have a pizza in the oven, and then we have the assorted salty and sweet concoctions that are on the table, so help yourself!" Anna called as she walked toward the kitchen to check on the pizza.

I looked at Abby. "Wanna help me pick out a movie?" I asked. Abby sighed. "Well, I'd like to but madam Thomas is beckoning me…we're supposed to go shopping and pick out some stuff for the BSC party this weekend."

I groaned. "Sorry," I replied but Abby just laughed. "It's okay, I haven't seen Kristy in awhile, and I'm sure I could get her to talk about something other than the BSC. At least we both still like sports," Abby reminded me.

I nodded. "Don't get me wrong, I love Kristy, you know that. She's just a little too obsessed with this reunion. I hope she's not setting herself up for major disappointment," I replied.

Abby nodded. "I concur," Abby said as I rolled my eyes.

Anna brought the pizza in and we all dug in. I picked out Dirty Dancing and Anna and I popped it in as Abby got ready and walked over to Kristy's.

Hours later, and a couple of bottles of wine later (Abby had joined us after her shopping excursion with Kristy) we girls were having a giggle fest in the den, movies forgotten. It was nice in a way, made me hopeful that tomorrow's event would be similar in fashion, a bunch of us gals drinking, eating and giggling, just like we used to.

Anna updated me with what was new with her. Anna was going to the Boston Conservatory to get her masters and doctorate in music, so she could teach. She was excited about it, but nervous, naturally as she didn't know anyone in Boston. I had no doubt that she'd meet a bunch of music nerd friends just like her (and me) once she got there.

"I am excited about moving to Boston though," Anna stated. "I really love the city, it just reminds me so much of all of the little towns I visited when I studied abroad, especially the English countryside," Anna said. Anna had spent a semester in Vienna, in which she was able visit many places all over Europe. I had actually spent the same semester in London, so we had connected a few times during our time abroad.

I nodded in agreement. "Boston does remind me a lot of some of the towns I visited in England. I miss London," I said sadly.

Abby just shook her head at us. Abby had visited Anna over her spring break that year so she had visited Europe but she seemed to prefer the stars of Hollywood. That is, she is a California girl at heart.

"Hey Abby, have you connected with Dawn at all recently?" I asked. Since Abby did live in southern California, I was curious if she and Dawn ever connected.

Abby nodded. "I ended up having drinks with Dawn and Sunny about a month ago. They were both home for the weekend and since Palo City isn't too far from LA we all went out one night. She seems to be doing well, very excited and nervous about law school," Abby commented.

"I was just surprised to hear that she was moving to the Midwest…I've been to St. Louis before, it's a great city but awfully different from the whole California scene," I said.

"Well, perhaps she just felt it was time to live in the middle," Abby responded. Anna and I both gave her a strange look. Abby sighed, "You know, bi-coastal Dawn decided to just stay in the middle rather than pick a side?"

"Ohhhhh," both Anna and I said at the same time with a chuckle.

"I guess I better work on my stuff before tomorrow evening," Abby replied with a sarcastic tone. I rolled my eyes. "Abs, you're fine. Honestly, I just want tomorrow to go well enough for Kristy to stop going crazy,"

Abby sighed. "I love Kristy, really I do. But I'm just not sure what it is that she's expecting to happen tomorrow. Everyone is going to be there, even Jessi, who wasn't sure she was going to make it at first," Abby stated.

I nodded. "You know," Anna spoke up, "I think it's going to be an interesting evening. I'm curious to hear how everyone is. I obviously wasn't as close to all of the girls as you both were, but we did all hang out, especially in high school."

Abby and I both smiled. "Don't worry, I'm sure we'll have plenty of gossip to relay to you once the evening is over sis," Abby responded.

"So Shannon, what exactly are your plans for Chicago?" Anna asked, thankfully changing the subject from the BSC extravaganza. I smiled. "Well, I'm working for a small theatre in Chicago, doing promotional type of stuff and then, it'll be audition after audition to get some experience. Eventually I'd love to make it over to New York to perform on Broadway, but I need to get my feet wet in a couple of more professional theatres first. I have a big audition next month for a production of Rent that's going to run this fall. I think I have a good chance of getting in the cast, but I don't know about a lead part. I'd love to play Maureen or Joanne, but competition is going to be extremely tough. Fortunately one of my professors at IU knows the theatre company very well and has put in a good word for me. Plus, my resume is extensive. But with musical theatre, it doesn't always matter how good you are, it depends on if you're what they're looking for, and you never know just what that is," I replied.

Anna and Abby nodded. "That's exciting though, I hope I can come visit you and see you in a show!" Anna replied. I smiled. "You could make a weekend of it, come see me in a show and Abby in Second City!" I exclaimed, winking at Abby.

Abby sort of smiled. Boy, you just couldn't get her out of that funk. That was going to make tomorrow awfully difficult.