Ghastly Familiar

By BeckyLynnetteCohen

Disclaimer: I own Anna Maria, Samantha, Jean Claude, Sydney, and Savannah. That is it.

Chapter 9: Gaining the Deformity

"I have no problem with that…"

"Sadly enough, either do I."

Anna Maria smiled. "I kinda like being around you. You don't treat me like I'm 5."

Erik laughed. "You aren't 5. I'm guessing you're- what?- 17?"

"More like 21." Said Anna Maria.

"You're joking."

"Nope, I just turned 21."

"Are you in school?"

"Yeah."

"Ah."

"Ok, back to work."

"Argh. Ok. Um… I'm running out of songs here… um… OOOOH! 'Defying Gravity' from Wicked!"

"Wicked?"

"It's a musical."

"Ah. Proceed.

Elphaba - why couldn't you have stayed calm for once,
instead of flying off the handle!
I hope you're happy
I hope you're happy now
I hope you're happy how you
Hurt your cause forever
I hope you think you're clever

I hope you're happy
I hope you're happy too
I hope you're proud how you
Would grovel in submission
To feed your own ambition
So though I can't imagine how
I hope you're happy right now...

Elphie, listen to me - just say you're sorry...
You can still be with the wizard
What you've worked and waited for
You can have all you ever wanted...

I know...But I don't want it - NO - I can't want it
anymore...
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap
It's time to try
Defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
And you can't pull me down...
Can't I make you understand, you're having delusions of grandeur...?
I'm through accepting limits
'Cuz someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But 'till I try, I'll never know
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love - I guess I have lost
Well, if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost
I'd sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down...
Glinda, come with me. Think of what we could do - together.
I'm Limited
Together we're unlimited
Together we'll be the greatest team
There's ever been, Glinda,
Dreams the way we planned 'em
If we work in tandem
There's no fight we cannot win
Just you and I
Defying gravity
With you and I
Defying gravity
They'll never bring us down...
Well? Are you coming?
I hope you're happy
Now that you're choosing this...
You too - I hope it brings you bliss
I really hope you get it
And you don't live to regret it
I hope you're happy in the end
I hope you're happy, my friend...
So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky
As someone told me lately -
Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me -

Tell them how I
Am defying gravity!
I'm flying high
Defying gravity!
And soon I'll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down
...bring me down!
Ahhhh!

Erik looked on in shock.

"Can I take you up on that water offer yet?"

"Oh yeah. I'll be right back."

"Ok."

While Erik went off to fetch the water, Anna Maria went through the song lists. Defying Gravity had only given Erik his mask. 'This is so not fair for him… AHA! Found it.'

"Any idea on the next song?" said Erik, tossing Anna Maria her water.

"I have an idea for one but you gotta sing with me."

"Ok. Hit me with it."

"Ok, song's called "Light My Candle" from RENT."

"Ok..."

"You seem to be in a better mood."

"Yeah, this has kinda gotten my mind off the whole Ryan thing."

"Good. We should do this more often."

"Hell yeah!."

Erik laughed again. "Ok. Let's go."

ERIK:
What'd you forget?
ANNA MARIA:
Got a light?
ERIK:
I know you? -- You're --
You're shivering
ANNA MARIA:

It's nothing
They turned off my heat
And I'm just a little
Weak on my feet
Would you light my candle?
What are you staring at?
ERIK:
Nothing
Your hair in the moonlight
You look familiar
Can you make it?
ANNA MARIA:
Just haven't eaten much today
At least the room stopped spinning.
Anyway. What?
ERIK:
Nothing
Your smile reminded me of --
ANNA MARIA:
I always remind people of -- who is she?
ERIK:
She died. Her name was April
ANNA MARIA:

It's out again
Sorry about your friend
Would you light my candle?
ERIK:
Well --
ANNA MARIA:
Yeah. Ow!
ERIK:
Oh, the wax -- it's --
ANNA MARIA:
Dripping! I like it -- between my --
ERIK:
Fingers. I figured...
Oh, well. Goodnight.
It blew out again?
ANNA MARIA:

No -- I think that I dropped my stash
ERIK:
I know I've seen you out and about
When I used to go out
Your candle's out
ANNA MARIA:
I'm illin' --
I had it when I walked in the door
It was pure --
Is it on the floor?
ERIK:
The floor?
ANNA MARIA:
They say I have the best ass below 14th street
Is it true?
ERIK:
What?

ANNA MARIA:
You're staring again.
ERIK:
Oh no.
I mean you do -- have a nice --
I mean -- You look familiar
ANNA MARIA:
Like your dead girlfriend?
ERIK:
Only when you smile.
But I'm sure I've seen you somewhere else --
ANNA MARIA:
Do you go to the Cat Scratch Club?
That's where I work - I dance - help me look
ERIK:
Yes!
They used to tie you up --
ANNA MARIA:
It's a living
ERIK:
I didn't recognize you
Without the handcuffs
ANNA MARIA:
We could light the candle
Oh won't you light the candle?
ERIK:
Why don't you forget that stuff
You look like you're sixteen
ANNA MARIA:
I'm nineteen -- but I'm old for my age
I'm just born to be bad
ERIK:
I once was born to be bad
I used to shiver like that
ANNA MARIA:
I have no heat -- I told you
ERIK:
I used to sweat
ANNA MARIA:
I got a cold
ERIK:
Uh huh
I used to be a junkie
ANNA MARIA:
But now and then I like to --
ERIK:
Uh huh
ANNA MARIA:
Feel good
ERIK:
Here it -- um --
ANNA MARIA:
What's that?
ERIK:
It's a candy bar wrapper
ANNA MARIA:
We could light the candle
What'd you do with my candle?
ERIK:
That was my last match
ANNA MARIA:
Our eyes'll adjust, thank God for the moon
ERIK:
Maybe it's not the moon at all
I hear Spike Lee's shooting down the street
ANNA MARIA:

Bah humbug ... Bah humbug
ERIK:
Cold hands
ANNA MARIA:
Yours too.
Big. Like my father's
You wanna dance?
ERIK:
With you?
ANNA MARIA:
No -- with my father
ERIK
I'm Roger
ANNA MARIA:
They call me
They call me Mimi

"Well I know what I gained that time."

"What?"

"My deformity. Near the end my face started burning like no other."

"You gained your whole head. All we have left is your legs and feet and your back to normal."

"As normal as I get at least. And you forgot the cape."

"You wear a cape? What are you superman?"

"Ha ha ha."