Dearest readers, thank you all so much for reading, for reviewing, and most of all for being patient with me! I've been on a little fanfic hiatus for a couple months and I know how it is when you're waiting for an update and it never comes - for this, I apologize profusely!
Because you're awesome, how about two new chapters tonight?
Just one thing I have to say: this was the very very first fanfic I ever wrote, and as I look back through it I can REALLY tell it is a first attempt! Please just keep that in mind and don't flame me too hard. ;)
Alicia met Carra in the lobby and wordlessly held out a steaming Starbucks cup. Carra smiled gratefully and inhaled the wonderful smell. She took a cautious sip – her favorite cappuccino, just the way she liked it.
"I have never been so happy to have a friend who lived next to Starbucks," she said.
"I had a feeling you'd need it," Alicia said with a grin.
"Oh, you have no idea! The night I had last night, taking care of–"
"Good morning ladies! I hope you're not planning on bringing that in the recital hall?" It was their teacher, Dr. Smallwood, eyeing their Starbucks cups dubiously.
"But it's so early!" whined Carra with a winning smile.
"Well … don't make a habit of it!" said Dr. Smallwood, going ahead of them into the recital hall.
"What a teacher's pet! You could get away with murder in front of that man, you know it?" said Alicia, trying to sound disgusted but not quite succeeding. Practically the entire department knew about the partiality Dr. Smallwood, really all the faculty, felt for Carra. And Alicia understood perfectly – after all, Carra was her best friend!
"Well, I suppose we ought to go in, then," Carra said after a minute. "I guess everyone else is already here. Too excited to be late!" Alicia agreed with a laugh, remembering her early call to Carra, all because she herself was too excited to sleep!
The two girls slipped into the recital hall, embarrassed at coming in when everyone was already in a seat and several people were onstage speaking to the crowd of students. Carra settled her messenger bag on the floor and then looked up at the stage. One person caught her eye immediately, and she turned to Alicia with a stunned expression.
"What?" Alicia whispered, alarm in her voice.
"Do you know who that is?" Carra whispered back frantically, jerking her head at the stage.
At that moment, Dr. Smallwood went on the stage and began to introduce their special guest, who was none other than the man Carra had sung along with in her car that morning: Josh Groban.