A/N: Hey, I'm back and alive! I'm so sorry it took so long to update, but things are a little hectic here. I want to give a huge THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed/favorited/ subscribed to the story. That made my day!

To KaelaE. Thuney-Hardison: Aren't the lyrics great? I love that movie! (Not the play.) I'm glad that you can understand the characters… If anything, that's my weakest point. :]

To cowboykelly17: Thanks! They won't be in character all of the time… They'll let loose over the summer. :] Here's the update!
I just want to say one thing, since I have musicals on my mind! My school is trying to do Wicked for the school play next year! Needless to say, I am hyped! My friend and I are going to go overboard come auditions: We will literally spray paint our skin green, get long black wigs (My mom would never let me dye my hair), black dresses, the Grimmerie, and a broom. Oh, yeah! One of us will (hopefully) get the role for dedication! LOL! Anyways, on to the story!

Chapter Six: Point of No Return

Sara:

When I came to, I barely noticed the crowd of students clamoring around me, wondering who the strange girl was that had passed out. Distantly, in some unused corner of my mind, I was glad that I had dyed and curled my red hair. No one, except for Chris, would recognize me. But, the most urgent thing on my mind was that I had a mouthful of blood, and I didn't want to tell everyone about my TB. What did I do? Did I cough it up and confess to Chris, or did I make a break for the bathroom, even though I had no idea where it was? I eyed the students uneasily, tasting the coppery blood that sat in my mouth, begging to be coughed up, the blood I was gagging on. Chris held me in his arms, his sweet breath breezing through my hair. What did I do? Would the show still go on if everyone found out I had TB? Just like Satine did, I thought. You're going to die like Satine, and there's no one to save you. No one can save you. I shuddered as the thought whispered through my mind and got unsteadily to my feet. Chris let me go and I turned away from him, making my choice and calculating the cost mentally.

I was too much of a coward to admit I had TB, so I ran, shoving my way though the assembled crowd and stumbling toward the bathrooms, the way illuminated by several signs. I kicked my heels off and pushed open the door, coughing up blood in the nearest sink. A girl screamed and rushed out of the bathroom, shouting about the girl coughing up blood in the bathroom.

"Idiot." I muttered after her. I looked at myself in the mirror, noticing how pale I was, and retied my mask, which had gotten loose in the performance. I left the bathroom after straightening my dress. With barely a glance at the ballroom I left the Opera House, pulling out my car keys. "Bye, everyone!" I called softly, my throat burning. "See ya in the afterlife."

~*~

The rest of the school year passed without incident. Chris didn't confront me about coughing up blood, for which I was grateful. I hadn't fainted or coughed up blood since the masque, but, understandably, I was still wary of the disease. I didn't know when it would strike next.

Summer came and went too quickly, with little to do other than prepare the set and order costumes. I travelled to New York City near the end of July, wanting to get away from my life for a little bit and relax. I went alone, promising my parents I would be safe. They finally agreed to let me go, ordering plane tickets and booking a hotel for a week. With a bit of persuasion, I got to use my mom's credit card for the vacation.

"Thanks, mom, dad! I love you!" I waved at them, smiling broadly, and stepped onto the plane, a small backpack thrown carelessly over my left shoulder. I was wearing a flowing black skirt that ended at my knees and a form-fitting purple shirt. My hair was red again, since I had used a temporary dye for the masque.

"Bye, Sara, dear!" My mom shouted, tears in her eyes. I sighed and shook my head: Were moms always this emotional?

~*~

"You're in New York?" Chris asked disbelievingly. I smiled, though I knew he couldn't see. "You left me?"

"No, I didn't leave you." I answered back, relaxing on my softer-than-soft bed at the Hilton Hotel. "I just wanted to get away," I mumbled, loosening my grip on my cell. If I wasn't careful, I was going to fall asleep, and Chris would be stuck talking to no one.

"Get away?"

"Escape, break character. She's insane, making us be in character all of the time." I ranted. "Did you hear? She wrote up one of the cast members for breaking character! It's not her fault the poor girl didn't want to act like a whore the entire time!"

"Are you done?" Chris asked teasingly.

"Yes. I believe I am."

"Good. Are you seeing any Broadway plays while you're there?"

"Ummm…. I bought tickets for Wicked, Phantom, and Mamma Mia." I answered.

"Awesome! You're going to have a blast."

"I know."

"Wish I was there."

"Hey, I'm going to go shopping… I'll call yo later." I hung up before he could say anything. I groaned and rose from the bed, grabbing my purse from the bedside table. "Time to go shopping." I mumbled. Hopefully I would find the perfect dresses for the musicals. I had nothing. Nada.

"Look out New York!" I sang as I stepped out of my room.

A/N: Like it? Hate it? It was a filler, before you comment on that, towards the end. I need to get my thoughts in order. :~) I'll try to update this and my other stories, too, sometime soon. Please review!