Chapter 15: Happiness

"So, Lin invited you," I asked Sammy as I saw her smile shyly with a faint blush that I took for makeup

"Correction," she said with a smirk, "he invited someone from the choir to watch the rehearsal of a Broadway show before one of us takes you to your surprise."

I sighed, "So I'm guessing that you know what the surprise is," I muttered as I dropped my phone onto my bed. The only thing that answered my question was a wide smile that looked cute. "I'm guessing you aren't going to tell me too," I asked with a chuckle

"I know something you don't know," she sang in a beautiful voice which made me arch an eyebrow

"Is that a phrase of your own or did you get that from one of my best friends," I asked as she smiled

"One of your friends had trouble with her robe zipper so I helped her with it before the concert and I asked her if I was to accept the invitation," she paused and smiled. "She told me to say those exact words in a sing-song voice," she finished as I chuckled

"Okay," I began, "what do I need to wear for this surprise?"

"Under the robe choir gear," she answered, "no tights," she added which made me chuckle as she turned around to grab something. "What are you laughing at, is there something on my back?"

As she asked that she looked at her back which didn't bear any resemblance to a prank from the school or the cast. "No there isn't," I began, "it's just whenever I hear the words 'under the robe choir gear' I think a short dress with black character shoes and no tights. That's something already ingrained into my brain," I said as she smiled, resuming her task

"Well I'm also here to deliver a gift from the other friend of yours," she paused as she pulled a dress out. "I think Maria is her name," she said as she showed me a light blue dress that matched the color of Eliza

I smiled, "She always knows what I like when I wear dresses," I began, "I'm going to need to thank her when I see her next."

"That you do," Sammy said with a smile as I smirked, "okay, I'm going to let you get ready. You do have time to take a quick shower to get rid of the sweat but make sure your hair is dry before coming down. I will meet you by the stage door when you are ready," she said as she walked over to the door

I smiled, "Thanks Sams," I said and she shot me a glare, "what?"

"Don't call me that," she said with a growl and I arched an eyebrow

"Why," I asked her as she walked out, "it matches your cuteness," I added as she stopped in her tracks

"Fine, but you and only you can call me that," she began, "the last person to call me that died and I am a superstitious person."

"I came close to death several times," I began with a smirk, "I won't die on you I promise you'll have only good memories with people who call you Sams now," I finished as she looked over her shoulder

"Thanks," she said with a small smile before walking out of the door making sure to close it behind her. Once the door closed, I got into the shower and started thinking as I washed the sweat off

For the first time in years, I didn't shrink back when someone growled at me, even when she was angry, I had a sense of security around me. There was this other feeling that I couldn't drop when I thought of her when I first saw her, she radiated care and comfort. Today when I saw her irritated for the first time, I saw that she could do some damage but I felt that she wouldn't hurt me. I stepped out of the shower, dried myself off, and slid on a white frilly dress. After that, I put on light makeup after I blew dried my hair; before leaving I grabbed the old character shoes from a nearby cupboard and my coat along with my phone. I slid my coat on as I rushed down the stairs passing the cast members as the ran around getting ready for the show

"Have fun Rose," Renée said in her costume once I reached the bottom of the staircase

"I suppose you're not going to tell me what my surprise is," I said while giving her a hug

"Like your friend Cass says," she began, "I know something you don't know."

I sighed as she finished repeating the phrase that my best friend got from my late mom, "All right," I said. "Will you be here for when I get back," I asked her and she shook her head, "so I'm staying here tonight?"

"Yeah," she began, "your room isn't ready still something about a hollow floor," she finished but she muttered something else that I couldn't catch

"What was that," I asked as she looked at me

"Oh, nothing," she said before shoving me away, "go have fun I'm just worrying about homeowner things."

I chuckled as she pushed me closer toward the door, "All right then," I said, "I'll see you tomorrow," I added before walking to the door. "I'm ready when you are," I said to Sammy who had a stunned look on her face.

She shook her head as she waved to someone behind me, "I'm ready," she said as I got closer to her. "You look gorgeous by the way," she added before opening the door for me

I grinned, "Thank you," I said, "I take it since I'm in the front that we're going somewhere that I know," I asked as I walked through the door

Sammy scoffed, "I was just being kind," she began, "I'm not even telling you where we're going or what we're doing," she said as I chuckled

"I figured," I said as the door closed behind her, "I don't know much of the area anyway," I added as I waited for her to make sure the door was secure

"So, you're not from here," she asked as she approached me with a look of confusion on her face. "I could've sworn that you were from here," she said as I chuckled once more

We started walking as I explained my life story in the shortest detail possible. "I mentioned this in the interview but I see that you don't remember," I said as she nodded. "I was orphaned when I was eleven right as I was starting sixth grade, I had my first foster home at that age. That foster home lasted a year until they announced that they were having their child and didn't want the big gap between siblings. I was in the group home for about another year until I was put into my second foster who forced me to move her after eighth-grade recognition," explained. "I have been here for three years and haven't been around New York up until I met Renée and the cast," I added

Sammy chuckled nervously, "Well I guess this is a little late but welcome to New York City," she began. "A town that is full of nocturnal people and brutality that you have to fight for yourself at times," she said as I forced a smile remembering when Ric said that

I still felt that same feeling of comfort around her but it still hurt to remember Ric at times. "Thanks," I said with that smile, "for that welcome, and I forgot to thank you when you kept me company with Ric's death."

Sammy shrugged before turning around and seeing my forced smile, "Was that something he said to you," she asked and I nodded. "I am so sorry if that brought any pain," she added and I shook my head

"It's fine," I began with a sigh, "I'm at the point where anything can remind me of the people I lost. For example," I sighed, "that phrase 'I know something you don't know' that Cass told you to say came from my biological mother. She pretty much adopted many of the friends that I made in that early high school program."

"Would you rather us not say it?"

I shook my head once more as we approached a crosswalk, "No," I began once more as we crossed. "You can say whatever you want, I am not going to keep anyone from living their lives just because of phrases that may or may not bring up the pain of memories."

"Can I ask you something," she said once we reached the other side of the street

"You already have but go ahead," I said and chuckled as she shot me a glare

"Is it bad that I have been talking to Cass more than Maria?"

I thought for a minute before saying, "No," she arched an eyebrow at me, "I hung out with Cass more than Maria. She's the person that I was with me when I was orphaned, I'd trust both of them with my life but more her than Maria," I finished as Sammy nodded

"That is good to know," she said as we stopped in front of a theater

"This is The Public," I began as I looked up at the tall building, "this is where Hamilton was first shown."

"Yep," Sammy said with a smile, "and this is where your surprise is going to be," she said while opening the door. Once we stepped in, she turned to me as I just noticed a candle in her hand. "Can I have your coat," she said as I nodded, taking it off, once I handed it to her, she handed me the candle. "Once the lights turn off you are to go to Newman Theater," she explained. "Stay here until then and be sure to turn this candle on before you start moving," she added before leaving as I looked around the lobby which was nice and bright. About ten minutes passed by from when Sammy disappeared when the lobby was covered in darkness.

Out of habit, it turned the bulb of the candle and to my luck, it turned on with a nice bright glow. Once my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I walked to an area that I deemed as a map before the lights turned off. I held the candle up to it and found where the Newman Theater was, as fast as I could in the character shoes, I rushed down the hall and up a set of stairs while almost running into a door. I looked up to make sure I ran into a door for the right theater before pulling the door open and walking in. The entrance was dimly lit as I saw that there was a music stand with a piece of paper and a candle holder on it. Right next to the music stand was a robe and stole hanging from a nearby coat rack. I walked over to the music stand and read the piece of paper that was on it

Dearest Rose,

Please put on the robe and stole and go to the end of the wall with your candle. Once you are there turn off your candle, you'll know what to do afterward

Good luck

Your surprise

I sighed as I put the letter down and shrugged the robe on before I put the stole around my neck. After I zipped the robe I walked to the far end of the theater and turned my candle off. Almost at once, the lights turned off and I heard the faint sound of people walking towards me. Someone stopped in front of me then I heard the familiar cords of a song that I haven't sung in a long time yet heard just this morning. Turning on the candle with the rest of the choir I began singing Joy to The World

Once the performance was finished, I was swarmed by people dressed in the same robes and stoles as me for the second time that day. "Seeing me for a whole school day does not make up for missing me," I asked with a chuckle

"That doesn't make up for three years without one of the best alto-sopranos in our class," Charleen muttered while jumping on my back. She was part of the early high school program so she would be the only one to know me in this choir, "you have some making up to do."

"Okay," I began, "I'll try to make it to Toledo at some point before my life ends," I said with a smiled as she stayed on my back with a wide grin

"I will make sure Renée knows that," a voice said from the house as I turned with Charleen still on my back to see who it was. There stood Sammy in the middle of the frontmost seats, holding a camera that had a red light glowing from it

"Samantha," I began as I walked up to the edge of the stage, "I thought you left, why are you recording?"

Sammy only laughed, "No I didn't," she began, "but that performance was wonderful," she finished just as Charleen jumped off me with my stole in her hands

"At least I didn't choke you with a stole check," she said in defense to then glare

"She's not wrong," Sammy said with a smirk on her face

"You still have to answer my question Samantha," I grumbled as she started walking closer to me soon the camera was in my face as Sammy and I stood face to face with each other only a small gap between us

"The answer to your question is for an initiation," a voice answered from backstage making me jump a little

"Why thank you, Mrs. Adams," I began as she stepped into the light with a smile on her face. "Wait," I began suddenly, "initiation for what?"

Sammy stepped back as Charleen answered, "A group that you were supposed to be a part of your freshman year but you weren't with us then. But now you're in it at the current school."

"Oh," I began as I looked to see that most of the choir was gone aside from a few people. "I didn't know Cass and Maria were in this same group but why for Arch?"

"Cass was in it but to answer your question is because you're getting an honorable initiation from Arch," Maria began. "Sammy is here because they have the same kind of initiation as us," she finished as she took off my robe that I just noticed Sammy unzipped

"How many people know about this," I asked, "and what kind of things are in this initiation?"

As I asked these questions, I felt the color drain from my face as Sammy took the candle from my hand. "The whole music department of our school does while at Arch only those who are in it," she began as she stepped back once more. "As for what's going to happen in this," she paused to smirk and handed the candle off to Mrs. Adams. "That is for you to find out," she said just as I was splashed with some sort of cold liquid

"Well, we might as well get it over with," I spluttered trying to get it out of my mouth and eyes

"With pleasure," Sammy said as I heard her approach me

Time Skip for the, No Public, Initiation

As soon as I stepped out of the theater I started shivering as both Sammy, Maria, and Cass followed me back to Richard Rogers. I had a towel in between my coat and my dress which was now dripping with whatever red liquid they splashed me with and Sammy's spare jacket but neither of which helped keep me warm. Every time we passed by someone, they looked at my shivering figure with a questioning look. The three were giggling far behind me as I started grumbling in irritation

"Are you don't recording yet," I asked Sammy once I saw her out of the corner of my eye

"Nope," she said with a smirk as yet another stranger passed by us, "Cass is holding the camera now," she said as she came up in front of me and spun around just as I grumbled. "What was that," she began, "we need to get that for the rest of your reaction."

"I said this is just great," I yelled as loud as possible so the camera could catch it. All that answered my sarcasm were Cass and Maria's laughs, lucky for me we made it to the theater soon after that but there was one problem. Whatever they did to my hair for the initiation made it so the guard didn't recognize me no matter what I said. "I'm Renée's daughter, Rose Stevens-Goldsberry," I said trying to convince him

"I'm sorry ma'am," he began, "you can't fool me that easily," he said and I huffed

"Wait," Sammy said, stopping the door before it closed, "My name is Samantha Edwards I was given an invitation to see the cast rehearsal take Mrs. Goldsberry's daughter for a surprise and return here with her and two other friends while recording."

The guard then nodded before opening the door a little more as Sammy winked at me, "They set that up for me didn't they," I muttered as Sammy chuckled

Once inside I gave Sammy her jacket as Cass handed the camera over to Maria before taking my coat and the towel. Sammy handed me another towel before I ran upstairs with bare feet into my room to get cleaned up. Once I was out of the shower I put on leggings and a long t-shirt for bed and headed back downstairs to the stage where I heard some music playing. I walked onto the stage as I saw the three girls singing along to Heathers as Cass took the lead role while Sammy and Maria each played as the other two Heathers as they sang Candy Store. I jumped in when Sammy, acting as Martha said the line about the bogus invitation to the homecoming party

"Color me stoked," I recited making the three girls jump, I heard a crash from the edge of the stage and rushed over to see that Maria fell off when she got scared. "You know you're not supposed to fall off the stage right," I asked as I stuck out my hand to help her up

She scoffed before hugging me, "I missed you so much," she said into my shoulder. "You keep me informed with everything that's happening," she said as she looked up to glare at me. "You didn't talk to me while you were in the hospital, I found out everything thanks to Cass."

Once she finished the pain of guilt rushed through me, "I'm sorry," I said with a pout. "I'm not used to having contact with all of my Toledo friends again," I added, "are you three staying the night?"

"I'm not," Sammy said as Cass and Maria shook their heads, "I have to get some sleep for school tomorrow and I believe they have classes to take care of."

I looked at the two friends that I never thought I'd see again, "You two have to tell me what your plans are with college since you're here."

They both nodded before running out of the theater each after giving me a quick hug, "I'm sending that video to them and both schools along with the cast," Sammy said as I sighed

"Of course, you are," I said with a smile

"You seem like the parental figure between the two," she began, "are you?"

"The roles switch between the two of us," I admitted as she chuckled, "can I trust you to make sure everything's locked up and all the lights are off when you leave?"

"Yeah, you beat," she asked and I nodded, "go get some sleep, Renée said that you would be after something like that."

I smiled, "Well then," I began, "I guess I'll see you tomorrow at school," I said giving her a hug

She returned the hug and smiled, "That you will," she said, "now go get some rest I don't think any of the teachers will appreciate you being sluggish."

I chuckled before I rushed up the stairs, I put my hair in two braids before I plugged my phone in and turned the lights off. Before I fell asleep one last thought came

Is happiness coming into my life and staying this time?