Together

Becoming Anya

Welp, ya girl has school tomorrow and we don't stan that. Snow days are fun, kids. I got to write two chapters today so yayyyy. This one's honestly a bit of a filler, but enjoy anyway. Comment/vote x
-ab

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October 31, 2025

Harper

I arrive at rehearsal early for what is hopefully my final costume fitting. The costumes were all custom-made for my measurements, so there shouldn't be any problems.

On top of that, we are running through the show three times today, with costumes for all of them. Everyone else has already had their costumes finalized.

"Harper," our head costumer, Willow, smiles at me. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, thank you," I politely smile at her. I really don't want to be around these people, after the way that they made me feel a few days ago, but I know that it is necessary so that I can have costumes for the stage.

"Great," she smiles. "Hopefully these costumes work. Let's just go right in the order that you wear them, okay?"

"Alright," I nod. I'm handed a white blouse with a long, dark skirt and a brown coat.

"You can go change behind that screen right there."

Walking to where I'm directed, I pull off my jeans and sweater, then slip into the new garments. As soon as I get them on, I can't help but smile. It really hits me, like a wave of emotions.

"Those look nice," Willow comments. Her and her assistant, Rebecca, start to pinch and pull at it in various places to be sure that it fits. This is always my least favourite part of costume fittings. I'm not quite so comfortable with these people touching me as much as they do, but I know that it is necessary.

"Take off the coat," Willow instructs. I do so, and they start all over again, checking the size of the shirt this time.

"Alright, next costume," she tells me. "This is for 'Paris.'"

I put it on. It's a nice outfit, with a white blazer and white skirt.

I smooth my hands over the skirt, then twirl around in it, causing a smile to come onto my face.

"You look nice," Rebecca comments. They start the pinching and pulling again, and once that's over with, I'm sent to try on my next outfit, my nightgown. It's a simple costume, though it is for one of my favourite scenes, 'In A Crowd Of Thousands.'

That one is deemed to fit me, so I'm handed my next costume, a blue, floor-length gown with sparkles, for the ballet scene. "This is gorgeous," I whisper, stepping out from behind the screen.

"It really is," Willow nods. "You look lovely, Harper."

"Thank you," I reply. She checks the sizing on this one, and ends up pinning up the hem just a little bit.

"That'll be a very easy fix," she informs me. "Literally, I'll do it while you're changing into your next costume."

This next costume is a maroon, velvet dress. I can tell that it's going to be hot under the stage lights, though it is pretty.

It fits fine, so I go to try on the final dress. This is the one that I've been excited for. It's nicknamed 'Big Red,' as it is a ball gown with gorgeous beading all around it and a skirt that sticks out in a perfect circle. It reminds me a bit of my Cosette days, in all honesty.

I gasp as I turn to see myself in the mirror. I can only try to imagine myself with my wig, my tiara resting on top, in this dress, onstage for the final few scenes of the show.

"You look amazing," Rebecca tells me. "You're just gorgeous, love."

I blush slightly as I thank her, then they check the fitting of this dress.

"You're all good to go," Willow smiles at me. "Get changed back into your street clothes and we will see that these clothes are delivered to your dressing room."

"Thank you so much," I tell her before slipping out of the costume room and heading to the lobby, where the rest of the cast is meeting.

Right away, I find Toby. "Hey," I smile.

"Hey. Day one of dress rehearsals. Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," I laugh. "You?"

"I'm quite excited, in all honesty."

"Me too. I just finished up my final fitting for costumes."

"Talk about pushing it to the last minute," he laughs.

"I know," I roll my eyes. "But they're done now, and they're gorgeous."

"I'm so glad," he tells me. "You're going to kill it today."

"Thanks," I reply. "You are too."

Soon, we are all called into the auditorium, where we are given a quick rundown of the schedule. Before lunch, we are going to run the show through once, then do Act I again. After lunch, we are going to run Act II, then another full run through.

That makes three full runs of the show.

I know that it's going to be a long day, but after today, we are only going to have one more run through before we all make our debuts.

That's absolutely crazy.

As I sit in my dressing room, I realize just how strange it is that I don't have anyone to keep me company. Only the music on my phone. I'm sure that once we all get a bit more settled in, I'll have visitors, but right now, once I'm all ready, I have nothing to do but sit on the couch and text with Katherine.

Harper: Hi from my first dress rehearsal.

Katherine: Oh my goodness, that's so exciting! Break a leg xxx

Harper: How are Nutcracker rehearsals going?

Katherine: Well. My pointe shoes are dying, though. It's okay, I think I have some back in the stock room.

Harper: RIP Katherine's pointe shoes. Is Sugar Plum everything you ever dreamed of?

Katherine: Everything and more. I hope Anya is the same way for you. I've got to be off now, but we can talk later x

Harper: Bye!

Giving a sigh, I set my phone down on my dressing table and turn on my speakers. I know that our places for the top of the show will be called soon, so it shouldn't be all that long until I'm all ready to step out onto that stage in costume, for the first time.

I can't wait to see this show really come together.