Friendship comes and goes alongside the passage of time, but sometimes, the bonds between certain people are stronger than normal. Stephen Strange and Rachael Barrow grew up together, their bond wavering, but never breaking. Together, they've pushed...
It had been four years since Rachael had been in Annie. Since she'd gotten to high school, she had been at least an important and pivotal character (if not the main one) in every play and musical she was in. She was the top drama student in the class. She was eighteen and she had definitely matured. She was more focused on what she had to do. She still was silly and playful, but she was growing up. It made Stephen pleased that she was no longer the little kid who would hang on his neck as he tried to do his homework, but it was also a little bittersweet for him.
Stephen, on the other hand, was mostly himself. He was actually finishing up college. One more year, and he'd be a full neurosurgeon. He planned to have a five-year residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital once he completed his degree. Rachael had noticed that during their phone calls and Skype sessions that he had been growing slightly arrogant about his success. She managed to keep him in check, though.
The day of her senior prom, Rachael was Skyping Stephen while getting herself ready. This meant that Stephen got to watch her while she was doing her hair and makeup in silence. She would occasionally ask him questions about college ("Have you played any beer pong?" "No." "Oh. You should, I hear it's fun.") but that was it.
"Whoever is taking you must be a very lucky boy," Stephen said. "Tell me about him."
"He's kind of popular. When we did Beauty and the Beast, he was the kid who played the Beast," Rachael said. "He asked me to prom after our last performance of it. I'll admit, I was surprised, but I still agreed to go with him."
"What's his name again?" Stephen asked.
"Tanner," Rachael said.
"That sounds like a jerk name," Stephen said.
"Stop it, Stephen," Rachael scoffed. "He's a nice guy."
"Wait a minute, wait a minute," Stephen said. "Wasn't he the guy who said that I looked like an alien and then said that neurosurgery sounded like some sort of infectious disease when you introduced us?"
Rachael momentarily froze before going back to curling her hair, "Maybe."
"God, Rachael, him?" Stephen groaned in exasperation.
"Hey, it's not like you're here to stop me," Rachael shrugged as she put the finishing touches on her makeup. "There. Well, how do I look?"
Rachael stood up and backed up so Stephen could see her. Rachael was in a beautiful red dress that came down to just above her knees. It reminded him of the uniform that Lieutenant Uhura wore in the Star Trek shows and movies. Rachael had also curled her light brown hair slightly. She hadn't really done much with her makeup, but it didn't matter. She looked absolutely gorgeous.
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"You look stunning," Stephen said. "Tanner- even though I hate him- is a very lucky boy."
"Thank you," Rachael said. "I should probably go. He'll be here any minute."
