overture | newsies imagines

adam kaplan [request] || understudy

REQUEST FOR
CARRIE1BROADWAY
[ADAM KAPLAN]

"Don't talk," I carefully stuck the thermometer between Jeremy's lips, watching the temperature rise instantly. Once I took it out, it was displaying a degrees of one hundred and one, and Jeremy was coughing crazily. "Curse you and your sick self. I was gonna come to the show tonight."

"Sorry, sis," his voice was gravely from the hacking, and he flinched when he spoke. "You're gonna be seeing an understudy today."

"Lovely," I sighed and put the temperature back in its case. "Do you need to text him to let him know?"

"I don't have his number." Jeremy sheepishly glanced at his phone, wrapping the blanket tighter around his shoulders.

"Then what're you going to do?"

"Go to the theater to tell him," he replied.

"Nope. You're not leaving this room until you are happy and healthy." I rejected the thought.

"Then will you go and tell them?"

"I suppose so. Call Ben and tell him he's giving me a ride. I'm low on gas," I shouted as I walked out of the room to grab my shoes. I didn't change from the leggings I wore, and threw a hoodie over the outfit.

Twenty minutes later, I sat in Bens pass ages seat, listening to some weird music on the local radio station. He hummed along and tapped his fingers on the wheel. I shook my head as he started dancing in his seat, and turned away.

"So who's the understudy?" I spoke up, reaching and turning down the volume.

"Adam Kaplan." Ben replied nonchalantly.

"Is he cute?" I teased, shaking my shoulders in a funny way.

"That's weird, don't ask me that again," Ben shivered.

"Freak."

———

Ben pulled open the door for me, following behind me as we walked into the theater. We parted ways at the top of the steps, him turning right to go into his dressing room and i continuing to the men's ensemble dressing room. I knocked three times and the door flew open. Andy grinned at me, gave me a hug, and pulled me into the room.

A few of the other boys gave embraced me, others waving or smiling through the mirrors. I tapped Andy on the shoulder before he got away and he spun to face me. "What's up?"

"Do you know where Adam Kaplan is?" I asked, glancing around the room.

"Right here!" A voice spoke up from the other side of the room. He weaved through the crowded room, and planted himself right in front of us. "Hello."

"Hi," I replied, shaking his outstretched hand. To say he was cute was an understatement. His whiskey toned hair was neatly combed over his forehead, face clean shaven and structured nicely, his eyes deeper than his hair color. He stood straight and tall, almost entirely towering over me.

"Jeremy's sister, right? Carrie?"

"That's me," I nodded along.

"Nice to meet you," he said.

"You, too."

"So, uh, what's up?"

"Oh, right," I snapped out of my admiration driven trance and sighed, "Jeremy's sick and he can't go on tonight. So you are filling in for the role of Jack Kelly."

"Really?" Adam pumped a fist into the air upon me nodding. "That's awesome- I mean, upsetting that Jeremy's sick, but I get to go on!"

"Congratulations," I laughed, patting his shoulder lightly.

"Thanks." Adam added, "Are you seeing the show tonight?"

"I am, actually. And I'm very excited to see you perform. I've heard you're quite the understudy." I fibbed slightly, trying to stretch out the conversation.

"You're brother is way better than me. I am nothing compared to him." Adam rose his hands humbly.

"He is pretty good, but I'm sure you're just as amazing."

"Let's hope," Adam winked.

———

I stood with the rest of the theater, clapping my hands till they were red and wiping at my fallen tears. We shouted our way through curtain call, my cheers louder for Adam and the entire cast altogether. He found my eyes in the crowd of people and smiled widely, winking once again.

I moved backstage, and waited in the men's ensemble room for all of the boys- Adam, mainly. They bustled in roughly, accepting my praise and hugs all around. Adam was the last to enter, his face messy with makeup and his hair slanted from the newsies cap. I threw my arms around him tightly, feeling his go around my waist.

We pulled away awkwardly, not too caught up in the moment anymore. I cleared my throat, he scratched the back of his neck. "Really good job," I finally said.

"Thanks," he inclined.

We stood there for a moment, until both of us attempted to speak at the same time.

"Can I ask-"

"What're you doing-"

"You go first," I laughed nervously, running my hands down my jeans.

"I was gonna ask if you were doing anything for dinner." Adam blushed on the apples of his cheeks and his ears, enhancing his features more.

"Nothing at all. Why, what're you doing?"

"I was hoping that you'd want to go to dinner with me." Adam replied.

It was my turn to flush completely, my face hot and the sweat covering my palms again. "I'd love to go to dinner with you."

"Let me change, and we'll go," he grinned and walked to his 'dressing room'.

I raced out of the room, and down the steps. I threw open Bens door, and saw his surprised expression in the mirror. "He is cute."