Captivated

When All Is Said And Done

Hello all! This one's a bit of a filler chapter, if I'm being honest, but we are coming up on some big events here, as we near the end of this book. start getting excited! In the meantime, have fun with this one, and comment/vote if you'd fancy.
-ab

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September 5, 2025

Harper

With three shows left in Les Mis, another callback for Anastasia on Monday, and my parents coming into town to see the last show, I think that it is safe to say that my life is just a bit hectic right now.

Patrick has been great for the past few days. He has absolutely been my rock. In spite of the fact that he's starting his new job on Monday, he has unnecessarily kept all of his attention on me. Even though I don't need that, I secretly love it. It makes me feel special and wanted, which was a feeling that I didn't get a lot in school growing up.

My ten reserved tickets are waiting in the box office for Patrick, Taylor and Joe, my parents, Nessa and Katherine, Ava, and Patrick's parents. I'm going to spend my time in between shows tomorrow packing up my things from the dressing room. Brooke's 'Heart Full Of Love' has clicked for her and is sounding lovely, as well as all of her other parts in the show. Everything is all set for me to say, 'happy trails' tomorrow, whether I like it or not.

I'm dreading it a bit, in complete honesty. Not knowing what I'm going to do next terrifies me, but I suppose that all I can do is just hope that Monday's callback turns into something even better. Another role on the West End.

Before my Friday night show, I go out for an early dinner with Patrick. We don't know exactly what his schedule is going to be like once he starts his job, so we don't know how many meals we will be able to steal together. If I book another job, then that will add even another level of challenge. Who knows what time we will get together, short of the moments that we have, cuddled up in bed for the night, right before we go to sleep.

Our dinner is an emotional one, but it's nice for us to get to spend some time together. It calms me down before my show. I'd never tell Patrick this, but I've been crying before my shows for the last few days. I'm so scared about leaving. The future is wide open, and it is terrifying.

"You're going to kill it," Patrick tells me after dinner, as he drops me off at my show. "Seriously, break a leg, love. Make your last shows your best."

I give him a sad smile. "I'll try."

We share a quick kiss before I turn and walk in the stage door.

Once I make it to my dressing room, I take a deep breath and look around. I'm determined not to cry today.

Megan isn't here yet, so I just sit down at my dressing table, turn on some Taylor Swift on my phone, and start to prepare myself. After a few minutes, Megan walks in and throws her bag down on the ground.

"Hey."

"Hey."

"Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," I shrug. "I can't believe that I'm leaving, honestly. This all went by so quickly."

"I know, but you have amazing things ahead of you," she assures me. "I can feel it."

"Thank you," I smile at her before turning back to my makeup.

After my makeup is all done, I get my pincurls and wig cap on, then into my costume. Just before we are called to places, my dresser comes to help me with my wig.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please report to your places for the top of the show," a voice announces over the tannoy. "Once again, this is your beginners' places call."

I look at Megan. "Only three more."

"But they're going to be the best three."

"That's what Patrick told me," I giggle, standing up and walking out of the dressing room with my cast mate.

"Well, if both of us told you," she smiles cheekily, "then it can't be wrong."

The show seems to fly by. Before I know it, we have hit the interval.

"How's it going from Cosette's point of view?" Megan asks.

"I'm in love, it's all great," I giggle. "How about Eponine? Getting ready to die?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna die for your man, so you'd better watch out," she giggles. I burst into laughter too as we start to get changed for the second act.

Soon, our interval has concluded, and we are called to our places for the top of Act II.

The second act flies by even faster than the first one did, and before I know it, I'm bowing next to Megan as the audience cheers for us.

"Two more," I whisper to her as we walk offstage together.

"It's so weird to think about."

"It is," I agree, "but Cosette is going to be safe with Brooke, my replacement. I've been working with her, and she's doing amazingly well."

"That's great," Megan replies, "but it'll still be weird. Every actress is going to have a new way of interpreting the role, and I'll have to adapt to her interpretation."

"That's true," I acknowledge, "but you'll be fine. You'll do this thing once or twice with Brooke, and then you'll forget all about me."

I laugh, but Megan frowns. "I'm going to miss you. I won't forget you."

"Brooke's sweet. She's absolutely thrilled about this role, and meeting everybody. She can't wait to join this family officially, and I know that she'll fit right in."

Megan and I continue to chat as we clean up from the show, then I announce that I have to be going. "My parents came in this evening for tomorrow, and they wanted to see me, so they're hanging out with Patrick back at the flat until I get home. It's crazy, really, and poor Patrick is stuck entertaining them, but they are insisting on seeing me before going back to their hotel."

"That's sweet," Megan says.

"Yeah, they mean the best," I reply, "but it's a bit over the top."

"Well, it's giving Patrick time to bond with them at least," Megan chuckles.

"More like it's giving them time to interrogate Patrick to be sure that he isn't going to hurt me. He would never."

"Then you've got nothing to worry about," she smiles. "Now, go home to your family. I'll see you tomorrow."

"You too," I reply, sharing a quick hug with Megan before I head out of the dressing room, sign some quick autographs at the stage door, and then, take the tube back home.