Willemijn Verkaik sat in the Red Lion sipping her champagne. It was only two o clock, she'd arrived a ridiculous two hours early, but she'd rather take her chances on being extra early than late. This would only be her third West End Show. After leaving Women on the Verge of a nervous breakdown only a few months ago she'd gone back to the Netherlands to visit her 'hubby' Bart van Hoof and spend time catching up with the rest of her family. But now she was back soon to be appearing in the new musical, Poptastic. Her head snapped up as the bell hanging above the door began to ring, announcing that someone new had entered the pub. To her delight she found it was Savannah Stevenson, who had played Glinda opposite her at the Apollo Victoria in Wicked. She immediatley waved her over.
"Ah Willemijn it's so good to see you." Savannah rushed over enveloping the tall dutch woman in a hug before sliding in to the seat next to her at the oak countertop of the bar. "So what brings you here-are you taking part in Poptastic?"
Willemijn nodded, "I am. You?"
"Yes I am. I'm so excited." She smiled. "You're here a bit early aren't you?"
"Well you know me, I'm always early." Willemijn and Savannah laughed as they remembered the first time Savannah found Willemijn in the theatre over four hours early for the show. "That doesn't explain why you're here though."
"Maybe you've rubbed off on me." Savanah giggled and ordered herself a glass of wine. "I wonder who the rest of the cast will be..."
Two hours later just as the clock struck four Gina Beck walked in the door. She stood surveying the room trying to decide who was there for the cast meetup and which folk were there to get drunk on a Saturday night.
"Gina!" Savannah waved her friend over and there direction.
"Poptastic?" Gina asked as she approached the two girls.
They both nodded, "Yes."
"Oh Sav it's so good to see you!" Gina squealed a bit too loudly, attracting the attention of some bystanders.
"Aye! Keep it down over there." The bartender warned as he rolled his azure eyes. "Drunks arent supposed to start showing up till it gets dark..." He muttered under his breath.
"Sorry," She squeaked before continuing in a quieter voice. "I can't believe we'll be in a musical together." Gina excitedly bounched on her heels, "Hi. You must be Willemijn, Sav's told me so much about you." She grinned.
Willemijn chuckled, "All good things I hope."
"Oh definitely." The three laughed.
"So I guess it's just us-" Willemijn begun before Kerry, Mazz and Rachel Tucker waltzed in the door. "I stand corrected."
"Are you all here for..!?" Kerry rushed over to them.
"Yes!" They all answered.
"Oh my gooood! Mazza they're all here for the musical." Kerry smiled happily.
Mazz nodded, "Is that right? Great to see you all again."
"Gina Beck!? Is that you?"
"RACHEL!" Gina lept up and all but tackled her former costar to the ground. "It's been so long? How are you? Are you well? How was broadway? I was very sorry to hear about The Last Ship but it's so great to have you back here!" She finished by hugging her again.
Rachel chuckled, "I've missed you too Gina. But yeah, broadway was great, The Last Ship was a load of fun, but I'm happy to be back too."
Meanwhile Mazz sat down next to Willemijn, "You're Willemijn right?"
"Don't you remember her from the concert?" Kerry chimmed in.
"Right, you are Willemijn Verkaik. So what's that you're drinking Will?"
"Champagne." She nodded.
"Oh... Hey can I get a beer?" Mazz called to the bartender.
"I'll take one too!" Kerry added in.
"Oooh Me as well!"
Savannah gave Gina a weird look. "You drink beer?"
"Well no, but there's always a first time for everything." She chuckled as the bartender slid the beer towards her.
"Hi I'm not late am I?"
Rachel froze. She recognized that voice, it was a voice she knew very well, almost too well.
"Lou...? She slowly turned around and to her delight discovered she was right. "Oh Lou! It's been so long!" She cried in to her friends shoulder.
"She's only thirty minutes late..." Mazz muttered.
Kerry elbowed her arm. "Cut her some slack Mazz, she's very busy." Kerry said a bit too loudly. Rachel looked up and met eyes with Kerry, one glance at her now emptry mug of beer told her she was drunk. Kerry followed Rachel's gaze down to her mug, "Funny.. this was just full." Kerry shrugged and ordered herself another one.
"Hi Lou! It's great to see you again." Gina smiled, "Let me guess you're here for the..."
"Musical yes."
"Louise come over and have a drink! We can catch up!" Mazz called.
"Oh no I really shouldn't..."
"Oh go on. We should all have a day to let our hair down before the intense rehearsals begin." Gina added, backing Mazz up. Her words were slurring but Louise hadn't noticed it, luckily Rachel had.
Rachel laid a hand on her shoulder, "Um..Lou, that might not be a good idea."
"Nah I'll be fine. She's right, I never once went out to have a drink in my entire run of Wicked. I should have a day to just sit back and have a couple drinks." Rachel opened her mouth to protest but Louise stopped her by grabbing her shoulders, "I'll. Be. Okay."
