Young Writers Society

She was in the process of reaching for a clean glass when she heard a man’s voice say “excuse me”.

Hannah turned and saw who the voice had originated from. She recognized him right away. He was short, his reddish-brown hair in a mop top haircut. He was wearing a long sleeved Boston Red Sox shirt, dark sweatpants, and slip on shoes. He hadn’t changed a bit. From the way he stared, his clear blue eyes seeming to pierce right through her, she knew that he recognized her too.

Hannah laughed nervously, hoping he’d be the one to say something first. Finally, he did.

“Did you go to Crestwood High School, by chance? In Wisconsin.”

“I sure did,” Hannah said. “I remember you, Thomas.”

Thomas laughed. “I’m sorry, I don’t quite recall…”

“Hannah Connor, I was in drama too. Class of 2013.”

“Hannah, yes!” Thomas’s eyes lit up in recognition. “I only did the spring shows, because I always did cross country, but um, did you do Sound of Music?”

“Yes, I did,” Hannah said.

“So, are you at BU now?” Thomas asked her.

Hannah nodded.

Then, his lips curled into a nervous smile. “That was a dumb question, of course you’re here, otherwise you wouldn’t be in the dining hall.”

Hannah didn’t reply to this directly, but simply remarked that it was a small world. It was. The odds that two people from Crestwood High School would end up at the same school so far away was miniscule. The fact that it was not just anyone but Thomas Pike, the boy she’d admired from afar for three years, was even smaller.

The night after he’d first learned that Marin was dead, he’d had a vivid dream about her and Annie. It was tech week for The Sound of Music, and the two of them were rehearsing the Sixteen Going on Seventeen reprise while Thomas had the sole task of making sure that they were correctly lit. In real life, that had been one of the most difficult scenes in the play and that scene had almost always gotten them stuck. That shouldn't have been the case, it was two people, best friends in real life, sitting side by side and singing a simple song. The real reason it was challenging was obvious to Thomas, even if Annie never admitted it. They’d both known, however subconsciously, that their relationship was ending. Even though Maria was the one consoling Liesl in the scene, Annie was the one who needed the advice. Even though they’d both been fifteen when they’d gotten together, everything else resonated to an uncomfortable degree. Once, they’d had to stop rehearsing and take a break because Annie had broken into sobs at the Liesl’s line: When it happens, after it happens, nothing is quite the same. Somehow I know I’ll jump up and go if ever he calls my name.

In the dream there had been none of that. Everything was perfect. Everyone was smiling and happy.

Something else was happening in Annie’s life. Thomas Pike had always been a shy and nerdy kid, but something about him blossomed in the summer between eighth and night grade. Annie had evidently thought so. He’d grown out his hair to just above his eyebrows in a way that had really suited him. The braces he’d had all throughout middle school had come off, and he’d exchanged his wide rimmed, ovular glasses for contacts, which really had brought out his clear blue eyes.

Thomas and Annie sat next to each other in science class. Evie, also in the class, had noticed something appeared to have been going on between the two of them. He was still a science and math nerd without any friends of his own. He’d read all of the Lord of the Rings books in high school and knew Star Wars backwards and forwards.
Annie didn’t care. Early in the year they were assigned as partners on a project, and it didn’t take long for her to realize that she liked him.

Some merely looked at the list, nodded and walked away. Others were upset and walked away in a huff. A few regarded her as they walked by. Annie’s heart was pounding now.

“Where on earth are Marin and my sisters?”

“I’m sure they’re on their way,” Thomas reassured her.

“We said we’d meet here and walk home no matter what.”

The line was starting to thin out. She noticed Haley Porter turning on the phone to someone. “I’ll take it,” she distinctly said. She was smiling, but not beaming. “No, I’m really excited.” Then, she left, and there was a distinct opening to go and look.
Thomas turned to her. “You’re going to have to look sometime.” He squeezed her hand again, and finally found the strength to walk towards the cast list.
It only took her a millisecond to notice her name because it was at the top.

Maria… Annie Ryan

It took her a second longer to process what it meant. She scanned the cast list further. James Carpenter was Captain Von Trapp. That was always going to happen no matter what. Kyra was the Mother Abbess, and now it made sense why she was happy. It was a great role. Haley was Baroness Schrader, and her reaction also made sense now.

Then, she saw other names that made her very happy.

Liesl von Trapp… Marin Crosby
Louisa von Trapp... Elise Ryan
Brigitta von Trapp... Katie Ryan

Not only was she Maria, but she was going to be doing it with Marin and her sisters. Now, she couldn’t wait for them to find out too.