A/N  Please read the SparkNotes or something for Little Women if you don't know the story lol. The scene is from Chapter 41. I'm a bit lazy to do the whole cast but my imagination says Meg is Suzy, Beth is IU, John Brooke is Jinyoung (GOT7), Frederick Bhaer is Leo? Idk whatever we're going with that LOL the rest of the cast is not really important though.

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Saturday Evening, Week 14

Performing Arts Center

Backstage was a whirling flurry of people running around. Some in stage crew black, some in full costume, and others half dressed.

With only 15 minutes left, Chorong and Eunji were in the dressing room with the other girls checking their scripts for the last time.

Chorong's eyes scanned down the pages of the script. She knew everything. She knew it all. But why was she still nervous?

"Unnie you ready?" Eunji asked.

Chorong nodded.

At that moment the director appeared at the door of the dressing room.

"I need Jo, Amy, and Meg! Quickly!" The director yelled.

She motioned for Chorong, Eunji and the other girl named Suji to come over towards the door.

"Wonder what she wants?" Chorong asked as she, Eunji, and Suji hurried over.

Eunji shrugged.

They followed the director to a dark corner backstage where Sungjae, Jinyoung and Taekwoon were waiting.  She pulled them into a huddle.

"The recruiters have arrived and they’ll be seated near the front. I know it's a bit last minute but I was thinking that we should use real kisses instead of the stage kisses."

"What..?" Chorong suddenly felt extremely nervous.

"Only if you're comfortable of course." The director continued. "I think it'll help to impress the recruiters and show your commitment. What do you guys think?"

They looked at each other.

"Okay, we'll do it. It's not a big deal." Jinyoung said.

Suzy nodded. 

"I'm okay if you are oppa." Eunji said to Taekwoon who shrugged.

"Great! What about you two?" The director looked expectantly at Chorong and Sungjae.

Sungjae gave Chorong a nervous look.

"It's up to you noona." Sungjae said.

Chorong swallowed. They'd never done a real one in rehearsal and she didn't want to do it but she also didn't want to be the only one to say no with the recruiters being there.

The director seemed to read her expression.

"It's fine, you don't have to, it's just a suggestion." She said.

"No, I'll do it." Chorong said hesitantly

"Noona are you sure?" Sungjae asked.

Chorong gave a small nod.

"Perfect!" The director said smiling at all of them. "They're going to love it! I'm sure there will be at least a few offers after tonight."

She checked her watch.

"Oh goodness there isn't much time left. Good luck and break a leg! You guys are gonna be amazing!" She said patting them all on the shoulders.

She hurried off leaving them standing awkwardly as the other actors and stage crew moved around them making the last preparations for the start of the show.

"We'd better get to our places then." Suji said. The others nodded and began to leave.

"Good luck unnie!" Eunji whispered to Chorong.

"You too." Chorong replied, trying her best to sound confident.

Eunji gave her a quick hug then made her way to the wings.

Chorong waited until Eunji was gone then exhaled nervously.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and jumped slightly.

"Noona."

It was Sungjae.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"I…I think so." Chorong said.

Sungjae looked at her with concern.

"Noona you can still change your mind about the kiss."

Chorong gave him a weak smile.

"Thanks Sungjae-ya…I think I'll be okay."

The lights dimmed in the auditorium.

Chorong closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself.

"This is it."

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Outside, Changsub was running towards the auditorium. He'd managed complete and submit his project but only just in time. He ran up to the doors just as the last few people were going inside. He paused for a second to catch his breath then looked around the lobby.

He spotted Bomi waiting for him.

"Changsub oppa! Over here!" Said Bomi.

She waved him over and Changsub joined her.

"Where are the others?" Changsub asked.

"They're inside already saving us seats. Hurry let's go." Bomi pulled him through the door to the seating area.

The auditorium was on the smaller side but most of the seats were filled. As the MC began to make his opening remarks, Bomi and Changsub hurried down the aisle to where Eunkwang, Hyunsik, and the rest of the girls were sitting.

"Dude we were starting to think you weren't coming." Hyunsik whispered as Changsub sat down.

"Sorry." Changsub replied.

They sat back and listened as the MC finished up his remarks.

"…And now let me present to you Little Women performed by our own acting department!"

The audience clapped and finally the curtain rose to reveal the four March sisters in the sitting room at Christmas.

Changsub had not had time to read the SparkNotes for the story but he did his best to follow along in his sleep deprived state. Some of the lines he remembered from when Chorong had practiced them but the effect was much different when she was in character with Eunji and the other actors. It was clearly his Chorong and yet she was someone else completely.

Changsub felt like he was discovering a new part of her world that he'd never seen before.

He smiled as he watched her. She really was amazing.

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Several scenes later.

Everything was going smoothly but Chorong found herself fidgeting in the wings as she waited for her next entrance. She rubbed her cold hands nervously. The freezing air conditioning backstage wasn't helping.

Sungjae came up next to her.

"Noona you forgot your gloves." He whispered.

He held out a pair of black lace gloves.

"Oh thanks." Chorong said, taking them from him and slipping them on.

"What was I thinking…" She muttered to herself.

Sungjae leaned out a bit to take a peek at the stage from behind the wings.

"We'll be on soon." He whispered.

He turned back to Chorong.

"I saw that hyung out there…your boyfriend."

Chorong nodded. She'd spotted Changsub smiling at her from the audience earlier.

"Are you sure you can, you know…with him watching?" Sungjae asked.

"I…" Chorong began. She glanced at the stage. The scene was already finished.

"That's my cue I have to go."

"Noona wait." Sungjae whispered, but Chorong was already entering the stage.

As she walked out from the wings, Chorong allowed herself one quick glimpse of Changsub for courage. His smile warmed her and she felt her confidence lifting slightly.

Chorong let the music carry her emotions and slowly paced the stage in melancholy fashion. She wasn't Park Chorong anymore. She was Amy March, quietly perusing a garden in Switzerland while mourning the death of her sister Beth.

Sungjae watched anxiously from the wings. Chorong hadn't finished her sentence before she'd gone. What was he supposed to do? He fiddled with his thumb nervously then strode out into the light of the stage.

Chorong looked up as Sungjae appeared. Her face brightened.

"Oh Laurie I knew you'd come." She said.

Sungjae ran to Chorong and embraced her.

"I came the minute I heard." Sungjae said.

He pulled back a little bit and studied her face.

"I wish I could say something to comfort you for the loss of dear little Beth." He said mournfully.

"You needn't say anything, this comforts me." Chorong said, hugging Sungjae again.

She continued her lines.

"Beth is well and happy, and I mustn't wish her back, but I dread going home. We won't talk about it now, for it makes me cry and I want to enjoy you while you stay."

Chorong let go of Sungjae and he took her hands.

"You needn't go right back need you?" Chorong said looking up searchingly at Sungjae.

"Not if you want me, dear." Sungjae replied.

Sungjae started to lean in and Chorong suddenly felt anxious.

"It's fine…it's just once…everyone else is doing it for the recruiters…Changsub will understand…"

Her eyes flitted in the direction of the audience towards Changsub then she closed her eyes.

Sungjae caught the brief slip in Chorong's character and he paused.

She was clearly forcing herself.

He squeezed her hands reassuringly then let go and brought his hand up to her face.

Chorong waited for Sungjae's lips but instead she felt his thumb, just like in practice.

She opened her eyes as the audience clapped and the lights went dark.

Sungjae let go and quickly pulled Chorong off to the wings as the stage crew rushed in to change the set.

"Sungjae-ya…why didn't you…?" Chorong said once they were far enough backstage not to be heard.

Sungjae stopped walking.

"Sorry. I couldn't do it." He said.

Chorong sighed.

"It's okay…I didn’t want to do it either to be honest." She said.

Sungjae fiddled with his hands.

"I could tell, that's why I didn't."

Chorong considered him for a moment then smiled slightly.

"Thanks for that…I just hope the director doesn't mind." She said softly.

"Sorry." Sungjae repeated.

"There's nothing to be sorry for." Chorong replied

"But the recruiters..."

"Sungjae-ya…it's fine. It's done. It's not like we have no chance just because we didn't kiss. You're doing a good job already."

Sungjae suddenly hugged Chorong.

Chorong laughed.

"Oh you're so silly Sungjae-ya."

"You're the best noona…" Sungjae said.

Chorong patted his back.

"That's enough now, I've gotta go change my dress."

Sungjae let her go with a smile.

"See you in the next scene then noona."

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A/N lol my POV went alllllll over the place I'm sorry. I'm soft for Sungjae what a big baby. Lmao I ended up rewatching Little Women multiple times hahaha...the 1949, 1994, and 2019 versions hehe...research purposes. Also I haven't done theatre since 4th/5th grade I don't remember that much what it's like but I tried.