Chapter Text
Life has dealt Evangeline a tough hand. It was almost comical, if it wasn't so devastating.
Her wired earbuds were blasting Sour by Olivia Rodrigo- an album that she'd grown to believe was written about her breakup. It wasn't even supposed to be a breakup! She scoffs angrily at herself in the mirror as she brushes more bleach into her hair.
It started as a break the summer before senior year. Evangeline didn't feel like it was necessary, but Luc was going to visit his grandparents in France for the summer and didn't want the long distance.
“It’ll be just for the summer,” Luc said, planting a soft kiss on her forehead. “Then I'll come home, and everything will be back to normal.”
That should've been the first red flag. Angry tears welled in Evangeline’s eyes as she lingered on the memory. Nothing had been normal when he got home. He hadn't even texted when he boarded his plane, or when he landed. No matter how many times she texted… there was nothing.
And then a week into the start of the school year, Marisol sat Evangeline down for a talk. She and Luc had been talking, and wanted to start dating. Marisol wanted Evangeline's permission.
“I know you guys dated for a little bit before the summer, but I just feel like- he feels like the one. But if you say the word-”
“It's okay! We weren't that serious anyway. I want you to be happy.” Evangeline smiled, as if this wasn't tearing her up inside.
That performance should've won an Oscar.
And now, Luc and Marisol were holding hands, whispering sweet nothings to each other, and were suddenly a couple.
Evangeline’s heart was completely shattered.
Now here she was, at the angry stage, bleaching her hair at 1 am. She had always wanted pink hair, but now she had the motivation to finally commit to it. She desperately needed a change.
Her nerves had also been getting the better of her. The fall musical cast was about to be announced, and she felt like she actually had a shot at the lead. Her senior musical was Beauty and the Beast, and Belle has always been a dream role. Evangeline just felt like a ball of heartbreak and nerves. The theater had always been her safe space.
Before she died, Liana Fox was always singing showtunes to her daughter. “In My Own Little Corner” from Roger's + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, “Seasons of Love” from Rent, and “Almost Like Being In Love” from Brigadoon filled the halls of Evangeline's home, up until her mother died. Ever since then, Evangeline has always found comfort in a good musical.
It hurts to think that she had that, a beautiful musical worthy romance. And for it to have such a bleak ending.
Evangeline rinsed the bleach out of her hair, then blow dried it, ready for the light pink dye. She spent the first half of Red by Taylor Swift debating whether or not Agnes cared enough to lose her mind over the sudden change. Evangeline knew that Marisol wasn't allowed to dye her hair until she was 18. But the same rule had never been verbally extended to Evangeline.
It was close to 4 a.m. by the time Evangeline finished rinsing the pink out of her hair. She put her hair in two french braids, and slept for a shaky two hours. She hadn't been sleeping right since the breakup anyway.
The new hair was giving her the much needed confidence boost that she needed. She felt like finally, the heartbreak wouldn't be weighing her down. Her backpack was doing that enough.
And then she sees Luc. Holding hands with Marisol. She feels frozen. But then Luc’s eyes meet hers, and she decides she needs to move. She needs to do something before she breaks down crying in the hallway.
Evangeline reaches her locker, quickly busying her hands with shuffling things between her backpack and locker. All she had to get through was today. Then she would get her part in Beauty and the Beast, and then she could lose herself in a roll. Even if it's in the ensemble, she can make up her own story.
“Evangeline!”
Her hair stands up at the sound of the voice. She takes a deep breath, then turns and faces him.
“Hey what's up?”
“You look really… different.” Luc glanced at her hair, with a contemplative look in his eyes.
Evangeline shriveled into herself. “Yeah I uh, I dyed it last night.”
“I liked your hair better before.” Luc reaches out and grabs a strand of her hair, running it through his fingers, before it falls back into place.
“Where's my sister , shouldn't you be with her right now?”
“I walked her to class I just- I feel like there's so much left unsaid between us.”
And then she felt like she did, before summer. Looking into Luc’s eyes, she felt as if it was just the two of them in the whole world. She was falling into habit. Habit she needed to break. Fast.
“Luc-” The bell rang. Saved by the literal bell. Evangeline closed her locker and started walking to class.
“Eva! Wait!”
“Sorry Luc!”
~~~
By second period, Luc’s words mulled over in Evangeline's mind until she felt so insecure, she just wanted to disappear. She should have left her hair alone. Grieved the relationship in a different way.
She sat down in her seat, in the front row of course. Thankfully this was her favorite class, English. Theater and English go hand in hand, dissecting books was easy if she looked at it the same way she looked at taking on a new role. Reading the text, seeing what's hiding just underneath it. The characters' motives, the things they don't say.
The only problem with this class was Jacks Hollow.
She's not sure when the resentment toward Jacks first grew. Maybe it's the fact that guys have it so easy in theater. Jacks has had a leading role in every show since Freshman year. Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid, Percy Jackson in The Lightning Thief, Mortimer Brewster in Arsenic & Old Lace, and most recently Orpheus in Hadestown.
And maybe Evangeline has no room to talk, it's not like Jacks isn't talented, and doesn't work hard. And sure, maybe Evangeline is just a little jealous, since her biggest role was the seagull in Little Mermaid.
All that wouldn't matter, if Jacks wasn't an annoying human being.
“Fox.” A whisper came from behind her.
Evangeline opted to ignore it, and pull out the book from her backpack.
“Little fox.” He poked her with a pencil.
That nickname pissed her off ever since they were kids. She turned around to face Jacks, answering with a glare instead of words.
“Did you do the reading for today?”
“Did you?”
“What do you think? Can I read your notes before Mr. Nightlinger gets here?”
“Can't you use spark notes?”
Jacks shrugged, “Eh, you're more detailed.”
Evangeline rolled her eyes, but passed back her notebook to him. Something about theater camaraderie, or at least that's how she justified it.
As Mr. Nightlinger walked into class, Jacks stealthily passed the notebook back to her. As class went on, she flipped through the pages to find her grammar corrected in red pen.
~~~
This was it. The cast list was about to be posted. Evangeline waited outside the school theater, trying not to pace.
Some of her fellow theater kids were joining her, but none of them she felt like she was close enough with to call her friends.
Jack was standing with Castor Valor. Having lived in this town her whole life, Evangeline was familiar with almost everyone in this school. Jacks and Castor were practically brothers, best friends practically since the womb. Honora Valor was the drama teacher, but she wasn't the only person who cast the shows, to ensure there's no bias when it comes to casting.
And then, Mrs. Valor walks out from the theater. She places the cast list on the bulletin. Everyone scrambles to the bulletin as Mrs. Valor steps away. There's some excited celebration, and sounds of disappointment. Evangeline tries to get to the front, and see the list, but she struggles to get to the front.
When she finally gets to the board, she sees her name at the top. She almost can't believe it. Evangeline was cast as Belle. She was actually cast as Belle!
Her eyes drop to her counterpart- The Beast. And her stomach fills with dread. Of course, Jacks Hollow.
“Ms. Fox, I like what you've done with your hair.” Then Mrs. Valor winks and says, “We'll get you a wig.”