"Magdala? Magdala Forrister?"

Maggie snapped out of her daze, realising that was her being called out. She rarely heard her full name these days. "Present."

Ah, the final year of high school. The year where everyone stops focusing on the petty stuff because suddenly schoolwork is important. Not to say it still didn't happen, but very few people actually cared about it in the long run. The end of the school year was approaching faster than most could handle, and it was all Maggie could do to keep from failing.

The substitute teacher continued their rollcall as Maggie went back to her thoughts, content to just let the day slip by in a haze. Only when a work booklet was placed in front of her did reality harshly reassert itself. With a resigned sigh, she grabbed her pen, its black and purple visage worn with age and use, and began her tedious work.

She hated math.

The day slipped by quickly, a relief to Maggie. Despite that, she had plans, but at least these were voluntary so she could back out at any time she needed.

Royal Woods High School put on a fairly elaborate performance every year, usually a musical of some kind. Musicals weren't her thing. She personally found them inane and sometimes painful to watch. However, she was keen on the technical part of them, in lieu of being able to work on the script as it was based off a pre-existing work, and as such had volunteered to work on the lighting. Barring the occasional mistake and faulty wiring from the aged building, she was able to set the atmosphere to exactly what it needed to be, and she found she was good at it too.

It certainly didn't help that her friend, Becca, was performing and insisted she join up too. It took a lot of convincing to not be roped into the actual performance part.

The moment she entered the hall, she heard someone talking. All the crew and performers were crowding the centre of the room. The teacher in charge, Miss Williams, turned her head and, spotting her, approached Maggie.

"What's going on?"

Miss Williams beamed. "One of our old students has decided to help us with this year's production."

Maggie raised an eyebrow. "O… kay, I don't see how that's-"

Before she could finish she felt herself being pushed towards the crowd, into where Miss Williams was previously standing. Standing next to her once she joined the circle was a brunette woman in suit jacket, worn over a white button-up shirt and finished off with a yellow skirt and pink tie. She spoke with a pitch and tone that reeked of optimism, with a slight lisp thanks to her considerable buck teeth. However, what caught her eye the most was the large ponytail she had done up with a yellow scrunchie, a style she had seen countless times before on one particular girl.

She realised that she had missed whatever this woman was talking about, having zoned out. Not that she cared much - as she started listening in she caught on that she was talking to the performers at this point.

Finishing off with a joke, the woman wrapped up her speech and the performers moved off to start rehearsals. Maggie's relief of having some room to breathe was short-lived, as the woman addressed the technical crew now.

"I know I made a big deal of the actors, but I want you guys to know that you guys are just as important as they are. You might not be at the front of the stage, but without you guys everyone else would just be floundering in the dark in jeans and t-shirts." She giggled that distinctive giggle Maggie swore she had heard before. "Now, when we start the rehearsal, make sure to give it your best, and I'll be here to give you some sound advice." Another laugh, and some of the crew laughed with her. "Get it?"

Maggie didn't get it.

"Okay, let's get to it." Miss Williams stated, clapping her hands together. Maggie needed no other prompt. She climbed the stairs into the control room and slung her hefty bag into the corner, pulling the only chair up to the lighting console.

"So how do you work the sound system?"

Maggie yelped and nearly fell out of her chair in uncharacteristic surprise, the voice of the brunette sudden. "Jesus! When did you get here?!"

"Just now."

Maggie took a few breaths to calm herself. "Okay, so why are you up here?"

"I'm working sound." She replied matter-of-factly. "Miss Williams asked me to when I volunteered."

Maggie sighed. She knew she wouldn't be up here all alone the whole time, not unless she worked sound as well. And juggling both was impossible for someone unfamiliar with both systems, and an unnecessary challenge for those who did. But why this woman of all people? "Fine."

She felt something near her. Turning her head she saw Luan sticking her hand out for a handshake. "I'm Luan."

"Maggie." She replied, not bothering to return the shake.

Luan scoffed, pulling her hand back. "Well, I can tell you're going to be an absolute joy to work with."

"Look, I just prefer to be on my own. Working with someone is a bit sudden, especially with someone so…" Sickeningly cheerful, she wanted to say. "... enthusiastic."

A quick glance told Maggie that Luan knew what she was about to say, if the slight scowl on her face was anything. Luan let out a sigh. "Like it or not, Maggie, we're going to have to work together, and if we want to make this work we at least have to communicate."

"Do I have to like it?"

"It wouldn't hurt to try, but if you're gonna be this resistant I can't force you."

"Turn the computer on."

Luan tilted her head. "Sorry?"

"If you want sound, turn that computer on." She pointed to the computer to her side.

"That one-?"

Paff

Luan, the arm she was pointing with having just bumped into Maggie's… ample bosom, immediately withdrew it. "Dang it, sorry-!"

"Hey! Watch where you're swinging that thing!"

"Can you blame me, it's hard to miss a target that big!"

A veil of silence fell. Luan was the first to break it, stifling her laughter. It worked for exactly a second before she started giggling.

Maggie, despite herself, cracked a smile.