What If | Idina Menzel & Kristen Bell fanfic

Revisited

Kristen turns around and sees the brunette at the door of the rehearsal room – Andy didn't tell her who she is working with. She was talking bubbly with the Disney people just before Idina comes in and is choked in the middle of a sentence. Desperately to avoid the awkward silence, she flounders forward, "H-hi. I didn't expect... Well, nice to meet you, Idina."

"Nice to meet you too," says Idina quietly, realizing everyone's eyes on her, she adds quickly, "Errr... I'm not late, am I?"

"No, definitely not," says Jason, who is the director for the Holiday Special show. "Okay, ladies, let's get to the real business. Your performance will be the last and most important one in the whole show. No pressure, though, just enjoy yourself. Dave, you good to go? We'll leave you to it."

The pianist nods and starts to play some simple tunes for warming up. Idina's voice flows after the piano and after a little hesitation, Kristen also chimes in. She hasn't heard of the brunette's voice for so long, or rather, to be in the presence of her voice. Although Kristen is reluctant to admit it, she feels thrills sending down her spine.

"Great, now let's get to the song, okay?" Dave flips through his music sheet to get ready and the two women nod silently in unison. The familiar prelude starts as Kristen sneaks a look at Idina, whose gaze is fixed on the music sheet before her, not paying attention to her surroundings. Kristen sighs in her mind, feeling helpless for the impending fact that they are going to have to sing the duet in the presence of each other, regardless of the deliberate avoidance in the past. Her thoughts are drawn back to reality when Idina starts to sing, "Sure it's nice to open a gift that's tied up with a perfect bow."

She utters her line, voice shivering, "But the greatest present of all was given to me long ago." No, I can't do this, Kristen thinks, glancing at the nearby brunette for the second time. She keeps staring straight in the distance and singing her lines, but her whole body tenses up when she realizes Kristen is looking at her.

"Wonderful, ladies," Dave says when they finish the last note together, "You sound absolutely beautiful. I'm sure everyone will love your performance! The first take is good enough but would you do a second take? This time maybe have some eye contact with each other."

"Sure, we'll try," Kristen's heart sinks as she looks over Idina, who must be sharing the same thought as her that their first take was nowhere near "good".

"Yeah," the brunette whispers. Idina knows that even though Dave has been encouraging, she herself would grade her performance as shit. It's true that she was hitting every note but she wasn't feeling anything she sang. She didn't dare to feel it. Still immersed in her own troubling thoughts, she heard Dave asking, "Idina? Are you okay?" She squeezes out a smile and tries her best to focus again, "Yes, of course. I'm good to go."

Deep breath, Idina, and do not bother with things unspeakable. They have been too complicated lately and out of control. Now just focus on the song and be a good actress as you should. As if having made up her mind, she turns around to look at Kristen and sings on.

"And when we're together, then my favorite gift is..." The brunette suddenly stops in the middle of a line, as if startled, and quickly lowers her head again. She whispers "I'm sorry but it didn't feel right. I need a minute" before sprinting out of the rehearsal room, hand covering her mouth.

"I'll check on her," Kristen gives Dave and Jason an apologetic look before following Idina out of the room. Her heart is pounding exceedingly fast and everything kind of mixes up in her head, but she can't leave Idina out of her sight although it takes extra effort for her small frame to catch up with the brunette's step. The brunette soon disappears into the stairwell and closes the door behind her.