Early 2012
Kristen's POV
I literally jumped out of my bed as my phone rang. Come on Andy! It was only seven in the morning, besides, SUNDAY! "What??" I yelled into the speaker. Sorry Andy, I didn't intend to be mean, you were still a good manager.
"Kristen! Just hold on a second, look what news I have." I could sense the ecstasy in his voice. "I just received a call from Disney executives. They are impressed by your performance in a previous audition and ask if you could go to a first-stage table read for their 2013 movie, Frozen."
"Hmm...hmm? So what did you say?" I yawned.
"I told them you would go. They also want you to go to Idina Menzel's house next Saturday and prepare a duet to sing at the reading."
"Wait what?" I screamed, now fully awake.
"Well, obviously the Disney people wanna hear you sing with your soon-to-be co-star."
"Wait, wait. Did you just say IDINA MENZEL?"
"Sure!"
"Alright. Next Saturday right? I will be there, bye!" I really needed a moment to digest this piece of information. It was no surprise I knew the Broadway queen-well, who didn't anyway? Idina Menzel was the name constantly slipped through the lips of boys and girls when I attended NYU. The anecdotes and legends about that moo girl never ceased roaming around, and consider she had probably walked through the same corridor as I did... It was all very fair to say that I should know her, and I got this call.
In the following days Andy called several times to inform me on recent work schedule, but all our conversations would come all the way through my meeting with Idina on Saturday. Andy reassured me on the phone for a thousand times with the "you will naturally get along cuz at least you both went to NYU" stuff, and I must say he did have a point. Reminiscing about old school days could be an extremely cliche way to start up a conversation, but admit it, it was the best way you could ever think of.
I couldn't know why I was so nervous pressing the elevator buttons to Idina's California apartment, but I wasn't given any second to think it over. The elevator straight away brought me into her home-WHY?! My heart whimpered "why do this to me" a thousand times before a tall brunette figure appeared before my eyes.
"Hello Kristen! Come on in!" Idina winked while gently helping to hang my heavy coat to the hall stand. She was wearing a fluffy white sweater and jeans, with her curly brown hair casually spreading around her shoulders.
"Hi, Idina. It's so nice to meet you! My name is Kristen Bell and I think...You play the Snow Queen right? Right! Of course! Oh my god I'm so sorry what am I talking about..." I stuttered out. Shame, Kristen, this was shame. How could you act so silly when you finally met Idina Menzel?
Idina giggled and then pulled me into a huge welcome hug, and all my worries were magically cleared away by the jasmine smell of the brunette locks. She patted on my shoulder and gently whispered as we parted, "want something to drink?"
"Ah, water is fine...Thanks!" I giggled as she poured me a cool glass of water. I had to bury my face and sip some mouthfuls before I was calm enough to look her straight in the eyes. She was surveying me with a kind and curious look.
"Well Idina...First, I'm such a big fan of yours," I laughed nervously. "And second...I thought you live in New York." I absolutely had no control over my tongue. I thought I could only let it go.
"Thanks... And I have a house in New York but sometimes I'm here for work."
"Oh yeah of course...And you know when I was at NYU many people had crushes on you?"
"Wow I don't...actually," Idina blushed. I felt like she was gonna say "did you have crush on me" but she didn't after all. I was quite glad she didn't ask.
"The Disney people told me they want us to sing a duet together, right? But they have no song written yet, so d-do you have any idea what we should do?" I asked.
"Actually not. Guess we need to think about it later. Now maybe...warm up first?"
"Oh yeah, sure!" I answered, following Idina's lead to an ivory-colored grand piano. Her piano in her house! My jaw must have dropped significantly.
Before I even realized, we started warming up with Idina playing the piano. Our voices blended perfectly even in the simplest tunes of warming up. I couldn't help but looking down on that face delicately decorated by the brown curls and the slender fingers on the keyboard. I loved Idina's earnest look when she sang. Warm-up tunes weren't even melodies, but I could feel her pouring emotions into it. I never got to tell her though.
A few minutes later, she looked up from the piano and looked straight into my eyes with a slightly pondering look. "Hmm...so what do you think we should sing?" She blinked.
"Well...I feel like Wind Beneath My Wings may be a good idea?"
"Yeah I know that song~" She instantly lighted up and high-fived me. "I used to sing it a lot at Bat Mitzvahs! Every boy would want it for his mom."
"I know right! I hear it a lot at graduations," I squealed with excitement. "Let's do it! Umm...do you think we should maybe write some harmonies?"
"We should probably do that. Remember they may want us to sing a duet in the movie? They would want to hear how our voices blend."
"Sure! But I bet they only need to hear us warming up before knowing we sound perfect together," I smirked as Idina grabbed pencils and papers for writing down harmonies.
"So...You go first Kristen?" smiled Idina encouragingly as she started the piano accompaniment.
"Ugh yeah I guess..." I started softly, "It must have been cold there in my shadow, to never have sunlight on your face..."
"I'm so nervous I'm about to throw up," I blurted out. I thought I was over the star struck but singing in front of the powerhouse Idina still intimidated me. Suddenly I felt the soft rubbing on my shoulder. "Don't worry. You're so great!" She whispered, her green eyes blinking as if saying "I'm here" and I knew right away I would be alright.
"Did you ever know that you're my hero, and everything I would like to be? I could fly higher than an eagle, cause you are the wind beneath my wings..." The rest of the afternoon went perfectly with the blessings of Bette Midler and harmony. Idina had such an amazing low voice that felt like a warm embrace, sinking and melting your heart in a dream-like fantasyland. But while she raised her voice higher as we arrived at the chorus with our harmonies, the power in her belting was really like the wind beneath my soprano voice.
I could never think of another word other than "perfect". I could never forget the sunlight traveling across the room and lighting the beautiful brown locks. I was still drifting in a dream when Idina pressed the "stop" button of the video recording and squeezed me tightly in her arms.
"You're so good!" She rested her head on my shoulder and breathed out happily. I couldn't help but smiling.
"Thank you sis!...Can I call you sis?" I gasped.
"Hmm...Just go for it sis!" She grinned.
__
A few days later, Idina and Kristen were called in for the table read with then director Chris Buck, producers John Lasseter and Peter Del Vecho, and songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. The adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson's Snow Queen had been discussed and revised for years, and actual progress with the production wasn't made until recently. Therefore, everyone in the creative team was eager to see how the chemistry between their soon-to-be leading ladies worked out.
Idina's POV
I arrived at the studio just in time. That was a massive achievement, because I still remembered the time when I used to run late for Wicked rehearsals and receive Joe Mantello's death stare for my always-failing punctuality.
I tried to turn the doorknob of our meeting room but it was locked. How could this be?? I looked around, feeling confused, and the sight of a familiar blonde bumped into my eyes. Kristen appeared behind me with a similar confused look on her face.
"It's still locked?" She asked. "I came here ten minutes ago and couldn't get in...I tried to find people but seems like no one else is here."
"Really?"We could only sit on the sofa outside the meeting room. "In theater rehearsals we sometimes lock the door as a punishment for people being late. Been locked multiple times, haha. But no way! We're not late!!"
"I know! I used to be the one locking the door and that's why I always arrive early," Kristen grinned.
Since no one came in the next ten minutes, we just talked more random talks. Kristen was still a little shy with me but was starting to let out her sweet, bubbly self. I'd always be a little nervous when meeting new people too. I didn't tend to talk much under such circumstances, although last time I had to be in leadership since I was the host and Kristen was nervous herself. But now I found myself telling old schooldays jokes with her. I might sound annoying because the early 90s jokes were very different from those of the millennium.
Suddenly I heard people calling, "Idina, Kristen! So nice to meet you!"
The whole creative team we were meeting today was walking down the corridor. We shook hands as everyone introduced themselves, while Lasseter opened the door with his ID card.
"It's all Bobby's idea," he raised an eyebrow toward Kristen and me. "And I must say it's perfect, to get you know each other first."
"But we already know each other when you asked us to prepare a duet, right Idina?" Kristen retorted.
"Of course! And it's such an honor to work with you, Bobby and Kristen!" I grinned as I greeted the Lopezes.
"It's our honor to work with you, Idina!" Laughed Bobby.
"I can't agree more," added Kristen Anderson-Lopez. "By the way, any plan to return to Broadway?" She winked.
"Well...I am involved in something so...probably. All I can say now is wait and see." I laughed.
Then everyone sat around the large table and started the reading. Chris Buck explained to us the current stage of their creative process and showed us some storyboards.
The protagonist was called Anna, which would be Kristen's character. The Snow Queen hadn't have a specific name yet, but would probably be called Elsa. They told us they were considering Anna and Elsa to be sisters, sisters that had a major fall-out but would save one another in the end, although they didn't know how. Through the storyboard drawings, I knew my character Elsa as kind of a villain with blue face and spiky dark blue gown, and an army of snowmen. She was also the one who froze Anna's heart. I wondered how the writers could make such impossible siblings "save one another".
After reading a few scenes from the script, Kristen and I were asked to sing our duet. The Lopezes were especially eager to hear us sing - the songs and songwriters were always essential to Disney movies.
Kristen and I looked at each other in the eyes and took a deep breath simultaneously, which made us both laugh, while Bobby started accompanying us.
"...Thank you, thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings." The ground at my feet seemed to disappear when we sang the harmony. I could only see Kristen and hear Kristen, and no one else could step between us.
The room fell extremely silent when we finished. Kristen stole a slightly panicked glance at me.
"Did I screw up?" She whispered under her breath. I shook my head. I had no idea what the situation was right now.
All of a sudden the room burst into applause. "Bravo! Bravo!!" Shouted Chris while wiping his eyes. The people looked mesmerized. Everyone was clapping, cheering and there wasn't a dry eye in the room.
"Guess we didn't screw up," I nudged Kristen playfully.
"No we didn't. We were good," she smiled back.
"Ladies you have to be together in the movie!" Exclaimed Lasseter. "It would be heaven to have you!" Peter added.
"I am 100% happy to be in. And you Kristen?"
"Of course! I can't wait to work with Idina... and all of you," Kristen blushed with excitement.
The sky was starting to darken when we left the studio. Kristen seriously hugged me and insisted we have a formal farewell, which was actually kind of funny. To me it looked like she was forever blushing, and I naturally blushed when someone blushed before my eyes.
First chapter published! I'm not a native speaker so please forgive some grammar or lexical mistakes (I'll try to avoid)