"We don't need your lo~o~ove! Cause we're so much more than!"

Ashley's tech week had been fierce, and she had been pushed to brinks. But she finally fully performed on stage, and she had just finished her last Queen.

"Survived! We're -"

One last beat drop. "SiX!"

Ashley sighed as they walked off of the stage. Grace laughed.

"You were on fire, Queenie!"

Ashley laughed as well. "No, I wasn't."

Millie shook her head. "You were incredible! I hope Toby and Lucy were watching."

Ashley smiled. "Toby and Lucy saw all of my performances so far. They had to see Parr."

Vicki, the Cleves for her rehearsal, sighed.

"Well, I enjoyed that. And the high note you hit! What?"

"Which?"

"The last one," Vicki clarified, "The I Don't Need Your Love one. You were so great!"

Ashley sighed and walked with Millie and Vicki to their dressing rooms. She laughed as she removed her costume. She loved the designs on all of them, and somehow didn't mess up her hairstyle.

A few minutes later, she had her makeup removed and a hair specialist removed the Parr headpiece in her curled red hair.

"Thanks," Ashley said, and sighed.

"Hey there, Queenie!"

Ashley turned at the sound of Toby's voice. She smiled.

"Hello, Mister Marlow! Did you watch my rehearsal today?"

He nodded. "I loved it. I know you're ready for your first day."

"Yeah. Can't wait!"

Ashley and Toby smiled and Ashley went to Grace's dressing room.

"Don't do a Live, I'm not ready," Grace squealed, but Ashley laughed.

"Gracie! It's me."

"Oh, it is. Well, what's up?"

"I just wanted to thank you."

Grace blinked. "For what?"

Ashley bit her lip. "For teaching me. You made it simpler for me, made it more fun. I just really am glad to have a teacher like you."

Grace smiled and gave Ashley a hug. "What I really had was an amazing student. You are amazing."

"No, I'm not. But that's not the point."

"You are. But now, we should wait for later today."

It was a Matinee/Evening day, but the only main queen missing was Maiya. Ashley had texted her and asked if she was coming, but she had no response.

"All right, Queens," Ashley said in the rehearsal room, "Maiya isn't here and we have a show in fourty-five minutes. Where could she be?"

All the Queens checked their phones.

"Don't know, QueenBean. But I hope she's OK!"

"I'm more than OK!"

"Maiya!"

Ashley ran and gave Maiya a massive hug, and Maiya laughed.

"Hey, Pumpkin! It's so good to see you!"

Ashley noticed something wrong with Maiya's voice. It sounded scratchy, and she sounded tired.

"May, what's wrong with your voice?"

"I'm sorry, Queenie. I won't be able to perform tonight. Courtney will have to fill in tonight."

"Actually," Courtney said, "I was thinking - Well, we were all thinking - That maybe you should play Parr today!"

Ashley gulped. "Me? Why?"

"Well," Lexi drawled, "You did just finish all of your tech rehearsals, and you've been working hard, and besides, we can't keep you hidden forever. Come on!"

Ashley thought about it. She would love to go on stage, and because she had everything she needed, she smiled.

"I'll do it!"

The Queens cheered.

"On one condition!"

Ashley walked over and squeezed Grace into a hug. "Gracie will perform with me."

Everyone laughed, but Ashley brushed it off.

"Of course I'll perform with you, Partner," Grace said. She turned to Jaye'J.

"Do you mind?"

Jaye'J shook her head. "Go on ahead, kiddo. Break a leg!"

"Yay!"

Ashley set up a Live. "Yo, peoples! It's me with the Queens!"

"Today is Queenie's big day," Millie yelled, "She'll be playing Parr!"

"Mills is right! Today is my big debut! So if you're watching today, be sure to stick around!"

"Ashley had been practicing for months," Grace said, "And today she's going to knock everyone down!"

Ashley watched as the number of views increased, and more comments flowed in.

"Thank you guys for your undying support! I can't wait to get on stage for the first time in public, so thanks, guys!"

As the Livestream went on, Ashley went and showed off her outfits and the Queens to her stream, and ended it quicker than she expected.

"I never realized how much fun Instagram was!"

"Queenie! Your accent!"

Ashley froze. "What?"

Millie smiled. "You had an authentic British accent, not your New York accent."

Ashley blinked. Ever since she'd arrived in London, she was trying to mimic an authentic accent, but the results weren't exactly perfect.

"Wait, you're telling me that I had an actual accent without even knowing it?"

Everyone nodded. Lexi's phone went off, and she answered it.

"Hello?"

Lexi left and Ashley turned to Vicki.

"Wait, if Lex can't perform, will you?"

Vicki nodded. "I'll make sure you'll do well today!"

Ashley nodded. Grace entered the dressing room.

"Thirty minutes to curtain," she announced, "The staging crew's gonna kill us. Come on, in costume!"

Ashley and Vicki, along with Millie, scampered around the cramped dressing room to get ready Ashley found her two-piece Parr costume and quickly got her makeup ready.

"Queenie, Lexi's out. She has work to do. I'm filling in! Also, you're using my makeup brush."

Ashley laughed it off. "Can we just hurry up? It's my first show and I don't want to be late!"

A few hair specialists arrived to do Millie's buns, Vicki's ponytail, and Ashley's side-do. After they were ready, they ran and found all the other equipment, and Ashley slipped her mic into the belt.

"We're all good?"

Aimie nodded, and wiped her forehead. "You're making me nervous, SongBird!"

"Sorry! I'm just excited! I wish someone I knew was coming to watch!"

"Oh, I know someone who will," Vicki exclaimed, "Erin was discussing playing Joan tonight. She saw how tense you looked, and wanted to surprise you."

Ashley smiled. "Thanks Vick, but I think you just ruined the surprise."

Vicki hastily covered her mouth but Ashley laughed.

"Well, thanks for telling me, Vick."

Natalie arrived, and Ashley ran to give her a hug.

"Natalie! You look amazing!"

Natalie laughed. "So do you! I can't wait for the performance."

A tech swing passed the Queens. "Show's in ten minutes! Everyone ready?"

Everyone nodded, but Ashley felt sick. Her stomach ached and her head hurt. She clutched both of them and fell to her knees.

"Queenie?"

Ashley felt terrible. The pressure was clamping her. She couldn't breath, she couldn't think.

"Ashley! What's wrong? What's happening?"

She couldn't speak. She felt a hand on her back.

"Ashley. Breath. Listen." It was Natalie.

"Listen. What are three things you can see?"

Ashley opened her eyes.

"Your costume, my hands, the floor."

Ashley heard a chuckle. "OK. What are four things you can touch?"

Ashley stretched her arms. "People's costumes, my mic, my earrings, and your hand."

"Good. Now five things you can hear."

Ashley sat for a moment. "The opening music, my voice, the ringing in my ears, footsteps, and.."

She looked up. "Your breathing."

Natalie smiled. "Well done! Now, what happened? A panic attack?"

Ashley nodded. "I didn't know what was happening, but the world felt like it was closing around me. I probably shouldn't perform. Where's Court?"

"Queenie, you can't just quit! You've gotten all ready, and everyone's counting on you!"

Ashley felt her stomach twist at Millie's words.

"Queenie. You're suffering from a massive case of stage fright. What's wrong?"

"Six minutes to curtain!"

"I don't know! I just- I don't think I should go on tonight."

"Four minutes!"

Ashley stood up and Grace found her hand.

"Listen, Partner. You've been practicing for months. You deserve this. Jaye'J, Maiya, Courtney, and Lexi will be there to support you. Can you do this?"

Ashley tried pushing down the massive feeling in her stomach, and smiled.

"I'll do it!"

"Two minutes!"

Ashley held out a hand. "C'mon Queens!"

They all put their hands together, and walked out on stage.