Ashlyn's Pov:

The world around me was blurred and spinning as I realized where I woke up - in the back of an ambulance, on a stretcher with my feet proped up above my heart. Big Red was holding my right hand with both of his while tears shimmered in his eyes. I quickly became aware of the stabbing pains that were still coming from somewhere near my stomach, they weren't quite as excruciating as before they were still pretty up there

I groaned slightly creeping my free hand towards where the worst of the pain was while looking around me and noticing the blood pressure cuff around my arm, the pulse oximeter on my index finger and the few heartbeat electrodes placed on me

Big Red gently pushed a loose strand of hair out of my face as the paramedics started bombarding me with questions as soon as they noticed my awakened presence. In the background, the EKG gave me a headache as it beeped like crazy

"Relax, take a deep breath"

One of the paramedics urged while looking at the monitor, my heart rate was probably high from all the stress. This was certainly the most relaxing situation in the world

Then came in the making sure you're not confused questions

"What's your name?"

"Ashlyn Caswell"

"What city are we in currently?"

"Salt Lake City, Utah"

"What time is it?"

"Sometime around five?"

I guessed bassed on the fact that we started the run-through at 4:30 after school and the First Time in Forever was about a twenty minutes into the show, though I was unsure why it mattered in the midst of everything else that was going on

"Close, 5:23. Sorry we have to ask everyone this stuff. It seems a little silly when you're fully oriented"

"Mhm"

I nodded, still feeling dazed

"Can you briefly describe what happened?"

"I was perfectly fine and performing on stage and then all of a sudden this extreme pain came out of nowhere and I just remember being on the floor crying and vomiting and then everything went fuzzy and dark"

I explained groggily, wincing at the recollection

"How would you describe your pain right now?"

"I don't know, really bad?"

My voice shook, I really didn't want to break down crying again. I had done that enough today

"Aching, stabbing, shooting, pinching?"

"All of it"

Nodding and closing my eyes, I squeezed Big Red's hand tightly

"Any difficulty breathing?"

"A little, more so before I passed out"

"Any chest pains?"

"Yeah on the sides"

"Where abouts?"

"All in here"

I pointed to just about every area around and bellow my belly button, stomach and sides

"On a scale of one through ten how would you rate your pain now?"

"I don't know, 8?"

I croaked

"And before you passed out?"

"Solid 9 or 10"

Big Red looked so concerned as he rubbed my hand back and fourth

"Are you taking any medications now?"

"No, other than the three ibuprofen pills a friend gave me that aren't really helping"

"Ok we're going to give you something a little stronger through an IV, assuming you want this done on you left?"

One of the paramedics asked seeing that Big Red did not look like he'd loosen that tight grip on my right hand any time soon

"Go ahead"

I reluctantly dragged my left arm off of my stomach to let them work on it, feeling the small poke of the needle and watching them fasten a syringe in place and release all it's fluid into my arm

"You're good! You didn't even flinch"

The paramedic said trying to be encouraging. I just shrugged and covered my eyes with my hand until we arrived at the hospital. They wheeled me to a hallway outside the waiting room and told me they'd get me in as soon as possible, which could mean anywhere between 30 seconds or 6 hours when you're talking about emergency rooms

"So the difficulty breathing isn't enough to get her seen right away? Seriously?"

Big Red sounded like he was going to burst into tears at any moment

"She's medically stable and not in any immediate threat of fatality"

"Her blood pressure was low! I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure that's what the machine said and why it wouldn't stop beeping"

"Her systolic readings were a bit low but I would expect that after a recent fainting, It was a little better the second time I took it. The morphine should be kicking in soon so she'll be more comfortable while she waits. There's really not much else I can do for her right now, we're trying our best here to get everyone in as quickly as possible according to need"

"I know you are, you guys work hard. I'm just really worried"

"I'll be ok"

I whispered weakly which probably wasn't super convincing

"Good luck" 

The paramedic told me before heading off.

Big Red took a shaky breath and gripped my hand again

"Gina's on her way, only one person was allowed to accompany you on the ambulance and we all agreed it should be me. I told everyone else to go home. Didn't want to overwhelm you"

"Thank you"

Having nearly fourty people surrounding you and starring while you're having some major medical crisis and on the floor sobbing and vomiting from pain is just a tad bit overwhelming

"Do you want me to unbuckle the belts on this thing so you can roll over, maybe get more comfortable?"

He asked pointing to the stretcher that I was fastened into

"That would be good"

It felt freeing to not be tied up and able to move around, I thanked him profoundly when he finally got the sturdy black belts off of me

"Still nauseous?"

Big Red checked as I moaned and rolled over to my side

"lil' bit"

I nodded

"Oh hun I'm sorry"

He brushed his hands through my dry scalp

"It's ok"

"Is there anything I can do for you right now to help?"

"Not really, just don't leave. You being here helps more than anything"

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. Feel free to close your eyes and rest if you're tired"

"Mkay"

I tried to force myself to doze off a bit but it wasn't easy, the pain and nausea kept my attempt from being successful. Moments later I heard the familiar voice of my roommate sounding equally as concerned as Big Red

"Please don't tell me she's still unconscious"

"Nope, she's here. Just trying to get some rest"

"How long was she out?"

"Probably fifteen minutes"

Someone slid a pillow under my head, legs and free arm (which I immediately hugged) and I felt a familiar handsewen blanket that Gina made cover me. I opened an eye curiously to see someone by me that wasn't Big Red or Gina

"Is that EJ?"

"Shhh go back to sleep"

He spoke softly and shook my shoulder slightly

"EJ how are you? How's college? I haven't seen you in so long!"

I tried to sit up a bit but him and Big Red gently pushed me back down

"It's only been a couple weeks since I've seen you last Ash, and I'm fine but you're clearly not so go back to sleep"

"I really can't sleep anyways, did either of you bring my phone? A distraction might be nice"

Gina lifted my backpack that she must have grabbed on her way out of East High

"I've got your whole backpack, phone, water, some snacks though you should really wait until after you get checked out to eat anything"

"Honestly Gina, eating is the last thing I feel like doing right now"

"I figured, I also have a bucket in case you need it"

"Thanks, I might"

"Not feeling any better then I take it?"

"I'm feeling a little better pain wise, I don't think the strong meds they gave me are helping the nausea at all"

"Oh boy, well bucket's in front of you if needed, here's your phone and airpods. Try and take your mind off things"

I gratefully took my phone from her and started aimlessly scrolling through tik tok, ignoring the nearly 30 texts I received from either the theater groupchat or individual theater friends that I didn't feel up to answering

"Thank you so much, all of you. I love you all"

~

About an hour later I was pushed into a room where the doctor took my vitals that were now normal and looked at the four of us cautiously, probably wondering why I had no parent with me

"Since I know I legally have to give you consent, all three of them have my full permission to be in here with me and know everything that's going on"

I told him

"Do you have an adult with you?"

Yup there it was, I wasn't sure if they were ever going to let me leave without a legal guardian to sign me out

"Both my parents are out of state for work, we're keeping them updated. EJ, the tall one over there, is over eighteen and we're related so he can sign any paperwork that I can't"

I pointed to EJ who looked mega stressed

"Anyone else here related?"

"Not technically but we live together"

Gina piped up

"And I'm her significant other"

Big Red exclaimed

After a series of basic blood tests and a urine sample, the doctor ruled out his initial guess of appendicitis seeing that everything came back relatively normal and started rounding up discharge papers

"I will be ok to perform this weekend then, right?

I asked him anxiously, not that I was planning on sitting out anyways even if I didn't get cleared, it's not like Miss Jenn had to know. And once again, we had no understudies

"I don't see why not, I can write a note of medical clearance if needed"

"Yes please do"

~

It was four hours after we'd arrived that I was finally deemed all set to leave, Gina let me know that she brought a change of sweats for me and urged me to finally get out of my Anna dress, which I totally agreed to

"Yes Kourtney will go bonkers If I snag this dress, you should probably change too"

I told her but she shook her head

"I was so worried about you that I didn't pack a change of clothes for myself"

"I guess that's sort of sweet, I appreciate your concern G"

I smiled as Big Red and EJ left the room to give us some privacy as she made sure I was ok while standing

"I just don't like that he blew this off as cramps and didn't even do imaging as soon as he realized you don't have appendicitis"

Gina sighed

I shrugged

"He probably didn't want to put me in a CT scan without a parent around and it's not like anything was super suspicious"

"I don't know, this just doesn't seem right. I don't want to see you in that much pain ever again"

"Hey, I'm ok. It's probably nothing to worry about"

I put my hand on her shoulder reassuringly but she didn't seem convinced

When I was finished getting changed, I folded my Anna ballroom scene dress in my hand and let the two boys know they could come in. EJ came in pushing a wheelchair as Big Red followed

"I don't need a wheelchair I can walk!"

I told them, which was true. I did feel way better

"Ash please, just sit"

Big Red scolded giving me the motherly eyes

"I'm fine, the nausea is pretty much gone, my pain's down to a 3, vitals were normal. I'm good"

"You sure?"

They questioned simultaneously

"Promise"

I nodded

~

We could hear a child who seemed no older than six cry from the waiting room as we walked out at 10 o'clock at night. The little boy stopped briefly when he saw Big Red, still in his cute white tuxedo with three oversized black buttons, matching white beanie hat with plastic "branches" on top and orange facepaint on his nose

"Look daddy a snowman!"

I watched my boyfriend walk over to the kid and kneel in front of him

"Yes I'm Olaf, and this is my Princess Anna even though she's not in costume anymore"

He gestured at me even though I probably looked like anything but a princess. I was still pale from the mess of everything that had happened today with ratty, tired hair

"And this here is Elsa"

He pointed to Gina who was soaking the attention up

"And who's that? Is he the man who betrays Anna?"

The boy looked at EJ a bit glaringly

"Yes he is"

I smirked as EJ kicked me in the shin

"Ashlyn you ass!"

He muttered in my ear

"Me don't like him"

The boy shook his head pouting and Gina and I bit our tounges trying not to snort of laughter

It wasn't long before the boy's tears restarted

"What happened?"

Big Red softly asked him

"I- I feel off of m-my t-trampoline and I hurt m-my leg and m-my arm"

"Oh no, well Olaf is here telling you that you'll be back on that trampoline in no time"

"Olaf can you sing that song about summer?"

He looked at me nervous and mouthed

"In the middle of a public waiting room?"

I put my hand on his shoulder

"Hey you've got this, pretend it's a rehearsal. Do it for the kiddo"

He looked back at the young boy telling him "of course" before starting the familiar taps on the waiting room tiles that projected the noise from his shoes quite nicely and completing the song completely acapella. Everyone in the room was watching him with a certain positive energy that isn't usually seen in Emergency rooms. When he finished he got a round of applause from worried parents, ill patients, the receptionist and nurse at the front desk. Big Red was beaming.

The boy's father shook his hand and thanked him as the boy giggled

"I'm so sorry if we held up your time, especially if one of you is ill. I'm sure you're not here for no reason"

He apologized as I butted in

"I had a bit of an incident at musical rehearsals today hense why these two are still in costume. I'm ok now. Good thing because our show's this weekend"

"Well this young man is incredibly talented, I'm sure you all are. Where do you kids go to school?"

"East High, except for EJ. He graduated last year"

I pointed at EJ who looked like he was enjoying the attention with Gina

"And you said the show is this weekend? Are tickets available at the door, we'd love to come watch"

"Yup! I actually have extra tickets in my backpack, or you can also get them online if you want them early just incase we sell out"

"I'll take two for Friday if that's ok"

"Of course! Thank you!"

We sold the tickets to the boy and his father as other people in the room came up and asked for tickets as well. By the time we left the ER we had no more tickets left between the three of us that still went to East High

"I hope you feel better"

Big Red told the boy, patting his shoulder on the way out

"You are so good with kids Biggie, that was adorable"

I wrapped my hand around his waist

"And apparently all kids think I'm evil"

EJ remarked

"Hmm I wonder why?"

I joked causing him to kick me in the shin again

"Rude! I'm kidding!"

~

"Biggie do you want kids someday?"

I whispered in his ear in the backseat of Gina's new car as she drove us all home (well technically not new, it was a hammy down from Jamie that Gina learned on and now owned, having passed her road test a month ago. I still have yet to pass mine)

"Eventually yes. For sure"

"Good because so do I"