It was opening night. The theatre was full. I was sitting in my usual spot, in the balcony above the stage. My friends were there, Roberto and Lucille, they were giggling and flirting as they usually did. My eyes, however, were not on Roberto's handsome face or Lucille's sparkling eyes, but on the actors and actresses on stage. All them with beautiful costumes and make up and hair, and acting out the most tragic love story I had ever heard in my life. I was whispering the lines along with the characters who spoke them. Come bello, Come tragico. It was the most beautiful performance ever, and my parents were in it. This was the best night of my life, but little did I know it would be the worst also...

~*~

"The Rose Theatre..." Rosalia Mancini breathed as she read the sigh above one of the finest buildings in Brooklyn. She closed her eyes and shook her head, "It's just a job, right?" She murmered aloud.

"Right." Someone agreed with her from behind.

"Oh!" She exclaimed,startled as she spun around to come face to face with a tall, blue-eyed, blonde-haired boy who looked a little older then Lia herself, "You scared me." She smiled at him. He wasn't neccassarily handsome, but he wasn't unnattractive.

"I'm sorry," He smiled, "Didn't mean ta. So what's ya name, kid?"

"Rosalia Mancini. And yours?"

"Lance Doctorow," He held his hand out, "Nice ta meetchya." He smiled.

She smiled in return and shook his hand, "Likewise. Do you by any chance know where I could apply for a job here?" She asked, biting her lip.

Lance smiled brightly as he held the door for her, "Sure, we're always looking for more actresses."

Rosa was in awe for a moment as she walked into the finest theatre she had ever been in in her entire life. She smiled at the lovely sight before turning back to Lance, "Huh? Oh, no....I-I don't-no, I'm interested in being a stagehand...if-if that's possible." She struggled, blushing slightly at the odd look he was giving her.

"A-alright..." He agreed as he shrugged, "We'll find Jakob or Ropes and you can apply."

"Wow, working in a theatre this grand...."

~*~

"Mama! Papa!" I screamed, It was all I could say-and it was all I did say. For hours that was all that came out of my mouth. I remember when the fire first began and I was ready to jump down on the stage and die with my parents, but Roberto wouldn't let me. Lucille had already jumped, her voice was lost in the flames, along with the other screams. "Ma-ma, pa-pa...

~*~

"Ya want ta be a stagehand ?" Jakob Joisten asked, glancing at Rosalia.

"Yes," She nodded, "I can do the work, trust me. I can do it just as good as anyone here." She stated.

He raised his eyebrows, "Ya sure ya don't wanna be an actress? We could shoah use ya..ya'se pretty an all..." He promted but she still shook her head.

"No, I don't act." Anymore.

Jakob shrugged, "Alright, I guess we can give ya a try..." He glanced at Lance, who shrugged, and he handed Rosalia an application.