Chapter Text
Nestled in the quiet heart of the town, The Oasis Pub was a small but vibrant venue. The pub’s quirky charm came not only from its mismatched furniture and warm, fairy-lit interior but also from its staff—a group of friends whose unique personalities brought the place to life.
Lizzie, the pub's effervescent manager, took pride in every detail. From the colorful flowers on each table to the posters advertising their weekly open mic auditions, she ran The Oasis like a well-loved ship. Joel, her husband, was the pub’s handyman and head chef, known for his booming laugh and his ability to whip up a pie in record time. Jimmy, the bartender, often found himself the butt of everyone’s jokes, but his earnest smile and knack for remembering drink orders kept the customers happy.
Then there was Grian. By day, he helped with odd jobs around the pub, but by night, he transformed into Ariana Griande, The Oasis’s star performer. Adorned in sparkling outfits and armed with a voice that could make the grumpiest patron smile, he brought the pub to life every weekend.
---
It was a particularly chilly Thursday when The Oasis prepared for its weekly audition night. The pub buzzed with activity as hopeful singers tuned their guitars, warmed their voices, and sipped on drinks to calm their nerves. Grian flitted around the stage, adjusting the lighting and offering encouragement.
“Remember, no one’s here to judge,” Grian assured a nervous-looking young woman clutching a ukulele. “Except maybe Joel, but only if you hit a sour note.”
Joel rolled his eyes from behind the bar. “You can’t blame me for having standards!”
Lizzie swatted him with a menu. “Be nice, Joel. We’re building dreams here, not breaking them.”
As the auditions began, the pub filled with melodies—some impressive, others amusingly off-key. The crowd clapped for every performance, embodying the warm, inclusive spirit that The Oasis was known for.
Meanwhile, outside the pub, a weary traveler stumbled down the cobbled street. Scar, visiting from America, had spent the day exploring the quaint town but had gotten hopelessly lost. His stomach growled, and his feet ached. Spotting the glowing sign for The Oasis Pub, he decided to step inside.
As Scar entered, he was greeted by the sound of applause and laughter. The cozy atmosphere was a stark contrast to the chilly night, and he couldn’t help but feel drawn in. He approached the bar, where Jimmy greeted him with a friendly smile.
“New in town?” Jimmy asked, sliding a menu across the counter.
“Just passing through,” Scar replied, scanning the room. His eyes landed on the stage, where Grian was introducing the next performer. There was something magnetic about him—his confidence, his humor.
“You know,” Jimmy said, leaning in conspiratorially, “if you’re looking to make a memory, why not audition? It’s open mic night.”
Scar chuckled, but a glint of mischief sparked in his eye. “You know what? Why not.”
---
Backstage, Ariana was fixing her hair in the mirror when she noticed a woman standing awkwardly nearby. “Oh, hello,” Grian said, turning to face her. “You’re new. First time performing?” She said in a sassy tone.
“Yeah,” Sabrina admitted, rubbing the back of her neck. “I’m Sabrina. I kind of wandered in by accident, but the bartender talked me into signing up.”
“Well, Sabrina,” Ariana said with a grin, “welcome to the chaos.”
Sabrina looked nervous. “Oh, I’m Ariana Griande, by the way. I think we’re going to get along just fine.” Ariana chuckled.
When it was Scar’s turn to perform, he stepped onto the stage, his nerves giving way to excitement. He launched into a surprisingly soulful rendition of a pop hit, earning cheers and applause from the crowd. Backstage, Grian watched with an impressed smile.
After the show, Sabrina found Ariana in the green room. “Hey,” she said, still riding the high of her performance. “Thanks for not letting me chicken out back there.”
“Are you kidding? You killed it!” Ariana replied. “We might have to make you a regular. Where are you from, anyway?”
“America. I’m just visiting, but this place… it’s special,” Sabrina said, looking around. "Im guessing not as special as your preformance will be.."
Ariana raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on her lips. “Careful, Sabrina. Flattery will get you everywhere.”
Sabrina laughed. "Go on, show me what the star of The Oasis is made of!"
Ariana laughed and went off to the stage.
The stage lights dimmed, and a hush fell over the pub as Grian—Ariana Griande—stepped into the spotlight. The transformation was immediate. Gone was the helpful, slightly cheeky stagehand from earlier; in his place stood a performer brimming with confidence, sequins glittering under the lights.
Lizzie clapped excitedly from behind the bar, nudging Joel. "This is going to be good," she whispered.
Jimmy leaned against the counter, already mouthing the words to the song. "Classic Ariana."
The music began—a jazzy instrumental with a pop twist. Grian raised the microphone to his lips and crooned the first note. His voice was smooth, warm, and captivating. He swayed to the rhythm, making eye contact with the audience like he was singing to each person individually. The crowd was mesmerized.
By the time he hit the chorus—a soulful, comedic parody of a hit pop anthem—Ariana Griande had the room roaring with laughter and applause. His energy was infectious, and soon the entire pub was clapping along.
Grian was known for his over-the-top flair, and tonight was no exception. As the bridge approached, he executed a dramatic hair flip, sending glitter flying into the air. The crowd erupted into cheers.
“He really went for it this time,” Joel muttered, shaking his head but unable to suppress a grin.
“That's our Ariana,” Lizzie replied proudly.
As the song reached its crescendo, Grian’s voice soared, hitting an impressive high note that lingered in the air. With a final flourish, he struck a dramatic pose, arms outstretched, as confetti (courtesy of a small stage cannon Joel rigged up earlier) rained down.
The audience leapt to their feet, cheering and clapping wildly. Grian bowed deeply, basking in the applause before stepping offstage with a triumphant grin.
Scar, who had been watching intently, still dressed as 'Sabrina' approached Ariana as she returned backstage. “That was… incredible,” Sabrina said, still clapping. “How do you even top that?”
Ariana chuckled, wiping some stray glitter off her cheek. “You don’t. You just make sure no one else gets the glitter cannon.”
“You’re a tough act to follow,” Sabrina admitted, still grinning. “But I think Sabrina Scarpenter’s ready for the challenge.”
And with that, the two shared a knowing smile, a spark of camaraderie and mutual respect lighting up the room.
The crisp night air nipped at Scar’s cheeks as he made his way back to his hotel, the quiet hum of the town a stark contrast to the roaring energy of The Oasis Pub. His mind buzzed with the thrill of the evening—he hadn’t planned to perform, let alone under the persona of Sabrina Scarpenter, one he hadnt used in a while, but something about the place had drawn him in.
Scar chuckled softly to himself, recalling the standing ovation. Who knew a spur-of-the-moment rendition of a pop ballad could feel so… right? As he passed a dimly lit shop window, his reflection caught his eye, and he noticed a hint of glitter still clinging to his collar. “Guess you can’t escape the Ariana Griande effect,” he murmured with a smile, adjusting his scarf and continuing down the cobblestone street.
---
The pub was quieter now, the crowd having thinned out after the last audition. Lizzie wiped down the counter while Joel stacked chairs in the corner. Jimmy leaned on the bar, spinning a coaster between his fingers.
“Okay,” Jimmy said, breaking the silence, “we’ve seen a lot of acts come through here, but Sabrina Scarpenter? That was something else.”
“Right?” Lizzie agreed, her eyes lighting up. “The voice, the charisma, the way she hit that high note—it was electric! The crowd loved it.”
Joel, ever the skeptic, raised an eyebrow. “I mean, yeah, it was good. But was it better than Ariana? That’s the real question.”
Lizzie rolled her eyes. “It’s not a competition, Joel. And besides, Sabrina was different. She brought this… raw energy. Like she didn’t care if she hit every note perfectly because she was just having fun.”
Jimmy nodded enthusiastically. “And did you see Grian’s face backstage? I swear he was beaming. I think he’s finally met his match.”
Lizzie leaned against the bar, a sly smile playing on her lips. “Do you think we’ll see Sabrina again?”
“Oh, we better,” Jimmy said. “Because if we don’t, I’ll be the first one to track her down.”
Joel chuckled. “Whoever the person behind 'Sabrina' is something we havent seen yet. Mark my words—They've got a future here.”
The trio fell silent for a moment, each of them replaying the evening in their minds. The pub felt a little brighter tonight, and it wasn’t just the lingering glitter on the stage. Something special had happened, and they all knew it.
Lizzie finally broke the silence. “Well, one thing’s for sure. Next week’s audition night just got a whole lot more interesting.”
Lizzie’s words had barely left her mouth when the door to the pub creaked open. Grian stepped inside, still wearing remnants of his stage outfit—a glittery scarf draped over his shoulder and his signature confident smirk in place.
“Did I miss something?” he asked, brushing the chill from his sleeves as he approached the bar.
The trio exchanged knowing glances. “Oh, not much,” Lizzie said, her voice dripping with mock nonchalance. “Just us talking about how Sabrina Scarpenter might’ve been the best thing to happen to this pub since the glitter cannon.”
Jimmy leaned forward, grinning. “Seriously, Grian, did we finally find your match? She was unreal.”
Grian smirked, hopping onto a stool and crossing his arms. “Would you believe me if I said she wandered in off the street?”
Joel snorted. “Sure didn’t look like it up there. She OWNED that stage.”
Lizzie leaned closer, her curiosity getting the better of her. “You spent some time with her backstage. What’s she like?”
Grian paused, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “She’s... different. Confident but not in an overbearing way. She’s got this natural charm, you know? Like she’s not trying to impress anyone, but somehow, she does it anyway. It’s... refreshing.”
Jimmy’s eyebrows shot up. “Refreshing, huh? Sounds like I was right and Ariana Griande might have some competition.”
Grian shot him a mock glare, though his smile betrayed him. “Careful, Jimmy. You’re on thin ice.”
Lizzie laughed, shaking her head. “Well, whether it’s competition or not, I think we can all agree—Sabrina Scarpenter better come back. The pub hasn’t had this much buzz in ages.”
Grian tilted his head, a glint of intrigue in his eyes. “Oh, she’ll be back,” he said confidently. “I have a feeling we’ve only just scratched the surface with Sabrina.”
And with that, Grian spun his stool back around, already planning his next performance. But in the back of his mind, he couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight had been the start of something bigger—for him, for The Oasis, and maybe, just maybe, for Sabrina Scarpenter.
The crisp night air filled the streets as the crew locked up The Oasis Pub and began their walk home. Grian, still carrying a faint buzz of excitement from the night’s performances, led the group down the cobbled path. Joel had his arm draped lazily around Lizzie’s shoulders, and Jimmy trailed behind, clutching the pub’s cash tin and humming to himself.
“So, Jimmy,” Grian said suddenly, turning to face him with a knowing grin, “you’re the one who convinced Sabrina Scarpenter to take the stage."
Jimmy nearly tripped over a loose cobblestone, his eyes widening. “Wait, wait, WHAT?!”
Lizzie gasped, turning to Jimmy. “Wait, it was you? You talked Sabrina into performing?”
“Well,” Jimmy said sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. “I convinced a few people to audition tonight. I didn’t know Sabrina was going to steal the show!”
“Wait, hold up,” Joel interjected, his brow furrowing. “Are you telling me you don’t even know who Sabrina is?”
Jimmy shrugged helplessly. “Nope. She—or, uh, he, I guess—just showed up,and I tought, ‘Why not suggest it?’ everyome who did seemed cool, so I figured, what’s the harm?”
“That’s classic Jimmy,” Grian said with a laugh. “Throw out a suggestion and accidentally rope in the next big thing.”
“But now we’re back at square one!” Lizzie groaned, throwing her hands in the air. “How are we supposed to find out who Sabrina really is? All we know is that he’s never preformed before, maybe even been at the pub, and he’s got a killer voice.”
“And glitter on his collar,” Joel added dryly. “Let’s not forget that.”
Jimmy looked thoughtful for a moment. “Sabrina was American from what i could tell, there was one American guy who i did convince.. I cant remember much about him tough.. I don't think id recognise him if I saw him if im honest.."
“Okay, so he’s mysterious,” Grian mused, rubbing his chin as if deep in thought. “That just makes it more fun. We’ve got clues, though. He’s American, clearly has some performing experience, and... he called himself Sabrina Scarpenter. There’s no way that’s his real name.”
“Obviously not,” Joel said, rolling his eyes. “But it’s not like we can go knocking on hotel doors asking for a Sabrina Scarpenter.”
“Wait!” Lizzie piped up, her face lighting up. “What if we start by asking around town? If he’s staying somewhere, someone must’ve seen him. How many Americans could possibly be wandering through this little place?”
“I don’t know…” Jimmy said hesitantly. “What if he doesn’t want to be found? Maybe he’s just here for a bit of fun, and we’re blowing this out of proportion.”
“Nonsense,” Grian said with a sly grin. “Sabrina’s too good to let slip away. Besides, The Oasis could use another showstopper like that. We’re not letting him disappear without a fight.”
Lizzie clapped her hands together. “Right! Tomorrow, we start asking questions. Someone in this town knows something about our glittery guest.”
“Until then,” Joel added, “maybe Jimmy can try to remember who else he convinced to audition tonight so we can narrow it down.”
Jimmy groaned. “Oh, come on! You know how many people I talk to in a night?”
“Better get thinking, Jimmy,” Grian said cheerfully, clapping him on the back. “The search for Sabrina Scarpenter begins now.”
As they continued down the dark street, their laughter echoed into the night. Somewhere out there, Sabrina Scarpenter was resting up after his dazzling debut—unaware that The Oasis Pub crew was already plotting ways to bring him back into the spotlight.