Julie was standing with Dhalia on her hip when Mark got home. He walked in and kissed them both. She looked at him concerned.
"What are you doing home? I wasn't expecting you for another 7 hours? Everything ok?"
He took Dhalia from her.
"Everything is absolutely fine. Lin said he would call me when he knows a finishing time and told me to come home and relax for a bit. I thought you might like a couple of hours sleep while I take over looking after 'Miss Party till dawn' here."
Julie smiled.
"Oh my God that sounds heaven. Thank you"
"Don't thank me, thank Lin. He's coming over tomorrow by the way. He wants to come to The Riot gig with us."
Julie looked horrified.
"You have got to be kidding! Lin-Manuel Miranda is coming here? For tea?!! Oh my God Mark! The house is a mess and you've invited Broadway royalty?!"
"Don't panic, he's really down to earth. He knows we've just had a baby. I don't think he will be expecting a show home. He's just looking forward to a home cooked meal and some normality I think. Get to bed. We will get some cleaning done now if it makes you feel better" he lifted Dhalia in the air "Won't we Miss D?"
Julie sighed. It was impossible to be mad at him.
"Ok. I'll leave you to it." She walked off muttering.
"Lin-Manuel Miranda coming to my house. Holy fuck."
Lin ran through some voice warm ups in his room on his own. He gratefully took a coffee from a runner, took a gulp and screwed his face up.
"Tea! Nope! No way I can drink that!"
He went in search of a coffee machine. Looking at the brown liquid in his cup he came to an abrupt stop when he came into contact with something. Or rather someone.
The tea spilled out of the cup and landed on their chest. "Oh shit I'm so sorry!"
He glanced up and realised it was Kelly, instinctively he went to wipe the tea from her top accidentally touching her breast.
Kelly looked at him in surprise. "You want to touch my tits why didn't you just ask."
Lin looked up at her.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to touch your ti... brea... top area! I was worried about getting you wet.... Your top I mean! I was worried about being too hot for you.... the tea!"
Kelly stared at him.
"Do I frighten you?"
Lin laughed a little too loudly.
"No! Not at all. It's just that you look like that..."
His voice petered out and he looked at the ground desperate to take back what had just escaped from his mouth. He cringed at his own lack of game.
Kelly stood. Her eyes fixed on him
"So you think I look scary?"
Lin eventually had to look at her. He laughed quickly.
"I'm sorry. No I don't think you look scary. I am notoriously bad with talking to attractive women. I promise you I'm not a pervert or a letch. I'm sorry."
He started to walk away.
"So you think I'm attractive?"
He turned back and looked at her. Her grey eyes frowning at him.
He smiled, he'd already made a total ass of himself. May as well finish the job off.
"Yes. You're a beautiful young woman."
He turned away from her, desperate to get back to the comfort of his own room.
She called after him.
"You're pretty cute too."
He glanced back, she winked at him and walked away.
He closed his room door quickly and leaned his back against it. "Fuck!"
He pressed his hands to his eyes.
"Why? Fucking idiot!"
She must be what. About 21. He had just told a 21 year old she was attractive and tried to wipe tea off her breasts. He groaned loudly and banged his head back against the door.
She was even mocking him by telling him she thought he was cute. "Nice one!"
He sat down and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He googled the band name and it brought up a few pages. He ran through each member and was just about to click on her information when he heard someone shouting outside his door.
"Beginners on stage please we're going to start the full run through.
All those not on stage are fine to sit in the stalls until your turn comes. Just please make sure you leave enough time to get on.
Make sure you all pick up a running order."
Lin put his phone down and made his way out.
Lac met him stage side ready to go to the pit. "Ready?"
Lin nodded. "Let's gooo!"
