It was a cold dark night on the streets of Manhattan. I had just left a late music theory class at Columbia University and I saw that the streets were a little more crowded than usual. As I started to head home, some guy bumped into me and made my drop all of my music and papers.
As the guy passed by he yelled "Watch where you're going!"
I bent down to pick up my work when I saw a tan hand reach down and hand me a piece of paper. I looked up and saw a man with short choppy hair and a gotee.
"Hi, are you ok" I slowly got up and brushed myself off.
"Yes I am, Thank you so much, I don't know what I would have done if I had lost one of my sheets." I replied relieved. He had a twinkle in his eye and a small smile on his face.
"Well I'm glad I could be of your assistance..."
"Adria Chase"
"Such a pretty name for a pretty face" He replied with a small blush on his face.
"Thank you..."
"Lin-Manuel Miranda" He replies and I shake his hand. I start to walk away when Lin calls my name
"Hey I know I just met you but I wanted to know if you wanted to come to this show that I'm in. It's like a freestyle show for my group, Freestyle Love Supreme" He said in one big breath. I let out a small laugh at his nervousness and agreed to go with him.
As we were walking we started talking about what we do. He told me that he studied Musical Theater in college and was working on a show called 'In The Heights'. It is about some of the things he experienced while growing up in Washington Heights. I told him about me double majoring in Music Performance and Astronomy.
"That's a weird combination but interesting" He looks over at me with a smile.
"Yeah, when I first went off to college, people kept telling me that I wasn't going to go anywhere with music so I decided to prove them wrong and also pursue something that I've always liked."
"That's amazing. I don't think I would ever have the courage to do that" He looked at me and smiled. I went to reply back to him but he told me that we were at the club. We went inside and I went to go and take a seat in the back but I was quickly deterred.
"Any guest of mine isn't gonna sit in the back now." He laughed and guided me up towards the front of the club and sat me down.
"I'll meet you after the show, so you can just stay here and I'll come out here. Okay?" I agreed and he went backstage to warmup. I sat there for about 5 minutes when a very pretty woman came and sat down at my table.
"Um hello, am I in your spot?"
"Nah you're fine. My name is Vanessa" She sticks her hand out to shake. I grab it and introduce myself.
"Adria Chase"
"That's such a nice name" She smiles back at me and starts explaining how excited she is for the show.
"Yeah one of my long time friends, Lin, invited me"
"Oh, Lin invited me as well but I just met him today. He helped me out after some rude guy bumped into me and made me drop all of my work on the ground" I explained the encounter and she ranted about how rude some New Yorkers were. As we got better acquainted, she explained to me that she had just graduated from MIT and was a scientist. I told her that I was at Columbia University for Music performance and Astronomy so we sorta bonded over the two sciences. As we were talking a guy got onstage and announced the performers coming to the stage. The small club got quiet and the lights dimmed and we saw this group of guys get on stage. They introduced themselves as Freestyle Love Supreme and explained how their show works. Basically someone says a word or phrase and they make something of a song out of it but everything is from the top of their heads.
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The show was nothing short of amazing. I don't think I have the guts to go up there in front of people and just say the things that come to my mind when I think of something much less try to make a story out of it and make it rhyme. I wait at the table with Vanessa and we continue to talk about how amazing the show was as Lin comes out and sits with us.
"So what did you guys think?" My eyes light up and I blurt out
"That was easily the best thing I have ever seen! How have I never heard of you guys?" Lin and Vanessa laugh and she agrees with me.
"She's right man. That was easily one of your best shows" Lin smiles and thanks us graciously. We all get up and head out of the club. I start to head back to my apartment when Lin grabs my shoulder.
"We were thinking about going to get something to eat, you can tag along if you want." He looks at me expectantly and I of course agree to get food cause who would deny an offer of food?
We make out way down the street and stop at this little taco truck and we all order. While we were waiting for our food two guys walk up to us and Lin greets them with a handshake and a hug. I recognize them from the show. They give Vanessa a hug and they look over at me and introduce themselves.
"Hello, I'm Chris Jackson"
"And I'm Utkarsh Ambudkar" They both stick their hands out and I introduce myself to them.
"Adria Chase" I shake their hands back and we all go and get our food and sit down at a table nearby. We start talking about the show and how amazing it was, well mostly Vanessa gushing about how amazing it was and me agreeing.
Chris looks at me and asks, "How do you know Lin? Because I've never seen you before"
Lin looks up from his food and explains how we met on the street earlier that night and how he invited me.
"I'm surprised he even held a conversation with you, he's usually awkward around new people" Chris laughs and Vanessa and Utkarsh giggle at Lin while he blushes madly.
"Well she didn't give off bad vibes so I guess it was just easy to have a conversation with her" Lin replies while playing with his food
"So every other person besides her give off bad vibes?" Chris continues to tease him and soon moves on to have a conversation with us about the show and other random things.
"It's getting real late, I think I should head home."
"Yeah I have a meeting early in the morning" Vanessa agreed and we all got ups and threw our trash away and headed our separate ways. As I started walking, I felt Lin tap my shoulder and ask me to wait up for him.
"We're going the same way so we might as well walk together right?" He asked me nervously. I chuckled lightly and agreed with him and we soon started heading home. We walked for a couple of minutes in a comfortable silence.
"So where exactly do you stay?" He asks with a small laugh.
"Like four blocks from here but if you need to go, I can walk by myself"
"No! It's no problem, anyways I wouldn't feel right with you walking home alone on these New York streets" He looks over at me and I blush and look down at the sidewalk. We arrive at my apartment and go up the steps.
"Thanks for helping me out earlier on the street, and for inviting me to your show and to get food. Sorry for thanking you so much but this was really nice and you didn't have to do it" He looks at me and laughs.
"It was honestly no problem and I'm glad that we met on the street. Maybe we could get coffee tomorrow or something like if you're busy then we can just get lunch or someth-"
"Yes we can get coffee tomorrow, I don't have a class until 11:30"
"Oh ok, well how about we meet at the Starbucks by the Richard Rodgers Theater at 9?" He looked at me expectantly for my reply.
"Yeah sure, see you tomorrow?"
"See you tomorrow" Lin smiles at me as I walk into the lobby of my apartment building.
