Just Breathe - Adopted by Mandy Gonzalez - COMPLETED

29 - Heights

February 26th 2018

"Becky. You need to get up?" I heard Mandy call through the door. I open my eyes and check my phone.

"Mom! It's only 7 we never get up this early." I moaned. She walked in and smiled at me. "Stop looking so perky. It's too early."

"Get dressed and meet me in 5 minutes in the living room." She shut the door and as much as I didn't want to, I got dressed. I wore leggings and a skater skirt with a denim jacket over my FearlessSquad top. I brushed my hair and walked out to the living room. I stood at the door frozen.

"Hey Becky. It's nice to meet you." Chris said.

"I'm sorry. What's going on? Why are all my idols in one room together?" I just stood there in shock. I felt hands on my shoulders. I looked up to see my mom. "What's happening here mama?"

"Awww you two have an adorable mother daughter relationship." I heard from Karen.

"Thanks K. It's the Heights ten year anniversary as you know. We are doing a concert on March 9th and are rehearsing today and want you to come."

"Wait, I have a date with Josh. I'll see the performance, you go without me." I turn around in her arms and gave her a hug, "I'm sorry mama."

"Becky, you get to rehearse with us." I turned around and glanced at Lin, confusion spread all over my face. "We want you to sing breathe and to join the ensemble for the concert."

"What?" My eyes widened as I looked between my idols, all of them nodding. "Is it socially acceptable to give my moms best friends, who also happen to be my idols, a hug?"

"Yes." Karen smiled at me. Lin came and hugged me, then Chris and Karen, all of whom I've met before. "I'm sure you know the others but Janet, Andréa, Seth, Robin, Olga and Elesio. The ensemble are waiting at the studio."

"Thank you so much all of you. Especially you mom. Thank you for everything." I gave her another hug. She kissed my hairline and held me closer.

"I love you baby girl, now are you ready to go?"

"Let me just go call Josh to cancel our date. I'm sure he'll understand. This is quite a big deal." I walk over to the kitchen and sit on one of the island stools and call my boyfriend.

"Morning babe you're up early."

"Yeah, Mom woke me. Look, I'm really sorry but I have to cancel our date. I was so excited but somethings come up and I can't miss it."

"What's so important that you have to miss our date. I spent all week planning."

"Let me check I can tell you." I put my phone down and run to the living room. "Mom can I tell him about the concert, he wants to know why I've cancelled."

"Of course you can tell him. No one else though." I nod and run back to my phone.

"Okay I can tell you. The in the Heights cast are doing a ten year reunion concert on March 9th and Lin has asked me to sing Breathe and to join the ensemble. We are rehearsing today. I literally just found out, I would have told you sooner otherwise."

"Wow, that's amazing Becky. I totally understand now. You have to take this opportunity my love. I'll see you tomorrow then and you can tell me all about it."

"Alright. I'm so sorry. I'll get you tickets to see the concert. I'll see you tomorrow babe."

"Okay, bye honey, have fun at the rehearsals."

"Will do. See you." I hung up and walked back to my mom. "Ready now." I smiled and grabbed my bag. I put in the Heights playbill Mandy had given me, my vocal with lots of the songs in and my phone. I head back into the living room give all the others hugs and hellos and we leave and get on the subway to the rehearsal studio. Once we arrive I go really shy. I leaned against my mom.

"Hey everyone. This is my daughter Becky. I'm sure you've all seen the pictures on Twitter and Instagram. We adopted her in October and is now 17. She's going to be performing Breathe in the concert and singing with the ensemble."

"Hi." I said and wrapped both arms around Mandy's waist, almost hiding myself from everyone. She wrapped her arm around my shoulder and looked down at me worried.

"Sweetie, are you okay?"

"Um. I don't know. It's so many new people. I'm not used to it. With Hamilton I got to know people bit by bit. I'd known a lot of you from social media. I met you and Lexi first at the Eliza Project. Then a few others onstage, then gradually met more of you. This is everyone at once. I'm afraid to sing in front of so many people."

"Sweetheart you don't have to sing if you don't want to."

"I want to sing, but can we sing it together."

"Of course. I don't want you to be upset."

"Thanks mom." I hug her tightly and then head into the group and introduce myself more with Karen's help. I mostly chat with the core4. "I know it was already the core4 plus one, with Elesio but how about core4 and a little one." The others giggled.

"That's a good one. We need to go on another girls trip. And Becky you're coming with us."

"Oh Okay. Thanks Janet."

"Okay everyone sit in you're places. We are going to go from the top and just run all the numbers and the additional songs we are adding in."

"What other songs are there?" I ask Mandy as I sit next to her.

"Hear me out, Fire escape and possibly para siempre."

"Oh Okay. I love fire escape."

"I love it too."

Alex started playing the piano and Lin began singing. "Lights up on Washington Heights, up at the break of day." I smiled in awe of seeing the company sing it live in front of me. Mandy and I sang breathe together and I got a massive cheer from everyone. I then joined in as an ensemble member from then.

"I'm home." We sang the final line of the show and everyone cheered. We all shared hugs and a few tears. We had put Hear me out in where it was cut from as well as para siempre. Mandy didn't get to sing fire escape though. I felt bad for her but from the plot change it didn't fit in as well because she had Breathe instead. Everyone packed up and we said goodbye.

"Becky. Can I borrow you for one moment? Mandy wait outside." I looked up at Mandy and she smiled. She kissed my forehead then ushered me off to the piano, where Lin and Alex were, while she left the room. "Can you learn this with Mandy's help by Friday for me. You have a rehearsal with Joanna and I to check your vocals for Peggy/Maria but I want you to sing this at the concert for me. We will do it after the finale."

I look at the music and realise it's for fire escape. "Oh Okay Wow. Thanks. What about mama? She loves this song and it's a shame she doesn't get to sing it. She's not even doing Breathe. I feel bad for taking her songs. This was her show, not mine."

"I'm going to keep you both in breathe, it sounded so good and I'm going to try and put a little harmony in there."

"Alright. Thanks Alex and Lin. Bye." I leave the room and go home with Mandy not telling her about singing fire escape and only about the rehearsal on Friday.