Shaken (An Adopted By Lin-Manuel Miranda Story)

f o u r

Ariana's Point of View

One look at this colourful diner, and I was basically pulled in. The old vibes of the outside, a pale blue covering the exterior. You could see the yellow walls and the pink booths from the outside-in, the pretty signs on the wall displaying old stars' names and records, with one huge jukebox on the far right side. My eyes widened at the magnificent design, and the particularity empty seats. It seemed like the perfect place to go. I'd just stop for a peppermint tea, then be on my way again. It was a foolproof idea, and I'd still have the time to go to church on time.

I crossed the street twice to arrive at my destination, slightly smiling as I approached it. I nudged the door open with my elbow, taking in the sights around me as the bell above rang. I took some more steps in, when a tall, curly haired girl leaned forward on the counter. "What can I get you, honey?" I looked to her, smiling at her friendly attitude. "Do you guys sell tea?" I asked, leaning against a podium near the register. "Why, of course! You seem like a peppermint girl, am I right?" She asked as she started to boil water. "Yes ma'am, how did you know?" I asked, astonished. "Lucky guess," she shrugged, wiping off the counter. "I've been doing this for a long time, you know. Fourteen years. And not once have we had a full house," she chuckled and put her towel away. "As you can probably tell, because everything in here is still in mint condition. No crayon marks on the walls from kids, no scratches covering my records," she continued, pouring hot water into a paper cup, the paper from the teabag twirling around. "We're pretty good to eat at, though. Those fancy people don't know what they're missing," she smirked and handed me the warm glass. "I added in some extra cold water to cool it down for you," she winked and I grinned. "Thank you so much," I beamed as I reached into my pocket to find the ten dollar bill I found on the sidewalk outside the orphanage yesterday. "No way, this one is on the house," she winked and turned around, "I feel like you're about to be a regular." I giggled silently as I turned around to leave, smacking hard into something.

Or should I say, someone.

The tea flew into the air, spilling all over me, and all over the floor, too. Thank goodness that lady put cold water in, or else I would have been burnt. "Oh my gosh, are you ok?" A familiar voice asked as I turned around to grab some paper towels from the counter. "Yeah, I'm fine," I sighed, smiling slightly. "How about you, are you ok?" I asked, looking up as my eyes met with my idols, the person who had always seemed to make me smile even on the days where I couldn't stand to see myself as a human, on the days I beat myself up and felt worthless. Standing before me was none other than the dark haired, ponytailed, short bean of a man, Lin-Manuel Miranda.

I looked back down at the ground, starting to clean up the mess I had made on the floor, beginning to hyperventilate. This was my dream come true. But I didn't want to say anything to him about me being a fan.

I just wanted to have a normal conversation with him.

"Yeah, I'm totally fine, nothing hit me. Here, I feel like I should help," he said, rushing around me to grab some tissues. A million thoughts were running through my mind as I moved the wet herbs all over the ground, the towels having no absorbency. I sighed, standing up to put the towel in the recycling bin, when I accidentally smacked my head against his. I groaned in pain as he rubbed his head, looking back down to me in less than five seconds. "Oh my goodness, are you ok? Again?" He asked, with true concern sprawled across his face as he assisted in lifting me up. "Oh no, I'm completely fine! Are you? I feel so terrible, this is all my fault..." I trailed off, mumbling as I reached my hand into my wet jean pocket. "No, it's not at all your fault! Everyone has their share of bad days," he smiled and it made a small grin appear on my mouth as well. "Well, I know this isn't a lot, but..." I mumbled and took the ten dollar bill out of my pocket. "I'm sorry this all happened." He merely shook his head and chuckled, closing my fingers back around to my palm with his hands. "You seem like a good kid. Keep the money, buy yourself another tea with it," he suggested and I giggled. "Thank you so much, sir. Is there anything else I could do to help?" I asked and he shook his head no. "But thank you, anyway. I should be asking you if there's anything that I could do to help you... and I may have an idea," he smirked as he started out the door. "You stay here, I'll be back in a second."

I turned around to the waitress, who was now at the counter, and she shrugged. "I knew that fate was going to bring someone to you here today, but I definitely didn't think that it would be your idol. It's a crazy world, huh?" She asked and I looked at her, astonished on how she knew so much. "Don't worry, I'm not going to tell him," she waved me off, pointing to a booth. "Take a seat, in the meantime. I'm sure mister Miranda has something amazing planned," she smirked and headed off once again, leaving me alone in the booth for goodness knows how long.