Shaken (An Adopted By Lin-Manuel Miranda Story)

e i g h t

Apparently I passed out again, which was fine, to be honest. Sure, I didn't want him seeing me the way he did, but it was too late, anyway. Getting the news you longed for for what seemed like and endless amount of time when your idol was giving it to you was pretty important. Lin was like a teacher to me already, so it wasn't like he was a weird creep that I'd never seen before.

Once I got up again thirty seconds later, though, and I realized what was happening, my eyes widened and immediately filled with tears. He came closer to me and I flung my arms around him, giving him the biggest hug I'd given anyone since Chris. I tried to control my sobs but alas it didn't work, all that happened was tears in a constant stream, rolling down my cheeks and falling to his shoulder. We gripped each other tighter as I thought about the future for a minute.

What the heck had just happened?

My idol had just agreed to foster me for goodness knows how long. My mind was in circles, racing as I thought about everything. What would happen to my room? Would it just be emptied and filled up again with someone else's things like I was never even there in the first place? Or would I leave a mark? Would this be happening right away, or in a few months, years, even? I didn't want to think of that, though. I wanted to focus on what would happen now.

I let go slowly, looking him in the eye. "Thank you, Lin." "Of course, mi tortilla." We gave each other one more long, tight hug before splitting apart, him having to leave for a show in what seemed like an instant. He was there, and then he was gone. I looked at the closed, wooden doors just after he had exited, my mind going through it's thoughts. Daisy held my hand while Adam hugged me from behind as I squinted my eyes at where my future guardian had just stood. "We'll see each other again tomorrow" was the last thing he said to me before nodding his head swiftly and marching out gracefully without another word. It left me confused. I was going out for lunch with him, sure, but I had no idea what was to come next. I wanted to move in right away, but then again, another side of me never wanted to leave Adam and Daisy's side. They had put all their faith in me ever since I'd arrived, and I never wanted to have any chance of being away.

Either way, there would be downfalls.

Adam and Daisy, being the understanding people they were, let go and walked away as I wearily took a seat on the hardwood floor. My eyes were still glued to the doorframe, wide and tall... a door that would lead me out of this place once and for all at some point in time. And so I sat, contemplating life before I smelt food being cooked in the kitchen.

I laid flat in bed, my eyes wandering across the room. Everything was packed itno little bags already, plastic bags covering the only thing's I'd owned since Chris, and a little before then, too. The room was so bare. My posters were gone, and all the photos were taken off the wall. Only chips of paint remained, haunting the walls forever. I chuckled at the fact, though, and wrote my name and different significant things all over the empty spots. Adam was going to yell at me for it, but Daisy quickly stopped him. It was my last week here, and I just wanted to get over with it. Every minute that went by my opinion changed. I either wanted to leave so badly and go to Lin, or I wanted to stay here forever with the kids I'd known all my life. It didn't matter what I thought of anyway, because it really didn't matter. I was going to stay with Lin until someone else came, or until he decided to adopt me if he truly wished. I tried not to think like that, though. I was being fostered, what I'd been waiting for since I came here. That would be enough.

As I tossed and turned in bed, I heard a little bang on the window. I rolled my eyes slightly as I looked through it, knowing exactly who I'd see. I pulled back my curtains to the sight of none other than the rudest bunch in school. I did an even more exaggerated eye roll just for them before shutting my curtains again, sighing as I closed my eyes. I relaxed for only a minute before another noise echoed through the room via my window, and I groaned agonizingly. I tried to ignore it once again, but whatever item it was-presumably stone-kept hitting the glass. I scrunched up my eyes and sighed once again, sitting up. I flung the curtains out of the way and shoved open my window, the cold breeze hitting my shoulders. "What the hell do you want, Chase," I seethed. "Calm it. We're just here to tell you that you suck and you'll never get adopted. Never. Just your daily reminder." Chase's group cackled as I smirked at the comment, laughing slightly. "People like you are the reason I'm on medication." Everyone stayed silent for a second as I started to shut the window. "People like your sister, you mean?" one of the boys asked and it was my turn to stay silent. My eyes turned dark and my expression changed to a serious look. "Listen to me, you group of idiots. I suggest that you never bring up my sister around me again, or else." I slammed the window shut and closed the curtains, hearing footsteps come close. I groaned, sure that I'd be getting yelled at. Instead, there was a light knock on the door.

The door slightly opened and I peered to the side, Daisy walking in. She climbed up the ladder to my bed, stopping at the very top. "Ariana, are you okay?" She asked softly and I shook my head no, slamming my head onto my pillow again. "Ari..." she started, taking a breath out before starting again. "Listen, I know that it's hard. I heard the conversation... and..." she paused, coming up to the top. I moved over and she laid beside me, sweeping my hair to the side. "I know how hard it is for you. You're different from the others. But that doesn't necessarily mean in a bad way." I looked up at her, confused. "Listen. We both know you're different, from the situation with Chris to the situation with your sister. But that doesn't mean anything. If someone didn't know you, if someone had never heard of you before, they wouldn't judge you on it. They wouldn't have anything that might be odd for them to put against you." She held the sides of my face and sighed. "Nothing that happened was your fault. Just know that, ok? And everything will all be better. You're getting a home now!" She squealed and I giggled. "Thank you, Daisy." "No problem, Ariana." She kissed the top of my head, sitting up. "Oh yeah," she started, looking behind her as she handed me yet another box, bigger this time. "This is for you, love."