It's Quiet Uptown

Chapter Fourteen: Cast Reactions

A/N: I was shocked by the reception to the plot requests. I'm not just writing this fic for me anymore, but for you guys as well. I'll be taking the main chunks of every request and incorporating them into the plot. Don't think this was the only opportunity to request things: whenever you feel like this or that should happen, just comment it!

PS: Has anyone heard Cheering For Me Now? It's gooooood! Best Hamildrop yet.

Love, Sloan

    The news spread like wildfire. Lin, the lovably clueless man-child, had finally kissed Jonathan Groff.

    The details were sparse. Thirty minutes before the second show of Wednesday, after today's earlier scare with Groff's car accident, the Schuyler Sisters had rushed to the female ensemble dressing room to share the news. The fangirling could be heard throughout the theater.

    Curious, a few of the braver male members of the ensemble ventured towards their female counterparts' room to find out. They too soon fangirled.

    After the news spread to everyone else, the rather small corridors of the Richard Rodgers were filled with people rushing to and fro, screaming rather loudly. Daveed and Oak brought out their boombox & began blasting celebratory music.

    Alex Lacamoire just shook his head. "Did you guys really ship them this much?" he yelled over the din.

    "YES!" Pippa screamed. She looked so excited that she was in serious danger of passing out.

    Just then, the side door to the theater opened. Everyone in the corridor froze, and in unison, turned to see who had arrived.

    It was Lin. At first, he looked confused, but as he took in the fading screeches of the fangirls, it dawned on him. Blushing beet-red, he turned and tried to run, but Oak caught up to him. The poor man was carried through the halls on Oak's shoulders, half bent over so he wouldn't hit his head, while his fellow cast members cheered.

    Finally, Lin convinced Oak to stop, and shouted from his precarious position, cheeks burning.

    "Looks like my secret spread pretty quickly."

    Everyone just beamed at him and he rolled his eyes in mock-disgust. "You guys won't even let me be properly embarrassed!"

    There were quite a few wolf-whistles in response.

    "Did you guys really support the ship that much?" he exclaimed, throwing his arms up in exasperation.

    He was surprised by the vigorous nods from the cast.

    "We all did, Lin," Jasmine assured him. "Especially us. Honestly, I've never shipped anything as much in my life."

    Oak smirked up at Lin. "Yes! Everyone saw how you and Groff acted around each other. There was no denying the OTP."

    Lin's cute face blushed again before he realized something. "Wait, Groff likes me?"

    Groans filled the hall. "YES, LIN!" Lacamoire shouted, surprising everyone.

    "Yeah," Leslie added, grinning. "I mean, everyone but you saw it."

    Pippa doubled over with laughter. "I still can't believe you never noticed!"

    Daveed rolled his eyes. "What do you expect?" he teased. "Lin has the perception of a five-year-old when it comes to these things."

    "So are y'all dating?" asked one of the ensemble members.

    Lin looked at the ground, obviously feeling guilty. "Uh... no?"

    There was silence for a few seconds, then Renee shouted, "YOU MEAN YOU KISSED HIM AND JUST LEFT?!?"

    "Um... yes?"

    Oak actually dropped Lin in surprise. The whole cast was frozen in shock, unable to process just how stupid Lin's kiss and run had been. Lin sat on the floor where he had been dropped, pouting at them all before they voiced their disbelief.

    The girls looked torn in between amusement and yelling at Lin.

    The guys burst into laughter. 

    Needless to say, Lin was heckled by the cast for his stupidity for the rest of the night.

    In his moments offstage, the crew shook their heads at him. Whenever someone thought they could get away with it, they would laugh at him onstage. Daveed nearly missed his cue for the fast rap on Guns and Ships because he was shaking his head at Lin.

    Lin barricaded himself in his dressing room after the final bows, cheeks aflame.

    After the Schuyler Sisters discovered that Lin couldn't be bribed out of his cave with cake, they FaceTimed Groff to fill him in on what he missed.

    Jasmine told him about the reaction to Lin's confession of his kiss and run (with a lot of cackling, mind you.)

    "Really?" Groff asked incredulously. "I mean, were you even surprised? You know, it must have taken a lot of mental strength for him to do that. He's still not over Vanessa."

    The girls nodded somberly. "We know. But still, it was such a Lin thing to do," Pippa giggled.

    Groff smiled, albeit a little exasperatedly. "I know. And I love him for it."

    The girls shrieked. "That's so cute!" Renee gushed. Beside her, Jasmine was fanning her face, pretending to be overcome by fangirling.

    Pippa swatted Jasmine. "Girlfriend, you need to train Anthony better."

    Jazz groaned. "Tell me about it. You know, he hasn't even realized what happened. Anyway, Groff, a few words more like that, and you'll have your precious linnamonroll eating out of your hand."

    Groff beamed, his happiness obvious. His ice-blue eyes were practically glowing, and his grin seemed unable to leave his face.

    "Soooo," Renee said, steering the conversation out of the fangirl zone. "What are you going to do to him? You can't just have a crush on someone for seven years, finally get kissed by them, and be okay with them running out without letting you get a word in."

    Groff smirked at her. "Well, I've got a few ideas..."

    Jasmine snickered. "Tell us! We'll help you get your revenge!"

    Pippa rolled her eyes. "Jazz, this is about the reunion of an OTP, not 'you killed my father' revenge."

    Groff laughed at that. "Oh, Pippa, I love you, but you're just clueless..."

    Renee and Jazz laughed as Pippa pouted.

    "Well, it goes like this...."

*  *  *  *

Meanwhile, in Anthony's, Daveed's, & Oak's Dressing Room....

    Oak was excitedly talking Daveed's ear off about the ship while they changed into their street clothes. Daveed was obviously amused at the gentle giant's shipping frenzy.

    Anthony was off in the corner, dancing to music. Oblivious, as usual. He still hadn't figured out that Grofflin was a thing now, or he would have been fangirling just as hard as his girlfriend.

    Daveed and Oak rolled their eyes at each other fondly. Gotta love Anthony.

A/N: It's a bit of a short chapter, but I felt like I should get the cast reactions out of the way. Next up; Groff & Lin talk about having a relationship.

I also had an idea to have Lin and Groff direct the In the Heights movie (a little later in the plot). Does that sound good?