Falling // Ben Cook

Coffee

Millie POV:

"Look all I'm saying is the neighbors can't get upset with me for putting up Christmas decorations already." Cole said as he finished making his protein shake before work.

"It's the first day of October." I said.

"Yes, and your point is?" Cole asked.

"Dude at least wait until Halloween is over. I want to scare the hell out of the trick or treaters this year and that's gonna be a little hard with jolly old Saint Nick on our front door." Jackson added.

"We literally got zero trick or treaters last year." I reminded him.

"But see this year I have an idea! I'm going to create a haunted trail all the way to our apartment! Kids won't be able to resist coming to our apartment!" Cole smiled.

"Do you hear how you sound right now?" Jackson asked.

"So you are going to lure children to our apartment so you can give them candy?" I asked looking at him confused.

"Ok I get it, it sounds wrong!" Cole laughed.

"As much fun as this conversation has been, I gotta head out. I'm meeting a friend for coffee." I put my cereal bowl in the sink and turned around to see Jackson and Cole looking very confused.

"Since when do you have friends that aren't us?" Jackson asked.

"Ouch that hurt." I laughed. "It's with that guy I met last night."

"Well look at that, Millie's got a-" Jackson started.

"I'M LEAVING BEFORE YOU CAN FINISH THAT SENTENCE." I said walking to the door.

"OH COME ON!" Jackson laughed.

"BYEEEE!" I said and closed the door. I slipped my air pods into my ears and headed out. Ben had messaged me this morning the address of the coffee house where we were meeting and it was only three subway stops away from me. The train wasn't as busy at it usually was so I was able to find a seat with not many people around me. I closed my eyes and focused on my music for a second. When I arrived at the coffee shop, Ben was standing outside already waiting for me.

"Long time no see!" He smiled and grabbed me in a quick hug. We ordered our coffee and found a small little table in the corner of the cafe. "So beetlejuice is your broadway debut?"

"Yeah, I've done some off broadway shows but this is the big debut! And I'm so honored to be with such an amazing cast playing this wonderful character." I smiled.

"You're so tiny though! There's no way you are 21!" Ben laughed.

"Yeah I get that a lot. Between the baby face and being short, I'm doomed to look 15 forever." We talked about his life on tour, what it's been like filming the West Side Story movie, and how I've been adjusting to this new schedule being on broadway. "It's kind of been hard, I've pretty much just either been in rehearsals, doing the show, or in my apartment for the last month. I just feel like I don't have time for anything else."

"You had time for coffee this morning!" Ben said.

"Yeah but that's rare it feels!"

"It's all about balance. You don't want to just let being in a broadway show define you. You need to be yourself still and do things for yourself." He looked down at his watch and then back at me. "You don't have a show until 8 tonight, right?"

"Yeah...why?" I asked.

"Come with me." He said grabbing my hand and pulling me up from my seat.