A/N: I was hoping to post this last night, but FFnet was being a big fat jerkface! So you guys are getting it right now. In honor of the Tony awards last night, I wanted to do something theater based, and I came up with this. Also? In regards to the events of this past weekend: there are horrible people who do horrible things in this world, and it has to stop. Like Lin Miranda said in his acceptance speech: love is love is love is love and it cannot be killed or swept aside.

Enjoy!

"Hey, Mia: letters just got posted," Schulyer whispers to her, pausing by their group on her way to second period. When Miyana meets her look, she holds up the familiar white envelope.

"What did you get?" Mia asks her friend.

Sky sends her a crocodile grin and continues walking. "See you at lunch!" comes her fleeting response.

Miyana growls as her friend walks away. Irritated at Sky for knowing what part in their spring musical she got, and knowing Mia's letter is just sitting there with all the other un-claimed ones.

She jogs across the commons to where her cousin is standing with some of her friends, and, interrupting their conversation, takes Letty's hand and pulls her along behind her.

"Out of my way!" She shouts at a throng of sophomore boys who were standing in the middle of the hallway. The group parts when Mia continues walking, still holding Letty's hand. They watch both girls speed down Junior Hall before making a sharp left turn into the Performing Arts hallway.

"Stop!" Letty grunts, and Miyana finally lets her go.

"Sorry. I just want to get there. Sky already got her letter and wouldn't tell me what she got."

"And you thought kidnapping me from my friends was going to get us here any faster?"

"Kinda," Mia insists, panting, as they continue down the hallway.

They pass the band room with the white board hung on the wall next to the door outside announcing an upcoming Solo and Ensemble festival. And the mural Gregory had beautifully painted three years prior depicting scenes from various plays and musicals as well as their school's bands and choirs in performance; each scene near their respective classrooms, a tease as to what is behind closed doors.

At the very end of the hallway are two black doors that lead out to the front parking lot; an easy in and out for students in this hallway as they come and go from rehearsals. And perpendicular to it, tucked into a corner on the left, is the heavy wooden door leading to the theater classroom.

The two girls can hear the noise from outside, and it's even louder once the door is opened. As they step in the room, groups of kids are all over. Some sitting at the round tables, others tucked into corners, and a larger one is in front of a table placed under the Call board.

Over the table hangs the poster for the musical that was used when it was on Broadway. 'In The Heights' is written in large block letters. It is one of Miyana's favorites, so she was ecstatic when it was announced for their season line up.

In succession, the group finds their name in the black crate, grab their envelope and leave the room. Some stop halfway and open their letter, too anxious to find out the results of their audition, others wait until they were out in the hallway.

Letty hears cheers, knowing they were offered a part, and groans and paper crumpling, meaning they didn't get offered even a spot in the chorus. As it's her first year to audition for the musical, she is petrified to get her letter.

"Ready?" Miyana asks her cousin as their turn in line comes up.

"Uh-huh," Letty nods, her eyes wide.

"Hey, it's gonna be fine," Mia smiles, trying to reassure the freshman.

"I know," she nods again, stepping up to the crate. She finds both of their letters and hands Mia hers before turning tail and leaving the room. Miyana follows and the two make it back out to Junior Hall, where the same group of boys are still standing, before the anticipation grows too strong.

The elder of the two is the first to tear open the envelope. The white piece of printer paper inside is tri-folded and her heart begins to race as she unfolds it; always has, even after four years. Neatly typed on the paper is the generic message they use to announce parts.

Welcome to Terrence Paul Winter High School's theater department Spring 2035 musical! There we over a hundred and fifty students to audition this year, and though we would love to offer everyone a part, that is just not feasible. If you did not receive a part, don't be discouraged. Keep working and audition for the next production. . . . blah, blah, blah. Finally she gets to the bottom, where her name is written in the theater teacher's messy hand writing. And next to it reads: We are pleased to offer you the role of: Ensemble.

It stings a bit. Of course she would have loved a lead part. It's her senior year for crying out loud! But as she's had a lead role the previous two years, getting even an ensemble part is amazing. She knows the three teachers in charge of handing out parts could have just not given her anything; but they didn't. And for that she is happy.

Mia looks up at Letty and sees the envelope I her hands, still unopened.

"You haven't opened it yet?" Mia asks.

"I'm too scared," Letty chuckles nervously.

"Do it!" Miyana insists, nervous and excited for her cousin at the same time.

The two had practically grown up together; their three year age difference not mattering during years of dance, theater and singing lessons together. Most of those years spent at Miyana's grandmother's acting school's youth program where they two had participated in nearly every show, recital, and showcase that was offered and available to them.

"Come on! I can't handle the suspense!" Miyana encouraged.

"Okay," Letty breathes, tearing into the envelope and pulling out the paper inside. Miyana reads it over her shoulder and one second the two are calmly reading the message, and the next they are screaming and laughing and hugging each other. Not caring that they are in the middle of the hallway. Not caring who sees or hears.

[][]

The staff of the NYPD's 12th precinct's Homicide division makes no notice of the elevator doors opening on their floor. Or the two girls wearing oxford shirts and tan slacks that arrive on said elevator car.

That is until one of the two raises her voice.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!"

That gets everyone's attention. Detectives stand from desks. Uniformed officers stop in their tracks as they roam the hallways. And two parents make their way closer to the adolescent duo.

"I am pleased to present the first freshman ever to get a lead role in a Terrence Paul Winter High School theater production! Miss Leticia Marie Esposito!"

Cheers and applause erupt in the bull pen, and Letty stands next to her cousin bright red with embarrassment.

"Oh my god! Baby, that's amazing!" Javier marveled, stepping forward and enveloping his eldest daughter in a hug. They shared a murmured conversation with each other during the hug that no one but themselves could hear. And when they pulled back, Letty's eyes were sparkling and her cheeks were wet with tears and her normally stoic father's eyes were glassier than normal.

Their audience had dispersed once the conversation turned more personal, but still managed to send their love and congratulations to the two teens.

"I'm in the ensemble," Miyana tells her mother with a shrug.

"That's great, girl," Kate smiles, hugging her daughter. "So, who are you playing?" Kate asks her niece.

"Nina," Letty nods. "I was so shocked when I read my letter. I never imagined I'd get a big part. I kind of expected to be given a pretty small part. But then I read the letter and I had been given Nina and I just—" she trails off, chuckling. "It's crazy!"

"Yeah it is!" Kate smiles.

"Aren't you guys supposed to be at school still?" Ryan asks, after giving both girls quick hugs.

"We're at lunch, Nino," Letty explains. "Don't worry."

"Have you guys eaten yet?" Kate asks, checking the time.

"Yeah, we did," Miyana replies.

The girls spend the rest of their lunch hour with their parents and their work friends gushing over the cast announcement and showing off their letters of acceptance. When lunch arrives, Letty may or may not have stolen one of her father's friend, much to his dismay.

As they laugh over Javi's feigned shock and anger over the stolen potato, Kate checks the clock and makes the announcement. "Well alright. You two better get back."

And with another round of hugs, and reminders of their first rehearsal after school that day, Letty and Miyana leave the exact same way they came.

[][]

Three months of long afternoons and evenings spent at rehearsals, blistered feet, lost voices, sore muscles from dancing for hours on end, and even a few tears, had come down to this.

Opening night.

The first of eight performances spread out over two weeks. The first chance for people to see what their hard work had amounted too.

Sure some people (middle school and their high school students, as well has a handful of parents and residents of a local nursing home) had seen the teaser they had put together to be shown the day before opening night, but this was their first performance that really mattered.

And according to the stage managers and the team working 'Tickets and Publicity' crew: they were sold out. The house was completely full.

Call time was an hour and a half before the house was opened. Enough time for the actors to arrive, get themselves ready, do warm-ups (both physical and vocal), go through their precautionary 'Fight Call', and get rid of last minute jitters. And for the crew to get everything set and ready for the show; for the sound crew to make sure all the microphones worked; for the lighting crew to check all the lights were working and set for their cue.

Just before the house opened, the cast, the stage managers and the three directors circled up on and around the stage to do their group energy cheers and say a prayer to the theater gods to protect them during their show.

"Okay," Dr. Paradise, the theater teacher and director, started, speaking into a handheld microphone. "Mia is gonna do prayers tonight. So hold hands and bow your heads." He hands over the mic to the senior girl standing next to him and squeezes an arm around her shoulder in a half hug.

"Okay," Miyana chuckles, startled for a second at the sound of her voice coming from the speakers. "Dear God, Allah, Buddha, Muffasa, Phil, Yoda, and The Force: thank you for allowing us this opportunity to be here. Thank you for everyone on this cast and for the past four years of amazing experiences for the seniors that are graduating soon. Thank you for guiding us through this journey and allowing us to grow. Please look after us tonight. Help us to hit all our notes and steps and marks. Help us to enjoy every single second of this experience and to be able to burn it into our minds. Help us to work through any pain we may be suffering from: physical, mental, emotional. Help us to get past that pain and let it not affect us. In your name we pray, amen."

And when everyone chorused her ending, Mia handed the mic back and let out the breath she didn't realize she had been holding. She gets hugs from the kids around her and smiles and thumbs ups from her friends scattered around the circle.

"Alright," Dr. P. continued, "last minute announcements: band kids need to meet outside the band room right when we're done, make sure your paperwork for DVD's and photo albums is turned in to Stephanie by next Wednesday, and that's it. Have lots of fun, guys," he smiles. "The house is open."

"Thank you: House is open," The students reply as they break the circle and return to the dressing rooms to finish getting ready for places call.

As she heads down the hall to the girls' dressing room, Miyana can clearly hear the band kids doing that silly cheer they do before every performance. It makes her chuckle and she smiles and mumble the words along with them; after years of hearing it, she's learned the cheer almost as well as the band kids.

[] []

The show had started. Mia was standing in the dark wings, waiting for her cue to head on stage. For now she watches Nico get further and further into the opening number.

When her time comes, Mia takes a breath and dances onstage, singing the chorus on the song.

"In the heights! I flip the lights and start my day! There are fights, and endless debts, and bills to pay! In the heights, I can't survive without café. Cause tonight seems like a million years away! En Washington-"

Mia stays hidden in the wings to watch Letty sing her solo. Despite it being her first time performing the song outside of rehearsal, Letty is doing it like a pro. She packs it full of emotion and hits the bridge, where the music basically drops out, right at the peak of her energy; she makes the whole room go frozen, hanging on her every word. At the end, she gets a standing ovation, and Mia silently cheers along with them, not wanting to break her cover.

As the show continues, the butterflies she got right before the show started have dissipated into energy that floods through her, combining with everyone else's energy, filling the room to create this amazing aura.

By the 'Club' number, the big dance in the show, Mia has no time, or room, to be nervous; she's having way too much fun. She gets a moment to hug Letty close during the fight, and whispers how proud she is in the freshmen's ear right before the moment is lost and 'Blackout' happens.

[] []

Act Two goes almost the same as the first, but the realization that this journey is coming to an end, and sooner than later it will be over hits her. So Miyana savors every single second; doesn't take anything for granted. Grinds it all deep into her brain, hoping to keep it forever.

The first time Letty and Tahj come out for 'Sunrise' and the cheers and whistles and catcalls they get. When Schulyer, who is playing Vanessa, goes up on a line and covers it by grabbing Nico and kissing him. The teasing tone in her voice as the girls dance around Tahj during 'Carnival' and the next second going out into the audience, waving her flag and getting them all into the party they had created.

She tries to remember everything.

[] []

As the orchestra plays the curtain call on her last ever opening night in high school theater, Miyana breaks out into a giant smile; she can't help it, there is just too many emotions flowing through her. The ensemble gets very loud cheers as they take their bows, and Miyana can make out her parents silhouettes somewhere out there in the sea of black that is the audience. But they go absolutely nuts as the main actors take their bows; each has their own equally wide smiles covering their faces.

The curtains close, and the entire cast starts to cheer and whoop and holler and hug each other.

Miyana makes a beeline for her cousin and envelopes her in a proper hug.

"I am so proud of you, 'Cia!" she cheers. "You did amazing!"

"Really? I was nervous," Leticia answers.

"It didn't show," Mia reassures her. "You look fantastic up there!"

The two girls walk hand-in-hand out of the auditorium and into the lobby of their high school where a sea of parents and friends and actors mill about, filling the space with so much noise, it makes Mia's ears ring.

They find their families next to the stairs, their usual meeting place during school events, and both girls are swept up in hugs from their respective fathers. The embraces continue all around: mom's, siblings (some more willing than others), aunts, uncles, cousins; everyone gets their turn. There is only a moment for the two to smell the flowers they had received before having to go back into the dressing room to change and collect their stuff.

[] []

"-But did you see when Sky kissed Nico?! I mean what was that!?" it's the first thing Miyana and Letty hear as they enter the girls' dressing room. As usual: every corner is filled with someone or something, and everyone's energy is still high, which makes the room buzz.

"I forgot my line!" Schuyler confesses, her face turning red. "I couldn't believe it! I just blanked and then everything went silent and it felt like a million years, but it was probably only like three seconds. So I did the first thing I could think of!"

"Well it was great! A moment we will remember forever," Julia answers.

"Totally," Miyana agrees, folding her shirt and sticking it into her cubby.

"Hey, Letty," Julia, a fellow senior in Miyana class, calls to the freshman. "Do you want to come to V.I. with us?"

"Really?" Letty asks, suddenly surprised that the older kids would want her around.

"Yeah, sure! You're one of us now," Julia shrugs, gather her bag. "So, I'll meet you guys there in like twenty minutes?"

"Sound good to me!" Miyana agrees, and Sky and 'Cia nod as well.

"Great!"

And with that Julia walks out of the dressing room, the heels of her boots clicking on the linoleum floor.

"'Cia and I are going to V.I. with some of the cast, okay?" Miyana asks as the cousins return to their families.

"Um. . . sure. Don't stay out too late, okay?" Kate nods.

"Don't worry, we won't," Mia smiles.

"Do you need money?" The mom asks, reaching for her wallet.

"If you're offering, sure." Kate trades the money for Mia's backpack, and her family leaves with called good-byes.

Letty, on the other hand, had more of a challenge getting her parents to let her go. But after some negotiation from their niece, Miyana aunt and uncle let their eldest daughter out for celebrate her first opening night in high school and her first leading role.

The girls enjoy a fun night out, stuffing themselves with greasy food that tasted amazing after all the work they put out that night. They laughed with friends and took way to many pictures to count.

And even made it home at a reasonable hour.