Groff-Miranda/Miranda-Groff

Twenty One

*Gabe's P.O.V*
{February 16th}

Waking up I smiled at the sight beside me. Ceci had curled herself into me, her hands clutching my shirt. I kissed her forehead as she stirred.
"Good morning." She grinned sleepily.
"Good morning." I responded.
She sat up, looking around. "I'm gonna take a shower then get into pajamas. I think my dad made some pancakes, and I don't think they're burned."
"No, I'll wait in here for you." I said, lying down again.
"Like hell you will. Just go. You know that Jon is the more relaxed one. Lin is the strict "I'll beat your ass" dad." Ceci said, collecting my towels
"Who's Vanessa then?" I asked.
"She can bend anyway, but we don't like it when she's scary. She will kill." Ceci laughed, getting into the bathroom. She popped out again. "Go."
I groaned and left the room, walking toward the kitchen.
"Good morning, Gabe!" Jon smiled brightly. "Pancake? I haven't poisoned it."
"Um, sure." I said, taking a plate. "Thanks."
"You sleep well?" Jon asked, sitting across from me. I nodded.
"I did, thank you, mister Groff." I said.
Jon laughed really loudly. "Oh no, please don't! Don't call me that, please. Maybe Lin wants Mister and Mrs. Miranda, but I cannot stand it. Jon is fine. Or just Groff."
I nodded and we sat in silence for a moment before Ceci came in. "You two are pathetic." She said, sighing. She grabbed a pancake.
"Aren't these ones good?" Jon asked, laughing. Ceci grinned, her mouth surrounded in chocolate. "Fan-freaking-tastic." She responded.
I grinned and wiped a napkin at her mouth, taking all the chocolate away. "I swear you're a five year old." I said, popping a chocolate chip.
"She is a five year old." Jon said.
We realized suddenly that it was Thursday, and Ceci ran to grab her laptop. "WERE HERE IM SO SORRY!" She screamed into the microphone, Mister Shannon smiling at us.
"You're late!" He said, writing something down. "Can we continue with verbals now?"
We groaned as class resumed, taking notes and asking questions. English was hardest for me, but it came so easily to Ceci, and I couldn't stand looking so stupid next to her.
"I'm really sorry, I don't understand."  I said to the teacher, silently cursing myself. 
"You're fine." Ceci whispered, squeezing my hand. I sighed, leaning over to rest my head on top of hers.
When our break came, Aaron started talking.
"Hey, superstars, have you seen this? They're looking for 'sixteen plus, Latino, actor/singer/dancers for a show of  In the Heights." Aaron said.
"Send me that. Right now." Ceci said, pulling out my phone. Aaron grinned.
The picture pulled up on her screen. Showing me, she grinned. "Let's audition. February 28th, we could do it. I hear Usnavi and Vanessa calling!"
I scoffed. "You, Vanessa? Of course, totally plausible. You'd rock. Me as Usnavi? No way in hell could I do that."
"Amor!" She cried. "Of course you could do it! We can prep together, and audition with Champaign."
"Fine." I said.
"Yay!"
"Don't tell anyone, okay, everybody? It's a surprise." I said, brushing my lips against Ceci's knuckle. "Complete secret."
Our next teacher came in.
"Hi, Mrs. Shannon!" We chorused. She was everyone's favorite, our literature teacher. Married to Mister Kinn, they were expecting their first baby soon.
"Hey, everyone! Ready to continue Moby Dick?" She asked.
We nodded.
At one we finished our classes, and I packed up to go home.
"Bye, baby." I said to Ceci, pulling out a thick Spanish accent. She giggled.
"Bye, Gabe the babe." She responded, wrapping her arms around my neck. I laughed at the nickname the girls from our school had given me in seventh grade.
Wrapping my arms around her waist, I hugged her, my lips against her neck.
"I love you."  She whispered, holding my face in her hands. I kissed her.
"I love you too."
The walk back home was a long one, but I was happy for the chance to be with my thoughts. In truth, I had never heard In the Heights, but I would do it for Ceci.
Putting in my earbuds, I played the entire soundtrack, playing the opening and Champagne over and over again.
I lived in Washington Heights, in a tiny apartment with my dad. She was rarely there anymore, though.
The musical touched me in a way most things didn't, and I was happy for it.
"En Washington Heights!"