The Theatre: Daveed Diggs

13: The Coffee Trip

     Annabella was exhausted. After spending hours on a podium, she really wanted to just go home and sleep away the tiredness, but Daveed was greeting fans at the stage door, and Anthony was nowhere to be found, so as soon as she changed back into the sweatpants and hoodie, she walked to the stage door. Daveed turned to see Annabella.

     "Here she is!"

     "Annabella, can I have your autograph?"

     "Of course." Annabella began signing things. She grinned at the girls.

     "Annabella, are you dating any of the guys from Hamilton?"

     "Actually, yeah, but we're keeping it on the down low." Daveed chuckled. His name was literally written on the back of her hoodie.

     "Its Daveed, isn't it?" A guy standing near the back asked.

     "Yeah, it actually is, why?"

      "Just the way he's looking at you. I can tell that he adores you."

     "Aww thank you."

     "Annabella, Daveed, it's almost time to head out. Are you going to change, Daveed?"

     "Yeah. Come on, Annabella." They waved goodbye and walked to Daveed's dressing room. He went behind a changing divider and changed into sweatpants and an Oakland tee shirt.

     "Ready to go to the after party?"

     "There's an after party?"

      "Of course there's an after party! It's at your house, for crying out loud. Anthony said he told you."

     "Of course he didn't. I just wanted to go to Starbucks and go home and relax."

     "I'll take you to Starbucks when we leave here, then we can go to the after party, which will just be all of the guys drinking and everyone watching the musical. They're planning on recording it every night."

     "Great. It's not going to be lights and loud music then?"

     "Nope. Come on, let's go to Starbucks." They walked out of the dressing room and Daveed pulled Annabella into his side.

     "Daveed and Annabella are leaving!"

     "Wait! Don't leave me!" Oak yelled from his dressing room. "I'm coming!" Daveed stopped, turning to see oak pulling his shirt on.

     "Annabella gets shotgun."

     "Expected."

     "Let's go." Daveed led Annabella out to the car. "Oh look, Oak, Lin waited for you!"

     "Okay. Well, I'll see you two at the Ramos house."

     "Bye Oak!"

     "Let's go to Starbucks." Daveed pulled Annabella to her side, opening her door for her. She climbed in, buckling the seatbelt. Daveed shut the door and walked around, climbing into the driver's seat. He pulled his seatbelt across his chest, quickly locking it. He drove to the nearest Starbucks, getting out and running around to open Annabella's door. Annabella climbed out. They walked in, hand in hand, and ordered their drinks, then, after receiving their drinks, they sat down at a bench table.

     "You look sleepy."

     "I am. That show was draining. Have you watched me?"

     "It's kinda hard to when you tell me not to." Annabella scowled. "Kidding, baby, I was kidding. Of course. You work really hard in pit." Daveed kissed Annabella's cheek. "Anthony is so proud of you. He wouldn't stop watching you from backstage, or even while he was onstage."

      "I would have watched you, but I had to watch my music. You did great." Annabella pulled her knees up, hooking her heels against the bench.

     "Thank you, Grace."

     "I like when you call me Grace."

     "I'll do it more often then." Daveed wrapped his arm around her. "Mon cher, it is almost your bedtime."

     "Well, we have to at least make an appearance at the after party, then I can crash." Annabella's cheeks brightened at the pet name.