Denise woke up by the sound of Lin and Sebastian in the living room. Before getting up, she checked her arm. Her "adventure" yesterday hadn't left on a mark. That's good, she thought, That way Lin and Vanessa won't find out. If they would find out... Denise shiveredat the thought of her therapy sessions. She had hated them, because then she was supposed to talk about her feelings.

'What is the point of talking? It's not like that will help me in any way!' she said out loud. She should just forget what happened, forget what life used to be, and focus on what life is now.

'Hey Denise,' Vanessa came in, 'Are you awake?'

'No,' Denise grumbled.

'Okay,' Vanessa said happily, 'Lin made breakfast, so do you come to the kitchen when you're awake?'

Denise sighed: 'Okay...'

A little while later, they were all sitting at breakfast. Lin was talking to Vanessa about some song he wanted to change: '-but damnit, the whiskey rebellion part is so funny!'

'Sweetheart,' Vanessa said, 'Kill your darlings.'

'I know, I know!' Lin said, 'But that doesn't make it easier!'

Vanessa said: 'Denise, what do you think?'

Denise looked up: 'What?'

'Should we keep One Last Ride the way it is or change it to be more about George Washington?'

Denise looked at Lin: 'You're really thinking about cutting out the line "Pay your fucking taxes!"?!'

'See!' Lin said to Vanessa, 'She agrees with me!'

Lin and Vanessa continued their conversation, until Denise interrupted them: 'I'd do it!'

Lin and Vanessa looked at her confused: 'Do what?'

'Changing One Last Ride,' Denise explained, 'Washington's farewell seems less important if it shares a song with the "unimportant" Whiskey Rebellion. You could give the Whiskey Rebellion its own song, right before the new One Last Ride. Like: Washington and Hamilton go out to stop the Whiskey Rebellion, and when they're back, Washington tells Hamilton that he isn't running for president. But personally, I wouldn't do it that way, because the Whiskey Rebellion isn't really important to the story. I would just cut it out. Also, if you cut it, the last thing you hear of Jefferson before he runs for president is Washington On Your Side, which gives him a good motive to resign.'

Lin and Vanessa stared at Denise.

'Wow,' Lin said, 'That were strong arguments. How did you learn all that?'

'Learn what?' Denise said, slowly backing away.

'Learn what is important in musical theatre. What you should or should not keep and why.'

Denise shrugged: 'I read a lot. Maybe that's why I know what's important to a plot.'

The awkward silence that followed, was interrupted by Sebastian banging with his spoon on his bowl: 'Done!'

Vanessa laughed: 'Well done Sebbie!' She gave him some raisins.

'He has probably spilled more than he has eaten,' Lin said.

Vanessa laughed, and picked Sebastian up from his chair: 'You are going in bad, little one.'

'Mamá?' Sebastian asked.

Vanessa answered: 'Yes?'

'Isa ouch,' Sebastian said.

Denise froze in her seat, as Lin and Vanessa looked to her.

'What do you mean, Seb?' Vanessa asked.

'Agua break,' Sebastian explained, 'Isa ouch.'

'Denise,' Lin said, 'What is this?'

Denise ran through her mind for an excuse: 'Uhm well, I stubbed my toe last night when I was in Sebastian's sleeping room. I guess that's what he was referring to.'

'Okay...' Vanessa said, but Denise saw in her eyes that she didn't truly believe it.

'Mamá, estoy sucio!' Sebastian screamed.

'Yeah, you're gonna go in bath,' Vanessa said.

Denise spent the rest of the day at the home of the Mirandas. She played with Sebastian, and talked a little with his parents. At the end of the day, they ate pasta and watched Chuggington together. In short, Denise had a fun time.

That night, Denise was lying in bed. She stared at the ceiling. She didn't want to admit it to herself, but she actually liked it here. Wasn't that against the Rules? Denise sat right up in bed. Yes it was. Indirectly, but it was. She thought: should I punish myself for this? She already stood up to do it, but sat down again. No. She couldn't. She took a deep breath, and whispered to herself: 'Only if I directly break the rules, I'll do it.' With that thought in her mind, she fell asleep.