Two weeks later, six people were standing in the Mirandas' living room.

"So, are you ready?" Lin asked Denise. She wanted to answer, but was interrupted by Meyrin singing: "I'm ready! Yes, I'm ready! Anata mo sou deshou?"

"What is that for a horrible song?" Denise asked, "My ears are bleeding!"

"It's from Death Note the musical," Odessa explained, "Misa sings it, so of course it's horrible."

"Death Note the Musical!?" Denise exclaimed, "That exists?!"

"Yes," Meyrin said, "and it's horrible."

'It's not!" Odessa exclaimed, clearly offended.

"There are so many plot holes that wouldn't have been there if they had just stuck to the original!" Meyrin said.

"It has Jeremy freaking Jordan!" Odessa answered, "Your argument is invalid!"

The two girls continued their discussion, and Denise turned to Lin and Vanessa: "I really don't need a birthday party."

Lin sighed: "Are we getting here again?"

"Listen, baby," Vanessa said, "It's your first birthday with us. Of course, we're going to celebrate it."

"We could have celebrated it tomorrow, together with the 4th of July! That's what I did when I still was with my parents!"

"We know," Lin said, "You've already told us over fifty times. But it's too late. Everything's ready. I didn't hire that theatre for nothing!"

"I know," Denise said, "but that doesn't mean I have to like it!"

"Yes it does!" Odessa yelled. She and Meyrin pulled Denise along, to the car. Vanessa laughed, and followed the three girls. Lin put Sebastian on his hip, and did the same.

Denise had just said hi to Chris and Leslie when the Schuyler Sisters came in. She walked over to them.

"How's our baby Denise?!" Renée yelled.

"Good, I suppose," Denise answered.

"Well, you'd better make that good a great!" Jasmine laughed, "It's your birthday!"

"And besides," Renée added, "Your favourite Schuyler Sisters are here now!"

Denise smiled: "You're the only Schuyler Sisters. How can you not be my favourite?"

"Denise?" Pippa asked, "What's really wrong?"

Denise sighed. "I can't find Odessa anywhere," she admitted, "She was here just half an hour ago, but she seems to have disappeared when I started greeting the guests."

"Look backstage," Pippa suggested, "Maybe she's hiding for all the crazy people in a dressing room or toilet."

Denise nodded and quickly ran off.

"There you are! I've been looking for you eve-" Denise cut herself off when she saw how pale Odessa was. "What's wrong?"

Odessa sighed: "I'm not prepared."

"For what?" Denise asked, not understanding what Odessa meant.

"Meeting the Hamilton cast."

"Oh is that all?" Denise said, "Don't worry! They're super nice!"

"They're famous!" Odessa tried to explain.

"Yes, and I played in the Sound of Music. So what? They're also just humans! C'mon, I'll introduce you!" Denise dragged Odessa out to the stage, where the other guests were.

Denise introduced Odessa and Meyrin to the whole cast of Hamilton, and then realised Dave and Nick had arrived. She said hi to them, and then left Dave to Meyrin. Meyrin was blushing like mad again and clung to her obvious crush. Odessa whispered something in Denise's ear, and Denise looked up. Indeed, Rose and Fé were standing in the doorway. She walked towards them: "To be honest, I didn't think you would come."

"I didn't think you would invite us," Fé answered.

"Why not?" Denise answered, "You've been my friends for years."

Just at that moment, America from West Side Story started playing.

"C'mon let's dance!" Denise laughed.

"I don't like musicals!" Fé said.

"We'll teach you!" Odessa yelled from the other side of the stage.

"It's just West Side Story," Denise said, "Come dance!"

"Okay then..." Fé said, and she followed Denise centerstage. Denise laughed as pretty much everyone was dancing, making the weirdest moves. She didn't know how, but soon Denise was dancing with Odessa. Odessa picked Denise up and twirled her around. Denise laughed, and they clapped along with the music. When the song had ended, a slower ballad started playing. Denise pulled her arms around Odessa. They were having so much fun, she wasn't ready to give up the moment just yet. Odessa hugged back, and Denise snuggled into her shoulder. Slowly, they moved to the rhythm of the music. Denise felt different than she'd ever felt. In Odessa's arms, she felt safe and warm. Something she hadn't felt in years. Hugs had left her cold, never closing the gap in her heart. But now, she almost felt complete. She was with people who loved her, and that was enough. Right?

When everyone was so tired they couldn't dance anymore, Lin yelled: "And now it's time for presents!"

"And for cake!" Thayne added.

Vanessa cut the cake, and Lin brought it around. When everyone had a piece, they sat down in a circle. Each one of them gave Denise a present. From Daveed, she got Clipping's newest album. From Thayne, she got cookies (of course). Alysha and Sacha gave her hair supplies. Renée gave her make-up, and she got two lovely dresses from Pippa and Jasmine. Meyrin gave her The Iron King and Odessa gave her a whole stack of self-made musical fan shirts, including one saying "Hamilton changed my life" and one saying "I was in The Sound of Music once".

"But my real present isn't that," Odessa said, "I and Meyrin have another present for you."

"What?" Denise asked curiously.

"Meyrin and I are in the same community theatre. Would you like to join us?"

"Wait," Denise said confused, and she turned to Meyrin: "You're into theatre? Why didn't I know that?"

Meyrin shrugged: "I don't geek about musicals as much as you two. I just like to perform."

"So would you like to join?" Odessa asked. She was kind of scared Denise would say no.

Denise smiled: "I'd love to!"

A while later, while the party was still going, Meyrin went to the toilet. On the way, she heard something coming from Lin's dressing room. Curiously, she looked inside. Odessa sitting on Lin's bed, calling. Tears were shimmering in her eyes, and she looked super scared.

"Mum... Mum... I'm at a friend's party, I already told you three times. Mum, you knew I would go."

Now she noticed Meyrin standing in the doorway. She pulled a finger against her lips and continued the conversation with her mother. Meyrin stood there frozen, and kept watching.

"Mum, you're ill, remember? Go to bed, and drink some water before. Then you won't have a headache tomorrow."

It stayed quiet for a while.

"No! Don't you dare hurt him! If you touch him with one finger I swear I'll kill you!" She paused for a bit, and then said calmer: "Give him to me please."

Odessa waited, and then said: "Hi Val. ... No, I can't go home. Just go to your room and lock the door, okay? ... I know she is being mean, I told her to stop, okay? ... No, I won't kiss you goodnight tonight. You're already asleep when I come home. ... I love you too. Stay strong. ... Bye."

She put the phone down: "Sorry for that."

"What is going on?" Meyrin asked, worried.

"Nothing," Odessa said, "Just some home problems. My mum forgot I would go here."

"S-She threatened to hurt someone," Meyrin said, her voice a bit shaky, "That Val-person."

"You must have misheard that," Odessa smiled, "And by the way, Val is Valentin's nickname. Valentin is my little brother."

"Oh-" Meyrin said, "Okay."

"C'mon!" Odessa laughed, "Let's join the fun!" and she dragged Meyrin along to the stage.

The whole evening, they danced 'till they couldn't anymore. There were laughter and happiness, something that Denise had missed for so long. She was with her friends and family, and something in her made it impossible to stop smiling. She felt loved. But still, she wasn't truly happy. She didn't know why, but she felt slightly uneasy. Like something bad was about to happen. She shook the feeling off, and decided to enjoy the party.

That night Lin tucked Denise into bed. She was too tired to protest.

"How was your day?" Lin asked.

"Awesome," Denise answered, half asleep already.