The daylight eased in through the window, as Lia's eyes fluttered open, the plush hotel bed was a safe haven from the vent blowing cool air into the room. She was recovering from not only the jet lag, but a long night out celebrating. The family didn't make it home until around three in the morning, which was six a.m. for those who were still on East Coast time. Hunter and Lia did get a kick out of seeing all of the adults completely wasted. Watching her dad and grandfather perform a karaoke duet of 'The Greatest Show' from 'The Greatest Showman' made Lia nearly pee herself from laughing so hard.

She went to grab her phone off of her side table, and realized it wasn't there. After a few moments of searching through her sheets, she found the iPhone completely dead. "Great," she muttered under her breath as she begrudgingly rolled herself off the side of her bed, shocked to see the light from her cousin's phone on.

"How the hell are you awake?"

Hunter rolled over from the opposite queen bed, "I forgot to turn my alarm off. I'm shocked that didn't wake you."

Lia rubbed at her eyes, "As exhausted as I am, I can probably sleep through an apocalypse right now. What time is it?"

"Almost 9:30,"

Lia couldn't help but yawn just at the sound of the time. She crouched down on the side of her bed as she searched through her carryon bag for her charger, "Seriously? I'm shocked dad hasn't been in here yet," Her father was always a morning person, especially whenever they had to deal with jet lag.

"I think your parents are dealing with a severe case of being hungover," Hunter replied as she sat up in her bed. " I haven't heard a single ounce of movement since I've been up,"

Lia and Hunter shared a laugh, "Well, I won't be shocked if within the next ten minutes we hear the twins getting into some sort of twin shenanigans."

Hunter nodded in agreement, "The premiere isn't until seven though, right?"

Lia nodded, as she pulled the charger out of her bag and plugged it into the nearby outlet, "Yeah. I think dad purposely left today pretty open because he knew it was going to be back to back nights out," She sat down on her bed, wrapping the comforter around her. Her parents would be attending the premiere of Lin's newest movie, 'Mary Poppins Returns'. "Tomorrow he has a full day of press and mom mentioned wanting to take the twins to a kids' museum that one of her friends told her about,"

"But they know you're mine for the weekend, right?"

"Absolutely," Everyone knew the two were as thick as thieves, "But it would be helpful if I knew exactly what we were getting into," Lia questioned, remembering their conversation that had been interrupted the previous night.

"Okay," Hunter clapped her hands together, crossing her legs under her, "Now hear me out,"

"Why does that sentence already worry me?"

"Wow you sound exactly like your mom," Hunter smirked. "Chase's fraternity is throwing a party tonight,"

"Of course this has something to do with Chase," Lia interrupted, a sly grin on her face.

Hunter grinned unapologetically before continuing, "Anyways, you need to have a fun night out and not spend the entire trip thinking about Ayden or Justin or any other annoying guy back in New York,"

Lia grabbed her pillow, tucking it under her chin, "And you're going to make that happen how?"

"We make you a Tinder!"

"No."

"I told you to hear me out -"

"Are you insane?" Dating apps were for outgoing and fun people like Hunter. Girls who had the confidence to make out with a guy just for the hell of it. Lia was nowhere near that level of confidence.

Hunter rolled her eyes, "You're acting like I'm marrying you off to the highest bidder. This is what I mean; you take things too seriously. Meeting a guy off tinder is the exact way to get you out of this weird rut. You'll swipe through a few guys, connect with one, invite him out tonight, and done! It's one night only and you get a fun night out with someone you never have to talk to again."

"Yeah, or I end up on the news tomorrow because my body's been found in the Pacific Ocean because some ax murderer shows up!"

"Lia, people meet people off apps all the time. I've done it!" She emphasized, "You're not going off to his cabin in the woods! You're being dramatic,"

"You know who is also dramatic?" Lia pointed towards the closed bedroom door, "Your uncle who will absolutely kill me if he found out I put myself on a dating app,"

Hunter rolled her eyes as she laid down on the bed, flipping onto her side,"Oh yeah,I forgot. Your dad: the harsh, super strict, drill Sergeant who completely raised hell when you threw a college party in your apartment,"

"That's different," Lia pointed out, "Dad's chill about most things, but he becomes this weird protective parent whenever it comes to safety. Especially with everything that's been going on lately," Lia let out a deep sigh, as she ran her fingers through her curls as they got caught in the hairspray that apparently had an extra strong hold, "If I had a nickel for every time he has talked about being careful lately I would-"

"Have his net worth?" Hunter cut her off, trying to lighten the mood.

"Hilarious," Lia deadpanned.

"Just because you know your dad is famous, doesn't mean every guy on tinder does." Hunter pointed out, knowing that was on her cousin's mind.

"My dad is arguably the most well-known contemporary composer for one of the biggest shows on Broadway, got a star on the Walk of Fame this week and I, who is notably not at stuff, was there. You don't think in LA, of all places, nobody is going to recognize me?" Lia said candidly. She didn't often talk about her dad's fame; it felt weird for her to do so. However, she was also a realist. She was in the City of Stars and had seen her face on Instagram and Twitter more than she generally cared to.

"Fine," Hunter relented, "What if we make you a fake profile?"

Lia furrowed in her eyebrows, "Now you want to catfish someone?" The idea wasn't any more appealing to Lia.

"Not really!" Hunter dismissed the glare her cousin was sending her as she pulled her phone out, and started making a profile, "We just change your name and only use photos where you don't see your face!" She was fiercely typing away as her cautious cousin was over her shoulder, "Like the ones Tio posts! Guys love the whole 'mysterious' vibe; it's hot!"

Lia moved over, comforter still engulfing her, to sit next to her cousin, "Yeah, because me posting pictures that my dad posts of me is a sure fire way to get a guy?"

Hunter brushed off her cousin, "What should your name be..."

"Why can't I just meet a guy off of yours?" Lia gaffed as she looked over her cousin's shoulder as she saw what she typed, "Nina?! Seriously? You chose the name of the lead girl in my dad's show?!"

"Because I already have a date. And it's early and I haven't had coffee yet. The only Puerto Rican names I can think of right now are from Heights because it was playing at the ceremony yesterday," Hunter countered as she continued through the profile questions, "And I figured you didn't want Vanessa,"

"I don't want any of this!" Lia threw her hands up.

Hunter ignored her overzealous cousin as she finished off the profile, as Lia approved the photos she had chosen. She tossed her phone into her cousin's lap, "Alright, now the fun part. Swipe on!"

Lia looked down at the screen, immediately scrunching her face at the bright white smile starting back at her and instantly swiped left. And continued to do so.

"You know left means you reject them, right?"

"Uh huh," Lia quipped, continuing to go through each guy for a few seconds before repeating the same motion.

"Okay, wait," Hunter grabbed her cousin's hand before she could move to the next profile, "What's wrong with him?"

Lia's eyes didn't move from the screen, "He answered the question, 'What do you find most attractive in a partner', and wrote 'There eyes,'

'So?"

"He doesn't even know grammar!"

Hunter didn't argue, expecting nothing less from her perfectionist cousin as she went back to swiping.

"What about him?"

"He looks like Ayden,"

Hunter narrowed her eyes at the profile picture, grabbing her phone from her cousin, "He looks nothing like Ayden!" The guy on her screen had dreads and muscles that were prominently on display. How Lia could even compare her lanky, clean cut ex to him was beyond Hunter.

"Their eyes are similar shapes,"

"Emilia." Hunter pulled her hair out of the messy bun she had slept in, shaking it out as a source of stress relief from her cousin, "You've got to be kidding me,"

Lia gave her cousin a pointed look, taking the phone back, "If you want me to give this a real chance, do you really want me staring at a guy all night who makes me think of Ayden,"

After a few moments, Lia flashed a smile at her older cousin, knowing she had won before turning back her attention to the profiles on the phone. Hunter heaved out a sigh, falling back onto the mattress. She knew if it was this hard to get Lia to just swipe on a guy, they'd most likely be sitting in the exact same spot by the time her return flight to New York arrived.

Moments later, the door burst open and the room erupted in high-pitched toddler screams. Stella and Seb were both being chased by one of their older cousins, Alejandro. Before she knew it, her little siblings had jumped onto Lia's bed, begging for her to protect them from Alejandro's tickles.

"Noooo!!!" She both squealed as Alejandro approached, fingers prepared to tickle. They laughed and screamed as Lia was crushed.

"Help!!" Lia shouted to Hunter from beneath the pile on her bed. As Alejandro's older brother, Hunter knew his weaknesses. She grinned as she approached him from behind and pushed the backs of both his knees hard. He collapsed to the ground and Hunter put her foot onto his chest in victory.

"Run!" she told Stella and Seb. "You're free! Quick!"

Stella and Seb, giddy from the excitement of the chase, managed to catch their breath long enough to climb off their sister and began skip-running back to the living room.

"Dude, get off me!" Alejandro complained from the floor.

"Just giving them a head start," Hunter quipped, putting a little bit more of her weight down. Alejandro groaned in complaint but then his sister let him up.

After he'd left, Hunter shut the door as Lia sat up and fixed her hair. "Next course of action," she announced in a serious voice. "Wardrobe."

Hunter walked to her own suitcase and began to rifle through it until she found a little black top. She unfolded it and held it out for her cousin to inspect.

"My parents would kill me if they ever saw me in that," Lia told her seriously, her eyes bulging. Even without having put it on, she could tell it was very low cut. Lia had never worn anything that showed off even a hint of cleavage.

Hunter balled it up again and threw it straight at Lia's chest. "Tough, you're wearing it," she decided. Lia unballed it and took another look.

"My bra would show through this," she argued. "It would look ridiculous."

Hunter stopped herself from rolling her eyes again. "Don't wear a bra."

Lia looked like her cousin had just asked her to commit murder.

"You're young and perky," Hunter told her, pulling out some more clothes for herself. "You don't need one."

Hunter became aware that Lia had walked over to her and was almost timidly approaching. "What..." she began tentatively, biting her lip. "What if my nipples show?"

Hunter just turned and looked at her younger cousin, running her tongue along her teeth. "That's the point," she explained patiently, but there was a hint of exasperation in her voice. Before Lia could argue any more, Hunter grabbed her fresh clothes and left the room to shower.

___

Lia was very aware that she was almost eighteen years old and should want to be out partying, clubbing, and otherwise having young adult fun. As she sat on the arm of a couch with a fruity drink, watching Hunter dance with her frat boy friend Chase, she was reminded of what a kid she really was. How did Hunter do it? How did she know how to dance like that? Where did you learn that? And how did she get guys to be so into her?

Hunter shimmied her way over to Lia, drink in hand, and tugged on her fingers. "Come on! Dance!"

Lia laughed uncomfortably, feeling her body tighten. How could she let loose and dance when she already felt so uptight? Couldn't Hunter just let her be a wallflower and observe? She resisted against Hunter's pull and brought the drink to her lips instead. Lia took a small sip and struggled not to pinch up her face in response to the taste of alcohol. The drink was at least fruity, but she could still taste the bitterness.

Hunter didn't push it for now. Lia was only about a quarter of the way through her drink. She knew Lia didn't drink often and she wasn't used to the taste of alcohol. The girl needed to loosen up more if she was going to have a good night. Lia pulled out her cell phone and pulled up her ridiculous Nina Tinder profile. Was anyone going to actually believe this? It claimed she was 19 years old and a student at UCLA.

She checked her notifications and saw that some guy named Cody was nearby and liked her profile. Lia checked out his photos and he looked like a typical frat boy. Untucked button down shirt, khaki shorts and a douchebag haircut. She sighed, wondering if this was what college was going to be like.

"Nina?" An unfamiliar voice called from a few feet away. It didn't register at first that he was talking to her, but as she looked up, the guy was looking straight at her. The same douchebag from Tinder.

She glanced down at her phone again and then back up at him. "Cody?"

"That's me," he grinned widely and transferred his beer to his left hand. Cody extended his right for a shake and Lia hesitantly took it. It was cold and wet from holding his beer. Gross.

"Wanna dance?" He asked her. Lia glanced at Hunter and she was giving her an encouraging nod. She knew she couldn't avoid this all night long and might as well join in. Reluctantly, she stood with her drink and joined Cody on the dance floor.

She was sure everyone was looking at her as she tried not to look like a total spaz on the dance floor. Lia tried to follow what Hunter was doing, and she forced herself to drink more of her midori sour. It was loud and hot and crowded and soon her glass started to get emptier.

Another drink appeared before she knew it. She glanced at her phone and saw it was only 10:30. This was going to be a long night. Noticing that Hunter was getting more and more care-free and giggly, Lia decided she needed to pull the stick out of her butt and catch up. She took a big chug of her new drink and was cheered on by Cody. Feeling some confidence from the alcohol, she laughed and started dancing again.

An hour later, Lia was another drink and a half in and feeling much more relaxed. She was beginning to see how this could be fun. Things were starting to feel a bit woozy and she looked for an escape. Hunter, the ever watchful older cousin, noticed Lia was getting drunk and grabbed her hand.

"Come on!" She yelled over the booming music. Lia followed Hunter towards the back door of the frat house. Amongst gyrating and laughing college kids, they finally made their way into the open air. Hunter walked her over to some side steps and helped Lia sit down.

"You okay?" She asked as their pounding ears adjusted to the relative quiet.

Lia just laughed in response. "Cody is such a douchebag," she cackled, and Hunter nodded and laughed in agreement.

"I don't know if it's the lighting, but does he have frosted tips?" Hunter added. "Is he in a 90's boy band?"

Lia laughed way more than she normally would and decided she liked the feeling. "Oh my God, Justin would never do that to his hair. Have you seen his hair?"

"You showed me a picture but I forgot!" Hunter replied. The cousins talked and giggled as Lia scrolled through his Instagram feed. He had dark brown chestnut hair and was clean shaven in most of his pictures, though Lia thought he also liked how he looked with a bit of scruff. She wondered how that would feel under her fingertips.

"He's so handsome isn't he?" Lia crooned, resting her head on Hunter's shoulder. She continued to look at Justin's pictures, wondering what he was up to in New York. It was way past midnight back home, but Lia suspected he was a bit of a night owl.

"Mmmmhmmm," Hunter agreed, taking another sip of her beer.

"I'm gonna call him," Lia decided woozily, tapping out of her app and over to her contacts.
"Lia, it's, like, three in the morning in New York," she pointed out as Lia stood up and stumbled a bit.

"So?" She replied as she steadied herself by putting a hand on Hunter's shoulder. Her cousin wasn't terribly stable herself and hadn't anticipated the extra weight. As Lia tapped his number she stumbled again and fell on her knees, bursting out laughing.

"Hello?" Justin answered from the other end. All he heard was laughter for a few moments. "Em?"

"Justin!" Lia cackled into the phone as Hunter helped pull her up. She made Lia sit down again next to her. "What is UP?"

"Not much," he replied, furrowing his eyebrows. Admittedly, he was only just getting to know Em, but he'd never heard her like this before. She didn't seem like the kind of girl to get drunk off her ass, but then again they were in group therapy together. "Just chilling. Sounds like you're having fun."

Hunter chimed in, "Tell him he has really nice hair!"

Lia thought that was hilarious and repeated the message to Justin. He chuckled a little and shook his head from where he was sitting on his bed in Washington Heights. Like most weekends, he could hear Latin music blasting nearby through the streets. He had his window open, letting in some cold air.

"So...what have you been up to in Cali?" Justin asked her, scrolling some more through Lin-Manuel Miranda's Twitter feed. Without mistake, the beautiful young lady who was apparently his daughter was who he knew as Em.

But what did Emilia really owe him? They'd known each other for a very short amount of time. It's not like they were lifelong friends and she had lied to him for years. She'd never denied that she had a famous father; she'd just left it out. Of course he could understand she wanted and deserved some privacy from his public life, but it still stung.

"Oh, like hanging with family and going to the beach," she told him. "And noticing guys' hair."

Justin scrunched up his face. She was noticing other guys? "Guys' hair?"

Lia drunkenly realized she may have made a misstep. "I mean, not like NOTICE notice but it actually made me think of your hair and how beautiful it is."

Justin shook his head and felt his pulse quicken. He wasn't sure what kind of signals he'd been getting from Lia and this was throwing things off further. As his mind raced, Lia babbled on.

"...And, like, frosted tips have been out of fashion for, like, at least fifteen years, right? Why would anyone have frosted tips in 2018?"

Justin took a chance and responded, "Lia, stop."

"I'm just trying to compliment you, Justin," she continued. "I know you'd never frost your tips."

The fact he'd called out her true nickname seemed lost on her and Justin realized what an idiot he'd been. Was he really expecting her to suddenly be honest with him?

"You ARE Emilia Miranda then, aren't you?" He asked her bluntly, since she hadn't objected to being called Lia. "This whole Em persona you've been portraying this whole time was just an act then?"

A wave of sobriety tried to take over Emilia's mind, but it wasn't that simple. She knew she'd messed up now but her brain wasn't able to keep up as easily as usual. "Wh...huh?"

Justin stood up and rubbed at his forehead as he began to pace. This connection he'd had with Em was just about the only good thing going in his life right now and it was being confirmed it was all a fraud. Em didn't exist, and he wasn't important enough to know the real Emilia.

"The pictures and videos are all over the internet, LIA." he emphasized her true nickname. "Your dad is Lin-Manuel Miranda?"

Lia felt a punch in the gut. At the time, she hadn't thought of going by Em as a lie; it was a way of protecting her dad from her drama and to prevent the group therapy kids from judging her. Justin was obviously upset that she'd never come clean and it was the worst feeling. She tried her best to never hurt anyone she cared about and she'd truly messed it up.

Not knowing what to say, Lia stumbled over her next words. "Um...yeah?" She responded hesitantly. "But, like, that doesn't mean I'm not Em."

Justin was losing his patience as he continued to pace. "So who are you?" He asked, his voice rising slightly. "Is anything you told me true? Or is this all just a game to you?"

Lia's head started pounding and she stood up shakily. This wasn't how this was supposed to go. "A game? I don't know, Justin. You call off our date at the last minute? What the fuck's up with that?"

The reminder of why he'd had to cancel the date at the last minute flooded back and his emotions started to spill over. "Lia, you have no idea what's going on in my life," he told her, rubbing his hand over his hair. "I didn't cancel to go party with some douchebag frat boys with frosted tips! Which is apparently now your favorite thing."

The combination of alcohol and a hot temper made tears start to sting at the back of Lia's eyes. "I don't like frat boys! I like you!"

"Sure fooled me!" Justin spat back, then ended the phone call.

On the other end, Lia frantically called Justin's name, getting no response. Hunter had since started to walk over to her obviously distraught cousin and put a hand on her shoulder. "Everything okay?"

Lia stared at her phone, the light becoming blurry from her tears. Suddenly, the alcohol she'd been consuming all night crept up and she knew she couldn't stop it. Knowing her night, and possibly her budding relationship with Justin, was ruined, she threw up on the lawn.