2001

Vanessa sat on the couch at her parents' house, still fully dressed up for a night out with her boyfriend, Lin. She checked her watch and saw it was now past 11:00. No calls. Nothing.

He'd been running a workshop at Wesleyan that afternoon for the musical he was working on, In the Heights. He'd shown her parts of it and she'd thought it was really good.

He'd promised her he'd make it back for their date last night. 7:00. Vanessa had guessed the workshop had gone really well and he'd ended up going off on a tangent, working a part with an actor, or just hanging out with his Wesleyan friends.

Vanessa was no idiot. She was a sophomore at MIT, home for fall break. It was a rare time for them to be together, but once again she was taking a back seat. Lin was making it clear what his priorities were and they certainly weren't her.

The door buzzed and she sighed, walking to the door. She buzzed her tardy boyfriend in, crossing her arms and leaning against the counter. Lin appeared 30 seconds later, looking sorry.

The door shut behind the 22 year old, his hair cut short and still a boyish look to him. He'd finally grown into his nose, much to his relief.

Lin ducked his head and shoved his hands in his jeans pockets. He'd fucked up. He'd honestly lost track of time. The workshop had gone amazingly well and he hadn't wanted it to end.

He chanced a glance at her. God, she was gorgeous. Even when she was angry, she was like a Latina goddess. She was dressed to the nines, ready for a night out.

"V, I-"

"Lost track of time?" She finished for him, her arms crossed. "Had a really great reading? Don't care about your commitments to your girlfriend?"

He sighed, knowing there was no excuse. "I'm sorry, V," he told her earnestly. "I'm trying here but-"

"You have to keep your priorities straight," she finished for him again, a habit he'd noticed when she was really pissed. "I waited four hours for you, Lin. I could've just stayed in Boston but I came back for you. And you couldn't care less. You'd rather dick off with your theatre friends."

"Hey!" He raised his voice, catching them both off guard. "You know, you could be a bit more supportive. I've been working on this for two years."

"Well, I'm sorry if I'm getting in your way,"
She told him flatly, reaching for her long earrings. She snatched them out and tossed them on the counter, then finally relieved herself of her high heels. She'd worn heels for him. "I'll get out of your hair so you won't have to choose anymore."

She began to storm off. "V-"

This hadn't gone well. He knew he was in the wrong and then he'd snapped at her. Lin could feel the best thing that had ever happened to him slipping away.

"You can see yourself out," she told him coldly. Vanessa turned out the hall light and he heard her bedroom door slam moments later.

Lin stood in the darkness, wondering if he could ever fix this.

He knew if he left it would lead to more harm than good. They had been together for over a year, and the tension had been building between them over the past two months as he was starting to build momentum with 'In The Heights'. It had been his dream for as long as he could remember back to be a playwright, and it was finally looking like it could be a dim possibility, even if it was just for his school. Being with Vanessa though... that mattered to him more than anything.

He slid his body down to the ground, resting his back against the doorframe. Neither of them were in the place to talk to the other. He closed his eyes and decided he would sit there until he could think of the perfect words to work his way out of the doghouse, no matter how long it would take.

Lin was jolted awake as he felt his body hit the floor, his eyes widened from the shock. He moaned as the pain in his back and head started to set in.

"Lin?"

His eyes were still adjusting to the overhead light when he looked up to find Vanessa over him with a smirk on her face.

"What are you doing?"

"Ah," Lin slowly pushed himself up from the ground to sit upward. From the difficulty of the simple action, he didn't want to think about the bruises he would no doubt see once he looked in the mirror. His face was flushed, as he stumbled for words, "Evidently looking like the ass that I was to you earlier."

Vanessa sighed as she bent down on the ground, sitting in front of him, "I'd be lying if I said it didn't feel slightly good to see you fall over when I opened my door."

Lina always loved the half-grin Vanessa would have whenever she was sarcastic, even if it was at his expense.

"I'm sorry. I was a complete jerk."

"You were," Vanessa ran her fingers through her hair, looking at the remorseful face of her boyfriend. "I just miss you," She said earnestly, "We hardly get to see each other as is, and it was hard enough to plan last night."

Lin glanced at the alarm clock on Vanessa's bedside table and realized it was 4:30 in the morning. "I miss you, too. I miss us. Shit's just been crazy lately. I feel like I'm constantly waiting for everything with Heights to just fall apart." He admitted, "But I don't want things to fall apart with us."

"I don't either," Vanessa took Lin's hand, their fingers intertwined, as their eyes met.

"Why don't we plan a weekend at the end of next month without zero interruptions? You can come up to Connecticut, I'll get an endless supply of wine and we spend the entire time playing Grand Theft Auto and having lots of sex?"

Vanessa couldn't help but laugh at the suggestion and the cheeky grin on Lin's face. He always knew how to make her smile, "No interruptions?"

"I promise." And Lin meant it. Even if it meant he had to throw his pager out, pay his roommates to leave for the weekend, and lie to his colleagues that he was out of the country for forty-eight hours, he'd make it work.

"Alright," Vanessa agreed "You know I love you, bruised ass and all."

Lin chuckled, leaning in to give her a kiss, "I think you could make me feel a lot better."

They kissed, slowly as Vanessa closed the door behind her and locked it, all with only one hand. "I don't have to be at the train station until ten." The same hand made its way into Lin's hair as the slow, passionate kissing intensified.

Makeup sex was always worth the fight.

______

A few weeks had passed and Vanessa got off at her stop in Middletown. As promised, she and Lin had found a weekend that they blocked off with their schedules. He hadn't been any less busy over the past few weeks, the final weeks leading up to the opening of 'In The Heights'. Vanessa didn't care though. They aimed for nightly phone calls and letters mailed off weekly. She knew he was hard at work, and this was his dream coming to fruition. Although it had been challenging at times, she had decided early on to ball up any sadness and loneliness and put it towards her elation for this weekend.

"Vanessa," Vanessa turned and looked to where she was hearing her name called, but the smile on her face turned downward when she saw who it was.

"Oh. Hey Alex," Vanessa recognized Lin's roommate, "Where's Lin?"

"There was some sort of emergency issue with blocking that he needed to check out, but I am under direct orders to bring you straight to the theatre to drag his ass out and start this epic weekend he can't stop talking about," The brunette smiled, gesturing for Vanessa's bag.

"Oh okay. Thanks," Vanessa smiled at the kind gesture as they walked towards his car. Although smiling, Vanessa couldn't help but be slightly pissed at her boyfriend. Was he seriously calling an issue with blocking an emergency? It was a musical!

"And I was also instructed to give you this," Alex said once he got to his car, pulling out a gold gift bag with her name on the tag. Vanessa opened it, revealing a bottle of her favorite pinot grigio and a card. She smiled at herself as she read the note from Lin, cursing herself for being so in love with the guy and his goddamn way of making her swoon.

"Did he get this before or after the emergency?"

Alex gave a sheepish smile, revealing the answer Vanessa figured.

"It's fine. We all know how Lin can get," She may have been annoyed, but she also appreciated the preempted act of forgiveness he had thought of. And it was her favorite wine. "Let's just get me to Romeo, himself."

The journey from the train station to Wesleyan was only about a half-hour. Vanessa enjoyed catching up a bit with Alex on the drive, him being one of Lin's roommates she had previously met and gotten along with. Her heart started beating faster than usual as they pulled up to the theatre. Alex insisted that he would bring her stuff back to their apartment and Vanessa could go in to surprise Lin.

Vanessa headed into the theatre, feeling as though she hadn't seen him in years, although it had only been weeks. She immediately spotted him from behind, donning a sweater and jeans that made his ass look amazing. There was no denying that bringing this musical to life was his passion, and it fit him well.

It looked like the company was about to do another run of a scene so Vanessa took a seat in the fourth row. The girl playing Vanessa was wearing jean shorts so tiny her butt cheeks were peeking out and her tank top showed off her cleavage. Ugghh.

The music began, and they ran through the song Champagne. Lin hadn't noticed she was there yet, and proceeded with the written kiss. Vanessa looked away, not enjoying seeing another woman kissing her man, even if it was acting. He pulled back and after the director yelled cut the girl seemed to keep her hands on him longer than necessary. Lin didn't seem to be in any hurry to brush her off.

The director gave some notes and they ran it again. Vanessa wasn't going crazy; the girl was googly eyed for him. She felt the jealousy rise up in her. This long distance thing was so hard. There were girls everywhere obviously, and Lin had always been outgoing and popular. Girls flocked to him.

A break was announced so Vanessa made her way up the side steps to the stage. As she was making her way up she overheard some chatter.

"They're so perfect together," a girl mused to her friend. "Just look at them. They're adorable."

"I heard he has a girlfriend back home," the other said.

"But does she look that THAT?" She nodded towards the girl, who was now twirling her hair and laughing with Lin. Vanessa narrowed her eyes and strode towards them confidently.

Lin looked like he'd been caught doing something he shouldn't. "V!" He greeted her.

She gave him a small smile. She was probably overreacting and it was about to be her time of the month. She accepted his kiss and hug. Lin began to introduce her to some of the cast members. Some of them she'd met before, but never Lola.

What a name. Lola. It just sounded like someone who would try to steal your man. She smiled widely, flashing pearly white teeth and way too much make up.

"You're Vanessa?" She asked. "I didn't know he had a girlfriend."

Wasn't that convenient. Vanessa sighed and did her best to be civil. All she wanted was to be alone with Lin. He was trying to wrap things up but everyone wanted something from him.

Finally, they were able to duck out. As soon as he had her alone, he pressed her up against the brick building and kissed her slowly. They kissed for a minute, just enjoying each other.

"Missed you," he said quietly, letting his face linger closely to hers.

"Missed you more," she grinned and kissed him some more.

They'd made plans to go out to eat but they just wanted to be alone. They got take out and headed to his dorm room, leaving a sock on the doorknob for privacy.

They made love slowly, enjoying each other and feeling reconnected. Afterwards they ate and cuddled, searching Lin's roommate's VHS collection.

They settled on Armageddon because they'd seen it multiple times and didn't have to devote too much attention to it. Soon it devolved into a make out session which turned into another lovemaking session.

As they were cuddling and Ben Affleck was trying to drill a hole into an asteroid, Lin's phone started to buzz with phone calls. He ignored them, but after the same number called three times, he answered. Lin paced as he talked to someone about set design.

Vanessa waited patiently, checking out his book collection. Lin hung up and excused himself to use the restroom. As he was gone, Lin's phone rang yet again and he could see the caller ID. Lola Carrera.

She picked up, pissed off. "Who is this?" She asked pointedly.

"Isn't this Lin's phone?"

Vanessa scoffed. "Yes. This is his girlfriend. What do you want?"

Lola laughed humorlessly. "Baby, if you think you're his only one you've got something coming to you."

"Excuse me?" She didn't want to believe it. Lola seemed like the kind of girl who liked to start drama.

"Honey, we've practiced our kissing scene way more than necessary," she informed her. "Man's got skills. Don't be selfish. Share."

"Listen you little skank-"

Lin's door opened and he appeared, shocked to find Vanessa yelling into his phone.

"V! V!" He raised his voice and grabbed for his phone. He quickly turned it off and saw Vanessa was crying.

"What was that?"

"That was Lola," she told him, her eyes steely. "She says you're a good kisser."

Lin rolled his eyes. "V, don't listen to her. She's the theatre department bicycle."

"Sounds like she's gotten a few rides from you," she quipped.

"Excuse me?" He asked. Lin would never cheat on his girlfriend and was offended at being accused.

"She was all over you at the theatre Lin," she complained. "And you didn't seem to mind."

"I'm friendly, V, you know that," he reasoned. He'd always been an affectionate guy.

"A little too friendly," she growled, picking up her jacket and purse.

"What is your problem?"

"This!" Vanessa stopped what she was doing, admitting the internal thoughts that had creeped their way to the forefront of her mind, "I can't keep doing this."

Lin's face said it all. He was stunned. "We had an entire weekend plan for the two of us,"

Vanessa cut him off, "That started with you choosing 'Heights' before me, again!"

"I gave up all of these days for you!" Lin's voice raised.

Vanessa shook her head, scoffing, "You're such a martyr, Lin. Thanks for the sacrifice. I'm sorry I'm such a burden." She swiftly wiped away the tears that were falling down her cheek.

"I didn't say that!" Lin defended himself, "But you are being selfish,"

"Selfish?"

"This is my dream, V! I have been working 'round the clock to make 'Heights' happen, and you're acting like you don't give a shit."

Vanessa went to yell back, but instead walked past Lin to grab her suitcase and pulled her purse over her shoulder. "Don't let me be the one to get in the way of your dreams then," She stated in a calm voice, which was even worse than yelling to Lin.

"Where are you going?"

"Back to Boston," she snapped, heading for the door.

"Wait! Vanessa!" He called after her, but the door slammed before he could get to it. Lin chased after her, calling her name but she was fast.

He lost her quickly. He called her cell phone five times but she wasn't answering. Lin plopped down on his beat up couch and rubbed his hands over his face. They'd been through drama before but this...this felt different.

Lin tried her cell several more times that night to no avail. Over the coming weeks she didn't reply to calls or emails. It seemed she had shut him out of her life.

It wasn't until fifteen years later he found out she had shut him out of more than just her life.