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The neon glow of the 50s diner cast a warm, flickering light over the rain-slicked pavement. Ben Fankhauser, still riding the high of another successful show, pushed open the door, the familiar chime announcing his arrival. He had been here before—a comforting haven after a night of adrenaline-fueled performances. But tonight, something felt different.Tucked into a booth by the window was a woman who immediately caught his attention. Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, partially obscuring her face as she absently stirred a milkshake. Her brown eyes, usually full of warmth, were distant, troubled. Even in the dim lighting, he could see the sadness clinging to her like a shadow.He knew her name—Kira. They had crossed paths a few times at stage door meet-and-greets. He remembered little things about her, like her pet cats and her love for painting, but nothing beyond that.They had crossed paths before, a few times at stage door meet-and-greets. She was a passionate theater lover, always kind, always supportive. But now, she looked... broken.Ben hesitated before walking over. He slid into the seat across from her, offering a tentative smile. "Kira, right? We’ve met at the stage door a few times."She looked up, surprised. "Yeah. Ben?" Her voice was quiet as if she wasn’t sure she wanted to be heard."That’s me," he said, glancing at her untouched milkshake. "Mind if I join you?"She hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Sure. I guess I could use the company."Ben leaned forward slightly, concern flickering across his face. "You seem... upset. Want to talk about it?"Kira sighed, tracing a pattern on the table with her finger. "It’s just someone I thought was a friend. Turns out he’s not. He’s... controlling. Mean. And I haven’t seen it until now. He threatened to kill me! And i still thought he was being funny!"Ben frowned. "I’m sorry. That sounds awful. What happened?"She let out a shaky breath. "His name is Ethan. I thought he was a good guy, but he—he made me feel small. Like I wasn’t enough."Ben shook his head. "That’s not right. No one should make you feel that way. You deserve better."She met his gaze, searching for sincerity. "You really think so?""I know so," Ben said firmly. He glanced toward the counter and waved a waitress over. "Do you mind if I order something? I’d like to stick around."Kira hesitated, feeling a pang of embarrassment. Here was Ben Fankhauser, a Broadway star, probably out to celebrate another triumph, and she was sulking in a diner. "You don’t have to stay," she murmured. "I’m sure you have better things to do."Ben offered a small, reassuring smile. "I came in here to wind down, and right now, that means being here with you. Besides, sometimes just listening can make a difference."Her face warmed as she fidgeted with her straw. She felt the urge to say something—to make things right—but for now, she let herself simply accept the comfort he was offering.Ben decided to keep the conversation going, hoping to lighten the mood. "You know, I actually had the most ridiculous blooper happen during filming the other day. It’s never going to make it into any of the outtakes, but I completely wiped out in the middle of a take—tripped over absolutely nothing. The director had to stop because everyone was laughing too hard to keep going."Kira let out a soft laugh, a small smile forming on her lips. "That actually makes me feel a little better. I had a similar experience—except it was in front of my entire family back in Ohio. I was walking down our porch steps with my hands full, and let’s just say gravity wasn’t on my side that day."Ben raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Ohio? No way! Im from there myself."She grinned. "Only on my mom’s side, though. We used to visit all the time when I was younger."He shook his head in amusement. "Small world. Couldve met me when I would be visiting family.Kira giggled, the weight on her chest feeling lighter. For the first time that night, she wasn’t thinking about Ethan or the hurt he caused. Instead, she was sitting across from her celebrity crush, swapping stories, and for the first time all day, she felt okayAs their conversation continued, she mused aloud, "If I had met you when you first started Newsies, I would’ve been, like, eight or nine."Ben took a sip of his drink—and immediately did a spittake, coughing and scrambling for a napkin. "Wait—what?!"Kira burst into laughter as he wiped off the table, his face a mix of horror and disbelief. "You mean to tell me that when I was 21 or 22, you were still in elementary school?!"He groaned, shaking his head. "Oh god, I suddenly feel ancient. Like I should be collecting retirement checks."Kira smirked, sipping her milkshake. "Don’t worry, Grandpa. You’re still doing great."Ben shot her a playful glare before breaking into laughter. "Wow. Okay. You know what? I was trying to be nice, but now I’m just offended."She smiled a genuine, warm expression that made her eyes crinkle. This night had started off as one of the worst days she’d had in a while, but somehow, sitting here with Ben, laughing and joking, had turned it into something unexpectedly wonderful. The laughter slowly faded as the moment between them deepened, the hum of the diner filling the spaces between their words.Ben leaned back in his seat, smiling softly at Kira. Her presence, the way she seemed to light up despite the heaviness she carried, made him feel a connection that was hard to ignore. But as the clock ticked on, a sudden vibration from his phone interrupted the fragile peace he’d found in her company.He glanced down at the screen and sighed. "Sorry, I’ve got to take this." The call was about an interview he’d been hoping to avoid, but duty called.Kira, sensing the shift, gave him a small, understanding nod. "You should go. It’s important."Ben stood up, reluctantly reaching for his coat. His gaze lingered on her, a mixture of disappointment and something deeper in his eyes. "I’m really enjoying this," he said quietly. "I’m not sure when I’ll see someone like you again. Not saying I want to meet someone like you now that I have you"He grabbed a napkin from the stack beside him, but it was damp from earlier. He didn’t mind. His hands quickly scrawled his number on it, the ink blotting slightly in the humidity of the air.He slid it across the table to her. "I don’t want to lose touch now that I’ve gotten to know you better."Kira blinked, surprised by the gesture, her heart skipping a beat. Before she could say anything, Ben had already turned to leave. But then, something made him stop. He spun back around, a smile on his face. "Actually, I should probably get your number too. Just in case you lose mine." He raised an eyebrow playfully.Kira laughed softly, shaking her head. "You’re impossible."But with a mischievous grin, she grabbed a pen from her bag and scribbled her number on his arm, the ink trailing down his skin. "There," she said, her voice soft. "Now, you’ll always have a way to reach me."Ben looked down at the numbers on his arm, then back at her, his smile widening. "I’ll make sure I don’t forget this," he said with a wink before turning to leave, the door’s chime ringing softly behind him.As he stepped out into the rain, Kira watched him go, feeling a strange sense of hope for the first time in what felt like forever. She wasn’t sure what would come of this, but for now, she was content with the connection they had shared.