Look Around, Look Around
For a group with only four designated student positions and, as far as Alexander knew, little publicity surrounding joining the group, the student council at G. Kings Memorial High School was a surprisingly large organization.
"You're sure this is it?" Alex didn't hesitate to enter, but he glanced around skeptically at the sizable crowd that was now scattered throughout Washington's classroom. It was a big enough turnout for the group to break into smaller groups, and for those smaller groups to break apart into smaller conversations, until the whole room filled with the buzz of conversation laced with eagerness.
After all, the informational meeting about student government was the first official meeting, even lacking a president and their vice president.
"I'm absolutely certain," John hadn't yet let go of Alex's hand, and now, he took this opportunity to bring Alex right into the fray. John had attended these meetings before, and he'd seen how they operate. Every year at this time, the potential presidential and vice-presidential candidates were usually beginning to plan their campaigns. John knew this always started long before Washington said his first word about the council.
"Where're Laf and Hercules?" Alex looked around, scanning for the pair, but was greeted only by the sight of Thomas Jefferson, who was sitting alone at the very front of the room with Madison. At the sight of the flash of magenta, Hamilton couldn't help but utter an "Ew."
Laurens laughed at Alex's reaction, but the sincerity in it prompted him to move further into the room. In fact, upon seeing a flash of blue, pink, and yellow fabrics, he now had a fixed idea of where exactly he was going to lead Alex.
"But if we put posters in the main hallways, hand out flyers, and campaign at lunch, does that even give us the edge we need?" Angelica tapped her pen impatiently on the open notebook in front of her. Time was running out, and she knew it. Furthermore, campaigns didn't build themselves, and, considering the disadvantage the eldest Schuyler sister was already at...
"You gotta at least try it, Angie," Peggy leaned her head back, kicking her feet up on the desk. "It doesn't matter that Lee's almost guaranteed; you're smarter and clearly you've got the creds—"
"We'll talk about it later," Eliza smiled at her younger sister, propping herself up on one elbow and skimming through the current campaign plans. "For now, why don't we plan posters? We know it's part of your campaign, Angie. If we get a head start that could be good."
The corner of Angelica's mouth turned up into a half-smile. Eliza had always been a peaceful soul. The extent of the middle Schuyler's efforts to maintain happiness and order never ceased to amaze Angelica.
And, of course, shutting Peggy up wasn't exactly a bad idea, considering Charles Lee was only two tables away.
"Alright, so we'll plan the posters, and then—"
"Angelica Schuyler!"
The sisters' work was promptly interrupted when Angelica looked up to see a grinning John Laurens standing before the three of them, arm in arm with a boy Angie didn't recognize.
Eliza smiled at John and his companion. "Hi, John," she said, and, turning to the new boy, she extended her hand for him to shake.
The boy grinned and took Eliza's hand. "Alexander Hamilton," he said with a certain bravado, addressing the three sisters.
Angelica smiled again. "Angelica Schuyler."
"Eliza," Eliza introduced herself, taking careful note of John's position— his arm around Alexander.
"And Peggy!" Peggy flipped her feet off the desktop, returning them to the ground.
"My sisters," Angelica clarified.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Eliza grinned. "You're new here?"
"Yeah, I moved here from the Caribbean this summer," Alex replied. "It's been a long way here, believe me. Paperwork and records and everything, and a lot of work, just in general, but it's worth it."
John looked over and grinned at him. "It's worth it, no question."
"John Laurens!" Peggy leaned forward, her smile suddenly widening with realization. "Oh my god!!"
Eliza and Angelica shared a suppressed laugh. Their younger sister was the epitome of freshmen— and could be the most delightfully hilarious person, when the opportunity arose. "So, John, have you finally managed to secure yourself a steady date?" Angelica closed her notebook, sliding it into her bag and motioning for the pair to sit down.
"And they said it couldn't be done!" John teased.
"Never known you, of all people, to back down from a challenge."
"Oh," John laughed, "You haven't even met Alex yet."
"Just you wait," Alexander grinned again, sliding his hand into John's.
"So John Laurens finally has a boyfriend!!" Peggy clasped her hands together. "And. You. Guys. Are. So. Cute!!!"
Laurens blushed, but Alex only smiled wider. "That's true!"
The way Alex said things was arrogant, and Eliza could tell he was about as reckless as they come. But there was intelligence there, too. She could tell Angelica sensed it. Angelica Schuyler was always quick to sniff out those who could match wits with her— this was probably because of how rare it was for someone to be at her level, but regardless, Eliza had always found her sister's sixth sense of a sort to be an interesting skill. When Eliza snapped out of her thoughts on the topic, she realized Peggy was talking.
"... and there was that one time with that kid from that field trip— I mean, that was nuts."
"It really was," John smirked.
"And it was just some fling or whatever?" Peggy seemed to find the topic at hand positively enthralling.
"Fling? Absolutely."
"I can't believe it. Hasn't your father always had a thing against gay stuff?"
"Um," Laurens stiffened, searching for an answer. A sort of tenseness fell over the group. "Yeah. I guess that means he'd have to have a thing against me, then," John put on a lopsided grin, making his comment pass for humor.
"Oh. He wouldn't," Peggy laughed.
"Hah," John's strange grin didn't shift, but he leaned his head on Alex's shoulder. "Have you seen Herc or Lafayette?"
"I think Hercules wasn't coming, he's at an internship now," Eliza replied, grateful for a shift from the strange tension in the conversation that was present a moment before. Henry Laurens was always a controversial issue.
"Laf told Thomas he'd be here late," Angelica offered. "I don't know how late, though."
"Yuck," Peggy wrinkled her nose. "I can't believe you and Jefferson are friends, Angie."
"Hey, you and I should get along well, Peggy," Alex grinned.
"He's right over there, Pegs," Eliza tilted her head, gesturing to the front of the room. "You don't want to start anything at the first meeting, especially with Angelica's friend."
"He can't hear, anyway; he's too focused on James Madison," Peggy grumbled in a bored voice.
The whole group turned simultaneously. "Jefferson? Focused? On Madison?" John, Alex, and Eliza all had matching looks of surprise on their faces.
"Yeah," Angelica shrugged. "That's not out of the ordinary."
"Of course it is!"
"No," Angie offered Alex a sly smile. "Thomas happens to have a soft spot for him."
Alex's jaw half-dropped. "I'd be surprised if he had an emotional soft spot in his whole body, let alone his heart."
"You know, there was some study linking love to the liver—"
"That wasn't real, Peggy," Eliza laughed softly.
"Oh."
"If I were you, I'd be surprised then, Alexander. He and James are... In the process. They're getting there." Angelica glanced over, and, although she knew the pair weren't dating, it did bring her a certain sense of happiness to look over and see Jefferson free of his magenta jacket for once, and to see Madison wearing it over his shoulders instead.
Alexander was quite a bit surprised at the new knowledge that Jefferson did, evidently, have a heart, but this new finding didn't quite distract him from the feeling of John right beside him, who was still a bit on-edge. His muscles felt tense. Alex kissed the top of John's head, quickly and gently, and the effect was instantaneous— at least a little more relaxation set in over John, and he loosened up enough to scoot slightly closer to Alex and lace his freckled fingers a little tighter together with his boyfriend's.
It was nearing 3:15 at this point. Everyone began to settle down; taking seats and preparing for the beginning of the meeting. And, as was to be expected, the door opened right on time and Washington walked in.
To the sound of applause.
Alexander knew this was only a meeting detailing the purposes and processes of student government, but he could already feel an atmosphere of change in the room. It was that feeling Alex always craved— that feeling like he'd found something to be a part of. Something big. Something important. The energy was contagious. Alex pulled out a notebook and a pen, putting his arm around John.
To Alex's surprise, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Look around," a voice whispered in his ear, and Alex turned his head to see Eliza smiling at him. As he was told, he looked around the room, scanning the rows of students around him.
Not only was the energy contagious, it was visible, too.
"Aren't we lucky?"
"I suppose we are," Alexander smiled, looking between Eliza and the rest of the room.
Eliza brushed a piece of hair behind her ear. "Just to be alive right now. To be here."
Alexander grinned.
The energy was tangible.
"Your chariot awaits."
"I even get a chariot? Aaron, you've outdone yourself already," Theodosia smiled teasingly, allowing herself to be led to Burr's car. It was in no shape to be called a chariot, but Aaron did deem it fit to be used to escort Theo anywhere they chose to go and not be a public embarrassment.
"Outdone myself? No, you don't even know the best feature of this ride." Aaron returned Theodosia's smile. Why, exactly, he found it so easy to joke with her was a phenomenon. For whatever unknown reason, their conversations were always smooth, and always had an edge of easygoing humor.
She climbed into the passenger seat, looking up in anticipation. Aaron closed the door behind her. "And what might that be?"
He walked around the car, hopping in the driver's seat and unclipping his name tag from his shirt collar. Pushing the key into the ignition, Burr turned it, then faced Theo and raised his eyebrows at her. "When you turn on the heat jets, it only takes three minutes for them to heat up, not five."
Theodosia laughed, leaning her elbow on the window's edge. "Luxury vehicles, hmm?"
"Only the best for you." Burr hummed a little, smiling. This smile was genuine; the kind only Theo could elicit from him so easily. "Speaking of which..."
She rolled her eyes just the slightest bit, looking at Aaron. "If by 'speaking of which,' you're suggesting you are the best thing for me, then geez, I know that one already."
Aaron flushed. "Actually, I was gonna ask where you wanted me to take you," he chuckled, turning onto the main road, "But your answer's good, too."
"It doesn't matter to me," Theodosia smiled, looking out the windows. The sun had already set, and the lights in town were shining.
"Are you hungry?" Burr asked, his tone mellow. He certainly was. It'd been a long shift at the bookstore, and since he'd missed the student government meeting to pick up an extra hour, it had only been longer. But the anticipation had been worth it, and here Theodosia was, beside him.
"I could be hungry... Wait a second. Aaron, can I ask something crazy?"
"Trust me, you aren't even close to crazy." Aaron smiled. "What is it?"
"Can we go out of town?" She held her breath a moment, addressing Burr's glance of question. "I know a restaurant in this town west of us. I think you'd like it. And we wouldn't know anyone there, so it'd just be us?"
Burr looked over at Theodosia for a few seconds before splitting into a grin. "I like the way you think."
"I take that as quite the complement coming from a mind like yours," Theo blushed the slightest bit, matching Aaron's grin.
This was Theo, her flirtation always a step ahead. And tonight, there was no Jacques to step in the way of guarantee. There was no reason to take her momentum with caution.
Burr smiled. "Just tell me where to turn and I'll get us there."
So the date progressed, with Theodosia telling Aaron when to take a right or a left as the car made its way across the border into another town and another. At some point Theo turned on the radio, and at some point, she and Aaron ended up singing "Bohemian Rhapsody" together, and at some point, Theo's hand met Burr's between the passenger and driver's seats.
It wasn't long before the pair arrived at the restaurant, Theodosia calling for Aaron to make a right turn about three inches before said turn was supposed to be made. Aaron parked the car beside a tree in the parking lot, getting out and opening the door for Theo.
The two headed inside, hand in hand. Burr looked to his side, and a part of his heart seemed to swell upon noticing Theodosia was right there beside him. This feeling was possibly the most delightful thing he'd felt in a long time, and this new, powerful sensation flooded his senses as he and the beautiful girl who was his, if only for now, neared the entrance of the restaurant. But, despite Burr's pure joy, the part of him that was quintessentially Aaron Burr in all meanings of the phrase kicked in. He hesitated, just a moment.
"Theo," he said, pausing by the door.
"Yeah?" Theodosia smiled at him, running her thumb along the palm of his hand.
"Are you sure Jacques won't find out about this?" Aaron couldn't have cared less about Jacques himself. However, his desire to stay by Theodosia's side did bring the question to mind. What would happen if he were to find out?
"I'm sure he won't," Theo tilted her head. What was dishonesty? This wasn't the wrong thing to do, and she knew it. Jacques didn't love her. He barely saw her, and when he did, it was cold. Aaron felt... Right. Aaron was always the good friend Theodosia so desperately needed. And when she wanted anything more than just friendship, there he was, waiting for her. He was so patient with her. And his hand in hers just felt so right... "If he finds out, though, it doesn't matter."
"You're certain?"
She smiled, tightening her grip on Aaron's hand. "How could I not be sure about this?"
Burr replied simply with a smile, and he held the door as the two walked into the restaurant.
Aaron had not brought his notebook with him, of course, but he made a mental note as the couple were seated at a table by the window— still holding hands —of what to write later as far as annotations went for the occasion. One word would once again be sufficient to describe the feeling Aaron had become so suddenly overcome by.
Satisfied.