"Yorktown High." I thought to myself as I rolled my eyes. I just moved here from Mount Vernon with my Uncle George and Aunt Martha because my uncle accepted a job as the head principle here over the summer. I put my earbuds in my ears as I walked to the large gloomy building. I walked into my new homeroom and took off my headphones. I handed my transfer slip to my teacher as he nodded. I walked over to a desk near a group of girls and sat by myself and pulled out my tattered copy of Les Miserables.
"Hi are you new?" one of the girls wearing a teal polka-dotted dress asked as I looked up from my book and nodded. "I'm Elizabeth Schuyler, but you can call me Eliza." She said as I smiled at her and extended my hand and put my book down.
"Delaney Washington." I said as she looked at me surprised.
"Like in Washington our new principle Washington?" She asked as I nodded my head. "I can show you around to your classes. Let me see your schedule." She said as I handed it to her. "We have Piano together, French and Fine Arts. We have all of our classes together, expect Debate." She said as I started to smile. I heard the bell ring as the teacher stood up and cleared his throat. Me and Eliza quieted down as we watched the teacher.
"Now, welcome back to a new year at Yorktown High. I am Mr. Lee your home room teacher. Soon you will leave and got to your other classes." He said boring us all as he sat down on his chair and went back to his computer. "So where are you from?" Eliza asked as I put my book and schedule back into my backpack. "Mount Vernon. I miss it like mad." I said as she looked at me sadly. "I promise you will like it here. You will love Mr. Miranda our Fine Arts teacher." She said as I looked at her confused.
"Fine Arts?" I asked as she nodded. "It's a combo of Drama and Choir. It's the best class ever." She said as the bell rang.
"Well I can't wait to go. That is our first class." I said as we walked together. I followed Eliza to a large classroom filled with other students sitting on desks and on a stage with risers.
"Welcome to the Battlefield." Eliza said as I looked at her confused.
"Battlefield?" I asked as she pointed to two guys on the stage.
"You will see." She said smiling at me.
"Herc give us a beat." One of the guys in a red shirt with faded letters on it and with jeans on said to one of the guys in the sea of desks. The guy that was called Herc started to give a beat. "Yo yo yo yo yo! What time is it?" The guy in red rapped as the others went along with the beat. "Show time!" The others called out as Red smiled at me. "Show time! Show time! Yo! I'm John Laurens in the place to be! Two pints o' Coca Cola, but I'm workin' on three, uh! Those teachers don't want it with me! Cuz I will pop chick-a pop these cops till I'm free! Well, if it ain't the prodigy of Yorktown! Aaron Burr, Sir! Give us a verse sir, drop some knowledge!" Red said pointing to the other guy dressed in a button down and black pants.
"Good luck with that: your takin' a stand you spit. I'm 'a sit. We'll see where we land." Button down said as Red rolled his eyes.
"Burr, our schoolings imminent. What do you stall for?" Red asked as I smiled.
"If you stand for nothing, Burr, what'll you fall for?" I called out as everyone looked at me.
"Ooh Who are you? Ooh, who is this girl? What's she gonna do?" Red said as the bell rang and the teacher walked in.
"Alright Alright Alright! Welcome back to Fine Arts everybody!" The teacher said excited as everyone got to a desk. I sat next to Eliza and watched the teacher write his name on the board.
"Now I see we have a new face in our crowd. Come on sweetheart. Introduce yourself." He said as I stood up.
"I'm Delaney Washington. I moved here from Mount Vernon." I said as everyone looked at me and nodded.
"Your dad is our new principle." Red said as I shook my head. "He isn't my dad. He is my uncle." I said as they all nodded.
"Well welcome Delaney. I am Mr. Miranda and I am sure that the rest of the Battalion will introduce themselves to you." Mr. Miranda said as he sat on his stool. "Now we are going to talk about what we are going to do for our Play and Musical. Then I shall hand out ensemble assignments and pieces." He said as we all sat on the stage and desks paying attention.
"Or should I hand out ensembles and music now?" Mr. Miranda said as we all nodded getting e. "Alright, all of you are in our Battalion Chamber Choir. In our Chief Ensemble we have Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, John Laurens, Hercules Mulligan, Marquis de Lafayette, James Maddison and Thomas Jefferson. Now In our Lady Commanders Ensemble we have Angelica, Eliza and Peggy Schuyler, Maria Reynolds and our new comer Ms. Delaney. Now in our Commanders we have Angelica, Eliza, Hamilton, Mulligan, Thomas Jefferson, Lafayette, Delaney, and our youngest Peggy. In your slots is your music. Delaney can you come into my office and I will explain how class will work. Everyone work on your solfege I will be back." Mr. Miranda said as I got up and followed him. "Alright, now I will have a calendar set up, it will say what ensemble with be performing. Every Friday we have Drama day where we go and work on our performing and stage craft. Now I talk to your teachers from Mount Vernon. He said that you had a voice and that I needed you in my top choir. Now if you don't feel up to it, I can take you out of it this semester and put you in for contest season." Mr. Miranda said as I shook my head.
"No I am so happy that you have me in Commanders." I said as Mr. Miranda smiled at me. "You can go work on your music now." Mr. Miranda said as I nodded and hurried out.
I sat with Eliza and started to fill in my music. "What voice part are you?" I asked as I started to fill in the rest of the alto line of the first page.
"I am a Soprano." Eliza said as we chatted as I caught on of the guys looking at me. I smiled at him, he turned back to his friends.
"Eliza, who was the guy that was just was looking at me name?" I asked as she smiled at me. "That is John Laurens. He is a tenor." She said as we finished one song. Mr. Miranda walked out of his office as we all looked up.
"Alright Lady Commanders we are going to work on the song "Burn" tomorrow. Have the solfege done and your counting." Mr. Miranda said as I gathered all of my music as I put them in my binder. "If you guys want to, you may go and do free style." Mr. Miranda said as we all agreed and got up.
"Hey I'm John Laurens." Red said as I turned to face him. "Laney." I said as he smiled at me. "You got some words in you." He said as I nodded. "Yo, let's get her in front of a crowd." Laurens said as I got pulled up onto the stage. "Hercules the beat." John said as I got on stage next to Button down. I think his name is Aaron Burr.
"Wooh! There's nothin' like summer in the city. Someone in a rush next to someone lookin' pretty. Excuse me, miss, I know it's not funny. But your perfume smells like your daddy's got money. Why you slummin' in this place in those fancy heels, You searchin for a person who can give you ideals?" Burr said getting close. I put my hand on his chest and smiled at him sweetly.
"Burr, you disgust me." I said laughing as Burr smirked at me.
"Ah, so you've discussed me? I'm a trust fund, baby, you can trust me!" He said as I laughed.
"So men say that I'm intense or I'm insane, You want a revolution? I want a revelation! So listen to my declaration." I said as everyone cheered me on. I heard the bell rang. We all groaned and gathered out things.
"Off to Piano." Eliza said as I grabbed my bag. "You are right Fine Arts is amazing." I said as she laughed. "Let's go. Ms. Soo won't like if you are late." Eliza said as we hurried to the piano lab. "Hi Ms. Soo." Eliza said to a kind looking women as she smiled at us.
"Eliza, how was your summer?" She asked as she got up from her desk.
"It's was nice Ms. Soo this is Delaney. She just moved here from Mount Vernon." Eliza said as Ms. Soo smiled at me.
"Yes, you are Mr. Washington's niece." She said as I nodded.
"Yes ma'am." I said as she smiled at me.
"Well your piano will be over there next to Eliza. You girls are my smallest class. I have you two girls and Philip Hamilton. So it will be a lot more teacher to student this year." She said as we nodded and walked over to our pianos. I turned it on and started to play a piece that I had from last year at my old school. I saw a younger kid walk in all fluster and dropped his papers. He shook his head and knelt down to pick them up. I walked over to him and helped him out.
"Sorry." He said flustered as I stood up.
"It's alright." I said as he walked to his piano.
"Alright girls you two can warm up. Philip you and I are going to have one on one time." Ms. Soo said as Me and Eliza started to warm up together.
"So what else do you like to do?" Eliza asked as I pulled out my piano book.
"I like to argue." I said laughing quietly as Eliza rolled her eyes.
"You and Alexander would get along great." Eliza said laughing and I started to play an old piece that I composed a few months ago.
"What is that one called?" Eliza asked as I started the second page.
"It is called A." I said as she looked at me confused. I hit the wrong key and winced.
"You okay?" Eliza asked as I nodded.
"I hate being messing up." I said as she nodded.
"It's okay Laney." Eliza said as Ms. Soo walked over to us.
"Alright Eliza let's see what you remember." I said as I pulled out my earbuds and plugged it into the piano and started to play. I started to play and listen as I played more and more as I felt someone tap on my shoulder. I took my earbuds out and turned to Ms. Soo.
"Do you mind if I test you to see where you are on your skill level?" She asked as I nodded. "Alright. Repeat after me. Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf." She said playing the scale on the piano. I replayed it back to her in the same major and repeated her. "Very good. Now play this." She said playing a pattern as I played it back to her. "Very good. Did you take piano at your old school?" Ms. Soo asked as I nodded.
"Yes ma'am. Also my Aunt taught me at a young age." I said as She nodded.
"Well she taught you well." She said as I heard the bell ring. "Alright you three. I will see you on Wednesday." She said as we all gathered our things.
"Let's see, now off to English with Mr. Seabury. His son is our grade." Eliza said as we started to walk. I saw some of the guys from Fine Arts sitting on desks.
"Hey it's Eliza and Delaney right?" One of the guys in plaid and his dark hair pulled back into a ponytail, asked as I nodded.
"Laney, this is Alexander Hamilton." Eliza said as I smiled at him. "You already know John Laurens. That is Marquis de Lafayette." She said pointing towards a guy with wildly curly brown hair.
"Bonjour Mademoiselle." He said as I giggled.
"Bonjour à vous, monsieur." I said as his eyes widen.
"You know French?" Lafayette asked as I nodded. "
Yes indeed Laffy Taffy." I said as the others laughed at Lafayette new nickname.
"Then you have Aaron Burr." Eliza said as I smiled at him. I felt my phone buzz in my back pocket. I pulled it out and saw that I had a text message from my boyfriend back in Mount Vernon.
"You better answer me when I text you." I read it and put it back in my pocket.
I sat in a group of desks with the other Fine Arts kids as the teacher walked in and followed by a familiar face. It was my boyfriend from Mount Vernon John Adams.