Hola!
I'm back! The characters in this story are actual real people, not some made up imagination. Though the story is completely mind sooo.
Enjoy!
"Angelica! Wait!"
Peggy cried running behind them, trying to catch up. Eliza pulled Angelica back waiting for her younger sister. She finally was able to reach them and grinned widely when she did. It was the last week of summer and Angelica wanted to go out with the sisters for one last time before she went back to New York City.
She hasn't seen the boys as she has suggested since the ball two weeks ago. It wasn't intentional, she just didn't think to call them or anything. Alexander also isn't living in the same house as before, well she doesn't know how he got to America, much less where he is sleeping at night.
The sisters continued walking until they start reaching the outskirts of the down town area. The sun was already very low on the sky and it made Peggy anxious. Eliza herself has never ventured out here, even though the boys used to go here all the time.
"Angelica! Daddy said to be home by sundown" Peggy gripped on of Angelica's arms while Eliza hooked her own loosely around Angelica's other arm.
"Daddy doesn't need to know," Angelica replied teasingly, grinning softly at Peggy.
"Daddy said not to go downtown either!"
"Like I said back at the house you're free to go. If you feel uncomfortable I can walk you back," Eliza responded calmly.
"You're not afraid. Are you?" Angelica said to Peggy, arching an eyebrow.
"I am not! I'm completely fine with this!"
With that Peggy strutted in front of them with her head held high, not wavering for a and Eliza giggled behind her walking arm in arm.
Their father, Philip Schuyler has become the mayor about two years prior. The Schuyler's ,now a household name, were undoubtedly richer than they were before. It didn't surprise the sisters to see many people staring at them, being they are the daughters of the most powerful man in town. Though the rich never go downtown at all. Usually when the rich go its the snotty private school kids who drive up in their Lamborghini's and laugh at whoever walked by. When Angelica was a teenager she used to sneak off to this area several times and go to local pubs debating on politics and women's rights and what not.
They passed by a place called as music poured out from the inside. Angelica stopped as a smirk came across her features.
"Come on, this is the local place for high schoolers to hang out. I'm sure Peggy could fit in just fine." Angelica said to them, with Peggy biting her lip in worry.
Though Peggy was only eleven years old she had a quick growth spurt, she looks fifteen. Just like Angelica she grew quickly, but unlike her Peggy was still childish and the moment she spoke you could tell she is younger than she appears. Eliza was the only one in the family who did not get that, and grew into her body. Peggy slowly nodded and bounced inside with Angelica hot on her tracks. It was Eliza who hesitated before entering.
Inside you are instantly hit with the smell of sweat and beer. A small bar was secluded from the rest of place which was filled with couches on the side, and a dance floor in the middle of the room. A pool table was at a corner with a TV playing a football game of some sort. Though Angelica and Peggy went directly towards the dance floor, pulling Eliza along as well. After a few dances they decided to separate.
Eliza drifted toward the couches after dancing with them. Angelica went over to the bar as Peggy continue to dance around, where some people around Eliza's age were dancing. When she sat down she noticed the walls were covered in posters of inspirational speakers, authors, poets, and musicians. The only other picture on the wall was the owner himself, Samuel Adams.
Around her people were chatting quietly, this was the more private part of the room. The laughter and yells were coming from all other corners of the room, but this part stayed peaceful.
"Eliza?" she looks over to see Lafayette, John, Hercules, and Alexander standing behind her couch.
"Hello,"
They move around and sit beside her, each greeting her one by one. She smiled at them all, glad to see her old friends. Alexander grabs her hand and kisses it, with a grin etched over his face. It was something he used to do when they were younger to greet her; it made her grin.
"It's nice to see the old gang back together," Lafayette says wrapping an arm around Eliza affectionately. John smiles from beside her, as Alexander and Hercules sit across from them in arm chairs.
"It's nice to be in contact with a woman. For the past two weeks, all I have been looking at is these three idiots faces." John says while the three smack him playfully. She laughs, truly and can't believe she spent four years without these guys.
"Yes, Eliza my darling, I need you to save me from these horny horn dogs, drooling over any woman that walks by," Hercules puts a hand against his forehead, pretending to faint agains't his chair, as the guys rolls their eyes.
"I'll be sure to save you and accompany you to drool over hot guys that walk by instead." Eliza replies. They laugh as Eliza crosses her leg over the other grinning at them, "So what have you guys been up to ever since the return of the almighty,"
"I am not almighty!" Alex proclaims from his seat, standing up with his fist in the air.
"Umm yes you are," John pipes up from his seat grinning widely, "we've been showing the old tom cat around the town, filling him in on what he has missed with a few things. Scoped the town, basically,"
"Well, they didn't tell me what your up to." Alexander says suggestively.
Eliza has no doubt that Alexander would be proud of the accomplishments she has made. What Eliza really wonders about what he would think about her falling out with the rest of them. Looking around, it looks like they have never separated after all this time. Things just went back to normal between the four of them.
"Well, I became the president of the debate club, and founded one of the charity groups at our school," She said, wringing her hands though with her back straight and her voice steady, " We won state championship last year, and I hope to do so again, just win nationals this time around,"
"Eliza, you're forgetting that you founded the best charity group in the school's history, it helps out the orphans. You go three times a week to the orphanage to read them stories. Your fundraiser alone was able to collect 20,000 dollars for the orphanage," She heard behind her. She turned around , there was James Madison behind her smiling.
James Madison's father is one of her fathers most closest advisories. For a while now her father has been suggesting a relationship to bloom between her and James. The problem is that his best friend is probably one of the worst people she has ever met, and by association with him, Eliza has never spoken with James personally. Sure she has greeted him in the charity events and formal dinners her father hosts, but that's about it for her.
Now though, over the summer her father has been inviting the Madison's over for weekly dinners and finds herself sitting with him in the parlor afterwards listening to their fathers debate over frivolous things. They sometimes even play cards with Peggy when they start getting into personal information about the town, and they need to be taken outside.
"Hello, James," She says politely nodding her head to him. The boys around her glare at him blatantly.
"Hey, I didn't know you come here," James said tilting his head in confusion. He looks over at the boys and straightens nodding his head towards them, "Mulligan, Lafayette, Lauren's, Hamilton"
"Madison," They say in unison, in monotonous voices.
"Well, I don't. This is my first time actually," Eliza responded, nervously looking over the boys, "It was nice seeing you, James."
"It was nice seeing you as well. My family is coming over tonight for dinner, and I believe we get to be alone afterwards for cards." James looks down to his watch and sighs, "I do have to go, and I've already said hello and goodbye to your sisters. I should have left minutes ago, but I had to stop by and talk to you,"
She forced a smile and tried not to cringe at his words, "That's very sweet of you. Shouldn't you go, I wouldn't want you to be anymore late than you already are,"
He nods, grabs her hand, kisses it and leaves, throwing her a glance before exiting the establishment. She slowly turns back around to the boys and see's Alexander turning fifteen shades of red. Lafayette's arm slowly pulls away from her and stares at her, as well with Lauren's and Hercules.
"What. The. Fuck." Alexander says and turns to glare at her, "You let her become friends with the enemy's hound dog? Don't you remember all the bad things he let his friend do to us? Eliza!"
"May, I explain?" She says calmly with her eyes closed.
"Explain? Explain what! That you are suddenly best buddies, maybe even dating James Madison? I can clearly see that! What's up with that kissing of the hands things, thats MY thing with you"
"I am not friends, or dating James, if you simply let me-"
"You guys spend time alone together, doing what exactly? I've heard a lot of code names, for sneaking around but never cards. Is that what you're doing? Fucking Madison in the house alone while everyone else is doing good knows what!" Alexander yells at her, lividly.
"Alex!" John yells at him, angrily though not succeeding in stopping him.
"Alexander Hamilton! You shut your mouth right now!" Eliza screams at him. This shuts him up, she has never screamed at him before. And has certainly never looked at him with such fury in her eyes. Her sister come running over to her, sensing their sister in distress. "I cannot believe you think so low of me, as to believe I would so casually do those types of sexual activity's with a stranger. Just for you to know, James Madison's father is friends with my father. His family has been coming over for dinner every week this summer and sometimes afterwards when our fathers are talking about confidential information me and him, AND Peggy go play cards." Eliza explains with tears coming down her face. The boys faces soften, and Alexander takes on a guilty look on his face.
"Betsy…"
"No! You don't get to talk to me Alexander. After the cruel and selfish words that you have said about me, do you really believe you hold the right to gain my forgiveness in two-seconds using a child hood nickname? Just leave me be," She turns around and starts to walks towards the exit, with Peggy hot on her tracks.
"You are all fools, in believing such things about my sister. You were all her best friends once, you would think that you would know better than to accuse her of such foul acts. If I see any one of you speaking such way with my sister again I will not hesitate to ripe your sacks with my own bare hands, grind them up in a blender, and feed it to you," Angelica spits at them, before walking out to catch up with her sister.
Eliza walks quickly away from the establishment, as her sisters croon beside her. The minute she enters the house, she goes directly to her room. Not even going down for dinner, claiming she does not feel well.
She cries the remainder of the night
It's the third week of the school year, and Eliza still has not spoken to any of the boys. They have all come up to her to speak, and she always tell them later. It's Alexander who is the more persistent one. He writes her letters and slips them into her locker. He comes up to her at least twice a day and rambles on and on about apologizes, with her walking statically by his side. Now that it's the third week he visits her less, but continues to leave little notes in her locker.
She can't say she is angry at them anymore, just more saddened at the fact that they would think of her like that. Does she come off as a girl that sleeps around? She's only ever had one boyfriend for about three months before she ended things. And its never gone farther than kissing, she doesn't flirt either. Nor does she tease boys that she is not interested in, thats just cruel.
These are the thoughts that flood her mind as she brushes her hair for the night. She has already changed to a tank top and pajama shorts for bed, seeing ,as the hot summer air still lingers. Eliza usually sleeps with her window open, even though she is told countless time that it's dangerous. Especially since there is a tree outside said window.
She walks over to her bed and settles in when she hears a grunt, coming from outside. Brushing it off she goes under the covers and closes her eyes before hearing a grunt again. She sits up completely when she hears a quiet "oh shit" coming from outside. Sliding out of bed and grabbing her hardcover Trigonometry book she waits ready to hit the intruder. When the man climbs in her window she charges with her book raised over her head.
"Wait! It's me! Alex!" She stops right when she's going to hit the culprit. Looking down she see's him cowering with his hand over his head, looking away. She sighs and puts the book down by the table.
"What are you doing in my room!" Eliza says harshly, "You almost gave me a heart attack,"
"This is the only way I figured you would talk to me. I was right," He seems happy with himself, making her roll her eyes.
Sitting on the bed, she slumps her stature and looks over at him. He is still sitting on the floor but this time his eyes wander downwards. Noticing she doesn't have a bra on, she crosses her arms over her chest hiding them from his view. He coughs nervously, stands up, and sits next to her.
"Why would you think that I would sleep with Madison? Do I look like the type of girl now to do something so… atrocious?" Eliza asks in a quiet voice looking down.
He shakes his head vigorously, and pulls her face to face his. He holds it so she wont look down again and speaks with a quivering voice.
"Never, have I believed that you were one of those girls. Anger just overflowed me that you could be friends with him. And then more thoughts started to intrude my head, of you kissing him. Of him kissing your hand, and it lit such an emotion inside me Eliza, that I have never felt before. Its just I grew so angry, I made myself believe this imagery in my head be real. It was all that was flowing through my brain, taunting me in its evil ways. It wrapped itself around my emotions and I lost control. Though it's not an excuse for talking to you, such a lady, like that. Please believe me Eliza, that you are the best women I have ever encountered and never have I actually truly believed that you would do such contemptible activities." Alexander says slowly to make his point.
She looks at him, at his pleading eyes, his disheveled hair, the eye bags under his eyes. He looked twenty years older than he actually is and it scares her. His thumb caresses her cheeks, and she knew she had to forgive him. There was no denying it that he trapped her in his terrible spell of his, that always won her over when they had arguments.
"I believe you" she says quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
He grins and throws his arms around her, and she slowly pulls her's around him. His musky smell wraps around her. He still wears the same colon that her father once gave him from his collection. It was one of her fathers favorites, though he only wore it once. He was a man of the past sticking to the one he always uses, and decided to give one of the many bottles he had to Alex.
"Tell me about Whitby," Eliza says when they pull away from each other.
He grinned fondly and sat straight, the way he always does when he gets ready to tell a story.
" I hoped that if you forgave me you would ask that," He took out an envelope from his back pocket and handed it to her. " I wrote a lot over there. I wrote you several letters, though I was to nervous to actually send them. This letter alone describes everything that I have ever saw in that town"
"May you at least tell me how you came back?" Eliza asks.
"It was this letter actually that brought me back. The maid of the house I was living in, found the letter a few months ago on my desk while cleaning up my room. She read it and gave it to the man I lived with, Nicholas Cruger. He read it as well and believed that I was much to big for a small town like Whitby. He saved up some money, sold the house, to move to America with me so I could have a better education. I asked him to come back here to Jacobson to finish my high school career and then go to New York City for college. He agreed only because the town is next to the sea so he can continue his trade."
Jacobson was known for its 836 population and for being near the ocean. It's one of the smallest towns in New York, only beating Aurora by a hundred.
"I'm glad your back. Even though you were a total ass to me." Eliza says over exaggerating her pursed lips and squinted eyes. He laughed and rubbed the back of his neck in shame. "Hey, now that I have forgiven you, am I finally going to catch a break of you following me saying,'Im sorry' several times?"
"Well, the following will continue. If you haven't noticed I'm in most of your classes since you're taking advanced ones. And If you don't mind I'd like to continue talking, just with you speaking as well."
"I'd be glad to speak with you, for once" He throws her a look as she continues, "I mean you go on and on and on. Do you-"
He leans over and begins to tickle her, making her fall back onto the bead begging him to stop. She tries to stop him, but he pins her hands back one of his while sitting on her legs to stop them from kicking. She couldn't think or breath so when he finally did stop she gasped for breath. Opening her eyes, she found Alexander on top of her staring intently while letting out a few chuckles. She smiles back at him, well until she realizes, her family is sleeping and he's on top of her while she's not wearing a bra.
"As much fun this is, my family is sleeping and you should be too," Eliza finally says sitting up once he slides off of her. A flash of disappointment comes across his face before turning into a smile.
"All right, I should get going," He kisses her cheek and goes over the window, with one out on top of the branch outside the tree he turns around to face her, "Goodnight Betsy"
With a quick smile he's out the window and gone into the night. Eliza sighs and goes under the covers. With all her might she tries to calm her mind, and to go to sleep. It's when she decides to read Alex's letter
My dearest, Eliza
Life without you, continues to plague me; without our witty debates, your long dark locks, your laughter that sounds as if a choir is serenading you to heaven itself, life is rather dull. Your flowery scent used to fill me whole, never leaving me. Now I'm left with the scent of fish and the ocean, one being rather more pleasant than the other, and only a necklace of your's. To be completely honest, I never intended to take it. Falling into my possession was this locket that I presume your father has given you. I would return it to you when I can.
My darling Betsy, the last we've seen each other you cried, as did I. Our friendship has been all we have ever known, so the tears that came down upon us should not end just at our farewell. Do not fret, Eliza for you are one of the most strong-willed mademoiselle I know. Girl seems to pitiful and small of a word to describe you, yet I could not say woman for you are not one yet. No doubt in my mind, that you will become someone that children and young damsels like yourself lookup to.
Do we know, what our lives would carry, what history will become of us? Do we know if we will be remembered as a hero, or as a stranger lost in the small world we have claimed as our own?Though we do not have the wisdom that the wind carries, or the ingenuity of the river, we have our own compassion between us that will be stronger than anything that's ever been.
The rest of the page continues like this, and her heart exploded into a hundred pieces, just like it did on the night of the dance. He spends three paragraphs explaining the ocean and the scent of the wind. Four pages on Whitby itself, and then another on his house. The last page was dedicated to her as well, wishing new hopes for them both. Just the fact that he was only twelve when he wrote this sends her heart thumping.
She stays up all night, re reading the lines of every single letter, in every single paragraph, in every single page.
"Oh. My. God," is all that Angelica says when Eliza reads her the letter over Skype.
"I know,"
It's passed a week and Eliza has been dying to show someone the letter. The beautifully written letter that describes so many things, making them seem as they are the utmost importance when they are just ordinary things you see everyday. She couldn't show Peggy, though she loves her little sister she is quite the blabber mouth. So, logically she waited until Angelica was online for a whole week.
"And this was when he was twelve? Correct?"
"Bingo"
Angelica ponders over this information, looking over at her sisters helpless eyes. Angelica knew Alexander quite well, since he always came over. She knew his mind set, and so did her sister; her sister is just a bit preoccupied to remember it.
"Eliza, this letter, it's amazing and its beautiful, no doubt about that, and its obvious he cares about you. Just you have to remember, this is Alexander we are talking about. He will do what it takes to survive, and if that means leaving you behind ,he'll do it."
Eliza nods her head in understanding. She knew this of course, in Alexanders mind when theres a situation presented in front of him it all comes to the matter of life and death. And when it comes to matter of a girl, that he could certainly live without, he would pick the second option.
To get her mind out of the situation, Eliza asked Angelica how her life was. It worked for a while, but eventually her mind would wonder back every once in a while.
What she needs is an Alexander detox.
Plan, Alexander Detox is not as promising as it was in her mind. He is everywhere, talking, laughing, walking. Nothing she could do will let her escape him, he's like a drug. A temptation that nags you and berates you until you cant breath.
For the past four months she has only approached him, if he is surrounded by people. He walks with her still to class, though they don't walk home together anymore. He lives downtown now, which is near the sea; more convenient for his uncle.
It was December and she was freezing, since Jamestown is more north in the state. Frequently Hercules and Lafayette are giving up their sweaters under their bulky sweaters to give to her. The colder weather meant the closer she got to them for warmth. This cold weather also showed her a new aspect of Alexander.
In England he was apparently quite the ladies man, and men's occasionally. He told the group about his several escapades back in Whitby, admitting that he is bisexual with pride. Sometimes he wears a small bandana with the flags colors around his wrist. John himself admitted as well that he was gay, the group accepted them with open arms.
Anyway, Alexander's tom cat reputation preceded him, and has a new person under his arm every other week. The only other person who has someone under their arm is Lafayette with Adrienne, and Aaron Burr who somehow was able to persuade Theodosia to date him. She teased her for weeks, and Theodosia just brushed her off with a laugh.
Eliza herself sits between Hercules and John, though she feels that one day she has to move over to the head of their lunch table with the way the two stare at each other when the other isn't looking. That just leaves Eliza alone, without anybody at all, and now with the winter dance two weeks away she'd be stuck going as third wheel to the two. Now she sits there and watches them all speak to each other, and pay attention to their lover at the same time.
She's already seen Lafayette's cake proposal and Aaron Burr's simple guitar and singing proposal. Don't even get her started on Hercules and John's awkwardly cute encounter and Alex's poem to his new flavor of the week Catherine. Looking around the room she see's Samuel Seabury walking over to her, and she sinks in her seat. It's not like he is a bad guy, its more of the fact that he will spend the whole night talking about Professor King's English lessons.
Right when he's five feet away, James Madison steps in front of him and strides towards her. Thankfully he'll speak to her long enough to send Samuel running for the hills.
"Hello, Eliza" Though he comes over once a week to the table, the group always stops their conversations and look at him. She gives him props for not running away like Samuel from their cruel stares.
"James! Seabury was coming my way, and I don't know what I would have done if you didn't step in," She stops from speaking when she see's his fidgeting figure.
"Yes, Um, I'd like to ask you something if thats okay," Her eyes widen and all she is left to do is nod. He coughs a pulls out a bouquet of roses from behind his back and hands them to her. "I would just like to know if you would like to go to the winter dance with me?"
Staring, thats what she did ,trying to figure out if he is for real. One option is to turn him down and go stag to the dance. She'd be alone watching everyone dance with somebody, maybe she wouldn't go at all and be home alone. On the other hand she could go with James; have a nice time, maybe their relationship can grow. Her father would certainly be pleased, he has been growing more persistent on her dating him.
"Eliza?" Focusing her vision she see's James shifting his weight between his feet. Everybody at the table is staring at her, so is everyone in the cafeteria.
"Okay,"
He grins widely and the whole cafeteria claps for him, except her table who still stare at her as if she grew two heads. Especially Alex who looks like he wants to pop. His rivalry with Thomas didn't burn out, it just grew stronger. James being Thomases best friend, makes him terrible in his eyes.
The bell rings and Eliza grabs the bouquet from him, standing out of her seat. She kisses his cheek and whispers thank you in his ear. He asks he if he can walk her to class and she lets him take her. Before they leave the cafeteria she turns her head and see's Alex's look of disapproval.
She turns back around and doesn't look back.
When she goes back home that night , her parents have the opposite reaction than what her friends have shown her.
Her parents were ecstatic that night when she told them casually in passing. Peggy was happy as well and they called Angelica in tears of joy.
"Eliza, let this be once. Don't continue seeing him afterwards. Promise me!" Thats what Angelica said to her the minute they passed the phone to her. She knew something, Eliza didn't and it worried her.
She agreed to Angelica's wishes and tells her family she doesn't feel well and goes back to her. Entering her room, she lets of a shriek when she see's Alex sitting on her bed twisting his hands. He looks up and stands up immediately at her presence.
"Alexander, you have to give some type of warning before you do this," Eliza laughs, but stops when she see's his expression.
"Why? No wait, do you like James?" Alexander paces the room, "You know I hate him, Eliza! I'm sorry you don't have a date, but I'll dance with you ! Just don't go with that blubbering idiot,"
"Alex, He's a nice guy if you get to know him. You really don't think I'm going to say no to him just because you don't like him" She clenches her fist as anger fills her, " I'm not gonna be alone at the dance and occasionally take turns dancing with you all, when pity fills you up to much. I'm not going to be the big ninth wheel, Alexander! James actually likes me, and maybe I can like him back just as much. You have to let me be happy!"
He stops and glares at her, and though she wants to shrink back she doesn't.
"He's the enemy, Eliza! You can't date the enemy! I loathe him, I loathe Thomas, yet you stand there and your saying to me I shouldn't feel betrayed?"
"It's one dance, Alexander. One stupid night of us dancing and talking, okay! You are not my father, you do not get to tell me what to do. Now please, leave my room," He watches her for two beats, then climbs out the window.
How can he make her feel amazing and on fire one minute, then make her feel cold and extinguished the next?
Her flowy teal dress encases her, she feels like a trapped bird, no matter how loose it is. Her picked up hair is rebelling agains't the copious amounts of bobby pins she has stuck in there. Letting it loose, she decides to let her curls out for the night. A bit of powder there, a dab of lipstick, and she's ready to go.
She's never liked strapless dresses, they have always felt as if they would fall in any minute. This one however is hugged tightly around her chest, built for these types of dances. It flows down to her ankles which are trapped in these strappy silver heels that probably wont see the light of day again after this night.
"Eliza! James is here!" her mother calls out from behind her door.
Pulling the door open, her mother gasps and pulls her in for a tight hug. Whispering words of beauty into her ear, before letting her go. Her mother runs down the stairs and then calls her down, camera ready.
She smiles down at the camera and gives the usual prom poses by the staircase. James looks handsome in his tux, she has to admit that. He holds a corsage, a simple white flower with a grey ribbon. It's nice she supposes; simplicity is beauty.
He comes up and wraps an arm around her waist and smiles at the camera, he smiles down at her. She stays looking at the camera, with her hands clasped in front of her. It takes her parents fifteen minutes before they let them go.
A limo sits up front, with the driver casually leaning against the doors. James shrugs and opens the door for her, then slipping in himself. The whole car ride he talks about the whole process on getting the limo and the tux , and she occasionally nods and smiles. She laughs in the right moments and looks angry at others. She doesn't want to immediately dub him as the boring guy, but it was hard to judge.
When they arrived, he opened the door for her and helped her out of the car. The music could be heard from outside, and several groups people were slipping into the building. When they entered, a wave of people started to surround James and ask him questions. He and Thomas are probably the most popular kids in the school, so it would make sense people would surround him. She felt like an accessory, nobody really minded her.
Glancing around the room, she saw he group of friends at the other side of the room. They were all by the table laughing. Nudging James she nodded her head towards them and disembarked. Before she could get to far, James came up beside her and walked with her.
"Eliza! You look gorgeous!" Theodosia comes to her in a golden dress and hugs her. Eliza laughs and they both twirl, watching their dresses move with them.
"More like hot. Come here, babe," Adrienne teases moving up and hugging her. Adrienne has been the more confident and bold one out of the girls. She loves to give her friends affectionate nicknames, that you would give a lover.
Lafayette and Laurens complimented her and swung her around in a sandwich between them. Hercules muttered and smoothed down her dress once they put her down. From the corner of her eye she can see Alexander staring at her with Catherine whispering things in his ear. Turning back to Hercules she's glad she comes in at the right time. They begin a conversation on the fabric of the dress and the design, James standing dutifully by making small talk with John.
"Ugh! Enough about designs, lets dance!" Adrienne pulls her and Theodosia out to the dance floor.
The girls dance to the music, each with their own move and steps, but it all fell together accordingly. When a slow song came on James brushed up beside her and danced with her, as all the couples entered the dance floor.
"How are you liking the dance?" She whispers in his ear.
"It's great so far," James responds simply, he turns her under his arm, but she's caught off guard and trips on her dress. He catches her right on time, though and they continue to dance.
He steps on her feet twice and moves left when she moves right. Eliza certainly wouldn't comment on it, that would be rude, though she's getting very annoyed.
"Excuse me, may I take her for a moment," Alexander stands behind James, with a very annoyed Catherine behind him. James nods and begins to dance with Catherine, as she and Alexander start to move.
They dance around the ballroom, her dress swishing against their legs, though never causing the other to trip. Perfect harmony; that could describe the way the danced. Each step and movement was all done perfectly, never missing a beat, a moment. Time seemed to fly when dancing with him because a faster song was playing yet they were still slow dancing. Eventually another started playing and they slowed their movements down to a soft sway.
"Can we get out of here?" Alexander whispered in her ear. She nodded, they walked off the dance floor.
They grabbed their coats and went outside, but Alexander continued walking down the street. Following him was hard in heels and it was extremely cold, snow was down to their ankles. Only the side walks cleared from it. Soon she found herself in the playground that they played in when they were children. He was walking directly towards the swing set.
"Why did you bring me here?" Eliza said sitting down in one of the seats. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and sat down beside her.
"Everything is so different in Europe. I once went to France for the summer and was astounded by their way of living. If we had the same eating pattern that they have our numbers with the amount of deaths caused by obesity or heart problems would certainly be lower." She stares at him as if he had two heads. She knows to stay silent though, he has more to say, he always has more to say, "So it would make sense that the women would be different too. They were beautiful and smart. The men as well were handsome and witty. They were inspiring in every sense."
She looked down and sighed. Hopefully he would get to the point, she cant listen any longer. He picked up her head and looked her right in the eye.
"There was one thing that played through my mind the whole time, you. I would be walking with this woman smiling beside me down by the perl and I couldn't help but think how your smile would outshine hers. When a man would let me win debates I would think 'Eliza would try to give me a run for my money, and probably succeed'. It wan't until last year that I figured out I was completely and utterly devoted to you. Eliza, you are the only person I want. This is why I blow up when James Madison comes along thinking he can whisk you away. This is why I don't stay with a person so long because I'm only seeing how long they can distract me from trying not to kiss you. This is why I follow you everyday from class to class, so you can know that I care and that I would never leave you again like I did before. Its just big hole leading to oblivion of all the things that I do just because I-I" He struggles with the word. Never has she ever heard that word come out of his mouth in regards, to someone.
"Alexander, I love you too,"
He looks relieved that she was able to understand what he meant. Then a light lit up in his eyes and he started to laugh. She began to laugh as well, the whole thing finally makes sense, which is a relief. Then all of a sudden he stops and stares at her. Its the look he gives her sometime in random moments of the day. It was the only look Eliza couldn't classify, until now.
Leaning over he cups her cheeks in his hands, her eyes close. The crickets turn silent as she feels his breath over her lips. Time stops when their lips finally make contact, the whole world stops. A fire starts growing in the pit of her stomach and starts growing up and inside her. A nice slow burn comes across her body, it blows out slowly when he pulls away.
Their kiss was soft and sweet, now that he pulled away it she realizes it only lasted a few seconds, yet it felt like hours for her. She sighs and leans her forehead against his, as he grins wolfishly. He kisses her again yet with more passion. They kiss each other as if it would be the last they would see of each other. As if it would be the last kiss of their lives. This one took longer, though the burn still flowed inside her.
"Wow," he says once they pull away. She giggles and smoothes down his hair which her hands have taken hostage during their last kiss.
"That was probably the best kiss in all of history. Nobody in the whole entire world has probably experienced what we just experienced in that moment. My God!" He jumps in his seat as she laughs at his excited manner. She still smoothes down his hair, but starts playing with the ends of it as he continues talking, "If I knew that, that's how it would feel like to kiss you then I would have done it when I hugged you for the first time since I arrived! We wasted so much time cautiously walking around each other. Lets run away!"
A thousand thoughts whirl through his light headed mind. Eliza stops him before he continues with his escape plan.
"Slow down! I liked the kiss a lot too. Probably the best one I have ever received." Eliza says to him. "I think it's time we head back. Don't you?"
"Hell yeah its the best one we have ever received!" Alex exclaims. He stands up and grabs her hand, " Lets go back. I need to shout out to whole ballroom that were together,"
"I don't think James and Catherine would appreciate that,"
"Who cares,"
They start walking back hand in hand. Alexander begins to speak like a mad man of how they would have to make sure to make up for lost time. Time was important to him, he always felt like he never had enough. Once they reach the building she stops him from going inside.
"Alex, I feel we shouldn't go declaring love for each other just yet. We should let down the people we are with gently. You may not care, but I do. After we tell them we are not interested, then we can go shouting from the rooftops. Tomorrow, okay?" Eliza asks him before they enter. He thinks it over and nods, a smile slowly coming over his face.
"So tomorrow I can come over and we could go on a official date?" Eliza agrees and gives him what was supposed to be a small peck on the lips. He pulls her closer and deepens the kiss. She laughs pulling away and slapping his shoulder, "Come on tomcat lets go inside,"
"I don't wanna," He pouts and presses her against the wall. She smiles and slides her arms around his neck coming closer to his lips. He smiles believing he has succeeded.
"I do," she says once her lips are just about to touch his.
She slips away from him and starts walking inside as he calls out protests at her. She laughs and shakes her head at his silliness. Happiness is overflowing her. She cant wait until tomorrow.
The End!
I'm just kidding that is not the end. If you haven't noticed in the first chapter Eliza flashback twenty years! Back to then she was five, and her she is sixteen years old. So not a full twenty years just eleven. I know I said this would be a three parter(Is that the right word?) but I lied. Also my poor other story! I feel unmotivated to complete one chapter of that one when I have this one un-completed. Complications, complications. Please be patient with that one, please? By the way this isn't the last time you'll be seeing James. He's not going anywhere.
Adios, Tannerinos!
