On Monday morning, Professor Washington had gathered Aaron, James, Nathaniel and William in Dean King's office. There, they waited to face their totalitarian dean's wrath.
"I'm going to get expelled, aren't I?" Aaron asked.
"I don't even know why I'm here." James said.
"Boys, it's a terrible situation that you are in." Washington said. "I know that none of you did anything. But convincing George King..." He shook his head.
"Alex could die, Sir." Aaron said.
"Yes. Alex could die." Washington sighed. "And I know you didn't take my advice to take care of yourself, did you?"
"No, Sir."
"He went to the hospital because of alcohol poisoning." William said.
"Boys, come on." Washington said. "I covered for you with your Halloween party. I can't cover for you like this again."
"I don't think I ever thanked you for that, Sir." James said.
"You don't need to thank me, James." Washington said. "Just try not to push the dean further."
"If he doesn't expel us all, you mean." Nathaniel shrugged.
"I meant what I said, Nathaniel."
"Alex is my friend. He's dying." Nathaniel said. "And I'm here in trouble with stupid Dean King for something I didn't do."
"We just want to get to the bottom of this situation. I'm sure it was an accident, but-"
"If you're sure it was an accident then leave me alone." Nathaniel snapped.
Dean King chose that exact moment to saunter into his office. None of them should have been surprised, it was his office after all. However, they all felt that same twinge of impending doom.
"Well. You four are in a lot of trouble." Dean King said.
"Aaron was the one who pulled the trigger!" William blurted out.
"William was in charge of the guns!" Aaron shouted.
"Well Alexander was in charge of making sure they were blanks!" Nathaniel said loudly over the bickering friends.
"And Nathaniel was in charge of making sure nobody tampered with them!" James shouted accusingly.
"Okay, so I looked away for five seconds, I kept CCTV on it."
"Really?" Aaron asked.
"Well, my webcam." Nathaniel shrugged. "I can prove it too-I was talking to Martha Wayles!"
"That's not exactly proof-" William began.
"Stop shouting." Dean King said in his most terrifying voice. It sent chills up the spines of everyone in the room. "Tell me what happened. One at a time." He pointed to Aaron. "You, Mr Burr, you go first. Since you shot Mr Hamilton."
"Okay... Dean King, Sir." Aaron's voice was shaky. "Well, it went like this."
Professor Washington asked us to do something to prove we know history. And he put me, Alex, William, James and Nathaniel in a group. Alex was studying the $20 note-that's the one with Andrew Jackson on it. Nathaniel suggested re-enacting that infamous duel. William's parents had replica dueling pistols so we agreed.
On the day, William got the pistols and Alex examined them-loading them both with blanks. He tested them outside. Nothing happened. So we went inside and Alex gave them to Nathaniel. Alex and I went to Professor Washington's classroom while James, Nathaniel and William went to Professor Washington's office. We went to change into our outfits that we borrowed from the drama club.
After we changed, Alex rambled about powdered wigs, our skin colors, King George the third and how fat King Henry the eighth was. He was excited. Being Alexander Hamilton. So I told him "Alexander, stop rambling." And he told me what I already knew. That he was excited. We joked a bit because he was playing Andrew Jackson and I was playing the dude he killed. Our plan was to go over the Code Duello as we went along, but Alex, being Alex, well, he named it the Ten Duel Commandments.
We went to join the others in Professor Washington's office. Alex was practically skipping. He was excited beyond words.
"You guys ready?" Alex asked almost as soon as we'd stepped through the door.
Nathaniel and William both agreed that they were ready. James was irritated that all he had to do was stand there.
I led everyone out to the quad to Professor Washington and the rest of the history class. We were first to present our history thing. We had Alex, because he loves to talk, introduce the project, what we were doing. Re-enacting the duel.
I said I would be playing Charles Dickinson. James said he was the doctor. Duels had doctors in them days and people still died. It wasn't great.
Anyway, we went through the Code Duello and it came time for us to face each other. We turned our backs and each walked ten paces. William and Nathaniel counted and shouted 'Fire!'
I have no idea what happened after. Alex was crumpled up on the floor, bleeding. Professor Washington ran to him and I believe it was Martha Wayles who called an ambulance. Thomas Jefferson tried to stop the bleeding.
Professor Washington was saying soothing words to Alex. Jefferson told Alex to fuck himself and that he hated him. Alex tried to talk, but he just closed his eyes. And then he stopped breathing. Jefferson hit him to try to revive him. I don't think it worked and it just left a bloodstain on his cheek... His skin looked horrible.
"I left and the cops found me. They asked me what happened and I told them exactly what I told you. Pretty much." Aaron finished.
Dean King turned to James. "Mr Madison. Your turn. Tell me your account."
"Okay. Well, I didn't see anything but-"
"Tell me your account." Dean King said.
James flinched slightly, wondering if anyone else noticed that brief psychopathic look in the dean's eye.
I remember that Professor Washington put me, Nathaniel, William, Alex and Aaron in a group for our history project. We were struggling to think of what we could so until William and Nathaniel suggested re-enacting that duel between Andrew Jackson and Charles Dickinson. Because I was lazy, I chose to be the doctor. William and Nathaniel chose to be the seconds and elected Alex to be Andrew Jackson and Aaron to be Charles Dickinson. Because, like Aaron said, William's parents had replica pistols.
So the big day came and William handed Alex the pistols. Alex looked at the guns and I don't know where he got the blanks from since he's an immigrant and all, but he tested them outside with me and Aaron. They were definitely blanks. When we went inside again, Alex handed Nathaniel the guns. He and Aaron left while Me, Nathaniel and William got changed in Professor Washington's office into our costumes.
Anyway, in Washington's office, Nathaniel set up his webcam and we got changed. Martha Wayles popped in and we all took our eyes off the guns to talk to her. I don't think anyone else could have got access to the guns.
Anyway, Alex and Aaron entered the office and Nathaniel kept carrying the guns. Aaron is right. I did get annoyed because I had to stand there. We walked out to the quad with Aaron and Professor Washington was waiting. Alex introduced everything, I was the doctor, blah, blah. I turned around. Heard counting. Then a bang. A gunshot. I turned around and Alex was on the ground, lying in his own blood. Aaron looked terrified. I was terrified. I didn't know what to do. It hit me that Aaron fired the gun.
Martha Wayles called for an ambulance while Professor Washington cradled Alex and Thomas did his best to stop Alex from bleeding to death. He took off his cravat and pressed it in the wound. Alex passed out. When the ambulance came, Aaron ran off. Thomas was-well, the paramedics had to rip him off Alex. I took Thomas back home.
"And that's what I remember happening." James shrugged.
Dean King nodded. "Okay. Mr Pendleton. Your turn. Since you looked after the guns."
"I did." Nathaniel nodded. "And this is the way I remember it."
By now, you know that we all had to do a history project and we were a group and we did the Jackson-Dickinson duel. I won't bore you with that. And you know that William gave Alex the guns and Alex loaded them with blanks. All I know is that Alex tested them and they were fine. So he gave the guns to me. I took them and put them in a safe spot where nobody besides me, James and William could have access to. Also Professor Washington-it was in his office.
Anyway, I put a webcam on them, to observe them and extra protection. When we were getting changed, Martha Wayles came in and we talked about bees. For some reason. Okay. We were talking about the latest episode of The Walking Dead. Don't judge us. We're all big fans. But I don't think anyone could get access to the guns.
When Alex and Aaron came back, I got the guns. I took them. We walked out to the rest of the rest of the group. I said and did my bit. Alex and Aaron each took a gun. We counted to ten. Yelled 'fire'. And then... Aaron, well, he pulled the trigger. After all, Charles Dickinson shot Andrew Jackson first in that duel. Blood came from Alex and he fell to the ground and I knew something had gone horribly wrong. Blood was everywhere. Mostly pouring from Alex. Professor Washington ran to Alex and tried to calm him down. Martha Wayles called for an ambulance. Thomas tried to stop the bleeding. Aaron tried to walk over to Alex, but William pulled him back. Aaron bolted when the paramedics arrived. Thomas had to be pulled from Alex so the paramedics could get Alex in the ambulance. The police came and asked questions. I answered. They took my laptop in evidence and as soon as they were done with me, I left.
"That's all I know." Nathaniel said.
"And you, Mr Van Ness?" Dean King asked.
"Well, the way I remember it is pretty much the same as everyone else." William said.
Yes, we were put in a group and yes, we chose the Jackson-Dickinson duel. My parents had replica dueling pistols. That morning, I gave Alex the guns and he put blanks in them. I don't know much, but I do know that Alex tested the guns and the blanks and they worked. Alex the gave the guns to Nathaniel, who took them and put his webcam on them when we were in Professor Washington's office.
Yes, we did talk to Martha Wayles about the Walking Dead when we were halfway through getting dressed in costume. Aaron and Alex came in and we followed them into the quad with Nathaniel taking the guns. I said my lines and counted to ten and shouted 'fire'. Aaron fired his gun. At first I thought it had been some sort of fake blood explosion or something and Alex was being overly dramatic. Because blood flew from him when he was shot. I didn't know that was a thing. And that he immediately collapsed to the ground. He kept bleeding though and that's when I realized he'd been shot. For real.
Professor Washington ran to him. Martha Wayles called the paramedics and Thomas pressed his hands and his tie to Alex's bullet wound. Aaron tried to walk over to Alex, but I stopped him. Alex passed out and the paramedics came and took him away. The police came shortly after and asked questions. I answered their questions. They were done with me pretty quickly really, but I had to give a statement, still.
"And that's what happened." William finished.
"I'm noticing some common threads here." Dean King said. "Like Martha Wayles calling for an ambulance. Thomas Jefferson trying to stop Alexander Hamilton from bleeding to death. Aaron Burr pulling the trigger on the gun and Alexander Hamilton loading the guns."
Washington shook his head. "George, this is ridiculous. If you're implying what I think you're implying-"
"And what, Washington, do you think I'm implying?" Dean King raised an eyebrow.
"I think you're implying that Alexander Hamilton loaded the guns and put a bullet in one, intending to shoot Aaron with it." Washington replied. He folded his arms.
"Oh, now I never said that at all, George." Dean King smirked.
"If dueling weren't illegal, I'd challenge you to one right now." Washington said through gritted teeth.
"Go on then, Washington. Tell me your account." Dean King said.
"Fine. I will." Washington said.
I put Alexander, Aaron, William, Nathaniel and James in a group to do a history project. They chose to do the Dickinson-Jackson duel-arguably the most infamous duel in American history. It's a future president killing a man in a duel. So I can see what drew them to it.
On the 18th, I agreed to loan them my history classroom and my office so they could prepare. They came out wearing clothes from the 1800s, I can only assume they were costumes borrowed from the drama club, and carrying guns, I was assured they would have blanks and witnessed the testing of the blanks. I watched Alexander load the blanks in, so I was fairly confident they fired blanks.
The teens ran through the Code Duello, a set of 'rules' for dueling for honorable people. Considering that duels were to settle matters of honor, most people who dueled followed through. They did it in a way that was fun as opposed to 'preachy' and kept everyone's interest until they shouted 'fire'.
Aaron pulled the trigger. Alex collapsed to the floor and began bleeding. I ran to him. I would've done the same for any of my other students. He was speaking nonsense. Thomas Jefferson applied pressure to Alexander's gunshot wound. I'd wager he's had first aid training. Martha Wayles, another student, called an ambulance of her own volition. I comforted Alexander, who was in a lot of pain, drifting in and out of consciousness and had probably, by then, gone into hypovolemic shock from all that blood loss. The paramedics came and Thomas didn't want to leave Alexander, but they rushed Alexander to the hospital anyway. When the police came, I answered their questions.
"Just like I'm answering yours." Washington finished.
"Right. I'm suspending you without pay until the police investigation is over." Dean King said.
"Excuse me?!" Washington fumed.
"You heard me, George." Dean King smirked. "And as for the rest of you, Nathaniel Pendleton, James Madison and William Van Ness, you are suspended from school until the new year. Aaron Burr, you are expelled."
"No!" Aaron whimpered.
"No!" Washington roared. "That's not fair George and you know it!" He slammed his palms down on Dean King's desk as he looked the man in the eye.
"Too bad, I already said the words. You and everyone in this room are witness-"
"Take. It. Back. George." Washington said slowly and angrily.
"I wish I could, but-"
"Now." Washington growled. He was getting angrier by the second. "You you the boy didn't do anything."
"He shot a student!" Dean King pointed out.
"It was a freak accident!" Washington shouted.
"Fine." Dean King relented. "Aaron Burr, you're suspended until the new year too."
"Not good enough." Washington said. "These kids don't deserve to miss out on that much of their studies."
"It's not that long-"
"It's four weeks and an exam!" Washington said. "Yes, it's 'that long'."
"What do you want me to do, George?" Dean King asked.
"George, I want you to pardon them." Washington folded his arms.
"What?"
"You heard me. Pardon them."
"You must be out of your fucking tiny little mind if you think-"
"I don't think, I know you will. Punish me all you want, but these students need to attend their lectures."
Dean King and Washington stared at each other for a few minutes until Dean King let out a loud sigh. He'd relented.
"Fine. Madison, Pendleton, Van Ness, you're excused and you can go back to your lectures." Dean King said.
"And Aaron?" Washington asked.
"No." Dean King shook his head.
"And Aaron?" Washington asked, a bit more forcefully and angrily this time. He looked ready to punch the dean in his face if he knew it wouldn't cost him his job.
"Fine. And Aaron." Dean King said. "But you're on probation. Any more trouble from you in the next two and a half years and you're out. Now get the shit out of my office."
A/N: Happy Thanksgiving to my American readers!
Sorry there's no news on Alex yet, but that'll come for Thanksgiving-the one in the story. That'll be the next chapter, so wait for it.
But in the meantime, you can be thankful that George Washington managed to save Aaron's ass from expulsion and everyone else from suspension.