Lams Orphanage AU

by tigerlilycorinne

John Laurens gets a job working at an orphanage to escape his abusive Father where he meets Alexander Hamilton, a coworker who is also running away from a terrible past. Both are treading too carefully to break their barriers and talk about it. Instead of connecting over healing from dark pasts they begin to run away from the subjects that remind them of home until tension snaps

10. Group Chat

-Alex's POV-

Class, as usual, was only vaguely entertaining. Although I did love the subjects I taught, teaching them could be tiresome, to say the least. Might I just say that the kids can get rather out of hand? And don't get me wrong, I loved the musical to bits, but Miranda did no cover all of history. Why did kids think memorizing the soundtrack was going to pass them?

And I couldn't stop thinking about John. I slightly regretted leaving acutely. I let my thoughts tangent and ended up reflecting upon my childhood, so it was necessary for me to make a quick exit, but it was, regardless, rather unfriendly of me.

I was relieved when the four o'clock bell rung to signal the end of mandatory educational classes. Breathing out a sigh, I organized my cluttered but neat desk until it was immaculately set. I leaned back in my swivel chair and spun in slow, lazy circles as I pulled out my phone. The afterschool texting flurry had already begun.

NeverSatisfied: Do u wanna hang?

HelplesslyBi: Sure, we'd love to

Staayyy: Baby, don't answer for me

Staayyy: I'd love to

AndPeggy: Only if we don't get coupley

NeverSatisfied: Yes, no dopey lovey dovey.

Staayyy: Well fuck u too

GunsAndBaguettes: In France we believe in peace and love

LockUpYourHorses: The fuck

GunsAndBaguettes: And we don't spew curses

LockUpYourHorses: Then u really don't fit in there do u

NeverSatisfied: Question mark

GunsAndBaguettes: Pardon?

AndPeggy: FIGHT

LockUpYourHorses: I'd win

GunsAndBaguettes: PARDON?

LockUpYourHorses: Stronger

GunsAndBaguettes: Cannot you form full sentences? I'm the immigrant here

AndPeggy: FIGHT

GunsAndBaguettes: I'd win

LockUpYourHorses: Nope

GunsAndBaguettes: I am faster and more agile than Herc

NeverSatisfied: Whoa, full sentences, impressive.

LockUpYourHorses: Oh hi Angie, I forgot about u

AndPeggy: OUCH

NeverSatisfied: I will not dignify schoolyard taunts with a response

AndPeggy: OOOOH

I checked my watch: 4:15. How did they text so much? Why did they text so much? They could literally step out of their respective classrooms and engage in verbal conversations in the hallway. Well, except for Maria, Eliza, and Peggy. I sighed and continued following the unfolding conversation in silence.

HelplesslyBi: Peggy, why r u such an instigator?

AndPeggy: Is that an INSULT?

Staayyy: That's going TOO FAR, honey. NO ONE fights with Liza, she's to precious

AndPeggy: R U CHALLENGING ME

NeverSatisfied: Question mark

AndPeggy: We r texing. U wanna fight?

GunsAndBaguettes: In France we believe in peace and love

NeverSatisfied: Well in America it appears we do not.

GunsAndBaguettes: WHY NOT

NeverSatisfied: Question mark

HelplesslyBi: Ask Trump

LockUpYourHorses: Fuck Trump

GunsAndBaguettes: I'd rather not

HelplesslyBi: Eeewwwww Laf!

Staayyy: U have harmed my bby's innocence.

Staayyy: Prepare to DIE

AndPeggy: FIGHT

GunsAndBaguettes: Lets go

Staayyy: *cocks gun* the duel will commence after we count to ten

GunsAndBaguettes: I thought u liked pussy

Staayyy: BITCH I'M BI

AndPeggy: Them's fightin words

LockUpYourHorses: Whos counting to ten

NeverSatisfied: Apostrophe, question mark

I snickered, watching the group chat spiral out of control, the hangout forgotten. They decided to count popcorn style, which I knew wasn't going to work. I sat back and watched, amused and somewhat cheered up. I grinned. They will tear each other to into pieces, Jesus Christ, this will be fun.I

LockUpYourHorses: ONE

AndPeggy: tWo

GunsAndBaguettes: THREE

LockUpYourHorses: Three

NeverSatisfied: Caps or capitalize the first letter

GunsAndBaguettes: Bitch 3 was my number

LockUpYourHorses: I did!

AndPeggy: FoUR

NeverSatisfied: I was talking to Peggy.

GunsAndBaguettes: FIVE

LockUpYourHorses: Five

GunsAndBaguettes: BITCH

LockUpYourHorses: I thought u were attracted to males

AndPeggy: OooOOoOo

NeverSatisfied: Caps or capitalize the first letter

GunsAndBaguettes: The duels about to be between me and Herc

NeverSatisfied: Apostrophe

Staayyy: Ok, SIX

AndPeggy: U gonna break up first

AndPeggy: Angie, you happy?

NeverSatisfied: Question mark

HelplesslyBi: Y do u want everyone to be sad, Peggy?

Staayyy: She will never be satisfied, Peggy

NeverSatisfied: Thank the both of you for grammar and addressing your messages.

AndPeggy: Your to proper

NeverSatisfied: You're too proper.

AndPeggy: Am not!

GunsAndBaguettes: SEVEN

GunsAndBaguettes: Don't u dare

LockUpYourHorses: Seven

GunsAndBaguettes: *Shoots Herc early*

AndPeggy: Blood, blood, blood, and DEATH

A-L-E-X-A-N-D-E-R: So about hanging out…

Staayyy: ALEX

AndPeggy: how lONg hAvE yOU bEeN sILenTLy JUdGinG uS

A-L-E-X-A-N-D-E-R: Caps or capitalize the first letter and question mark, Peggy

AndPeggy: Now we have an even bigger grammar nerd in the house. Fuck

A-L-E-X-A-N-D-E-R: Watch your language, Peggy.

AndPeggy: Youre use of . in txt is MOcking my sOul

A-L-E-X-A-N-D-E-R: Your, period,text, all caps or only caps at the beginning of a sentence, Peggy.

I knew this was going to drive her crazy, but it also really bugged me to see things spelled wrong or the wrong your/you're and there/their/they're. I quickly texted John and added him to the group chat.

RaiseAGlassToTurtles: Hello everybody. Whose place are we hanging out at and when's this happening?

His full sentences, punctuation, and civility was beautiful and notably refreshing.

A-L-E-X-A-N-D-E-R: It can be at our dorm if that's okay with you…

RaiseAGlassToTurtles: OK.

NeverSatisfied: When? Does 10 minutes sound good?

AndPeggy: See y'all bitches in 5

A-L-E-X-A-N-D-E-R: Language, Peggy: "See you in five." However, if you must, then "see you bitches in five." You can not write "see y'all bitches in five." It doesn't make sense. You are basically saying "See you all bitches in five"

My fingers flew as I typed. I was used to texting this fast, as I often indulged in explanations and arguments that were considerably detailed and thus I had to type quickly to get my point across before the conversation moved on.

AndPeggy: NO ONE ASKED FOR AN ESSAY

A-L-E-X-A-N-D-E-R: See all you bitches in five

Jumping out of the soft swivel chair, I closed the windows in the classroom and let down the shades so it wouldn't get too hot inside, shutting off my phone and sticking it in the back pocket of my tight jeans as I jogged out the door, flipping off the classroom lights.

When I entered the dorm, John was sitting in a chair rolled away from the desk, thoughtfully contemplating the texts that I knew were coming in, rapid fire, from the dings that consistently sounded from my ass. I didn't even want to see what people were writing. Uncertain what to adress after lunch with John, I flopped onto the bed.

"Tell me when they're here," I instructed him, and promptly shut my eyes, rolled over, and fell asleep.

I faded slowly into consciousness, aware of a low murmur of conversation. I recognised most of the subdued voices. Angie, Herc, that accent was definitely Laf's. I caught John's easy going voice, smooth and extroverted.

I was accustomed to hasty mornings and got out of bed quickly and stretched. "Hello."

The circle of people turned quickly and John met my gaze sheepishly. "Wha- I told you to wake me up when they got here!" The exclamation held no anger.

"You said 'tell me when they're here.' I told you. You were just such a deep sleeper that you didn't hear me." John protested.

"You knew what I meant!" I joined the circle of people, tucking a pencil behind my ear on the way.

"Plus," John added defensively, "You do so much, I feel like you should sleep more." He dipped his head slightly and shot me a shy look. My heart skipped a beat.

"Thanks mom," I teased lightly with a grateful smile. "I feel marginally refreshed. What are we doing?" It was a disguised compliment that meant a lot more than he knew. I had loved my mother more than anyone in the world.