Alexander sits in the cafeteria, nervously waiting for Thomas to come in and sit with him. Next to him is John. Hercules and Lafayette are also sitting at the table, eating their food and planning their next date night. Both have rather bright smiles.
"Alexander, you should eat," Lafayette says, stopping his conversation with Hercules for a moment to talk to him. Alex looks at him, slightly surprised, but he nods and pulls the bag out of his back pack. He pulls his lunch out and begins to eat it, scarfing the sandwich down eagerly. It is, after all, the first thing he's eaten today.
"Hello Alexander," Alex looks behind himself and smiles rather happily. "May I sit with you all?" Thomas asks, watching the group and waiting for any protests.
"Of course mon ami, come sit with us!" Lafayette exclaims, smiling brightly as he does so.
Thomas simply smiles slightly and sits next to Alexander, making sure that he's mostly facing the smaller boy. "How's your day been so far?" He asks, seeming genuinely curious.
"It's been fine so far, although English sounds boring and way too easy. I mean, we're doing a novel study on How to Kill Mockingbird. It's a good book, sure, but I've read it a million and one times. I can tell you every issue that comes out. I've taken so many in depth looks at the book that I honest to god can do any assignment before even reading it in class." Alexander huffs out. "And in Social Studies we're doing a study on globalization of all things! And I'm ready for the depressing as all fuck, 'oh that cheap shirt that you're wearing was made from people who are basically slaves in other countries.' Like I don't know that! But it's not like I can afford something more expensive," he says hotly, glaring at the sweater he's wearing from Old Navy. "Science and Math I'll at least be challenged because I've never really been too good at either of them, and I have neither of those this time around."
Thomas chuckles softly at this and looks at him. "I'm glad to hear that you're having fun." He says as he opens a container filled to the brim with quite nice smelling macaroni and cheese. "And I'm sure it won't be that bad. After all, you'll be able to hear other people's opinion on it; maybe someone will bring up something of value."
"But everyone in the class sounds like idiots," he grumbles. "They were all talking about sports and shit."
"Still, maybe someone will be able to bring something up," Thomas says, watching him with a smile. "Anyways, can you tell me about yourself? After all, all I know about you right now is that you're best classes are English and Social studies and you like being challenged. Also you like reading, but that's about it."
Alexander smiles a bit at this and allows himself to just start talking, not even worried that he isn't stopping. After all, the other doesn't seem to mind on bit. In fact, Thomas seems to be hanging onto every word that he says.
"That isn't too stupid; it was just a dumb little mistake. When James and I were younger, he dared me to jump off the swing at the highest height I could. I obviously said no, and logically he called me a chicken."
"So you didn't do it?"
"Oh I did it, and I broke my leg doing it. It is one of the dumbest things I have done to date, and it's a mistake that I will never repeat," the southerner explains, and Alexander can't help but laugh a bit and smiling rather brightly.
John suddenly stands up and begins to pack his things away, smiling at the group. "I'm going to go, see you guys later," he says as he picks up his bag, walking away from the group. Alexander frowns softly, worried for the other.
"Hercules, mon chou, watch my things. I'm going to go check on John." Lafayette says softly, kissing Hercules' cheek gently before going after the other boy, leaving Thomas, Hercules and Alexander.
Thomas looks at Alexander and smiles. "What's the chance of you being able to join me for a movie tonight?" He asks, and Alexander chuckles.
"Pretty high, I don't have a phone to ask the Washingtons but Laf can do that for me," he answers.
"On it," Hercules says, pulling his phone out and texting the two of them. Alexander blinks a slightly surprised look on his face as he looks at the other.
"What? I plan to marry Lafayette one day, George and Martha gave me their numbers." Hercules says, setting the device down when he sends the text.
"What movie are you thinking?" Alexander questions with a smile.
"Honestly, I don't know. I just suggested a movie because it's the first thing that came to mind. If you want, we can just wander around the mall and look at clothing and whatever else is there."
"I'm on board; after all, a movie isn't exactly the best date. You have to be quiet and you can't talk to the person you bring with you."
"Martha says its fine, but you have to come home first so that she can talk to you." Hercules said, and Thomas nods.
"Get Lafayette to tell me what time I should come by, my dad can drop us off."
Alexander smiles and nods at that. He finds himself extremely eager for the day to end, wanting to go on his date with Thomas.
It passed shockingly quickly, and Alexander soon finds himself walking home and excitedly chattering. "And oh my God Laf his eyes sparkle like two stars in the darkest of nights. He has the complexion of a fucking god, and his dialect puts me on cloud nine. Do you know how many times I had to ask him to repeat himself? I think I did it just to hear him talk. Holy shit," Alexander rambles, his eyes bright. "And his laugh- I would fall down a flight of stairs if I could make him laugh like that."
Lafayette chuckles softly at that and continues his walk. "You're talking more than I do petit lion." He hums out, and Alexander just huffs.
"I just met my soulmate, let me be happy and talk about how perfect he is," Alex says, smiling. "How could I forget that he made me like the morning? You had pulled me into a nightmarish hell-scape, but as soon as I got to school I found myself face to face with a fucking angel, one who was sent to remind me that there are good things in this world. I actually smiled when it was seven fifty-five in the morning. Do you know how hard it is for me to do that?" Alexander exclaims, his eyes bright.
The two walk through the door, and Lafayette, and extrovert who thrives on social interaction, finds himself mentally drained after that long talk about Thomas. "Martha, take Alexander from me, he's talking non-stop! It's too much for me to handle." He says dramatically. Martha laughs softly from the living room.
Alexander takes his shoes off with a smile and places them in the closet, going to the living room after with his bag and sitting next to Martha.
"How was school?" After those three words escaped her mouth, Alexander allowed himself to happily talk about everything that happened, from his meeting with Thomas to his excitement for the date that Thomas had suggested they go on. Martha just listens, smiling fondly and asking questions about Thomas every once in a while during the conversation.
"Now, about that date," Martha says, "You don't have a phone, so I'm going to let you borrow mine. Please don't go through anything, it is just for communication. We're also giving you some cash. If you see something you like, go ahead and buy it. I'd prefer it if you buy clothes but it's up to you. There's also some money for you for dinner if you are gone that long." Martha says with a smile. "He can pick you up whenever he wants to."
Alex smiles and goes to Lafayette, politely asking for the other to send the text before going to his room with a bright smile. He starts to get ready for the date, eager and slightly over excited. Realizing he has time to spare, he finds himself sitting at his window seat and writing, allowing himself to get lost in the words once more.
My Dearest,
Time stopped when I met you, and for once I welcomed the slowed down ticking of the clock, how a second felt like an eternity, as it allowed for me to take in your appearance. Your lovely brown eyes reminded me of devil's food cake; tempting me to do something sinful that would break the rules. Those lovely brown eyes that sparkle like thee sky during a power outage stared into my soul. For the first time in forever, I felt as though I could spill my secrets and everything that has happened to me without being prompted. They lure me into a sense of security, whether you mean to do so or not.
And oh, how those eyes keep me guessing; the colour dark to keep me from knowing your secrets. Secrets I so desperately wish to hear from your lips. I find myself growing curious the more I think of you and things that may have happened in your life. I find myself wanting to sit down and listen to your voice.
Your dialect drags me in, and I find it oh so alluring despite having heard a southern dialect so many times before this. I find myself trapped by your voice, absolutely captivated and hanging on every word that passes your lips. The words you speak, as boring as they are, sound so new to me whenever you decide to bless me with your voice.
I find myself continuously hypnotized whenever my gaze drifts over to you, and I go ten times deeper each time. Words refuse to come out of my mouth when I look at you, and I am shocked by the fact that you are able to render me speechless by doing nothing. My mind goes blank when I see you, even if I had been in the middle of writing. And then you look at me, those eyes giving me a questioning look, and my face heats up slightly. I stare at you, unable to pry my gaze away from you. Today alone I have given you a million reasons as to why I was staring, and I'm sure you've decided to stop listening to my excuses.
As ashamed as I am to admit it, you've made me melt as soon as you called me 'darling.' That single word had left me speechless, unable to do much more than nod when you spoke. I can't place why, but it felt so right for you to call me that, and my mind keeps going back to the word, imagining you saying it to me once more. Again, and again, on loop, constantly repeating in my mind.
You have done the impossible in my eyes, my dear Thomas. The colour magenta is absolutely hideous, and I have always hated it. And yet, you have made the colour look absolutely wonderful. It compliments you wonderfully, and I can't even place the reason.
If your gorgeous appearance hadn't distracted me, these surely would have been my first thoughts on you. But instead, I had thought of something extremely cliché; "My soulmate is a god." I was unable to think of anything intelligent. The effect you have on me is shocking to me, and I cannot wait to see how I affect you.
Ever Yours,
Alexander Hamilton
He stares at the words written and huffs softly. This isn't the best thing he's ever written, but the mere thought of Thomas made the words stop flowing. He was unable to think, distracted by the image of his soulmate smiling.
His mind must hate him, for it wanders consistently to the memory of the other asking him out on a small date to the mall. And he smiles, a soft smile, a loving smile, one that can tell you a million things without anyone saying anything about why he's smiling.
"Alexander, Thomas is here!" Martha says, and Alex grins, grabbing his jacket and rushing down the stairs, yelping when he literally falls to Thomas' feet. Thomas laughs softly and offers a hand to the other.
"Are you alright?" He asks, clearly concerned for the other.
"Yeah- I'm fine," he says, smiling sheepishly.
"Are you ready to go?" Thomas asks, watching as Alex gives a firm nod.
The two walk to the car and get in the back, sitting next to each other.
While Alexander is fairly calm and actually rather excited, Thomas is beyond nervous. His dad agreed to drive them after Thomas explained that he finally met his soulmate, but a few things happened after that particular conversation. Thomas had been essentially threatened. If his grades dropped because he was spending all of his time with his soulmate, then he would be grounded until he managed to get them back up. He was also told that his parents expected him to sort out any argument that the two of them had.
Not only that, but Thomas doesn't know how his relationship with Alexander will be. They are enemies, and not even the fact that his name is on his left wrist will change that. Something is bound to happen. They are bound to break up at some point, as hard as that is for Thomas to think of. He doesn't know just how bad it will be either; he just has a general idea, which is almost worse because he will be unable to prepare for the inevitable. He doesn't know how he will handle it either.
He steps out of the car when they arrive, listening to his dad talk to him and telling him to text him when the two of them are ready to go. He gives a quick, 'yes, understood father,' and goes into the mall with Alexander.
"Did the Washingtons adopt you?" Thomas asks Alexander as they walk into Winners, the two of them starting to browse through all of the clothing. Alexander looks at the shirts, quiet for a moment.
"No, and I don't know if that is going to happen any time soon. I'm in the foster system, and they are my foster parents," Alexander says honestly.
Thomas slowly nods and smiles reassuringly. "If it makes you feel any better, they are really nice people. They adopted Lafayette as soon as they could, and I never hear anything bad about them."
The Creole boy doesn't respond, wanting to get off of the subject. It's not that he doubted Thomas' words; it's just that he's worried. None of his previous foster homes had worked out for him and he'd rather not get his hopes up.
"I know this is an odd question, but who's your first friend?" Alex asks. It was the first question that came to mind, and he wanted to change the subject to something a bit more pleasant.
Thomas, thank God, seemed to accept the change in subject. He pulls a shirt out and passes it to Alex. "James Madison, the boy I was walking with when I met you. Our parents lived next to each other, and we lived across from a playground, so we often saw each other and played on the playground. What about you?"
"The first friend that I remember having is a guy our age named Aaron. I was in a really good foster home at the time. I lived with them for years. Aaron was also in the foster system, and we went to the same school. We met and, despite our differences, we very quickly became friends. We were friends for two years. At some point my foster mother died, and my foster father had been unable to buy things for the two of us. Before I had to leave, Aaron and I made emails and exchanged them. When I can, I'll email him." Alexander explains with a smile.
The two continue to explore the mall, rather happily walking around and talking to each other. They rather happily ordered food, with Alexander getting something from McDonalds and Thomas grabbing food from A&W.
Alexander is happy, he realizes halfway through the shitty meal. He has foster parents who haven't hit or hurt him yet, he has some friends, and he has his soulmate. He can't be happier.
A thought lingers in the back of his mind, however. He's still your enemy, the malicious voice practically purrs out.