Hey! Whoa, yeah, I updated! God, I'm so sorry this took so long. I've had a bit of a falling out with Hamilton, got sucked up in another fandom, and lost motivation for this. But I finally finished this chapter so here we are. (Note that this chapter may be long but that does not mean it's good in any way.)

Disclaimer: I don't suffer from PTSD or anxiety, nor do I have a PTSD service dog. I have done research, but if I portray having PTSD or anxiety incorrectly, please correct me. I also haven't been to college, so that doesn't help lol.

TW: PTSD flashback, implied abuse, anxiety (if I miss anything, please tell me!)

Alex taps at the travel mug in her hand as she watches Georgia and Martin drive away and off-campus. They had finished setting up her part of the dorm and decided it was time for them to go. Which means Alex is now officially living here. That's not scary at all. Nope.

Together they round the corner, and Alex finishes her drink in a single gulp. She finds herself staring at the bottom of the mug dejectedly. "Well, crap. It looks like we're gonna have to get another drink, huh?"

Talking to the service dog had become a habit ever since Alex had gotten Peggy and started talking to fill the occasional silence and shush her thoughts. It was supposed to be therapeutic, or something, and it is- to some extent- but it also makes her seem insane.

A memory tugs from the back of Alex's mind, and she remembers that the Schuylers work at a café on campus. She could get some tea and catch up with the brothers. Quid pro quo.

Time to go be social with people.

The first thing Alex realizes when she walks into the cafe is how quiet it is. Only a few students sit at the booths lining the walls, which Alex is not complaining about. The fewer people, the better. The cafe is a small, homey place, and appears worn in like it has seen a few too many college all-nighters. There are tall windows at the front of the shop that lit the shop nicely, and a counter displaying a few bakery snacks. A bored-looking senior was fixing up someone's coffee from behind the glass. Guess it wasn't the brothers' shift.

The second thing she realizes is who's sitting at a booth against one of the large windows. Alex doesn't recognize them initially, seeing as the person's far away from her and bent over a book. However, as Alex gets closer to the booth, it becomes apparent that the person is Erin Burr.

Erin fucking Burr.

Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. Erin Burr is basically a star to Alex. They're the top of all their classes, graduated high school early and came here last year on some crazy writing scholarship. They were one of the reasons Alex agreed on going to this college in the first place.

Alex has to talk to them, social anxiety be damned. She has to make a good impression, start this off on the right foot. This is what she tells herself until eventually, Alex heads straight towards the booth, straight towards Erin Burr.

Erin Burr.

"Excuse me, um, are you Erin Burr?" Alex tugs down her shirt and smooths back her brown hair in an attempt to make herself more presentable.

Erin Burr looks slightly annoyed as they bookmark their page and set the book down on the counter meticulously. "That depends," they turn to look at Alex, assessing her carefully, dark eyes landing on Peggy's vest for a few extra seconds, before cocking a thin eyebrow. "Who's asking?"

Alex's stomach is suddenly so knotted she can't quite breathe. Are they judging you? They think you're not enough, I bet. You're just another needy freshman to them. They already hate you, duh. Her long fingers start tapping against her leg. Just a penniless nobody that they don't care about-

A soft whine and nudge from Peggy jolt Alex out of her spiral, and she stills her fingers. Peggy presses against her leg as well, and Alex pets her softly.

She pulls herself together. Erin Burr doesn't even know her yet. They're too smart to judge someone off the bat. The meds dull the anxiety down, pushing it away.

"Alexandra Hamilton. It's a pleasure to meet you!" Alex sticks out a hand but barely waits for Burr to shake it before continuing. "You graduated high school in two years, yeah? I heard you came here on a full-ride scholarship, which is incredible. I came here on a writing scholarship as well. I'm also studying law, too, actually. You're really such an inspiration."

Alex moves over to sit down across from the legend and notices she's ranting. Look, now Erin thinks you're a suck-up who talks too much and- Peggy places her head on Alex's lap, and Alex remembers to breathe, petting Peggy softly.

Calm.

Down.

"Thank you. I only aspired to live up to my passed parents' legacy."

"You're an orphan! I am too. I feel like it pushes us to become more active, helps us see the problems clearer, without being deceived by a life of luxury and happiness." Ranting, ranting, ranting. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Erin shoots her a slightly impressed look, which squares Alex's shoulders with pride. "I agree. Just a word of advice?"

Alex nods eagerly.

"Talk...less. Being very opinionated doesn't get you far in law school. Watch others and learn. And watch them quietly."

Told you. You talk too much, you're just annoying and a nuisance.

"To get somewhere, you can only be on the winning side. Your enemies shouldn't know more than necessary. Think of it like this: everything you say is equipping your opponents with the supplies they need."

"I-what? But you have to be opinionated to be in law-"

"No, the opposite, actually. To be a lawyer, you have to drop your sense of right and wrong; you are on your client's side, and no one else's."

Alex opens her mouth to argue when suddenly the door to the cafe slams open, causing her to flinch back.

"ALEX!"

Oh god, he was coming. He was home, he was coming, he was going to-

"Showtime!"

-Hurt her. She had to hide, she had to go somewhere, she had to-

Alex's vaguely aware of her arms crossing over her body and something nudging them.

He was already here, he was going to, going to-

Something rough is really pushing at her legs, and there are whines. Whines? He doesn't whine. So who...?

She uncrosses her arms and reaches out, opening her eyes. Had she closed them? Her fingers come in contact with fur...fur, fur, fur- Peggy! Peggy is her service dog. She's helping her. Good girl, good girl. Sit down? No? Is this that bad? You're in a coffee shop maybe you shouldn't-

Right, she's in a coffee shop. Coffee shop in New York on King's College campus, and she needs to calm down. 4 seconds in, 7 seconds hold, 8 seconds out. She continues to pet Peggy and work on her breathing as she looks around, trying to ground herself.

The coffee shop is still pretty empty, just with three newcomers. Erin seems annoyed but also concerned. Their face is soft, but their eyes keep darting to the new three people.

Three new people.

Alex continues petty Peggy as she takes in their appearances.

Alex's eyes find the unfamiliar faces looking in Alex's direction, or, more likely, at Erin. One is tall, really tall. Their lashes are long and cast shadows over their face, giving them an elegant, regal look. Their hair is dark brown and curly, almost the same color as their skin. The next one is not as tall as the other, but more built. She looks sturdy and robust and healthy, the embodiment of everything Alex isn't. Her short hair is pulled back behind a bandana.

The last one is shorter than the others, closer to Alex's height (meaning tiny). Her face is covered with so many freckles it looks like a galaxy dotting her cheekbones and a more defined jaw. Her figure seems curvy but is hidden behind a muscle-tee and black cargo shorts (plus some really nice Docs, like damn). A mane of brown curls piles out from under a green beanie. She's really, really, really pretty.

Alex turns back to Peggy, rubbing her thumb over the dog's body in circles and watching as some hair falls out as a result. Peggy's eyes are trained on her owner, and she cocks her head in the cutest way.

"Good girl, good girl," she mumbles almost out of habit to the dog.

"Well if it isn't Erin Burr!"

Alex flinches away from the words and doesn't look up from Peggy. The person's words bounce around in Alex's head. Too loud. Too loud.

The newcomers and Erin pick up a quarrel-like conversation, which becomes muffled in Alex's brain with a constant loop of too loud, too loud, too loud. She knows she needs to leave. Instead of relenting to that need, she opts to look at the very pretty girl again, now that she's closer.

Healthy? No. But whatever.

And wow. Like fuck. Those are the greenest, most beautiful eyes Alex has ever seen. Not to sound cheesy or anything but seriously. That was a gorgeous shade of green. (It definitely helped that the person to which the eyes belonged was lovely as well).

Wait, she's looking at her too. All of the newcomers, as well as Erin, were staring at her. Oh, no, did they ask a question? They asked a question, didn't they?

You're so weird, why are you just staring at them? Why aren't you answering them? What did they ask? They probably think you're insane. Maybe you are insane. Maybe you're-

Maybe it's time to make an exit. Yeah.

"Uh, it was nice meeting you, Erin. I have to, um, go." Alex stumbles over her words as she shoots up and heads towards the door.

"Whoa, wait, what's your name," the green-eyed girl reaches out as though to grab Alex's arm, causing her to pull away hard.

Instead of stopping to say sorry, Alex just walks faster, Peggy at her side dutifully, and stays at that pace until she arrives at her dorm.

She realizes a bit too late that she never got her tea.

Ahhhhhhhhhh ok there you go. Is it good? Nah. Did I edit well? Pfft no. Whatever. Again, please, please correct me if anything is portrayed incorrectly or offensive in any way.

Lmao, last time I ended in German and that's just so...cringey, I'm sorry.

Have a good day, you lovely alien. xxstella