The next day, Alex hurried out of his class to meet Eliza, stuffing crumpled papers into his bag as he raced down the hall. On his way, he almost knocked a rather startled Aaron Burr to the ground.
"Oh- shit, Aaron, sorry! I- I didn't see you there, I was just in a rush, cause, you know, I'm meeting a friend and I didn't want to-" he babbled, but stopped short as he laid eyes on Burr's face. The man looked terrible. Dark circles under his eyes, a split lip and a purpling bruise on the side of his face, and his clothes were creased and miss-matched. When he spoke, his voice was a croak.
"It's fine, Alexander, don't worry about it." He gave Alex a tired smile- it looked like it hurt- and moved to continue up the corridor. Alexander stopped him, grabbing onto his sleeve, and was shocked to feel Burr wince against his fingers and pull away from him as if burned.
"Burr, are you alright? No- don't answer, I know you're not- what happened to you?" His worry only increased as Burr gave a humourless laugh.
"Really, Alexander, don't worry about it. It's nothing." He shifted his bag on his shoulder. Alex only tightened his hold.
"No, you really don't look good- did someone hurt you? Is someone hurting you, Burr? I'll get help- you should talk to someone-"
"Alex, I told you, it's nothing you need to worry about."
"Are you sure, that bruise looks pretty-" Burr took a step away from him- flinching as Alex instinctively reached out a hand to touch his face.
"Really. I don't need your help, Alexander- or your pity."
"Aaron, I-"
"Hamilton, please. I'd- I'd just rather not talk about it." The smile was gone, and his eyes were pleading. Alex felt suddenly guilty for pushing the matter. He knew a thing or two about secrets.
"Right. Sorry." He let go of Burr's sleeve.
"It's alright."
"I'll see you tomorrow then, Burr- sir." Alex tried to keep his tone light, watching as Burr's lips twitched up a little at the joke, but he couldn't take his own eyes off the purpling skin on the side of Burr's face.
"Are you really going to do that every time?"
"Yes."
Burr smiled properly at that, squeezing Alexander's shoulder gently. The absurdity of the action was almost too much- Burr comforting Alexander- when it was Burr with the blood running down his chin.
"Didn't you say you were meeting someone? I wouldn't want to delay you."
"Oh. Yeah." Alex shifted awkwardly. "I'll see you around?"
"See you around, Alexander." Burr smiled at him again and retreated up the hall; Alex made no move to stop him this time. He watched until the guy had turned the corner, then snapped himself out of his thoughts and carried on his way to meet Eliza.
When he reached the gates of the college, Eliza was waiting for him, leaning against the wall and smiling down at her phone. He was struck immediately by how different she looked from when he had last seen her: her hair, which had been a waist-length sheet of black, was cropped short around her ears and dyed bright blue, and she was sporting pink heels and a flowery blouse along with a mini-skirt he knew she wouldn't have dared to wear in public three months ago. Alex called out and, when she spotted him, she beamed and ran to meet him, throwing her slim arms around his neck.
"Alex! It's so great to see you!"
"You too, Liza." he pulled back and looked up at her wide smile- she was taller than him with her heels on. "You look great! The hair!-" He gestured to her azure pixie cut. "Eliza, you should have told me!"
"I know, I know- sorry, not sorry." He stuck his tongue out at her. "Oh, stop it. I'm glad you like it, though." she blushed slightly. "You should have seen Peggy's face! She was so mad- father won't let her dye her hair until she's left high school."
"Aww, poor thing." Alexander had only met Eliza's younger sister, Peggy, on a couple of occasions, but had found her to be as sweet as her sister- if a good deal sassier.
"And what about you?" Eliza asked as they began the walk down the street. "No offence, Al, but you're not looking like the epitome of health."
"What on earth do you mean? I got, like, at least two hours of sleep last night- and I had an apple for breakfast. Totally healthy." Alexander stuck his nose in the air, feigning offence- though he was only half joking. Eliza seemed to guess that.
"Just don't forget to take care of yourself, ok?" she said. She squeezed his arm, and he smiled at her gratefully. Eliza had always been there to make sure he was doing alright- especially back in high school, when he'd regularly gone three consecutive days without sleep. He'd missed it. He'd missed her.
"I missed you, too." she smiled, and Alex blushed- he hadn't meant to say it out loud. They walked in silence for a few moments, arm in arm- relishing the feeling of being back together. Life had been harder without his best friend.
"So, what about this amazing coffee shop you're taking me to, huh?" he said, breaking the silence.
"Oh, yeah! Didn't you say you knew it?"
"There's only so many decent coffee shops in the area, Liza." he reminded her. She laughed.
"I suppose. It's really great, though- my older sister works there, so we might be able to get a discount."
"Nothing like exploiting the obligations of blood relatives." Alexander said sagely.
"Nothing like a free coffee." Eliza corrected him.
"Fair enough."
They chatted easily as they made their way down the street; they'd always been able to do that- just talk about nothing, just enjoy each other's company, and, falling into step with her so that the clack, clack, clack of her heels matched the slap of his sole-less sneakers, Alex almost couldn't believe he'd survived this long without her. They rounded the corner and the Coffee Grind-stone came into sight, its bedraggled sign swinging slightly in the wind.
"You know it?" Eliza asked, looking round at him as they approached the shop.
"Yeah- I've only been a couple of times though. Found out about it at like 2am last Thursday night and came down to finish an assignment."
"Of course you did."
"Oh, shut up."
Eliza pushed open the door, and her eyes lit up as she laid eyes on the barista.
"Angie!"
Angie?
Entering the shop behind her, Alex craned his neck to see and- yes- there was Angelica, handing a steaming cup to an elderly lady and beaming at Eliza across the room.
"Eliza! Great to see you!" She came out from behind the counter, wiping her hands on her apron, and hugged her sister tightly. When she released her, her eyes fell on Alexander in surprise- an expression he was sure was mirrored on his own face.
"Angelica! You're Eliza's sister?"
"Wait- you're that Alexander? Eliza's ex-boyfriend?"
"The very same." They stared at each other for a moment.
"Small world."
"I'll say."
"So…" Angelica looked from him to Eliza with some suspicion. "Are you two getting back together or something? Because I will not sit and serve coffee to my sister while she's on a date- I have been there, and done that, and it was awful."
"Relax, Angie, we're not on a date." Eliza assured her, biting back a laugh at her sister's poisonous expression. "I told you- Alex and I have been best friends ever since we broke up- all through high-school."
"Yeah, and we only dated for like a month anyway." Alex put it. Eliza gasped and put a hand to her heart.
"Did our time together really mean that little to you, Alexander?"
"Oh, but it was the most magical month of my life." Alex replied, batting his eyes. She snorted, blowing him an exaggerated kiss and forming her hands into the shape of a heart. He pretended to catch it, and held it to his chest. Angelica gave a short chuckle, retreating back behind the counter to take their orders.
"If you loved each other so much, why'd you break up?" she asked them, already making Eliza's drink- Alex guessed she must have her order memorised. Eliza shrugged.
"We just realized that we didn't really like each other that way. We had a load of fun together- all our dates were a total blast, but we were just best friends, really."
"Yeah. And the fact that we were both in love with Maria Lewis may have had something to do with it."
"Maybe." Eliza chucked. "Still mad I got to her first?"
"Oh, ha ha." He elbowed her lightly, joining her next to the counter. "How is she? You two still going strong?"
"Strong as a fucking bull elephant." Eliza replied, ignoring her sister's reproachful 'Language!' "She's picking me up from here, actually."
"Cool- it'll be nice to see her."
Angelica returned with Eliza's drink and turned to Alex for his order. He thought for a moment, then-
"Uh- can I have whatever the hell it was you gave me last time? 'Cause that was damn good." Eliza let out an exaggerated moan next to him, rolling her eyes.
"Ugh- she did her little trick on you, didn't she?"
"Her what?"
"Her I can tell exactly what kind of drink you'll like just by looking at you thing."
"Oh. Uh- yeah, I guess."
"And it worked?"
"Definitely."
"Of course it worked." Angelica said, eyeing her sister with a smile. "You don't doubt my superpower, do you?"
"It's not a superpower. You're just a good guesser."
"Oh, come on. It's never not worked, has it?" Eliza took a sip of her own drink, apparently caught out.
"I guess not."
As Angelica went to make his drink, Alex and Eliza took a seat at a nearby table.
"So, anything to report?" he asked.
"Not really." she ran a hand through her hair. "Got an art exam next week, which sucks."
"Already?"
"Yeah- our teacher's crazy. The TA's cute, though." Alex jabbed a finger at her, narrowing his eyes.
"Eliza, you are taken."
"Doesn't mean I can't appreciate an attractive person." she said idly.
"You and your wandering eyes, Eliza."
"I do not have-"
"Oh, relax, I'm only teasing." She rolled her eyes. Angelica came and put his drink down with a smile, kissing Eliza on the cheek.
"Don't have too much fun without me." she warned. "I hardly get to see my sister as it is- I don't need more competition."
"Oh, you know I'll always love you best." Eliza said, putting an arm around the older girl's waist.
"Shut up, Alex didn't even know you had an older sister until today, I'll bet." She turned to Alex, raising her eyebrows.
"I… I knew she had one" Alex ventured, and Angelica laughed.
"See- what kind of love is that? Has he met Peggy?" Eliza looked guilty.
"Yeah…"
"I am offended."
"You know what, me too." Alex put in. "I'm supposed to be your best friend, and Angelica only knew me as your ex from high school? Unforgivable."
"Guuuuys…" Eliza groaned "I'm sorry, ok?" Alexander folded his arms.
"I don't know… I don't think I can accept your apology."
"I'll pay for your drink?"
"Hmm…"
"I'll buy you a muffin."
"Deal."
"One muffin, please, Angelica."
"Coming up, asshole." Angelica left the table, and Eliza flipped her off as she walked away.
"I saw that."
"Oh, come on."
"Older sisters have eyes in the backs of their heads, Eliza, you should know that by now." Angelica called. Eliza flipped her off with the other hand.
"I saw that, too."
Alex laughed at the expression on his friend's face as she turned back to him.
"She really does have superpowers."
"Shut up."
"Never."
Alex stuck his tongue out, caught the muffin that Angelica chucked over Eliza's head, and took a large bite of it- thankful for his bribing skills. The Grind-stone served a good muffin.
"So-" Eliza sighed. "Anything exciting happening in Ham-Town?" Alexander shrugged.
"Same as you, really. Still getting 50 essays a night from old Washington, still writing twice as much as I need to, still an obnoxious little shit who can't keep his mouth shut." he counted off on his fingers. "I'm the same as always, really. We've got a new student, he's pretty cool."
"Oh, is he?" Eliza leaned over the table, fluttering her lashes.
"Oh, shut up."
"Never." She paused, then eyed him slyly. "Got your eye on anyone else, though?"
"Well…" Alex tried his hardest not to blush, thoughts flying at once to John. He'd been determined to talk to her about it, but now… and with Angelica barely ten feet away… Eliza, however, wasn't letting him get away with not answering.
"Oh, come on, Al" she said "You're always crushing on someone."
"Hey- first off- that is not true, and second off- it's none of your business if I am." He folded his arms, not looking at her, but knew that his cheeks were flaming.
Eliza almost screamed:
"You are crushing on someone! Who? Come oh, Alex, you have to tell me!"
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
"Liza!"
"Alex!" she mimicked.
"Oh, fine." he groaned, shaking his head, defeated. She beamed expectantly. "Okay… though I don't even know if it counts as a crush: I've barely-"
"Alex"
"Alright, alright. So there's this guy…" he was cut off as Eliza squealed with laughter. "What?"
"It's just- you sound, like, twelve" she giggled. "You know- 'so there's this guy…'"
"Shut up- or I won't tell you at all." Eliza clamped her mouth shut. Alex took a deep breath.
"His name's John Laurens. He works here-"
"He does!?"
"Eliza"
"Sorry, sorry." Alexander bit back a chuckle, trying to steady his heart-rate. Why was he so nervous about telling her? He'd gone to Eliza with every little crush since they were both 14, damnit. Why was this different?
"He- I- I met him literally once, when I came in here on Saturday. He- god- Eliza, he's So. Cute. I just-" He ran his fingers through his hair, pulling a few strands out of his already messy ponytail, trying to find words to describe the way his heart had skipped a beat when he'd met John's eyes, the way John's smile had lit up his face, the way-
"Alex, you there?" He started, looking up at her- her expression was fondly amused.
"Yeah. Sorry." he cleared his throat, trying to start again. Eliza giggled again.
"It's fine, you look so in love- it's adorable."
"Shut up."
"You're saying that a lot lately."
"Shut up."
"Not until you tell me more about this man of yours! Start with the basics- how did you meet?"
"Uh- some guy was calling him and his friend some really shitty names- I was about to punch him, but he got there first. It was incredible- he literally knocked the guy off his feet, Eliza!"
"So you saw him punch a guy and that made you fall in love? Only you, Alexander." She shook her head.
"Hey, I did talk to him after." Alex said defensively. "I'd already met his friend- this guy, Lafayette- and I hung out with them and another friend here for a few hours. I didn't actually talk to him too much- he was working the counter- but that's probably a good thing, or I would have done something really awkward."
"That's true." she acknowledged with a smile. The first time Alex had talked to Eliza, he'd spilled coffee down his front and said 'Now I'm almost as hot as you.' and she would never let him live it down. There was a pause, Eliza clearly expecting more information.
"So?" she said, impatiently.
"So, what?"
"So, what's he like? What does he look like? You said he was cute…"
"He's got- uh- curly hair; it's quite long- longer than mine- and green eyes."
"How tall?"
"Not very. He's only got a few inches on me, I think."
"Hmm… is he ripped?"
"Eliza"
"What?" she asked innocently. "Just asking."
"Uh- not ripped… but, I mean, it's not like I could see. Just his forearms- but oh my god, his fucking arms, Eliza." He knew he was going to start rambling, trying to put the beauty that was John Laurens into words, but Eliza was grinning broadly, giggling at his descriptions. He put his head in his hands and groaned from between his fingers. "His hair looked so soft- like you could just run your hands through it- that shit should not be legal, I swear to god. Or his goddamn perfect smile. He has a missing tooth, goddamnit- and dimples, girl. Dimples. How am I supposed to not fall in love with him? And holy shit don't get me started on his motherfucking freckles-"
"You swear a lot when you can't find words for something, you know that?" Eliza cut in. Alex stopped talking, staring at the table. Eliza reached over and put her hand on his.
"You must really like this guy."
"I've said maybe six words to him, Liza, don't you go planning the wedding just yet." She giggled again, squeezing his hand. There was a short pause, then she spoke again- apparently not satisfied with his information just yet.
"So, what's he like. Like, what sort of person is he?"
"Refer to previous comment regarding six words."
"Oh, come on. You said you hung out with him, or at least his friends. Any good stuff? Hobbies, quirks?"
"You're very curious about this."
"I'm trying to decide whether he's worthy of you."
"And then some, Eliza." He sighed. "He's an artist, I know that much. And… he likes turtles? And can't do laundry." Eliza snorted.
"Well, at least he's human."
"Impossible. Anyone with eyes like that has to be an angel." Alex said dismissively. Eliza snorted and took a sip of her drink.
"Well, keep me posted. You gonna see him any time soon, do you think?"
"I'm meeting up with him and his friends on Friday, actually. And I guess I could always stalk him and find out when his shifts are- you know, happen to come buy coffee when he's serving…" he wiggled his eyebrows at her, beginning to relax. Somehow, Eliza could always help him calm down. She scoffed and pushed his arm lightly with the hand holding her drink- the other still intertwined with his own.
"Alexander, you creep."
"Joking, joking" he assured her, chuckling. "Well. Sort of."
Just then, Eliza's phone pinged in her pocket. She put down her drink and pulled it out, smiling in a goofy sort of way when she read the message- Alex knew exactly who the text was from.
"So… Maria's on her way?" he asked, raising his eyebrows slyly. Eliza looked up, surprised.
"How did-"
"You were drooling."
She giggled and blushed.
"Shut up!"
"We're saying that a lot today."
"Yeah…It's meant with love though"
"Maybe shut up can be our always…" Alex stage-whispered.
"Oh my gosh- have you seen that movie?"
"Movie? Bitch, I read the book."
And so the conversation dissolved into bickering again as they protested books vs movies, eventually just raving about their favourite reads.
"The fuck do you mean 'Snape was a good guy?' He was a fucking entitled stalker who never got over his crush!"
"Oh honey I know you aren't about to insult Legolas"
"Bitch, I am team Katniss."
When Twilight was brought up, Angelica came over and threatened to kick them out. Eliza shrugged.
"Maria's going to be here in like ten minutes anyway."
"It's sweet of her to come pick you up." Alex mused, feeling both exasperation and pride at the way Eliza's face lit up when she said her girlfriend's name. "Talk about goals." Still blushing, Eliza took his hand over the table again and lowered her eyelids, murmuring:
"This could be you and John, but you're a chicken."
"Eliza"
"Wait, John Laurens?" Alex snapped his head up to see Angelica's intrigued face right alongside Eliza's. Shit.
"Uhh.."
"Yeah, he works here, right?" Eliza's face was split in a shit-eating grin. She leaned back in her chair, finger's still laced lazily with Alex's. "Alex met him when he came in the other day."
"Oh, did he now?" Angelica was smiling now, too- identical smirks faced him across the table. Alex could have screamed. Instead, he squeezed Eliza's hand tighter, trying to communicate his rage to her, and hissed
"Fuck you, Liza."
"You sure? You wouldn't rather fu-"
"Elizabeth Schuyler, I will personally tell Angelica exactly what you and Maria did at Seabury's party last Halloween."
Eliza shut her mouth. Angelica opened her own to respond, indignation and something close to horror growing on her face, but stopped suddenly, her expression becoming gleeful as the bell at the front of the shop rang.
"Well speak of the devil…" she murmured, flashing a huge grin at Alex and straightening up. Alex's stomach flipped over as she took a few steps towards the bar, waving to the newcomer, and a familiar voice came from behind him.
"Hey, Angie! You're released, girl- run free."
"Oh, thank god." Angelica replied, pulling off her apron. "I don't think I could listen to any more relationship drama without imploding." She chucked the apron over in the direction of the door, to the person that Alex was determinedly not looking at and stretched with a grunt.
"Ugh, tell me about it. If I hear one more word about Lafayette's eyes, I swear…" the voice trailed off into a chuckle.
"Are they still not together?"
"Nope. I've decided to make Christmas my deadline, though. If they ain't smoochin' by then, I am going to lock them in a closet and wait. I don't care how long it takes."
"I am with you on that, hon." Angelica sighed, kissing Eliza on the cheek as she made her way to the door. "Bye Liza, call me later, ok?"
"Will do." Eliza smiled. Angelica winked at Alex, blew a kiss, and called "Bye, lovebirds!" as she left, the door swinging shut behind her. There was a pause.
"Alex, hey!" Alex swallowed hard, and turned in his chair, his nails digging into the back of Eliza's hand.
"H- Hey, John."
John looked, if it were possible, even cuter than he had when Alex had last seen him. He wasn't as neat and tidy- sporting a rumpled T-shirt and old skinny jeans rather than his smart button down, but Alex couldn't exactly say it was a bad look on him. At all. His hair was loose as well- a dishevelled mane of dark curls, some hanging in front of his eyes, and Alex had to physically restrain himself from getting up and tangling his fingers in it as John took a few steps closer. He looked tired, he noticed, but still smiling; sleepy, Alex decided. Not the crippling exhaustion that he himself was used to. Sleepy: the kind that goes with waking up late on a warm Sunday morning and just going back to sleep, with curling up on a couch with someone and watching Disney movies, lazy kisses that are more smiling than anything else, with-
Okay hold the FUCK up. That was not ok.
Alex swallowed again, his throat impossibly dry, and realised suddenly that John was talking to him. Pull yourself together, Alex- concentrate. Stop staring… His eyes fixed on John's lips, Alex couldn't wrap his head around the words coming out of them.
"What?" he asked, stupidly, tearing his eyes away and looking up at John's face properly. The man chuckled, his shoulders shaking a little, and if that wasn't the most beautiful sound Alex had ever heard.
"I said: I wasn't expecting to see you here so soon- a guy can only drink so much coffee, you know."
"Oh. Yeah- well, I guess I'm above average in that- uh- d- department." he stuttered. "The… the c- coffee drinking department- you know." Oh god, what was he saying. John only chuckled again, retreating behind the counter, tying the apron behind his back.
"Guess you must be."
He smiled at him, dimples appearing on his cheeks, and went to take an elderly couple's order, tying his hair back loosely with a band as he was talking to them. The action brought out the muscles in his arms and sides, his shirt riding up a bit on his stomach, and his large, attentive smile made Alexander want to squeal. Eliza almost beat him to it, though.
"Oh my god- Alex!" she whisper-yelled, beaming at him at he tore his eyes off John to look at her.
"Shhh!" he hissed. "He'll hear you!"
"Oh my god." she repeated. "You're totally smitten, aren't you."
"I wouldn't say smitten-"
"Well I would. You were basically drooling on him." she let go of his hand and twirled a strand of hair around her finger, biting her lip to keep from laughing. She glanced over at John, looking him over. "He is really cute, though."
"Of course he is, do you think I'd lie to you?"
"I just thought you were rambling again. Remember you used to think Seabury was cu-"
"Alright- point taken!" Alex ducked his head, staring at the table.
"But really… you weren't kidding about his hair- or his 'motherfucking freckles'
"Liza, please"
"And his dimples" Eliza clasped both hands over her heart, imitating a swoon. Alex kicked her under the table. He couldn't help laughing at the impersonation, though; it was Eliza after all.
"Don't act like you weren't the same over Maria."
"Oh, I won't. And I still am, babe; I swear her eyelashes get longer every day- and literally do not mention her calves in my presence. I will die." Her phone rang in her pocket: A Thousand Years ringing out through the shop, and Eliza hung it up without even looking, beaming instead at the windows at the front of the shop, where a red car Alex recognised as Maria's was parked.
"Speaking of Maria…" he grinned. Eliza beamed back, unabashed.
"Well, gotta fly." she said, getting up and grabbing her bag and the rest of her drink. "It's illegal to park out there." She planted a kiss on his cheek, squeezed his hand and whispered "Go get him, tiger."
"Shut up."
"Shut up." she repeated solemnly, before giggling and blowing him a kiss, almost exactly as Angelica had done, and half-running out of the door to meet her girlfriend. Alex smiled after her, still blushing from her comment about John. What had he done to deserve a friend like her? And how were she and Maria so cute?
Speaking of cute…
The realisation dawning that he was now, essentially, alone with John sent his stomach doing cartwheels. At least John was busy with a customer-
But that thought was cut short as a certain someone sat down in front of him.
"So, Alex, how are you?"
Shit.
*Woohooo it's finally up!
This chapter has taken me a stupid amount of time because I've had a shit-ton of coursework, but now that that's out of the way, I'll be able to upload much more regularly.*
