Madison's POV:

My eyes flashed open and darted around- I could see that I was in front of a desk, my body resting on what felt like two rather comfy cylindrical cushions. But no, that couldn't be right. I studied the cushions more carefully, slowly coming to the realisation that they were in fact legs. The lean, muscular legs of a certain debater...

"S**T!"

Jefferson's POV:

"Calm down, Madison. You're totally safe." I tried to reassure him.

"But I thought you knew... I thought Alex knew... I thought Hercules knew..." I wish I could tell you what was happening in his brain.

"That you're anxious and prone to passing out? Yeah, I was fully aware of that."

"So can you just explain to me what happened? I was kinda busy having an anxiety attack so I'm not too sure."

I explain it in detail, making sure to compliment my friend every once in a while. "So your gorgeous rendition of 'On My Own' from Les Mis got seventy five percent of the hamilsquad jealous, causing them to come over and started making fun of you for being feminine (which is a little hypocritical considering that none of them are straight), then you freaked out a little (okay maybe a lot) so I just took you over to my workstation while you were unconscious because it would have been pretty weird to just leave you collapsed on the floor like that, and plus I felt physically sick just seeing you in such a state so I needed to do something, and leaving you like that wouldn't cut it."

He shook. He stammered. " So y-y-y-you... " He paused for a while, regaining his composure. "Thanks. If it weren't for you I would probably be a lot worse off right about now."

I wrapped my arms around mon petit ami.

"It was just the right thing to do. Plus I couldn't stand anyone upsetting my little friend, least of all Alexander. You ok?"

"No, but now I just have the afterfeel. You know, like the heavy, tired, bleh feeling after you panic, but yeah. Just thanks for being a good friend, not judging too hard and standing up for me when I couldn't. Merci. Danke. 谢谢. I really appreciate it, Thomas."

He pulled away from my hug a little, but I kept him there. I needed to feel that he was alive, that he was there. I might have even been more shaken up by that then he was, but one of us needed to at least pretend to be brave. I had to be that guy. I had to pretend that I had it together even when I didn't. I had to be strong for the both of us.

I could sense that he wasn't feeling too chatty, so just began to rant a little. I think I could remember him saying that he liked when I ranted because it just gave him a chance to be quiet without having people ask too many questions. He was funny like that, James. If he were feeling energetic and passionate enough about something he could talk for hours at an average speed of a thousand words a minute, but make him emotional and you would effectively push his mute button.

I caught my breath to continue the story.

"Please don't stop. Your voice is nice. It's comforting, like a cosy old sweater. I like it. Please, continue." James was pleading with me now. It was obvious that he was wanting me to go on, that my speech offered him some sort of solace.

"Geez- I just needed some air."

"Sorry. But continue."

"Anything for you." And so I continued.

Madison's POV:

And at the end of that art lesson, even though neither of us were truly 'alright' or truly 'stable', I could relax and just listen to Thomas, and we were both content in knowing that the other was always going to be there when we needed them. I didn't need to worry about anything- he had no clue that I had a crush on him, and our friendship was still sailing, even after encountering a few rough seas. Being first mate on that vessel didn't seem too bad anymore. I felt truly valued, needed, cared for, which was more than I could say for the debate.

The school day finished, and as I was packing up John sprinted up to me.
"James are you okay? I heard what Hamilton did to you in period 5 and I just wanted you to know that I dumped that ungrateful douchebag. Nobody hurts my friends and expects to get away with it. Sure he's devastated but he needs to learn a lesson. I'm alright with him having a rivalry with Jefferson but hurting you is lower than I'm willing to let him go."

Wow. I was speechless. That my friend would break off what had been an incredible relationship just because his boyfriend had hurt an insignificant lonely nobody like me was, well flattering to say the least.

Taking a step backwards in order to get a run-up, I gave Laurens the most massive hug I could manage- being as small as I was that was achieved with some difficulty, but technicalities. He placed me down and I preceded to say "Thanks-but you really didn't need to, and Hamilton is going to be so hurt- I bet that you were the best boyfriend he has ever had."

Seriously though, even if Alexander was never the kindest to me, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness and guilt. He had lost someone who might have been his soulmate just because I decided to sing like a girl in art class. Go me! I was just so, so tired of worrying for other people, feeling emotions for people who had none, and the sadness and the anger and the guilt all whirled around me, circling tighter and tighter like a pack of wolves hunting down their weary prey, and they constricted me. I started shaking, but this time I didn't have a Thomas to save me. I wouldn't always have a Thomas to save me. I wouldn't have a friend who's voice was warm and pure and comforting to help pull me through. I had to be my own Jefferson.

'Hey, but that was kind of Laurens. He didn't have to do that but he did, because he values my friendship and he values me.'

I continued, just breathing slowly and thinking of all the little things that had changed my day for the better. My portrait of my friend was coming along, I was passing all my classes, excelling in English, and I had someone I could trust with anything. I could trust Jefferson with anything and everything. Though he may have been insensitive or impulsive or even just plain stupid at times, he... he would be there for me. And I loved him for that, and I loved him for so much more than that, and I could go on and on... Thomas Jefferson might not have been the smartest, or the kindest, or the most morally right person on this Earth, but to me he was my Earth. He was everything to me. And he still is.