Alexander was passed out on the couch, engulfed in a restless sleep full of twisted, distorted nightmares. He tossed and turned, adjusting his position while tugging at the soft blanket that was lazily tossed over him. Desperately, the Caribbean man tried to fall back asleep, but it was not to be.
Giving in, Alexander sat up slowly, rubbing his temples in a feeble attempt to banish the pulsing headache that was tormenting him. A dull ringing buzzed deep in his ears, and his stomach was churning and sore.
'Hangover much, me?'
Alexander looked around, confused. This was sure as hell not his bed, and this was not his house. He was lying on a couch in what appeared to be a living room. Upon closer inspection, he noticed his phone and wallet resting on the coffee table across from him.
'All my worldly possessions…'
A tight fear gripped his chest, as Alexander realized the situation he had gotten himself into. He was passed out on a strangers couch, with only his phone and wallet after being dumped and kicked out of his apartment!
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
"What now…"
It was all becoming too much! His phone was going off, and he was in a strange house! Despite his instincts urging him to get up and leave, Alexander picked up his phone and punched in his password, sitting tensely on the unfamiliar couch.
The screen lit up, showing a stream of messages in their group chat, all from his colleague John Laurens. Alex laughed softly, just seeing his friends contact name made him feel a little better.
11:47 am
Freckles: Hey Alex. Sorry I had to leave, had to go to work. I left some coffee and toast on the counter, help yourself to anything in the house.
Suddenly, a tidal wave of realization came rolling over Alexander.
'I passed out at Johns! Damn…'
At first it was funny, remembering the crazy night at the bar, drinking, hanging out with John…then he remembered Eliza. How had he let the love of his life escape that quickly…it felt like someone slapped him in the face, feeling the memories come back so quickly. How had his life gone to shit so fast? The headache and nausea, courtesy of his hangover, didn't help either…why couldn't anything go his way?
"Good morning, Alex!" He mumbled to himself, voice dripping with sarcasm. "May I remind me that I am single, homeless, and have no possessions! I simply can't WAIT to start the day!"
Alexander laughed softly to himself, realizing he was completely dead inside with no reason to live. Yet, he found himself sitting up and making his way into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes lazily. Just as John promised, there was a cup of coffee and plate of burnt toast on the table. Just seeing the food made him realize how hungry he was, so he downed the pathetic little breakfast in what felt like a single bite.
Looking up, Alexander realized a little clock perched up on the wall. It read 12:14 pm. He shrugged, rolling his eyes nonchalantly.
'Meh. No point on hurrying into a job that I don't wanna do anyway…"
Alexander spent the next hour and a half slowly preparing himself for work. He took a hot shower, DIDN'T burn his toast, and downed a whole pot of coffee while watching The Office on the couch.
In all honesty, he had no desire to go to work, but it felt a little wrong, sleeping on Johns' couch all day and mooching off his food. That would be a new low, even for him…
Alex reached for his phone, and sent of a few messages into the group chat, each one going through with a satisfying DING!
Hammy: Hey guys. Decided I'm coming into work today. Not exactly excited.
Large_Baguette: You'd better have a good explanation for Washington, and a good story for
us, mon ami.
Hercules_Loves_Horses: I'm with Laff here. You're never three hours late, man. Did you and
John hook up or something?
Freckles: What the hell guys! No, we didn't hook up! Alex got dumped, and I let him stay at
my place.
Large_Baguette: What?
Hercules_Loves_Horses: The hell's going on here? Alex?
Hammy: Way to ruin the surprise, John. -_-
Freckles: Sorry! But I didn't want them to think that we hooked up, or some weird shit like
that, man.
Hammy: Whatever, guys. We'll talk at work. See you soon.
Alexander was using all of his bodily control to keep himself from hurling his phone across the room. A few deep, calming breaths and cups of coffee later, Alex was dressed and out the door. He caught a bus and a subway, seeing as he had no car, and was at work by 2:27 that very afternoon.
'Ready to suffer, me?'
Alexander was slumped over at his desk, pounding the keys on his computer, watching as the small letters scrawled across the screen. He wasn't working on his bill, God forbid, but writing helped him feel better. He was just typing out the events of the past two days over, and over, and over again.
Just as the tension was beginning to fade away, and Alexander could feel himself starting to relax, a loud beeping noise sounded from his pager. Reaching over, Hamilton pressed the red button and a loud voice buzzed into the small office.
"Hamilton! The preview of your bill is due today! Bring it to my office immediately for review, or it'll be delayed a month!"
'Washington…great.'
The Caribbean man sighed deeply and pressed the print button, in his computer, sending a draft of his document to the printer on the other side of the building. He rose from his chair and trudged down the hall to the printer room.
Carelessly, he pushed the door open and stepped inside…and immediately felt his heart skip a beat, stop altogether, and sink in his chest.
'Thomas. Fucking. Jefferson.'
The eccentric Virginian man was standing over the printer, fiddling with a jammed ink cartridge and attempting to shove it back into the machine. Hearing the door open, he turned around, and instantly, a cocky grin spread across his face.
"Secretary Hamilton! I've been looking all over for you, just ITCHING to tell you a few little…rumors I heard, that you might wanna know 'bout." He drawled, and Alexanders face glowed a dark red.
"What secrets? I have no secrets."
'Damn, that sounded stupid. Why did I say that! Now he's gonna know for sure…'
"That is NOT what Angelica Schuyler told me…it seems to me that the self-proclaimed ladies man is having some girl troubles."
"Not like you would know anything about women, Jefferson." Alexander snarled. "I highly doubt that you've even slept with a woman."
"Hamilton, I've had more women in my bed than you can count, and you're a smart man, so I know you can count pretty damn high."
Alexander narrowed his eyes spitefully, refusing to admit to himself that it had been a decent retort. His face was flushed with anger, and confusion. Now, there was no doubt that the rumours were out, and Jefferson was so damn IRRITATING…he felt like he was going to explode in a fit of fury!
"This is so like you, turning to pathetic schoolyard responses! It's clear why I'm head of the Treasury department, Jefferson, because I'm the only one here who shows even a shred of decency or maturity!"
"Okay, fine." Jefferson said smugly, leaning back. "Call me immature, it's just proving my point. However, I must point out the absolute irony of the situation."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"I specifically remember telling Angelica that you were, in my words, 'an immature, childish prick', at the New Years party last winter. It seems, however, that my attempts to save Elizabeth Schuyler the misery were futile…"
Alexander felt the blood rushing to his face, and his heart was thudding wildly. Every animalistic urge inside him was telling him, no COMMANDING him, to attack Jefferson. He was sitting on a heap of pent up rage, and it was like a powder keg about to blow!
'Jefferson's been trying to screw me over from the beginning! He tried to stop Angelica from introducing me to Eliza last winter! And he almost succeeded! That arrogant, backstabbing asshole!'
Wild, ferocious thought swirled around inside his head, and Hamilton was at a loss for words…for once. There was nothing he could do or say to erase the smug grin of Jefferson's face, or repair the damage that had occurred.
"I've tried to have a professional, decent workplace relationship with you, Thomas Jefferson, but you have gone too far! You've gone so far as to attempt to destroy my personal pursuits, and I'm done. Do you hear me? Done!"
"Ooh…" Thomas taunted sarcastically. "Looks like Secretary Hamilton's gonna throw a temper tantrum! I'm sorry! Are you sad that your petty lil' relationship didn't work out? How 'bout you go back to your dirty little island and ask your daddy for advice…Oh wait, he's gone!"
"Shut up!"
"Little words from an even littler man…" Thomas laughed, stepping forward and jabbing Alex in the chest with his finger. The tall man practically towered over him…
Alexander felt something strange, a new emotion overcoming him. He wanted to cry, and he wanted to scream. It was a strange, foreign mixture, completely alien to him. 'It's all Jefferson's fault! It's his fault Eliza left me! It's his fault that my life is a complete mess! I fucking hate him! I hate him!' Alexander thought, his erratic emotions tearing him apart.
"You are a coward, Thomas. You are a vulture, sitting on the sidelines of a battle, waiting for something to become weak so you can pick it off slowly, watching it suffer as long as you can. You are a lowly, pathetic dick, to say the least! You are a PLAGUE upon this very earth!" Alexander raged, sweat pooling on his brow.
"Very mature, Hamilton."
"Look who's talking! I suggest you drag your scraggly ass back to Virginia before I beat the crap out of it myself!"
"Such profane words…I sort of wish you were a real man, so I could take you in a fight and people wouldn't accuse me of hitting a child." Jefferson jeered, and the words stuck into Hamilton like barbs.
"Consider yourself very lucky, Thomas, because if I didn't know better, I would kill you where you stand!"
"HAMILTON! JEFFERSON! What the hell is going on here!"
The two men turned around to see their boss, George Washington, standing in the door, arms crossed disapprovingly. Alexander swallowed, regret washing over him, but Jefferson just looked smug.
"Sir, I am so glad you came along! Hamilton was threatening me! He practically lost his mind, sir! He was having a fit, a mental breakdown!" Thomas said, face suddenly flushed with terror…all an act.
'And a damn good one at that…'
"Secretary Hamilton, is this true?"
"I…" Alexander began, only to be interrupted my Jefferson.
"You heard it yourself, sir. My accusations are correct, and you are a witness. Is it really necessary to ask him?"
"I am entitled to give my own testimony, you insolent bastard!"
"HAMILTON!"
Washington rubbed his head, staring at the two men with blatant, obvious frustration. To be honest, the constant squabbles between the two men were beyond annoying. They were a disruption to the entire office!
"Secretary Hamilton, secretary Jefferson, if this behaviour doesn't cease immediately, I will call for both of you to be removed from office. Understood?" Washington said, voice dark and foreboding.
"I hear you loud and clear, sir." Jefferson said calmly, and Washington turned to Hamilton.
"Understood?"
"Yes sir. Understood."
