Once he got home, John shot Alex a quick text.
Outgoing Message To: Alex❤
Me?: Hey, you busy?
Alex❤: Yeah, sorta, why?
Me?: Oh... I was going to ask if you wanted to come and meet some people. Peg and Herc are having friends over.
Alex❤: I really wish I could, but I've got a thing I have to do.. Thea just bought this new apartment, and Burr's moving in with her. I promised I'd help him move.
Me?: Sounds like soooooo much fun.
Alex❤: I know right? I really am sorry.
Me?: Yeah, it's cool.
Me?: Hey, maybe you could just come late. Help Burr, and then come over. You could bring him. I'll send you directions.
Alex❤: Really? That could actually work. Hang on, lemme ask him.
John smiled, setting down his phone. Sure, he and Burr weren't best friends, but they got along fairly well, and so did the others. He, Laf, and Herc liked to give him shit, but it was all good natured. John had to chuckle, though, at the idea of Angelica, Eliza, Peggy, Lafayette, Mulligan, Burr, Alexander, and himself all together in a room. With beer. The thought was cut short, though, by the chime of his phone.
Incoming Message From: Alex❤
Alex❤: Hey, so Burr said that he'd be cool with it. Offer still open?
Me?: Nope, I changed my mind in the last 2 minutes.
Alex❤: Oh whatever. So, we'll be over there at about eight?
Me?: Sounds like a plan. Here's the coordinates. 40.7590° N, 73.9867° W
Alex❤: Thanks! See you then.
Me?: See you then .
With a smile, John grabbed his jacket and keys, and hopped back into the car. After a quick check of the clock, however, that smile faded with the realization that it was 5:15.
"Rush hour traffic... Great..." John grumbled, picking up his phone and quickly dialing Mulligan's number. "Hey dude, I'm probably gonna be late," he explained, puling out of the driveway.
"What?!" Mulligan said from the other side, causing John to cringe slightly.
"Yeah," he apologized, "I didnt realize what time it was. Rush hour, and stuff..." From the phone, he could hear Herc sigh.
"Alright, it's cool. Just get here, yeah?" He said, with a chorus of Angleica and Eliza in the background singing all too loudly. And slightly off key.
"Will do," John assured. "I'm guessing you guys already cracked open the beer?"
"Well, what do you expect? This is us we're talking about!" Mulligan laughed, before hanging up the phone. John chuckled at his friends, setting down the phone and looking around at the cars all at a standstill. He couldn't say that he was surprised, though. New York drivers were always hectic, but even more so when it was snowing. Almost an entire hour later, he finally pulled up to Herc and Peggy's house.
"Well, someone's finally here. Where's Alexander?" Lafayette called from the front door. John smirked, shrugging.
"Sorry I'm late guys. Alex is helping Burr with something, but they should be here by seven," he explained. Laf cocked an eyebrow.
"They? Burr's coming too?" he asked. John nodded and shrugged. Lafayette shrugged back, opening the door and letting them both in. John sighed, shedding his coat and reveling in the warmth of the house. Outside, snow was still collecting on the ground, covering everything in a blanket of white.
"John, get your late ass in here!" came Mulligan's voice from the living room.
"Yeah, you're not going to get any beer if you don't get over here!" Angelica chimed in. John chuckled slightly, shaking his head and heading towards the living room.
"Alright, alright," he assured, settling down next to Peggy in front of the huge fireplace. He had to hand it to her, she and Mulligan had scored a pretty nice place. That was probably due to the fact that Peggy was a Schuyler, despite what she would argue. That was just Peggy for you, though. Always arguing.
"Hey John," she warmly greeted, offering him a bottle. John smiled and accepted, making note of how she seemed much more calm than the others. 'It's almost like she's sober...' He thought, before it dawned on him. Peggy was still nineteen. She couldn't drink.
"Hey to you too," he said, smirking before adding, "Must suck not being able to drink, eh?" Peggy gave him an annoyed look, stole the bottle from his hands, and took a swig.
"Don't test me, Laurens," she said, returning his devilish smirk. John put his hands up, as if in defeat, and she handed him his drink back with a nod. John opened his mouth, as if to say something, more than likely to continue teasing with a firmer grip on his drink, but was cut short by the sound of the doorbell. "Ah, look who's here?" Peggy smirked, standing up and making for the door.
From the front hall, John could hear the exchange of words. "Peggy, it's good to see you," said a voice. Burr, he decided.
"You too, Aaron, and..." Peggy said, waiting for the other person to fill in their name, although she already knew it. Who else could it be?
"Alexander Hamilton," replied the third voice, now identified as Alex. "So you're Peggy! I've heard lots about you from John It's nice to finally meet you."
From the couch, Herc jokingly whispered, "You talkin' 'bout my girl?" John simply rolled his eyes, sticking out his tongue.
"I'm sorry, but our dearest Peggy is far too good for you, Mr. Laurens," Eliza giggled, and Herc smirked I'm agreement. "Ah ah, she's too good for you, too," she added, and the whole group laughed at Mulligan's overly wounded expression.
"You know," came a shout from the door, "I can hear you debating my worth compared to that of various others. What the hell, guys?" followed a laugh that John knew belonged to Alex, and completely melted his heart.
"We debate because we love you!" Lafayette called back, as Peggy came back into the room. Trailing behind her were a laughing, show covered Alex and Burr.
Situating herself on Mulligan's lap, Peggy smiled and said, "I think you're quite deserving," before kissing his forehead. Mulligan gave her a happy smile and John had to acknowledge how completely in love with her he looked. It was so evident, especially in the way he looked at her. Anyone could see how much Peggy meant to the guy, and even the loneliest person couldn't resent them for it. They were too cute.
Standing up, John smiled at Alex and Burr. "Guys," he began addressing the group, "you all know Burr, but I don't think I've ever introduced you to Alex. Alexander, these are my friends." Alex nodded and smiled at them. Pointing out individual people, John said, "That's Lafayette, he's an international student, too, from France. This here's Angelica Schuyler, and her sister Peggy, who just let you in. And, of course, there's Mulligan and Eliza."
"Bonjour," Laf greeted, which was followed by a "Nice to meet you," from Angelica, a gentle nod from Peggy and Mulligan, and a happy, "Hi, Alex," from Eliza. Alexander beamed at the whole group, before turning to John.
"Thanks, for inviting me, I mean," he said, smiling warmly and placing a hand on his shoulder. John blushed slightly.
"Yeah, of course," he mumbled, motioning for both Burr and Alex to take seats. They did, and the conversation in the room slowed.
Clearing her throat, Angelica finally said, "Why don't we play a game?" To which everyone else instantly agreed. John was just happy to have a distraction from the previous events. He couldn't keep his mind off of the way electricity had seemed to flow between Alex's hand and his arm. "Alright," Ang continued, snapping him from his thoughts, "my vote is on Never Have I Ever. But, why don't we let the new guy pick. What do you think, Alexander?" Alex went vaguely red.
"I, uh, don't know how to play," he mumbled, looking down. John gave him a confused look, which he missed, but the sentence had definitely sparked some curiosity about Alex's past. Not that John hadn't already been curious, he'd wanted to find out more ever since Alexander had made the "million things I haven't done" comment, but still. There was obviously something he was hiding.
"Well," Eliza cut in, shooting John a look that clearly said she was as curious as he was. "We'll teach you." Alex looked unsure for a moment, but eventually nodded appreciatively.
"Alright, I nominate we drink with every finger," Mulligan offered, earning another confused look on Alex's part. "Oh, right... Okay, so the name pretty much says it all. Everyone holds up ten fingers, to start. Whoever's turn it is says 'Never have I ever...' And fills in something they haven't done. If you've done the thing, you put down a finger and take a shot. Got it?" Alex nodded. "Alright, good. Ang, you start."
Angelica smirked, and stated, "Never have I ever... Broken something that wasn't mine, but put it back and not told them."
"I was ELEVEN!" Eliza, complained, putting down a finger and taking an annoyed shot. John groaned, taking a shot also. He could clearly remember the ass whooping he's gotten from his father, after he'd shattered a vase and just his the pieces in a cupboard. He still had a small scar on his thumb from the glass.
"Unlike you two," teased Lafayette, "the rest of us are honest people!" John flipped him off, earning laughs from everyone.
"E. L. E. V. E. N." Eliza repeated, turning to stick her tongue out at Angelica. Ang laughed, turning to face Burr next to her.
"Your turn," she smiled, and Burr gave her a wicked grin.
"Never have I ever... Let someone else take the blame for something I did," he said, looking around expectingly. Everyone except for John, Burr, and Alex put down a finger and drank. "Alright, John 'I'd die for my honor' Laurens isn't so hard to believe, but you, Hamilton?"
Alex shook his head. "I'm a man of my word, and I'd never back down from my own actions. I mean what I do," he said, eyes burning with conviction. Burr nodded.
"Alright, if you say so," he shrugged, turning towards Mulligan on his left. "Your turn."
Mulligan looked over at John, and winked devilishly. John sucked in a breath, almost instantly knowing what he was going to say. "Never have I ever... Kissed a guy," he said. John cringed. There is was.
Everyone around the circle, except for Mulligan and Burr, put down a finger and took a shot. Alexander gave John a confused look. "You... You're gay?" He asked, eyes glued to John's. John blushed scarlet.
"I... Yeah. I'm gay," he admitted, desperately wanting to look away, but not being able to bring himself to do it.
"Oh," Alex said, a smile playing on his lips. "Cool." And with that he looked away, ending the moment. John could feel the heat creeping up his neck, though, and he was almost certain that everyone else could see just how red his cheeks had just gone.
"Okay!" Peggy said, drawing attention towards her. "My turn. And I think I'm going to turn that question around. Never have I ever... Kissed a girl!" Everyone but her and John picked up their glasses.
"Thank you," he mouthed to Peggy, thankful for the distraction.
"No problem," she mouthed back, mouth twisted into a half smile. John smiled back before returning his attention to the group. He's apparently missed the question while he'd been talking to Peggy, but instead of admitting to not paying attention, he simply put down a finger and took a shot. John figured it was a small price to pay, in order to not be called out.
A few questions and shots later, Angelica paused the game to use the restroom. "I'll be right back, " she promised, handing her drink to Eliza. Liz nodded, taking the bottle and stealing a sip with a smirk. John laughed slightly.
"You're evil," he chided, as everyone else dissolved into conversation. Eliza shrugged mischievously, eyes glittering.
"Who's to define evil?" She shot, much to John's amusement. He shook his head laughingly, before turning to face Alex. Or, rather, the spot Alex had previously occupied. His chair, much to John's confusion, was empty.
"If you'll excuse me, Eliza..." John trained off, standing and glancing around. Alexander was nowhere to be found. 'When did he slip off?' he wondered, heading for the door with drink in hand.
"Um, alright?" Eliza said, giving him an odd look, and John stepped outside into the snowy backyard, illuminated by the fairy lights in the trees. Shivering, he pulled his coat closer around himself.
"Hey," came a familiar voice, which made John jump. Alexander came from behind him, laughing slightly at his reaction. "I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to scare you." John simply glared at him.
"Well, you did," he muttered, "after you totally just disappeared. What the hell dude?" Alexander gave him an apologetic smile.
"Sorry, it was just a bit... Overwhelming. I'm not great with crowds," he admitted, looking down. John sighed, shaking his head.
"It's fine. Just... give me a heads up or something next time? Alright?" He asked, watching the way Alex was clearing a stone of snow with his foot.
"Yeah, I will," Alexander promised, looking back up at John and grinning. "You know, back where I'm from, we never got snow? Not once." John made a little hum of acknowledgement, focusing on the way Alexander licked his chapped lips, and how easy it would have been to have leaned over and kissed him. But, of course he didn't do that.
"Back in South Carolina, we actually got some pretty bad snow," he offered, remembering all the times he and Martha would wait up all night, hoping school would be canceled in the morning because of snow. "A lot of people thing it's too southern for snow, but boy are they wrong." Alexander smiled at that.
"Do you miss it?" he asked, " South Carolina, I mean, and your family?" John shuddered, much to Alex's confusion.
"My parents and I... Don't see eye to eye..." He explained, mentally adding that 'not seeing eye to eye' didn't begin to describe it. At his statement, though, Alex frowned.
"Oh... I'm sorry..." He offered, placing his hand on John's shoulders. John blushed slightly, looking into Alexander's eyes regardless. "Hey," Alex said after a moment, "I understand feeling like you've got no real family. My dad left, my mom died, and my cousin committed suicide, all when I was young. It hurts, but... You get used to it." For a moment, John could tell that Alex was lost in his own thoughts.
"I'm sorry..." He whispered, unsure of what else to say. Alexander had never really shared anything from his past before, and John was terrified of scaring him off. Alex looked up at him, clearly shaken from a memory.
"Thanks," he said, smiling lightly. "They're probably missing you..." John sighed, glancing at the house. It was true, his friends were no doubt wondering where he'd wandered off to.
"They'll be fine?" He asked, which earned a laugh from Alex.
"Goodnight John," he said, taking his hands off his shoulders. But then, Alex did something unexpected. He leaned down, and kissed John lightly on the cheek. John blushed scarlet, eyes widening. Alexander, too, was blushing when he smiled and walked towards his car.
In that moment, John had a million things he wanted to say. What he ended up actually saying, though, was purly stupid. "What about Burr?" He shouted, cheeks still red. Alex chuckled.
"We showed up in different cars, so we could get all his stuff to Thea's," he explained. With that, he waved briefly and stepped into the car. John waved back, watching him drive away until the only sign anyone had been out there with him were footprints in the snow.
"That didn't just happen..." He mumbled, pressing his fingers to his cheek where Alexander had kissed him. "Wow," was all John could mumble as he stepped back inside.
Upons getting in, though, the group instantly bombarded him with questions. "Where HAVE you been? It's SNOWING!" Angelica gasped, looking at a grinning John.
"And why are you grinning like a crazy person?" Herc added, cocking his eyebrow at John.
John blushed slightly. "I was, um, out there with Alex," he admitted, still smiling. The goeho erupted into a chorus of "whaaat?" and "I called it!" John let them all chatter, still picturing the way Alex had smiled at him before he'd leaned in.
After a moment, Lafayette spoke up and said, "You two are officially 'Lams'!" John rolled his eyes, although everyone else cheered at that. Everyone except for Eliza, who had gone suddenly quiet.
This is my longest chapter yet, and yes, you guys finally get your kiss! Sorta... Anyway, being the longest, it's kind of unedited. I did a sweep through, but nothing extensive. Sorry! Alright, enjoy!