The first day back turned into the first week back, and Alex began to settle back into a routine. Go to sleep at 1am, wake up five hours later, and spend the majority of English making Bella Ciao references to Lafayette, concealing gay-subtext-induced laughter.

However, as the first week of the term ended and the second began, with Monday rolling around, Hamilton was faced with his sworn(ish) enemy, fresh of a plane, with the sassiest attitude on the planet, (setting aside Angelica, maybe,) and a fantastically maintained poof of curls which had a reputation for smelling of coconut, for whatever reason.

Thomas Jefferson.

Alex had just left the boarding house, and was now walking to the seniors' locker area with Mulligan and Burr. The three of them would usually walk down from the boarding house together, and having Hercules as an addition to the regular duo of Hamilton and Burr was, in everyone's opinion, a vast improvement on the previous situation.

Alex had mixed feelings about Burr. He was a nice enough guy, but he was an over-achiever to the point where it was annoying, (though Alex had to concede that Burr tried not to brag about it,) and he never spoke his mind. About anything. Like, even if Charles Effing Lee made some super not-cool comment in passing, (including but not limited to racism, sexism, antisemitism, islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia or acephobia,) Burr would internally not agree, but just sit there and smile and nod. Like, how could someone even do that? Just to keep himself on everyone's good side? As a consequence, although both parties considered the other a friend, conversation between Burr and Hamilton could be stony and cold, especially if one of them hadn't had time to sneak in a morning coffee.

Mulligan's presence brightened the mood considerably. He and Alexander had really hit it off, and so they would mostly talk while Burr smiled and nodded, and for the most part, the smile didn't have to be forced. (Smiling and nodding was kind of his thing anyway, in the same way Hamilton's was leaning forward and speaking out. In short, Aaron was 2000% in his comfort zone with these two, when they were all together, except for when he wasn't.)

This morning, though, Hamilton was tired. He hadn't meant to stay up until 2am messaging TurtleLaurens inside their ever-growing comment chain. (Honestly, it was a miracle FWN hadn't crashed yet.) He was largely silent, contemplating why anything in the universe even existed at all, while Aaron and Herc mulled over another great dilemma - how Herc had only read the first paragraph of the chapter of the Biology reading they'd had the whole weekend for. Truly, a reflection of the struggles that plague Centennials in their day-to-day lives.

His day was promptly ruined by the magenta-blazer-clad senior walking across the courtyard, his phone out, talking to Madison, his face frustrated and troubled. Hamilton stopped in his tracks. "Oh my God."

Burr glanced at Alex. "What?"

"Jefferson's back."

"So? Alexander, you already knew that was happening."

"Still," he huffed, glaring daggers at the back of Jefferson's 'fro.

Mulligan shot them a quizzical look. "Jefferson?"

"He's a rich, arrogant, entitled asshole," Hamilton spat. "Who once said that communism was actually good in theory."

"Debate co-captain," Burr supplied. "God, do I feel bad for their vice."

"And did you see that tweet he made a few weeks ago?! The jerkass actually had the nerve to-"

Alex's voice was steadily rising in volume now, and Jefferson and Madison seemed to notice. The "jerkass" turned around, a miserable attempt at a false smile plastered on his face. "Alexander. Always a pleasure." (It really wasn't, though. You could see it in his eyes.)

Hamilton crossed his arms in front of him, eyes narrowing. "Screw off, Jefferson."

"Fine by me. I intend to have as little to do with you as possible in the coming year."

"That's too bad. Because we've both got AP English. And Econ. And PoliSci. And debate."

Anyone watching saw Jefferson's hopes and dreams for a peaceful senior year shatter then and there. Again, it all played out in his eyes. "Nothing's changed?"

"Nope."

"Fuck."

"Yeah, I know, right?"

There was an awkward silence. Both parties were waiting to be provoked. Madison, Burr and Mulligan looked on - Madison was silently staring Hamilton down, Burr looked disinterested, yet wary, and Mulligan looked confused but ready to back Alex up. After a good half minute of stony silence, Jefferson adjusted his coat, then turned on his heel. "I guess I'll see you later, then. Unfortunately. James, let's go."

He then proceeded to depart with enough swagger to put John Travolta to shame - more swagger than anyone wearing a goddamn magenta blazer should be able to possess. Hamilton pouted. Herc rested a warm, heavy hand on Alexander's shoulder. "It's okay, dude. You only have to deal with him for another eleven months."

Hamilton nodded, internally screaming.

***

That afternoon, Alex sat down and attempted to make a proper start on his NYFWC entry.

The importance of good communication.

He knew that it was a good prompt, with a lot of potential. So he'd sat down at his laptop, and stared at it for a solid hour while nothing flowed.

He'd probably written about 200 words in total - fragmented sentences and paragraphs which got rejected as quickly as they appeared. By 11pm, (having texted Eliza for a solid hour or so earlier on,) he was on his third mug of coffee, his hair dishevelled as a consequence of him running his fingers through it repeatedly. At 11:30, he'd basically given up.

He sighed, pulling his hair back into a ponytail, disappointed. He didn't feel tired, he just felt done. He could bug Herc, across the corridor, but he decided against it - sliding forwards a little in his chair, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and opened up the FWN app. There would probably be a message from TurtleLaurens by now. He was expecting to see a reply in the Comment Chain of Doom, (as Lafayette called it,) but was surprised to find a message in his PMs instead:

TurtleLaurens

<Hiiii :) So as much as I love our other comment chain (/the boosts to TTBMOA's stats lol) I might move us over here just because someone warned me that if it gets much longer the whole page will crash and they seemed pretty serious XD
<I mean, you know how bad the servers can be

Hamilton grinned, and typed a quick reply:

Lol yeah, Coolio :3>
Also how do you write this is hard>

The reply was instantaneous:

<Ooooh what are you writing? :D

Oh, nothing much ^^' My English teacher said I should enter in this state-wide youth writing competition thing but idk what I'm doing>

<Wait, NYFWC?

Yeah, how'd you guess?>

<We both said we were in NY at one point ?

Ohhhh right that lol yep>

<XD
<Idk I thought about doing that a few times but I've never really tackled original fiction. Also I take forever to write a chapter, let alone a book.

YES>
YOU DO>
UPDATE ALREADY X3>

<^^'
<Anywayyyyy what're you writing?

I DONT KNOOOOOW>
HELP>

<????
<Okay be more specific XD

How do you write>
Like>
HOW>

<Have you written anything so far?

Nothing that's any good :/>

<Hey we all have to start somewhere
<Plus if it's half as eloquent as that one essay on the constitution you've gotta be smashing it
<What've you got?

I don't know???>
Because like, when you write an essay you're arguing a point. When you write fiction you're creating the entire issue.>
It's not really the writing that's bothering me (yet) it's more getting an idea I'm willing to dedicate days to.>
?????>

<Ahh yeah I think I get you
<I mean when I think of something to write it kind of just, I don't know...I'll be cleaning my teeth or something and then go WAIT WHAT IF-

Okay so what I'm getting so far is the longer I take to figure out what I'm doing the more my dentist will be proud of me XD>

<Ooh I know
<Go on tumblr maybe and search 'writing prompts' or 'au ideas' or something??
<*is completely unqualified to give any other kind of advice*

Hmm I'll have a look later :)>
How are you going?>

<¯\_(ツ)_/¯ could be better, could be worse
<One of our dogs is just kinda lying on me so I don't have a lot to complain about rn XD

Omg yes I love dogs>
If FWN let us send photos I would be demanding one>

<XD
<We have three
<Henry, James and Mary
<They're cattle dogs and I love them all :D

It's a good thing I don't know you irl because I 2000% would steal them XD>

<NEVER
<FIGHT ME

I would but you'd lose>
I won't take custody of the dogs for the dogs' sake XD>

<as if you would win but okay, sure, keep telling yourself that

I'll have you know I've fought two different guys who are 6' 2">

<......yeah but did you win?

Look that's beside the point>
The point is>
........what was the point?>

<XD
<*slow claps* the champion of the NY high school debating scene at their finest, everyone

Shudduuuupppppp it's nearly midnight X3>

<Also

?>

<What should I call you? bc like
<I love your username but idk what to refer to you as in my head, y'know?

Oh yea, Alex is fine ^^>
I've mostly thought of you as just Turtle, is that cool?>

< :) Das cool bro

Bro XD>

<B R O

b r OOOOOOOOOO>

<Lol what are we doing

Expressing our mutual appreciation for each other while also silently declaring our mutual appreciation for an amazing tumblr meme>

<Yeah that sounds about right, rhetorical question but okay XD
<Anyway Imma sleep now
<Good luck with the writing!

Haha thankyou gn :')>

Alex yawned as he saw the blue 'online' dot next to Turtle's icon vanish. He got out of his chair, wincing as a few things that he hadn't expected to crack cracked, (how long had he been sitting there?) and out of habit, glanced over at the Schuyler's house. All of the lights were off, except Angelica's. He considered texting her for a moment, then decided against it - sleeping at a slightly more normal time one night a fortnight would probably do him some good.

He quickly got changed, and did his teeth, pulling his hair back into a ponytail - he'd wash it in the morning. Picking up his phone to put it on the charger, he glanced quickly at his home screen - there was another message from Turtle there.

<Oh, one more thing! About the brainstorming block, there are some great online generators for basic story plots?
<And sometimes I find it easier to start from a character and work outwards? If that makes any sense? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 
<And like feel free to send me any drafts and stuff, I'd love to read it! ^^
<Going to bed for real now cya ;)

Hamilton blinked, then smiled softly.

***

A/N: IM ALIVE!! Just :')

Quick note: Go and watch szin's animatics on YouTube! They're beautiful and somehow manage to echo how I've been imagining the characters as I write, in a way?? Regardless of that, they're cinematic genius, just, go watch them :3

~ Brian
(Edit: WAIT I MEANT BRIAR BUT IM TOTALLY LEAVING THAT THERE XD)