Long-awaited, I give you Chapter 32. It's a tad bit late, I know, my apologies.
And if I wrote something that didn't match with the previous chapters, please tell me. I have not read the chapters beforehand and being 6 months after the last update, I have forgotten a few details. :')

BUT ANYWAY HAPPY PRIDE MONTH, GUYS, GALS AND NONBINARY PALS 

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🏳️‍🌈
I hope you have a lovely day!

<><><><><>

~May 2, 2020, ~

The real roller coaster began at the start of summer. It was as if all the previous events were just the introduction of the ride, including some nervous passengers, excited ones, and perhaps even the kind that wants to ruin the ride. The real "fun" was only starting to begin.

Alexander (and possibly the author) didn't realize that time was already passing by, the school year ending. On the last day of school, he was probably the only one disappointed. 

"I didn't exert full effort on the last few projects!" Alexander cried.

"Dude," Thomas said, "you've aced law already at the past semester, possibly better than me, and you're worried about that?"

"Well, dude, obviously I did better than you," Alexander smirked. "And yes, I am, because I'd like to keep my scholarship."

Thomas raised his hands in surrender. "Yes, yes, you are. I'm just glad I'm nearly graduated."

The group was gathered at Eliza and Maria's dorm (it sort of turned out to be their base) talking about what they'd do for the summer, and congratulating the soon-to-be graduates.

Eliza nodded. "When is the graduation?" she asked her sister.

"Next, next, next, Saturday, May 23," Angelica said. "That way, we still have time to prepare for it."

"And to relax," Thomas added. "I am so done with those essays and shi-"

"Who wants shiitake mushrooms pasta?" Maria remarked, stopping the Virginian from swearing. 

"Nice save." Angelica smiled at Maria. "Come on, everyone, let's eat while we discuss some more things."

They headed towards the dining area and each took a seat.

While eating, they continued talking (which is dangerous and disrespectful; don't talk while eating, kids). Hercules told them he'd do a summer job at the tailoring shop near campus and start in two weeks; he'd visit his boyfriend in the following month. Angelica would get started on a book she plotted that year, and hopefully find an editor soon enough. Thomas would start working on a law firm as an intern for the summer with Burr (since he finished college early). They'd both be off to law school after the summer. Eliza wasn't planning on anything yet, but she'd improvise. Maria was also going to spend her summer with her partner.

"Honestly, I'm going to miss your cooking, Maria," Thomas suddenly said.

"You have your mac and cheese, are you not satisfied?" Angelica smiled, then faced Maria. "Though... you wouldn't mind bringing a piece, will you?"

Maria snorted in laughter. "Sure." Soon, the whole room was filled with laughter.

"Hmm, what about you, Alex?" Eliza asked.

"I'll search for... y'knoww." Alex gave a half-hearted laugh. "It's not like we're not able to find him in a month since he's going to London at some point in June, even though we searched for him in the last few months and received nothing but a vague location of Charleston." Alexander cleared his throat, glancing around at everyone. "The point is, I haven't  just been staying at my room for exceptionally long hours being unproductive."

"Of course," Eliza muttered to Herc. "I told you to take care of him." She got a nervous smile from the tailor.

Alexander continued talking. "Now that it is summer, we can freely talk about a plan since our schedule is almost empty," he said. He removed his laptop bag from his shoulder, opened it, and placed the device on the table. "We should also talk with the others from Princeton. So-"

"Oi, 'Lex, we better finish our food first," Maria chided. "No dirty gadgets on the table. Now."

~~×~~

Meanwhile, in the room of John Laurens, things weren't going quite "up" as the other side.

"Oh, Romeo, oh Romeo - I mean - oh, John...eo. Wherefore art thou, Johneo? Oh, this is hopeless! Your name can never be as romantic as Romeo's!" Martha complained, letting go of her friend's copy of one of Shakespeare's most famous works.

John scoffed and placed a hand on his chest. He looked around the room to look for some backup (there was no one) and frowned. "I am offended."

Martha couldn't help breaking into giggles. "Now, that's acting. Soon enough, our fathers will be convinced of our 'love' for each other."

John rolled his eyes. "We can barely finish a scene without laughing."

"Shush," Martha said. "Remember: I'm the professional actress."

You get called for an ad on a billboard, John thought, and you'd think you're an actress.

"You're smiling. I know what you're thinking. Well, mind you, I was 16. Anyway, my course is performing arts so you're saved."

John narrowed his eyes and sighed. Martha was right - they needed to act convincingly so their parents won't get suspicious of an escape in the future. That was probably the only way since they couldn't get help. Their wonderful parents decided to exchange their old phones for flip phones. Yay.

"Let's get back to it then." John picked up the copy of the book when the door opened.

Smelling like smoke, Francis stepped in. "Lunch is ready, I thought you two would've liked to know. Your parents went to the office for work reasons. And don't ask what happened to my shirt."

"What's our lunch and why is it burnt?" Martha smiled, amused.

"Roasted salmon. And no, it isn't burnt-"

A voice from downstairs called out to them saying: "FRANCIS HAD THE ALMIGHTY COURAGE TO LEAN TO CLOSE TO THE STOVE."

"REYNOLDS, YOU PUSHED ME!" Francis screamed and ran downstairs, no doubt possibly plotting to kill his good friend.

"Although they're our enemies, they seem to have a lovely friendship," Martha whispered, smirking.

"They'll kill each other before we are dead," Laurens said. "Come on, let's go downstairs."

~~×~~

"Stupid dorm wifi who hates us so much!" The youngest Schuyler sister threw the modem across the room. "Well, guess what? I hate you too!" she called out.

"Mon amie, you are just breaking it more," Lafayette reasoned. "Plus, it is reconnecting already. Bring it back so this loading thing can go faster."

Peggy did so and returned with the modem. "I just want to show my- our face... faces, yes."

"Hello?" Alex's voice echoed through the room. The screen on Theodosia's laptop showed the faces of 6 people (since Burr knew that was his cue to leave). "Are you back?"

"Yes, yes, we can hear you! And see you! Can you see us?" Peggy smiled as she got a nod. "I frickin' love technology!"

"You just said you hated the wifi," Theodosia said.

"Shh."

"Finally, you or we do not have to waste gas just to see each other", Maria stated.

"Why didn't we think of this earlier?" James asked.

"Dunno. The author?"Jefferson suggested.

:D

"Anyway, um," Alexander spoke up. "We'll have to think of a plan, right?"

"Why can't we report to the police?" asked Eliza.

"My dear sister, I love you, but the police," Peggy said dramatically, "are just too awful."

"We tried," Theodosia explained. "They found nothing. I don't think they would believe a gang of college students - or graduates -  that Henry Laurens is evil. As much as you wouldn't believe it, he'd done many good deeds for South Carolina."

Alexander nodded grimly. "He'd just get the best lawyers in America to make his way out of the charges."

"What do you have in mind?" James asked.

"First we need to find where they are," Alexander said. "Locating it will be easy, but getting in and out will be hard."

"Right," Peggy confirmed. "I've been to John's house. It's scary, really. It's like a jail, possibly even worse. Outside, guards are stationed in every corner. Inside, not much, but CCTVs are watching everywhere."

"Either we have to find a weak spot," Theodosia said. "or we make a distraction for John and Martha to go out."

"Or we can just let them go out," Jefferson offered.

"Genius." James smiled.

"And the biggest chance we know of him and Martha going out is..." Lafayette trailed off.

"When they leave for London," they all said in unison.

"I need to write this down," Alexander announced, smiling widely. He ran out of the dorm, and possibly to his and Herc's.

"Aw," Eliza cooed. "That's the first time I'd seen him smile for a while." "

"Well-" Hercules sighed. "I'm tired. We're tired. You guys are probably also tired. I'll check on Alexander and hope he's not drinking too much coffee."

They said their goodbyes (quite long from the couples) and exchanged nods. Peggy yawned and closed the Zoom application. A knock came from the door.

James got up and went to get the door. 

Philip came into the room and frowned. His hair was messy as if he had just woken up. "What's going on? You guys just left me at Laf's dorm."

Peggy closed the lid of the laptop and grinned proudly. "We're getting John back."

<><><><><>

this is quite rushed, I'm sorry qwq

wellllllllll that happened I guess, and I hope this thing is still alive :D
thank you for reading and sticking with me after 6 months of hiatus, if you're reading this.

until the next chapter, mon amigos :3