(Sorry their's been so much Alex, but I kinda need his pov right now)

(1 day later)
Alex pov~

CaffeinatedHamSandwich: So, any ideas?

Red_Sunflower: Not really

CaffeinatedHamSandwich: You're no help

Red_Sunflower: I wasn't told I had to be

CaffeinatedHamSandwich: Maria

Red_Sunflower: Yeah yeah, ok

Red_Sunflower: I feel like this conversation could be made much easier

CaffeinatedHamSandwich: Oh? How is that?

Red_Sunflower: We meet up

Red_Sunflower: Irl

Red_Sunflower: And don't worry, I'm no longer drunk and will not make a move on you because the only reason you contacted me is because I screwed your life up and I don't want to make it any worse

CaffeinatedHamSandwich: Don't worry I don't blame you

CaffeinatedHamSandwich: Anyways, where would we meet up?

Red_Sunflower: By the pond? In the park

CaffeinatedHamSandwich: Sounds good

CaffeinatedHamSandwich: When?

Red_Sunflower: 30 minutes

CaffeinatedHamSandwich: Ok

Red_Sunflower: See you there!

I set my phone down and rushed to my wardrobe, grabbing a hoodie and a pair of jeans and tugging them on hastily. I grabbed my hairbrush and tugged it through my curly hair, tying it up in a loose ponytail. I headed to the door and pulled on a pair of shoes and a coat, saying goodbye to Ducky before I left.

—~•~—

I lingered by the pond where Maria had said we'd meet. I started fiddling with my hair, nerves getting the best of me.

What if she was talking about a different place?

What if I'm late and she already left?

She was probably talking about another pond. Or another park.

I started tugging at my hair with worry until I felt a tap on my shoulder and I whipped my head around. The girl standing behind me was smiling with an oversized red sweater and her hair tied loosely with a red ribbon. Her entire demeanor was different, but it was undoubtably Maria Reynolds.

"Hi." She smiled at me.

"Hey." I replied nervously.

"Let's go sit, ok?" She took my arm gently and led me to a bench by the pond.

There were other people sitting around the water and a few kids splashing about, but it was still fairly empty. Maria and I sat next to each other in silence for a moment.

"So." Maria broke the silence. "Can you tell me what's going on?"

"What?"

"Tell me what's up with you and your (ex?)boyfriend."

"I already told you."

"Yeah but that was over text. You could have been laughing maniacally at his pain while you messaged me sounding sad."

I shrugged. "You have a point."

She looked at me expectantly.

—~•~—

We'd gotten ice cream after I started crying and we were now sitting in a field and talking about everything and nothing.

"You know, I hope you've actually forgiven me." Maria mused.

"Of course."

"Good. Because I'd love to become your friend."

"Of course." I smiled at her.

"So, as your official friend, I'm going to ask a question you've been avoiding." Maria took a deep breath and I rose an eyebrow. "Where d'you come from and why do you seem so terrified of it?"

I opened my mouth and closed it again, feeling sadness start to ball up in my throat. "The Caribbean."

"Ok. Tell me more."

"W-well, I was living on N-Nevis, and I moved to St. Croix with my m-mom and brother." I cursed the stuttering, but I was literally on the verge of tears.

"You don't have to tell me you know." She commented. "Course I'd rater you do tell me, but I'm just saying I won't leave you if you don't."

"No it's ok." I took a deep breath. "My dad left when I was ten, just before I moved. His business wasn't failing so he decided to go somewhere else in hopes that it'd get better th-there. Two years later, my mom and I got very sick a-and... and..." I felt tears slip down my face and couldn't bring myself to tell Maria about it.

I felt her arms around me and I cried into her shoulder, glad Maria was being a nice human being and comforting me.

Then I heard a scoff from somewhere and I felt Maria tense.

"Well you moved on quick, Hamilton." I recognized Eliza's voice and I pulled away from Maria, wiping my eyes before turning to face the middle Schuyler. "Maria, huh? No surprise there."

"We're just friends Elizabeth." Maria said the name coldly.

"Mhm. Sure." Eliza smirked. "Friends who kissed and are now on a date hugging tightly."

"Correction. A friendship where one of them got drunk and ruined the others life and was given a second chance. Said friend is now comforting the other, because he started sobbing."

"Maria." I hissed.

"Sure. Sure." Eliza twirled her hair around her finger. "Well, I guess I'll just go tell my sisters and John about your 'friendship'. Have fun."

I was about to say something when Maria shot me a look and I let her take the reins.

"Oh yeah sure. Cause I'm supposed to believe that you won't overdramatize everything to make everything worse for Alex." She scoffed.

"Well, what choice do you have?" Eliza smiled.

"Literally any other choice."

"Unless I told you I caught you on camera and everyone's gonna believe me over you."

"Have you been stalking us all day Liz? That's low even for you."

Eliza laughed. "Not exactly, but you could put it that way." She paused. "Well I best head off, there's no signal here."

She sauntered away and I felt tears fill my eyes again. Maria hugged me and I leaned into her, thankful that she was (*strained Gretchen voice*) such a great friend.

"I take it you don't want to continue sharing your tragic origin story?" Maria asked and I chuckled a little, shaking my head. "Ok, let's get you home, we can meet up again tomorrow."

I nodded and thanked her, wiping my eyes and trying to seem like not such a mess. I walked home and flopped on my bed, not even bothering to check my notifications.