Eliza was anxious as she sat at the lunch table. Alex was coming to dinner at the Schuylers to ask her dad if he could date her. She was terrified that her dad would say no.

"I can't wait for this afternoon!" Hercules said excitedly. It was the day of football tryouts, and pretty much everyone Colony High was excited.

All the boys in their group were trying out, except for Burr. On the other hand, no one in Jefferson's was, including Burr. James was trying out for cross country.

Madison was running for class president. Jefferson was running for secretary, and Alex was running for treasurer. Alex had joined the debate team, as had Burr and Jefferson. Everyone was busy.

Jefferson's group walked over. "Hey, y'all. How's it going?"

"Great, Thomas," Eliza replied with a smile. "And you?"

"We're good."

"Hey, Maria. You look exhausted."

"Insomnia. I've barely been able to sleep all week, and it's usually been in class," Maria replied with a yawn.

"Which means it takes forever for me to go to sleep," James said, sounding annoyed.

"That's terrible, guys," Peggy said.

"No kidding," James grumbled.

—•—

Eventually, it was time for dinner at the Schuylers's. Eliza was a nervous wreck. All throughout dinner, Alex and Phillip Schuyler talked. After dinner, Mr. Schuyler made his way across the room to Alexander.

Eliza panicked for a second, thinking, 'We're through.'

Then Mr. Schuyler shook his hand and said "Be true."

And Alex looked back at Eliza, smiling, and suddenly she was helpless.

—•—

The next night, Alex took Eliza to a fancy restaurant, and they had to dress up. They talked and laughed. They had an excellent time until...

"Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in," Jefferson said.

Eliza was annoyed. Seriously, Jefferson and his gang were everywhere.

"What are you doing here, Jefferson?" Alex asked, obviously annoyed.

"Celebrating my parents' anniversary with a nice dinner. Of course, I brought friends." He signaled towards a table with his parents and gang sitting at it. "I wonder how you can afford to take your girlfriend here, Hamilton. Oh, wait, she's probably paying, right?"

"Leave then alone, Thomas," Maria said, having walked over. "They're trying to have a nice date, and your being an a**hat. Leave them alone for god's sake! Is that so hard?"

Jefferson rolled his eyes and walked back over to his table. "Sorry about him," Maria apologized. "Enjoy your date, you make a really cute couple." She walked back over to the table. Eliza watched her just long enough to notice something that no one else did; James slapping Maria's butt, and her flinching. He grabbed her wrist and all but yanked her into the seat. Eliza was disgusted. The gall it took to do that. She was even more annoyed when James "convinced" her to sit on his lap.

"Eliza!"

"Sorry, Alex. I was just distracted. I've never noticed James acting like that to Maria before."

"I'm sure it's fine. I'm sure that she was just not expecting it. She looks happy now. It was nothing, just surprise."

"Yeah, probably."

The two resumed dinner, forgetting the topic.