"Alright, debaters. We've got someone new joining our team today. He just moved back here from France, and lucky for us, he was also on the debate team there." Mr. Washington declares as we all sit up and look at him.

"Sir, our team is full. We can't pass this amount." Angelica scoffs.

"Well, actually we can have this many people on the team, we just can't compete with this many people. But it's okay, because you can't make it to half of the debates anyway since you're always going to concerts and stuff." I smile at her. "Guess we found someone to replace you when you're not here."

She glares at me and Mr. Washington clears his throat to stop any fighting from actually happening. "Okay, we have not started any debates yet, so knock it off. Anyway, everyone please welcome in Thomas."

A very tall teen with poofy hair and a bright purple jacket walks in and smiles at everyone, though he didn't seem too much like the friendly type. He waves at us. "Bonjour, fellow debaters. It's a pleasure to meet you all."

We all give him weird looks and he shrugs and sits in the front row, right next to me. Mr. Washington nods and turns around to fetch some papers. "Introduce yourselves, guys, while I try and find your new debate topics."

Angelica sticks her hand out first, subtly smacking my arm as she did. "Angelica Schuyler, president of the debate team."

Thomas raises an eyebrow. "Until re-election that is." He says, chuckling gently. Angelica furrows her eyebrows and retracts her hand.

Aaron nods at him. "Aaron Burr."

"He's our new alternate." Thomas Paine jokes. "I'm also Thomas, but y'all can just call me Paine since we have two Thomas's now."

"Oh great for us." I say sarcastically. "Alexander Hamilton." I grumble. I loved debating, don't get me wrong, but I had no intention of being a part of a team. I was only here because my chances of getting into Princeton increased if I was in some extracurricular.

"He's a suckup." Angelica whispers loudly to new Thomas, and I roll my eyes.

"John Adams." Adams introduces himself. "Probably the smartest guy on this team." He boasts, smiling proudly.

Thomas chuckles and goes to say something, but I cough. "Smartest guy my ass." I say, covering it up with fake coughing.

Thomas raises an eyebrow at me before nodding at the team. "Thomas Jefferson, but I guess since there's two Thomas's, you guys can call me Jefferson."

The door swings open and the infamous James Madison runs in before leaning over and taking a puff from his inhaler. He catches his breath and stands up. "Sorry I'm late, guys!"

"It's fine, you just missed the introduction of our new student. Jefferson, meet-"

"James?" Jefferson asks. "James Madison?"

James looks over at him and raises an eyebrow before his eyes widen. "Thomas Jefferson?"

He nods excitedly. "Wow, that's cool."

"You two know each other?" Angelica asks, scoffing gently. She was always quite stuck up.

James nods. "Yeah, we've been online friends since like Freshman year. What are you doing here, I thought you lived in France?"

"Just moved here." Jefferson shrugs.

"Alright, well, if we're quite finished," Washington starts as James sits next to Jefferson.

Washington continues with his practice and I zone out, thinking about literally anything and everything.

Timeskip brought to you by being chosen last (since the kindergarten)

"So, what's your deal?" I hear someone ask from behind me.

I don't look over at them, however, as I could determine it as the new Thomas who joined our debate team. I continue to put books back in my locker and shrug. "I don't know what you mean." I state simply.

He scoffs into a chuckle. In my peripheral vision, I see him lean against the locker, crossing his arms at me. "This, this is what I mean. You got any friends, Hamilton?"

I slam my locker door and look over at him as he jumps slightly. "Though it's really none of your business, yes, I do have a small circle. I prefer it that way." I tell him, shrugging as I walk away.

He laughs slightly as he follows me. "Hold on, hold on, hold on." I stop in my tracks and look over at him, raising an eyebrow. "Jemmy says you're kind of an asshole. Stubborn, too."

"What's it to you?" I ask, crossing my arms.

He chuckles. "Wow, you really are quite the charmer, aren't you." He teases. "I just wanted to say good luck, you're going to need it."

I roll my eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"Washington says you finally have some competition with me here. He may pair us up or have us go against each other and if that's the case, you're not going to have fun losing, pretty boy." He winks before walking away, chuckling gently.

I stare at him as he walks away, not sure how to process the conversation we just had. I roll my eyes and continue walking out of the school, since debate practice was the last thing I had for the day. I see John sneaking out of a classroom and I raise an eyebrow and walk up to him.

I walk right up next to him and he jumps. "Jesus, Alex, you scared me!" He says, holding his chest as he slows his breathing.

"Why are you sneaking out of class? Me doing your homework isn't helping you pass as much?" I ask, smirking gently.

"What do you...?" He pauses for a moment before laughing softly. "God, no, I'm not doing anything like that. I would not do that with any teachers here."

"Oh yeah? Then what were you doing?" I ask. I know it was none of my business and I didn't really care anyway, but now I was curious.

"That's for me to know and you to find out." He says. "Anyway, why are you talking to me? You never talk to me at school."

I pause and think a moment. "I dunno, I wanted to know what you were doing I suppose." I reply.

He nods and smiles gently. "Well...I'll see you around, Hamilton." He waves.

"Well duh, we go to the same school." I say. He chuckles, smiling a bit wider, before walking the opposite direction.

I don't understand what was happening. John hates me. At least I think he does. Him and his group beat me up everyday, but then he turns around and acts all sweet around me.

~•~

"I just, I'm not sure what to make of it." I complain to the two other immigrants sitting across from me.

Hercules shrugs as he sits on his bed, braiding Lafayette's hair. "I mean, it kind of sounds like maybe he doesn't hate you."

"Ooh, maybe it's like...Ah, what do you guys call it? Chicken films?" Lafayette asks. We've been in America a lot longer than him, so he was still learning.

Hercules and I both laugh. "Do you mean chick flicks?" Hercules asks through laughs.

Lafayette frowns and smacks his arm. "Yes, that's what I meant. Now stop making fun of me!"

Hercules finishes off his laughing after I did, shaking his head. "I can't help it, Laf."

Lafayette pouted and I roll my eyes. "Anyway, what do I do?"

"Trust him!"

"Stay away!"

They both said at the same time. They look at each other.

"Stay away?" Lafayette asks. "Why would he do that?"

"Because, John is bad news. This is the same John who's been beating Alex up since before you even came here!" Herc says.

"Well...Maybe he's changed. Had some sort of life altering moment and wanted to be nice?" Lafayette suggests before gasping quite dramatically. "Or maybe he is crushing on Alex!"

I raise an eyebrow and then shake my head. "No, no way." I state, looking over at Laf. "Back me up here, Herc."

Hercules shrugs. "I mean, it's not impossible I suppose."

"What? Just a second ago-"

"Yeah, but it would make sense." Herc interrupts.

"You guys are not helping one bit." I mumble.

Herc shrugs and Laf sticks his tongue out at me. "Oh well!" He chuckles.

I chuckle gently as well and look at my phone, thinking about John. Maybe he did like me. But even then, what am I supposed to do about it?

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