Alex’s POV

I took a deep breath and opened the door to the dorm, only half ready to meet whoever I’d be sharing a room with for the next year. I could already feel my anxiety kicking in as the boy in the room turned around to face me. Calm yourself, Alexander. Maybe he’s nice?

“Uh… I-I’m Alexander H-hamilton… I’m your r-roommate,” I stuttered.

He smiled a kind and reassuring smile at me. “Nice to meet you, Alexander. I’m John Laurens.” He stuck out his hand and I flinched a little, expecting him to hit me, before realizing that’s not what’s going on, and placing my own hand in his, shaking it lightly. I took this moment to observe the boy. He had long, curly, dark brown hair, pulled up into a ponytail. Underneath that were his eyes, a beautiful hazel that anyone could stare at for hours. Beneath those stunning orbs was a spray of freckles across the bridge of his nose. Move just a bit lower, and one will find soft, kissable lips. Wait, what? Ignore that last adjective. The point is, he was very attractive. I readjusted the tattered satchel on my shoulder and scanned the room to take my eyes off of him. My eyes landed on the door to the bedrooms. I get a bed… I get a bed! I walked towards the rooms quickly, trying to avoid any or all human contact. I’m afraid of it. But hey, he followed me. Juuust what I wanted.

“Hey, do you need help bringing anything in?” Shiza.

“Umm… N-no… Thank you so much for asking though!” I plastered a fake smile on my face and I turned back to my bag, shivering slightly. What if he digs into my personal life?

“Are you sure?... I can help!” I sighed, eyeballing my satchel. It’s a dark leathery brown and had been torn from several years of use. I have had to repair it too many times to count.

“I’m good. Th-this is all I have.”

A look of sympathy spread across his face. “So… These are the only clothes you have?”

I tensed. “Uhhh… Y-yes?” His mouth gaped, watching me as I carefully pulled out the only contents. An old laptop from about 2004, and a… Ukulele? A pulverized one at that.

“Well, I’m sure some friends of mine can help you.” Wait… He had friends? Of course he did! You were the only one that did not!

“What do you mean? I don’t have the money to afford going out and buying myself anything…”

He grinned. “One of my friends is a tailor. He can make you something.” Wow. No one had ever done anything for me before.

“H-he doesn't have to i-if he doesn't want to.”

John’s smile only grew. “Oh believe me. He will want to.” I nodded softly, not really believing it. No one has ever really wanted to do anything for me, and they sure as hell wouldn't want to do anything for me now.

“I mean… we can go wh-when you both are free.”

I regretted saying that. Because sure enough: “Of course we are both free!” Shiza. Can't escape that one. “Hey, let's go now and get it out of the way, alright?”

I nodded softly. I kept plenty of distance as we walked down the corridor, making sure I didn't get hit. I've gone through enough of that for my entire life… I squirmed, feeling the fabric of my thin, orange-ish shirt brushing against the whip marks it concealed. We turned the corner, and John stopped at a door. He knocked, and I scooted behind him, trying to make myself invisible.

“Allo John, mon ami!” someone grinned as he opened the door. He was taller than all of us, his skin a deep caramel. He had his puffy hair tied back into a bun, wearing a tank top with a French flag. “Please. Come inside.” He smiled softly and stepped aside, allowing our entry. I shivered madly as I walked inside, staying behind John, basically his shadow. Who knows? It could be a trap. To my death.

John hugged the French boy tightly. “Hey Laffy Taffy! How're you doing?”
“Laffy Taffy” returned the hug.

“Pretty good, Johnny boy. So why the visit?” I could feel my anxiety rising with each second we were here. I don’t know these people. They could do anything to me. I want to get out of this place. Now.

“Oh! Is Herc here? I need to talk to him.”

“Oui! He is right inside. And who is this?” He cocked his head at me. Oh god. Oh god. He saw me. I pressed myself even more into John’s back. These people could hurt me very badly. They were all taller and stronger than me.

I squeaked and hid myself more as I was mentioned. “Oh! This is Alexander Hamilton.” I gave my strongest wave at the time. Unfortunately for me, it was pretty weak. Great. Now I look like an easy target. Not that I didn’t already look like one. He grinned and pushed us inside.

“Well, Alexander Hamilton, my name is too long to mention, but just call me Lafayette for short. Or Laf for short-short.” He grinned wider, but I pressed myself harder to John. Two people is too many. Just then, someone else entered the room. Perfect. Because that’s just what I needed. And to make things worse, he looked tough. He obviously worked out, and could break me like a toothpick. 

“Laf, who is this?” I burrowed myself more into his side with a small squeak when I heard his voice. It was deep and sounded really threatening to me. Most people who have a voice like that hit me. The number of people in the room didn’t help to ease my mind either. Three people is way too much. They could all hurt me. Maybe it was a joke. A sick joke.

“Alexander Hamilton.” Laf smiled at him.

“Why is he here?...” He cocked his head and covered his mouth as he yawned.

“Oui, John. Why is this boy here?” John cast a quick glance at me. It was filled with sympathy.

“He doesn't have any clothes, nor can he afford them. So… I was kiiinnnnda hopinnng that you wouuuullllllld…” He stretched his words out until the man groaned.

“Fine. I'll make him clothes. I will have to get his measurements first, though.” Wait… he’s the tailor? I just couldn’t imagine someone like him being interested in clothes. Well I guess you can’t judge a book by its cover. He still looked scary though.

John bounced in excitement. “Yay! Thank you Hercules!” Hercules?... That was his name?... Huh. Neat. It fit his appearance.

He beckoned for me to step inside his sewing room, which I, NOT wanting to be crushed like a grape, did exactly that. He told me to stand still, and I did, afraid of what would happen if I disobeyed him. I quivered in fear as he began taking measurements. I guess my clothes hid how thin I was, because Hercules’ eyes flew wide when he saw the measurement of my waist. He cleared his throat and spoke in a frightened hoarse voice. “Are you eating enough?... When was the last time you ate?...”

He didn't care in reality. So if he didn't, nor did I. “This morning.” He nodded softly and continued taking measurements. I started hearing small pops coming from my ace bandaging. I waited nervously until he was done.

He dismissed me and I walked quickly out of the dorm room. John lingered for a while before following me. I walked quickly to the bathroom and I locked the door. I threw off the orange shirt and I stared at myself in the mirror. My hand drifted to the ace bandages tightly binding my chest, and I slowly began to unwrap them. I cried at my own reflection. This is the reflection that had been abused. Raped. Assaulted. When my mother was pregnant with me, she drank and smoked. The reason why you shouldn't do that was me. I was the perfect example. It could cause serious birth defects. I had the frame of a curvy woman. I hated it, I hated it so much. I didn't eat because of it. The less I ate, the less curvy I looked. So that’s what I stuck to.

I sighed and continued staring at myself until I heard a knock and a jiggle of the door knob. “Alex? You okay? You just… Left.”

I barely moved my gaze from my reflection as I replied. “Uhh, yeah. I’m fine!” I began re-binding my chest with some new wraps I found in a cabinet. I did it so tightly that i could hardly breathe. But hey. It worked. I slid my orange shirt back on and I walked back out with a fake smile. “See? I'm perfectly fine.”

John’s eyes flashed with disbelief before he just flat out agreed. I visibly relaxed, but I quickly stood straight as I heard the wraps pop. I walked quickly into my own room, and I laid on my own bed, careful not to get foundation stains on the blankets. I did have foundation covering almost my entire body… See, I had and still have a condition called Vitiligo. Its when your body doesn't have enough pigment. So, your body starts to form white spots. This condition isn't at all dangerous, but it's embarrassing. And it gives people ammunition to hurt you with. It has gotten so bad that it has turned one of my eyes an icy blue, when they both used to be a deep chocolate brown. My skin used to be fairly dark, me being in the sun a lot, and near the equator. So the white spots are even more noticeable… When I used to not wear makeup, people would ask me if I bleached my skin. No. I didn't. I sighed and I somehow fell asleep, filled with fear and anxiety for the next day.

~~

So that's the first chapter. Thoughts? Is it good? Do you like it? Most of it was honestly written by @owenasnk . I mostly did editing and description. But it's being posted on my profile because... well, I don't know. So I hope you liked the first chapter. And if there are any Artemis Fowl fans out there currently reading this, yes the title is an Artemis Fowl quote. It just fit perfectly with the story. Okay, that's it. Until next time!

~MishaIsOurOverlord1
~owenasnk