Third Person

Alexander Hamilton was one class away from finishing his first week at King's College, and he had managed to refrain from fighting Thomas Jefferson the entire time. Until today.

Last class on a Friday, Law studies with Mr Franklin. Alex had buried himself in his school work after his first day, his eyes always glued to his computer screen, he hadn't even seen John for the past 3 days. It was working though because he was the star student in all his classes. Just the perfect excuse for Jefferson to target him.

"Alexander Lamington," Thomas sighed, planting his hands on Alex's desk while two of his buddies, now known as Charles Lee and James Reynolds, snickered behind him. Class was over and they were alone in the classroom.
"It's Hamilton." Alex muttered with a dark glint in his eye, suddenly really craving lamingtons though.
"Whatever your name is, listen, you're star student and teacher's pet for all your classes, yes?" Thomas spoke under his breath, still somewhat intimidating, not to Alex of course. Alex gave a curt nod before Thomas continued. "Well, my friends here aren't doing so well in their classes, so here's what I propose, you do James and Charles' homework for the rest of the term, and we won't tell everyone about your whore mother and daddy issues." Thomas smirked.

"How do you know about that." Alex hissed, not in the mood for taking any crap. He wasn't bothered about the homework, but if anyone found out about his past, especially his new friends, he'd be thrown right back where he started. The good for nothing whore's son he was in the Caribbean.
"If you must know, this school has a very in-depth set of files for each student, I know everyone's dirty little secrets." Thomas growled. "Now do we have a deal?"

"No." Alex spat.
"No? So I can tell everyone yo-" Thomas began to threat.
"No!" Alex yelled.
"Then what are you gonna do, huh?" Thomas laughed, James and Charles laughing as well.

It was all in the moment, and Alex has no regrets.
His fist swung up and connected with Thomas' jaw. Thomas stumbled backwards and began to yell profanities at him. James jumped onto Alex and smashed his fist across his face.
Alex's vision began to close in black and blur. He tried to focus his sight but was soon completely blind. Alex tried to push James off but to no avail. Instead it was Thomas who ripped him off.
"He's mine." Thomas spat, raising his fist for another punch. Alex unsteadily blocked his face but instead the blow hit him in the side. He fell to the floor and Thomas kicked him in the same spot again. Before any more damage could be done a deep yell rattled the classroom.
"What is going on here?" Mr Washington roared with Mr Franklin by his side.

Thomas left Alex on the floor and looked up at Mr Washington with a smile.
"We were just making friends and welcoming our new student to the school!" Thomas said with a malicious grin.
"Head office, now, all three of you." Mr Washington growled as Mr Franklin began to escort the boys there.

As they left the room Mr Washington hurried to Alex's side. He cowered on the floor holding his side.
"Let's get you to the nurses office."

---

John rushed into Alex's room, seeing him on the hospital bed with a small bowl of soup on his bed side table.
"Jesus Alex!" He yelped, wrapping him in a tight hug.
"Ow ow ow yes hello John-" Alex laughed, holding his side as John released him quickly.
"Sorry!" He said quickly. "I forgot,"
"It's fine Laurens!" Alex laughed, slowly quieting down when his head began to throb again.

Soon everyone else was pouring into the room, a tsunami of sympathetic faces showering him in hugs. He thanked everyone for visiting and they all sat together for a while before visiting hours ended. John assured Alex he would be back the next day to collect him from the hospital. He had been sent there with a mild concussion.

And sure enough, 8 oclock sharp the next morning, John was at Alex's door with his release papers.
"I don't see you for three days and the next time I do you've gotten involved with Jefferson's crew? You better tell me everything on the way back to school." John laughed and Alex climbed out of bed slowly and slipped on an old tattered hoodie. They walked back to Alex's dorm together and went inside.

Alex grabbed his computer and set it on his lap, preparing to type.
"What're you doing?" John questioned with a confused glance.
"Homework." Alex muttered, his eyes only flickering up to meet John's for a moment.
"You're kidding right." John sighed, falling against the doorframe.
"N-no?" Alex stuttered, opening a new document on his computer.
"You just came out of hospital and it's the weekend! Come hang out with us." John smiled brightly. Alex sat for a moment before John swept up his laptop and held it high above his head.

Alex couldn't reach it and didn't want to risk it falling, so he gave in.
"Screw you." Alex muttered with a smirk.

"Would you?" John smirked. Alex pushed him up against the wall in a passionate kiss.
"I don't see why not,"

"Bahaha thanks," John laughed, imagining the previous scenario with a bright blush rising on his cheeks. Alex must've caught on in some form because he hurriedly flipped his hoodie over his head and grabbed John's sleeve, leading him out of the dorm room.

They left the dorm building and met up with the rest of their friends under a large tree in the main courtyard. Eliza had a guitar out and they all sat around it sleepily while she slowly strummed Sway by Mooi. Alex and John sat down when Lafayette opened the circle for them to join.
"Welcome back Alex," Hercules laughed, slapping him on the knee.
"Thanks Herc, good to be away from the smell of disinfectant," Alex chuckled quietly in reply.
"I hope you don't mind me asking, but what triggered your fight with Jefferson?" Lafayette asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
"I'd rather not talk about it, sorry," Alex mumbled, tugging at his hoodie nervously.
"No don't be sorry, we respect if it's a sensitive subject," Lafayette began to assure Alex.
"But next time shoot us a text and we'll all be glad to help beat Thomas to a pulp." Hercules smirked, slapping his hands together.

Alex laughed uneasily with a small 'thanks' and decided to remove himself from the conversation for a while, just enjoy the cool breeze and john's hand wrapped securely over his.
Wait.

Alex flinched when he realised he was holding John's hand. When John noticed he quickly tugged it away and stuffed it in his jean pocket.
"S-sorry," John mumbled, his face flushing bright red. Eliza stopped strumming to laugh at the two of them turning into living breathing tomatoes.
"I'm going to go make instant noodles." Alex quickly muttered before bolting up and speed walking away. This made everyone laugh even harder and awe at John who was trying desperately to hide his blush.

"Why haven't you made a move yet?" Peggy groaned, falling backwards on the grass.
"He's straight! I can't just-" John began to retaliate before everyone began to absolutely shit themselves laughing.

"HAHAHHA y-you have GOT to be kidding mE!" Eliza heaved, throwing her head back in laughter as she tried to prop her guitar up on the tree behind her.
John worriedly glanced around, a confused expression painted across his features.
"John, you and Alex slept in the same bed the first night you met him." Lafayette reasoned.
"I was drunk and he just had to put up with me!" John retaliated, crossing his arms.
"You were literally just subconsciously holding hands." Angelica pointed out.
"I-it was an accident! He ran away." John sighed in defeat, now clutching the hand that was once holding Alex's.
Lafayette gave a very exaggerated sigh before standing up.
"Well if you refuse to believe us mon ami I will simply have to confront Alex myself, don't worry, I won't name names, but you didn't kiss a straight guy that night." Lafayette smirked, walking away in Alex's direction. John fell backwards onto the grass with one last yelp of frustration. Alex did not like him and that was final.
'What are friends for' he replayed in his head. Yeah. Great friends John had right about now.

Wait, how did Laf know about the kiss?

Alex's POV

I wasn't really making noodles, it was just the first thing that popped into my mind. I was actually still really craving lamingtons, but here I was famously typing on my computer, what else?
But aside from that, I had just made the biggest fool of myself.

How did I not notice myself holding hands with someone, let alone John. It just felt so natural, our hands fit together like two puzzle pieces.
I had to stop thinking like that. John wasn't into me like that, the taste I got of drunk John was the last taste I was going to get at all.

Suddenly my dorm room door swung open. I half expected it to be John, and was disappointed for a moment when I saw Lafayette waltz in, but then relieved.
"You have to ask Laurens out." He simply stated, closing the door behind him.
"What?" I gasped, closing the document I was working on. Laf and I had been blessed with plenty of time to talk late at night while we waited for sleep to overcome our senses, and on numerous occasions my feelings towards John and the events of my first night at King's College had been the topic of conversation. I had sent Lafayette a text about the drunk kiss as soon as I remembered the next morning, needing to get it out of my system. I trusted Lafayette enough to keep his mouth shut though.
"Let me show you something." Lafayette muttered, motioning for me to follow him. I closed my computer and climbed out of bed, following him down the hall, up the elevator and to John and Hercules' room.

"What are we doing here?" I asked, curious as to why Lafayette would bring me here. No response. Lafayette retrieved what looked to be Hercules' room key by the horse charm on the keychain, and unlocked the door, leading me inside.

"Look at John's art wall." Lafayette sighed with a small grin.
"I've already seen it, when we-"

"No Alexander. Look."

I inspected the wall and almost immediately saw something I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed sooner. Dotted here and there were tiny drawings of what looked to be... me?
"John drew, me?" I wondered out loud.
"Listen, tonight I'm staying in here with Herc for some netflix binge watching. Make a move or I will for you. Pas de pression." Lafayette smirked triumphantly, leaving the room and going back to the group outside, which had begun to disperse by now.
"Oui." I muttered under my breath. Then I realised, John would be coming up to his room now. Crap.

I leaped out the door without the slightest glance back and slammed it shut behind me. I pressed the elevator button at least 51 times before it opened, and who else would be standing there but the one and only, John Laurens.

"John!" I exclaimed, trying to hide my shaking hands in my pockets.
"Heyyy Alex, this isn't your floor?" He chuckled, leaning against the elevator door so it wouldn't close.
"Yeah I wasn't paying attention, got off on the wrong floor." I laughed uneasily, smacking my head.

"Right, well I'll see you tomorrow?" John smiled, stepping out of the elevator and allowing me to go inside.
"Yeah, tomorrow." I spoke, mainly to myself. The doors began to close and I stuck my hands out to stop them. "Wait!"

John swivelled around swiftly and shot me a curious smile.
"Are y-you free tonight?" I stuttered, my whole body feeling like it was made of jelly.
"Well I've been kicked out of my dorm so I was just gonna go grab some pizza with the Schuylers..." John replied with a small shrug, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"R-right." I mumbled, letting the doors begin to close again.

"Unless you wanna do something? Just the two of us?" John smiled warmly, tilting his head to the side.
My hand shot out once more to stop the elevator doors from cutting us off.
"YES! I uh, I mean that would be cool, I haven't tried that 50's diner down the street, that might be nice?" Alex spoke quickly with plenty of enthusiasm.
"Perfect! Meet at the diner at 5:30?" John asked as the doors began to close again.
"See you there, Laurens!" I managed to yell out before the doors slid shut, closing me off to smash out an adrenaline-filled happy dance.