TW:
Blood
Death
Angst (Lots of itttttt-)

I apologize in advance.

"I'm looking for a Mister George Eaker. You ladies happy to know where he may be?" I asked with a sly smile, winking at the girls just in front of me.

They giggled and blushed, hiding behind their fans before answering. "I think he went down broadway, going to see a show!"

"Ah. Thanks ladies." I turned to leave but quickly turned back around. "What name should I use to address such beautiful ladies?"

"A-Abigal, s-sir!" Abigail squeaked out.

"Ah. And you?"

"Lindsey!" Lindsey chirped, a blush spreading across her cheeks.

"Well, Abigail, Lindsey, you gals look good in your frocks. How bout when I get back we all strip down to our socks~" I lenny-faced at them.

They screamed and blushed even redder at my statement. I turned. "Thanks for your help~" I called, flashing them a smile as I walked away.

"The ladies say my brains's not where the resemblance stops"

"Yo! Eaker!" I shouted, not caring that I was disrupting the show.

Eaker angrily glared at me from his seat. "Shhhh!"

"Hey!" I yelled louder. Eaker turned to me again.

"Shut it- I'm trying to watch a show!"

"You shoulda watches your mouth when you talked about my father though!" I replied, scoffing.

"Ha! You're fathers a scoundrel!" Eaker laughed.

I crossed my arms and glared at him. "I'm a Hamilton with pride! You talk about my father, I cannot let it slide."

Eaker's eyes narrowed. "And so it seems are you."

"Really?!?" I growled.

"Yes. I don't fool around like your little schoolboy friends!" Eaker angrily stated.

"Well then, I'll see you on the dueling grounds." I offered a sly smile. "Unless, that it, you'd rather go now."

Eaker rolled his eyes. "I know where to find you. Frick off now- I'm watching my show now!" He spat, turning away.

I grinned with smug satisfaction and walked out of the building.

"Pops, if you had only heard the shit he said about you!" I said, storming into my father's office. "I doubt you would have let it slide and I was not about to!"

"Woah! Slow down!" Father said, turning to face me. "What happened?"

"I came to ask you for advice! This is my very first duel.." Father took a step back in shock. "They don't exactly cover this subject in boarding school."

Father regained his composure and asked me some questions. "Did your friends attempt to negotiate a peace?"

"He refused to apologize," I answered honestly. "We had to let the peace talks cease."

"Where is this happening?"

"Across the river, in Jersey!"

Father looked at the ground, crossing his arms. "Everything is legal in New Jersey!"

Father was silent for a while before taking a breath and answering. "Alright, so this is what you're gonna do. Stand there like a man until Eacker is in front of you, and when the time comes, fire your weapon in the air. This will put an end to the whole affair."

"But..." I didn't like his answer. "What if he decides to shoot? Then I'm a goner-"

"No, he'll follow suit if he's truly a man of honor!" Father placed his hand on my shoulder. "To take someone's life, that is something you can't shake. I should know. And Philip, your mother can't take another heartbreak."

"But father-"

"Promise me!" Father looked down, a single tear running down his cheek, "You don't want this young man's blood on your conscience."

I was silent. "O-okay... I... I promise."

Father let go and turned his back to me. Taking something from a drawer he opened, he started to speak. "Come back home when you're done." Father turned and handed me two beautiful pistols. "Take my guns. Be smart. And make me proud, son."

I nodded, my throat too dry to speak. Father gave me a hug and sent me on my way, never meeting my gaze.

~•~

I was walking down the street, staring at the sky, scared out of my skin. I started humming a little tune. Sooner or later, words were added, somewhat resembling a poem I had written when I was nine.

I laughed slightly at the memory of messing up.

"My name is Philip,
I am a poet.
And I'm a little nervous, but I can't show it.
I'm sorry, I'm a Hamilton with pride.
You talk about my father, I cannot let it slide!"

Reaching the river bank, I stopped my singing. Eaker was waiting with a doctor and a boat. My second was standing there as well, a few paces away, glaring at the others.

"Mister Eacker!" I greeted him. "How was the rest of your show?"

Eaker rolled his eyes and scoffed. "I'd rather skip the pleasantries, let's go." He geustered to the boat and all five of us got in.

Five minutes later, we were in Weehawken. I felt the butterflies in my stomach grow as I converced with my second.

He and Eaker's second gathered to talk things out as the doctor tuned to walk a few paces into the wilderness, a custom for his to have deniability over the situation.

"Grab your pistol." Eaker's second solomly shouted, signiling that he and my second hadn't reached a compromise. "The duel will commence after we count to ten."

My nerves grew. My palms got sweaty and my legs were shaking. I squeezed my eyes shut and repeated what my father had told me.

"Look 'em in the eye, aim no higher!"

Opening my eyes, I glared at Eaker.

"Summon all the courage you require!"

I took a deep breath to settle my nerves. I could do this.

"Then slowly and clearly aim your gun towards the sky-"

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven-"

BANG

My breath cought in my throught- he wasn't supposed to fire..

I inhaled sharply as the bullet struck.

Everything fell silent save a loud ringing in my ears as I fell to the ground, to shocked to utter a sound.

I vaguely recall men running towards me, dragging me onto our boat before I passed out.

The next thing I know, I woke up to father running into a room. The room I was lying in.

"Oh Philip.."

"Pops... I did exactly what you said, pops.."

"Shhhh I know, I know..."

"I held my head up high.."

"Shh. I know you did everything just right!"

"Even before we got to ten-"

"Shh.."

"-I was aiming for the sky."

"I know, I know! Save your strength and stay alive!"

"No!" Mother screamed, bursting through the door.

"Eliza-" Father began. Mother ignored him, turning to the doctor. "Is he breathing? Is he going to survive this? Who did this," Mother finally turned to glare at father. "Alexander, did you know?"

"Mom... I'm so sorry for forgetting what you taught me."

"My son!" Mother chocked out.

"We played piano.." I weakly smiled.

"I taught you piano.."

"You would put your hands on mine!" I started crying.

"You changed the melody every time."

"Ha, I would always change the line-" I chuckled, gasping for breath.

"Shh. I know, I know..."

I smiled through the tears and looked up at mom. "I would always change the line!"

"I know, I know."

"Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf." Mom whispered.

"Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf." I repeated, remembering the days we had spent at the piano counting in French when I was little.

"Good. Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept-"

"Un, deux, trois..." I exhaled and felt my hands slipping off mother's arms. I could feel myself growing weaker, dying.

"Huit, neuf-" Mother realized this too. "Sept, huit, neuf..." But she kept going. "Sept, huit..."

The last thing I remember was the shriek from my mother after I had finally stopped breathing.

A/N

............

Sorry