John's POV 

"Liz, where'd you even get those shoes? They are absolutely adorable!" Peggy asks, looking at her older sister's shoes. 

Eliza shrugs. "I don't even remember, I feel like I've always had 'em. They are cute, though." She smiles brightly. 

"Anyway, off the topic of shoes, John, what's got you in such a good mood today?" Angelica asks, making the three look over at me. 

"Who knows, maybe he got new shoes, too." She looks down at my shoes and then shakes her head quickly. "Yeah, nevermind those are the same shoes he wears everyday."

"Hey! I quite like these shoes." I defend myself as I chuckle. "But I dunno, I'm just a bit more positive than usual today."

Eliza raises an eyebrow and the giggles. "Oh, did you meet up with Martha Manning again last night?" She asks. 

"Hah, no. She won't return any of my calls since the last time." I say, scratching the back of my neck. 

"Well, I saw you stayed back to help the Bastard Orphan. What's that about?" Peggy asks, leaning her head on my shoulder. 

I shrug her off and chuckle, shaking my head. "Please, me helping Hamilton? That would only happen in some weird fanfiction world." I scoff. 

"A fanfiction you say?" Peggy asks, smiling at me. 

"Oh my God, do not write fanfiction about that loser and me." I frown at her and she giggles. 

"I mean, John if you like him or something we can leave him alone. Only for you, though." Eliza says. "Wouldn't want to ruin the face of your future boyfriend." She teases. 

I laugh slightly and shake my head. "No, there are no such feelings towards him. Have you even seen him? He's a smart ass who can't shut up for more than two seconds. Plus, I'm one hundred percent straight, you guys know this."

Angelica shrugs. "Alright, if you say so." She pauses and smirks. "Speak of the devil."

Alex walks past us, closing his eyes tight as he did. I frown slightly but don't say anything because what was I supposed to say?

"Alexander, how you feeling, buddy?" Eliza asks wrapping an arm around him. He freezes and shakes his head. 

"Yeah, not your buddy, Elizabeth." He says coldly. 

Angelica shakes her head and wraps her arm around his other shoulder. "Oh, come on. Don't be so cold."

"Don't be cold to the people who bully and beat me up every single day? Gee, sounds like a nice idea." He says. 

Peggy boops his nose. "You're so funny, Alexander."

"Oh, fuck off." He grumbles before pushing his way out of the Schuylers' grip. He begins to walk away and the Schuylers start to follow him, but the bell rings. They groan and I chuckle. "Let's just ditch. You guys up for donuts?" I ask. 

Angelica and Peggy nod excitedly, but Eliza shakes her head. "Can't be late to class. Plus, I'm on a new diet. Catch you guys later."

We part our separate ways and then walk off of school campus, no one even noticing. 

Timeskip brought to you by crying today, smiling tomorrow

"Jacky, look what I found!" Martha squeals as she runs up to me, holding a ladybug in her hand. I smile gently at her. 

"That's awesome, Martha. You know those are good luck bugs, right?" I ask. 

She stares at me with wide eyes, smiling. "Really? I'm going to keep it then!"

I chuckle. "You can't keep the ladybug, Martha. You have to make a wish, and then watch it fly away." I say. 

She frowns and looks at the ladybug. "But how is my wish supposed to come true if it goes away?"

"Don't worry, it'll be okay. The ladybug is going to keep your wish safe, and then one day it'll come back and make sure it comes true." I was giving her false hope, but she was seven, what else was I supposed to do.

Her bright smile returns to her face and she closes her eyes to make a wish before holding her hand up. The ladybug flies away and she giggles. "I'm going to find another one so I can make another wish!" She squeals before running back to the playground. 

I jump when I hear a thud on the bench next to me. I look over and see my binder sitting next to me and I smile. I look up at Alex and nod. "'Sup?" I ask. 

He raises an eyebrow before shaking his head. "You know that whole ladybug thing isn't true, right?" He asks. 

I shrug. "She's seven. Don't tell me you don't make up things for your little siblings."

He shakes his head once again. "Don't have any siblings." He says plainly. "Anyway, you don't have to pay me today, you paid me extra yesterday without realizing it." He turns and I raise an eyebrow. 

"Alex, wait." I say. He turns back around. I hand him a $20 bill. "I know I paid you extra, but that doesn't mean I'm not paying you today as well." 

He frowns and cautiously takes the money. He shoves it in his pocket before shaking his head. "What's your problem, Laurens? You and your friends bully me at school, then you act nice to me after? Why the hell would you put all that effort into hating me at school just to act friendly towards me?"

I shrug, staying quiet. He didn't need to know that I actually didn't hate him. Don't get me wrong, I used to. Couldn't stand his smart ass, stuck up attitude. Then senior year started, and I couldn't help but watch with a smile as he debated with people and absolutely crushed them in arguments. 

He waits for a response, but scoffs when I don't give him one. "You know what, nevermind. I don't even care." He says before turning and walking away. I chuckle gently and then Martha runs back to me. 

"Who even is he and why do you meet him here everyday?" She asks, tilting her head. 

"He's just a friend, Martha." I say before standing up and holding her hand. "Come on, let's get home before Dad gets mad at us." 

She frowns and nods. We walk back home and I enter slowly, Martha standing behind me just in case. "Alright, it looks like Father is sleeping already. Go upstairs and get ready for bed, then we'll watch a movie, okay?"

She nods and runs upstairs, staying quiet as possible. I walk in and look around, seeing my dad in the kitchen. I sigh and prepare myself before walking in there.

"Hey Dad, Martha and I are home." I told him, knowing he'd be mad if I didn't say hi.

He turns around and scoffs at me. "About goddamn time. You know how late you two were out?"

"I'm sorry, sir. We were just walking a little slower today." I lie.

He spits at me. "Don't you fucking lie to me. I hate liars." He crossed his arms. "Your report card come in yet?"

I nod. "Yep, uh, all A's." I say, knowing he won't be proud either way.

"Lowest grade?"

"Ninety two percent, sir."

He scoffs and shakes his head. "I'm raising a failure, good to know. You'd better hope Martha turns out less of a failure than you."

I nod. "Yes, sir."

He glares at me before rolling his eyes. "Get out of my sight. I don't want to see you until you get those grades up."

"I promise you won't see me until then, sir." I say before exiting the kitchen, balling up my fists in anger.

I walk up the stairs and relax a bit before knocking on Martha's door. The door swings open and I see Martha smiling up at me in her cupcake and sprinkles pajamas. Those are her favorite because the "pants are fuzzy."

I then walk in with her and we watch the same Barbie movie we watched every other night until she fell asleep. I tuck her in and then sigh as I turn off the TV, walking into my room and plopping down on my bed.

I groan when I remember I'm going to have to skip breakfast tomorrow and go out the window because my father thinks a 92% is bad. I then decide to let my tiredness consume me before drifting off into a light sleep.

1405 Words