Angelica Schuyler

I'd never be satisfied.

Those words kept repeating in my head, throughout the various dances I had to endure. I had a short conversation with General Washington, and a few other men who wished to court me. My face rarely was brought to a smile, and when it was, it was fake. I could always get Alexander back. No. Eliza's happiness before mine.

I was sitting at a table, staring of into space, my face blank. "Miss?" A man's voice asked. I looked up, being greeted by the tall man with large hair once again. His eyes looked witty, but behind that, I saw kindness. "May I have this dance?" He held out his hand, and I pondered for a second, before slowly standing up and taking it. "You may." I said quietly.

As we danced, I slowly began to enjoy myself more. "I was there, you know, a few weeks ago when you absolutely destroyed Aaron Burr." I smiled. "Yes, I do remember seeing you." His dark eyes bore into mine. "I must say, I had heard the rumors of the miss Angelica Schuyler. The oldest and wittiest of the Schuyler sisters." I internally snorted at the title. I guess it was true, being the wittiest. "But I didn't quite realize how true it was. I've never seen a woman, rarely even a man, do that. To anyone." He spun me around and I felt a bubbly feeling in my chest and stomach. Something I had felt before with Alexander...

"Well, Mr. Burr did have it coming." I said, laughing a little, shaking away that feeling, and he laughed as well. "I've also never met someone as selfless as you." My smile wavered a bit. "What do you mean?"

"I don't mean to seem creepy, or whatever, but I saw you give up the man you love to your sister." My heart started to beat faster. "I understand how that feels." What? "You... you do?" He nodded. "Yes. Well, sort of. I've seen the woman who I seemed to care for have her heart break over a man who's in love with someone else."

"O-oh. I'm sorry." He smiled a bit, looking as if he wanted to say something else. "Do you want to go somewhere private, Miss Schuyler."

"How do I know I can trust you?" He shrugged. "You can't. That's the thing with people. You just have to be spontaneous sometimes. So? Do you want to go somewhere private, Miss Schuyler?" He asked again. I smiled a bit. "For some reason... yes." He grinned and I took his hand, leading him away. "I've explored this building countless times. There's a spot I usually go if I need to be alone. Oh, and," I glanced at him as we walked, "call me Angelica. None of that 'Miss Schuyler' nonsense." He nodded. "as you wish, Angelica."

We arrived at the spot I was heading for. A balcony overlooking a lake. "One way to trust people is to know their names." I said, killing the silence. "So. What's your's?" I asked. "Oh, my apologies, Angelica. Thomas Jefferson." He bent down, holding my hand gently in his, placing a short and soft, yet meaningful kiss to it.

There's that feeling again. My heart continued to beat quickly. "Well, Mr. Jefferson..." he held up a hand. "Call me Thomas. None of that 'Mr. Jefferson' nonsense." He said, mimicking me. I laughed. "As you wish, Thomas." He grinned. "Angelica," Thomas said after a few moments of staring out at the lake in silence, "back to our conversation before. The woman I was talking about, you know her quite well." I glanced at him. "Do I now?" He nodded. "She's very similar to you." My heart was beating so loud and fast I was scared that he could hear it. "R-really?"

"Yes. She's here with me right now, as a matter of fact." I looked at him. "She is." I breathed out, my voice not even a whisper. He stared into my eyes. "Angelica, I may have only met you today, but you are an amazing woman, and I'd love to get to know you better." I swallowed. "Are you sure you aren't just another wealthy suitor my father has offered for me?" He shook his head. "I'm not. I'm just a regular man looking for love."

Love. Something I had felt countless times this night. For Alexander. For my sister. For Thomas. "I think... I think I'm glad that Alexander's not the one for me." I said quietly.

"Why not?" He asked gently. "Because then I'd never have a chance with you." I moved closer to him. I never did something like this on first meetings, but this is different. Thomas is different. We were about to close the space between our lips with a long awaited kiss when-

"Angie, Daddy says it's time to- oh." The innocent voice of my sister Peggy called, rushing in. Thomas and I jumped away from each other, looking at Peggy. "Right, Peggy. I- uh... I have to go, Thomas." He nodded, smiling understandably. "Of course. I- uh... I'll see you around, Angelica." I nodded. "Yeah. Goodbye." I kissed him on the cheek without thinking before walking out with Peggy.

"Who the hell is that?" She grinned at me. "Language, young lady." I said, blushing. "He's just someone I met." I said, embarrassed. "Uh-huh. Just someone you were about to kiss! You like him!" She said. "Peggy-" I warned her, but sighed, "fine, but don't mention this to anyone, or else I'll never hear the end of it." Peggy smirked.

"Yep. Anyway, Daddy says the carriage is ready and to get you. I knew you'd be out there. I saw you with Alexander. You okay?" She asked quickly. I pursed my lips, nodding. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just don't mention it to anyone. He and Eliza are meant for each other."

"Okay... let's go." I nodded.

When we got home, Eliza started to talk to me non-stop to me about Alexander. I just smiled and nodded. "So, did you find anyone?" She asked when she was finished. "Uh... no, not really, I mean not really anyone I had a big interest in." Peggy gave me a look. "Angie." She said. "Oooh, who was it?" Eliza asked, catching on. I pursed my lips. "No one..." she started to tickle me, and Peggy did to. I gasped for air. "Girls! Ah! Fine! Just stop and I'll tell you!" They smirked, ceasing the tickling nonsense. "It was a man named Thomas Jefferson." Eliza squealed. "Was he nice? Cute? Smart? Rich?" I nodded. "Yes, yes, yes, and I'm not sure."

She frowned slightly. "I'm sure daddy will like him more if he's rich." I sigh, exasperatedly. "I don't care if he's rich, and frankly I don't care if daddy likes him! I like him and that's all that matters." I snapped. Eliza stared at me, nodding a bit. "O-okay... I, uh... I'll let you get to bed." She started to leave.

"I'm sorry about snapping, Liza..." I called out. "It's okay. I understand." I smiled a bit. No you don't Liza, you don't know what I went through tonight.

As I slept, my dreams were filled with Thomas.

Thomas. Thomas. Thomas. Thomas. Thomas.
I love him.
What?
Yeah...
I love him.

-McKenzie