Laurens

"Cheer up, mon ami!" I hear from the front seat. That would be my best friend, Lafayette. Currently, I'm in the backseat of his car as we drive upstate. I ignore him and look out the rain covered window.

His husband, my other best friend, Hercules Mulligan, sighs and continues driving down the highway. "Come on, Laurens. This is gonna be fun. We get to see the Schuylers again."

"Mhm," I reply and look down at my phone and think about the last four years of my life. I turned 23 two months ago; something I dreaded immensely. College went by so fast. I studied marine biology got a degree in it, and I also minored in history. After high school, Angelica went to Imperial College in London. The rest of us, went to Columbia University.    (Kings college)

I open my small backpack that holds my art supplies. I take out an old, worn out sketch book. Inside is a folded sheet of paper with some faded writing on it. I read it slowly and take in the beautifully written words.

I sigh and put the paper back into the book. Suddenly, I feel the car stop. I grab my bags from the backseat and slowly make my way to the doors of the hotel. Herc and Laf walk in behind me, and Herc checks us into our rooms. He gives me my room key and I take the elevator to my room while the wait in lobby. I throw my stuff on the bed and sit down on the edge.

My phone goes off in my pocket and I take it out and read the text.

Peggles: You guys here yet?

🐢: Yeah, we just got here

Peggles: Great! Maria and I be at your hotel in about 40 mins ❤

I put my phone back in my pocket and leave the room. I send Laf a quick text to tell where I am and head down to the lobby. I step out of the elevator and then instantly bump into someone. We both fall on the ground.

"Ow..."

I look up and help her with her stuff she dropped. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bump into you like that."

"It's alright."

I look up and see a familiar face I haven't seen in forever.

"Eliza?"

"John?" she says and quickly hides her hand behind her back.

I help her get to her feet. After high school, we stopped talking to each other. We just kinda... fell off.

"It's nice to see you," she says and hugs me.

"You too Liza. Why don't we go sit down?"

We walk over to a couch in the lobby and sit opposite from each other.

"How have you been?" she says and puts her books beside her.

I shrug. "Pretty good, I guess. What about you?"

"About the same. Did you come here by yourself?"

"No, I actually came with Laf and Herc. Third wheeling like always."

She smiles. "Well-"
But before she can finish, Herc comes out of nowhere and picks her up in a tight hug. She groans. "Mulligan, will you put me down?"

"Yeah sorry," Herc says and puts her down.

"You big hearted jerk," she says with smile and lightly punches him in the arm.

"Well, if it isn't Elizabeth Schuyler," Lafayette says and hugs her.

"It's good to see you Laf."

She brushes some hair behind her ear and I notice a diamond ring on her finger. "Hey Liza, who's the lucky guy?" I tease.

Her eyes go wide and she stuffs her hand in her pocket. "W-what are you talking about?"

"I heard you gotta special someone on the side," I say nudging her gently.

"Come on Eliza. You can tell us," Laf says with a pleading look on his face.

She looks down. "I can't..."

"Oh I see," Herc says with a smirk. "You bought that for yourself, didn't you?"

"No guys. I really can't tell you who it is."

"Awww. Pleaseeeeee."

"I can't," she says with a serious tone.

"Alright guys. She can't tell us. Let's just leave it."

Herc and Laf look down at the floor.

Immediately after I say that, someone walks up and kisses Eliza's cheek. "Hi beautiful," he says. "Who's this?"

Suddenly we lock eyes. He looks all to familiar. It's a face I know way to well.

"Alexander?"