Alex's POV

12:43 pm

Unknown Hey, it's John, Laf gave me your number.

Unknown We kind of got off on the wrong foot, would you wanna go get lunch and get to know each other a bit better?

I feel my heart skip a beat. There's no way this is actually John Laurens texting me. He can't stand me. What if this is just some prank?

But what if it really is him? What if he's finally realizing I'm not trying to pretend or fake anything.

Also what does he mean get to know each other? I don't want to tell him stuff about me..

12:45 pm

A.Ham Yeah, sounds good. Where
were you thinking of going?

I can't believe I just did that. I texted him back, assuming it's even him in the first place. And he texted me first.

It's one thing writing to him when he doesn't know who I actually am. It's another when he texts me first,  knowing exactly who I am.

12:49 pm

John Can you meet me at the Denny's right off of school campus in ten minutes?

A.Ham Yeah, definitely.

I smile and get excited. He actually wanted to give me a chance. I should've known he would come around eventually. He was very nice, actually. Always giving everyone a chance, even if they don't deserve it. I mean, he's even friends with Thomas fricken Jefferson. 

I then realize I only have ten minutes to get ready and stand up, rushing to my closet. I grab a nice button up shirt and put it on, looking at myself in the mirror. I looked weird. Almost like I was trying too hard. I grab my hoodie and throw it over my shirt, smiling at myself. That was better. 

I then comb through my hair and put it into a slick back, low ponytail. I nod at my appearance and then grab my things and go the restaurant he told me to meet him at. When I arrive, I see him sitting on his phone in a booth in the corner. 

"Are you looking for a table, sir?" A waitress asks me. 

I shake my head and point at John. "No, actually I'm joining him." 

She nods and I walk over there, sitting across from him. He looks up at me and sighs as he sets his phone down. He has this weird look of annoyance on his face, and it's a little off-putting, not going to lie.  "Just so you know, this wasn't my idea. Professor Washington suggested it and well, he's usually right about these types of things."

I nod. "Makes sense." I say softly. That would explain a lot, actually. I knew Washington had been trying to help me make friends for many, many years now. I guess this is the one time I've actually felt like thanking him for his efforts. "So, um..You wanted to get to know each other?"

He sighs and nods. "Yeah, I suppose." He looks around. "So,um.. How are you and Eliza doing?" He asks.

I smile gently at him. I don't even know why I was back with Eliza to be honest. I had wanted to end it even before she hated me. I guess it was really the only way to make her forgive me, though. "Uh, we're doing pretty good. Of course that whole..incident... has made our relationship a little rocky, but I think we're moving past it. Slowly, but surely."

He nods at this. "I'm...I'm sorry." He says suddenly. "I should not have let Thomas post that. It was wrong on his part and on my part and I didn't even realize how much it could've affected you and Eliz-"

"John, it's okay. That's done and in the past now." I interrupt. He looks at me with a nervous look but nods once again, as if that was the only response he knew. "How about you and Francis? How are you two doing?"

"Really well, actually.." He says quietly as he blushes. "He's the first person in quite a while who actually cares for me." 

I smile. He looks so cute when talking about Francis. I hate it, but his face lightens up and he talks in a happier tone and it just makes him even more captivating. 

"So, you're from South Carolina?" I ask, changing the subject subtly. 

He nods. "Yep. Born and raised. Only allowed to come to New York on my father's conditions." He attempted to joke. He didn't seem to find it very funny, though.

"Well, that sounds...exciting." I say plainly.

"What about you, where are you from?" He asks, tilting his head.

I shrug. "A small island in the Carribean, it's no big deal." I say.

"That's pretty cool, actually." He says, nodding slightly. "So, why New York?"

"What do you mean?" I ask, tilting my head at the question.

"Well, you're hella smart, and probably could've gotten into any school you wanted to, but you chose a university in New York. Why?" He asks, leaning in.

I sigh. "It was the only school I applied to." I lie. The truth was since my foster dad worked there, he was able to get me a bunch of scholarships there.

He nods, not seeming to fully believe me. "So, uh.. Tell me about your family." He forces himself to say.

I bite the inside of my cheek. He didn't need to know everything about me, right? "Oh, you know. Mother, father, same as everyone right?" I ask. "They're uh, they're back in my hometown." He nods. "What about you?"

"Oh, uh..Mom, Dad, four siblings. All still in South Carolina." He nods slowly.

"Older or younger siblings?" I ask, sipping on the soda the waiter placed in front of me not too long ago.

"I'm the oldest." He mumbled. "First to get out of the house." He chuckled gently. I smile at this. "Do you have any siblings?" He asks.

I hesitate to respond, but nod. I lied about my parents, might as well lie about James too. "Yeah, I have an older brother. He lives with my parents still."

He nods at this and then the waiter comes over. "Can I take your orders?"

We eat and continue talking, for hours. We ended up not going to our last class of the day because we were just talking and talking and talking. I think maybe things might work out for us.

1082 Words

(Same message is on my message board, is important)

As we all know, 4th of July is a pretty significant date in the musical Hamilton. So if you guys really want a historical Philidosia book (I have a concept and a few draft chapters to be edited and such) then I need you to respond to this and let me know. If I get enough people willing to read it I will update the prologue the day the Hamilfilm comes out (July 3rd) and the first chapter July 4th. I may publish it either way, but I wanna know how many people would read it.