"What's your name, son?"
"Alexander Hamilton. My name is Alexander Hamilton."
Aaron had been catching up on some history reading when he glanced up at the new student, the confidence in the kid's—Alexander's—voice snatching away his attention. Alexander was... Well, he was incredibly attractive. His crooked smirk, his rosy cheeks, his piercing eyes... Aaron felt like those eyes could see through anyone and oh god they were on him and—Was that a wink?! Aaron quickly looked back down at his textbook, cheeks red.
"Well, Alexander, go ahead and take a seat. I'll let you get acquainted with your classmates." Mr. Washington pat Alexander on the shoulder once before Alexander went to find a place with the rest of the homeroom. Aaron was extremely conscious of Alexander's movements, which accumulated with Alexander sliding into the seat right next to him. Aaron focused all of his energy on keeping his eyes on the textbook in front of him or, when that failed, anywhere but the new kid.
"Aaron Burr?" Alexander asked suddenly and Aaron's gaze flicked to him.
"I, uh... Yes? Have we met before?" Aaron was cautious, splitting his focus between the mind-reading newbie and his internal panic about not finishing his reading in time for class.
"No, no," Alexander laughed, "it's on your notebook." He motioned down to Aaron's opened bag.
"Oh." There was a beat of silence. Aaron looked back down at his book. At this rate, he'd have to opt for simply skimming the text, an idea he was not fond of.
"What're you reading?" Alexander asked, leaning closer, almost to the point of slipping off of his chair.
"It's my APUSH textbook," Aaron explained, not looking up. "I didn't get to finish reading last night and it's my first period today."
"Oh really? I'm trying to get into that class." Alexander's words were fast, excited, passionate. "That's Mr. Washington's class, right? Honestly, I would have gotten into it at my last school, but, well, when I told the registrar, he looked at me like I was stupid!" He paused and looked at Aaron with a serious expression. "I'm not stupid. And, well, heh, that's part of why I'm not there anymore."
Aaron knew he had reading to do and he knew he didn't have time for this, but... "What do you mean?"
"I got a little out of sorts with him, it's all a blur, really. And, well, I may have punched him," Alexander practically spat he was talking so fast. He looked nervous and a little vulnerable.
"You punched the registrar," Aaron repeated. Alexander nodded guiltily, "Well," Aaron half-laughed, "I'm sure that Mr. Washington would love to have you in his class. Just have a talk with him."
"That's great!" Alexander exclaimed, his grin lit up brighter than Times Square. It was very endearing. Aaron had to use all of his self-control to look away. "I'm really pumped to be in that class. I know I can ace that exam." He paused, looking just past Aaron. It was almost as if he had some inside look at the future in that moment, as if he knew exactly what he would accomplish. The moment passed as soon as it came and Alexander was back to over-excited (apparently, it was his resting state). "What do you guys talk about? Ooh, please tell me you aren't past the revolution yet! That's my faaaavorite part of history."
"Actually, no, we're in the middle of it now," Aaron responded with a smirk. His better judgment told him to get back to reading, but there was something about Alexander that made him want to keep talking. "I'm doing some current event readings now, though." That seemed to grab Alexander more than anything, his eyes widening and a tiny gasp escaping.
"Really? How much do you talk about? What're you covering now? Oh, oh, is there anything about the election? Or how about foreign aid?" Alexander was going at a hundred miles an hour and Aaron would have almost thought it adorable if the next question hadn't come. "Have you discussed LGBTQ+ rights?"
"Can I give you a piece of advice?" Aaron shot quickly, his demeanor immediately shifting to something sterner. Alexander nodded excitedly. "Talk less. Smile more." Alexander's smile faded a little.
"Seriously?" His voice faltered. He sounded almost... betrayed.
"Just don't... don't let anyone here know what you're about, okay?" Aaron added, trying to make his curt advice kinder. "It's safer like that."
Alexander opened his mouth to say something, his expression still so hurt, but the bell stopped them. Aaron winced; he had barely gotten halfway through his reading. Sure, he was good enough at BS-ing to make it through the class, but he mentally scolded himself. What would his parents think?
"I should get going." Alexander's voice was quiet, disheartened, and Aaron felt terrible. He hadn't meant to let the kid down like that, really. But their school, Northeastern Anglican Academy, was most definitely not liberal. Aaron had seen what happened to kids that tried to disrupt the status quo: detention, meetings with parents, special weekend classes. It was never pretty.
Alexander was gathering up his books when a trio of boys stumbled through the door, their voices loud, laughter on the edge of their words. Aaron sighed.
"What time is it?" Laurens bellowed as they made their way to the back of the class, closer to Aaron.
"It's eigh—" a clueless classmate began, unaware that this was their daily routine.
"SHOWTIME," the other two, Lafayette and Mulligan responded. They began rapping, introducing themselves as they did each day. Mr. Washington sighed, running a hand down his face. Laurens and Lafayette always made sure that they were very visible about their pride. Aaron was completely disillusioned to the group's shenanigans, knowing that it was better to keep his head down than to engage, but Alexander looked entranced.
"Aaron Burr," Mulligan called and the trio gathered around his desk.
"Give us a verse," Laurens invited. "Show off that pride."
"Thanks, but no thanks," Aaron said, shaking his head. "It's better not to take a stand."
"Boo," the three pouted in unison.
"Come on, Burr. Why're you stalling?" Laurens questioned. Aaron opened his mouth to respond, but another voice cut in before he could.
"If you stand for nothing, Burr, what will you fall for?" Alexander asked. All heads twisted to look at him, shock evident.
"Who's this?" Laurens turned to Burr.
"Who're you?" Lafayette addressed the person in question.
"Alexander Hamilton," he answered, his expression overwhelmingly proud.
"You know," Laurens began, leaning on Aaron's desk, "we're working on forming a GSA. You should get involved. We could use more people like you."
"Laurens is correct. That kind of talk is exactly what we need," Lafayette confirmed.
Aaron watched from his desk—which happened to be in the middle of their conversation, thank you very much—saddened by how easily the trio was taking away the new kid. Sure, fine, Aaron didn't own him or anything, but he had sort of hoped he'd have a peer. Alexander seemed excited about the same things that he was excited about, but Laurens, Lafayette, and Mulligan seemed to appeal to him more.
It wasn't that Aaron didn't have pride or that he didn't want better LGBTQ+ rights. Not at all. He simply understood how the school worked. Not to mention, his preacher grandfather would most definitely disown him. There was just no good that could come of being so vocal. Right?
"We're planning to talk to Mr. Washington later today," Mulligan explained. "How about you come along with us?"
"Yes! Yes, sure thing," Alexander nodded excitedly. "I will be there." The bell rang, signaling the beginning of class. "Oh, wait, shit! I'm not in this class! I really need to go but I'll be here later and then we can talk and..." He continued to go on, tripping over his words just a little, as he ran out the door.
"We gotta get that kid in front of a crowd," Laurens commented. Lafayette and Mulligan nodded in agreement. Aaron gulped. This was the start of something, he could feel it in his bones.
