If there's a fire

4.

//// Tfw you're listening to Hamilton and it's too lit so you can't even write ////

James had three days till school began. Thomas wasn't excited- but James was ready.

Every morning when James's alarm clock rang, Thomas groaned. Half the time, the alarm didn't even wake him- it was Thomas screaming "SHUT THE DAMN THING OFF-" that interrupted his dreams.

Thomas and James spent their few free days sneaking off campus. James introduced Thomas to "public transport" that way they didn't have to walk the ten miles to town.

"Town" was small- it was an old town, and Thomas knew his way around. Everything was so expensive- Thomas paid for everything, but James always offered.

"Want a muffin?" Thomas asked, approaching a small cart. James smiled, nodding as Thomas picked up two muffins. James pulled out his wallet, but Thomas had already paid before James even got his money out.

"Thanks." James said. He smiled up at Thomas, who handed him a chocolate muffin. James took it.

He wanted to try something. It'd been three days since he did it last- they hadn't really talked about it though. Really, James just needed to steady himself from tripping, so he grabbed onto the closest thing to him.

When Thomas squeezed his hand back and didn't let go, James thought maybe it wasn't so bad that he'd almost fallen- or that he'd grabbed Thomas's hand.

James slid his hand gently into Thomas's. The same thing happened as the other day- Thomas squeezed James's hand and they walked along, as if nothing had happened.

James heart wanted to leap, but he didn't let it- not yet. He just met Thomas. Why was he even holding this practically strangers hand?

Because he wanted to, his brain told him. Because hearing his voice makes you smile and you don't know why, his brain screamed, even though you really do.

His brain was telling him what his heart already knew- he was falling for Thomas Jefferson, and he was falling hard.

"Today's supposed to rain." Jefferson said. James looked up, nodding.

"It's very grey. We may need an umbrella..." He said.

"So- what shall we do? We could go to the mall, or there's a movie theater down there. There's a park where we could walk..." Thomas said. James thought.

"Let's go to the mall. I need some new clothes anyways." He said, and Thomas led him to the mall. They talked about nothing but everything all at once- Thomas explaining about the bitchy math teacher, James telling Thomas of Mrs. Medley back at Schuyler's. She was evil.

All in all, they had an amazing time. Their conversations ranged from simple things like what their favorite food were- Thomas loved macaroni- to what they'd do if the world ended- Thomas would be sad and eat macaroni. That made James laugh.

James laughing made Thomas proud of himself.

The two walked through the mall, and stopped at the occasional store.

"Think I'm gonna buy this." James said, holding a cheap sweater he found up to his chest. It was just plain. Thomas scoffed.