If there's a fire

10.

"James, I think I've finished my half of this project." Thomas exclaimed from the desk, making James flinch. James almost forgot Thomas was in the room. "Sorry. But listen-"

Thomas began to speak the beginning slowly.

In short, the entire thing was just an ode to the stars. Jeffersons talking got faster, then he hit play on his phone. A slow beat faded in behind his words, getting faster as Thomas rapped faster and faster.

James took notes, of the words and everything that Thomas said. The song ended abruptly but in an incredible way.

"I've mentally mapped out the entire song but I'd like to get a recording of that so that I can mash them together..." James said. Thomas nodded.

"Hey- I have an idea." He added. He turned, looking at James. "So- there are these small projector things, my dads company uses them. They're extremely expensive, but I could get us one. If we find a mod that had space and the solar system, I could easily make it to where the entire solar system is projected into the room." Thomas suggested.

James's eyes widened.

"It... would definitely be something she's never seen before. I like it." James smiled. Jefferson smiled, already having known that James would like his idea.

Poor kids liked anything valuable. And James was just another poor kid.

--

The project was due the same week as the first debate, and James and Thomas were struggling. They'd been given the easy side of the debate- misogyny and racism were still very prominent and very real. The science project had been long since completed, and Thomas's father had supplied them with the technology they would need, but the two seemed to have trouble clashing.

"Your music is too slow at first!" Thomas accused.

"It's supposed to be! It's the aesthetic of the song, of space!" James proclaimed. They both huffed, and start over. Eventually James pulled out the old metronome.

"Stay with the beat. When we present this, keep the beat in your head. Pretend my music does not exist." James said sternly. He rarely got like that with anyone- it was mostly blushes and stuttering. Thomas, shocked, just nodded.

The two started over, James ignoring the metronome and just going with what he had planned, while Thomas began to speak in time with the clicks.

The first verse came, and the metronome was forgotten, as the viola and Thomas's voice fell in time with each other. Both of them quickened, and James stopped for four counts, before making one shriek, and then another four counts before continuing softly yet quickly, trying to keep up with Thomas.

"The sun is the center, the star of the show, ironic isn't it? It's an actual star! Without it we wouldn't be where we are, not too far, just close enough, just tough enough, we survive because of him, God pray we never see him dim!" Thomas spouted. The music suddenly stopped.

James slowly came back in.

"And that is the story, that's how it goes. No one really knows what's out there- there's not much we can really see- but god, hopefully what is will always be. We need these places to survive, the sun to provide, light, life, all things hot, and you needed this song, but now it's over. Good... bye."

Mic drop.

Not literally, as there was no real microphone, but there might as well have been. James beamed.

"That was incredible, oh my god. We are ready for Tuesday." James beamed. Thomas nodded, bursting into a fit of giggles.

"We actually did it! That sounded amazing!" He cried. James nodded quickly, completely prepared.

Now to just figure out the rest of their speech.

--

"My opponent, in taking his side, is essentially stating that he believes that the mistreatment and isolation of certain people in certain areas is never due to their skin tone. My opponent openly believes that all men and women, no matter the race, are treated as equals.

"I raise a question- how can we all be believed to be treated as equal when women are not paid the same when doing the same jobs? You say we are all treated equal, however, it is still completely legal for establishments to openly post that they do not allow certain races or sexualities into their store or restaurant.

"With this in mind, I end my statement with a question for my opponent to answer, in hopes that he can somehow explain to me why these examples are still happening and allowed, and how we can all be considered to be treated as equals with signs in stores that deny service to any one group, or with a more than twenty cent pay difference for women per dollar made by a man. This statement concludes my argument." Thomas read from the paper that he and James had been scribbling on for the past two weeks.

"I think that's amazing. If we just present it well enough, we've already won. And besides- how is Hamilton going to beat us? I've got my professional hype man, and a bomb ass speech the two of us wrote. We're going to do amazing." Thomas gloated, more to himself than to James.

James nodded, coughing afterwards. Something that almost resembled worry crossed Thomas's face.

"You okay?" Thomas asked. James nodded.

"Just a cough. I'll be fine." James smiled up at Thomas, and Thomas grinned back lightly.

"Would you like to go into town with me tomorrow night?" Thomas asked James nervously. James nodded, confused. Of course he would go into town with Thomas- why was Thomas so nervous?

"Yeah, of course. What are we going to do?" James asked.

Thomas shrugged face still red. It wasn't long before James burst into a fit, his face turning red as his lungs gasped for the air he was coughing out. Thomas's eyes widened.

"I'll go make some tea and get medicine. James, you need to lie down." Thomas said, before he ran off to the kitchen just as James finally gasped for breath.