If there's a fire

11.

The week had settled down.

Thomas and James won the debate, crushing Alex by a landslide, who whined to George that he had been given the villainous side and would obviously never win.

James just pulled Alex aside later that day.

"I'd expect that the former debate team president knew that no matter the topic he was given, he'd argue his point till he won, or died defending himself." James said. He coughed, turning away.

"Yeah? At least I won't die any time soon. I can't believe you're actually working with him. You of all people know how terrible he is." Alexander scowled. Thomas stood to the side, pretending he didn't hear the conversation. He wasn't even supposed to be listening, or have been there.

"Yeah? Well at least Thomas knows how to back a point. He doesn't stutter-"

"Oh, yeah, okay, Madison is talking to me about stuttering-"

"He doesn't get defensive-"

"You blatantly lied!-"

"And he can actually win. Maybe I'm the one doing the smart thing here, and supporting the right person." James speculated.

"Oh, you're only backing him because you're in love with him! The whole school knows you're gay-"

"No wonder Washington gave you the side he did." James scowled, his cheeks red. He ignored the last half- as he still struggled with whether that was true or not.

"Oh, Just you wait! The next debate is going to be hell for Jefferson, and I will win! Then you'll know who you should've been backing the whole time!" Hamilton said, before he stalked away.

James huffed, clenching his fist before breathing deeply.

He walked out of the hallways quickly, losing all confidence he had before, and not noticing Thomas hiding around the corner, face red as he watched his James stumble down the hallway.

--

"John, Alex said that James loved me! And James didn't deny it! I know I'm usually an ass, but just- help me out here. I don't know what to do..." Thomas groaned. He fell back into Johns couch, who just nodded.

"Alex and I have been talking about how cute you guys are. I mean- Thomas, you have to admit. You're an asshole- to everyone! To everyone... but not to James. And it's kind of adorable." John said. Thomas just turned red.

"You're no help." Thomas snapped and John just laughed.

"Fine, I'll help. So- you like him, right?" John asked simply.

"Well... maybe." Thomas said.

"Stop that! You can't put that fire out. You obviously really like him- he's the first person you've ever opened up to, you admitted that yourself!

"If there's a fire, don't put it out." John finished softly, sitting beside Thomas and resting a hand on his shoulder. Thomas nodded.

"I need to do something. I know how I feel- b-but John, how do I know how he feels?" Thomas asked.

He stuttered.

John was shocked. He must've been really nervous- or just madly in love. Probably both.

"I'll do some snooping." John assured Thomas just nodded. He and John spoke for a while- mostly about James- before Thomas decided it was time to head home.

"James?" Thomas asked as he walked in. James was sat at the desk, tapping his fingers on the wood and humming lightly. He was very pale.

Thomas walked up behind him, resting his hand gently on James's shoulder

"Hi." Thomas whispered.

"Hi. Are we still going into town?" James asked. Thomas smiled, having forgotten, but pretended he didn't.

"Of course! I thought you had forgotten." Thomas laughed.

"I try not to forget things you tell me." James shrugged. Thomas changed quickly, seeing as James was already wearing a sweater- the one Thomas had bought him.

"Purple coat, or brown?" Thomas asked, holding up the two bomber jackets.

"Purple. Definitely purple." James giggled. Thomas could, unlike most, pull purple off really well.

"Fine. You can wear the brown one, if you want. You'd look nice in it."

You'd look nice in my coat.

James blushed, taking the coat and pulling it on, before following Thomas out of their small dorm.

--

"And then Alex said he'd crush you in the next debate. Which is bullshit." James said, and Thomas reacted as if he hadn't heard the whole thing when it was originally said.

"Wow. I can't believe you actually did that. Takes guts. Not to mention Alexander is a... feisty little thing. Seems like he could rip someone to shreds." Thomas said.

"Well- we won, it was fair. He didn't deserve to be able to complain and say he was given the wrong side. He tried to tell me that we didn't know oppression, not really, so we were just making stuff up. Wish I could take him to my home town and make him say that again." James rolled his eyes.

"Funny, he said that about two black dudes." Thomas scowled.

"Yeah." James whispered to himself. He began to pick at his hands, hiding them under the table at the fancy restaurant that Thomas had taken him to.

Thomas had an idea.

It was something he had never done before- James was always the one who initiated it. But if James did it then, why couldn't Thomas do it now?

Thomas reached over, running his hand down James's arm before gently grabbing his hand, pulling it up onto the table to he could comfortably hold it.

James was red, but didn't say anything, continuing to look at the hand he had picked until it bled.

"So- to eat. What would you like?" Thomas smiled, looking over the menu with a smiled. James searched for the cheapest thing on the menu- Endless Soup and Salad for 9.99. He'd get that.

"Really? Just soup and salad? Come on, they have everything here! You know what- let me order for you." Thomas said. James blushed.

"Are you sure? I-I can just get the soup and salad, that's plenty of food."

"Nope. Too late. Already picked out what you're getting." Thomas grinned. They were quiet for a whole two seconds, before they both burst into giggles.

Thomas hoped he could consider this a date- that's why he asked James here after all. He wanted to tell him how he felt.

Now to just gather enough courage.