Chapter Text
I, Alexander Hamilton, would've never considered myself lucky.
Not when my dad left to never be seen again, and that ogre by the name of Johann Lavern kept coming back to ruin our lives, still bitter with the fact that my mom had left him. Not when my brother and I would get shamed and scorned for mom's unfair reputation. Not when my mother died, and my cousin who never truly saw us as family committed suicide. And then my brother and I got separated and a hurricane destroyed everything I ever thought I knew.
Not then. Luck was nothing but a myth.
And then things took quite a turn.
After the world decided that my life was sufficiently fucked up I landed on Thomas Steven's house. He's a kind man who welcomed me and other three foster children into his home: Maria who's in middle school, Burr who's technically not in foster care anymore but is allowed to stay until he finds a place to live. And Lafayette.
Lafayette is a sweetheart, but he loves me a little too much.
When I first arrived I was a skinny, lanky little thing. Not that I am not anymore, unfortunately my shape remains the same, but it's nothing compared to the starving kid I had once been. The moment Lafayette saw me he decided that I needed protection, which I denied. Even though he's only a few months older than me he adopted the role of being my older brother, and that's how things have remained. He can be annoying and overbearing at times but I love him just the same. How can I not? He's family.
Aside from four foster children, Thomas Stevens has a son of his own: Edward Stevens, Neddy for close friends. He dreams of becoming a doctor and publishing a medicine book. People say we look "weirdly alike" but I honestly don't see it.
With a nice home, loving siblings, and a caring group of friends, I think I can finally say things are looking okay for me. I'm not sure if it will last, so I'll just grasp tightly at every second of it so I can at least have some good memories when it's time to let go of it once again.
Whistling lowly to myself I close my locker and head to class, there's only one period left: French with Mr. Steuben. I was pretty much fluent in the language so I took this class mostly for fun, Mr. Steuben was an amusing teacher and it was always fun to share a class with Kitty Livingston. She's a curly haired blond, brown-eyed beauty. I used to have a crush on her but it didn't quite work out, and by that I mean that she rejected me. But we remained friends afterwards. Giggling she slapped my back our way to class which hurt more than I let on, probably her way to say "hi" or something, I stopped questioning her a long time ago. The thing about Kitty is, she's smart but that won't stop her from acting on her silliness, and it's honestly kind of endearing.
"Hey, Hammie!" She laughed.
"Hey," I smiled.
She bumped our hips and she started walking next to me. "Did you do the French homework?"
"Duh, it was pretty easy. Which is like a first for Mr. Steuben,"
"Should've known," Kitty said with a roll of her eyes.
We entered the classroom a few minutes earlier than most students as always as we usually do, and just as early was John Laurens who sat in the back of the classroom.
What to say about John Laurens?
I personally don't really know him, but to say he isn't exactly the most loved student on campus is an understatement. He has earned the reputation of being an arrogant prick, of thinking he's the best because of his daddy's money. He's aggressive, constantly getting into pointless fights just for the sake of it. And all his friendships are short lasting, probably because he's kind of an asshole. Personally, I've never spoken to him, and it's not exactly something I have on my agenda either. He doesn't seem like the kind of person you'd like to be friends with.
Kitty and I pay no mind to him as always as we settle on the first row. I playfully bicker with her as we take out our materials until she hits me with a ruler. Friendship, right?
Yeah, I think my life is pretty okay as it is now.
•••
Lafayette always gets out of school late because of his numerous clubs, he's always trying something new whenever is extracurriculars or that weird looking dish on the menu. Last month it was chess club but now I think it's the Dungeons and Dragons club, though I could be wrong. It's not always easy to keep track of everything he gets himself into. Bottomline is every day after school I have to text him when I'm done with class and once again when I arrive home, it's kinda annoying but he worries a lot so I just comply.
Today I had to stay a few minutes behind because Mr. Steuben wanted to discuss the possibility me being a tutor for younger students (not a chance in hell) and just because of ten minutes my phone was blowing up with notifications, all from Lafayette, and also one from Instagram.
Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramirez: Hammie you out?
Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramirez: Hello???
Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramirez: Alex????? Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramirez: Is everything okay!? Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramirez: Please answer me!!
Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramirez: Alexander!!!
Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramirez: I'm skipping club today
_-NightcoreGurl89-_ liked your picture
Little Lion: I'm okay Lafayette, I was just talking to Mr. Steuben.
Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramirez: Are you in trouble???
Little Lion: No, it was just some tutoring stuff. Everything's alright, I promise.
Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramirez: You sure???
Little Lion: Yes, you can stay at your club meeting. Don't worry, Laf.
Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramirez: Okay!!! Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramirez: <3 <3 <3 <3
I stuff my phone in my pocket with a sigh. I love Lafayette, I really do. I just wish he wasn't so... How to put it kindly?
Overbearing.
I hurry my step to get home sooner, not really feeling like being virtually attacked with notifications again. There are no distractions allowed.
Hey, is that John Laurens over there?
Okay, maybe just one quick distraction.
I slow down and look at his direction discretely, not really eager to get caught staring. He's couching down on the hot pavement beside the school gate, on one hand he's holding what looks like part of a chicken sandwich and the other he has what's probably the rest of said sandwich, feeding it to a dog. The dog in question has light brown short fur and must be almost as tall as my knee. He's wagging his tail happily as Laurens rubs his back, looking at the dog with what can only be described as affection.
The scene seems almost foreign to me, it doesn't fit the image of Laurens that I have engraved in my mind. Of the selfish rich kid that everyone claims he is.
I pick up my step and leave the school behind, not being able to shake my thoughts away. I guess I'll have to figure out John Laurens on my own.