Of the three Schuyler Sisters, Angelica was the most popular. She was the oldest, and the wittiest, and the coolest. She always had guys on her doorstep, although she never gave them the satisfaction of a second date. Peggy was the baby of the family, and, naturally, followed in Angelica's fun witty footsteps.

Eliza didn't. Eliza was a different type. She was still attractive, but in a sweet, nerdy way. She was the smartest of the three, always reading, always studying.

Angelica knew this. Which was why when Alexander walked into both their lives, it was clear who needed him more. Angelica could have any guy she wanted. Eliza refused to have any guy at all, except for Alexander, it would seem.

So Angelica stood by. She watched their affection for each other grow, her own affection for Alexander growing along with it. She watched them share kisses, head out for dates. Whenever the group was out together, Alexander's arm would be around Eliza's shoulders, and she would be leaning into him. Lafayette, Hercules and Peggy were set on teasing them for the entirety of the year. It seemed hilarious in their eyes, that two of the gang had suddenly gotten together.

Angelica had simply watched. Chugged at her whisky, calling the waiter every five minutes to ask for a refill.

:::

It was Peggy's idea to throw a party, celebrating Eliza's birthday coming up next week.

"No, no, honestly," Eliza said, shaking her head rapidly. "I don't want a party."

"Come on!" Peggy exclaimed. "It'll be fun! We'll have booze, a disco ball, a DJ ... what else ..."

"Streamers," Hercules said.

"Streamers!" Peggy shouted. "And balloons! AND A CAKE!"

"Calm down, mon ami," Lafayette said. "Madame Eliza does not want a party, so au revior."

"Zip it, baguette," Peggy snapped her jaw, teeth grit together, and Lafayette jumped back. "If I could convince Aaron to try out for Juliet in our production Romeo & Juliet last year, I'm practically God!"

"Peggy, enough with the shouting," Angelica said, munching on her Angus Cheese burger. "We're trying to eat here."

Peggy scowled.

"Besides, if Eliza doesn't want a party you can't force one onto her."

"Thanks, Angie," Eliza said, sounding truly grateful.

"Are you sure you don't want a party, though?" Alexander asked, his arm secure around her shoulders. "I think it would be nice to let loose, every once in a while."

"You think?" Eliza asked.

"Yeah, definitely."

"Alexander!" Angelica snapped, mockingly. "Quit being such a bad influence on my little Sister."

Alexander scoffed, "Me! Look who's talking, you party-freak."

"Hey, I'm the one who said she didn't have to have the party. You're the one trying to convince her to have it."

"Guys, guys," Eliza's voice cut the air and they both fell silent. "This is on nobody. I've made up my mind about the party."

"And?" Peggy said.

"I think, if everyone's up for it," Eliza turned slowly, but not subtly, and her gaze locked on Alexander's face next to her. "Then, why not?"

Peggy whooped loudly and clapped her hands, "Hell, yeah! That's what I'm talking abut! Told you I was a miracle-worker."

"Mademoiselle, I am pretty sure this is on Alex," Lafayette said critically.

"STOP SHOOTING ME DOWN, BAGUETTE!"

Angelica looked across the table at Alexander to find he was already watching her. Inspecting her, really. There was a sort of tender, amused look in his eyes. When she looked back at him, accusingly, he pulled up one side of his mouth into an aloof half-smile.

Angelica felt her heart leap out of her chest.

Why do you look at me like that? She thought achingly. Why do you always give me the wrong idea?

:::

The party took place one week before Eliza's actual birthday, and, much to Eliza's dismay, everyone came.

"Peggy, you invited the whole High School?" Eliza said, face paling to the colour of bone.

Peggy winced, her smile turning nervous and fake, "... I might have let it slip on Instagram the other day?"

Thanks to Peggy, the entire Schuyler mansion was packed with dancing, talking teenagers. Peggy was, as suspected, having the time of her life surrounded by as many older guys as possible. Eliza merely stuck by Alexander, John and Lafayette, dancing a bit and then moving to the side, then going back to dancing.

Usually, Angelica would be out there with Peggy, dancing and flirting - and making sure her Sister didn't overdo it. But tonight, Angelica didn't feel like partying.

She found herself in her room, for the next two hours, which was odd for her. She usually loved to socialise, or at least be with her friends. But she knew for a fact that Alexander and Eliza would be together, probably wrapped in each other's arms on the dance floor, and Angelica wanted to be as far away from that as possible.

She had been standing quietly on her balcony, thinking deeply into the night sky, when she heard the door to her bedroom fly open.

Angelica whirled around, expecting to find a drunk Peggy - or even a drunk Eliza - but to her complete shock, it was Alexander.

"Alexander?" Angelica said, watching as the young man slowly tipped towards her. She found a frown on her face, and moved slowly towards him. "What are you doing ..."

"Angie ... there ... you are," and he collapsed on top of her, his full weight bearing down on her like a twelve-wheel truck. Angelica stumbled with the weight, letting out a laugh of surprise.

"Oh my goodness," she said. "You're drunk. Alexander Hamilton is drunk?"

"What are you talking about?" Alexander snapped, his words slurring as if to support Angelica's statement. "I'm ... not drunk. You're drunk."

Angelica laughed loudly, "This is gold! I should have Snapchat out right now." She started to reach into her pocket for her phone.

"I came ... to tell you something," Alexander said, and leaned to the left so they both swayed. Angelica yelped and had to catch them both. "I came to confess ... my peelings ... feelings ... for Angelica."

Angelica's hand froze before she could pull out her phone, "Feelings?" She watched him, a sudden new awareness around her. Feelings?

"You know, on second thoughts, you're drunk," she said, and let her phone go. "Let's get you to the bed now."

"Eliza ..." Alexander mumbled, and Angelica had to drag him towards her king-sized bed.

"Hush. Eliza's downstairs, Eliza's downstairs," Angelica said, struggling the last way towards the bed. At last, she was able to dump him onto the soft mattress and felt her arms loosen in relief.

She caught her breath, "I'll go get Eliza now, okay? You stay," she held out a hand, as if she were commanding a dog. "Good boy."

She turned to leave.

"Wait."

Alexander's voice cut through the air, his word for once not slurred. Angelica paused in her tracks, and turned towards the limp man on her bed, whose eyes were tense and gazing at her with the seriousness of someone on their death sentence.

"I ... love you."

A bolt of electricity shot up Angelica's spine. She felt her heartbeat increase up to triple the speed.

"You're drunk," she said finally, but had to fight to keep her voice steady. "Go to sleep. Eliza will be here soon."

"Wait. I love you. Eliza won't be here soon."

"Yes, Eliza will be here soon," Angelica snapped. "And when she arrives, no feeding her that bull crap, okay? Now shut down that hyper brain of yours and get some rest."

"No rest. I love you. Bull crap."

"Good night, Alexander," Angelica started to close the door, feeling firm and in control.

"Stay."

Again, Angelica had to stop. The colourful lights of downstairs were now on her back. She could hear the DJ downstairs, hear talking and laughter and happiness.

"Stay," Alexander said again. Angelica reopened the door as looked in on him. He was watching her, eyes ablaze with that starry substance he always exerted. "Stay."

There was a Long moment of silence. In the end, Angelica walked quietly back into the room and shut the door, so they were both closed to darkness except for the pale moonlight reflecting from her balcony.

"Get some rest."

"Stay."

"Yes, yes, yes. I'm staying, okay? Satisfied?" Angelica walked towards her connected bathroom and, flicking on the light, started soaking a face towel in hot water and filling up an empty mug.

She arrived back with the required things and sat down on the covers.

"Angelica?"

"Yes?" Angelica said softly. She waited for him to make a statement, to say something, but Alexander just stared back at her, blank. His eyes reflected the universe, but his thoughts and expression stayed empty, as if he had forgotten he called to her.

Angelica smiled. She couldn't help finding it funny, seeing the great Alexander Hamilton so ridiculously drunk he didn't have control over his words.

"Angelica?"

"What is it, you idiot?" Angelica picked up the warm, wet towel and pressed it against his forehead.

"I love you."

Angelica's hand started to tremble.

"Why do you say that?" She said, her voice barely even a whisper. "You're drunk. You shouldn't say things like that."

"Say things like that, but I love you."

"You love Eliza," Angelica said, louder, more forceful. "So stop saying you love me. It's not true."

"I do ... love you."

Angelica chose to ignore this. She dipped the wet towel in her bowl of warm water and squeezed out the access drips, before turning back to place it on his forehead again. She was stopped suddenly, and drawn forward towards him by his own hand.

Angelica sucked in a sharp breath and felt her heartbeat increase again, throbbing against her temples. His hand had taken her by the back of her neck, and driven her face forward so she was practically on top of him and their noses were grazing.

"Alex," she whispered. His eyes engulfed her own, staring at her with a sort of challenge. "Knock it. You don't know what you're doing, you will regret this."

For once, he didn't answer. He just kept her there in front of him, and continued to drink her in with his eyes until eventually she felt melted against him.

This is wrong. This is so wrong. Angelica thought, and she felt tears bite the back of her eyes. Alexander is Eliza's Boyfriend. She will never forgive me for this.

But, what if she didn't know?

Angelica's thoughts had taken on a very cruel turning. But this was the closest she had ever been to Alexander, the closest they had ever gotten to being more than Friends, not to mention kissing.

His lips were just a fraction of an inch away from hers now. They were parted and inviting, like they were born into this World on a Mission to send Angelica to the depths of Hell.

It's just one kiss.

And then all at once, Angelica had moved forward and their lips collided. She put her hands delicately on either side of his face and pushed away a lock of his hair, all the while converging onto him to make one. She felt and tasted the sweetness, felt something new and bold and brilliant open up inside of her. The tears that had bit at the back of her eyes now came charging out, trickling and running down her nose onto his nose, until there were stains of her tears on his face.

"I love you," Alexander said.

"Alexander ..." she whispered. "I love you."