Angelica's eyes were darting, back and forth, back and forth, between Alexander and Thomas. They were facing off now right in the middle of the Humanities classroom, debating their hearts out as passionate as anyone had ever seen them.

It was the roughest debate that had ever occured.

"You must be out of your goddamn mind!" Alexander was shouting loud, roaring. "If you think the President is gonna bring the nation to the brink of meddling in the middle of a military mess, a game of chess! Where France is Queen and Kingless..."

Angelica could only watch, stunned, as the political words came tumbling out of his mouth like an angry waterfall. There seemed to be something more buried in his words, as if it was more than just a debate. She averted her eyes to Thomas and saw that he was leaned back and watching patiently. There was a small smirk on his face, but no other sign gave away his opinion on things.

Alexander was the complete opposite.

"Enough," Mr. Washington's voice sliced the air, and Alexander fell silent. "Alexander, tone it down. Like I said, this is still a classroom."

Alexander closed his eyes briefly to this remark. He was breathing heavily.

"Class is dismissed," Mr. Washington said, and the students dispersed from their divided groups. Alexander walked in a straight line to his desk and swiped up his books and laptop within the minute, beelining for the door.

"Alexander."

Angelica watched as Alexander paused in his tracks. She turned then and realised that she wasn't the only one watching. More than half the class's eyes were focused on the Hamilton boy, after his uproar and clearly fiery temper.

Mr. Washington looked over the top of his glasses. There was a meaningful look in his eyes, "A word, please."

Alexander grit his teeth. He stood back and held the door open while students reluctantly filed out, having wanted to hear the conversation but having class to get to in five minutes.

Angelica was one of them. She didn't want to leave. She wanted to make sure Alexander was okay.

Angelica took her time packing up her stuff, deliberately trying to be the last person out of the classroom besides Alexander. She held her books to her chest walked slowly towards the door. She paused when she was level to him, and their gazes locked.

"Will you be okay?" She asked quietly. She saw his hand hanging limply at his side and had a strange longing to reach out to it, hold it for a while as reassurance. But she knew she could do no such thing. Just the day before, she had managed to convince Eliza that Alexander was just figuring things out, and that she should go easy on him. What a fool Eliza would look, to have believed Angelica only to find she had been doing hanky-panky with her boyfriend behind her back.

The borderline surface of Alexander's eyes cracked. A wave of pain and longing brimmed his irises before he nodded.

"Don't worry about me," Alexander said back, in the same quiet tone. "I can take the big man on campus."

"Angelica, don't you have class to get to?" Washington's voice broke the delicate moment the couple had been caught in. "It's half past."

"Yeah, sorry," Angelica said. She turned and walked out the open door. There was a soothing slide of it being closed, and then she was alone.

Or moreover, she thought she was.

"Took you Long enough," Thomas's voice behind her made Angelica nearly jump out of her skin.

"God!" She shouted, whirling around to find him standing there. "Jefferson, do you have a death wish?"

Thomas chuckled, amused. He started to walk, and somehow she fell into step with him.

"Why did you wait for me anyway?" Angelica asked, genuinely curious.

"Because I wanted to," Thomas answered in an obviously tone. A sly smile crossed his face. "You looked a bit shaken up. I wanted to make sure Hamilton wasn't doing shit to you."

Angelica nearly stopped in her tracks at this.

"Alexander?" She said. A puzzled frown flickered onto her face. "What do you mean?"

Thomas shrugged, "You know, just that."

"Just that he might do shit to me?" Angelica repeated. "Alexander is my Friend, so I don't know what you're talking about."

Thomas didn't answer this. They had made it to the lockers now, where a majority of the Grade had already packed up their bags and were in their class. Now, only a few people were still lingering around, chatting and packing the last of their homework.

"See you, princess," Thomas said. His hand brushed her shoulder -

And then he was gone. Down the hall to his own locker, hair swaggering more than his torso. Angelica found herself looking after him in shock, and then looking at her shoulder, and then back at his little figure.

What was happening to her?

:::

"Angie."

The sound of John's voice made Angelica snap out of her thoughts. She glanced up to find John Laurens and Eliza standing before her, having walked together from their last class of the day.

"You okay, sis?" Eliza asked, a concerned look on her face.

"What? Yeah. I'm fine," Angelica had been sitting on the hood of the Schuyler car, staring dazedly out in front of her. Her mind had been swarming with all the events of the past week. Alexander — party — Thomas — Alexander — Thomas?

Did Thomas like her?

It seemed to be the only thing that would make sense, looking at all the events that had happened recently. Before, Thomas had flirted with Angelica, most definitely — but never went further. And now, he was sitting with her for long periods of time, walking with her after class, brushing her shoulder.

Did Angelica like Thomas back?

She felt like the most disloyal person just thinking about it. She knew she loved Alexander — but then again, he was with Eliza. Their relationship seemed to be a dead end from here.

But he loves me back. How can it be a dead end?

But wouldn't Thomas be the most reasonable choice?

But I don't want Thomas like I want Alexander.

Angelica was having, at the least, a war within her about the most bizarre thing. And the worst thing was, she couldn't say anything about it to anyone.

Not even to Eliza.

Not even to Lafayette and Hercules, who knew about her and Alexander already.

"Let's go," Eliza said, and Angelica nodded. "See you, John."

"Have fun," John said.

He turned to leave.

Angelica watched him for a moment, and thought of asking where Alexander was. She was sure John knew. But she couldn't ask. Not with Eliza around, otherwise it would seem too suspicious. Eliza probably asked already, anyway.

"See you," was what came out of Angelica's mouth instead, before she and her sister headed into the car.

:::

It was the very next day that the grade found out about the Winter Dance.

Mr. Washington had announced at assembly that the school was hosting a fundraiser — presented as a school dance — five dollars a ticket and in the main hall. For the rest of the day, the school was abuzz with chatter and light. There hadn't been a dance at the American International School since middle school. Nobody had even thought of the possibility before.

"I cannot believe they only tell us this now," Peggy fumed, thumping herself down at the lunch table. "For the love of God, it's October!"

Lafayette quirked an eyebrow, "So?"

"I have one month to find the perfect dress and the perfect date," Peggy exclaimed, before stuffing her forked potato salad into her mouth. She munched. "Thas no' a wot of time!"

"Peggy, don't talk with your mouth full," Angelica snapped, just as Eliza and Alexander walked up and dropped their trays onto the table.

"This is so exciting," Eliza exclaimed as they both sat down. "We haven't had a dance in ages! Angelica, aren't you excited?"

Angelica smiled, "Of course I am."

But was she?

What's there to be excited about? Just being with my friends I guess. But who would I go with? I can't go with Alexander, obviously. He would definitely go with Eliza.

But maybe ... Thomas?

Angelica stole a glance over her shoulder. Thomas was sitting at the table behind her, talking fervently to the group of his friends. One of his closer friends, James Madison, caught Angelica looking. Their gazes locked, before James turned and nudged Thomas in the arm.

Thomas looked around.

His eyes met Angelica's. For a moment, all Angelica could do was stare back, not sure how to make her expression. Thomas's eyes turned large and perceptive. He flashed her a sly, secretive smile, in which she returned it, eyes sparkling.

And then she felt a hand on her hand and turned back around.

Alexander had reached over and touched a thin scar on her hand. His fingers stayed there in a caress, which shocked Angelica to the bone. She looked up swiftly and their gazes locked, and she realised his eyes were darker than she had ever seen them.

He knew.

"What's this?" His voice sounded surprisingly normal, looking at the depth of emotion in his eyes.

"Oh. Just cut myself," Angelica answered, because honestly she didn't even remember getting the scar. It didn't matter to Alexander either — he had just wanted to get her attention.

And he had.

He knows. He saw me and Thomas.

"... okay, see you!" Eliza finished off her conversation with a Friend, who walked off quickly. Angelica realised then that that had been an opening for Alexander to contact Angelica — when Eliza hadn't been looking.

Alexander's hand drew back from Angelica as Eliza refocused on the lunch table. For some reason, this broke Angelica's heart.

"You want to head to the lockers now?" Eliza asked him, oblivious.

"Gladly," he said.

And he was gone before there was time for Angelica to make any connection to him, give him any signal that she had to talk to him.

The table grew quiet after Eliza and Alexander left them. Angelica put her hands in her lap. She felt her heart shattering and splintering into a million tiny pieces before her.

"Angelica, mademoiselle."

It was Lafayette's voice that brought her back to reality. He was staring at her intensely. To her amazement, his eyes were not accusing or hateful. Just compassionate now. He must have seen the little exchange between both her and Thomas, and her and Alexander.

"You must stop thees," He said earnestly. "It is not good for you."

Peggy had left a while ago. Now, it was just Angelica, Lafayette and Hercules. And Hercules was too busy munching on his fries to engage in the conversation.

"I know," Angelica whispered. "I know I have to stop. But I don't know how."