A/N

Helllooo peeps.

You will probably hate me after this chapter, but whatever 😬

Brace yourselves.

Here it is.

:::

In the end, Mr. Washington's attention was called to the matter outside in the parking lot, and he came marching out like an Army General just in time to see Alexander swing a punch at Thomas's jaw. Thomas dodged just in time, and so was missed. But the teacher had already seen.

Alexander was told once more to meet the Principal inside.

Thomas was merely left with pats on the back as the crowd dissipated, compliments like "nice dodge" and "fast reflexes, there". And of course, Angelica's hand in his.

Lafayette finally released Eliza in that moment. But instead of taking off towards the school for Alexander - she came walking slowly to her elder Sister. She was no longer panicked or energised.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey, junior," Angelica said, straining a smile.

Eliza somehow managed to find a way in, and she took hold of her elder Sister's shoulder, "You okay?"

"Yeah," Angelica answered, too light and too cheerful. "But I have some stuff I need to tap in on ... stuff with Thomas."

They both turned and flicked Thomas a look, who's grip stayed tight on Angelica's hand despite the other world he seemed to be consumed in, with all his congratulations.

The sisters looked back at each other and locked gazes. To Angelica's surprise, all Eliza asked was if Angelica was okay, and a little bit about what had gone on.

"Oh, you know ..." Angelica waved her free hand, a plastic smile on your face. "Just stuff from History class. Those two are always mucking around about something ..."

"It didn't really seem like mucking around though," Eliza said doubtfully.

Angelica had no answer to this, apart from a small, "Yeah ..." to her relief, Eliza didn't ask anymore.

"So, I'll see you at home, then?"

Angelica nodded, "Yeah. Definitely."

She watched her sister walk away, falling into their eager group of friends, who seemed in no mood to go to Papa John's now.

Eliza's face was carefree as she explained to them what she was told. Peggy and Hercules nodded, accepting, but John seemed a little more adamant. Angelica caught sight of him watching her, saying her down with curiosity and suspicion.

You should be suspicious of me, Angelica thought, as she watched the Laurens boy finally hop into the car with everyone else.

The lies she told her sisters were becoming more and more.

The secrets left uncovered.

Eliza, how can you not see? How can you trust me so much?

Can't you see the difference? I used to tell you everything, and now ... it feels like we're worlds apart.

:::

"Hey," Angelica called to Thomas, as people of the crowd went falling away. He turned to her and blinked, as if he was being reminded of her presence.

"Hey, princess," he said, smiling softly. "Like the show?"

"What was that?"

"Sorry?"

"That stunt you just pulled," Angelica's voice was loud and sharp. She tugged her hand out of his and placed it permanently on her hip. Thomas didn't stop her, just looked on at her with those same unreadable eyes.

A dark, rueful smirk sidled up his face.

"It wasn't a stunt, princess," he said, almost cooed. And then he stepped forward, so that they were less than a foot apart and Angelica's breath had flown up to her throat and choked her. "Why? Do you want it to be?"

She tried to get a hold of herself. She reached a hand up and pressed it firmly against his chest, so that she was pushing him only slightly away, to talking distance.

"No," she said, and her voice sounded strange and hoarse. "I mean - I don't know. I'm still figuring things out."

A harsh scoff escaped his lips. His eyes grew dark, like mirrors. Reflecting the pits of hell. He tried to take another step forward, and Angelica pushed him harder away. It barely made an impact.

"Thomas, stop it," she hissed.

"If you heard anything I said just now, you'll know what it takes to make me stop it," he snapped, practically growled into her ear. "I was talking to Hamilton. But I was talking to you too. You think I'm an idiot?"

"No -" Angelica started.

"Princess, I like you," his voice was lowered as he said this, to something soft and harmless - which was a drastic change from his bark before. "But this can't go on. You have to choose. Him or me."

His words registered, and her breath caught once more, along with the trembling beat of her heart. Her hands, that had been grasping to push him away, now found a tremendous thrust of energy.

She shoved him and he stumbled backwards, a look of surprise on his face. They were now the only two people in the parking lot.

Angelica's jaw locked firmly, and she stared up at him with shocked eyes.

"That's not fair," she said.

"Life isn't fair, sweetheart," he replied, but there was something sad in his smirk now. His eyes were glazed over, as if he already knew who she would pick.

Angelica didn't know how to answer this. She couldn't answer. Suddenly, she wished that she had gone of with her friends instead of staying here to work things out. She wondered sometimes if maybe, just by ignoring them, your problems would magically go away. Vanish.

For now, all she could do was stand there in the quiet carpark, gaze locked intensely with Thomas, who was ten feet away and looking more relaxed and carefree than ever. His hands fell loosely at his sides, dark eyes biting her.

"Choose," he said, his voice loud and thick and clear.

"I can't," Angelica said. She felt tears in her eyes, the cold wind on her skin. She reached up and wrapped her hands around herself, rubbing the skin of her arms.

Thomas scoffed loudly, "I don't believe that," they were too far apart to talk softly now. "I think ... you just won't. That's it, right?"

"Thomas," she whispered. Her tears were free-falling now.

But Thomas didn't notice. He just looked angry. He turned and kicked roughly at a loose rock on the road, cursing foully.

"Dammit!" He shouted. His curly hair was blown away by the wind. "Why not, Angelica? Why won't you choose? Have I not given you everything he has? Is it not enough?"

"No!" Angelica said.

"What is it, then? WHAT IS IT?"

Angelica drew back slightly, and felt the tears in her eyes go dry. She wiped at her cold, wet face and flicked the excess down onto the ground.

She didn't like all this yelling.

She didn't like the way Thomas was reacting to her decision. It was her decision.

"You know what," she said, her voice still quiet as a mouse, but firmer somehow. "I think we're done here. Goodbye, Thomas."

She turned and began to walk. She didn't know where. The Schuyler Range Rover was out for a spin at Papa John's, all the way downtown. But she kept walking, anyway.

"Don't walk away from me," Thomas said, voice quaking slightly, but she could tell he was beginning to lose his energy. "Don't you leave us like that! On the ground! How can you do that?"

Angelica didn't answer. She just kept walking.

Out the school gate.

Down the street.

Into a corner cafe, where she had spent a majority of her school nights studying with her sisters. Only, most of those memories were positive ones, and she was always surrounded by her Sisters. Today, she walked in alone, surrounded only by confusion and depression.

Because yes, she was depressed. Considering everything that was happening, didn't she have a right to be?

Life isn't fair, sweetheart.

She shut her eyes.

No. Don't think about him. Not now — just get away.

Have a coffee.

:::

"Can I have your order?" The barista's gentle voice was what made Angelica look up from her thoughts.

"Yes - can I have a green tea Frappuccino?" She asked. "Having here, please."

She put down a note and picked up the change. A second later, she wondered why on earth she would want a Frappuccino. It was October, one month away from the Winter Dance, and she was wearing nothing more than a pale pink sweater dress.

Angelica thought that she was probably the biggest idiot in America, right then.

"Thank you," She said to the barista, and picked up the ice-cold cup with her hands.

She thought about sitting down. Thinking and dreaming the hours away, while huddled in the cold and her own stupidity. It was a very comforting idea, actually.

But should I really be alone right now? She thought. I thought I would be with Thomas when I let everyone go without me. And now no one knows where I am.

But then she thought, Screw it.

She walked over and thumped herself down on one of the blue comfy chairs and relaxed against the warmth she knew was coming. It's not like I'm going to get mugged, or bombed, or anything. Those things only happened in movies.

And even if something were to happen to her, she would most likely welcome the tragedy with open arms. Her life was practically an American sitcom, anyways. She wouldn't be surprised if she did get mugged, or die explosively.

So there she sat, with a cold drink in the cold air, for almost an hour.

Towards the end of that hour, the cafe was almost completely deserted. So she looked up swiftly when the door opened.

A bell chimed.

And there stood Alex. Wrapped thickly in a coat and scarf, a discouraged look on his face. His gaze swept the practically empty room and locked on Angelica.

His large eyes widened in complete surprise, "Angelica ... what are you doing here?"