Wish: A Hamilton Fanfiction

Chapter 22: Starlight

The entire room went dead silent. Each audience member had reacted differently. Time seemed frozen onstage as we tried to figure out what to do. The crash could mean anything, somebody could have just knocked over a prop or a table. Or...something worse could be happening.

"...you are under arrest," what sounded like an officer's voice stated. They proceeded to rattle off a list of offenses that I could barely hear over the crowd's whispers, some people having the decency to cover their mouths but most loudly speculating. Daveed quickly came out onto the stage and took the microphone from me.

"Everybody, stay calm and remain in your seats. We will, ah, tell you more in a bit." 

I nodded, and before he could hand me the microphone again, I quickly excused myself and went into the wings. There was a police officer standing with their arms crossed; I didn't dare going closer than I already was. I noticed a chair that looked like it had been blocking the door had now tumbled down onto the ground. So that's where the crash came from. It didn't register to me until after the fact that it was strange for something to be blocking the door.

I saw the silver flash of handcuffs, transporting me back to something I would never forget.

i was eight years old, and neither of my parents were home. they were out at one of their friends' birthday party so i had been left with my caretaker. natalie had babysat me on many occasions since i was five and my parents trusted her with my life.

we were sitting on the floor playing with lego people when i heard the soft wail of a faraway siren. now that i look back on it, natalie reacted very strangely to it, but i thought nothing of it at the time. the two of us continued playing while the sirens got louder and louder. just when i thought they were going to pass the house and continue to somewhere cool to fight crime, the noise amplified and stopped. i could see flashing red and blue on the wall, coming from in between the curtains on the windows.

"natalie? what's going on?" i asked, confused.

"stay here, okay?" her voice was tense, surprising me. i'd never seen her angry before. she walked out of the house quickly but silently. being the curious child i was, i crept up to the window and looked outside to see what was going on.

natalie talked with the policeman for around five minutes before the conversation escalated. she was shouting so loud i could hear her from inside the house, her hands moving around sharply.

in the blink of an eye, the cop had handcuffed her wrists together behind her back. i waited for them to leave and then ran to the neighbor's house, who called my mother.

she was charged with aiding and abetting. that's all i know, even today.

there was a reason why i didn't tend to trust people.

Reliving the memory brought tears to my eyes and anxiety surfaced quickly. I could feel the terror of that day as if it was happening right now. Somehow my hands found the ground and I stayed there, my whole body shaking like crazy.

I could barely see the movement to my right through the traitorous tears slipping out of my eyes. Whoever it was sat down next to me, gently taking my hand in theirs. "It's going to be okay Zoey," she said; I recognized who it was immediately. The last person I needed to see right now.

I pulled my hand out of her grip and slid away on the floor. Though I tried to find words to explain to her they would never come. "I- sorry, I can't-" she cut me off by wrapping her arms around me. We stayed there for what felt like an eternity, until the tears finally dried. Sirens still sounded outside.

"Let's go outside and get away from here, okay?" she asked me. "First you have to change into your street clothes though." Quickly I did and together we made our way onto the noisy street and found a park. I led her to a grassy spot underneath a tree, turning on my phone flashlight and placing it so the light shined up between us.

Claire started gently playing with my hair as I struggled to be able to tell her what had just happened. "Are you...okay?" she asked, breaking the silence.

"I just have...interesting memories with police. Something happened when I was younger, it's been, well, it's stayed with me. And I'm not good with being startled."

She breathed in sharply. "I didn't mean to startle you earlier!" 

I turned to look her in the eyes. Her eyes were so pretty, intense, staring right into mine. I couldn't think for a second. We sat there staring into each other's eyes until I realized I had to break the silence. "You didn't, I mean, it's...it was fine." After a couple more seconds I knew we had to have the conversation I was dreading. 

"Do you- um, what happened backstage?" My skin burned just thinking about it. 

"This," Claire said shyly, sliding her hand into mine. I looked at her side profile, the light blush lighting up her whole face. Neither of us breathed, afraid to spoil the moment. "I, I don't know how to say this but, Zoeyla, I've liked you since the day I first saw you. The way you entered the room, this amazing program that you created, everything about you is perfect."

I had to interrupt her there. "There's a lot of demons that come with me," I told her quietly, twisting the edge of my shirt. "I'm nowhere near perfect, I'm so, so messed up-"

"But Zoey, that's what makes you perfect! You have a personality, and you're lovely to spend time with. I'd like to...well, if you'd have me, I'd like to be your...girlfriend." 

Nobody was around, just us and the stars, me in her arms. I knew everything was going to work out okay.

"Does this answer your question?" I asked, leaning forward gently to kiss her. 

As we sat there under the stars, I knew that my identity fit me perfectly. If Claire could like me, other people could. And I believed that everyone would always find their other half, the one they'd wished for all along.

fin.

oooooooh who got arrested? theories in the comments?? (WHY WAS I SO THIRSTY anywayz)

i'm sorry it's over :') i'm happy with the ending though. writing for you guys has been such an amazing adventure and thank you for sticking with me this far

more fiction is coming in the future. also annotation books, but i'm not sure i will stick with them, since y'all didn't enjoy the into the woods one

have an amazing day! have an amazing night! have an amazing life, you are worth it and well loved <3

xxx

the person who believes in you