Plastic Promises // Leerens

5

"You weren't able to talk it out?" I asked, my hand moving to my hair. Burr noticed and immediately pulled it down.

"No, Hamilton was too stubborn. You guys are going to the field out by Philadelphia on December 23rd," Burr said. I sat down and Spada jumped next to my lap, using his paw to touch me gently. I rubbed his back and took a breath.

"What if I die...?" I muttered softly.

"You won't die, there's always the second chance that we can talk it out on the field," Burr reassured.

"Disputes always die on the first conference, never the second," I said, probably sounding more panicked. I could care less how I sounded, the idea of death came into my head faster than I anticipated.

"Even then, we will have one of the best doctors for the Revolution on-site," Burr promised.

"And Hamilton will probably pay him in advance so he'd give better care to Laurens than he would me," I muttered.

"You won't die, Charles Henry Lee," Burr said, holding my shoulders. No one had called me that since I was a teenager.

"How the hell do you kno-" I started.

"It doesn't matter now. You. Won't. Die. Because. Of. A. Duel," Burr emphasized. I looked up at him, my eyes betraying me.

"You... This isn't just about dying, is it?" Burr asked. I shook my head, breaking eye contact.

"I'll see what I can do before the duel," Burr promised. He left, leaving a copy of the account between him and Hamilton on my desk. I didn't look at it, knowing it probably contained lots of insults towards me. I sighed and continued to pet Spada, the silence growing more and more awkward. There was nothing to make noise and I was not going to seem crazy to anyone who might walk in by talking to Spada or myself. So, instead, I just relaxed into my cot, waiting for the time for dinner and the fire. That wouldn't be for a few hours, as it was only noon. Spada hopped off the cot and sat in front of the tent flap.

"What is it, Spada?" I asked getting up. Spada scratched at the tent and barked at me. I laughed a little and grabbed his leash, making Spada jump and run around a bit. Spada bumped into my chair, making him stumble and run around more carefully. I laughed a bit more and left the tent.

"If you want to go on a walk, you need to hold still," I said, picking up the hyper dog. I put on his leash and he ran up to the flap of the tent. I opened it and Spada was quick to leave. I thought I saw someone try to go past my tent, but I was too caught up with trying to get Spada to calm down. He eventually stopped as we walked into the woods. He sniffed around, probably noticing something I didn't. Spada walked in front of a bushed and barked at it, making a few birds fly out. Spada jumped, trying to catch one.

"Spada, no, you don't need to eat birds," I said, picking up Spada.

"Why can't he eat the birds?" I heard someone ask. I turned around and saw none other than Laurens.

"Shouldn't you be with your boyfriend rather than the person you are supposed to duel with in 2 weeks?" I asked. Spada jumped out of my arms and tried to greet Laurens. He stood on his hind legs, trying to shake Laurens' hand.

"What is your dog doing...?" Laurens asked, looking a bit confused.

"Shake Spada's paw," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Okay then..." Laurens said, bending down and shaking Spada's paw. Spada seemed happy as he walked off, checking the bush for more birds.

"Anyway, I was wanting to talk to you about something," Laurens said as he got up again. I pressed my lips in, trying to restrict any emotions, sarcastic or love, from showing.

"I'd rather not, you and I are still due to duel in 2 weeks and Spada still needs his walk," I said, turning away. I left Laurens at the bush and called Spada to continue walking with me. I found a nice clearing for Spada to run around and get rid of his pent-up energy. I relaxed into a tree, the noise of the forest so much better than the silence of my tent. I was nearly asleep when Spada came up to me, holding a bird in his mouth.

"Spada- You didn't-" I said, moving the dead bird away from my coat and trying not to get its blood on me. Spada made a proud bark and tail wag. I patted his head and reattached his leash to leave. The sun was setting and I couldn't just avoid another campfire. My stomach would prevent me from doing that. We arrived back at camp in time as Burr pulled me over to the beginning of the fire. Laurens was nowhere to be seen, but Hamilton was glaring daggers into me as more people gathered around.