Freshman

First Day Back

TW: This story contains homophobia, language, mentions of suicide, implied self-harm and other upsetting topics. Please avoid this fanfiction if any of these topics are upsetting. Thank you.

-Dragon 

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Alexander Hamilton accepted the paper offered to him by his best friend, John Laurens and scanned it for his name.

"Room A114." Hamilton said, a scowl on his face. Washington had already informed him who his roommate would be. 

"So, Jefferson, huh?" Laurens asked. 

'Mmhmm." Hamilton sighed, leaning back against the bench the two were seated on. 

"You asked Washington to switch?" John inquired, giving Alexander a friendly nudge with his shoulder.

"Yeah, he said no, unfortunately." Hamilton replied with a sigh. "Apparently we have to 'bond' or some shit. Washington says it's because we're going to be partners in debate." 

"That sucks, Lex, I'm really sorry." John said, shaking his head. 

"Who are you rooming with?" Alex asked, leg bouncing with anxiety. 

"Seabury." John replied, putting a hand on Alex's leg. "Did you take your meds?" Alexander nodded but quickly faltered under John's stern gaze.

"No." Alex admitted. "Sorry." 

"Hey hey, no need to apologize," John said. "Just promise me you'll take them when you get to your dorm." 

"I promise." Alex agreed, nodding. "So you're rooming with Seabury, how do you think that will go?"

"Badly." John replied, looking anxious as well. "Very badly."

"Maybe he's gotten better." Alex replied, though they both knew it wasn't true. John gave Alex a look.

"You know how he is." John said, looking down and messing with his bracelet. Alex had given John the bracelet the day they met, as a token of their friendship. 

"Listen, if he even looks at you badly, I will punch his guts out." Alex said, hands curling into fists as he scowled. 

"Alex, Alex, it's fine." Laurens replied, putting a hand on Alexander's shoulder. 

"Nothing Seabury's ever done is fine." Alex growled. 

"I know that," John said, smiling weakly. "But he knows if he does anything, you, Laf and Herc will hang him." 

"Hell yes we will." Alexander leaned back against the bench, scowling still. 

Alexander sighed. John glanced at his phone, checking the time. 

"We better get going, orientation starts soon, and you still have to drop off your things." John stood up and stretched, striped sleeves riding up slightly to expose pale scars on his wrists. Seeing the faint marks only made Alexander angrier at Seabury and his group.

John helped Alexander up as the wind flicked back Laurens's mane of curly, pale brown hair. Alexander slung his bag over his shoulder and grabbed his suitcase. Alexander's own dark hair was tied up in a messy ponytail as he walked alongside John. 

Hamilton's suitcase clicked on the sidewalk as they neared the dormitory building. Laurens pointed towards the door where Hercules Mulligan and Lafayette were waiting. Mulligan had his arm around Lafayette's waist and had the Frenchman pressed against his side. Lafayette waved the two over and gave a quick hug to Laurens and Hamilton.

"It feels like it's been forever since we saw you two, mes amis." Lafayette said grinning at Alex and John. 

"Pretty sure it was last week, Laf." John replied, grinning weakly.

"Who did you two get for your roommates?" Mulligan asked, removing his hand from around Lafayette's waist to intertwine fingers with the Frenchman instead. 

"Thomas Jeffershit." Hamilton said, scowling. Lafayette winced. 

"He's not that bad, mon ami." Lafayette said. 

Hamilton shook his head. 

"Just because you two got all chummy chummy on your senior year trip to France does not mean I have to like him." Alex replied stubbornly, hands in the pockets of his jeans. Lafayette was about to retort when Mulligan interrupted.

"And you, John?" Mulligan asked, squeezing Lafayette's hand. 

"Samuel Seabury." Laurens mumbled, inaudibly.

"Come again?" Lafayette leaned closer.

"Samuel Seabury." Alexander answered for John, hatefully drawing out the name.

Herc and Laf's eyes darkened and their smiles were replaced with looks of concern.

"Can't you ask to switch, mon ami? We know what happened with him, I'm sure Washington would let you change." Lafayette asked, stepping towards John to put a hand on his shoulder.

"It'll be fine," Laurens replied. "Maybe I can change him." 

Alexander scowled, doubtfully. "We just had this whole conversation, John." 

"I don't want to bother Washington." Laurens said. "I'll be fine."

"If he lays a finger on you, mon ami, I will not hesitate to kick is homophobic ass." Lafayette threatened, putting his hands on Laurens's shoulders. 

"Same." Mulligan and Hamilton agreed.

"Thanks guys." Laurens have a weak, nervous smile, rubbing his wrists self-consciously.

Hamilton looked around and huffed a groan. "Don't look now, it's the shit show." Alexander grumbled. The group turned to look and saw Jefferson and his gang lounging against the dorm building's wall.

Jefferson had on a blinding magenta blazer with pure black jeans. His hair was in a dark, frizzy halo around his face, and he was talking with his best friend, James Madison. Madison was shorter, almost as short as Laurens and Hamilton, and he was always sick. Hamilton had no idea how Madison even graduated from high school considering how many days he missed. 

Jefferson probably pulled strings. Hamilton thought, scowling again. He was tugged out of his thoughts by Laurens pulling him into the building. 

Hamilton shot one last hateful look at Jefferson, which Jefferson caught and returned with a smirk. 

God I hate that man. Was Hamilton's thought as Jefferson flashed that arrogant smile.

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Thank you, my nonresistance readers for making it past the character page.

Word Count: 909 (pretty good!)