Coffee and Cigarettes

A Winter's Ball (Part 1)

    "You look...."
    Wow.
     "Great, Alex, now let's go!"
    Laurens crossed his arms as Alexander came down the hallway, still fiddling with his tie.
      "Are you sure, John? My tie feels crooked.." Alexander paused. "...should I keep he jacket open or closed? Closed seems too formal but.. Open seems to casual.. What would Eliza like? Casual seems like I don't care but formal makes it seem like I care too much.. What do I do what do I d-"
      "Alexander," John interrupted with a sigh. "You look fine. Great, even. Now let's go. Eliza definitely will not be happy if you're late to meet her."
"Peggy won't be happy if you're late either," Alexander chimed as he walked over to the door and opened it. "What about Burr? Where's he?"
"Theodosia already came by and picked him up."
      "Oh... Well.. Let's go then!"
      The two stepped out and walked down to the elevator.
      "This is going to be great," Alexander smiled. "First date with Eliza, your first date with Peggy-- oh it's going to be great!"
      John glanced over to correct Alex on his "date" with Peggy, but couldn't find it in his heart to ruin the excited and bright look in the other's eyes.
    Wow....
    He sighed heavily and pressed the first floor button as they got in the elevator.
      "Yeah.. Great..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Daaaammmnnnn!"
      "What Laurens meant to say, ladies, is that you look lovely today."
     Alexander glared slightly at John, who smiled sheepishly, turning red, and moved behind Lafayette.
      Eliza rolled her eyes and giggled.
      "It's okay. John's usually like that," she smiled at Laurens.
"Don't say that, 'Liza!" John hissed playfully. "People might think I'm some kind of player!"
That made the other laugh quietly and Laurens smiled again.
...She stole my date...
He shook the thought out of his head and mentally slapped himself for even coming up with it. Glancing at Alexander, who started a conversation up excitedly, he decided that it was okay that he came with Eliza instead of Laurens himself.
As long as he's still smilin'...
On cue, Alex flashed a bright and happy grin as Eliza took up his offer for a slow dance.
John's stomach twisted.
"Wow..."
The two walked off, arm in arm, and John felt himself staring as they went. He was knocked out of his own head by Lafayette letting out a low whistle.
"You're staring, mon ami," they teased, nudging Laurens with a slight grin as his face turned red.
"What..? N-No," John scoffed.
      "I did not come as a coverup just to see you not do anything," Peggy chimed in.
"Not you too."
"John, c'mon!" she spun her yellow dress. "Look at me, look at you. We're even matching tie colors. Don't tell me I got out of bed and did all this for you to just gape at Alex the whole time."
"I knooowww but-"
"No 'but's except yours on the dance floor with Alexander!"
       "Peggs-"
       "Now if you excuse me I've got a girl to get to," Peggy let out a sassy 'humph' before twirling around and walking off to find her actual date (a girl named Sally?).
"Coverup?" John turned to Lafayette as they spoke up. "What does she mean a 'coverup'...?"
"I.." Laurens gulped. "I wanted to.. Take Alexander-"
Gasp.
"Hamilton..?!"
John rolled his eyes and walked over to sit on one of the stools by the tables. "Is there any other?"
He felt slightly guilty for the silence that followed. The question came out more sarcastic and snappy than he had intended, and he knew that Lafayette was in the more... Fragile, par say, side of emotions that night after what had happened with Hercules earlier on.
"You wanted to c-come with Alexander..?!" Lafayette hissed, standing beside John, who slouched a bit on the table.
        "Yes..."
      "Oh mon, ami, I am.. I am so sorry!"
       "Why? You didn't do anything wro-"
       "I am the one who set up Eliza and Alexander!"
        John tensed and sat up to glance at Lafayette.
Traitor.
       He shook the thought from his head. No no no, Lafayette wasn't a traitor. They couldn't have intentionally ruined John's chance to get with the crush they didn't even know about. That's ridiculous, his brain insisted.
       But that didn't stop him from standing up.
       "How could you..?!" Laurens hissed, grabbing Lafayette's shoulders tight enough to make them wince. "You set them up?! Together?! How could you?!"
       "I-I... I did not mean it, mon ami-!" they stuttered out, fear glazing over their eyes.
       "Weather you meant it or not you're the reason my chances with Alexander went up in flames!"
       John shook them again, this time causing a few whimpers and attempted pushing from the other.
      "John .. John, Je suis désolé! Je suis vraiment désolé! Je ne savais pas ! Je suis désolé s'il vous plaît ... s'il vous plaît laissez- moi partir ! S'il vous plaît Ne pas me faire du mal !" they squeaked in a rapid manner, resorting to their native tongue in fear. (1)
        The fast-spoken French seemed to have distracted his mind in translating long enough for John to register what he was doing. Quickly he let go of Lafayette, frowning at the way the other hugged themselves and took slow steps back.
        "Laf.. Laf I'm sorry... I'm sorry I didn't mean to..." Laurens apologized quickly. Lafayette stopped and gulped in a shaky breath.
        "It.. I-It is okay, John..." they mumbled, putting on a nervous smile. "You were right... It was my fault for Eliza an Alexander.. I a-apologize-"
       "Don't.. I was out of line there. I'm sorry, Laf..." John paused and sighed. "I know tonight isn't the best night for either of us..."
       "It is okay, mon ami..." Lafayette reassured, smiling genuinely as they placed a hand on John's back.
        "...do you want some punch?" John said quickly, slipping away from the other's touch awkwardly. "As a.. Another apology...?"
       "I already forgive you, mon ami," Lafayette assured. "But oui, a drink certainly would not kill me--" they paused. "Is that the expression?"
       John laughed softly. "Eh, close enough. Wait here, I'll be right back."
       Lafayette nodded and took a seat at the table as Laurens scrambled off towards the punch bowl.
        John was relieved at the lack of a line. He filled two cups with punch and took a sip from one of them, scanning the crowd with his eyes. A few feet from the DJ's table stood Eliza and Alexander, hands around each other and hips swaying to the beat of the slow song playing overhead.
     Laurens couldn't see them very clearly, but he imagined Alex with that bright grin he gets on his face whenever he's excited. With hazel eyes mirroring the reflection of the stars in the night sky. And the warm and gentle glow of the fairy lights placed around the courtyard shining on to him at an angle that made everything in comparison look dull.
       John imagined Alexander Hamilton— his best friend, his debate partner, his reality check, his ride home from track— under all these amazing factors and sighed.
    God I wish that was me...
    "Don't we all, Hun."
     Laurens blinked and whirled around, nearly spilling the punch in his hands, and coming face-to-face with none other than-
       "Angelica?" John gulped. "When did you.. How did you... Did I..."
        Shit.. Did I say that out loud?
      "Yeah," Angelica giggled a bit as Laurens turned a bright shade of red.
"I've got to keep my mouth shut..." He mumbled.
"Why so? It's the truth. You want to dance with Alexander?"
Laurens hung his head a bit as he nodded pathetically.
"Hah. Join the club!"
John blinked and looked at her, a brow raised. "Club?"
Angelica laughed again.
A beautiful sound, Laurens figured, for anyone interested. It surprised him that she was walking around alone.
"Welcome to the 'I'm Upset I'm Not Dancing with Alexander' Club," she paused and grinned. "As of right now, 2 present members. An Angelica Schuyler," she pat his shoulder. "And one John Laurens."
John sighed, setting what was supposed to be Lafayette's glass of punch on the table. "So? What does this 'club' do?"
"Well," Angelica reached out her hand and gently pushed his head up so they looked eye-to-eye (more or less, with John slouching). "One of us goes out there and dances with Hamilton. The other sulks in their sorrow the rest of the night."
John took a sip from his cup.
If this went any way he thought it would, Laurens' chances of getting any contact with Alexander that night just dropped from .5% to -50.
"Mm. So who's the lucky member?" He played along, sarcasm dripping from his voice. Angelica rolled her eyes and peered through the crowd to where Alexander stood, now alone.
"Well, look at that. What a great coincidence!" she grinned again, turning John around to follow her gaze. She gave him a shove forward and we was sent stumbling to the edge of the punch table.
"Hey! What was that for..?!" John hissed, turning to look at Angelica with narrowed eyes. She sighed and shoved him forward once more, continuing until he was a few feet away from Alexander. "Angelica.. Angelica stop.. What are you-"
Angelica Schuyler is either true to her name or a curse.
She shoved John forward one last time, grinning.
"If you need me I'll be sulking!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    (1) Translation to Lafayette's panicked paragraph: John John .. I'm sorry ! I am really sorry! I did not know ! I'm sorry , please ... please let me go! Please do not hurt me !

    This mid-"arc"-like-trilogy is making me happy.
     A Winter's Ball (Part 2) might just be the longest thing I've ever written on here damn.
     Any who!
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    ~Cecil