Don't Throw Away Your Shot

3. Who? Who is this kid?

Laurens POV

I entered the giant room with the others in front of me, leading the way. From behind their heads I could see hundreds of students, their gazes locked onto a tall figure, standing on the giant stage. I tried to look around their heads and caught a glimpse of a distinguished looking man. His long white hair was pulled back, slick, and he had piercing blue eyes, willing you to be honest with him. Principal... was the first thought that came to my mind. This was further inferred by his striking black suit. This guy was perfectly groomed and rather intimidating. Then I had another thought. Washingdad. That is...Washingdad. I giggled a little as Mul and Laf led me to a row of three unoccupied seats near the back.

As we sat down a few people in the row in front of us spun around. The lighting revealed three young girls, all their faces lit up as they saw us.

"Lafayette! Mulligan! It's great to see you guys!" The one in the right-most seat reached over and hugged them both.

"Mon ami! Eliza!" Laf responded, returning the hug. The one named Eliza pulled back and turned to me.

"Who's this?" The others turned to look at me.

"Uhh...my name is John Laurens," I reply nervously, looking down at my hands.

"Well Laurens, this is Angelica," motioning to her right, "my name's Eliza a-"

"And I'm Peggy!" The smaller girl piped up beside Angelica, causing the others to laugh.

"The Schuyler sisters," Mul finished.

I smiled at the trio before returning my gaze to the stage where Washingdad, yes I am calling him that, was fiddling with a microphone. My eyes wandered across the stage before focusing on a short, confident looking boy, standing beside the principal. His brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail, a pair of glasses reflected the stage lights. His held his hands behind his back, looking between the floor and Washingdad. My eyes held their gaze, studying him.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Laf look at me then follow my gaze. His own eyes found the boy and he smirked. I broke my gaze to stare at him, my head tilting slightly.

"What?" I challenged, my cheeks flushing.

"I saw how you were looking at him. You...you...how you say? Tu lui aimer."

I raised an eyebrow. "Like? You mean I like him?" He nodded and I sighed and shook my head, my cheeks going a deeper red. "I haven't even met him, I mean..."

Laf smirked. "Oui...oui..." he commented sarcastically and I jabbed him with my elbow. He yelped and I heard Mul stifle a laugh.

Suddenly a static microphone noise rang throughout the hall, making a few students cover their ears. I cringed and gritted my teeth at the sound. The static died down after a second and a clear voice blasted through the wall speakers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the annual pre-musical presentation thingy!" Washingdad said. There was a few laughs mixed with applause for a couple moments, when he called for silence.

"Quiet down everyone! Some of you already know what we are going to perform this year, but most of you don't so here we go. Drum roll please!" The hall was filled with the sound of people rhythmically hitting their knees before it quieted down. "This year's performance is going to be Lin-Manuel Miranda!"

I heard a mix of confused whispering and the screams of fans. Even though he already knew, Laf jumped up beside me and clapped his hands together. Mul wooed, making excited gestures with his hands. The girls in front jumped up and screamed, hugging each other.

"I love this one! We need to show you Laurens!" Mul said to me from behind Laf. They all sat down as Washingdad walked over to the speaker that was placed on a table at the edge of the stage, the boy in tow.

"We will now be playing the first soundtrack. Feel free to listen to the rest yourselves." With that he clicked the play button on the speaker and a voice instantly blasted through the speakers, followed by a backing track.

How does a bastard,

Orphan,

Son of a whore and a Scotsman,

Dropped in the middle forgotten spot,

"IN THE CARIBBEAN BY PROVIDENCE AND IMPOVERISHED, IN SQUALOR!" Laf screamed over the top of the soundtrack. His words were instantly drowned by Mul's voice.

"GROW UP TO BE A HERO AND A SCHOLAR!"
After a pause the girls in front piped up.

"THE TEN DOLLAR FOUNDING FATHER WITHOUT A FATHER. GOT A LOT FARTHER BY WORKING A LOT HARDER, BY BEING A LOT SMARTER, BY BEING A SELF STARTER. BY FOURTEEN THEY PLACED HIM CHARGE OF A TRADING CHARTER." They plopped down again, panting.

They continued to scream the lyrics as I looked on in amazement. Laf's voice rose above the others, his french accent evident. I tapped my foot to the beat as the others fell silent, Laf sitting back down next to me, panting.

"I'm okay now...it's good," he said between gasps. (actually what I say when I finish singing it in front of friends and family)

As the soundtrack resumed playing uninterrupted I noticed the boy on the stage was looking down at his feet again. His hands were fiddling with his jumper slightly. I absentmindedly noticed the guys standing back up to sing along to the rest of the song. But I wasn't focused on them.

The young man's glasses slid down his nose, his hand propping them back up. He suddenly looked up and I could see him scanning the crowd...probably looking for the person that was staring at him. As his eyes met mine the music sounded muffled in my ears, my eyes opened wider as I realised my blush had returned, mirroring his own face. I looked away quickly, focusing on my hands again. The music returned, loud and clear.

A male's voice saying, Me? I loved him.

A/N: I still need stories people! I've gathered  some from Tumblr in my spare time though.

Sorry if any of his thoughts are not in italics ; it doesn't copy over from docs ;-;

-chewtoi

(Remember that Washingdad is on your side)