There are moments that the words don't reach.
Alex was awoken by John moving quietly around their dorm. John was already getting dressed for the day.
"John?" He asked groggily, sitting up. Laurens smiled softly at him.
"Today's the protest day."
"Wait, I wanted to come!" He protested. "Why didn't you wake me up?"
"Because you need sleep," John reminded him. Alex flung himself out of the bed. "Too late for that now."
He laughed as Alex looked around for his shirt, eventually just settling for one of John's.
The two set out, meeting up with their friends on the sidewalk outside of a high school. They had been planning on this protest for a while, having heard too many news stories about minorities getting wronged, or Rogers being twisted. John had snapped when an old friend had been sent to conversion therapy, and Jenna's cousin almost got deported.
"Just to clear things up," Angelica said, glaring at Eliza. "This is legal."
"No yeah, as long as we don't become a safety hazard," John agreed.
Laf looked around at the crowd that had already formed. "I'm really glad that this issue has gotten so much attention," he murmured. A chorus of assent followed his statement. The rights of minorities throughout the country had been bashed long enough.
They started their march, hefting their signs above their heads and chanting about freedoms.
Alex tried to focus on the task at hand, but his eyes kept drifting to Laurens. Laurens, who shouted loudest of all, who's eyes burned with the fire of his passion for equal rights. He had organized this entire thing, set the date, spread awareness. He really cared about this, and Alexander cared too.
John met his eyes and grinned.
"This is amazing," Alex gushed, gesturing about. "Everyone coming together to fight for each other. I can't see much cuz I'm too short," he grumbled. "But it's still cool."
In response, Laurens crouched down for a moment. "Hop on."
With a cry of victory, Alex did just so. "Ride on!"
James laughed and elbowed Thomas when he saw their arrangement.
"Why am I not surprised?" Thomas snorted.
Maria mimicked Alex by jumping on Eliza's back. Eliza just shouted and fell over though, to the amusement of everyone else.
"That's right!" Peggy yelled, punching Aaron's arm. "You owe me money!"
Jenna giggled. "You bet on that?"
After they launched into an explanation, Alex tuned out, just resting his chin on the place where John's neck met his shoulder.
"How are you doing?" Laurens asked him.
"Good," he sighed. "It's kinda loud though."
"Yeah," he agreed, nodding. "It's... it's getting louder."
Alex furrowed his brow, listening. "Something doesn't sound quite right."
As they listened more intently, they could make out shouting, then a cry of pain from further up front.
"We should probably check that out..."
John helped him slide off his back, and he ran off in front.
They reach the source of the shouting, and see a fight going on between a built man and a tiny high school senior girl.
"Hey!" John shouted, breaking through the ring that had formed around them.
"This little ___ and her friends are a disgrace to society!" The guy spat.
"Sir, this is a peaceful protest," John said slowly. "You don't have the authority to stop her."
The guy's face got red, and John waved him over to a far off-ish place to talk.
Angelica jogged up behind Alex. "What's going on?"
Alex spotted a bulge in the man's jacket, and had a scary thought. "This guys was fighting with that girl over there," he pointed. "John's trying to keep the peace."
John came back from talking to the man, who walked away angrily. "He won't be a bother anymore."
"What did he want?" Maria asked.
"Just some homophobic redneck," John scowled.
Peggy attempted to copy his expression, with little success. "How do you do that with your face?" She asked.
He laughed, elbowing her. "Practice."
They continued goofing around until they reached the center or the market, where they began the real protest. One, unified voice, the bodies surrounded by tall building with lots of windows. Hopefully the people in them would see their protest.
Ultimately, it was the buildings that was their undoing.
The first gunshot rang out, hitting a tall guy in the leg. He fell over with a cry of pain, and more shots followed.
"Everyone get down!" John shouted, looking around frantically. Angelica forced her sisters and Maria down, Laf Herc, Thomas, and all the rest soon took cover as well.
"Alexander. Get behind me."
Alex knew that then was not the time to argue, so he did as John said.
Laurens positioned himself so he was practically laying on top of Alex as a shield. "Don't you dare move, understand?"
"Yes," Hamilton whispered. He presses up against John's back, trying to get a better view.
A few more gunshots went off, and a cry of anguish came from three people. They were getting closer.
"John," Alex whimpered. "What's gonna happen?"
"I don't know," he said, turning his head to look at Alexander. "Whatever happens, you have to-"
It happened in slow motion. He saw John's eyes widen, his shoulders hunch. He felt the impact of the bullet, ripping into the skin and muscle of John's upper chest.
Chaos exploded around them as John fell to his knees with a scream. Their friends were shouting and crying, and Alex knelt down by John, confused and shocked.
"Run," Laurens begged, blood drizzling out of his mouth.
"I can't leave you here!" Alec cried, clinging to him.
"Please. I love you. Run."
He had to. John told him to run, so he did. He felt like the worst traitor, but his friends were pulling him away, running to the safety of a different building.
Alex watched desperately from the window, trying to peek out and see what was happening. He was shoved back down by Aaron.
"Don't be seen," he whispered harshly.
The following day, Alex found John in the hospital, doctors about to begin a surgery that would either save or condemn his life.
The next day-
"Mr. Hamilton?" An unfamiliar voice asked. Alexander looked up to see an old doctor, looking at him from below her sagged eyelids.
"Yes?" He stood up immediately. "Can I see him?"
She looked down. "John Laurens... the bullet entered at too fatal an angle. I'm sorry Mr. Hamilton. John Laurens could not be saved."
The information took a long time to process, Alexander sinking slowly into his chair, expression crumbling. "N-n-no. You're wrong. John can't b-be dead. You're wrong!"
She sighed. "I'm sorry, Mr. Hamilton. I apologize for your loss. The Schuylers will see you now."
The three sisters walked in to hear the most devastating wail a human can make, Alexander already sobbing his heart out.
Alex couldn't even bring himself to go to John's funeral. He didn't want to believe John was dead.
But after time, that turned into something else.
"John," Alex laughed, staring at open space as if it was him. "Don't say that! Maria, I'm sorry about that."
Maria stared at him in slow shock. "Alex..."
Eliza's jaw quivered. "He's not here, Alex."
Hamilton scoffed. "What? Oh. John, stop zoning out."
Peggy shook her head. "Alex please!"
Angelica took a deep breath. "John is dead, Alexander."
Alex rolled his eyes. "Yeah right. Can't you see him right here?"
Thomas looked at James, sighing softly.
"Mon ami... please," Lafayette tried.
"John's gone!" Herc reinforced, misty eyed.
"He's not!" Alex shouted back.
The argument circled throughout the group, Aaron being the only one staying out. Hamilton was shouting at Eliza when Aaron came over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't do this to us," he whispered.
That snapped him out of it, but it didn't make it any better. "I want to be with him. Please let me go," he begged.
Aaron shook his head. "We need you hear. You have to stay alive."
Stay alive. How ironic. John couldn't stay alive. So why should he?
"You can keep going. You can carry on."
So this is really bad, but my excuse is that it's 1:30 am. -L
