Running Out of Time

Chapter 24 - I Don't Like Him

"Laurens," Peggy greeted her friends as he came inside. Eliza had decided it was time for yet another little get together for the group. "Where's Alexander?" She tried to peer over them. It was expected for them to be nearly attached at the hip but there was no sign of him.

"He'll be a minute, he said he forgot something in the car," Laurens sort of brushed it off. He wasn't sure what Hamilton had forgotten but he didn't think much of it.

"Alright," Peggy smiled and started to essentially drag Laurens towards the kitchen. She had found the cake and was almost positive that they could sneak a little.

"I'm here," Hamilton and through the door looking slightly disheveled.

"What happened to you," Eliza giggled as she appeared in one of the doorways.    Hamilton's hair was somewhat all over the place, he made half an attempt to sort it out.

"Alexander," Angelica's voice called from the other room. Everyone watched as he froze in his place. "What did you do?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Hamilton looked as she walked into the hall. "I have never done anything wrong in my life." As he said that, everyone burst into laughter. It was certainly meant to be a joke.

Hamilton took this opportunity to sneak away from the door without notice. He knew what he did but he was going to avoid it for as long as he could.

The laughter dribbled off as Jefferson walked through the door. By this point Hamilton was ever so slightly hiding behind Eliza. Jefferson looked as though he had been pushed down a large hill. Of course, there were no large hills but there were stairs attached to the parking garage just down the road. They all knew that was where he usually parked.

"What happened to you," Eliza raised her eyebrow. She already knew the answer.

"He pushed me down the stairs," Jefferson was looking directly at Hamilton.

"I did no such thing," Hamilton said as he took another step behind Eliza.

She turned to face him, "why did you push him?" Hamilton opened his mouth but Eliza cut him off. "The real reason, Alexander."

"Okay," he sighed, "but you know why."

"You said you weren't mad," Angelica pointed out to him, she knew what this was about.

"Listen," Hamilton put his hands in front of him in defence, "I'm just not sure we need a smaller version of Thomas Jefferson running around causing chaos."

Angelica blocked the other side of the doorway so Hamilton had no escape. "First of all, no one said it was a smaller version of him. Second, there won't be chaos. Third, you pushed my boyfriend down the stairs because I'm pregnant?"

"I wouldn't say that," Hamilton tried to stand up but he was honestly intimidated by her.

"Apologize."

"Angelica."

"Alexander," she crossed her arms. He knew he had to do it even though he really didn't want to. He could never want to apologize to Jefferson.

--

It took a few days for things to really sink in for Hamilton. He had eventually apologized to Jefferson although he really didn't mean it. Now, he had some time to really think about what was going on. Laurens had been gone to work for a while now and his hand had cramped from trying to write. All he could do was think.

Nothing like this had happened before but even so, he wasn't sure it meant anything was over. Perhaps it meant something was just beginning. Hamilton couldn't help but think that there was more to come. He didn't think it would be too much more. There were so many strange feelings swirling around inside him, it was a lot to examine. Hamilton was just hoping that he could figure it all out soon.

He looked over and noticed that Laurens was still asleep. That was good. Hamilton liked to know when Laurens was getting enough sleep. However, it was all an act. Laurens was actually awake but just very comfortable. He was thinking about the same thing.

They both knew that things were changing for everyone. However, changes on this scale had not been expected. Hamilton figured that, before anything major happened, there would be small shifts and changes. Laurens had expected almost the same thing. They had both been wrong. Everything was happening at once and they weren't sure if they liked it. On the bright side, they had each other and soon they would have each other for however long they had left.

--

"What do you think is going on," Maria took another bite of her cookie. All three of the Schuyler sisters had been gone for the day which left her and Jefferson pretty much alone. Somehow they had ended up talking about how much change was happening.

"I'm not sure," he leaned back on the couch with the bowl kid mac and cheese in his lap, "it could all be a coincidence."

"You think it's a coincidence that something has changed for everyone at the same time," she raised an eyebrow.

"It could be," he pushed some food into his mouth. "What do you think?"

She thought for a moment, "it almost feels like this is our last shot but at the same time it doesn't." It wasn't the easiest thing to explain. Some part of her was telling her that she would wake up again if she died but another part was saying something else. She wasn't sure where to listen.

"I think I get it," he looked over at her, "it sort of makes sense."

--

"Okay but Pegs," Hamilton leaned across the counter towards her, "consider this." She put her hands on her hips as she listened. "Jefferson is dumb."

"Alexander."

"I don't like him."

Peggy laughed a little. Of all people, she was probably on he the one's who knew that Hamilton really did not like Jefferson. Sometimes he likes to remind her and everyone else of that. She figured she could play around a little. "Give me one reason why."

"One reason?" Hamilton was trying to pin done one solo reason as Jefferson walked through the room.

"Short stuff," Jefferson half whispered as he passed behind the man.

"There you go," Hamilton looked at Peggy, "there's one." Hamilton hated being called short. Every time they can back or woke up again there was the same consistency, he was short. To himself, he thought that his height was perfectly average, everyone else was just too tall.

Peggy appeared to be deep in thought, "you know, he might have a point."

"Peggy, we're basically the same height."

"But I didn't say I wasn't short."

--

"Have you figured anything out," Lafayette looked over at Laurens from his spot in the couch.

"Nope."

"Well," Lafayette smiled, "it sounds like you might need a wedding planner, non?"

Laurens raised an eyebrow and looked at the man, "who did you have in mind?"

"Well, of course, there is me and Eliza."

"You and Eliza want to plan mine and Alexander's wedding?"

"Yes."

Laurens thought for a moment. Hamilton wasn't there to assist in making the decision but Laurens was sure he wouldn't mind. "Fill your boots."