Don't Throw Away Your Shot

12. Im About to Change Your Life

Laurens POV

I sat quietly next to Hamilton, my head resting on his shoulder. He had pulled up the lyrics on his phone for me to sing by. Instead I was looking at everyone from underneath my eyelashes. Madison and Jefferson were obviously close. It was proven by the reassuring smile Jefferson gave to his partner. The sisters were sitting on top of each other, Angelica being on the bottom. Peggy and Eliza were belting out the song. Lafayette was talking quietly with the oldest sister. I glanced over at Mulligan and realised his sad gaze was directed at the frenchman. I smiled knowingly.

"Uhh Laurens?" Hamilton put down his phone onto his lap.

"Yeah?" I tilted my head.

"About last night...sorry, I know my question was a little umm...weird? Especially after only one day..." He looked down, I followed his gaze. My eyes widened suddenly. I snatched my hand back from where it was resting on Hamilton's hand.

"Shit sorry. And no worries. I didn't really mind," I mumbled. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Hamilton smile slightly. My mouth copied the smile. I held my hands together on my lap.

We separated, both of us sliding slightly away from each other. I sighed in relief. At least my blush was calming down. I glanced up again at the others. None of them seemed to have noticed. Mulligan was staring out the window. Lafayette had closed his eyes. The sisters were talking with one another over the top of the music. Jefferson and Madison had their heads together. Madison seemed to be sleeping.

I closed my own eyes, listening to the music playing in the background. The air conditioner made me shiver. It was warmer when I had had Hamilton next to me. His shoulder was also more comfortable than the seat belt that my head was resting on. I was startled from my thoughts when the car jolted and swerved. I heard Madison yell in surprise as I slid across the seat, my seat belt being disconnected from the shock. Hamilton was thrown back and since he hadn't been wearing his seat belt, he was slipping straight towards me, and I noticed when he turned, as he realised what was happening, his eyes widened.

Before I could react he collided with me and he ended up top of me, his arms on either side of me. At least he was able to keep himself up with his arms. I looked up, not fully realising what was happening. Suddenly I saw that I was gazing right into Hamilton's eyes and stuttered, trying to sit back up into a less compromising position, feeling my face start to burn. But before I could act, Hamilton put his hand behind my neck, bringing my head up closer to his–

The car jerked forward again and suddenly Hamilton's lips crashed into mine. My fists clenched, trying to grab onto something sturdy. My mind whirled and fogged up. I could feel a smile reach my cheeks. As suddenly as it happened, Hamilton flung himself back onto the far side of the seats. I quickly sat up, the smile still on my face. I turned my face down, trying to hide it. Hamilton was staring at me, his face bright red, a small grin in his expression.

Everyone had slid out of their places and seemed flustered but all were looking at us, except Peggy who was wincing whilst lightly touching her head, probably from hitting it on the roof. I watched as Lafayette's smile got wider until he stood up and pointed at us.

"I KNEW IT! Je le savais. TOUS VOUS BITCHES DIT QUE LAMS N'ÉTAIT PAS CANON MAIS IL EST!" I didn't understand it all but Hamilton stared at him. He glanced at me before he got up and spoke.

"JE NE VOULAIS PAS! MAINTENANT JE DOIS NETTOYER CETTE MESS. VOUS POURRIEZ AU MOINS SEYER SILENT COMME LE RESTE!" He shouted at Lafayette. I could see his eyes tear up. They both sat down, Lafayette looking down at his hands. Hamilton turned towards me, but stayed silent. The only sound pounding in my ears was my heartbeat and the music.

"Just hit a pothole while we were going pretty fast. Sorry if that shook you up a bit," Washington called from the front, breaking the silence that had drifted over us.

"No worries Washington, Peggy just hit her head. Everything is fine," Jefferson of all people shouted back, looking sympathetically at me. My stomach turned. At first I was happy, and then it seemed Hamilton was too. But now... I looked at him but his eyes were fixed on the ground, his head turned away from me.

"Okay good, we'll be at school soon." The car started up and began on its way again.

I put my seat belt back on and tried to forget what had happened but I didn't see how that was possible.

I knew it had only been a few minutes later that'd we'd arrived to the school, but it felt like forever. Everyone quietly shuffled out of the car, Hamilton first and me last. We grabbed all of our bags and Washington thanked the driver. He ran into the school, telling us that we should start practicing soon.

Mulligan coughed and asked, "Where do you guys wanna set up?"

Everyone looked to each other, seeing who would speak. No one seemed keen to answer so I mumbled, "Maybe the room we were in yesterday?"

They all looked at me for a second and then nodded, so all of us made our way to the room.

When we were there I brought the two tables I was sitting on yesterday together and laid down on them. Everyone else sat down in various places; Maddy and Jefferson in the corner; the Sisters in front of me, close to the centre of the room; and Mulligan, Laf and Hamilton to my far right. I noticed Hamilton kept his eyes away from me.

Angelica pulled out a computer from her bag and questioned, "What song do you guys wanna do first?"

"How about we just go through the whole thing, Laurens here doesn't really know all of the lyrics anyway," Mulligan suggested.

The group nodded. Angelica was about to play the first song when – Oh, what's his name again? Oh wait, it's Aaron I think – Aaron walked in.

"Hey guys, mind if I practice with you?" he asked, taking a seat to my left.

Hamilton finally piped up and said, half-jokingly, "Yes."

We all laughed and Burr rolled his eyes.

"Don't listen to him Burr, it's fine," Eliza said. He smiled and nodded.

"Which song are we doing?" he asked, cocking head at Angelica.

"The whole musical from the start, Laurens hasn't heard it all yet," she replied.

He glanced at me and then grinned wryly. "Oh okay, cool. All doing our parts' lines?"

"Yeah, I think that's fine, but let's listen once around so we remember all of them."

"Alright, no problem."

"Everyone ready?" Angelica asked.

When we all answered "Yep," "Yes," "Let's go," "Uh huh," and "Hell yeah," she hit play and the room was filled with the sound of Lin-Manuel Miranda.

I listened intently, waiting for my part, when I heard the first lines of the show, "How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot in the Caribbean, by providence, impoverished in squalor, grow up to be a hero and a scholar?" I couldn't help but to have my eyes drawn to Alex as I remembered the first time I saw him.

And I was shocked to see him looking at me, too.

french translation:

I FUCKING KNEW IT! ALL YOU BITCHES SAID THAT LAMS WASN'T CANON BUT IT IS!

I DID NOT MEAN TO! NOW I HAVE TO CLEAN UP THIS MESS. YOU COULD AT LEAST STAY SILENT LIKE THE REST!

A/N: well shit that happened

(Remember washingdad is on your side)