Sons of Liberty University | Hamilton College AU

Chapter 5 - US Navy

Usnavi

 "OH MIS DIOS, INDIVIDUOS! ¡ESTAMOS AQUÍ! ¡Estamos REALMENTE AQUÍ! ¡ESTOY TAN FELIZ!" Nina screamed happily. (OH MY GOD, GUYS! WE ARE HERE! WE'RE REALLY HERE! I'M SO HAPPY!) "WE MADE IT TO LIBERTY!"

She began jumping up and down excitedly and shook Benny's arm frantically. "COME ON, GUYS!" she shrieked. "We need to meet Mr. Washington! I heard about this program here, it's offered for free, of course, that's in computer science, and it's taught by another student..."

She droned on and on as she piled all of her stuff into her arms from the tiny minivan we drove here.

Vanessa stood next to me and chuckled. "She's really excited to do this, isn't she?" she said softly. "I mean, I don't blame her in the slightest. It's a hard life in the Heights."

I took her hand. "Yeah," I said. "It is."

We eventually got all of our stuff and headed to our rooms. Nina and Vanessa were sharing a room, and Benny and I were sharing a room.

We passed by this kid who looked... oddly familiar. He was walking through the hallway towards the exit with a large bookbag crammed full on his shoulder.

He did a double-take when he saw us.

"Do I know you from somewhere?" he asked me. There was a faint Caribbean accent twinging his voice. "You look really familiar."

"You look familiar, too," I said slowly. "Are you from Washington Heights?"

He quickly shook his head. "I'm from Nevis," he said. "A forgotten spot in the Caribbean, right next to impoverished and squalor."

My eyebrows shot up. "Really?" I asked. "That's cool. When did you move here?"

He grinned sheepishly. "Three days ago...?"

I quickly gave him a high-five. He sighed in relief.

"What's your name?" he asked. "My name is Alexander."

"Usnavi," I said, then shook his hand. "Just imagine 'US Navy' but with no spaces, and the 'Y' is replaced with an 'I', and now you can spell my name."

Alexander laughed. "Well, it's good to meet you, Usnavi," he said. "And now 'US Navy' is your nickname."

I rolled my eyes and chuckled. I liked this kid.

"Alrighty," Benny said suddenly. "I can't keep my mouth shut anymore. You two are like freaking twins. Literally! I mean, 'Navi has shorter hair, but that's literally the only difference! I cannot be the only one to see it!"

Holy shit Benny was right.

Alexander's eyes widened. "What in the name of all that is holy is going on here?" he said. "Wait, do you know who Lin-Manuel Miranda is?"

I thought for a minute. "Didn't he write Muñoz, the play about the Founding Fathers?"

Alexander shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "But he worked on Moana's music."

"True," I said, nodding my head. "Yo, we should hang out sometime! What d'you think?"

"Sure!" he said. "I gotta get to class. I'll see you later, Usnavi!"

"Bye!" I said, then he took off running down the hall.

"Well," Benny said. "That was interesting."  

(Sorry I didn't publish last week, guys! SOMEONE *violently coughs and points at computer* wouldn't let me update my story for a whole week! AND NOW I HAVE TO WRITE A CHAPTER FOR DANCE WITH DRAGONS IN THE SPAN OF A DAY.

How could this happen to meeeee.......)