Philip Hamilton x George Eacker becuz I said so

Chapter Twenty Three - "What the Hell, Eston?"

George Eackers's phone rang on speaker as he called Eston H. Jefferson.

"What, George?" Eston said in a clearly angry tone when he finally picked up.

"What the Hell, Eston?" George said, hoping the phone picked up his voice from its residence on the dashboard of his car.

"I don't know what your talking about." Eston said.

George had known Eston long enough to know that Eston started to avoid questions and deny things when he was angry or upset. "You know very well what I'm talking about." George said.

"I just-" Eston started "Why does it matter, anyways?"

"Why does what matter? Confessing or the argument?"

"Both."

"The argument matters because you and G have been best friends since pre-school and you guys never fight."

"So?"

"Eston, look, just because we don't have that much guaranteed time left doesn't mean you get to suddenly push all your friends away."

"Why not?"

"Because we'll all keep in touch after highschool. Don't act like we won't. It may be harder, but none of us are willing to stop staying in touch if you aren't. We love you, Eston. Distance doesn't change friendship."

There was a few minutes of silence before Eston spoke again.

"I'm scared." Eston said, his voice barley above a whisper.

"Of what?"

"A lot of things. The future, mostly."

"We all are, Eston. We're all in this together."

"Don't you dare sing that goddamn song."

Another few minutes of silence passed.

"Now tell me about why you got so angry about me confessing." George said.

"I just think that if you confess right at the end of the year the relationship won't last because of the distance. You either confess now, and it might last, or you stay quiet and get over him, and move on." Eston muttered.

"Some how I don't think we're really talking about Philip and I, anymore."

"We're not."

"Then who are we talking about?"

"G and I."

"How so?"

"Do you remember when we went to the ocean for the summer two years ago, and G almost drowned?"

-beginning of flashback-

The summer after their Sophomore year, G had brought Dick, George and Eston with him and his family to their beach house on the Atlantic.

The sky had been clear and so had the ocean. The five boys, including William, had all sprinted from the car down to the water to splash in the waves.

Marquis Lafayette and Hercules Mulligan watched their sons, laughing. The two had gotten married near the end of 7th grade, causing Will and G to be siblings.

The four of them began to wade farther out, while Will went back to the car to help bring bags into the house.

The water was now up to their chests, and they began to push each other into the water, holding each other down to see who could hold their breath the longest.

Dick had been holding G down under the water for a little bit before pulling his hands away to let G come up for air.

G didn't come up for air.

Eston pulled G out of the water.

G didn't seem to be breathing.

There was a moment of panic when they sprinted as fast as they could in the water to the shore.

Eston layed G out on the sand and performed mouth-to-mouth.

George could still remember the painstakingly slow moments when he was sure G was dead before G shuddered and coughed out water, gasping for air.

The three tackled him a hug, glad he was alive, and he slapped the away, not ready for hugs after a near-death experience.

-end of flashback-

"I remember." George said, pulling himself out of the memory.

"I was so scared he was dead, then." Eston said "I realized I loved him then, and have loved him ever since.

"Are you going to tell him?"

"No. I plan on getting over it after college. Before you argue that G is pansexual, he likes girls more than guys or anyone in between or neither, and I'm not his type anyways."

"But-" George started.

"Things aren't always meant to be, George." Eston said "Like G and me."

(Here's some mild angst for your soul.)