Eliza, Alexander, and the Great Commotion of Jefferson's Rude Invasion

Chapter XIII: Sick

A/N: The picture above is by @rainbow-adri-. It's fanart of Maria and Peggy. Isn't it so cute?
I'm updating early because I won't have internet either tomorrow or Friday.

When Alex woke on Friday morning he felt awful. It was like his whole body was rebelling against him.

His throat was constricted and raw, his nose was clogged so that he had to breath through his mouth, and he had an enormous headache.

There was no way he was getting out of bed that day.

When he didn't come down to breakfast, his foster mother came to check on him. She took his temperature, and deemed him unfit to go to school that morning.

But the election was that day, Alex protested. And he couldn't miss it. He just couldn't!

Nevertheless, he was forced to stay at home.

°°°

Most children, when forced to stay home sick, would rejoice, and spend the whole day watching TV.

Not Alex.

He read.

History, politics, current affairs.

He barely looked up from his books long enough to eat his lunch when his mother brought it up to him.

It was only when Mulligan, John, and Lafayette came to visit him after school that he took an interest in something other than his reading material.

Much to his joy they brought him the homework for the day, and he set it on his desk to do as soon as the other boys left.

Apparently there had been an even amount of voters because Washington had opted out of voting, and Alex's vote would be needed the next day in case of a tie.

Otherwise they had little news and soon left for the movies. Alex was almost glad he couldn't go with them.

He was eager to get his homework done.

°°°

At one point he set down his books, and his mind began wandering. His thoughts flashed to Eliza's hurt face, but he angrily pushed it away. He couldn't think about her now. But why, he wasn't quite sure.

He let thoughts of Maria invade his mind. Her red lips, her smirk. The way she looked at him, the way she seemed to like him so much.

But he frowned. Something seemed almost wrong about her. About being with her. Like she wasn't right for him. But if she wasn't, who was?

His thoughts flashed to Eliza again, but he pushed them away, frustrated. This was no time to feel guilty.

Should he continue to pursue this relationship? Or was he better off without her?

He never did seem to have much fun with her. Conversation didn't flow, and they didn't seem to have many common interests.

But did that matter in a relationship? Did he really want to date a friend?

Friendship in a relationship?

That didn't seem to make sense.

Yet Maria didn't seem to care to spend much time with him. They had only really talked a few times, and he found that he really didn't care for her much. Now affection did seem like something a relationship should have.

Could he break things off with her?

Would she cry if he did? He didn't want her to cry. . .

His mind flashed back to Eliza, her eyes filling with tears. He silently cursed himself. Why did he have to have hurt her so badly? Couldn't he have just kept his mouth shut?

Now she was hurt, Angelica was mad at him, and he was doubting his only other relationship with a female.

This was not how he had planned things to turn out.

He was supposed to be Washington's vice-president, spending time with his friends, being the best student in class, winning all his fights.

Why couldn't things be like that? Why did everything have to fall apart?

Alex burried his face in his hands. This was turning out to be a miserable few weeks.

A/N: I feel lame because this chapter is so short. But it's necessary. I'm sorry. But things are starting to pick up!

Who do you guys think will win the election?

Be a dear and vote and comment.