JeffMads Collection

5.

Thomas sat attentively in debate class, waiting for his turn. He barely paid any sort of attention to the other student's debates, they passed quickly and without drama or anything particularly exciting. He glanced at James, who looked as unexcited as he felt. James caught his eye, and mouthed the words, "You okay?" Thomas nodded, shooting James a thumbs-up.
Glancing across the other side of the room, Thomas spotted his rivals, Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens. He scowled at them. Although he did not have much against Laurens, the fact that he associated himself with Hamilton sickened Thomas completely. Giving them a final glare, he turned back around.
The debate had just come to an end, and Thomas applauded with the rest of the class, although he had not really paid much attention to it. "Alright. Jefferson, Hamilton, you're both next." Gathering his few notes, Thomas stood up, James close behind him. Hamilton did the same, and they made their ways up to the stage, each standing on opposite sides. Their subject was Mental Disorders. Hamilton was with the idea that they didn't exist, and Thomas the very contrary.
"Okay, begin," Professor Washington said, sitting in the back of the large classroom.
"Scientists have proven time and time again how mental disorders are quite real. They are invisible themselves, but their symptoms are not. People are hospitalized and are given therapy for such things, which goes to prove that they are real."
"Perhaps their symptoms seem real, Jefferson. But as you said, this "disorder," itself which you speak of is not tangible. You can't see it. Therefore, if there are no internal signs of disorders, unlike other "real" diseases, then people are most assuredly making them up. Perhaps for attention, perhaps for other, selfish means."
The debate went on like this, for quite some time, getting louder and louder, the two getting closer and closer, and their "seconds" in the back, Madison and Laurens, getting more worried by the minute. Someone of course, had to cross a line.
"Well you can't see homosexuality, is that a thing then?" Jefferson demanded.
"I wouldn't know, ask your boyfriend. Maybe he has a mental disorder too, thinking that there's something good about you."
People in the classroom gasped. Washington raised his eyebrows. Laurens smacked his forehead. Madison looked slightly hurt. Even Hamilton seemed to know that he had overstepped his boundary.
Jefferson, however, was absolutely infuriated, "You are not to bring James Madison into this, do you understand?!?" Thomas said, marching up to Hamilton, who stepped back rather quickly, which would have been funny under different circumstances. "You little piece of..."
"ENOUGH," Washington said. "FOR GOD'S SAKE. Break it apart!!" Madison gently pulled Thomas' arm, taking him away from Hamilton, who was glaring with infuriation at Thomas.
The four eventually went back to their seat. Whispers reached their ears from the other students. "They always get like this, every single debate." "Why can't they not get violence for once? Violence is not always the answer." Madison looked down at his lap, not knowing really what to say. "Thank you," he said softly. Thomas' looked at him, and when he did, the anger melted from his eyes. Thomas kissed James softly. "Anything for you."