Don't Throw Away Your Shot

14. Everyone will sit under their own vine and fig tree

Laurens POV

I shut the door quietly behind me, my ears and cheeks burning. I was so glad that I mustered up the courage to excuse myself. Everyone nodded and said a few words of encouragement while Alexander stayed quiet. I wish I hadn't messed things up. I started to walk down the hallway, looking for somewhere that led me outside. The hallway was littered with promotional posters about the musical. In the distant classrooms I could hear other groups performing their lines, not as well as my friends of course. Eventually I recognised the path we'd taken to get out of the school the day prior. I followed my previous footsteps, looking down at the ground. I walked out the doors at the end of the hall and took a seat on the pavement. I could hear birds chirping. The parking lot was empty of people for what I could see at the time. As I was observing the different cars Washington suddenly emerged from his vehicle. He looked up in surprise at me and started walking towards me. I wiped my eyes and put on a fake smile for him.

When he reached me he laid a hand on my shoulder reassuringly and took a seat beside me.
"I can tell when someone puts on a fake smile, Alex does it all the time," he observed. I let the sides of my mouth drop instantly.

"He does? But he seems so, I don't know, happy?" Washington laughed, patting my shoulder.

"God no, not at all. Most of the time he's an angry bastard, so to speak. Actually, I think he seems most happy around you, which hasn't really happened in a long time. Last time he was dating Eliza."

"Me?" I murmured, getting a nod from him. "But in the car-" I cut myself, realising Washington didn't know.

"In the car?" He looked down at me, cocking a suspicious eyebrow.

"Oh, uh, nothing. Don't worry about it, it's not important," I stammered.

"Then why would you bring it up? Tell me. I'm here for you. I have to be really, you're one of my students and also you're sleeping at my house."

I laughed nervously, "I suppose, thank you by the way. For letting me stay with you."

"Laurens, it's no problem. Stay as long as you like."

"I'll have to ask but, um, I appreciate it."

He nodded and smiled but I could see the concern in his face.  He shook his head, "So, the car?"

"Yeah umm...when you hit that pothole...something stupid happened...and uhh," I scratched the back of my head nervously, "we kissed?"

"Oh shit, really? Can I swear on school grounds?"

I shrugged and laughed. "I don't mind it. But-I don't want you to get the wrong idea. We didn't mean to kiss, he was flung on me with the momentum of the car, but I guess it was proper? I don't know it's like he meant to... Things are just weird now."

"Really? Because if I know Alex, and I do, he meant to." He smirked at me. "Normally he'd be asking you out at this point."

"Now that I look back at yesterday... I think he might have tried..." I remembered his last question before Washington has barged into the room.

"Tried?"

"You stormed into the room while we were playing 20 questions."

"Oh sorry. You should ask him then, give him a surprise," I felt me (just for you @mermaydoggo ) cheeks burn.

"I might do that, it's just..."

"What?"

"Well, since the kiss we haven't talked much or been able to look at each other, in fact the reason I left now is because it sort of all became too much." I shrugged and sighed, "I don't know, it just seemed that he was interested in me and now he's avoiding me..." I put my head in my hands.

"Well come back to the house and talk it out. Or make..it..out. No that didn't work." I shook my head at his attempt, still hiding my face. He rustled my hair. "Look, kid, teens are weird, I know that from experience. Just go back in that room and stick it out, give him time to think. I'm sure he's just as confused as you are."

"I-" I looked up at him. "Fine, I'll go."

"That's the spirit," he smiled. We both got up and he made to walk to the door, but out of a sudden burst of gratitude I wrapped my arms around him in a hug.

"Thank you."

He smiled at me and said under his breath, "God I wish I could replace your dad, fucking deadbeat, you deserve better."

I glanced up at him and stepped back, tilting my head in confusion, "How do you know about my dad?"

He realised too late he'd spoken too loudly. "The sisters told me last night, when you all were drunk."

"Ah... I mean, just, please don't bring it up with him. I don't want to cause trouble."

He nodded but I wasn't sure what he'd do.

A silence started to creep into the air. Then my eyes widened. "Did you just say I should marry Hamilton?! Well I guess I'm going to have to go back to that room to marry him. Can't disobey my future father-in-law." I started running towards the doors.

Washington started laughing and I heard him shout, "Okay son, go get him."

(Remember Washingdad is on your side)