These Inklings of Love

6

Peggy leaned on the counter, tapping the smooth wood impatiently. She wanted to work, to get her mind off things. Charles wouldn't let her.
"Why can't I just work ten minutes?" She asked, looking at Charles.
"Because," he said, glancing at her. "You're too jittery, too nervous. You'll spill the coffee," he smiled at a customer as they walked up.
Peggy huffed. "Why are you working? You told me you were nervous," she said once the customer moved away.
Charles smiled at her. "I am nervous. More than you know. But my hands aren't shaking and constantly moving."
Peggy sighed and rested her chin in her hand, elbow leaning on the bench.
"Pegs, they'll be here soon, go get us a table," Charles said. Peggy sighed and nodded, walking over to one of the larger tables.

Soon enough, Eliza and Angelica walked in, smiling at Peggy. John, Hercules and Lafayette followed the two older Schuyler's to the table.
"Hey, Pegs. Long time no see," John grinned, sitting down next to her.
Hercules nodded. "How's high school without us?"
Peggy laughed. "A lot quieter, that's for sure," she grinned.
Lafayette smiled. "Glad to hear our little sister is having fun."
Peggy smiled and nodded. The boys may as well be her brothers. Well, she considered them her unofficial brothers anyway.

Peggy looked at the counter, watching as Charles untied his apron, hanging it up.
John followed her gaze, looking at Charles. He rolled his eyes, looking back at Lafayette and Hercules. "Look who's working today," he said.
Peggy nudged John in the side, hard, when she saw Charles walk over.
Her face lit up when he smiled, sitting down beside her.
"See? I told you they'd be here soon," he said. Charles glanced at John, Hercules and Lafayette nervously. All three of Peggy's unofficial big brothers were looking back at him. Lafayette looked confused, Charles couldn't read Hercules' face, and John... John was glaring. No surprises there.
Eliza and Angelica glanced at each other.
"Hey, Pegs? What's Lee doing here?" John asked, his voice tinged with annoyance.
Charles bit his lip and wrapped his arm around Peggy's waist, moving a little closer to her.
Thankfully, John didn't notice.
"Yes, I'd like to hear this myself," Hercules said. Now Charles could read his face. He could see the glare.
Charles glanced at Lafayette, he could almost see the gears turning in his head.
"Well, you see... I got my first soulmate mark," Peggy said.
Charles could see the realisation forming on Lafayette's face.
"Are you saying what I think you are saying?" Lafayette said.
Hercules frowned and John looked at him. "Laf, what do you mean?"
Charles nodded. He moved his arm from around Peggy and rolled up his sleeve to show the boys the brightly coloured sun on the inside of his arm.
Peggy bit her lip, looking at everyone else at the table.
Lafayette, Hercules and John went quiet as they saw the mark.

"You... You two fell in love..." John said.
Peggy and Charles nodded.
John leaned back in his seat. "Huh... I never guessed that would happen..." He mumbled.
Lafayette and Hercules nodded in agreement.
Suddenly, John leaned closer to Charles, glaring at him.
"If you ever break her heart, I will personally come and find you and-"
"John, that's enough," Angelica said. "Charles has already had that talk."
John glared at Charles for a moment before he moved back, nodding.
Charles swallowed hard and Peggy squeezed his hand.
Lafayette coughed, breaking the silence that had fallen over them. "Congratulations, Peggy, we are very happy for you. Even if someone doesn't act like it," he said, sending a quick look at John, who shrugged in return.
Peggy smiled, knowing that they had the approval from her friends.
Hercules nodded. "We would love to stay, Peggy, but we need to be getting back," he said.
Peggy nodded. "Okay. But we have to catch up another day. And soon. Because schools no fun without you all there."
The three smiled as they stood. "Yeah, sure thing, Pegs," John said, playfully ruffling the youngest Schuyler's hair. "We'll set a date."
Peggy playfully glared up at John. "Okay, big bro."
Hercules, Lafayette, and John laughed before they said their goodbyes and left.
Charles smiled, watching the scene before him. It was good to know that his girlfriend's protective friends somewhat approved of him.
"Now," Eliza said, leaning on the table. "Tell me everything."
---
Maria sighed as she stood in front of the canvas, her paintbrush dripping with red paint.
Art was her minor. And the studio was empty, she always worked better in peace anyway.
But for some reason, she had hit a blank. The empty canvas seemed to be taunting her. She sighed, dropping the paintbrush on the newspaper covered floor beside her.
"Stupid art block..." She mumbled, running a hand through her dark curls.

The door to the studio opened. Maria peaked over her canvas to see John sticking his head in.
He opened the door wider and stood on the doorway, rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh, hey Maria... I didn't think anyone was going to be in here. I can leave if you want me to-"
Maria shook her head. "No, no, it's fine. You can stay. I wasn't getting much done anyway," she sighed.

John nodded and walked over to stand beside her, stopping briefly to put his bag down next to an empty easel. He looked at Maria's empty canvas. "Art block's a bitch," he said, looking at the shorter girl.
Maria cracked a smile and nodded. "You sure got that right."
John laughed. "You know, it's a lot easier when you have a theme. Or a muse or model."
Maria nodded. "Yeah, although most of my work is personal. I don't usually show people."
John nodded in agreement. "I do the same thing. That is, until Alexander became my model," he sighed. Alexander was the one who convinced him to share his work during highschool. Being John's model meant that he got to see him work, see his finished works. Although, John wasn't about to ask Alexander to be his model any time soon. All we wanted was for the emerald feather on his back to lose it's colour. But he was still hopelessly in love with Alexander Hamilton.
John sighed and picked up the paintbrush Maria dropped.
"You know..." He mused, twirling the paintbrush in his hand. "Collaboration could be a good idea. And I'm sure we both have a lot of pent up emotion."
Maria nodded slowly. "I'm getting the feeling this has to do with a certain roommate of ours?" She said, cracking a grin.
John nodded. "What do you say we take it out on the canvas?" He asked, holding out the paintbrush.
Maria smiled and gladly took the paintbrush. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea..." She said before suddenly drawing the paintbrush across the canvas, leaving a bright red splatter.
John grinned, picking up a paintbrush before making his own vibrant mark on the canvas.
---
Alexander stared at the colourful canvas propped up against the wall on his bed. His eyes traveled over the violent splatters of the vibrant paint.
A note lay next to the canvas. Alexander carefully picked it up.

The Anger of Betrayal: Dedicated to Alexander Hamilton
-John Laurens and Maria Lewis.

Hey! I finally updated! I'm sorry, it took me a while.
I made a list of prompts for my Hamilton Drabbles book... But somehow the list got deleted and I can't get it back...