Rebels: A Hamilton AU (*DISCONTINUED*)

4.) Cats

At 2:00 I hear Alex finally walk through the door. Trying not to look too excited to tell him about the cat, I hold my hands behind my back and walk casually out into the hall to greet him. "Hey," he says, holding something behind his back in one hand and a bag from the pet store in the other.

"Um, hey," I respond, squinting to try and peek around him. "What's that you've got?"

He takes an agonizingly long time to move the object into view, but once he does, I see that it's a crate. Latched onto the front of the bars are two furry white paws. Did he...? As I walk closer to the crate, the cat's face comes into view and it starts to meow at me, begging to come out. I find myself beaming with happiness as I open the latch and hold the cat in my arms.

"Alex," I turn to him, still smiling widely. "Why did you do this?"

His cheeks are flushed with red. "Well, I think we both know that what happened at Starbucks was beyond not ok. I couldn't really think of what to do to make it up to you, but then a cat seemed like the obvious choice. I just- I'm so sorry John. I don't even know where to start. I've been kind of distant to you for weeks and I guess I just didn't realize how much it hurt you. I'm really really sorry and I know that you're still probably really mad but-"

I cut off his rambling with the biggest one-armed hug I can muster without dropping the cat. "Alex," I hold him tightly and feel his arms embrace me. "It's ok, I know you're sorry."

Our short-lived moment is interrupted by a meow  from the other room. Alex pulls back and looks at me suspiciously, "John, that did not  come from the cat you're holding." Right on cue, the cat I found in the alleyway comes around the corner and nuzzles up to Alex the same way he did to me.

"Aw," Alex croons at him. "Where did you find this little guy?"

It's my turn to blush as I explain the story to him.

"So," I finish. "Can we just keep the both of them?"

He laughs, picks up both cats in his arms and shrugs. "I mean, what's one more?"

Thomas's POV

After James kicks me out of the library (as usual), I start the "long" journey home to my apartment down the street. I scroll through my phone mindlessly, but I can't help feeling at least a little  upset. No, I'm not upset at the fact that I was kicked out of the library, I just feel a little guilty about Alex. It's pretty typical of us to be distant in public, but I was a bit too harsh today. I should probably do something to make up for it. About two store displays away from me, I see the flower shop Eliza works at. Perfect.

Pushing the door open, I hear a bell jingle and Eliza looks up from a bouquet she's arranging at the counter. She gives me a soft smile and immediately gets back to her flowers, delicately putting them in one spot and then deciding they look better in another. I look around the shop at all of the different bouquets.

However, the more I walk around, the more I'm overwhelmed. Who would've thought there were so many different types of flowers? I sigh and walk deeper into the store, growing dizzy from all of the different colors.

I must look as confused as I feel, because Eliza soon comes to my side. "If you're looking for flowers for Alex," she says, raising her eyebrows suggestively. "I'd go with something colorful. It really makes a statement if you want to impress him."

I feel like I've completely forgotten how to talk. "H-how did...? Wait did Alex- no he wouldn't- Eliza how did you know?"

She laughs like it's nothing. "Oh, Peggy told me! You know Peggy, she knows about everything!"

"Eliza," I breathe out and clench my fists out of frustration. "Nobody was supposed to know. I specifically told Alex not to say anything."

"Thomas, oh my gosh I'm so sorry," she makes a sympathetic face that makes me regret being a little bit aggressive. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."

I put my hand on her shoulder to reassure her, "It's not your fault, but I really should go. I've got some things I need to sort out."

And with that, I leave the florist's empty-handed. How could Alex do this? More importantly, who did he tell in the first place?

A/N: Hey y'all. First off, sorry that this update is pretty darn short, but I'm kind of lacking creativity lately (lol dm me on insta at amandaa_larsen with ideas). Just kidding, but this is just a quick note to tell you that I am UPSET about the fact that Comet is closing on September 3rd. The show is so unique and beautiful, it deserved so much better than this. I mean, we all pretty much saw this coming, but I'm just so upset that a show so amazing is closing. Comet will forever be my favorite. Also, I'M SO SORRY I HAVEN'T UPDATED THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING SO PATIENT AND AMAZING.