You're Mine

Welcome to New York

Alexander stepped off of a ship that had brought him from the Caribbean. He walked down the sidewalk a few paces and then paused, taking in the scenery. Buildings that shot through the sky loomed above his head while people milled about everywhere. Hardly a car was in sight. He smiled at the sky as he soaked in the sunshine and stretched out his arms, inhaling the city air deeply.
"This is New York," he laughed to himself, "it's even more wonderful than I'd have ever imagined."
"You just give that a few days," a man a little shorter than Alex strolled up to him, smirking, "And I'm sure your feelings will change."
He stuck his hand out and smiled at Alex, "Aaron Burr. I'm supposed to show you around. The city and the college."
"Alexander Hamilton," he replied, shaking Aaron's hand, "thank you for what you're doing."
"Not at all! It's kind of my job."
"Sucky job," Alex sneered.
"New York's already getting to ya!" Aaron laughed, "Some of my friends are supposed to be studying in this bar here. I doubt there's much studying going on, but we can still meet them, right?" He pushed the door open and they were met with complete chaos. Shouts rang out over the blasting music. Intertwined with all of the noise were the underlying sounds of laughter and drunken slur. Alex looked mortified but for Aaron, this was just another day in New York.
"Ah, they're over that way!" Aaron pointed left and ushered Alex to walk with him. They came upon a table surrounded with three men.
"Aaron! Sit, sit! Have a drink with us!" A tall, dark man with curly hair (which was tied back into a man-bun) and light facial hair began waving frantically at Aaron. He seemed to have a... French accent? The man next to him was even taller and definitely had more muscle mass. He had a constant smile and his eyes never left the French man's face. The last man made Alex's heart skip a beat, for what reason, he didn't know. His face was lightly tanned and sprinkled with freckles like the midnight sky. His curly hair was free forming and pulled into a ponytail. His deep brown eyes were staring through Alex's green ones with an electric pulse. Alex could feel his face heating up and began to be thankful for the shadow on his face.
"Frenchie over there is Marquis de Lafayette. Exchange student. The strongarm is Hercules Mulligan. Tailor. And that," Aaron pointed to the freckled boy, "is John Laurens. He doesn't do much but he's pretty gay."
John's face lit up and he finally tore his eyes away from Alex, "Aaron! Why would you say that?!"
"Because you are," he shrugged, "gotta start off with facts."
Aaron slid into the seat next to John and Alex sat next to Aaron. When Alex wasn't looking, Aaron leant over and whispered, "And I know you like him. You've got a tell." John only lit up even more as Aaron laughed at him. He gave a two-fingered salute before sliding under the table and walking away, leaving Alex and John next to each other.
"So, you like New York?" Alex offered up conversation whilst staring down at an empty glass.
"Y-yeah. It's...large." Immediately, John facepalmed. Why am I such an idiot?
But Alex only laughed, "That it is. So what's your major?"
"Musical theatre. What about you? Why'd you move here?"
"Journalism! Because New York is the greatest city in the world!" Alex finally looked at John again, smiling. John couldn't help but smile back.
Some things, after all, are contagious.