King's College (Sequel to Too Young and Blind)

Crush

Alexander

I sat on the floor inside the living room, Frances Eleanor crawling around and giggling. It was a two-show day so John was gone for most of it to play a character in love with Eliza. Jack and Sally never kissed but Usnavi and Vanessa do. I knew who would be playing John yet for the story I wrote him making out with a girl. Goddammit, Alexander. You're an idiot, aren't you?

"Dayee," Frances Eleanor said and bolted across the room on her hands and knees to get in front of me.

I grinned and looked down at her, the curls on her hair bunching up under her chin, "Yes baby?" She didn't know a lot of words but she knew how to communicate. She raised a baby doll and smacked it on the ground, "Barbie?" I asked and she giggled, "Okay. Barbie I guess."

"Babie!" Frances Eleanor repeated and then put the doll in her mouth before spitting it out as she didn't like the taste of the plastic hair, "Uck!"

I picked her up and bounced her, "Barbies aren't for eating, baby." I told her and then heard my phone go off so I set Frances Eleanor down, "Go ahead and play. Daddy'll be right back." I headed to the dining room and grabbed the case, hitting the green button and putting it against my ear, "Hello?"

"Alex!" Eliza, she sounded breathless, "Alex I just realized something and I-I didn't know who else to talk to about it. Angelica and Peggy went to get food so-so just hear me out,  okay?" I could feel my curiosity peeking.

"Eliza slow down. Didn't you guys just finish your first show of the day?" She hummed to show I was correct and I sighed before continuing, "Well what is it? It can't be too bad considering...you're you."

"Well..." I heard shuffling as Eliza went somewhere private, I heard fabric and guessed she just hid inside a closet, "It's really weird and I guess I've always felt like it but I've been distracted year after year and I never thought about it." She took a breath and I felt one of my eyebrows cock, "I think I like somebody. Somebody, we both know very well and that neither of us thinks I have a chance with."

I felt even more confused and ran a hand through my hair, "Eliza come on. Just spill, don't leave me hanging here. I need to know, seriously." I bit the inside of my cheek and listened to her uneven breath.

"Well...okay you have a point. I think I um have a crush on...on Victoria Hale.." The moment I heard those words I tried not to laugh since it might hurt her, "B-But she's never acted that interested in me so..."

"Never acted interested?" I asked and sat down, "Okay how about this. She takes you places or if you go in a group she somehow always without fail manages to go with you, she voted with you in high school for the Nightmare Before Christmas musical, and if she can she sits next to you."

"O-Okay but..." Eliza grappled for a reason for Tori not to like her, "But can you just..." I heard clothing move as she shrugged, "Can you find out for me? I-I just want to know. I don't want um to ask her out only to be rejected."

I smiled softly, I really liked new love because it reminded me of myself and John, "Alright. I can be your investigator." I told her and we exchanged goodbyes before she hung up, I walked back into the living room and sat down, "Wanna know something, Frances Eleanor?" I asked. She looked up with a baby rattle hanging out of her mouth and I giggled, "Your aunts are crazy, you know? They're all wackos."

"Acko!" She repeated, the rattle falling from her mouth. She looked at the rattle and then smacked it, "Bwah!" She shouted and started smacking it while shouting that same phrase over and over.

"Hercules would be proud," I mumbled but I felt myself smile a little. I trust John, I know I do, and I know it's his job, but I just don't like the thought of him making out with a single girl every day. At least that single girl was into another girl though because then she isn't really into John kissing her.

The doorbell rang and Frances Eleanor looked up, "Dwing Dang!" She shouted and I laughed, grabbing her as I headed for the door.

"You're so silly, you know?" I asked her and she only giggled and held onto my shirt, blowing bubbles at her mouth with her spit, "Ew! You're gross too!" She only began giggling again and I rolled my eyes, going to the door. I really did have the perfect daughter.

I went to the door and opened it, "Al-" You can bet your ass I slammed that door shut. How dare that asshole come back after all he's done to me?! The father who left me and mother, who hurt Lafayette, who didn't go to mom's funeral. Who did he bring with him? None other than the father who almost killed John so many times I couldn't really count them.

"Get off my property!" I shouted through the door, "I own a gun and if you don't leave immediately I will uphold my second amendment right and consider this self-defense, you are a threat to my family and are breaking the law as both John and I have restraining orders against you two!"

I heard grumbling and Frances Eleanor began crying. I held her against my chest, one hand on the side of her head, and I ran to the bedroom to retrieve my handgun. I didn't make it though. I heard an explosion and my thigh seemed to explode, I hit the floor faster than I could brace myself but I managed to keep Frances Eleanor from being hurt.

"Think I care about the law?" Henry Laurens walked over and I pulled Frances Eleanor against me tighter, "Who is this?" He tried to kick her but I put my arms in the way and took it. I only then realized he'd shot my thigh and felt myself start to cry, "James, think this is enough for that ransom you was talkin' about?"

James shrugged, "I would've liked to get Lafayette and your son too but this'll do. Grab him and the kid, she might add a few hundred on." Henry put a bag over my head and I heard Frances Eleanor start crying and I felt my chest become almost crushed. Then, only black.