The Press (Whamilton)

Ch. 9

"Are you okay?" Hamilton asked before sipping his starbucks. He and Eliza were at starbucks, just trying to relax and ignore any kind of work duties they had. It was ironic Hamilton was asking if she was okay, when Alex was the one that just had a mental breakdown in his car. But he didn't want to think about him right now. He didn't want to think about... about Laurens...

Eliza nodded and replied, "Yeah, I've just been thinking. About stuff. I guess." Alex frowned.

"Stuff?" He asked, "I would think as an ex english teacher you would be a little more descriptive, Miss Schuyler." Eliza snickered and rolled her eyes.

"You knew I was an ex english teacher? God you're worse than the press!" She teased, lightly shoving him. Alex rolled his eyes.

"Hey, I was just curious. Besides I was surfing through twitter anyway and I saw a video of one of your college lectures. You were amazing at it by the way, and I loved the control you had over your class." Hamilton rambled, "Also I loved the outfit-"

"Alex, She interrupted, "What's your sexuality?"

Alex stopped walking down the sidewalk, dumbfounded for a second. He didn't expect her to ever ask anything like that. But Eliza stopped to, looking at him with almost a desperate begging in her soft brown eyes. Alex cleared his throat and kept walking, a bit slower and a bit more cautious. Eliza walked as well, taking his free hand in hers

"Bisexual. I prefer both genders. Why, um, why do you ask?" Alex whispered, glancing around in case anybody was listening. Eliza's cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment. Hamilton raised an eyebrow and stopped. He asked quietly, "Are you straight?" She was frozen for a second, not sure how to respond. Slowly, she shook her head.

"I think I... I think I'm bisexual. What you said. I think I like girls and boys." She mumbled, continuing to walk. Eliza was walking faster, pulling Alex along. She pulled him away to the park and sat on a bench, holding his hands like they were her only life support. "But i really don't know. I never had time to experiment in college, I was busy with other life changes. I don't even know what it's like to be with anybody that isn't a boy!"

Alex pressed a kiss to her hand. A risky thing to do in a public place like this. "Miss Schuyler, relax a little. It's alright to experiment later in your life. There's still time. Whether you're straight, lesbian, bisexual, or whatever. It's alright if you want to experiment now instead of back then-"

"No," She snapped, "No you don't get it! I'm already such a freak of nature to the world! I'm already ugly and gross and-"

"Hush, Eliza." Alex sighed. Eliza looked at Hamilton through her tear filled eyes, whimpering a little. She was breaking down her walls, starting to cry and already trying her best to hold back sobs. Hamilton hugged her tightly, letting the woman bury her head in the man's hair. She sobbed against him, absolutely helpless in that moment. Alexander held her tightly, rubbing circles along her back.

They stayed like that for the next few minutes. Alex and Eliza. Hugging and just enjoying the sort of silence in there shady part of the park. Birds chirped here and there, and there was a gentle breeze as well. The peaceful scenery and the comforting back rubbing was enough to get Eliza to calm down. Eliza sniffled and pulled away, quickly getting a handkerchief out of her bag and wiping her eyes.

Hamilton opened his satchel and got makeup wipes out, carefully cleaning to smeared mascara from her face. Eliza let him, staying still where she was so he could help her. Alex whispered softly, "You aren't a monster. You aren't a freak. It's okay to be different, Eliza, even if everybody's afraid of it."

John was floated behind Eliza, making sure not to touch anything (he didn't know what he could touch and not touch). Alex looked at John and sighed, "You're perfect." Eliza sniffled and stuffed the handkerchief and makeup wipes into her purse and stood up. She brushed any dust off of her dress before smiling at Alex.

"You're sweeter than the media thinks you are. I wish they knew the Alexander Hamilton that I knew." Eliza smiled. Alex stood up and held her hand.

He teased, "You mean the bisexual, feminist, dressing-in-drag, Hamilton that you know and love? Oh God would the press have a field day." Eliza giggled and they continued their walk. John floated behind them, watching carefully to see if any press were nearby.

The pillow appeared back at home an hour later.