We Should Be Together - Lams AU

11.

Finally, we were leaving the US to go to Paris. And jeez, I could not be any more excited. Not only was I going to convince Alex that I was his soulmate and possibly push Eliza into the River Seine, but I was spending five days away from my father.

Everything was peachy until I got on the plane. I checked my ticket and made my way to my seat, until...

"John?" Horror exploded onto Eliza's face. I checked my ticket again. There had to be a mistake. There had to.

There was no mistake. I uncomfortably sank down next to Eliza, and made a concerted effort not to talk to her. She sighed, and picked up a book from her hand luggage, before flicking it to the right page and immersing herself in it.

I decided that I would immerse myself in self-pity. Laf and Herc were sat together. Alexander was sat with Aaron Burr, someone he could mildly tolerate. George and Samuel were sat together. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were sat together. They were all not arch enemies with each other, and I'm stuck here with Eliza, who seems to take joy out of my suffering.

I threw a sideways glance at her, and saw she'd kicked off her shoes and curled up, as well as throwing a blanket over herself and she was still transfixed on that book. She looked stupid. What could Alex possibly see in her?

After we'd taken off, I saw the trolley coming down the aisle. Ah, yes! The trolley! I pulled money out of my pocket and thought about peanuts. I do love me a good peanut.

No, wait.

Eliza was curled up next to me.

I couldn't just waste my money on peanuts!

I thought back to middle school, when George and Samuel used to pick on me slightly. George once brought in a flask of black tea and poured it all over my clothes. It stained so easily and didn't come out for ages.

I ordered myself a black tea, and just as I was about to let them go, I heard Eliza next to me.

"Ooh, do you have peanuts?" She asked. When she saw they did, her eyes lit up and she handed the money to the attendant. "Ooh, peanuts! Can I get a packet of those and a cola, please? Keep the change."

Bitch. Showing off her money by just giving it away.

As soon as I got my tea, I readied myself to throw it at her. Until...

"Peanut?" Eliza offered me, smiling weakly. I accepted, still not thanking her for it. I should've said no, but I do love peanuts.

I was about to re-aim the tea at her, when George turned around, summoned by the scent of his childhood like some kind of well-mannered, stereotypical demon.

"Ooh! Tea!" He squealed, before leaning over the seat and stealing it.

"George! What the fuck?!" I tried to grab it. "Give it back!"

"Careful, Johnny," He smirked. "Remember what I know!"

He took a sip. "Ahh, tastes like Britain. Do you remember the good ol' days of seventh grade, Johnny, when you used to bring me tea every morning? I do. It was heavenly."

I sighed. "Yes," I replied flatly. I then had very vivid memories of it going all over my books and clothes.

"Good times, good times," George reflected, looking into the distance and taking another sip. What a dick.

I was left alone in peace for a few hours, before I heard George turn around.

"Hey, who wants to play a game?" He chirped.

"Ooh! Me!" Samuel squealed beside him.

"Eliza?" George prompted.

"OK," She shrugged, putting the book down.

"John?"

"I'm good, thanks," I muttered.

"Oh, come on, John!" George pressed.

"Yeah, it'll be fun," Eliza sang.

"Thank you, Lizzie, it means a lot to hear you say that!" George blushed.

"Lizzie?" Eliza laughed.

"It's my nickname for you! Like it?" George flirted.

"It's nice," Eliza recoiled.

"John!" Samuel moaned. "Please join in. It'll be more fun with four of us!"

I hesitated, before, "Fine," I muttered, reluctantly agreeing.

George whooped. "So, let's play... Guess Each Other's Secrets!"

My heart stopped. George! The bastard!

"OK, so the rules. For example, I will make a statement about Eliza, and then she will say whether it's a truth or a lie. Then John, Sammy and I will decide if she's telling the truth. It's simple enough. Who wants to start?" George explained.

"Ooh! Me!" Samuel cheered. "OK, so Eliza. In middle school, Eliza had a crush on... Charles Lee!"

"Eww! God, no!" She squeaked.

"She's telling the truth," George shouted. I agreed, so did Samuel.

It was Eliza's turn next. "OK, so George. You're secret fetish is a daddy kink." She laughed, as did George, although it was a bit forced.

"Definitely not!" George hollered.

"He's lying," I stated.

"Definitely," Eliza agreed.

"I don't think you have a daddy kink, George," Samuel reassured him. "Although I am outnumbered, so apparently you do. John, it's your turn."

"This is ridiculous," George muttered, disgusted with his new 'kink'.

"George," I started.

"Wait! This isn't fair! I was targeted last time!" George spat. "Mutiny, I tell you! I feel betrayed!"

"George has a crush on Eliza," I continued. Silence settled over all of us, as George glared at me.

Eliza looked from my forced smile to George's furious expression, and made her mind up for herself.

"So what if I do?" George laughed and gazed at Eliza. "Eliza, you're a beautiful girl, and you deserve the world. Anyway, my turn."

His eyes turned back to me, fire burning in his cold blue irises. "John, you're gay."

My head spun and my world crumbled. "N-no, I'm n-not," I stuttered, not even convincing myself.

"He's definitely gay," Samuel agreed, sucking up to George.

"I know," George smirked.

"I'm abstaining," Eliza announced.

"Well, that settles it. John's gay," George turned around, before standing up and hollering at the whole plane. "Hey everyone, John Laurens is gay! He basically admitted it!"

Everyone looked at me, and a few started giggling.

I felt my face heat up, before I unclipped my seat belt and ran to the toilet. I locked myself in and threw up into the toilet.

I could still hear George outside. He was a monster.

I never wanted to show my face of any of them again.

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Word Count: 1071 Words