ex-strangers || a jeffmads fic

chapter six

madison.

The party was just as he'd suspected. Loud, aggressive, and full of people with the uncomfortably noticeable scent of alcohol on them. James himself had abandoned his spot by the refreshments table--a red Solo cup of who-knows-what in his hand--and had taken to lingering in the center of the party.

He'd never admit it truly, but James was silently hoping he'd find the stranger again.

Just a bit.

As his eyes grew accustomed to the light, he spotted the shape of--oh! Peggy, speaking to a girl that looked vaguely similar to Peggy herself. As he moved closer, he found she was wearing a red lip and short red cocktail dress. Peggy had on a yellow crop and a black skirt, and they seemed to be having a great time chatting. He ducked away, not wanting to interrupt.

Aaron had driven him there but disappeared as he was swept into the crowd with Theodosia, the girl he was always raving about but (probably?) had a boyfriend.

James searched for a face he knew in the crowd. Oh, there was Hamilton, but of course he was here. This was his party. And he was too loud for James anyway, frequently yelling about something with his "best friend" John Laurens.

James started to take a sip of his mystery drink, but stopped after the first gulp (it wasn't horrible, but he couldn't figure out what it was) upon seeing another familiar face.

The stranger. James gripped his cup and slipped through the crowd, but once he got there, the stranger was gone. Determined to find him, James ducked his way through the mass of people, frequently intercepted by people crossing paths with him; including but not limited to:
Two British guys yelling at someone about tea, that one guy that looked like James whose name was something like Hercubub, John Laurens holding a turtle, and someone chasing John, saying it was his turtle.

James dodged the best he could, finally finding the stranger in the hallway a little ways away from the mass. He was on his phone, obviously just retreating for a minute to check his texts or something, prepared to go back in.

But as he turned, he noticed James. And James took in how gorgeous this man was for a second time.

jefferson.

Another fuckin' drunk text from Aaron asking if his roommate was single. Thomas had responded with a "i live alone, dude" for maybe the sixth time before turning back to the party.

But as he spun to return, he noticed someone standing in his way. They looked strangely familiar, like—

Oh.

The cute guy, from the party before. The guy glanced at Thomas, opening his mouth to say something, but shut it; seemingly deciding on what to say.

Thomas' confidence flooded back. A grin cascaded across his face. "Came back for a second round, I see," he purred, eyeing the stranger. The stranger looked indignant, like he wanted to protest but wasn't sure how, and Thomas took the pause to keep talking.

"Shh. You don't have to say anything." He pulled the stranger in by the collar, pocketing his phone. "I am quite the catch."

i need to sleep more