Reaching For the Stars •|LAMS AU|•

Chapter 1

{John's Pov}

Damn, it's was cold. The snow flurried down around me as I shivered in my winter coat. It was probably the coldest day of the year at King's College, as well as Christmas Eve. I'd be with my family like everyone else, but I'm not going to be harassed for being gay on Christmas Eve.

So, I decided to go to the local coffee shop to get a hot cocoa. I walked into the shop, the sweet, bitter smell of coffee and winter lingering in the air. I walked up to the cash register. Only one person was there, but he had his back turned and was writing something down behind the counter. Everyone else was probably off on Christmas break. It was a good ten minutes and the man still hadn't turned around.

I cleared my throat, trying to grab his attention. "Um, excuse me, may I order?"

The man looked over and saw me, putting the pen down. "Oh I'm no sorry! I didn't see you! What can I get ya?" He came over to the cash register. Now that I got a closer look at him, he was hot. He was pretty well built. He wasn't tall, per say, but he was taller than me. He had peach fuzz growing in on his chin, slick, raven hair pulled back in a pony tail, and his name tag read, "Alexander." I found myself staring and blushing.

"Um....sir? Are you okay?"

I snapped back to reality. "O-Oh yeah! Um, I'll take a, uh, hot chocolate." Alexander nodded and walked off to make it. I took a seat at one of the the many empty tables. I sat by the window so I could watch the snow.

About five minutes later, Alexander came over with a hot chocolate and a cookie. I looked up at him, catching a glimpse at his golden brown eyes. He smiled. "It's on the house. May I ask what you're doing here on Christmas Eve?" He sat down in the chair across from me, a towel slung over his shoulder.

I swallowed a sip of the hot cocoa. "Family issues. I don't really have anything to do. Plus campus is pratically deserted."

"Yeah, I get what you're saying," he sighed. "I don't really have anyone with me either. It's why I'm working here. Might as well if I'm spending the holidays alone."

I frowned. He seemed like such a nice guy. I mean, I only saw him around campus once or twice, but still. I broke the cookie in half and offered him one. Alexander smiled softly and took it, nibbling on it.

"Well, my name is John Laurens."

"A lovely name to fit a lovely man. Mine is Alexander Hamilton. But you can call me Alex."

Damn, he's a flirt. My cheeks started tinting red as I smiled. He smiled right back at me. We held eye contact for about a minute, just enjoying each other's company.

"So, John, since we both aren't doing anything, would you like to go ice skating with me tonight?"

I felt my heart flutter with excitement. "Y-yes! Of course! I'd love to!"

Alex grinned. He took my hand and wrote down his number on it with sharpie. He stood up then walked back to the counter. "I'll pick you up at eight, okay?" I smiled and walked to the door. "It's a date."

I walked back to my dorm, my cheeks warm with love and joy. It felt like a winter wonderland, now that I met that guy in the coffee shop.