Laurens, I like you a lot!

Chapter 4

*A few days later*

Pretty sure I'm gay. Or bisexual, at least. I know I like women, because I am very good at charming them, and they like me. I know I like men as well because of my intimate encounter with Laurens.

Waking up from my intense slumber, I stretch my arms and swing my legs over the side of my bed. The covers are all bunched up at my feet because I only like sleeping with the sheet. Mulligan says it's weird, but I disagree. I don't like to be hot while I sleep, because then I sweat, and waking up sticky isn't a great way for one to start their day.

I stand up and walk to my door. I unlock it slowly and peek my head out into the hallway. The house is still dark, save for one candle at the end of the hallway. Hercules and I always leave that one lit just in case. I open the door all the way and walk down the hallway to Mulligan's room. He hasn't woken up yet, because the bed is still neatly made, with all five pillows stacked tidily in the center of the headboard.

I turn back around, closing his door as I go. His is dark green, but the wood underneath is very light, probably sapwood. It makes for a gorgeous design though, as the paint has started to chip. He's lived here for a long while, since before I arrived in New York.

I head down the stairs after closing Herc's door, and into the kitchen. The cabinets are painted red, and the counters are dark wood. I sit down at the small table in the center of the room and lay my head in my hands. The sun hasn't risen yet so it's dark outside, too. The post hasn't gone either; it goes at sunrise most days.

When Hercules gets up, we get dressed and head out. We're going over to Aaron's house, which will be my first visit. I'm mostly excited, as I've never really hung out with him for anything that isn't strictly business, so I'm also kind of nervous. I really hope he likes me as a friend, in addition to his business partner.

When we arrive at his house, I make Hercules knock on the door. What if I do it too loud, or too soft? I can't be a friend with a weak knock.

"Hi," yells Burr as he opens the door, making me jump backward. I bump into Mulligan who shoves me forward into the door.

"Thank you for inviting my invalid friend and I. We truly appreciate it," says Hercules, rolling his eyes.

Burr's house is nice, he has a lot of rugs. It's obvious that he spends a lot of time cleaning, as the floorboards are worn down, but not in a rough way; it has to be from excessive scrubbing.

"The Schuyler Sisters are coming to New York, baby," shouts Burr, a huge smile spreading across his face.

"That's why we're here," ask Laurens, Hercules, and I all at once.

"Why else would I invite you all over? I need some wingmen! You, Alexander and Laurens, you guys are great at flirting! Mulligan, you're a logical person, and you'll tell me how to impress Angelica, right?"

Mulligan sighs, "Of course we'll help, Aaron."

"Alright, that's what I'm talkin' about! Let's go!"

Burr pulls Laurens out the door and I follow. Hercules stays behind to close the door. As we're running, we pass some houses with an alleyway between them.

"This way," yells Laurens, and turns around quickly. We follow him into the alley, and then we hear a woman's voice.

"Daddy said to be home by sundown," says the woman.

"Daddy doesn't need to know," says a second.

"Daddy said not to go downtown," says the first woman.

"Like I said, you're free to go," counters the second.

Burr whispers, "That's Peggy, the one with the high voice, the one that spoke first."

"She sounds like a Debbie-downer," I say quietly. "Who's the other one, the one arguing?"

Burr smiles like he's remembering a fond memory and sighs, "That's Angelica."

"Someone's got heart eyes," exclaims Laurens, poking Aaron in the side.

Burr waves him away and walks forward in the alley, closer to the sisters.

He stops when we can all smell their perfume.

"Excuse me miss," he begins, "I know it's not funny, but your perfume smells like your daddy's got money."

He steps towards Angelica and she steps back in disgust.

"Burr, you disgust me," she shouts, turning away from him.

"Ah, so you've discussed me. I'm a trust fund, baby you can trust me."

Angelica goes off on him, talking about a book by Thomas Paine. I wasn't aware that a woman of her level of substance would be so well-versed in literature and current events. Her arguing skills are impeccable, only someone of her same brilliance would be able to match her, like, oh, I don't know, me.

All at once the three sisters say, " We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal."

Angelica adds, "When I meet Thomas Jefferson, I'mma compel him to include women in the sequel!"

I have to admit, Angelica is a woman of fire and revolution, but her sister, the one with the shiny black eyes is absolutely striking. Her beauty has been unmatched by any other woman I've ever laid eyes on, and that's truly something else. As I'm caught in thought, she begins to speak.

"Look around, look around, at how lucky we are to be alive right now," she says, looking at both her sisters and the crew. She spins as she says it, captivating us and making us listen. I'll never forget that woman, what's her name? Ah, I'm sure it'll come to me soon.