Look Around: A Hamilton College AU

Theodosia

"Welcome to the first non-official meeting of this club!" Angie says. The rest of us hold back laughter. 

It's finally Friday! I have been looking forward to this day all week! It seems like it's been forever. But here we are. Angie, Maria, Eliza and Peggy are I are all in my dorm. Which is Maria's now too. She just moved in two days ago. Normally I wouldn't want a roommate, but Maria is neat, chill and really nice, so I'm completely fine with her being my roommate. Our dorm is the cleanest out of all of pretty much everbody's and is the closest to the main entrance so we like to meet here the most. 

"First order of buissness; decide on a name." Angie says, "Something cool and simple but meaningful." 

"Hmmm..." we all say simultaneously. Again we try to hold in laughter. This time we fail. 

"What about LOL - Little Old Ladies," Peggy says, still laughing. 

"NO WAY." The rest of us say at the same time.... AGAIN. It seems the laughter will never stop. 

"Ok, but seriously. We have to come up with a name today," Angie says. 

"So, we want women's rights, right?" Eliza asks rhetorically. "But do we want to try to get women's rights ourselves or do we want to educate people so they can help stand up for themselves? Or both? And what women's rights are you talking about?"

"You're overthinking this, Eliza," Maria says. 

"She does make a good point though. This could impact our name," I say. "We want to tell people how women still do not have full rights and we want to host events so they can help change those things," I tell her. 

"Ok. What about...." she starts. "Encourage? It's simple, people know the meaning, and by educating people and giving them opportunities we are encouraging them to stand up for themselves and others!"'

"Let's take a vote. Anyone against the name Encourage?" Angie says. There is silence. "That's it then! That's our new name!" Everyone cheers. 

"Nice work, Eliza!" I say to her. 

"Work!" The sisters say, high-fiving each other. 

"Anyway, next order of business. We need to find a way to recuit more members," Angie continues. 

"Ooh! Ooh!" Maria says, waving her hands. "I can make some posters!" 

"Yeah! I'll help her," Peggy says. 

"Me too!" I say. I've always been pretty good at art. 

"I'll sit this one out," Eliza says. "I've never had a lot of artistic skills."

"Yeah, but you have great penmanship," Peggy says. "You and Angie can do the writing part."

"Great! Let's get started!" Angie says. We make a bunch of posters and talk about stuff. 

"So, Theo, you were talking about how you had something going on at 6?" Maria asks. 

"Oh, yeah. I have a date with Aaron." I say, blushing. 

"Wait really?" Peggy says, looking over at me. "Oh my god! You two are so compatible! I ship it!" She adds. I blush. That's always been her thing; shipping. Hercules and Lafayette, Alexander and Laurens, even though only one of those so far has happened, she still manages to obsess over it. "You HAVE to let me stay and help you get ready afterward. Where are you going?"

"To that fancy resteraunt downtown," I say. 

"YES! Please please please let me help you!" She pleads. 

"OK!" I reply. Honestly, Peggy will probably make me look better than I would have done myself. 

We hang up the competed posters around campus. Peggy walks back to my dorm with me and she helps we get ready. She picks out this beautiful flowing purple dress. Very simple but beautiful. I have a matching set of silver and amethyst earrings and necklace that go perfectly with it.  She's doing my makeup and is rambling on about me and Aaron when she stops to admire my makeup.

"Can I tell you something?" She says. 

"Is it something bad?" I reply. "Because if it is, no. I want to enjoy this night without having to worry."

She shakes her head. "It's not bad. It's about Maria and Eliza."

"What about them?" I ask. 

"I totally ship them." She says grinning. "You should have seen them when we met each other! I don't think they know how much the other is in love with them," she continues. 

"Hmm...." I say, pretending to ponder on the idea. "All I can say is... I agree so much! Oh my god did you see them back there! They both kept glancing at each other and blushing! So cute!"

She squeals and finishes up my small amount of makeup while rambling on about Marliza (which is Maria X Eliza's ship name). She fixes my hair which we put into a simple half-ponytail and I am ready to go! Thanking Peggy, I walk over a couple of dorms down to Aaron's. 

I knock on the door and he opens it, immediately blushing. "Oh my god— you look beautiful" he says, stunned. 

I blush. "You look nice too."

"I was just going to go over and pick you up—" he starts. 

"It's fine. I thought the roles should be reversed once in a while," I say, and he smiles. A actual, genuine smile. Like, an I agree with you smile. 

"Of course." He says. We drive to the resteraunt, talking about life and other stuff on the way. It's really nice being here with him, nothing or no one else to worry about. The whole date goes well, indeed, dinner was amazing and it turns out Peggy was right; maybe Aaron and I are compatible. 

He drops me off at my dorm afterwards. "Well, see you at school Monday," he says.

"Yeah." He starts to turn around. "Hey, Aaron?" I say before he leaves. He turns back around and looks at me with those beautiful eyes of his. No turning back now. 

"Umm... will you be my boyfriend?" I say, both of us turning red. 

"O-of course!" he says, smiling. 

That's when I run over to him and kiss him. He looks so shocked, but eventually kisses me back. We stay in this position for almost a minute until I back away, both of us so red. 

"Umm, bye!" He says, waving. 

"Bye!" I reply as I walk into my dorm. 

I have no regrets about that. Aaron may have been the first one to place his pieces on the board, but I'm so glad I'm the one who made the first move.