Scholar students, Theatre nerds, and troublemakers

Chapter 1 Lafayette

French airports and American airports are very different. America had brighter colors, different types of food aromas wafting through the air, and the unfamiliar American accents all around. The longer I stood there alone glancing out trying to scan the crowds for my cousin Thomas the more nervous I got.

"Gilbert du Motier de Lafayette!"  I heard Thomas shout. I glanced around one more time spotting Thomas with his big curly light brown hair fuzzed up and cashmere maroon Virginian sweater on again. I rolled my eyes the second I walk over to him.

"You never take that thing off do you cousin." I chuckled hugging him tightly.

"No, merci beaucoup pour d'être venu me chercher cousin. Just a you never take that thing off do you cousin. Well all I have to say to that is..." Thomas pulled back from our hug turning his nose up to the ceiling laughing almost as hard as I did.

"Non, you did picked me up late." I crossed my arms scowling at him while we began to walk towards the exit. "Plus your French accent is very offensive."

"It's spot on. We have to get to the hotel we're staying at till dorms open." He glanced off in the far distance. "James and Aaron are already there."

I had never met Aaron but I had been introduced to James Madison once. When Thomas had his tenth birthday he threw a big party with the drama geeks at his school and the only kid who talked to me and seemed really nice through the party was James.

"I can't wait to see James again." I laughed gleefully thankful that I was finally getting to see Thomas's best friend again.

We reached the doors of the airport as I glanced at the outside to see Thomas's black Maserati Granturismo. I sighed, I hated our parents rich lives. People might say that being rich comes with less problems but in all honesty I think it comes with way more trouble then worth.

"What are you waiting for, hop in." Thomas sighed rolling down his window from where he sat in the drivers seat.

***

"Wakey wakey Gil."

I opened my eyes groggily. Groaning loudly I tried to turn over and fall back asleep. Seven hours on a plane will make a person tired, especially if they had to wake up at five in the morning.

I leaned against the doorway almost asleep again when Thomas swung the door open making me fall out. I heard Thomas fall onto the pavement laughing "Aha-ha-ha ha I could watch that for days."

"Thomas are you ok?" I heard a rough voice ask. I instantly remember it as James's.

"Hey what about me over here?" I waved my arm that was not trying to help me push myself up from the ground around. I heard three voices start laughing which meant I didn't just make a fool of myself in front of Thomas and James but that I also made a bad first impression on who I was assuming was Aaron.

I saw a dark brown hand grab onto mine helping me up. I recognized the hand didn't belong to James and I could see Thomas still on his knees on the ground laughing which made me so infuriated. The reason I came America to start fresh not get bullied for the hundredth time.

"I'm Aaron Burr, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. Lafayette right?" I saw the boy who helped me off the ground. His hair short and so dark brown you could barely notice it was there.

"Yeah that's what easier to say then Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier de Lafayette." I chuckled happy that my first impression didn't ruin everything like usual.

I watched as Thomas got off his knees and him and James head to the back grabbing my suitcases. Aaron and I walked into the hotel. I glanced around to see it looked less rich people type more college and university level vibe. This was probably some hotel that kids from school go to. That was the only reason Thomas would buy something like this.

Don't get me wrong I love small homey hotels, Thomas? Not so much. He's all about bigger and brighter while I'd be happy to stay in a small cabin with someone special drinking coffee all day.

A second later Thomas and James were by my side again. As I assessed James I realized he'd only grown a bit but his clothes looked almost opposite. Before he used to wear the same clothes as Thomas but he was wearing a big grey baggy jumper and a pair of skinny jeans.

"Hello? Can we get some help over here?" Thomas groaned waving his empty hand around in the air. Not a second later a whole set of porters walk towards us collecting the luggage. Of course Thomas would have everyone doing work for him what else had I been expecting. Thomas changing from his rich boy heritage? That would be one of the funniest things to see.

***

We sat on the beds in our hotel suite legs crossed with my suitcases being kicked around on the ground.

"So? Is there anything I should know before we go to school? Anyone I should look out for? Any horrible classes?" I asked fretting about their answers. 

"Well there's one thing." James finally spoke up glancing between Thomas and Aaron. Their eyes land on the ground as I sighed.

"What? What is it?" I questioned raising my eyebrow slowly

"Well the school is basically split up. The hot girls, bad boys, sporty kids and troublemakers and then there's the other side. The nerds, the gamers, art kids, theatre kids and all the rest. You especially have to stay away from them because there are essentially leaders and the leader for our side is..." Aaron started on.

"Me! Surprise!" Thomas shouted jumping on top of the perfectly made white duvet bed.

"Dramatic much!" I hollered at him, laughing at his flare for dramatics.

"No but with all honesty befriending Hercules Mulligan, Alexander Hamilton or John Laurens would end the respect everyone has for us."

I always dreamed of fitting in. Maybe this was the time I could do it. Maybe moving to New York was the right decision. I could finally have a big group of friends. All I'd have to do was not befriend a couple of guys. How hard could that be?