Alex tugged on one of his loose bangs, his face still slightly warm. Laurens had lent him a hair elastic after Alex had complained about his hair getting in his face. Mrs. Ross, who was fostering him this time around, had complimented him with a knowing smile.

God, Laurens is amazing. Alex went even redder at the thought.

Alex wasn't a stranger to romantic feelings. He had dated a couple of girls. He had dated a couple of boys, though it was tougher than being with girls. Still, he hated feeling like a creep. He had no idea if Laurens could ever like him back. He hated that feeling. He hated feeling attracted to people who would never like him back.

He sighed, the hard, cold brick of the wall uncomfortable against his back. His legs were falling asleep. He had been waiting outside of Mr. Washington's room. It was the day after Principal King's address. Burr had finally told him who was in charge of student council. Apparently, it was supposed to be Principal King leading it, but as King barely left his office, Mr. Washington normally kept control of the meetings.

Burr had also told him that officers in the student council had to be juniors or seniors. That was disappointing. Very disappointing. Alex did not want to wait another year to be able to join the student council.

Alex snuck another glance into Mr. Washington's room. He was talking with a student that Alex didn't recognize. He couldn't interrupt them. He looked up at the clock again, and considered texting Mrs. Ross to tell her that he'd be late.

A few people were still in the hall, slamming lockers and talking with each other. Alex caught the eye of Philip Schuyler Jr., one of the many Schuyler children that populated the school. Mrs. Hays was walking down the hall, talking with another one of the Schuylers, Peggy.

Finally, the girl who was in the room with Washington left, waving behind her. Alex practically jumped into the doorway, waving at Mr. Washington. "Hi! I'm Hamilton. But you know that. Because I'm in your class. Sorry, I'm rambling. Can I come in?"

Mr. Washington had a small smile on his face. "Of course. What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering about Student Council."

"You're a sophomore, right?"

Of course he knows. "Yeah. And I know that I'm not technically allowed to join, but I really think—"

"Hamilton, I'd love to have you. But rules are rules."

"They're King's rules, though!"

"Your point?"

Alex went redder. "I just thought…" he gathered his thoughts. "Since King doesn't really do his job, we should be able to change the rules to what the people actually in the Student Council want."

"And that's fair." Mr. Washington sighed. "Don't quote me on it, but I agree with you. Unfortunately, King is very, very aware of what happens around the school."

Hairs raised on the back of Hamilton's neck. What the hell was it with King? King was like a creepy vampire that was standing in every corner. The school was divided in whether they wanted to keep or get rid of King, and those that wanted him around were very, very loyal to him.

But why? Why the hell would anyone want him around?

"So I can't join." Alex tried to smile. He didn't want Mr. Washington to think any less of him for any reason. "Well, thanks." He swallowed down the lump in his throat, turning, and walking out.

"Wait."

Alex turned again, his hopes jumping immediately. "Yes?"

"We need someone to record what happens in every meeting. Normally, our secretary does that, but he's out of town. You could take over him until he gets back."

"That's awesome!"

"To clarify." Mr. Washington held Alex's gaze. "You would not be a representative. That would get back to our principal." Washington swallowed, hoping that Hamilton wouldn't discuss their conversation with anyone. Both of them could get in huge trouble. "You would just manage the journal."

"That would still be amazing. And next year—"

"Let's hope it's not that long until you can be a real member of the student council."

"Thank you! Thanks so much!"

It wasn't great, but it was more than Alex had hoped for. He waved at Mr. Washington before practically skipping out of the room and down the hall.

He quickly texted Laurens, Lafayette, and Mulligan.

AHam: replacement secretary!

JLaur: That's gr8!

Laf: That's it?

HMul: lmao savage

HMul changed name to lafayette sux

Laf changed name to mulligan fucks horses

JLaur changed name to we think we're cool

Alex dashed to the bus station, hopping on the next bus that was on his route. His heart felt as though it was ten feet above his head.

Secretary. For now. Sounds great. He would keep moving forward. It wouldn't be long before he could really make a difference at the school. So far, the posters...it hadn't been going great. Well, at least no one had thrown rocks or rotten fruit at him.

Small steps.

Mrs. Ross was in the kitchen when he got home, her sewing kit out. She made quilts and clothes for a living, selling them on Etsy and at markets. Mulligan had mentioned that he knew her from when she used to teach classes at the library on embroidery. When Alex had asked why he knew that, he hadn't answered.

"Mrs. Ross, how are you?"

"Call me Betsy, Alexander. Please."

"Sorry. And I'm sorry that I'm late."

"You're not that late."

"Oh. Good. What are you working on?"

"Just altering some school uniforms for some kids from Greenburgh."

Mrs. Ross had told him that one of the most important things for living around New York City was trying to remember the names of all the small towns. Greenburgh was to the north. Maybe. There were a lot of little towns around Yonkers. All with better names than Yonkers.

Alex still couldn't get over that name. There were much better names around. Like Charleston. New Castle. Nevis, in general. Miami. Even Saint Kitts. Yonkers was just stupid. And geez—had he just made himself cry again?

"Are you okay?" Mrs. Ross said with a worried look.

Alex grinned at her. "Yeah! I just got some dust in my eye. Dust is bad, you know, not that it's bad in your house or anything. Your house is awesome."

"It's your house, too."

And now Alex was definitely crying. "Okay. I'm gonna just...go. See you later."

He pulled his homework out of his bag with a vengeance, only to realize that there was no way he could concentrate on it as much as he needed to. He was too messed up right now.

It was just the reaction to being in a new place. A new place with amazing people who all acted like they actually cared about him. Amazing people who were giving him a chance to live the kind of life that he wanted to.

Still...it was people like Mr. Washington and Mrs. Ross and even Laurens and Mulligan and Lafayette that reminded him of the few people who had tried to help him in the past. The people in Charlestown, who had been able to see something in him that Alex had never been fully sure of himself, and who had sacrificed their own means just to get him out of Charlestown out of the Caribbean. Or Alex's mother—

But he wasn't going to think about her now. He couldn't manage to do that. Not anymore.

It's going to be okay, Alex told himself.

And then did his homework.

Laurens and Mulligan found him the next day at school. Mulligan pounded him on the back. "Dude! Secretary!"

"Don't hurt him, Mulligan," Laurens chastised.

"But still! Freshmen and sophomores never get to be on student council! You're the boss, man!"

"You're pretty awesome," Laurens agreed, flashing Alex a beautiful—shut up, me—smile.

"Still. It's only temporary."

"Are you really not satisfied with that?" Laurens asked him.

Alex turned red, feeling foolish. "I'm happy with it. I just wish it was more."

"Next year, though."

"It's a long way away."

"Do you at least get to choose the music for the dance?" Lafayette asked him.

"No."

"Man."

Alex spotted Burr in the hallway and dragged Mulligan and Laurens with him to catch up with Burr. "Burr! Dude! Are you on the student council?"

"I'm the junior class representative." Burr already had a tired look on his face. But Alex noticed that Burr's eyes were flickering down the hall. Alex looked down the hall for a split-second, not seeing anything much in the roiling mass of students, but still. Burr normally gave his full attention to whoever was talking to him. Even when it was Alex.

"Wow! That's really cool! I don't know, I'd've expected you to be president or something. Or, like supreme ruler of the school, but I guess that's King, really."

Burr forced a smile. "But you're our temporary secretary, aren't you?"

"Yeah! It's going to be great! I hope that I can do a good job with it, but I'm just the secretary until the other gets back…"

"Jacques Prevost."

"That's the name of the other guy? Yeah, until he gets back. So that's kind of lame. And Mr. Washington says that I can't even talk or anything, just manage the book and shit—I mean, stuff, sorry. And anyway, that's not great—"

"Smile more."

"What?"

"It's not that bad. You should be happy."

"I am! It's just—"

But Burr had already turned and gone. Mulligan wrinkled his nose. "I don't like him."

Laurens and Alex didn't object.

"Who are we talking about?"

Lafayette had arrived.

"Burr," Mulligan said.

"Yeah, he's the worst," Lafayette agreed.

"You guys just hate everyone," Alex pointed out.

Mulligan shrugged, while Lafayette said, "non, just the assholes."

"Why don't we not talk about this?" Laurens suggested. "We can talk about our next plans for the GSA instead. I feel awkward trash-talking people."

Laurens had smile lines around his mouth and eyes. When he grinned, the freckles across his nose made a star shape.

I'm being a creeper again, Alex realized. He smiled at Laurens with a red face. "That sounds great."

("Sexual tension," Peggy said triumphantly to Angelica and Eliza when they all got home. "Told you."

Angelica groaned. "Peggy, you can't prove—"

"Yes, I can. I took pictures."

"Peggy, you didn't!"