Chapter Text
How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore
And a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot
In the Caribbean by providence impoverished
In squalor, grow up to be a hero and a scholar?
As Aaron Burr went through the halls of his highschool, he was met with yet another wave of disappointment. His school, King's High School, was thought to be the best highschool in the United States yet it seemed all his classmates were more interested in gossip and trading secrets than actually studying. If King's highschool is the best school in the country in his time, he pities the next generation.
Aaron walked down the halls and chattering filled the air. Students bragged about their summer vacation or traded secrets about the next couple who's going to break up. Although they had a variety of subjects to entertain themselves, a boy from the Caribbean was on everyone's tongues.
"I heard that he's never had a father figure of any kind. His parents were never even married. And his mom was a prostitute."
"Ew. Well, I heard that he's from a distant island in the Caribbean. I mean, dirt poor and he's at this school. It's unbelievable. He must be really smart."
"Oo~ If we can find him, we should have us tutor him."
Aaron rolled his eyes at their surface-level conversation as he approached the vending machine where the popular kids were already crowding around.
The ten-dollar founding father without a father
Got a lot farther by working a lot harder
By being a lot smarter
By being a self-starter
By fourteen, they placed him in charge of a trading charter
John Laurens. Hercules Mulligan. Marquis de Lafayette. The best athletes on the football team and if you do sports, you're instantly popular. Even before he joined the football team, Marquis was already popular because he was from France. His accent made everyone swoon and his popularity with the ladies made him untouchable to bullies, who often mocked his accent. Hercules Mulligan was a jock with a heart. Despite his broad frame and scary resting face, he is known for being a sweet companion and fashion expert. Finally, John Laurens. He's your typical jock, just none of the bullying. He does the parties, the class clown-ness, and even the school work. What nobody could understand is how he was able to remain single for two years despite his effect on the female population. These Three Jocks had a major effect on the highschool last year and everyone expects them to continue their reign in their junior and senior year.
Angelica, Eliza and Peggy Schuyler were the Beauty Queens of highschool. They were never bothered, never harassed. They ran this school alongside the jocks with kindness and always looked their best. Angelica Schuyler has probably the worst reputation of the three. She was considered a nerd and a toxic feminist who beat up a boy during Homecoming last year for trying to grope her. Even though to most people she seemed to be in the right, the school board didn't agree and with the help of her daddy's lawyers, she only scored detention for two weeks. This mistake did not hold her back from ruling the school. She always pushed students to do their best, spreaded inspirational messages on her instagram and cheered loudly during football games, not only because her friends were on the floor but to raise school spirit although the school wasn't the best. This year is her last year of highschool and like she said on her pinterest page, she's going out with a bang.
Elizabeth Schuyler, who was a junior just like John Laurens and Marquis de Lafayette, was definitely a sight for sore eyes. From her long black hair to her shiny heels, she always looked her best, arrived on time and portrayed the best of her. She always stuck by her sister, even during her chaotic era, and she was the first Schuyler to become popular after her successful tryouts on the cheer team. She was a kind soul, even a rumor that when she sings, birds fly around her and do her hair in the morning. Although it was unbelievable to everyone, the way she smiled at you made you think it was true.
Now, Peggy Schuyler. There isn't much to say about her since this is her first day of highschool ever. The reason why she's so popular now is because of her sisters. Now, ever since she was a seventh grader, she ran the King's highschool gossip page. How crazy is that? Way before she even stepped foot in the highschool as a student,. She already knew everyone's name and their business, courtesy of Angelica Schuyler, who's never afraid to pass on rumors.
The six hoarded around the vending machine with drink in hand, laughing about something while Aaron Burr tried to get past to get a drink. Once he did, his ears perked up at the sound of Elizabeth's silky voice.
"Have you seen the new kid yet?" She asked the group, holding tight to her bottled Starbucks drink. "I think it's strange. They hardly let anybody who didn;t go to the middle school in thehighschool so how did he get here?" Especially if the rumors about him.... Lack of money, " she whispered as if it were a secret, "is true."
John Laurens wiped his mouth with his sleeve and let out a high grunt in response to her question. "I've heard about him though. Isn'[t he the kid who worked his way to the top here? They say he specifically requested to be here in highschool. They were thinking about putting him in eighth grade."
"Eighth grade?" Hercules said in disbelief. "How old is he?"
"Sixteen, like us." John replied with a shrug.
And every day while slaves were being slaughtered and carted away
Across the waves, he struggled and kept his guard up
Inside, he was longing for something to be a part of
The brother was ready to beg, steal, borrow, or barter
"Yeah, I've heard of him, too." Lafayette mumbled, gaining everyone's attention. "They say, uh- He was a slave trader who stole a lot of money and made some bad deals that put him in debt. That's why he came here to the Americas, to start over."
They blinked for a second before laughing. "Laf, I doubt they let a slave trader in this highschool." Angelica said with a giggle but Lafayette shrugged in response. "That is just what I've heard!"
Then a hurricane came, and devastation reigned
Our man saw his future drip, dripping down the drain
Put a pencil to his temple, connected it to his brain
And he wrote his first refrain, a testament to his pain
"You know." Hercules started before Angelica cut him off with a "Aw, Herc, not you too!" But he easily ignored her and continued talking, "A part of the reason he was allowed into this school is because he's a victim of a hurricane that wiped out his island and he wrote about it and someone posted it and a really big famous guy found out."
Well, the word got around, they said, this kid is insane, man
Took up a collection just to send him to the mainland
Get your education, don't forget from whence you came
And the world is gonna know your name
What's your name, man?
Aaron got his bottle of water and laughed at their conversation. He heard a few rumors himself and decided to dumbfounded them, but he butted in the conversation. "Not a really big famous guy," He corrected. The whole squad turned towards him to listen to what he had to say. "Just a pastor from the church across the street from me. He went down to the island to pay for the islanders but he saw Alexander's talent for writing and registered him to come to this school. I don't know about the slave trading rumors but I know for a fact what's true."
He felt their gaze on him for a moment. He looked over at him and they were all looking at Aaron with puzzled expressions. Then after a moment of awkward silence, Peggy asked, "Hey, man, what's your name?"
Aaron cleared his throat. "Ah! It's Aaron. Aaron Burr."
When he was ten his father split, full of it, debt-ridden
Two years later, see Alex and his mother bed-ridden
Half-dead sittin' in their own sick, the scent thick
And Alex got better but his mother went quick
Eliza let out a hum and tusked her hair behind her ear, a habit of hers she had. "Well, Aaron." She began, walking towards him to be closer. "Is it true he's an orphan? I mean, not in that way but I heard his father disappeared from the earth because of the debt he owed and his mother died of sickness. It really is a horrible thing, so I was just wondering if it were true. It's really unfortunate."
Aaron's face heated up at the closeness between him and Eliza and began to stutter. The group laughed among themselves; she tended to have that effect on boys. He avoided her gaze, looked behind her and his eyes widened. "Why don't you ask him yourself?"
Moved in with a cousin, the cousin committed suicide
Left him with nothin' but ruined pride, something new inside
A voice saying, "Alex, you gotta fend for yourself"
He started retreatin' and readin' every treatise on the shelf
The group all whirled their heads around to see George Washington the physical education teacher, leading a short boy with bright red hair down the hallway. "And this, Alex, is where you'll be going to you're first class."
The boy hummed in response, clearly unamused as he looked around the hallway. His gaze fell onto the popular squad but specifically, Angelica and Aaron. From the rumors going around about his physick and hair, they knew it was him. The boy everyone was talking about. I mean, who else is getting a private escort around campus by a teacher? Well, the gym teacher but still.
The two walked away and George Washington opened the door and let Alex into a classroom. Alex never said a word, just disappeared into said room and George let out a sigh. He felt bad for the boy. George knew how he had lost all of his close relatives and family and it broke his heart. He was even more worried about the distance the boy put between himself and everyone else. No matter how many books he read about the highschool experience, he was going to be eaten alive.
He walked by the seven kids around the vending machine and gave the Jocks a respectful nod. "See you at practice tomorrow boys."
There would have been nothin' left to do for someone less astute
He woulda been dead or destitute without a cent of restitution
Started workin', clerkin' for his late mother's landlord
Tradin' sugar cane and rum and all the things he can't afford
Scammin' for every book he can get his hands on
Plannin' for the future see him now as he stands on
The bow of a ship headed for the new land
In New York you can be a new man
In New York you can be a new man (just you wait)
In New York you can be a new man (just you wait)
In New York you can be a new man
In New York, New York
Just you wait
As George turned the corner, the six bursted into chatter.
"Oh my God, did you see his hair?"
"How tall do you think he is?" And much more.
Once the conversation died down, Lafayette noticed Aaron still stuck around and pointed him out. "You!" He said with an accusing tone of voice. "What else do you know about him?"
Aaron Burr hesitated as he saw them all await for his answer. "I heard he was an illegal trader."
Specifically, Angelica, Peggy, and Hercules let out an offensive gasp but Aaron put his hands up in defense. "Not like that! Not slaves! I mean, for his mom's landlord, in order to keep living in the house, he was forced to trade basic necessities on the street everyday and during that time, he stole books and taught himself how to read. I don't know if that's necessarily true but he did come here to start a new life, that's all I know." In an attempt to escape any more questions by the intimidating six, he turned to leave. "I really need to get to class, bye!" He called out, disappearing into the class Alex had just entered.
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
We are waiting in the wings for you
Waiting in the wings for you
You could never back down
You never learned to take your time
Oh, Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
When America sings for you
Will they know what you overcame?
Will they know you rewrote your game?
The world will never be the same, oh
The six were confused about the sudden departure and immediately, John blamed it on Eliza.
"Eliza! You were being too pushy on him. And you too, Laf!" he yelled, pointing a finger at the Frenchman who tried to escape but failed.
Elixa grunted as John swung an arm over her shoulder and trembled under his weight. "I wasn't being pushy! It was a question.
Angelica looked in the direction he left and put a hand to her chin. "I don't know guys. I get a weird feeling about him."
"Well, duh, he's a racist." Hercules said while rolling his eyes.
"No, not that. I mean, he had this look in his eyes. One of determination. I don't know about you but I feel like our lives are about to be changed."
Huh. The rest of the group thought and looked at the door Alexander and Aaron just entered, none of them agreeing or disagreeing with the oldest's claim.
The ship is in the harbor now
See if you can spot him (just you wait)
Another immigrant comin' up from the bottom (just you wait)
His enemies destroyed his rep America forgot him
Aaron Burr sat in front of Alex in class, he was focused on the board when the bell rang and all students began rushing into the classroom. The teacher stood at the front, cleared her throat and said, "We have a new student this semester. He's from the Caribbean." She added with a shake of her shoulders, letting out a laugh after her movements which caused her students to cringe. "Why don't you come introduce yourself?"
Slowly, Alexander got out of his seat and stood at the front of the classroom with his hands on his hips. He looked at the teacher who encouraged him to speak. He smiled and looked at the class with confidence. With a slight Spanish accent, he spoke; "I'm Alexander Hamilton. I've come from the Caribbean on a ship, not a plane. But it was definitely not a vacation." He assured the group, who let out a small chuckle, and took a deep breath before speaking again. "I uh- ecstatic to be here. You know, younger me would've never dreamed to ever have a chance to be here and I hope in my short time, I really make an impact and create an unforgettable legacy."
We fought with him
Like a connection, all six of the groups' thoughts were wired to the same boy. Hercules and Lafayette let out a harsh sneeze in unison. Lafayette mumbled something in French while he rubbed his nose, saying thank you to those who blessed him and Hercules crossed his arm, completely unimpacted.
Me? I died for him
At the same time, John Laurens sneezed as well, in his own class. In his mind, he completely agreed with Angelica although he didn't vocate it. There was a gleam in the boy's eyes, a look of determination he saw and John knew he played a part in it.
Me? I trusted him
In his office, George Washington let out the most violating, loudest sneeze. His thoughts were still on Alexander. How vulnerable he'd be to the school system and to his peers. Yet he's seen the boy's work and knows that he was a great writer. He was a good person too. Washington felt as if he could lay his life down on the line in ease knowing Alexander would take care of him.
Me? I loved him
Angelica let out a sneeze into her elbow and shivered while at the same time but in a different classroom, Eliza softly sneezed into her nearby handkerchief and thanked the millions of boys in her class saying thank you.
And me, I'm the damn fool that shot him
When Alexander's gaze fell upon him, a cold chill went up Aaron's back. It was frightening to have his bright violet eyes focused on him.
There's a million things I haven't done but just you wait
What's your name, man
Alexander simply cleared his throat and looked at the other kids, who were waiting for him to finish. "I have a lot of goals for this school year and believe me, I'm going to complete every one."
"Thank you, uh... I'm sorry, what did you say your name was again?" Their teacher had asked.
He smiled.
Alexander Hamilton