Chapter 26

John's POV

Another few weeks had gone by, and before I knew it, Christmas was coming, and fast. Alexander was having the time of his life. Two weeks ago, on Thanksgiving, it snowed. Being Alexander's first time ever in New York, or any place where there was a winter, was ecstatic. We ate food that night, and then spent two hours walking around the city and playing outside with the gang. We even had Burr over for an hour. Anyways, Christmas was coming and I had to think of an idea for a gift for Alexander. Even thought every little thing about the city excited him, and just about anything I got, he would love, I still felt this need to go above and beyond for him. He helped me with my physical and mental health, and overall made me a better person. From the moment I saw him on the subway, I knew that he was special. Now, I needed a way to express that to him. But how? We were in Law class and I hadn't listen to anything the professor had been saying. Alexander, as always, looked very concentrated, and was writing down ever word being said in the classroom, as usual. Not to mention he looked very handsome, also, not unexpected. The man was truly a work of art. Then, it hit me. A work of art. Immediately, I knew what I was going to do. How I was going to get it done, I didn't know. But, I knew one way or another, it would be done.

Alexander POV

I just can't help myself. Every second I am awake, I am writing. With my own beautiful amazing boyfriend sitting right next to me, I still can't find it within myself to take a break. Maybe it was Thomas and James sitting behind me, pushing me to be better than them, or my need to impress John, and o good for him. Maybe it was my way of showing that getting into this college meant something to me. Maybe I was just simply interested in what Mr. Washington was saying. No matter why it happened, I couldn't hide from the fact that it did happen. My brain just never stopped. Even on Thanksgiving when John, Laf, Herc, The Schuyler's and I all hung out, my mind was still running. All I could think about that day as I played in the snow, was how my life in the Caribbean was never like this. I got to leave. I got to live. But as for all those other people? They either died in front of my eyes, or were dying, and yet all I could do was leave. Maybe I worked for them. Maybe all of this, all of my sadness and stress, was for them. I needed to show that they didn't die and suffer for nothing, that something good can come from that small island. I wrote to make up for all that they couldn't do. I am here to tell their story. Why would I give up that shot? And so, I continued to write. I wrote down anything and everything that Mr.Washington said. I wrote while I observed posters around the room, trying to absorb as much information as possible. I looked over at John, at one point, who was deep in thought. I laughed to myself quietly. I write so he doesn't have to. I would do absolutely anything for my dearest Laurens.

A/N: Chicago was freaking amazing. I posted about it on my Instagram, so if you care, go read that. It was a pretty lengthy caption, so I won't bother all of you with it here. Basically, short chapter to move the story along a bit. I'm trying to decide whether I just continue this book and make it really long, or split it into parts. Let me know what you think. There is an ending planned in my head, I just don't know how I want to get to it. We shall see as we go. Thank you to everyone who continues to read every chapter and ever A/N. i love you all🌙💛❄