Chapter Text
“Then shake on it at least!” Hercules suggested from the catalyst of circus music. “We’re wasting time and I wanna go get some popcorn—“
Aaron sighed.
“Alright, Alright—“
Obeying what the eldest boy said, Aaron offered his hand out to Angelica; The girl spitting on her hand before giving him a handshake. She grinned as Aaron squirmed at the feeling of saliva on his hand.
“Truce.” The girl said with a sneer as Aaron snatched his hand away.
“Gross...”
Rubbing his hand against his shirt, The group of children all then seemed to burst back into life; Lafayette jumping around the scoop of land as if he was in a toy store. Alex tapped Aaron on the shoulder.
“Hey...”
Aaron looked up at the older boy. Alex blushed.
“That was...really...amazing what you did back there, kid—“
Aaron felt heat rise to his cheeks. He rubbed his neck.
“It was nothing, Alex—“
“First the fight with Charles Lee at the playground...and then fighting Angelica for me?”
Alex shook his head.
“Thats not just ‘nothing’, kid—Thats what...like...really brave people do.”
Aaron felt his heart race.
“Im not brave Alex—I was so scared when Angelica started sitting on me—And when Charles pointed that k-knife at me...?”
Aaron shivered. He could still remember the gleam of metal in his eyes... He wrapped his arms around himself, tears threatening to fall.
“I-I was terrified!”
Sniffling now—Aaron let out a whimper as he felt regret now for sneaking out of his house so late at night—His mind wondering about how worried his mother might feel...I mean, she could be crying and calling the police now! How heartbroken would she be if she thought Aaron dissapeared...? Tears dripped down Aaron’s cheeks as he shakily sat down on the grass— Alex giving him a worried look as Eliza and the boys took notice of this. Eliza ran towards the crying boy.
“Oh—! Aaron!”
As Eliza rubbed his back and let the boy cry; Alex wrapped his arms around Aaron and pulled the smaller boy into a hug, nearly falling onto his back due to the weight of the other boy. Aaron sobbed.
“I-I wanna go home...” He whispered out. The boys looked up at each other, Angelica showing a guilt-filled face. Lafayette slipped between the boys, sitting down in front of Aaron as he furrowed his brow intently; as if thinking hard about something.
“When...I am— Sad— Mother—“
Lafayette struggled with his english words, The children holding their breaths.
“Makes me laugh.”
Amazed and in awe, Aaron, Alex, and Eliza stared at Lafayette in awe; mouths wide and agape as it took a moment for Eliza to process what he said.
“Oh...Oh!” The young girl said.
“Like this?”
Stretching her small fingers out like claws; She tickled Lafayette near his neck as the boy made a face and giggled loudly. Alex caught on to the idea and started tickling Aaron; who cackled loudly and begged Alex to stop. But to no avail did Alex do so, and soon Angelica began to tickle John as Hercules swung the now english-speaking Lafayette around; The children celebrating this conquest.