19

                                    

                                          
~Laurens POV~
                          
We walk to debate class, sadly, not hand in hand.  I keep trying to reach out, but every time I do, I realize I don't have his permission.  We aren't even dating, anyway.
                          
We walk into the classroom and take a seat.  Suddenly we hear the door burst open, and the voice I hear is none other than Jeffer-shit himself.
                          
"What'd I miss?" I roll my eyes so far back I think I saw my brain.  Jefferson glares at me and takes a seat next to his boy-toy Madison.  Who seemed to be red in the face when he sat next to him.
                          
"Ladies and gentlemen, you had to be here this morning, but we will be having a Cabinet Meeting." Professor Washington starts.  "We will be discussing if the National Bank should actually be a thing here, in America.  Hamilton and Jefferson will be debating like how Miranda and Diggs would have in the 1790s.  Use each other's names, not Miranda and Digg's.  You are debating each other."
                          
I stand up with Alex and Madison with Jefferson.  We move to the front of the room.  I try to become a sass master like Alex.
                          
"Jefferson you have the floor, sir."
                          
"'Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' we fought for these ideals we shouldn't settle for less.  These are wise words enterprising men quote 'em don't act surprised you guys cause I wrote 'em."
                          
"Ooooowwwww" Jefferson and Madison say together.
                          
"But Hamilton forgets, his plan would have the government assume state's debts. 
Now, place your bets as to who that benefits: The very seat of government where Hamilton sits." Jefferson says, accusingly. 
                          
Not True. "Not true!" I say angrily for Alex 
                          
"Ooh, if the shoe fits, wear it. If New York's in debt—Why should Virginia bear it? Uh! Our debts are paid, I'm afraid, don't tax the South 'cause we got it made in the shade.  In Virginia, we plant seeds in the ground.  We create. You just wanna move our money around.  This financial plan is an outrageous demand, and it's too many damn pages for any man to understand.  Stand with me in the land of the free, and pray to God we never see Hamilton's candidacy.  Look, when Britain taxed our tea, we got frisky, imagine what gon' happen when you try to tax our whisky."
                          
Jefferson fakes himself dropping a microphone sand fist bumps Madison.
                          
Alex hands me his notes just in case he gets too aggressive and fast in ASL.
                          
Thomas. That was a real nice declaration. Welcome to the present, we're running a real nation. Would you like to join us, or stay mellow doin' whatever the hell it is you do in Monticello?  If we assume the debts, the union gets a new line of credit, a financial diuretic.  How do you not get it? If we're aggressive and competitive the union gets a boost. You'd rather give it a sedative?  A civics lesson from a slaver. Hey neighbor, your debts are paid 'cause you don't pay for labor "We plant seeds in the South. We create." 
                          
I hold up air quotes when he signs this part. 
                          
Yeah, keep ranting. we know who's really doing the planting.  And another thing, Mr. Age of Enlightenment, don't lecture me about the war, you didn't fight in it.  You think I'm frightened of you, man?  We almost died in the trench while you were off getting high with the French.  Thomas Jefferson, always hesitant with the President, Reticent—there isn't a plan he doesn't jettison.  Madison, you're mad as a hatter, son, take your medicine.  Damn, you're in worse shape than the national debt is in.  Sittin' there useless as two shits.  Hey, turn around, bend over, I'll show you where my shoe fits.
                          
Alex mouths the word 'boom' and curves and swings his arms because he just roasted the crap out of Thomas.  We high-five each other, knowing we won this.
                          
"Oh you little immigrant," Jefferson spits, "you deserve this." Is all Jefferson says before he punches Alex, square in the face.