Peggy pov~

I watched Maria leave, pretty upset. She left. That's enough of a reason to be upset, is it not? I feel like it is.

I really like Maria. Like, a lot. But seeing the amount of drama Alex and John caused, I'm keeping my feelings to myself. Also, Maria hasn't opened up about her sexuality yet, she says she's straight. Maria doesn't give off a straight vibe, but I don't want to ask her out until she knows what she wants.

I sighed and leaned back on my heels, tugging at the straps of my backpack. I felt my sister nudge me in the ribs and I whipped my head around to face her. Angelica's face was scrunched up with contained laughter and I prodded her.

"You like her." My sister said through her laughter.

"I do not!" I protested.

Angie raised an eyebrow and I felt my cheeks heat up.

"Dad would be fine with it you know." Angelica smirked. "You came out to him and he was totally accepting, and I talked to him about the 'a human and a werewolf can't date' thing. He said it wa stupid."

I shoved her forcefully, but, being a considerable amount shorter, it did nothing to her stance and she laughed. I crossed my arms and hugged, blowing a stand of hair away from my face.

"Aww, c'mon Pegs, I'm just teasing." Angie smiled and I shot her a look but a small grin made its way onto my lips.

"Please don't tell." I hissed, deciding there was no way to deny my feelings for Maria to my sister.

"My sweet, sweet little sister." She shook her head lovingly. "Everyone's noticed by now."

"What? No."

"Yup. I've talked to Alex, he can sense it, and I'm pretty sure John has his theories." She patted my shoulder.

I groaned and Angie laughed.

"Well, anyways." I clapped my hands and fumbled for another thing to talk about. I failed.

We walked home in silence.

—~•~—

I waited at our table. Maria and my sisters were with me, but there was no sign of Alex it John.

"Anyone have a clue where they are?" I asked again.

"Still no, Peggy." Eliza sighed.

"I saw Martha and Lafayette today, so it's not family stuff." Maria contributed.

Suddenly someone sat down next to me and I whipped my head around, smiling as I recognized John Laurens.

"Hey!" Angie welcomes him. "Where were you?"

"Sorry about that. Mary was sick." He shrugged. "I had to take her to the doctor."

"Do you know where Alex is?" I asked.

"He's not here?"

"None of is have seen him since yesterday." Maria explained. "We assumed he was with you."

"He was. Then he went home..." John furrowed his brow.

"Oh well." Eliza shrugged with a smile. "Who volunteers to ask Lafayette?"

"I would, but he kinda hates my guts." John frowned.

"I can ask. Werewolf to werewolf." Maria offered. "And if he's to annoying, I'll punch him in the teeth."

"Cool, see ya later." I smiled. Maria grinned at me and walked over to where Lafayette and Hercules were sitting.

I watched her gorgeous lips move, but I couldn't hear what she was saying, so I had to guess. I saw her nod and force a smile. She turned back to us.

"Alex wasn't feeling good." She explained.

"We believe him?" Angie raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Alex didn't go into the moonlight on the full moon, and the night after was on damah. That's no good for a werewolf's body, it screws our system up. The nights following the full moon are also pretty painful if you don't shift, plus the after affects of damah, it makes sense that he wouldn't feel good." She explained.

I stared at the beautiful werewolf and smiled. I knew I was staring, and hoped she wouldn't notice, because I couldn't seem to stop looking at her. Her kind brown eyes and plump red lips, paired with her soft features and smooth skin, she was beautiful. Maria's curly brown hair just made me want to run a hand through it, to be able to braid her hair casually without being teased. I noticed that she'd painted her nails the same blood red as her dress and lipstick, and I wanted to take her hand and never let go until she accepted that I loved her. But I couldn't and wouldn't.

"Pegs?" Eliza's voice cig into my thoughts and I focused again, looking at my older sister.

"Yeah?"

"No it's nothing you just seemed distracted."

"Oh, I was just thinking."

"Thinking about Maria perhaps?" Angie raised an eyebrow and I blushed.

"N-no." I buried my face in my hands.

"Really?" John smirked. "Cause that's what it seemed like."

"Aww does Peggy have a cwush?" Eliza teased a baby voice.

"No!" I protested.

"Y'all, stop." Maria wrapped an arm around me. "I'm sure she was just thinking, leave her be."

Everyone sighed and I peaked out through my fingers, lifting my red face from my palms.

"Could you text Alex?" Eliza asked after a second.

"Maybe..." John pulled out his phone.

Me: Hey Lex?

We waited for a few minutes but he never even read the message.

"Apparently we can't text him." John shrugged.

—~•~—

a / n: Finally published! Sorry it took so long, I honestly have no excuse, but here you go.

Love,
        StariiStarlings