Lafayette's POV

"Bonjour à toute la classe."

"Bonjour, Mademe Monet."

The teacher nods at the entire class. "Good job, that gets better everyday." 

I sigh and look around the classroom. I was the only one fluent in French in this class since I started it, so it was pretty obvious that I was Mrs. Monet's favorite. I only really took this class for an easy A.

"Alright, class. Today, we're going to work on having conversations with people. So I want everyone to get into groups of two and practice having a conversation in French. You can use a translator if you have to, but try not to if you can." 

We all nod and everyone starts walking to get into groups with different people when suddenly, Peggy sits next to me. 

"What's up, French man. We're partners now." She says in a very demanding tone. 

"Ah, in French Ms. Schuyler." Mrs. Monet corrects and Peggy rolls her eyes. The teacher goes around to a different part of the classroom and Peggy looks back at me. 

"Écoute, je suis nul en français. Mais je vais quand même essayer ça." She starts. (Listen, I suck at French. But I'm going to try this anyway.)

I raise an eyebrow at her. "D'accord, essayez, mademoiselle Schuyler." (Okay, try away, miss Schuyler.)

She stares at me. "I, don't know what that means but I'm going to continue anyway. Uh," She stares at the translator on her phone. "Écoute, John et moi devons te parler après l'école. C'est important et je vous promets que vous voulez entendre ce qu'il a à dire." (Listen, John and I need to talk to you after school. It's important, and I promise you want to hear what he has to say.)

I simply shake my head. "You pronounced it wrong. It should be parler après l'école, not a-press lay-cole." I roll my eyes. 

"Shut the fuck up, I'm terrible at French, this isn't new. You still understood what I said." She frowns at me. 

"In French, s'il vous plaît." I smirk at her. She glares at me. 

"Va te faire foutre." She mumbles. 

"Miss Schuyler! I do not teach the beautiful French language so you can say phrases like that!" Mrs. Monet gasps. I chuckle slightly and Peggy sighs. 

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Monet. It won't happen again." She says stubbornly before turning back to me. "S'il vous plaît, vous devez le faire. Pour Alexander." (Please, you have to do this. For Alexander.)

I sigh. "Bien. Je te retrouve derrière l'école à trois heures. Au revoir, mademoiselle Schuyler." (Fine, I'll meet you behind the school at three. Goodbye, miss Schuyler.)

"I don't know what that means, but I know behind the school and three. I'll see you then." She smiles widely and waves at me. "Au revoir, monsieur Lafayette." 

She walks back to her seat and I shake my head. I'm not sure what they were trying to pull, but she seemed desperate, so I might as well see what they can come up with at least.

Timeskip brought to you by Demi Lovato just being inspiring.

"Okay, I'm here. What could be so important that you have to tell me?" I ask, raising an eyebrow at the two standing in front of me.

Personally, I was hoping there was some misunderstanding. Alex deserves to be happy, and I was really hoping he would end up with Laurens after everything that happened between them. Well, everything before the whole fiasco at the Halloween party. 

"Okay, first, I want to know what Alex told you happened... He didn't quite seem to understand what I was saying at that party..." John says, frowning.

I raise an eyebrow and lean against the wall. "He told me that you two were talking for quite a bit and then you told him you weren't supposed to be with guys. Like a natural homophobe would."

I see him cringe and look at Peggy. Peggy nods and John looks back at me. "I...I did say that, but not in that context. I got really nervous and-"

"What other context could you have said it in? And don't try and trick me, I'm pretty good at seeing through lies." I warn him.

He nods. "This ain't a trick. I'm not homophobic, I said that because.." He pauses and sighs. Kinda suspicious, but I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. "Because my dad is."

I think about it a moment. He claims his dad is homophobic. That would actually explain a lot. Herc and I always knew he wasn't straight, just terrified to come out. If his own dad was that way, that would explain why.

It would also explain the comment, because family has a big impact on kids. But, that's only if this is even true.

"Your dad?" I ask.

He nods slowly. "He..I... Peggy's the only one who knows, but he's not exactly Dad of the Year. He's awful, and would kill me if I were to date a guy.."

"So you asking Alex on a date yesterday was your solution?" I ask.

"Yes! I mean, no-" He groans. "I was trying to get him to talk to me. He thinks this is some sick joke, but I would never do that to him. I mean, I know I haven't exactly been nice to him all of high school, but I've changed. I just, needed him to see my side of the story, but he wouldn't even look at me."

I nod slowly. "And that's why you wanted to talk to me. You want me to get Alex to talk to you?"

He smiles nervously. "Yeah, I was kind of hoping if I could get through to you, you could get through to him."

I cross my arms and look at Peggy. "And why are you so interested in helping? You and your sisters haven't stopped bullying Alex once."

Peggy places her hands on her hips. "I have not touched the ba- Alex- since John told me he liked him. My sisters don't know, though. And, if it concerns you so much, John is my best friend, of course I want to help him."

I sigh and John looks up at me. "So...Will you talk to him? Please?"

I raise an eyebrow and then stop leaning on the wall. "I'll talk to him, but don't expect much. He's super mad at you."

He nods quickly and I start to walk away, but stop myself and turn around. "Just, one more question, Laurens." 

He tilts his head. "Yeah, anything."

"Do you actually like Alex?" I ask, studying his face for a response. His reaction to that question would say a lot. 

He blushes gently and smiles as he nods. "Yeah..Yeah I do.."

I nod and then repeat, "I'll talk to him." 

He thanks me and I walk away, not sure how I feel. There are just so many possibilities.

He could be lying. And then I tell Alex and set him up to be made fun of.

But he could be telling the truth. And Alex could either talk with John and thank me, or get mad at me for talking with John.

I really hope it's the option that doesn't end our friendship.

1214 Words

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