Maria's POV:

After Alexander ran out of the room without any sort of explanation, I didn't move from my place in his room until I felt my legs go numb. All I could think about was why he left, why I'm so attracted to him, why my stupid brain thought that this could be the perfect time to develop what seems to be a crush?

I could only hope that he wasn't dead in a ditch somewhere. Or worse, in the library.

Although I was mad at the kid, I didn't want to see James beat him up again, so I held up to my promise and texted him.

its-pronounced-mariah: James, can we talk?

I pull out two glasses and a half-full bottle of wine from the back of the fridge, pouring myself and Alex each a glass before hiding the bottle again.

its-pronounced-mariah: Please answer, I'm serious

jack_attack: fnlly come 2 ur senses nd want me back bby?

its-pronounced-mariah: Um, ew, no. We need to talk about that new guy, Hamilton.

jack_attack: can u meet smwhere? phones abt 2 die

its-pronounced-mariah: Fine, where?

jack-attack: coffee shop? ill get u a frappe or whatever girls like

its-pronounced-mariah: Choosing to ignore that last part, coffee shop sounds good.

jack-attack: 5 mins?

its-pronounced-mariah: Okay, see you then.

Standing up and sliding my phone into the pocket of my shorts, I place my now-empty wine glass into the sink.

I grab a sticky note from the counter and scrawl a note to Alex;

Alexander,

Out with James, going to tell him to stop messing with you. We need to talk when I get back, don't go anywhere else please.

-Maria

Placing the note next to the other glass, I grab my keys and head out of the door, locking it after me and heading to the elevator.

"Maria! Wait!!" I hear a male voice shout to me, but the elevator doors were already closing.

I step calmly out of the elevator and into the first floor, hoping that Hamilton doesn't follow me.

He doesn't.

-

Hammy Ham Ham POV:

She left. I came back - okay, admittedly after, like, four hours of wandering around and then a ten-minute car ride, but I came back and she left. What did I do? Was my excuse really that flimsy?

I walk into the apartment and immediately notice the note and glass of wine on the counter. Okay, she left me wine, she can't be that mad.

Alexander,

Out with James, going to tell him to stop messing with you. We need to talk when I get back, don't go anywhere, please.

-Maria

I smile at the fact that she'd upheld her promise even though she has every right to be flat-out pissed at me.

Maria is walking across the street when I look out the window. What remains of my self-control reminds me that I should let her live her life.

I instantly notice a boy wearing a tight white shirt and realize that it's John.

Instantly, all of the afore-mentioned self-control goes out the window as I open it to shout out to John, "Hey! Wait!"

Both Maria and John turn around. Oh gosh, she probably wanted me to follow her. Great, now she has even more reasons to be pissed at me.

I decide to ignore Maria and speak to John.

"Hi!! Wanna come up?"

John looks around and then nods.

"Room 810," I tell him.

Why did I do that? Now, when Maria gets back she'll get even madder because she can't talk to me. Well, she did only say that I couldn't go anywhere. Technically, John is coming here. I turn around, away from the window, and head towards the door to wait for John.

I hear two knocks on the wood so I pull the door open, greeting him with a wave.

"Hi, I was actually going to text you but I thought I remembered that this was your building so I came here instead of asking. Sorry. I don't really like partying, and they were all going to Aaron's..."

"It's fine, really. I was gonna call you..." I lie.

"Do you want to go somewhere? Or we could stay here? I don't really care. Wait, shoot, aren't you and your roommate doing something?"

"We can just stay here, my room is through the bathroom, this way," I decide to have him stay here, as Maria did say to not go anywhere.

I lead John to my bedroom and close the door behind us. Hopefully, when Maria gets back, she doesn't just barge right in. *

Oh, who am I kidding. Of course she will. I open my messages and text her.

a.ham: hey Maria I have a friend over so when you get back could you not bother us? Thanks.

I shut off my phone and throw it on my bed, hearing it vibrate way more times than the "okay" reply I was expecting. But, alas, I ignore it.

"So, what did you need?"

"Well, okay. So, as you know, I'm gay. Pretty much everyone knows... not really because I told them, but because I act like I'm pretty effing gay."

"Effing? Why don't you just say fucking?"

"I don't swear. Anyways, there's only like two other gay guys on campus, Madi and Jefferson, and they're dating each other. So, like, the only people I could like are girls, which, well, I don't, or I guess I could like Madi but Jefferson would hate me more than he already does, or I could like a straight boy. Which, is horrible but not as bad as liking a taken man or a girl. No offense."

"None taken. Um, okay. I'm not seeing a problem here..."

"Shush, let me finish. So, I let my mind decide who I was gonna like this year or month or however long I like him for, and it decides that I like someone who I just met, um, a few days ago, which is going to make my life a living hell because, like, I can't tell him. So, I guess my question is, how do I stop liking someone?"

"Well, okay. I'm not an expert on relationships, or, like, anything really, but I'll try to help. With me, whenever I like someone who I don't necessarily want to like, I'll try to not think about the person, and I'll try to distract myself with the person that I want to like. It doesn't always work though."

"So you just halt all thoughts about the person? Romantically?"

"Well for you, yeah."

"Why not you?"

"I don't really have crushes... The last one I had ended so horribly I decided to just not fall in love anymore."

"Oh. Okay. I'll think about, um, the Rock."

"Smart. He's hot." I state truthfully as we fall into a comfortable silence.

"Hey, would you possibly like to be my +1 to my cousins wedding? Just as friends," John asks randomly.

"Friends?"

"Yeah, unless you wanted to be more than that..." John says quickly, and then moves his hand to cover his mouth. His eyes go wide and he uncovers it just to say, "that slipped out, sorry!"

"John, it's fine. I'll come, when is it?" I giggle.

"Really? You'll go? Laf was busy and Herc refused because he would have to wear a suit."

"Yeah, of course I'll go. I'll even wear a suit, would this one work?" I say, getting up to walk to my closet, pulling out my funeral suit and look to John.

"Um, I'm not sure. Could you try it on real quick?"

"Sure," I unzip the clear bag it's hanging in and pull off my shirt and my pants. I put on the suit and tug on the jacket. It's all a bit tight but not too uncomfortable.

I look at John who seems to be staring at nothing. Then, and only then, do I realize that I just stripped down to my underwear in front of him.

"I, um, sorry. I forgot someone else was in the room." I say sheepishly

"It's quite alright," John says softly, "I like that suit on you."

"Thank you. I'll go, um, to the bathroom and, you know, change."

"No, no. It's fine, you can stay in here." John surprises me with his words.

I nod, turn around, and proceed to change quickly.

Once I'm done changing I go to sit by him, smiling.

"Okay, so when is this wedding?"