Alex's POV

-1 week later-

Once again, John and I were walking towards Literature Class. Our long, snowy break has ended yesterday and hell is coming up.

Dozens of orders of torture coming right up!

And I did not order them, of course.

"What were we talking about, again?" John yawned as he stretched his arms beside me.

"Uh..." I paused to think for a moment. "We were talking about Poetry now."

"Oh, right." He rubbed his eyes. "I forgot."

"Jesus, John." I stared at him. Not in a loving way or, anything similar. "What happened to you? You look like a wreck."

He chuckled. "Nothing. Just... Me and Sally catching up." He yawned once more.

"It's like we switched minds." I laughed. "You're sleep-deprived and I'm... less sleep-deprived?" I asked, causing us both to laugh. We continued our journey to

"Hello, John. Alex." Thomas waved and exited his Literature Class, as it already ended.

"Yo, Thomas." John laughed.

He walked pass us.

Not even a shove?

No words?

What the fuck?!

"Wha..." I stopped dead at my tracks as I see Thomas smiling, not smirking, and walking towards the exit.

"You okay, Lex?" John tapped my shoulder and asked.

"I'm perfectly fine." I took one last glance at Jefferson laughing with Madison, walking towards the park. "Is Thomas okay?" I frowned.

"He seems...normal." He shrugged and continued walking nonchalantly.

"Jefferson's acting a bit more..." I paused to think of a word that would suit him today. "Smiley."

"I guess..." He mumbled. We entered our classroom, preparing ourselves of the mountain of homeworks that would be thrown to us.

-some time later-

"What the heck happened to Thomas?" Peggy wondered out loud. She, Angelica, and I eyed Thomas across the room, who was grinning genuinely.

Everyone in Political Science was eying Thomas, except James Madison. He was seated beside said man, listening intently to whatever he was talking about. But there was something different this time about James. His eyes seemed to...have a new glint or spark of relief in there. I have a feeling it's due to Jefferson's behavior.

Everyone was whispering, as what Peggy and Angelica at my left are doing.

No one pays attention to Mr. Jay in front of the class.

No one.

"I don't know." I narrowed my eyes at him, only to get a small smile from James. I immediately retracted my gaze to my notes, which I find difficult to put a words at Science. "Hey, Angie, can I borrow your notes later?"

She looked at me and groaned. "Fine. But this is the last time Alex."

"How come you're so good at writing and debating but anything 'science-y' is your weakness?" Peggy asked.

"Science is extremely difficult." I said. "We're basically learning the whole universe."

"Basically." She rolled her eyes. "But you're right, this isn't fun at all. And why am I learning this when it wouldn't have a purpose in my life."

"Exactly!" I shrieked, too loud, unfortunately, making all eyes on me. I mumbled a quick sorry before the class returned into its previous state. "And Peggy, did you ever mention your course to me?"

"Oh..." She thought for a moment. "Funny, but uh, no. I'm studying Performing Arts with Maria. Ya know, singing, dancing, all that jazz."

"Oh, cool!" I smiled. My eyes fixed once again at Jefferson's floofy hair. He, Jefferson, looked back at me and weakly smiled.

The next thing that happened rather surprised me. Whenever Jefferson would roll his eyes, showing how annoyed he was, I would occasionally fire back, "What are you looking at Thomas? I'm sure you wouldn't find a brain there" which always gets him triggered.

Surprisingly, I was wrong.

You might be wondering what surprised me. It shook me.

He had a fucking brain.

Thomas signed, Meet me at the Starbucks off-campus 5pm. Bring your friends.

I reluctantly nodded my head, making the two sisters look at me what he said.

"You speak ASL?" Angelica arched a eyebrow at me.

"Well, yes. My mother-" I paused for a moment making sure that I could hold back tears "-taught me before since I was bored." I laughed.

"What did he say?" Peggy asked me.

"He said to meet him at the nearby Starbucks, off-campus later at 5. With the whole squad." I answered, receiving a nod from her.

"Alright I guess. I'm bringing my Nerf gun in case." She giggled.

"Peggy, I told you not to bring it." Her sister sighed.

- time skip because im lazy af-

We all cramped in Laf's car, which was a six-seater. So, us being 9, some of us had to sit on each other's Laf.

"So...I'll drive." Laf said. "Who's gunsho-"

"HERCULES MULLIGAN!" Herc shouted.

"Jesus, mon amour. Okay. Uh...Who easily gets car sick?" Laf asked.

Instantly, Aaron, Peggy, Maria, and Theodosia raised their hands.

"Alright. Peggy, you being the smallest, you sit on..." He paused before smirking. "Maria's lap."

"W-What?" Peggy blushed, desperately trying to hide it with her hoodie. "We're roughly the same height." John and I snickered.

"TWO INCHES!" Maria laughed, before realising what is yet to come.

I whispered to John beside me, "Ship name ideas?" I smirked.

John's POV-

Alex turned and whispered to me, "Ship name ideas?" He smirked.

In my mind, I was basically exploding.

"Oh you wouldn't believe how many ideas I have in mind." I mischievously grinned.

I started listing off some ideas. After listing around...I don't know, I lost count, I suggested, "Maggy?"

"No way!" He laughed.

"True. How about Meggy?"

"Definitely." He nodded and crossed his arms.

"Okay," Laf smiled. "That leaves Liza, Angie, Alex, and John." He walked over to Herc, who was already seated, and whispered something. He earned a nod and walked back, a smirk at his face.

oh no.

"Alex." He gestured to him. "being smallest, would have to sit on someone." He said, eying me.

In this moment, the thirst has really gotten me, so when Laf said that, I spit it at the parking lot floor. "Fuck-"

"LANGUAGE!" Theodosia yelled from the car, leaning on Aaron beside her. "GET ON EVERYONE!"

So we all boarded, and started our 5-minute journey to Starbucks.

-at Starbucks-

We all got down and entered the Starbucks. The familiar scent of coffee hit me, as Alex explores the shop, smelling the coffee beans.

"YO, GUYS WE'RE HERE!" Jefferson shouted from somewhere behind us, causing some of the customers and staff members to look at him, annoyed. "Sorry."

I turned around and see him and Madison seated at one of those couches. We make our way across the room to the 'couple'. Yes, he likes Madison. But he's so blind.

"Uhm, hi." He shyly smiled, as we choose our seats.

"Hello." Alex, beside me, snarled, crossing his arms.

"Hi." James squeaked, getting an apologetic look from Eliza. They were some good friends. They would've dated if James wasn't gay for Thomas.

"So?" Angelica asked, in a not-so-polite manner.

"I'm sorry?" He said. But due to his shyness and the awkward tension in the air, it quickly morphed into a question. James shoved him with his elbow and I shot him daggers.

"I'm sorry, okay?" He sighed. "Listen up, let me tell you a story."

"OOH! WHAT STORY?" Peggy, being one of the childish and carefree people in the group, smiled.

Alexander, the most childish now, is however not carefree, and chose to frown.

"A story about... Well, me." He nervously chuckled.

-some moments later after the explanation-

"So you're gay." Laf remarked. "Okay."

"Wow." Peggy said.

"Alright..." Maria said, uncertain.

"So what's happening right now?" Angelica said, also in a not-so-polite way.

"Y'all deserved an explanation." He sighed. "I know I don't deserve forgiveness but you at least have to know the truth."

"Yeah, I know." I nodded.

"So, you knew about this?!" Alex asked.

"Well... yeah. I forgave him maybe around 2 weeks ago?" I nervously scratched my nape.

"Wowww. And you didn't bother to tell us?" Herc asked.

"Well, yeah. Thomas agreed that he would have to tell you guys." I said.

"Are we in good terms?" James stammered.

"Yes, Jemmy." Eliza asked. "But, I'm not sure about Thomas."

"I only have one question, and then we could agree that we're on good terms." Peggy asked.

"Shoot." Thomas said.

"Do you still have that little crush on John? Cuz that is weird." She scrunched up her nose, making me snort.

"No." He nonchalantly replied.

"Okay. Good. Can't even believe that." She chuckled.

I noticed a gleam of joy and relief at Madison's expression. I sent him a quick wink which meant something like, "Jemmy's crushing!"

Of course, I did not say that.

But the same thing happened with Alex beside me.

Could it be?

No.

It's impossible.

He can't possibly like Thomas.

All the hope drained out of me, as I felt a wave of dread and a jealousy build up inside me...

Alex's POV-

I breathe out a sigh of relief, knowing Thomas couldn't possibly steal John away from me.

I look to see John, staring at his cup with a blank expression. I poked his side. "Earth to John! Earth to Joooohhhnnn!" I said, worried.

"Wha-? Oh, yeah, I'm here."He chuckled.

" Yeah. I guess this ends now. I didn't really expect you to for-" Thomas said but was cut off by Eliza hugging him.

Soon, all of us, one by one, joined i the hug.

Angelica, who was normaly not like this, sniffed and said, "We forgive you."

"I can't even believe you went through that shit-"Theo said but interrupted herself from the new word she said.

"Language!" I mocked her from earlier.

We let go of the the hug, but before I could sit down, Thomas grabbed my wrist and...

*suspense*

whispered to me, "I'm sorry." And then he added, "John's all yours, by the way."

--
Haha. Did I get ya?
Probably not.

Okay,
Till next time!