two more chapters...

Having a guy's night in was probably the best thing ever. Laf made burgers that were amazing. Alex was still underage to drink, so we didn't have any alcohol, just about a twelve pack of soda. I didn't mind. I'm sure that I wasn't supposed to be drinking yet anyway. But, I could tell it was something Alex really needed after all he's been having to deal with. I saw Alex's phone buzzing on the counter and handed it to him. The number was unregistered. Alex said it was the law firm, and we all silenced ourselves as he answered.

"Hello?.. This is him... Yes, sir... Well, thank you, sir... Yes, sir... Wednesday morning, sir?... Yes... Thank you so much, sir... Have a good evening."

Alex hung up and looked at us. "I got the job!" he said excitedly. I ran up to him and practically leapt into his arms. He gave me a tight hug.

"I told you!" I said teasingly. I grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him down into a kiss, definitely catching him off guard. Alex was at least four inches taller than me, so when I pulled him down, I really had to pull him down. He didn't seem to mind all that much anyway as he was awkwardly hunched over to match my height. Hercules wolf whistled at my sudden burst of confidence. I pulled back and laughed, embarrassed. "I knew you'd get it. I'm proud of you, Alex." He smiled and the four of us mushed together into a huge group hug.

"Today is very possibly the best day of my life," Alex said happily. He nestled his face into my neck and snuck his arms around my hips. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too."

"Get a room," Hercules bantered as Alex pulled me into a soft kiss. I laughed and so did Alex, but neither of us pulled back. Laf threw a pillow at us and so we sat back down on the couch, his arms around me and my head on his chest.

After a couple more hours of just hanging out, Hercules left and Laf went to bed, leaving Alex and I alone on the couch. Leaving Alex and I alone making out on the couch. Alex kept his arms around my waist as I wrapped my arms around his neck and ran my fingers through the ends of his hair. He pulled back and smiled at me, playing with a couple of my curls.

"You're so handsome John," he whispered. I blushed and thanked him. We went to our bedroom and he changed into his pjs but I still didn't know if I wanted him to see my scars, even though they were fading. "You can trust me John, but if you want me to leave, I'll wait outside." I shook my head 'no' and took a deep breath as I began to change into my usual t-shirt and sweatpants. Alex just smiled at me. "You really are so handsome John, I wish you'd sleep without a shirt, just once."

I laughed. "I don't need Lafayette to get any ideas," I chuckled. "But I guess it wouldn't hurt. I guess I could sleep shirtless this once and see how it goes." I slowly started to take my shirt off again and went to put it back in the drawer. I looked at myself in the mirror. I am John Laurens. I smiled and climbed into bed next to Alex. He smiled and kissed my forehead. We said our good nights and fell asleep.

-

For once, I woke up before Alex. He was sprawled out on the mattress. His lanky limbs covering basically the whole bed. One of his arms still habitually wrapped around me. I got off the bed as slowly and quietly as I could, but Alex was a light sleeper. He sat up slowly and moved over towards me, resting his head on my shoulder.

"Good morning, Johnny," he yawned, pressing a small kiss to my bare shoulder. I had forgotten I hadn't slept with a shirt on. "You look as handsome as ever," he smirked. I just laughed a bit. "I'm serious," he said, his morning voice was rough and warm and I loved it. I just patted his cheek and chuckled.

"Thank you Alex," I said.

"I'm being honest John," he said sweetly. "I think you are the most handsome man I've met."

"Yeah, but how many guys have you met?" I teased.

"A lot. And let me tell you something. Caribbean boys are something else but none of them could stand a chance against you."

I blushed. "Alex..."

"Usted es impresionante," he winked. I blushed even harder. I know he meant well. I couldn't stop smiling.

"Idiota," I said, pulling him into a kiss.

"You're not complaining," he whispered.

God he really is an idiot. But he's my idiot, so it was okay. I kissed him and stood up, rocked back a bit as his limbs slide off my body. I pulled a shirt on and stepped out. Lafayette was at work. I could tell because there was a sticky note left on the fridge. I really felt bad for Laf working such long hours. I really needed to start applying for jobs. I was just really nervous about going back out there. I wasn't actually supposed to do anything for a couple more weeks.

"John," Alex said, bringing me out of my thoughts.

"Sorry, must've zoned out."

"Are you feeling alright?" I just nodded and proceeded to reach up for the cereal box and bowls before Alex stopped me and got them himself. "John, hey, what's the matter, hm? Was it something I did, something I said, some-"

"I'm really fine Alexander. I just feel bad is all."

"Do you want some painkillers or-"

"No, I mean... Laf has a job and he's always working. You're going to be working a lot soon. But I'm just... I-I don't know."

Alex brushed back my hair and kissed my forehead. "You're fine John. Honestly. You don't need to be worrying about this. Just get your rest. Eat your cereal. We're going to put together our room remember?" he said lightly. He was trying to get me to smile and while what he was saying only got a small side smile out of me, he ended up making a face to make sure I was smiling. How could I be so lucky?

"Okay Alex. You're right, you're right." I kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

Alex smiled and kissed me briefly before pouring the cereal in our bowls. "I get to spend all day with you," he said, "I'm so lucky." I blushed. He was so smooth when it came to flirting with me and I so wish that I could be the same way.

"So smooth," I mumbled, laughing a bit. "Are you ready to start organizing our room?" I asked. Alex nodded excitedly. We worked nearly all day. Nearly. Not really. We unpacked all his three boxes and got everything out of his car. Everything was just on the floor in a messy pile when Alex started letting his hands roam all over my sides and back and kissing me. I wrapped my right arm around his neck and slipped my left one up his shirt. I kissed him back, obviously. He had me pinned under his weight against my mattress. His arms were securely wrapped around my waist and I managed to knot my fingers at the end of his hair. I pulled back ever so slowly. "Maybe we can get back to cleaning and see where this will go?" I said softly, rubbing my nose against his. He smirked and nodded.

"Anything for you, babe."

So I kissed him one last time and we continued putting everything away. We ended up reorganizing all of my things too. We put all of my clothes on one half of the dresser and his clothes in the other. Alex didn't have much and it made my heart ache, so I let him steal a few items of mine. He tucked all his shoes away in the corner of the closet and symmetrically had mine opposite of his. I put all his hygienic stuff in the bathroom and we worked quickly to get back to where we were. Alex's things were finally put away with the final touch of his laptop set right next to mine on the desk. Alex resumed tickling at my sides and lead me back to the bed.

I laid back and he towered over me. "I love you," he whispered, kissing me softly. He fell beside me and eventually we were just making out shirtless on my bed. Alex's arm around my waist and in my hair. My hand resting on his chest and the other softly cupping his cheek. Alex rolled over onto his back, and pulled me with him. I rested my head right next to his.

"I love you," I whispered, kissing his temple. Alex kept his arms around me.

"I really am so lucky to have you," Alex smiled, twisting a curl of mine around his fingers. I blushed.  Alex chuckled at my embarrassment. "I'm serious, you know."

"I'm sorry," I whispered. He looked concerned and put a secure hand on my shoulder as I sat up. I looked up at him and I could feel tears swell in my eyes. He looked so heartbroken and pulled me into a tight hug. I sniffles and hiccuped as he asked me why I was so upset. "I-I just... I-I-I-I-I... No one's ever t-talked to me like-like you do." Alex let a smile crack on his face and kissed me. He pulled back and wiped my eyes.

"John, I mean every word I say. I do. I love you so much and you're amazing. I love the way you laugh and the way you curl up when you're sleeping a-and the curls in your hair. The way your eyes light up when you talk about something you like. I love the way you look, from your super curly hair to your toes. You are so incredible. I love your personality and the fact that you can speak so many languages so smoothly. God, John Laurens, I am so fucking in love with you and I would not have it any other way. You fit so perfectly in my arms and you're like this piece I was missing my whole life without ever realizing it. I love you John, and I want you to be happy.

You deserve every bit of happiness you feel, and you are just this absolute ray of sunshine that I never want to fade away. Never fade away John. I love you." And he pulled me into a soft kiss, his hands gentle on my hips and my hands resting on his forearms.

"I love you Alexander," I whispered. He cracked a small side smile and rubbed his nose with mine. I could feel his breath warming up my face. I stared at him with tears in my eyes. He slowly pulled back a bit and wiped my eyes ever so gently with this shirtsleeve.

"I love you too." His voice was soft and warm and crisp. It was unbelievably soothing. "C'mere. It's going to be okay Johnny. I really do love you." He continued to wipe my eyes as he sat up and tugged me closer to him he could hold onto me. I felt tears welling up again.

"Alex, can you get my jacket?" I asked softly.

"Of course. Anything else?"

I shook my head 'no' but that didn't change much. Alex went to the kitchen and brought back some snacks he managed to find, including a half eaten pint of ice cream. He put my jacket over me and I slipped my arms into the sleeves. He took out his laptop and opened up Netflix, putting on 'Bob's Burgers' once again. Alex came back and let me use him as a pillow again. We shared the ice cream and the other foods that he brought into my bedroom and just laid there in a content silence. The sound the show was all you could here. But it was okay. I kissed his chin and he kissed the top of my head. Alex was right. Caribbean boys really are something else.

-

After watching literally every episode of 'Bob's Burgers', we watched a couple more touchy-feely movies that Alex had fallen asleep halfway through. Since reorganizing our room was all we had planned for today, we were just laying around. We had eaten a decent amount of snacks and Alex refused to let me get up to do anything for him or myself.

Alex was still asleep so I decided to sneak off and make him something that wasn't junk food that'd been sitting in a pantry for God knows how long. I made some grilled cheese sandwiches and stuck them in the microwave to be ready when Alex woke up, which wasn't long after. I'm guessing he sensed that I wasn't in the bed anymore.

"Hey, what're you doing?" he asked. His voice was rough and you could tell he was asleep.

"I thought you might be hungry," I said, putting the sandwiches on a plate and placed it in front of him. As if on cue, his stomach growled slightly. He chuckled and sat down at the table. I sat next to him. He sighed.

"Thank you John, really. You're so sweet."

"What's wrong?"

"I'm worried about you."

"Why?"

"John, we start school again in a couple days. I have to go to work tomorrow. You're going to be alone, and I don't want you to be alone."

"Alex I-"

"No. I'm worried about you being on your own. I know you're independent and you can handle yourself, but what if you can't-"

"You don't think I can handle myself?"

"No, babe, no that's not what I'm say-"

"Then what are you saying?"

"I'm scared someone might take advantage of you!"

"It's never happened before."

"What about George?"

I twisted at the memory. "You said yourself, George is a douche," I said, my voice quieter.

"He is. But there are other people just like him. I just want you to be safe John, is that too much to ask?"

"Alexander, I've been alone all my life. I can handle people like him. Okay?!"

Alex looked at me with sadness and hurt in his eyes. I shouldn't have yelled at him. Why did I yell at him? "Will you just listen to me? I want you to stay safe."

"I can stay safe on my own!"

"John," he started, softer this time, "Listen, please. I know you can stay safe on your own and you can protect yourself and you can handle yourself. I know that you're perfectly capable of that. It's just that... Things happen. All the time, you know? Sometimes things out of your control happen and I just want you stay out of harm's way. Can you just promise me that while you're on your own you won't do anything you might regret?"

I felt all the anger leave my body when I realized how worried Alex actually was. I never thought anybody would actually care this much about my safety. And it hit me that since the whole George thing, I haven't been out by myself. I've only been with Alex if I ever left the apartment.

"I-I promise," I said shyly. "A-Alex, I-I-I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to yell o-or get upset with you... I just... I-I don't know what came over me. I'm stupid," I said. Alex pulled me into a hug.

"You're not stupid John. I should've just started with that sentence. I just... I'm sorry." He gave me another hug and I took his hand in mine. He smiled sweetly and I smiled back. "Te adoro." I kissed his cheek and then got up so I could wash the dishes.

Alex sat in silence eating his food. I felt so awkward. God, I yelled at him. I felt terrible. Alex came up from behind me and wrapped his arm around my waist and rested his head on top of mine. "Are you okay?" I asked quietly.

"I'm fine," he said calmly, "Are you?"

I nodded. "I am now," I said. He kissed the top of my head.

[long chapter i know but the rest of these will be. thanks for the reads and thanks for 3k aaaaaaaaaah - k i t]