Option Two: Wake Alex up and Three: Do it again(I’m sorry)

I sit there, shaking my head. How could I possibly sleep with him? He was drunk, he has a wife and kids.. It would be terrible to not wake him up. 

I shake him gently and he stirs and mumbles something inaudibly. I shake him again and he slowly opens his eyes, looking up at me. 

“Good morning, Laurens.” He mumbles, closing his eyes again. I roll my eyes and he then opens his suddenly, eyes wide open. He looks down at us and then back up at me, blushing madly. “Oh shit..”

“Yeah..” I nod at him, blushing a little as well. “How much of last night do you remember?” 

He rubs his forehead, sighing softly. “Um, hold on, let me have a cup of coffee first.. And some tylenol if you don’t mind.”

“Oh, right, just wake up in my bed and start asking for stuff.” I sigh, getting up out of bed. I blush and quickly grab my boxers, which were on the floor, and throw them on, and I hear Alex chuckle slightly.

I frown and turn. "What's so funny?" I ask. 

"I've just.. I've always wondered if your freckles were everywhere." He says, smirking at me. "Now I know, they are."

I blush madly and groan. "Yeah, they're like a disease, now shut up and get dressed, I'm going to make us coffee." I throw a hoodie on and exit the room, desperate to get away from the awkwardness. 

It didn't work, however, because it seemed to loom over me like a rain cloud. There was just no escaping it. 

I sigh and make us coffee, and Alexander comes in, fully clothed. His hair was still messy, but I'm sure that was the least of his worries right now. 

I hand him the coffee and some tylenol and he thanks me, takes it, and then looks at me, a look of remorse in his eyes. "John Laurens, I am so sorry.."

I sigh. "What do you remember from last night?"

He hops up on the counter and shrugs. "Um, I remember Eliza and I fighting at home. We were arguing about how we’re going to continue from this, and I walked out on her..”

“Again?” I ask, giving him a stern look. He looks up at me and then hangs his head low, shaking his head. 

“I’m sorry, I know it’s bad. I have a problem, I just couldn’t stay there any longer.” He mumbles. 

“So you go out drinking?” I ask. “Alexander, you have children, you can’t just do whatever you feel like doing because you’re upset.” 

“You don’t think I know that?”

“No, I don’t, because you did the same thing that almost got you killed.” 

He goes silent, and I just stare at him. This was not the same man I knew so long ago. He never would have just left Elizabeth in the middle of a fight. The old Alex always resolved problems, always made sure everything had a proper end to it. 

After around two minutes of just silence, I sigh and ask, “What else do you remember from last night?”

He looks up at me and then nods. “Um, I went to the bar.. After that, it’s pretty fuzzy, up until I was sitting in your bathroom anyway. I remember stumbling out, having a conversation, though I don’t remember what we said exactly. Then I remember kissing you, and I remember.. The deed..” He says slowly. “And then I woke up next to you.” 

I look to the side, biting the inside of my cheek. “We can’t tell anyone about this.”

“What did you think I was going to do, go home and boast to my wife about our affair?” 

“I don’t know, but I wouldn’t put it past you!” I say, freaking out. “I mean, she told you about Maria, it wouldn’t surprise me if you told her about us.” 

He stares up at me, shaking his head. "Have you really lost faith in me, John? You really think I'm some terrible guy now?"

"I don't think you're a terrible guy, but yeah, I have lost faith in you." I say angrily. "These past few months have been you dragging us all along on your weird life crisis, and I'm sick of it! I don't even know who you are anymore!"

He raises an eyebrow. "I'm the same person I've always been, John. What's changed you? Hm? You used to be so understanding, so chill about everything, and now you're here getting angry at me for no reason-"

"No reason? I have plenty reason!" I frown. "And what changed me? Your death did, Alexander."

He rolls his eyes. "We both are completely aware I didn't actually die by now."

"Yes, I know that. But it's still devastating to see your best friend die right in front of you. It's traumatizing to watch your high school crush come back from the dead. And it's even worse to watch the man you love go back and forth between you and his wife, all because he doesn't know what he wants." 

He just stares at me, a look of shock on his face. I didn't mean to let all of that slip out, but it was too late to take anything back now. Everyone already knew anyway, there was no point in hiding it anymore. 

I don't know what I was feeling in the moment. I was definitely angry, definitely hurt and sad, but it also felt good to say all that. To finally get it out in the open. 

When he doesn't say anything, I take a deep breath and shake my head. I chuckle out of disbelief. "So yeah, I'm sorry if that experience has changed me from that chill person a little bit. But you cannot tell me you haven't changed."

He nods slowly. "John I… I don't know what to say.. I'd apologize, but I don't think that could make up for any of that.."

I roll my eyes. "I don't want to hear an apology, not from you."

He nods again, looking down at the table. "Since high school?" He asks quietly. 

I raise an eyebrow. "What do you mean since high school?"

"That's how long you've loved me?" 

I blush at the question. Now was not the time for mushy love stuff, I was angry at him. At least I should be, right?

I just shake my head. "Nevermind about that, you have a family to get to." I mumble, standing up and walking to the front door.

He follows me in a hurry. "No, wait, answer my question." He insists. 

I open the door and he looks outside and then back at me, crossing his arms. "I'm not leaving till you tell me."

"What does it matter anyway? Like I said, you have a family to take care of, a wife to love. Whatever this is between us, needs to stop." I state, gesturing out the door. 

He bites his lip and looks outside again. "Maybe it matters, because maybe the feelings are reciprocated. Maybe it matters because I don't want whatever is between us to stop, I want to figure it out."

"Figure it out?" I ask. "No, Alex, what you need to figure out is your relationship with Elizabeth, not me. You cannot be thinking of loving me when you're still married to her." I pause. "You can't give me that false hope."

He looks up at me and takes a step closer to me, closing the door gently. Well, it didn't close all the way, but I didn't really mind at the moment. 

"I don't love Elizabeth. I will never love her the way I love you, John." He says, sounding sincere. 

"Then why? Why would you marry her?" I ask.

"I was forced to, because of Philip. I had no choice and at the time, I thought I did love her." He sighs. "And who knows, maybe I did. But John Laurens, I've loved you since I've met you."

I stare down at him, my heart skipping a beat. There was a tiny part telling me to say no, to tell him to go home and speak with Elizabeth before we do anything drastic. 

But apparently I just suck at making good decisions. 

I don't quite remember much of what happened, I just remember us in my bed, being stopped by a knocking. 

Alexander gasps and pats my chest, making me stop. I look at him curiously and then I hear,

"Ooh, does John Laurens have someone over?" Elizabeth teases. 

I look at Alex with wide eyes and he mumbles, "Fuck."

Option One: Hide him under the bed.
Option Two: Hide him in the closet. 

Place your votes here ☞☞

1465 Words