"What are you doing here." I ask, though it was more of a statement than a question.

"Alex... Can we talk?" The freckled man asks shyly from behind the door.

I bite the inside of my cheek. "I don't have anything to say to you-"

"Then just listen, please.." John begs. He looked tired, and to be honest like a mess.

I hesitate but eventually look at Peggy. She nods. "Alright, I will be out of your hair, probably go to get food or something, don't even worry about me, you two talk it through." She grabs her wallet, keys, and phone, and then nods at me. "Call me when you're done."

She walks out of the apartment and John comes in, closing the door behind him. "Hi.."

"Hey.." I nod, keeping my distance from him as I shove my hands in my pockets.

He sighs and jumps right in. "Look, I know what I did was bad. I should not have slept with Carrie. I don't even know why I thought it would be okay to do, but the point is I did. And in doing that, I hurt you, which I am one hundred percent not okay with." He starts.

I stare at him. I debate conversing with him, but decide to just let him do all the talking instead.

"You are the only person I have ever wanted to be with. I've done a terrible job at showing that, but it's true. I love you Alex, I have since high school, and I always will." He nods slowly. "And, I understand, if you completely hate my guts. I can't blame you if you don't want to get back together. But these past couple weeks without you, have been absolute hell."

I start tapping my foot. Not impatiently, but anxiously. I knew it was going to be my turn to talk soon, and I still had no idea what I wanted to say to him. What I wanted to become of us. Maybe a break was destined for us?

"If you want me to stop talking to Carrie, done. I already haven't spoken to her since you kicked me out. If you wanted me to drop out of art school to be with you, I would. If you wanted me to run for president or do anything crazy and absurd like that, I would do it, for you." John says, staying absolutely still, as if he were petrified. "I'm just so, so sorry. I never should have done any of that to you."

There was a long, awkward moment of silence. He was so sincere, so vulnerable. I don't know if I've ever seen him quite like this before.

"You can't drop out of art school." I mumble, swaying slightly. He nods and I sigh, looking to the side. "And you very well couldn't run for president."

He chuckles softly, still seeming a bit nervous. "But if that's what it took to get this relationship back on track? I would do it."

I look at John. "You hurt me. I've never been the type to let stuff go so easily." I pull my hands out of my pockets and start fidgeting with my sleeve, cuffing it, sliding it down, pulling at it, uncuffing it. "And who's to say we won't just fight again over something new? Maybe we were meant to break it off eventually. Should we take that risk?"

"Yes." John says instantly. "I think we should take that risk. Look at how far we have come-"

"But maybe we've gone too far. Maybe we're in over our heads." I interrupt. "I don't want us to get back together just to fall apart again."

He takes a step closer, but that's the most movement he does. "I will do better. I will do everything I can to be the man you want." He says, sounding out of breath. "Just please.. Give me one last chance."

I bite my lip. "I wouldn't feel comfortable with you talking to Carrie." I warn him. "I mean like, in school it's hard to avoid, but out of school? I wouldn't like it, and I won't want to put up with it again."

"That's fine. I understand why. I promise I won't talk to her unless I have to in class. No more hanging out all the time, no more calling. I promise." He nods.

I pause. "You're sure? Because I mean it, I won't tolerate that and if I find out-"

"I'm one hundred and ten percent sure." He says. "I love you. Carrie means nothing to me, so if you want me to cut her out of my life, you have good reason to, and I will do it."

I sigh softly. I feel like a bad guy. Or a toxic boyfriend. Telling him not to hang out with his friends.

But then again, I'm not telling him to ditch all his friends. Just the one who has been actively trying to break us up. I suppose it's not that bad.

I nod. "Okay.. We'll give it another go, then." I say. I feel a heavy weight being lifted off my chest as soon as I say that, and I sigh a breath of relief.

He smiles. "Wait, really?" He asks.

"Yes, really."

He takes a couple steps and then freezes. "Can I hug you?" He asks.

I take a deep breath and then nod, and he walks over, pulling me into an embrace. I hug him back, finally feeling somewhat better. Maybe this was the right thing after all. Maybe it is worth the risk.

I smile gently and pull away enough to pat him on the chest. "You should probably go get your stuff from the hotel room so you can move back in." I say.

He looks down at me. "You wanna come with? Help me bring it back?"

I shake my head. "I think you have it handled. I have to clean up a little here, I got used to not sharing a room again." I chuckle softly.

He nods. "Alright, I'll go do that. I'll pick Peggy up from wherever she is and then we can rent a movie or something."

"Alright, that sounds good." I say.

He holds my waist a little longer, looking like he was hesitating, before pulling away. "Cool, I'll see you soon, then."

"See you soon." I confirm, taking a couple steps back.

He goes to the door and opens it, and right before he leaves, I call out, "Hey, John."

He stops and turns towards me. "Yeah?"

I smile gently. "I love you, too."

He smiles and nods, closing the door behind him as he leaves. I sigh softly and look at my phone. Maybe this could work. 

1115 Words

Hey I wrote this in a day. Anyway I decided you guys probably actually needed some Lams between one of my two books right now, so here's an apology chapter for you guys. Hopefully I can get the next chapter out on Thursday