Thomas slung his arm around Alexander as they walked down the hall with James. Before the two them parted ways, Thomas ruffled Alex's hair, and smiled. "Thanks for the cake Darlin'. Bye!" He gave him a quick wink and waved goodbye, going the opposite direction. Alexander's looked back, clasping his hands together and blushing. "Oh! I'm confused about my feeeliiiings." James teased. "Shut up!" 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Time to think over everything I guess. 

Alexander sat down on his bed, curled up into a ball, his mind overflowing with multiple emotions. James leaving him to talk on the phone instead of helping him sort this out didn't make it any better. Nonetheless, he tried to untie the disastrous knot that was know as his feelings for Thomas Jefferson. He would start with the pros, and move onto the cons of him as a person.

                            ೋ❀❀ೋ═══ ❀ ═══ೋ❀❀ೋ   

                                                         ✧Pros✧

❏ He's kind and caring...

Alexander could barely breath once he got off the ride, swaying from side to side, nauseas. "Alex.." Thomas whispered, his throat and vocal cords throbbing and burning. Alexander ran to the nearest trash can and spilled, coughing up nearly everything he had eaten today. Thomas followed right behind him, using both hands to pull his hair back into a ponytail, pushing it all into the right hand, then using his left to gently rub his back. "Are you okay?" Thomas questioned softly. Alexander nodded, slowly getting up and sitting at the table conveniently placed next to them—placing his head down.

❏ He's a gentleman...

"That'll be $17.47 please." She placed her hand out with a large smile on her face. Alexander started to reach for his pocket but Thomas grabbed his wrist, making him pause. "Don't you dare." He gave the cashier a twenty dollar bill, and though Alex felt the need to protest, but the urge went away when he realized the money he was saving. "Thanks." Thomas just shrugged. "No problem." He stuffed the leftover change into his pocket and watched impatiently as his ice cream was being made. 

❏ He's a good comforter...

Alexander took one look at how high the were and curled up into a small ball in his seat, his heart pounding with fear. He could handle this height, as long as he know they were going back down to the ground safely. The uncertainty is was scared him. Thomas noticed his distressed nature and without a second thought, began attempting to comfort him the best way he knew how. Hugs. He wrapped his arms around the terrified teenager, embracing him tightly. Thomas wasn't verbally gifted, speaking wise, so this was his own way of comfort. Or, at least the way that worked the best. But this simple action spoke for itself, telling Alex that he was safe, for someone was right there with him, willing to stay. Fortunately, that was all he needed to hear, gradually dropping his shoulders and leaning into Thomas' embrace.

❏ He's a nice helper...

After a few tries, he finally gotten a good grasp on it, scooping up the sugar with one arm and the flour with the other. But his inverted right foot along with the uneven weight on his sides caused him to start falling backwards. Thomas, who was already watching him carefully, instinctively slid to the left and extended his right arm to catch him, wrapping it around his waist to make sure he didn't fall to the side. He would be lying if he said that it didn't hurt, but it was better than standing by and doing nothing. Alexander's anxiety spike—that was gradually falling now that he was out of harms way—caused him to drop the bags, the both of them fell down with a loud 'thump'. Alex stared at Thomas' concerned face, flustered and embarrassed. "Alexander? You okay?" Alex relaxed his shoulders and took a deep breath. "Yeah..thanks." Thomas gently pushed him back onto his feet. "You know, it's okay to ask for help sometimes." Alexander hummed, the both of them going for the bag of sugar. They looked up at each other and Thomas took the bag into his hands with a smile. "I got it.

❏ The way he makes me feel...

Thomas walked behind him. "I gotcha. This is the one thing I'm actually good at." He essentially wrapped his arms around Alex and placed his hands on top of his. "I help Peggy do this stuff when she was baking in middle school. But she got out of that years ago." Alexander became overwhelmed quickly, from not only the proximity but the special fluttery feeling that he still couldn't identify. It confused, scared, and intrigued him all at the same time. Alex felt so sheepish and clumsy, this behavior stumped him, why is he acting this way? He tried to take his mind of that. Thomas moved from behind and stepped beside him, waiting on Alexander to tell him what they were doing next. Alex sighed, missing that warm and sweet feeling, but moved along with the plan.

❏ The thoughts me makes me think...

He grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and pulled it over his head, throwing the fabric to the side; exhaling with exhaustion. Alexander blushed furiously and looked away, his hand covering his mouth, blinking repeatedly. Thomas noticed his overwhelming sheepishness and tilted his head, smiling. "Awe, don't be nervous Sugar, it's just me." He cupped the side of his face, forcing eye contact and essentially pulling their faces closer. "T-Thomas, we should be working-" Thomas shushed him. "Just enjoy it." Within seconds, their lips connected. I—who wanted this more than  I'd had come to realize—began to take control. Sitting myself on Thomas' lap, I wrapped both arms around his neck and grabbed fistfuls of Thomas' hair, closing any space previously between us. Thomas, curious to see where this would go, followed along and took the backseat, placing his hands on my waist. 

                      {Alexander stopped taking mental notes..}

"Okay, enough of that!" Alexander he shouted aloud, shutting the dream out of his thoughts, hating the fact that he had a photographic memory at the moment. Why did I have to remember that dream specifically?!  He took a deep breath and tried to continue with the detangling, only to be interrupted by James bursting into his room obnoxiously. "Whatcha doin'?" "The question is, what are you doing in my room?" "Oh, I just got off the phone with Pegs, now I'm here to bother you." Alex groaned. "If you want me to get my feelings straight, I would appreciate at it if you would not bother me, thank you." James gasped.

 "Ooo, I wanna help! You know I'm a relationship specialist!" "No, Aaron is the relationship specialist, I really should be asking him for help." The Virginian blew raspberries and waved him off. "Oh please, I've learned so much, I could pass off as him any day!" Alex scanned him from top to bottom and tilted his head. "Okay, so you should be able to help me then." "So! Where did you leave off?" "The pros and cons of him as a person." "Okay, simple. He's amazing and there are no cons, now let's move on." 

"No, wait..."

                            ೋ❀❀ೋ═══ ❀ ═══ೋ❀❀ೋ

                                                          ✧Cons✧

❏ He can act without thinking sometimes...

Directly after he said the sentence, the mirror fell off the face of the locker and shattered, calling attention to more students. The girl released a short and audible gasp. As soon as he turned around once more, his eyes widened and he covered his mouth, looking like he was wondering what he had just done. "Fuck you bitch!" She shouted before falling to her knees and picking of the shards of her mirror. "This cost me sixty dollars.." "Good job." "What do you mean..?" He chuckled, his smirk turning into a smile. "For standing up for yourself. I've never seen that side of you before.." Thomas shook his head swiftly. "No! That's not good! I don't wanna act like that!"

❏ And...{And?}

                       {Alexander stopped taking mental notes..}

"And..erm.." James raised his eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. "And?" Alexander's eyes darted around, running through his memories and  trying to find another negative trait about him. "Your mind in a fog?" "Shut it." James smiled, giving him a knowing look. "Face it, you like him, don't you?" "He's a great person and all..but I.." Alexander trailed off, and actually pondered on what James had said. Every moment with Thomas had been pure bliss, he's a person that he can really be himself around. He's done nothing but love and care for him, just one call away for anything. Even simple chat. That dream weren't just a coincidence, it had meaning. Not to mention, the both of them nearly kissed twice in a span of a little over twenty-four hours. 

And to think I've been so fucking blind.. The thoughts, feelings, everything. No one had treated him like this, made him feel like this. I know what that feeling was. "Alex? Helloooo?" James snapped his fingers in front of his face a few times in hopes of bring him back to reality. Alex took a deep breath before declaring his next sentence.

"I think I love Thomas Jefferson." 

James couldn't contain his excitement, punching his fists in the air, jumping around and celebrating. "I knew it! I knew it all along!" Alexander rolled his eyes and smiled, blushing. "I was riiight, and you were wrooong!" "Wait, what?" James shushed him. "Let me have my moment.. I was riiight, and you were wrooong!" After a few more moments of dancing, James finally sat back down next to him, trying to catch his breath. "Alright..so.. what are you gonna do now?" "Well, I know I don't wanna take fifteen years to say something..so I guess I'll tell him.." James, without explanation, quickly got up and ran out of the room. "Where are you going?" "To get my phone!" Alexander's eyes widened as he perceived word those alarming words. "Wait! No!"

                                •.:°❀×════∘◦♡◦∘════×❀°:.•

"Thomas?!" The Southerner jolted at the sound of Peggy's thunderous voice and her loud footsteps. "Yes..?" He looked up at her like she was insane. "Were you demonstrating carnal behaviors today?" "What does that even mean?" She groaned and put her sentence and simpler terms. "Were you being whorish?" "W-What?!" She stood by the couch next to him, pursing her lips in response to his confused and fanatical face. "You heard me. "Oh, you don't have to do what the apron says, but it would be highly appreciated~" The brunette mocked him, making hand gestures. Thomas crossed his arms. "It was just a joke! Besides, I don't even sound like that.." "Oh puh-lease, I bet you'd looove to let him-" Thomas quickly shushed her, putting his finger on her lips with a red face. She slapped his hand away and furrowed her eyebrows. "When are you gonna say something, Thomas?"

Thomas slumped in his seat and sighed. "I dunno. It's harder than it looks, and you should know." Peggy narrowed her eyes at him. "We do not speak of it." She sat down next to him. "C'mon, literally nothing is stopping you from telling him how you feel." "Yes there is! I don't know how he feels about me.. what if he doesn't like me back?" Peggy shook her head rapidly. "Your really going to ask me this question after you two nearly kissed, TWICE?" "Wait a second, how do you know about that..?" The brunette rested her hand on the front of the pocket of her shorts where her phone lied. "Let's just say, I had a bit of..help." And though it took him around fifteen chapters to realize it, Thomas finally connected the dots. Well, some of them. "So you two psychopaths actually decided to stalk us? Not just once, but like, three times?" "I guess you could say that.." Their conversation was interrupted by the ringing of her phone. She pulled her device and accepted the James' call request, putting it up to her ear.

"Hello?" "Child you will never believe the news that I got-" She was intrigued by the sentence, but she started to hear a lot of shuffling, moving, and some shouting. "James..?" "Ow! You told me you would tell him, I'm just helping you!" "Tell who what?" Directly after those words came out of her mouth, she heard the phone being passed around, and Alexander's shaky voice. "Nothing! Nothing at all!" "Alex, what are you hiding?" He sounded frantic and nervous. "There's no news, James'll call you later!" James followed up understandably, by demanding Alexander to give him his phone back. Then, presumably Alex, promptly hung up on her. Thomas had confusion written all over his face. "What was that about..?" Peggy had a bit of an idea behind Alexander's sudden flustered behavior, but kept it to herself and shrugged. "I have no idea." 

                                •.:°❀×════∘◦♡◦∘════×❀°:.•

"Dude, just do it already!" Alexander looked at his phone nervously, scanning his message over. It was just a simple sentence, but it what lies ahead of it held heavy weight. He hovered his hand over the green button, reminding him of just yesterday when he was in the same position. That situation was successful, so why couldn't this work too? It's much more complicated than that.. Alexander sighed and sunk into his seat. "I can't do it.." James huffed and snatched his phone. "Well I can." He sent the message despite Alex's pleads and pathetic attempts at take his phone back. "James!" "Alexander!" He teased. "I didn't wanna send that!" "Hey Thomas, can I possibly come over to your dorm tomorrow? I wanna talk about something. I don't think it's that bad, it's just a sentence." Alex sighed. "You don't understand." Alexander's phone made a high pitched 'ding' sound, notifying the both of them that Alex received a text message. "Oooo! He responded!" "What does it say?"

Sure. What do you wanna talk about?

"Don't worry, I got it." James reassured, beginning to type up a response. Alexander didn't care to try and stop James, he would be too much of a nervous wreck to respond anyway. He opted to thank him, but decided against it, he didn't want to make his ego bigger than it already was. "Sent." "Lemme see that.." Alex snatched the phone out of his hand. "JAMES!" "What?!"

You'll find out soon enough~ 💋

...Okay?

Alexander groaned, blushing from the immense embarrassment he felt. He quickly shot him another text message, trying to save the conversation. 

IM REALLY SORRY, THAT WAS JAMES!!!

Hah, I had a feeling it was. Tell em' I said I'm not available for his "use".

The feeling of reassurance was given to him when he read that message. James doing something like this was pretty believable for everyone that knows him and knows him well. Alexander snickered, showing James his response. The Virginian gasped and put his hand to the phone, emitting a short laugh. "Tell him I didn't want him anyway." He snapped.

He {sassily} said that he didn't want you anyway.

Fine by me lol

"I've got it from here, your help have been so very sufficient." James smiled. "I know. Don't screw this up for yourself..I don't wanna see my friend broken hearted. If that were the case..that wouldn't be the only thing that's broken.." Alexander returned the look, it was important for them to cherish these moments, they don't come often. James tensed up and quaked. "Quit staring! Your gonna make me act out of character." Alex snickered, knowing deep down that Madison loved to see the happy look on his face. 

Is it okay if I come a little later in the day?

That's good!

I'll see you tomorrow!

See ya tomorrow Darlin' 

Alexander stared at his phone with an awkward smile and blush on his face. He sat down and released a long sigh. "I get sooo weak in the knees, I can hardly speak~"

"SHUT IT."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I LEGITIMATELY TRIED TO FIND MORE CONS BUT I COULDN'T, I THINK I MADE THE GUY TOO GOOD LMAO-

Also, sorry that there are a lot of flashbacks and transitions, I dunno why this took me so long  🙃