"Do you think I'm stupid? Is that why you're looking at me like that?" Alex playfully asked Angelica.

They had been at the coffee shop for an hour, having little conversations about random things. John had really hit it off with Peggy, which Alex was glad about. Laf and Herc were being Laf and Herc. But Eliza had disappeared 15 minutes into what she saw as an ordeal instead of a gathering between friends.

"Stupid, no. An idiot for ruining my sister's heart? Yup, through and through," Angelica replied.

Alex's face fell. "I can't help who I love, Angelica. And I've got something going on with Laurens."

Angelica gave him a little smile. "I know, Alexander. But Eliza can't help who she loves, either. If I were you, I'd at least try to explain the situation to her. Broken hearts often make their hosts illogical."

Alexander bit his lip, then sighed and nodded. He knew that if he didn't work things out with Eliza, it would make everything awkward. So he kissed John on the cheek and then got up, walking out the door.

****

New iMessage chat created.

Alexander🔥: eliza? where are you? we need to talk.

Eliza🌸: i don't want to talk to you.

Alexander🔥: we're going to have to talk at some point. we can't just hide from each other

Eliza🌸: i'm at the mall

Alexander🔥: therapy shopping? WITHOUT ME

Eliza🌸: the point of therapy shopping is to keep your mind off of whatever is making you hurt. i can't successfully therapy shop when the thing that is making me hurt is right by my side.

Alexander🔥: eliza...

Eliza🌸: just. meet me at woodland park at 2pm

Alexander🔥: okay

****

"I fell for you. Hard. And you didn't. And then you fell for him. Nothing else to say there," Eliza stated.

Alex looked at Eliza, who was sitting next to him on the wood bench. She was surrounded by the green of the scenery behind her. "I haven't fallen for him, E. We've only been dating for two months, and it's not even really official."

"Alexander, I know what love is. Love is pain -"

"Eliza-"

"No. Let me finish. Love is pain. It's pain because you know you have no more control of the situation. You peer over the edge of the cliff, and before you know it, you're falling. Because they pushed you. And, in the best cases, they jump, too. And you both fall into seas of delirium."

She turned to him and met his eyes, continuing. "The pain in your eyes when you see him, the pain in his eyes when he sees you... you're both delirious. So gone."

Alexander could do nothing but stare, shocked, at Eliza. Is that right? Is she right?

Then he came to an even more shocking conclusion. Yes. She is right. I'm a goner.

If that was true, he needed his best friend back.

"Eliza... I want to be your friend again. I miss this. I want to be able to talk to you about John. I want you to be okay again... I want us to be okay again. You're my best friend. You always will be. And I'm sorry I pushed you, I'm sorry you fell, I'm sorry I didn't jump off the cliff with you. I am so goddamn sorry for making you feel the pain that no human being should go through. But now... I was pushed. And I need help. Please. I need my Liza back."

Eliza smiled at Alex. "I want to help you. I want you to be happy. And don't apologize, it's not your fault."

Alex smiled back. "Does this mean we can have Disney movie marathons again?"

Eliza laughed. "Just give me another week. I'll feel better soon. Then we can pretend like nothing happened."

Alex hugged her and then he got an idea. He got out his phone to text John.

smol cutie pie: can i come over? i need to tell you something.

body like WOAH: sure?

"Eliza, I have to go," he said, excitement lacing his words.

He ran away as fast as he could go, leaving Eliza confused, but laughing, in his dust.

****

Alexander burst open the unlocked door to John's apartment.

"John? Where are you?"

John walked out of his bedroom, smiling. "Hey, gorgeous. What's up?"

Alex had everything memorized. Everything he knew he needed to say to John. He opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again, then bit his lip, suddenly nervous. The only man that can stun me into silence.

"Are you okay?" John asked with concern, taking a step towards the man.

Alexander walked over to John, his cheeks red. "I-I-"

"Is something wrong?"

Alex shook his head, and moved forward slightly until they were chest to chest. Alex looked up into those eyes, the eyes that told so much at once. This time, they held concern, and care, and something more.

"Darling, you're acting off. Please, just let me fix whatever's wrong... Let me help you," John pleaded.

"John..." Alex whispered.

He grabbed John's hands, holding them like they were the most precious things in the world. He kept staring into John's eyes.

Alex could hear his own heart pumping faster than it ever had before. He let go of John's hands and wrapped his arms around John's neck. He needed to be as close to John as possible.

"Alex..." John replied, resting his own hands on Alex's waist.

He's so beautiful. So gorgeous. So amazing. He needs to be mine. I want him to be mine... Alex repetitively thought. He was so lost in John. So lost. So gone for him.

Alex wanted to do so much at that moment, but instead he just let the words free.

"I wish, my dear Laurens, it might be in my power by action rather than words to convince you that I... I love you...."

"Alex," John whispered, astonished. He held Alex tighter and tears gathered in his eyes.

"I shall only tell you that 'till you bade us adieu, I hardly knew the value you had taught my heart to set upon you. Indeed, my friend, it was not well done...."

Alex paused to wipe away some of John's tears. He didn't know that his own tears were catching on his chin.

"You know the opinion I entertain of mankind and how much it is my desire to preserve myself free from particular attachments and to keep my happiness independent of the caprice of others...."

"Alexander," John whispered, this time with more urgency.

"You should not have taken advantage of my sensibility to steal into my affections without my consent."

"Alexander," John repeated, burying his face into Alex's hair.

"Alexander," John kissed the top of Alex's head.

"Alex." His ear...

"Alex...." His cheek...

Then John pulled away and looked into Alex's eyes. Alex let himself get lost in those eyes once more, then buried his heart and soul in them. He placed his hands on John's chest. He could feel the fast-paced beating of John's heart, perfectly aligned with his own.

"I'm yours, if you want me... and I'll admit it, again and again: I want you," Alex finished, hope creeping into him like a light into the darkness.

"Alex," John said one last time, bowing his head down to meet Alex's. "I've always belonged to you, even when I didn't even know you."

Then he finally locked their lips together, and Alex was flying.

This was so much more powerful than he could have ever dreamed of.

i felt like i needed some cute fluff in here and omg it's adorable, it's so adorable ahhhhh

sorry if you feel like it's rushed or something

i'm on a roll with this story y'all (oops my southern is showing)

random psa: EVERYONE GO WATCH GLEE IF YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN IT. CAUSE JONATHAN GROFF'S CHARACTER MAKES ME GET ALL FLUSHED AND STUPID like i would totally try to seduce the frick outta that boy

until next time,
luna✨