Two Sides of the Same Coin Lams College AU {Mature} {Completed}

Chapter 25 ⚠️

A/N: I have decided that I don't trust you people to decide because it's stressing me out, so I won't make you choose.

⚠️ TW: mention of suicide ⚠️

Alex's POV - Thursday, August 19, 2021, 6:47 pm

We were about to get in the car when I realized that I had wanted to get my phone before I left. I turned to James.

I kind of want to go get my phone. Can we go back in?

He nodded. "Sure. But after that, no more stalling. Y'hear?"

I nodded, and we turned back to the apartment. When we went in, we found Philip sitting on the floor, almost exactly where we had left him. I frowned, then walked over and knocked on John's door. When I got no answer, I tried the handle. It was unlocked. I slowly opened the door.

When I began sobbing, James rushed toward me. "Alex! Wha- oh God..." James walked over to John's limp body. "Alex? Get my phone. Now."

I complied, grabbing the phone off of the couch and handing it to him shakily. A moment later, he was talking to an operator.

"My brother's boyfriend just attempted suicide... Yes." He looked at me, then mouthed, Address?

I signed it to him, and he relayed it to the person on the other end, then continued speaking to them. "Slit wrists... No... Will do..."

Within minutes, the paramedics arrived, lifting John onto a stretcher and wheeling him out the door. My brother talked with one for a couple seconds, then turned toward me. "You're going to ride with them, okay? I'll stay here with Phil."

I nodded. James handed me John's phone and told me to text our friends. I then followed the woman onto the ambulance, hovering nearby as the paramedics began to care for him. I unlocked John's phone, noting that his passcode - 744547 - hadn't changed since I had opened it last. I quickly found the group chat, then sent a message to the others.

2PintsOfSA: this is alex. i'm headed to manhattan gen w john. he's really hurt. THIS IS NOT A JOKE.

I pocketed the phone, ignoring the buzzing as the others responded. Soon, we arrived at the hospital, and I was led to the ER waiting room as they took John away so they could help him. Five minutes later, Laf, Herc, and Peggy burst through the door. They spotted me and immediately rushed over and began peppering me with questions.

"Are you okay?"

"Where have you been?"

"What happened to John?"

"What's going on?"

The others arrived soon after, and I motioned for them to sit. They did, and I began to try and tell them what had happened to John.

We got into a fight, and-

"Wait," Thomas said. "You... uh..."

Suddenly, Angie stood up. "I got this." She sat down next to me. "Go ahead."

I emailed at her gratefully, then started over, Angie translating for me. We got into a fight, and then John stormed off into his room, and James and I were going to leave, but I went back for my phone and - I started crying, but pressed on - and John was on the ground, and there was a knife, and...

I broke down, fat tears rolling down my cheeks as sobs wracked my body. Angie put her arms around me, as did the others. After I calmed down, Peggy put a hand on my shoulder. "Alex, what... what happened when you disappeared?"