hey, lover! [lams//college au] // completed

Chapter Eight

A/N: I wrote a fic... abt the founding fathers. multiple fics, actually. including this one, written way after my Hamilton phase. this just hit me. im gonna go cry now.

John arrived at Reyonalds' Coffee twenty minutes before eleven.

Color him surprised when he saw that Alexander was already there, sitting at a corner table, leg bouncing anxiously.

He looked up at the sound of the little bell at the door ringing, then blinked when he noticed it was John in the doorway. John waved a little bit, and Alexander smiled.

John's knees went weak at the sight.

"Hey," he said as he walked over to the table and sat down in front of Alexander.

"Hello," Alex said, a wide smile on his face. They sat in silence for a second.

"Have you ordered anything yet?" John asked, turning his head to look at the menu.

"Ah— no. I was waiting for you. Speaking of— you're early?"

"Yeah, haha... I didn't want to risk being late, you know. I'm not really good with being on time. But hey, you were here earlier than me!"

Alexander laughed a little. "Yeah, I didn't want to be late either. I always go to things early."

Another silence.

"Well, um... let's get our drinks?"

John ordered a black coffee, again. "It's the only type of coffee that actually wakes me up," he'd explained when Alexander had looked at him weirdly.

"Whatever you say," Alex had snorted before ordering an iced vanilla latte. They both got an order of blueberry scones before going back to sit at the table they'd claimed.

Things were a bit stilted and awkward, and John couldn't place why. Their questions were mundane, and their answers were even more plain. Everything felt kind of weird.

It was during another awkward silence that John started randomly laughing.

"What? What's funny?" Alex asked, shuffling a little bit in his seat.

"I'm sorry, it's just— this is so awkward, and I don't know why!" John laughed, and Alexander bit his lip to stifle his own chuckles.

"Yeah, I was thinking about that too."

John finally calmed down, taking a deep breath and then a long sip of his coffee. "I've never really found it awkward to talk to you, before. Things don't have to change between us just because this is an actual date and not just a study hangout or whatever.

Alexander sighed, but he was still smiling.

"Yeah, you're right," he agreed, before placing his elbow on the table and resting his chin on his palm. "So, John, tell me— how do you feel about... uh, the state of the world right now?"

"Wow, we're really getting into it, huh? Well..."

***

They talked for a while more. They'd become close throughout the week, but this felt kind of different. Now they were becoming close with the hope that something... well, more romantic might be happening in the future. It was... different.

A good different.

After they had  finished their coffee they went for a walk, exploring the ins and outs of New York City. Alexander had shown John his favorite book store, and John, in turn, showed Alex his favorite art store.

Their hands would brush, sometimes, or John would get lost in Alexander's eyes, or the sound of his laughter, or something equally as cheesy, and John would feel as his heart fluttered in his chest. He felt like he was the lead in a mushy romance movie. It was horrible.

(it was the best thing ever)

The date went on like this until it was suddenly five p.m. and they needed to head back to the dorm.

"I had fun with you, today," Alexander said as John dropped him off at his dorm. "We should do this again sometime."

"I agree. I think that you're— well, you're really cool, Alex."

Alexander laughed. "Thanks; you're pretty cool, too."

There was a silence, but it wasn't awkward like the silences they'd had earlier in the day. It was peaceful, electric; charged in a way that John couldn't begin to explain.

"Hey, can I—" Alexander bit his lip— "can I kiss you?"

John's breathing stuttered. "Yes," he said, breathlessly, and Alex leaned in and pressed their lips together as soon as the word left his mouth.

Alexander's lips were soft; no, they were slightly chapped and tasted like sugar from the ice cream they'd gotten on the way back and a hint of vanilla creamer. His jaw was sharp and warm underneath the palm of John's hand, and John felt goosebumps trace his arms as Alexander's hand gripped the side of his waist.

They pulled away, breathless, and Alexander smiled, and John was screwed. So, so screwed.

He'd do anything for the man in front of him.

Fuck, he was whipped.

"I'll see you later?" Alexander asked.

"Of course." 

John headed back to his dorm after the door to Alexander's room closed.

He laid down in his bed and felt the way his heart beat loudly in his chest.

***

It was only a few hours later when John got a text from Alexander that said 'Can you over in fifteen? I want to study together.'

John sent back his affirmative, getting dressed into something casual, but less casual than the pajamas he had previously been wearing. Fifteen minutes later, on the dot, John found himself leaving his dorm and heading towards Alexander's.

He was about to knock on the door when he heard voices inside.

Okay, look— John is not one to listen in on other people's conversations. He valued not only his own but other people's privacy; you had to build relationships on trust, and what else built trust faster than respecting people and their private life?

However, John could not lie and say he wasn't at least a little bit interested in what was going on.

So, he paused on his way to knock, instead leaning closer to the door in order to hear what was happening behind the door a bit better.

"Ah, I'm glad your classes are going well," someone said, and— oh. That someone was Eliza.

"I'm glad too. I was worried that the move would interfere with my learning, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Well, anyways, Eliza, what did you need?" Alexander asked. "I actually have someone coming over soon, so..."

"Oh! Um... well... I'll just say this quickly so I can hear your answer and get out of your hair. I um. I know we just met but— you seem really cool. And. Uh. I want to get to know you better, so..."

Alexander laughed, a little awkwardly.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it's just... will you go on a date with me? This weekend?"

There was a pregnant pause.

Was Alex... was Alex considering it?

John felt dread grow in his stomach.

"Eliza..."

There was a pause, and then something that sounded— horrifyingly— like kissing.

John couldn't listen to this anymore.

He straightened, turned, and marched back to his dorm.

If Alexander wanted to do this— lie to him, say that he wanted to be with him then pull shit like this, then fine.

Eliza could have him.

John would never admit that he teared up a bit at the thought.