Between Us (Lams modern college AU)

Chapter Ten

Alex's POV

It was late, and the dorm halls were unusually quiet. John and I had spent the last hour watching some ridiculous sitcom, our shoulders brushing more than they needed to. Every touch, every accidental nudge sent little jolts of electricity through me. I'd lost count of how many times I'd looked over at him, just to catch his small, secretive smile.

"I need a snack," John suddenly announced, standing up and stretching, his shirt riding up just enough to give me a glimpse of his toned stomach.

My throat went dry. "Yeah, me too," I mumbled, trying to focus on anything other than how good he looked in that stupid t-shirt.

We grabbed our keys and headed out, wandering down the dimly lit hallways toward the vending machines. As we turned the corner near the common area, I froze. John, who was a step behind me, almost ran into me.

"What's—" he started to ask, but then his eyes followed mine.

There, half-hidden in the shadows, were Herc and Laf, locked in the kind of kiss you'd expect to see in a rom-com. Herc had Lafayette pinned against the wall, one hand cupping his face, while the other held him close by the waist. Their lips moved together softly, like they'd done this a hundred times before, each touch of their mouths sending sparks flying between them.

I wasn't sure what was more surprising: seeing my friends in such an intimate moment, or realizing how utterly, disgustingly sweet it was.

"Oh my God," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

John's hand found mine, squeezing it lightly. "Looks like we're not the only ones sneaking around."

We exchanged a look, both of us stifling our laughter. There was something so pure and perfect about the way Herc held Laf, like he was afraid to let go, like Lafayette was the most precious thing in the world.

As we watched, Lafayette pulled back just enough to whisper something into Herc's ear, causing him to grin from ear to ear. Herc responded by leaning in to kiss the tip of Laf's nose, an action so tender that it almost made my heart hurt.

"They're... kind of perfect together," John whispered, his voice soft.

"Yeah, they are," I agreed, unable to take my eyes off them. Seeing them like this, so happy, so in love—it did something to me. I felt John's thumb brushing lightly against the back of my hand, and suddenly, all I could think about was him.

I turned to face John, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe. His eyes were glowing in the dim light, a smile tugging at his lips. The way he looked at me—it was like I was the only person in the world, like nothing else mattered but us.

"Alex," he whispered, stepping closer.

The air between us felt charged, like the universe itself was holding its breath. I didn't know who moved first, but suddenly, we were kissing. His lips were soft, warm, and full of promise. It wasn't frantic or rushed, like the stolen moments we'd had before. No, this kiss was slow, deliberate, filled with the kind of longing that had been building for days, weeks, maybe even longer.

His hands moved to my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. I wrapped my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss as my heart pounded in my chest. There were sparks, real sparks, and not just from the touch of his lips. It was like every kiss sent little fireworks off in my head, each one louder and brighter than the last.

When we finally pulled apart, both of us were breathless. John rested his forehead against mine, his eyes still half-closed.

"You're... incredible," he whispered, his breath hot against my lips.

I couldn't help but smile. "You're not so bad yourself."

For a few blissful moments, it was just us—wrapped up in each other, lost in the magic of the moment. But then, from the corner of my eye, I saw movement.

Lafayette had spotted us.

He grinned, nudging Herc with his elbow. "Mon ami, look who we have here," he said, his voice thick with amusement.

Herc glanced over, raising an eyebrow as a wide smile spread across his face. "Well, well, well. And here I thought you two were just getting snacks."

I felt my face heat up, and John laughed, still holding me close. "Guess we weren't the only ones with a secret," he said, smirking at them.

Lafayette crossed his arms, feigning indignation. "We are very good at keeping secrets, merci beaucoup."

Herc just rolled his eyes, pulling Lafayette closer to his side. "Yeah, but not as good as you think."

Laf grinned, leaning into Herc's embrace. "Touché."

John and I exchanged a glance, and suddenly, everything felt lighter—like this was exactly where we were supposed to be, with each other, with our friends, no more hiding or sneaking around. Just... us.

"So," I began, still flushed from the kiss, "I guess the cat's out of the bag."

"Seems that way," Herc said with a chuckle, his arm still draped over Laf's shoulders.

"Not that we mind," Laf added with a wink. "We always knew something was going on between you two."

John and I both laughed, shaking our heads. "Guess we weren't as sneaky as we thought," John said, his hand still holding mine.

Herc and Laf shared a look, and then Herc spoke up, his voice teasing. "Nah, you guys were about as subtle as a neon sign. But hey, good for you."

There was a pause, a comfortable, warm silence that felt like a shared understanding between the four of us. And in that moment, with John's arm around me and our friends smiling at us, I realized something.

This was it. This was everything I'd ever wanted—love, friendship, and a future that felt brighter than I'd ever imagined.

As we stood there, wrapped in the glow of the moment, I couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, the sparks between John and me were only the beginning.

A/N: Im sorry about the short chapters you guys!!! It's currently 2am on a school night and I am loosing my mind. Anyway, thank you so much for reading as always!!! Ilysm!! 

- Lamsiscannon (I swear Ill work on it)