Hamilsquad (a One-Shot book)

Three AM (John Laurens x Reader)

[Modern! AU]
WARNING: negative thoughts, mentions of death
Word Count: 718

   You were in the kitchen making a glass of water at three (3) in the morning when you received the call.

   Your phone had buzzed in your pocket. You reached into your pajama pant pocket and pulled it out. Not bothering to check the caller ID, you answered it. You held the phone up to your ear in one hand while filling your glass with water in the other.

   "Hello? Is this Y/N?" an unfamiliar voice asked from the other side of the phone.

   "Yes, this is she," you replied, confused as to why someone may be calling you this early. Then again, why would I be up at this hour?

   "Sorry to disturb you. You were listed as the emergency contact in this phone," the person explained. "I am sorry to inform you that M/N (mom's name) L/N and D/N L/N have passed."

   Then every sound was white noise and your vision was a blur. You heard the person talking on the line, but they sounded as if they were just a distant buzz. You couldn't make out what they were saying, but they were probably explaining how they died.

   A loud crash followed by the click of someone hanging up followed your immediate shock. Glass was scattered on the floor in front of you, water spilled in between the cracks of the tiles. Your phone was in your shaking hand, the screen dark. You dropped it as well, the screen shattering as it hit the tiles.

A loud scream tore from your throat as you stared at the ground in dismay. Tears flooded your vision, rapidly falling down your cheeks.

"Y/N, what in the hell are you doing...?" John, your boyfriend of three years, said groggily as he wandered into the kitchen. He rubbed his eyes.

"What happene-" John paused at the mess and the look of absolute pain on your face. "Hey, hey. Shh..." he said, walking over to you and carefully guiding you out of the kitchen. John led you to the couch, sitting you down and kneeling in front of your sobbing figure.

   "Babe? What's wrong?" he asked gently, cupping your cheek, his eyebrows knit with worry.

   You choked out another sob, collapsing into his arms. John held you tight, whispering in your ear and drawing gentle patterns on your back.

   "Breathe," John whispered. "Make your breathing like mine. There you go, you can do it."

   Slowly, your sobs became quiet hiccups and sniffles. "J-John, she's- oh god m-my parents a-a-are d-dead and I-" You let out another broken sob, and you could practically see John's heart break.

"Babe, shh..." John said, pulling you into his lap and rocking you. "I know, I'm so sorry... Shh..." You could feel John shaking, and you knew why, too- his mom had died when he was young, and his father had disappeared as soon as he had left for college.

   You both that there a while, sniffles and sobs filling the silence. You safely tucked in John's arms as he held you, running his hands through your hair soothingly.

"Are you okay now?" John asked softly after you had gone silent.

"N-Not completely," you replied. "B-But I'll be okay. It's only a matter of time..."

John smiled and kissed your forehead. "C'mon, let's go back to bed."

   Your boyfriend stood and grabbed your hand, pulling you up so you were standing beside him. Still shaking and unstable from your breakdown, you stumbled into his chest. This made you more upset than you had been. I'm pathetic. You teared up again, upset at the world.

   John steadied you, kissing your jaw softly. "It's okay," he whispered, noticing your anguish. "You're okay, we're okay, everything's okay. You're steady. I'm here."

   You sniffed and nodded, wiping your eyes with your sleeve.

   The two of you made your way to the bedroom and laid down under the blanket. Your back to him, he pulled you into his chest and kissed along your neck gently.

   "I love you lots, N/N," John mumbled against your skin. His presence was warm and comforting.

   "Love you too, Jackie," you whispered back, shutting your eyes and drifting off to the sound of John's heartbeat and the soothing sound of his humming.