The Angel With a Starry Face (Lams)

Chapter Eight

*Warnings- mentions of situations in the last chapter*

Elizabeth Schuyler was such a kind hearted person. She treated Alex like her own when he was homeless, letting him come to the bakery everyday. When she was driving down the rain covered road, coming from her father's house, she was startled by a man standing right at the barrier of a bridge. At first she didn't know who it was, but then she stopped the car and looked closer...

"Alexander?" I couldn't believe my eyes...I thought he had been living with John! At least, that's what I was told when John visited the bakery the other day. Why was Alex standing there? He couldn't...no...
"Eliza...hi." He said. His voice cracked and he looked to be crying, but it was hard to tell in the rain. The rain! He told me he had very bad experiences with rain when he was younger...I quickly ran over to him and took him in my arms. "Alexander, why are you out here? Especially in this weather?" I asked as calmly as possible. "I-I don't know...where are we exactly? I can barely remember anything..." he said. The smell of alcohol flooded the air. He was drunk.
     "Okay, well...it doesn't matter where we are right now. I'm going to take you home with me. You can't be outside roaming around in your state. Come on..." I said, bracing him as we slowly walked to my car. I placed him in the passenger seat as I got in the driver's. I started the car and we made our way to the bakery. My apartment was right above it, made things a lot easier.
     I heard Alex start to cry again. "Alex, please tell me what's wrong!" I asked, I hated seeing him like this. "John he...he left. All I remember is the man pushing me up against the wall...choking me to death...and John wasn't there!!" Alex raised his voice. John left him?! "Where were you and John exactly? Who choked you?" I couldn't help but ask questions, that's the only way I could get information. "We went to King's Club...Laf and Herc were there too I think...but they left early...The man was tall...he was wearing a purple hoodie and his hair was super curly..." his words were slurred but I knew exactly who he was talking about. Thomas Jefferson. He was well known in our town, mostly for his reputation of mentally and physically torturing people. John had mentioned things about his friends Herc and Laf when he came to the bakery sometimes. So all four of them were at a club? And Thomas strangled Alex...but why? He must of had some purpose...
"Alexander, do you know why Thomas did those things to you?" I asked, keeping a quiet tone. "I...he said something about staying away from John I think. He was yelling and holding my neck so tightly and-" his breathing was getting heavier. "Alexander, relax. It's okay. You're safe now, I promise!" I said, reaching over and placing my hand on his shoulder. He nodded and looked away out the window.
     We finally arrived at the bakery and I helped Alex out of the car. I opened the door and locked it behind us, then walked over to the stairs that led to my apartment. "I always wondered where these went!" Alex laughed quite loudly. I shook my head a smiled. I showed him the couch and he sat down while I went to get some water for him. By the time I got back he was fast asleep. I placed a blanket over him and a pillow under his head, then made my way to my bedroom. Today has been a crazy day.

The next morning Alex awoke to two voices yelling over each other. He could make out Eliza's voice, but the other wasn't so clear. He got up off of the couch and made his way down the stairs, stopping at the bottom and peeking from behind the wall so no one could see him. Then he found out who the second voice was coming from...

John. Why was he here?! I know I said its hard to be mad at John, but this was and exception. I had bruises lining my neck all because he ran off. I started to listen to what they were saying...
"Eliza, I know what I did was wrong okay?! I just need to talk to Alex!"
"You can't right now! You left him! I found him standing on the edge of a bridge, John!"

Both John and I started to tear up... I hated seeing them fight, but I was too scared to speak up...

"I know, I know! I feel terrible for what I did, but you don't understand why I had to leave, okay?! I just need to talk to Alex!"
"What could you possibly want to tell him?! I'm sure he's terribly angry with you, and nothing you can say could change that!"
"I NEED TO TELL HIM I LOVE HIM, ALRIGHT?! I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOO SCARED TO ADMIT IT, BUT ITS TRUE!"

My breathing hitched. He...loves me? How? WHY? I didn't think he would ever feel the same way I do...did...I don't even know anymore...

"Eliza, please...I have to tell him...just so he knows he matters. So he'll never stand on a bridge ever again. Because he does matter. He does to me! I couldn't live with myself if something happened to him...please..." John was breaking down and I could see it. I didn't want to know what Eliza would say so I stepped out from behind the wall, tears flooding my face. Eliza spoke up first. "Alexander, he left y-" she started, but I cut her off by holding up my hand.
    "Elizabeth, stop. John, about what you said. No, neither Eliza or I know why you left me stranded, and yes, it hurts. I thought you would be there with me. You said you would be. Thomas Jefferson pushed me against a wall and choked me, almost to death. He didn't stop until I promised I would never talk or interact with you ever again, but I don't want that. You've made my life so much better, John. You're the reason why I'm still here and not at the bottom of a lake. I stood at the bridge, wanting to jump, but you were the barrier, keeping me sane and in this world.
     "I never thought I would hear you say those words. I never thought you would love me back. I thought you would throw me out, just like my cousin. Or you would leave me, like my dad, my mother, my brother. But, John Laurens, you have made me realize I matter. You've lifted me out of the darkness. I love you, John. I love you. I never thought I would love anyone ever again after my mother, but I was wrong. Thank you so much, John." All three of us were crying by the end of my speech, but they were mostly happy tears. I admitted everything to John, and it felt amazing to get it off of my chest.
     John ran over and wrapped his arms around my waist, lifting me off of the ground and spinning us around. Eliza was laughing in the background. John stopped spinning and he held me in his arms while I smiled into the crook of his neck.
     I've never been happier in my entire life.

Now that the two 'lovebirds' had exchanged those magical three words, their lives would change forever. No more getting nervous around each other and not knowing why. No more awkward silences while sitting together on the couch. Now it was just pure joy between them. Nothing could ever go wrong with this much love flying through the air.

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This is the longest chapter yet!
Happy endings are happy :)
(This isn't the end of the book btw lol)
Have an awesome day!!