We're Just Friends

Chapter 8- "Can you keep pets?"

John's POV

After the awkward events from last month, Hercules barely even looked at Lafayette for the entire time. Not that I blame him, of course, but Laf's really down because of it.

Alex and I have been hanging out a lot so far today. I mean, as much as you can talk to him during and after classes.

We've been talking about pretty much nothing useful- what our favourite colours, foods and that kind of stuff was. We've been getting along really well for the past month, actually.

"Hey, Alex. If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?" I asked, lounging in my bed in the dorm room.

"John, I need to write. Later." I kept hearing the tap of computer keys.

"But we've got no homework. C'mon, Alex," I whined, peeking down at him. "Can we go shopping at least? Please?"

"No John."

"Please. For me."

"No."

"I'll buy you more notepads for you to write in," I bribed, and Alexander shot up. He's lucky he's so short; he would've hit his head on my bunk otherwise.

"I'm in. What about Herc and Laf?" He looked at the other two in the room.

"You guys wanna come with us?"

"Nah, I'm fine," Herc said, tapping away at his phone. Jesus, is everyone on their phones or laptops?

"Yeah, I don't want to go," Lafayette added, clicking some stuff on Tumblr. Probably some weird fan art.

"Okay, have fun you two," I called, heading towards the door, before realizing my mistake.

"We probably won't," Herc mumbled. Alex and I left in silence.

Alexander's POV

We entered the mall, titled "Stuff n' Shiz". What a name.
"So, where should we head to first?" I asked. I had fifteen dollars with me. I can't buy very much.

What age can you get part-time jobs at?

"Well, we can head into a stationary store. There'll always be something there," John replied, heading towards a brightly-coloured store with pencils and rubbers imprinted onto the windows.

"Hello! Welcome into the Stationary Store!" An over-enthusiastic employee greeted us, grinning wildly. I never knew someone can get that excited over handing out pencils to teenagers.

"Do you have any notebooks?" I questioned.

"Back shelf on the top right," the employee said immediately. Freaky.

"Okaayyy. Thanks." I stepped away gladly and headed to the back of the store. I grab a notebook and look at the price: $15.99.

"John? Can I borrow a dollar?"

"Sure Alex."

"Thanks." He hands me a dollar. Before I realize it's actually a five-dollar note.
"John, you handed me a five-dollar-bill."

"And? Keep it."

"Take it back John."

"No."

"Please? For me?" I mimicked him from earlier. He laughed.

"Fine. But I'm paying for coffee later."

"That's a good deal." He takes back the money and gives me a one-dollar-bill. Thank God he actually listened to me.
I quickly grab the notebook and buy it, wanting to get away from the creepy store clerk as soon as possible.

"Thank you for your time in our store, come again!"

We ran away, let's just say that.

We duck into a StarBucks and order two drinks: A chocolate frostino (John's drink.) and a large black coffee (my drink). The drinks are quickly made, we realize, because they get our names completely wrong.

"Jan Laurel and Alexatra Hamlincome?" We grab our drinks under our 'names' and sit back down. We each take a sip.

"Man, this drink is sweet," John says.

"As sweet as you are?" I ask, grinning. John blushes, smiling. I fucking nailed it.

"Thanks for the compliment, but I think your coffee is as dark as my soul."

"John, you were mumbling 'Ba Ba Black Sheep' in your sleep."

We share a laugh and finish our drinks. We leave a grand tip of 50 cents.

"Hey, they got our names wrong," John defends himself, as we leave the StarBucks and enter a store filled with jewelry. I like just looking at it, of course.

"John, look at this!" I say, staring at a small bunny with sapphire eyes and a sapphire nose.

"Aw, Alex, it's almost as cute as you."

"Shut up, John," I mumble, embarrassed but deeply flattered at the same time. We take some time to look around. There's tons of necklaces and brooches and bracelets. The old lady behind the counter looks at us.

"Looking to find something for your girlfriends, eh?" She questions, smiling. I don't think I've ever heard John laugh harder in my life.

"Oh no, I'm gay," he responds, pretending to wipe a tear from his eye. The lady grins wider.

"I'm sorry for assuming! Anything for a boyfriend that you want?" She asks.

"No, I don't have a boyfriend yet." John smiles widely.

"Well, I'm sure you'll find someone soon enough. And you?" She turns to me. "Anyone you're buying anything for?"

"No, not today. Just browsing," I reply, getting snapped out of my thoughts.

"Ah, okay. Well, feel free to spend as long as you want here!"

John and I thank her, and after looking around a bit more, leave with another small 'thanks'.

We head towards a pet shop, cleverly named "Pick a Pet" (okay, maybe it's not such a clever name).

"Can you keep pets?" I ask as we walk in.

"No. But if you buy a turtle, you can hide it pretty easily."

"Where will you keep the tank?"

"It'll fit under your bed."

"Really John?"

"Alex, I can't help that you're on the lower bunk. That was your choice."

"You claimed the top bed before I could and you know it."

"Okay, so it wasn't your choice. But please Alex!"

"Fine, you can keep it under my bed, but on one condition." I've been waiting to do this for a week, but now is the best time. Can you do this after a month? I don't really care.

"What's that?" John asks, sighing. He has no clue.

"Will you be my boyfriend?"

Yes, I finally did some Lams. The next chapter will focus a bit less on that and more on the other ships (cough, JeffMads and Mullette, cough)