A Testament to His Pain

This is American food?

John:

I yawn, stretching and leaving over to grab my phone. The bright light blinds me for a second before I actually clock the time. 9:47.

Great, class starts in thirteen minutes!

I rush around the room, pulling on pants and the shirt I wore yesterday, trying to be quiet and not wake up my roommate. That fails.

"What are you doing?" Asks a sleepy George King III, rubbing his eyes. "Getting ready for class," I grumble, struggling to tame my hair back away from my face.

"Stop complaining, you'll be back before you know it." He mutters and turns over. Urgh, stupid British accent.

I stumbled out of my dorm, let the door slam -accidentally on purpose- behind me and I literally run to the correct building.

                          ~*~

Classes finish for today, and I meet up with Herc and Laf. Choosing to go get some pizza, I decide to ring Alex. After the first ring he picks up his phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Alex, it's John. Want to grab some pizza?"

"I can't, I'm studying."

"It's the first day!  Come on, come and meet my friends, dumb and dumber."

"Um... Oh,  fine, where do you want me to meet you guys?"

"Outside the art building, okay?"

"See you in ten," he says as he hangs up the phone and I turn back to my best friends. "What?" I question defensively, crossing my arms.

"Why invite him? I've heard he's a bit of a loudmouth," Herc complains, and in response I roll my eyes. "Hold it right there, you sound like Burr."

Hercules shudders. "Never compare me to him ever again." I laugh and turn to Laf.

"How was class, by the way?" I ask and he looks up from his phone.

"Merde," he answers and looks back down to his I phone. "Brilliant explanation, mon ami," I say in a fake French accent. We all look at each other and before we realise what's going on we are all in hysterics.

After a few minutes I spot Alex walking up to us. I wave him over and my friends swivel round to greet him.

"Hello John. Hey... John's friends," he looks at Herc and Laf. They smile. I don't trust them. "Bonjour, j'em apelle Marquis de Lafayette."

"Brah, Brah, I am Hercules Mulligan, up in it, loving it, yes I heard your mother said come again!"

"Ay, " me and Laf both nudge him to shut up. He's been using that rap to introduce himself since he was twelve.

"My mother's dead," he says blankly, staring at Herc and Laf with an emotionless expression. Shit, you fucking idiot! You don't just make comments about someone's mom. I know the feeling of being included in a yo momma joke and having to tell the other person my mother is dead.

"Oh my God, I am so sorry! I didn't realise, shit really I am sorry," Herc trips over himself to get the words out and Laf is just standing beside him awkwardly.

"It's alright, you didn't know. Just please don't spread it around," he says and we nod profusely. "Of course we won't. Come on are we getting pizza or not?" I whine, dragging Alex by the arm to the shop.

Alex:

We sit in the pizza parlor, everyone had decided to share two massive pizzas. I haven't had a slice yet; they look disgusting. There is literally grease everywhere and strings of melted cheese. It made my stomach turn to look at it, so I didn't.

My hand strokes the page, filling it with notes and a mini essay I've written for the lecturer Washington. I really need a lap top but I have no way of getting any money.

"Alex, put away the notebook and eat!" Comes John's voice from across the booth. "Not hungry," I mutter as I continue to scratch away at the paper, not even bothering to look up to gage his reaction. Big mistake.

"Hey!" I yelp as my book is pulled away from me and sat down beside John. "I was writing."

"And now you're not. Eat," he commands as he picks up a slice of Pizza. He tells me to open my mouth and I do as I'm told, confused at why he'd want me to do that. In goes the pizza.

"Urgh," I get out as I swallow a bite of it. "This is American food?"

"Technically it's Italian, and what do you mean, 'Urgh'? This is best food ever invented!" Hercules states, looking at me with astonishment.

"Not really," I mumble, crossing my arms and glaring at all three of them. God, why did I agree to come to this? Oh wait, it's because I have a crush on the guy that invited me.

"Sorry, what was that?" John teases and I'm confused.

"What was what?" I ask, feeling blood rush to my cheeks.

"You were talking to yourself. Something about a crush?"

"A crush?" I repeat. Shit I must have spoken aloud. "Oh, I need to crush this essay but you have my book."

"Why not buy a laptop, mon ami?" Asks Lafayette, cocking his  head to the right. Shifting uncomfortably in my seat, I avoid my gaze. "Well, you'd need to have money to buy one."

The three boys share a look. "I have two, you can borrow one for school," John offers finally and I feel hot. "No, it's fine, I like my notepad."

"Honestly, it's okay. Go on, it's easier to write things down on and I'll teach you how to use it."

I bite my pinkie nail, deliberating his suggestion. "If you're sure, thank you so much. You're a star." I blush at my own words. Can I get any more smooth?

"It's alright," he shoots me a grin and I grin back.

Hercules nudges Laf, both of them smirking. "What?" I ask, baffled.

"No reason," Lafayette chirps, turning back to Hercules. I narrow my eyes. I pick up the pizza, staring at it with disgust before giving into my hunger and eating it with repulse.

John:

Alex, Alex, Alex.  I just can't get him out of my mind; all I want to do is see him smile but he refuses to, instead furrowing his brow with extreme intensity. I was surprised when he said that he can't afford a laptop. That was pretty sad. Even when I offered to lend him my spare one, he looked uncomfortable. It just makes me wonder how bad his upbringing was.

Was it like mine? Did he get beaten every other day by a drunken father for no reason? Did his mother die and leave him with nothing but a few departing words of "I love you. I'm so sorry."?

I bury my head in my hands, groaning. I shouldn't be thinking of those times, just look foward, today, tomorrow and all the days afterwards. That's what I promised to myself before I came here. New school, new me.

I just hope I become friends with Alex. Who knows, maybe I can help him from himself...

~1176 words~

Heya guys,hope you're enjoying this. Sorry this is a late update, I was at an adventure weekend with a youth club. It was so fun!

Anyway, if any of you are actually reading this please shoot me a comment or a vote. Btw I reply to all comments so if you want a chat please write.

I'm also up for any critique. This is only my second fanfiction :)

See you later my little turtles 🐢 💚