You're Mine

Thoughts

Alex spent the majority of the rest of his day alone with his thoughts. He sat in third period by himself and he had John in fourth but that was his only other human interaction. John would ask repeatedly, "What's wrong?" but Alex would shrug it off as being tired instead of telling him how he felt. He was, to put it plainly, afraid. Terrified. 

What if he doesn't like me? What if she does? What if she doesn't like me? What if he does? No, I know he does, but how do I feel? Who do I like more? Do I risk becoming a laughing stock? Or do I play it safe? Why is this so difficult? He's my roommate. But he could be more. She's just a girl from my first two classes. But... could she be more? I wonder if she likes anyone. I wonder if John likes someone else and me. I wonder if this is even going to work either way.

Alex shook his head at his own thoughts as the bell rang for the day to be over. 

"Are you actually okay?" John asked.

"I mean, well," he started, "no, not really. But, no offense, I've known you for like three days so I don't quite trust you fully."

"Oh, yeah. I get it, don't worry," he smiled tightly and walked away. Alex slumped against a tree and groaned loudly. "Why am I such an idiot?"

"I don't know I'd use idiot but something of the sort," Eliza smirked down at him and then sat to his right, "What's happening?"

Again?

"Oh, nothing you should concern yourself with. I'm... fine."

"Alexander," she glared at him, "I am a female. Do you know how many times I say I'm fine without really meaning it? Enough to know you're not fine. Maybe, do you wanna grab a coffee or something later and talk about it?"

"I mean, yeah I guess. But we're just talking. It's not a date," he cocked an eyebrow as she began laughing wildly, "what? What did I say?"

"It is definitely not a date. No offense, man, but I'd never date you. Not my type."

Her nonchalant response made Alex's heart drop, "Oh. That actually... helps me a lot."

"Still wanna talk about it?" she offered.

He contemplated for a moment, "Yes. I do. But you can't tell a soul."

"I swear on my father's name," her face was stoic and serious so it was easy to tell that she meant it. Alex stood and held his hand out to help Eliza up. John rounded the corner at the wrong time. He had come back to apologize to Alex for running off when he saw him holding hands with Eliza. A smile was covering both of their faces as they walked the opposite direction of him. He put his back against the brick wall and clutched his chest. As he slid down the wall slowly, tears quickly slid out of his eyes.

"John?" He heard Hercules call from around the building. John had told him what happened and said he was going to go apologize. John tried to hide the tears in his voice, "I'm here." It didn't work so well.

"John," Hercules sat with his friend and John immediately flung himself into Hercules' chest, sobbing, "what happened?"

"He- I saw- the girl!" He couldn't even make a full sentence through his various choking sobs.

"I'll kill him, I swear it," Hercules did his best to console John until he could breath regularly, "So what happened? Full sentences. Deep breaths."

"Well, I- I came around the corner and I saw him and I almost called out to him because his back was to me. I didn't see her, though. He was helping her off the ground and they were both smiling like they were the happiest people in the world. She... I think they're together, Hercules. I don't want them to be together."

"Who was the girl?"

John began sobbing again and could only choke out, "Schuyler."

"Angelica?" Hercules asked and John shook his head, "Peggy?" John shook his head again. Hercules knew. He saved her for last because he didn't want it to be true, "Eliza?" John choked again and tears worked their way down his freckled, now pale, face.

Hercules' face darkened as he helped John to his feet and got him back to the dorm, "We need to do something about this."

John suddenly quit crying and looked up at him,  "I have an idea."

"Does it involve anything illegal?" Hercules pried.

"It... might," John began chuckling softly until his soft laughter grew louder and maniacal. His eyes never shut and his mouth was twisted into a wicked smile.

"John, whatever you think you're gonna do... please don't," Hercules' voice was soft, yet commanding. It frightened John into sense for a few seconds.

His response was curt and sharp, "I promise nothing to you."