You're Mine

Confession (in a coffee shop)

"And an extra shot of vanilla. Please," Eliza smiled at the barista as she finished her order at the coffee shop, "So what's the topic of your problems?"

Her question took Alex off guard, "Uh, r-romance."

Eliza's face lit up with a smile, "Ooh! You've got a crush!"

"Y-yes," his face was red and he was glancing at the floor, remembering every feature of John's face.

The barista handed her their coffees and she led Alex to a booth, "Okay, take a sip and spill your guts. I am all ears."

He did as she said and sipped at his macchiato, "Well, let's start with do you get offended easily?"

"Definitely not."

"Your thoughts on gay rights?"

"Simple, I believe gays are people just as the rest of us and if they want to love someone of the same gender, they should be free to- you're gay?"

Alex's face grew redder as he nodded. Eliza squealed with delight, "This is wonderful! I write fan-fiction all the time so I can definitely help!"

"You write... fan-fiction?" Alex laughed.

It was Eliza's turn to go deep red now, "I-It's not that bad! I don't write that kind of fic!"

"I didn't say anything about a certain kind of fan-fiction," he smirked at her over his cup.

"I, well, we're not here for me! Keep talking!" she hastily sipped her drink, more eager to hear Alex's problems than be scrutinized for what she loves.

"Right, well, uh... I feel really awkward."

"Don't! You can tell me anything and I won't tell anybody! I swear to it, remember?"

"Okay, so I kind of maybe, just a little bit, might be in love with John."

"Laurens?!" she squealed again.

"Shhhhut up!" he whisper-yelled at her.

"Sorry!" she dropped her voice low with great effort over her smile, "That's too cute. You guys are roommates, right?"

"Yes."

Eliza wiggled her eyebrows at him which made him blush even more, "Eliza, you're so immature."

"But you know you want him like that," she winked and took a sip.

"I... might."

Eliza choked on her coffee, "That was actually a joke, but, dude... you've got it bad."

"I know," he sighed, matter-of-factly, "I'm a gay bean and I don't know what to do with myself."

"Bean?"

"I don't know!" he slammed his head onto the table and sucked in a dramatic breath.

"Alex," Eliza tapped his arm repeatedly. 

"Nooooooo."

"Alex," hitting his arm made him bolt upright.

"For God's sake, woman, what-" he stopped when he noticed her finger was to her lips. She pointed at the door, smiling. Alex followed her finger and saw that she was pointing at the excessively tall Hercules Mulligan who was talking down to a familiar freckled face. He seemed to have tear stains down his cheeks and Hercules was talking in a low whisper, barely audible. Alex caught a few words like "jerk" and "murder" but he ignored them. His mind was on John. 

"John?" he squeaked out. He knew it wasn't loud enough for him to hear but he tried anyway.

"Just watch," Eliza prodded. So he did. Hercules ordered a black coffee and John ordered probably the single most sugary thing on the menu. They sat in the booth right behind Alex. John's ponytail brushed Alex's head several times on his way to sit down. Eliza found herself staring into the unforgiving brown eyes of a Mulligan. She shifted nervously and began whispering to Alex,  "He's staring at me like I'm the filth of the earth, what do I do?"

"That'll be Hercules for you," Alex chuckled slightly but cut himself short, "Just act... not guilty? Do we know why he's angry at you?"

"He's angry at me?! What- what did I do?" she gripped her cup nervously.

"I don't know, what did you do?"

"I don't know!"

"You don't know?" Hercules increased the intensity of his stare.

"No, I don't," Eliza scoffed.

"Would you like me to show you?" he growled. 

"Do as you wish."

"Guys, can we not just get along?" Alex laughed nervously.

"Apparently we can't," Eliza shot daggers at Hercules and John turned around. It seemed his tears had returned, "Alexander?"

His face went emotionless when he saw Eliza sitting with Alex, "You... it was you. I wanted to believe it wasn't because, you- you're a nice person. But now... I don't know what to believe anymore." He picked up his drink and ran out of the shop sobbing violently. 

"Do you see what you've done?!" Hercules roared and ran after John.

Alex and Eliza simply stared at the exit in shock.

"I'm scared," Eliza's eyes welled with tears.

"Me too," his look mirrored her fear, "But I'm scared for you."