Everybody's Got a Dream

four

Alexander stood in front of the mirror, examining the outfit Jefferson had tossed towards him.

"So you're absolutely sure this is going to get his attention?" He directed towards the man sitting on the desk behind him.

"Yes, Alexander, for the hundredth time, you look fine. I'm sure What's-His-Name Laurens will be drooling all over you." Jefferson replied, picking at his nails boredly.

"I mean- how can you doubt my skill? Don't you remember, dearest Alexander, they voted me 'most likely to be on a runway' in our yearbook."

Alexander shot him an annoyed look and Jefferson glanced up with an air of mock innocence.

"What?"

Alexander turned away, fidgeting with his tie again. Something churned in his gut. "Are you sure this is the right thing to do? It feels like I'm lying to John." He asked Jefferson, not sure of what he wanted the other man to answer with.

"Hun-"

Alexander scowled at the use of the pet name.

"-of course it's the right thing to do! I'm, like, never wrong. And stop fidgeting with that tie, it looks like you're about to make a run for it."

Alexander glanced up at Jefferson, who had moved behind him as they spoke. There was a twinkle of something sinister in the taller man's smirk, but Alexander ignored it.

He was on a mission - get John and get out. Jefferson was just a piece on the chess board for Alexander to deploy. Which reminded him...

"You never did tell me what you want in return, Thomas."

Thomas blinked - shocked - his eyebrows quirking upwards for a fleeting moment before returning to their cocky slant.

"I want to switch desks with you. I know Washington gave you the corner by the window on purpose, and it's not fair that I'm stuck in a middle cubicle next to the trashcan." Thomas pouted, frowning slightly.

"You're serious? You're that petty? Oh my God."

Thomas shrugged, "What can I say, it's who I am."

Alexander narrowed his eyes. "Fine." He extended his arm towards the other man.

Thomas smirked, "Nah, Lexie. If you're going to make Laurens believe you're in love with me, you gotta play the part."

"One, don't call me that. Two, what the heck?"

"C'mon Lexie, you know..." 

Thomas slowly took Alexander's outstretched hand as if he was dealing with a wild animal and laced their fingers together. He stepped behind the shorter man, unlocked his phone, and pointed it at the mirror in front of them. 

"Smile for the camera, Lexie!"

Alexander glared until Thomas poked him in the stomach, making him double over in giggles. He heard the snapshot of the phone camera in the background and Alexander internally grimaced. 

"Don't you dare post that-" He turned towards the taller man, who was typing rapidly on his phone. 

Alexander reached for the phone. It was almost in reach, just a few more inches. His fingertips grazed the said phone and it was yanked out of his grasp. 

"Too late!" Thomas grinned, holding his phone above his head triumphantly, just out of reach from Alexander's hands.  

He groaned. 

--

"Jefferson? Jefferson? You've got to be joking. Please tell me you're joking." 

John pleaded, burying his face into his bedsheets, tossing his phone away from him as if it had betrayed him (which it had. Since apparently everybody knew that Jefferson and Alexander were dating except John).