More Like A Memory

{19}

Alex POV

I took a deep breath, and gave a soft knock on John's door.

"It's unlocked, come in!" I heard John yell.

I opened the door.

As soon as John realized it was me, he jumped up from the couch.

"Alex! Hey, babe," He sounded sort of nervous.

Usually when he sounded nervous, I'd ask him why and give him all of my affection and love, but not that time. I was still pissed about John flaking the entire squad.

"Where were you yesterday?!" I yelled.

Suddenly, all the color drained from John's freckled face, and his expression dropped.

"I-I got lost... and just decided to go to to KFC..." I could hear the uncertainty in his soft voice.

I knew he wasn't telling the truth.

"John, You're horrible at lying," I crossed my arms.

"Why would you think I'm lying?!"

Anger arose slightly in his voice, a sound in which my ears hadn't acclimated to, making me flinch.

"I-I..." I looked away, knowing I didn't have any proof.

John pulled me into a hug, a hug in which I did not return, and whispered, "Listen, I would never lie to you,"

I was torn between trusting my gut, or believing the soft words escaping his lips.

I just cried.

"It's okay, Babygirl," He tried to sooth me.

I felt uncomfortable noticing that his usual scent wasn't on his shirt. That it smelled like coffee and scented candles. His shirts usually smelled like his lavender soap, but it was no longer there. It had been replaced with something that wasn't meant to be.

A few minutes later, we were binge watching Stranger Things and eating endless amounts of Cheeto puffs. However, I was still highly suspicious.

"I'm gonna go use the bathroom, okay?" John said, standing up.

"Alright," I nodded, and watched him walk into the bathroom.

I quickly took John's phone and opened his messages. I scrolled threw his contacts, reading each of their names. I mean, hey, can you blame me?

As soon as I came across one labeled "❤️Francis❤️", I read threw the messages.

[Private Message]

❤️Francis❤️: Hey babe, up for tonight too?

TurtleChild: Of course

❤️Francis❤️: I have another question tho

TurtleChild: Yeah?

❤️Francis❤️: Do you have a boyfriend? I don't want him to be hurt if he finds out what we've been doing

TurtleChild: I don't

❤️Franis❤️: Okay, just making sure

I felt small tears form in the corners of my eyes. I couldn't believe John would purposely lie to me. If he loved someone else, why wouldn't he just say something. It would hurt, but knowing that he was cheating on me hurt ten times worse.

I turned off John's phone, and stuck it back in the place it had once been.

I headed out of John's apartment without saying goodbye, thoughts racing through my head.

Who would I tell about this? Or, could I even tell anyone about it? All of my friends were very defensive, and would probably scold John endlessly, and who knows what Herc would do. I decided it'd be better off if I just kept it to myself until I felt ready, or until I talked to someone I felt comfortable with.