And Peggy

53

I quickly pulled my hair to the side. "Is it noticeable?"

"No, you're good." Alex said.

I sighed of relief and ran down the steps. Maria and Eliza were talking when we got downstairs. "Hey!" I said smiling.

"Hey." Maria said. "How was your night? John didn't annoy you did he?"

Alex burst out laughing.

"No. He was fine." I elbowed Alex in the side before sitting next to Maria.

"Good because he had his chance to do whatever he wanted. Now, you're all mine." She wrapped her arms around me.

Alex started laughing again.

"Alexander, what's so funny?" Eliza asked.

"Oh, nothing."

I snuggled into Maria. I felt so guilty. She thought she wasn't a good enough girlfriend, but I was the one that wasn't good enough. She deserved way better than me. Being called a slut brought her closer to me. Actually being one wanted me to leave her alone.

"Babes, you seem upset; what's wrong?" Maria asked lifting up my chin so I was looking at her.

"Nothing. I'm fine." What a lie. I wasn't fine. I was freaking out. How was I going to make it up to her without coming clean about what happened? Maybe if I just did small things here and there it would make up for the guilt.

"Glad to hear." She kissed my forehead. "I love you."

"I love you more." I rested my head on her chest.

"Stop making me regret what I did!" John said. "You guys are too adorable!"

"Regret what you did?" Maria asked. "What did you do?"

John just sat there staring.

Alex started laughing again.

I closed my eyes hoping it would all go away. Should I just come clean? Yes. No. Yes. No. Yes. No, I couldn't.

Maria let go of me. "What happened? What did he do?" She asked me.

I looked at Maria. Then John. Then Alex. Then I looked up at the ceiling to try and stop the tears from falling.

"What's that?" Maria snapped.

"What's wha-" Then I realized that my hair must have slid back when I lifted my head up. Shit.

"Aren't you going to answer?"

"That's what I did." John said. "She told me no, but I didn't listen. It's not her fault. Feel free to kill me. I mean my nose is already broken." He looked at Eliza.

"Oh yeah. Sorry about that, again." Eliza laughed nervously.

Maria looked at me and shrugged. "Just tell people it's from me."

"Oh yeah I'll definitely tell my mom that."

"You know what I meant!"

"If anyone sees it and asks, sure, I'll tell them it was you." I rested my head back on her chest.

She wrapped her arms around me and put her head on mine. "Eventually I'll give you one for real."

I pulled away slightly to look at her. "No you won't! I didn't want the first two."

"Wait, he did it another time?" Eliza asked.

"It's John's trademark." Alex said.

"Is that why you don't pull your hair back like everyday? I know you hate when your hair is down."

"That's exactly why."

"Well, John, thanks for marking my girlfriend." Maria said.

"Don't mention it." John said with finger guns.

"Weird flex, but okay." She laughed. "Oh, I almost forgot. Can I spend the night at your house? My mom has been sending me drunk texts since last night. I don't think I should go home."

"Mhm." I hummed leaning close to her again.

"I feel bad that I'm always sleeping over your house."

"Don't worry about it."

"Maria, everyone loves you. It's fine." Eliza smiled. "Especially Cornelia."

"Oh yes, can't forget Lia." Maria said. "It is honestly impossible to."

"Sometimes I wish it wasn't." I said.

"You guys can keep talking, but if I don't get my daily 12 cups of coffee, I'm going to actually die." Alex said walking into the kitchen.

"You probably will die because of caffeine withdrawal." John said.

"John! I kind of need your help. I don't know how to work your fucking coffee maker!" Alex shouted.

"And the withdrawal is starting." John said getting up. "He usually has his coffee by 5:30."

I wore my Heather Chandler blazer to school today because why not?