And Peggy

56

I smiled and hugged Maria. "I love you."

"I love you too." Maria said as she wrapped her arms around me.

"I'm so happy you're my girlfriend. I mean I keep doing things wrong, but you don't care; you turn them into good things between us."

"Listen, Pegs, mistakes happen. It's okay. We're figuring out this relationship one step at a time. It's not like either one of us had a girlfriend before."

"I guess you're right." I leaned in closer to her. Maria kissed my cheek, and I smiled even more.

"Okay, okay. Stop being cute." Alex said pushing us apart.

"What the hell?" I shouted at him.

"You're so sickeningly cute I want to die."

"Oh shut up."

"Yeah, I'll shut up when you guys stop being so adorable." He walked away from us and down the stairs. John followed him.

"Do you want to go down?" Maria asked me.

"Sure." I shrugged. She stood up and reached out her hand for me. I grabbed her hand, and she pulled me up. She interlocked her fingers around mine.

"Coming, Eliza?" She asked.

"Yeah." Eliza smiled as she stood up. The three of us went downstairs and found the boys.

"And now they're holding hands!" Alex complained as we sat down.

"Lex, we are too." John said lifting up their hands.

"Well it's okay when we do it." Alex said. Then he looked to Eliza. "Or us."

"But not us?" Maria asked.

"Nope."

"I think your logic went out the window." I said looking to the window. "Huh, it looks like it's going to storm."

"What?" Alex asked concerned.

"I think it's going to storm."

Alex frantically checked his phone. "Would you look at the time? John, would you mind taking me home?"

"Lex, are you okay?" John asked concerened. "I mean it's not even 10 yet, you don't have to be home until way later."

"Jackie, plea-" Then the storm started; thunder roared and lightning striked. Alex curled up into a ball and started crying without a moments notice.

"Alex?" John said waving his hand in front of Alex's face. "Alex!"

Eliza covered her mouth with her hand. "Guys-" She moved her hand shakily. "He's having a panic attack."

"What?" I said scared. "Will he be okay?"

"He should be fine. My guess is that's why he wanted to leave; he must get them often." Her voice sounded shaky.

"Well is there anything we can do to help?" John asked. His voice sounded shaky too.

"Not really. We just have to let it pass."