Forever and Ever // Lams

Ups and Downs

ALEXANDER'S POV

I dropped the blade on the ground in surprise. Why hadn't I closed the door?

"Alex, you can't do that. I know you and John had a small argument, but even if you started full- on hating each other you shouldn't do that." He looked worried, and it made me feel even worse. I hated when people felt bad for me, or really cared about me in general.

"Herc, just leave me alone..." I sighed.

"Not if you're going to cut yourself." Retorted Hercules.

"I--" I stopped, surprised, when Hercules walked over and took the blade off the ground.

"I'm throwing this away, then taking out the trash. And Laff is watching you while I'm gone for a minute."

I scowled at him. "I'm an adult, I don't need to be watched like a preschooler."

"Preschoolers are watched so they don't do anything dangerous or stupid. Same reason why Laff has to watch you." Herc called for Laff and told him to watch me.

I angrily sat at the kitchen table, scrolling through instagram as Laff sat across from me, doing the same and glancing up at me every once in a while.

What I really wanted to be doing is texting John, but I decided reluctantly to give him some space.

LAURENS' POV

I was riding around aimlessly, when I got a call. I parked in a random parking lot and answered, slightly worried because Hercules never called unless it was an emergency.

"Hello?"

"John, you need to get back here right now. I found Alex in the bathroom about to cut himself!" Said Herc's voice angrily.

"Oh God..." I whispered. "Herc, I have to do one thing and then I'll come home as soon as possible."

"You better hurry, Laurens." Replied Herc, then he hung up on me.

I gripped my handle bars so hard that my knuckles turned white.

I drove so fast that I broke multiple speed limits. Finally, I got to Jefferson's massive house. I knew how to get here because I'd been invited to one party here at the beginning of the school year.

I parked then walked up the short sidewalk and pounded on the door. Jefferson answered it shirtless, with a small James Madison standing behind him nervously.

"Hello Jacky." He drawled.

Fury pumped through my veins, and my fist instantly made contact with Jefferson's jaw. He got pushed back and fell onto Madison, which sent them both tumbling to the ground.

I kicked Jefferson in the stomach and he convulsed in pain. I regretted it slightly, I wasn't a violent person at all, but instantly that regret was swallowed up by rage.

"P-Please stop, Laurens!" Yelled Madison, as he jumped to his feet, nervously wringing his hands.

I rounded on him, but decided he didn't deserve to be beat up. Not yet at least.

Jefferson got to his feet and punched me in the face while simultaneously kicking my leg. The pain made me fall to the ground and Madison quickly pinned me down, although he still looked very nervous. I now wished I had punched him before.

Jefferson stood over me, a smug look on his face despite the small trickle of blood dripping down his chin.

"Awww, poor little Jacky. He came to protect his fat, arrogant, anti-charismatic, extreme embarrassment of a boyfriend, but realized too late he's just too weak." He mocked.

I flung Madison off of me and jumped up. I jabbed Jefferson in the chest so hard he stumbled back slightly.

"Do NOT call me Jacky." I snarled.

"Whatever you say, Jacky." He laughed and I punched him in the same spot I had before, causing a nearly instant bruise.

I pounded my fists into him over and over until Madison finally was able to grab my hands and hold me back. He turned me around and pushed me out the open front door.

"Please, get out of our house, Laurens. And never come back!" Yelled Madison, and I flipped him off as I walked to my motorcycle.

I drove home quickly, wondering if I shouldn't have done that, if I should've just let the whole thing blow over, if I should've just yelled at that bastard instead of resorting to physical violence.

I got back and ran inside, took the elevator up to the 6th floor, and knocked on the door of my own home. I had forgotten my keys.

Laff answered and when he saw me, he blocked the door and turned.

"Alexander, do you want John to come in, or should I lock zis man out?" He called out.

"Let him in, Laff." Replied Alexander, his voice monotone and tinged with sadness.

I walked in and rushed over to Alex.

"Alex, are you ok? You didn't actually cut yourself did you?" I gave him a big hug, and luckily he returned it.

"I'm fine, John." He murmured. "Well, now that you're back, I'm fine." He added.

We broke apart and I sat down at the table next to him.

"John, your face is bruised, what happened?" Asked Alex, concerned.

"Jefferson.." I mumbled, then told him the whole story.

I expected him to be angry, but in the end, he kissed me.

"Thank you so much, Jacky!" He said excitedly.

"Thank you? I thought you would be mad!"

He looked at me in shock. "Why the hell would I be mad? You just beat up the man who told the whole school everyone's secrets and blamed me for him burning down the school!"

I smiled at him, glad that his brown eyes were filled with happiness once more.

"Well, I--"

I was cut off by Alex's phone ringing for the second time today.

"It's the school." He said nervously as he answered the call and put it on speaker.

"Mr. Hamilton?" Said Washington's voice.

"This is him." Replied Alex, and I nearly laughed at how quickly Alex's voice had gone from excited to serious.

"We have done some investigating, and found that the threatening texts were actually sent from Mr. Madison's number, meaning you are off the hook. Well, almost off the hook. When we called Mr. Madison, he said Mr. Laurens had just come to his house and beat up Jefferson. Care to explain?" He asked cooly. "By the way, hello Laurens, I know you're there."

I sighed. "I did, Mr. Washington. But he also punched me, so--"

"John Laurens, that is unacceptable behavior! Even off of school property, your actions are still important to the school. When we are back in session, you will be punished." I noticed Mr. Washington didn't sound as angry as I thought he would, and I wondered for a moment if he was a bit happy I had beat up Jefferson, although he'd never admit it.

"That's fair, sir." I replied.

"I'll see you two when school is back in session. Have a nice day." Washington hung up.

Alex and I looked at each other, grins slowly spreading across our faces.

"Let us celebrate with cream of ice!" Exclaimed Lafayette, making us both jump. We had forgotten he was standing there.

"Ice cream, Laff." Said Hercules as he walked out of the bed room.

"Close up, Hunkules! We're getting cream ice!" Replied Laff.

"Ice cream!" Herc, Alex, and I all corrected at once and we laughed.

I was so glad that Alex and I were together, and that we had such amazing friends.