JeffMads Modern AU | Year 1 {Complete}

God Awful Dates & Tears of the Enemy

Thomas brought me to Olive Garden.

So yay, breadsticks.

Listen, I wasn't disappointed, I was actually pleased with going to Olive Garden, but Thomas wouldn't talk to me. He's the one who asked me on a date. I tried so hard to make conversation, he just wouldn't. I didn't know what I did wrong, because Thomas was always talking. And I mean always.

The waitress had come to ask if we wanted dessert.

"Would you like dessert?" She asked.

"I dunno, would you like desert, James?"

"No thanks, I'm good." I gave him a soft smile, because he still seemed so nervous.

"We'll take the apple crostata, thank you."

"Yep." She walked away.

Thomas stared at me. "So..."

"Yes?" Maybe he was going to actually have a conversation with me.

"Is John okay? I heard what happened and I know you went to the hospital..."

"Oh." That's cool. Let's just talk about some other dude on our date. "Yeah, well I think he'll come around. But I don't know for sure."

"Good." He nodded absentmindedly.

"Yeah, I mean I don't know him that well but I do hope he is fine." I shrugged my shoulders.

Thomas just nodded again.

Well this was going great.

We sat in silence until the desert came.

Then we sat in silence as we ate the apple crostata.

Thomas payed and then we left, walking to the bus stop. We sat on the bench.

"James I'm sorry."

"What do you mean?" I looked at him, his face was shadowy, the only light from the street lamp.

"That was a god awful date. I'm just really stressed with John, and it wasn't fair to you. It's just John is my friend, he has been for awhile, before we even got to college. I-"

"It's okay. We can have a do-over. I'll plan it." I smiled.

He let out a sigh. "Thanks, I would like that. James, I l-" Thomas' phone started ringing. "It's Alex-"

I gave him a nod.

"Alex? ...ohmygodimcomingrightnow." He hung up.

"What's wrong?"

We were both standing now.

"I gotta go- I mean, can you come with? Will you come with?" He put a hand on my shoulder. "Please."

"Yeah, of course."

"Thank you." He let his hand drop away from my shoulder.

Conveniently, to keep the scene going, the bus pulled into the stop. We obviously got on but got off at stop 5, instead of 3, like we were going to.  The hospital looked eerie in the dead of night, yet as soon as we get inside, everything was moving as normal.

We went up to the third floor and a helpful nurse led us to John's room.

Alexander was sitting in the chair, holding John's hand, tears running down his face. On the other hand John looked peaceful, for a moment though, my heart caught in my chest. I thought he was dead, before I saw the slow rise and falling of his chest.

"They said-" Alexander started, "the doctors said he doesn't have long, and that I could take him home... but what was I supposed to do? Bring him to a stinky college dorm room to d-die?" He shook his head, still crying.

Thomas walked over to Alexander and put a hand on his back. "You know you chose correctly, keeping him here, I know he wouldn't want to see his dad."

Alexander nodded.

I wasn't sure what Thomas had meant but I didn't dare press. I didn't feel connected to the moment, until recently Alexander had just been another mean kid, but seeing this side of him was just weird. I didn't know John, Alexander, or hell, even Thomas that much. I felt like an intruder.

Alexander and Thomas were still speaking to each other when I slipped out. I figured I'd just go get a water or something.

I leaned against the wall and pulled out my phone to check the time. It was 9:15, not even that late. I suspected that the hospital had specific visiting hours and we'd be kicked out soon. Or just me. Probably me. I didn't have any relation to John, so I wouldn't be allowed to stay. Most likely.

After awhile of scrolling through Instagram a nurse walked by.

"Excuse me, miss, but could you point me in the direction of a water fountain?"

She stopped. "Yeah, sure. Go around that corner and the 3 door on the left is a kitchen."

"Thank you."

When I got there I changed my mind and made myself some coffee.  There wasn't any good creamer so it tasted bitter, nothing like the Starbucks crap I was so accustomed to. 

I was about halfway back to the room when I passed the nurse again. But this time she was running. I stepped aside to let her pass but she stopped in front of me.

"Are you a visitor of John's?" She said breathlessly.

"Yeah... I am. Is everything alright?"

"You might want to get in there..." She gave me a look of sympathy.

I just nodded, then took off down the hall to see what was happening.

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