I Didn't Ask For Your Help

Chapter 2

*Lafayette's POV*

"So...you wanna talk?" I asked cautiously, still wanting to know what made Alexander so upset he had insisted on lying. Yes, I lied too, but that was irrelevant at the moment.

"I...I guess," Alex said quietly, walking over to where I sat on my bed. I started playing with his hair, admiring it. Everything about him was so precious. How I only wish my family would be able to understand if I brought HIM back to France with me....

"Uh, what did you want to talk about?" Alexander asked, looking at me. God, his eyes were beautiful, like the Iac du Salagou back home.

"I guess I was...just wondering what had happened...at work...." I started mumbling, afraid of stepping on a land mine. He stopped fidgeting, he sat there motionless.

"Alex? Est-ce que ça va?" I asked if he was okay, but he didn't say a word. Had I gone too far? I must have pushed the boundaries of our friendship, he probably didn't trust me like that. Then, I heard crying so soft I wasn't even sure it was real.

"A-Alexander, was it something I said?" I was getting really concerned, what if I had done something awful? He turned to me, tears streaming down his beautiful face.

"Alex, what's wrong!?" He responded by sobbing harder, shaking in my arms.

"I, I can't tell you, you'll h-hate me..." Alex said, lip quivering.

"Mon amour, I promise you that I could never hate you. Please, just...just talk to me..." I said, voice faltering.

*nobody's POV*

Alex, while crying, tinted a slight red when Lafayette said "mon amour". Did he mean it? Alexander was so confused, he just started crying even more. Lafayette continued to hug him, rub his back, anything he could do to comfort Alex.

"Alex," Lafayette said, trying to be stern but his voice cracked, breaking Alex's heart over and over.

"Alex, please...please just TALK TO ME!" Lafayette nearly yelled.

"You're not the only one going through things, Alex! I know it hurts, but please talk to me! Please, I need at least SOMEONE who I love that will talk to me!" Lafayette screamed, his voice going raw and his head spinning, he couldn't stop crying.

Alexander was shocked. Lafayette...loved him? He felt so awful, like he needed to give everything to Lafayette to show him that he was loved, and trusted...but truth be told, Alex was just as terrified. Terrified of a lot. But right now, Alexander looked at Lafayette. He the man he loved, someone beautiful and perfect. Lafayette didn't deserve someone who wouldn't tell him anything and everything, so Alex wrapped his arms around his best friend's waist, burying his face in Lafayette's shoulder.

"If I'm willing to talk...w-will you be willing to listen?" Alex asked, almost scared of the answer.

"...yes," Lafayette answered cautiously, "but only if you're comfortable with telling me."

"You, of all people, deserve the truth."

"Okay, well...I guess I'll just let you talk."

*Lafayette's POV*

I just screamed at the man I love.

C'est quoi ce bordel.

I can't believe I actually screamed that I love him. Maybe he'd forget? Anyway, it was my turn to listen, since he was finally telling me what I had been asking for for the whole day.

"Well, it all started with T-Thomas. During the meeting he...called me something..." Alexander mumbled into silence, clearly trying to avoid mentioning what Thomas had said.

Alex, it's okay if you don't want to, but could you please try to tell me what he said?" I pressed on, not wanting to pressure Alexander.

"Well, he...said something r-really offensive, I...I can't say it, I can't--"

"Alexander. Nothing you say will offend me, I know you are only trying to tell the truth. I need you to tell me, even if it's hard."

"He called me a f*g," Alex said, tearing up again. I wanted to go find Thomas, give him hell, but I knew Alex may not forgive me if I did that. I kept my thoughts to myself, and let him continue.

"He called me a f*g, and then started kicking me...then Mr. Washington walked in on us, and started lecturing Thomas, so he left me alone for the rest of the meeting. A-after the meeting, though, he..."

"Alex, I know that you're still a little scared, but I need to know," I whispered, playing with his hair and pulling him a little bit closer to me.

"I can't, Laf! You'll hate me, you don't understand! I can't lose y-you, too..."

"Please, ami, I could never leave your side. Just...just say it, close your eyes and pretend I'm not here if that makes it easier," I couldn't let him leave it where he had, I needed to know all of the details.

"After the m-meeting, I was getting my papers so I could do them at home, because Thomas and James were staying late to work and I didn't want to be there alone with them. Then Thomas came into my office, and...c-can I just be done?" I could tell this was hard for Alex but I couldn't just let this go.

"No, I need you to finish."

"Okay...Thomas c-came into my office, got me out of my chair and pushed me up against the wall, a-and kissed...me...but it gets worse..."

'How could it possibly get worse?' I think to myself.

"I'm so sorry...I, he, you...I can't do it, Laf. It hurts. My heart aches, I don't think I can manage to tell you...p-please don't make me do this..." He's almost sobbing at this point, words wavering and voice cracking. My heart is ready to shatter, but I can't simply drop this. I need to get it out of him all at once.

"Alexander. You HAVE to tell me what he said! If whatever he did is hurting you this bad, then I need to know so I can help you!"

"I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU!" Alex screamed, voice hoarse, eyes squeezed shut.

"W-what?" I was confused. What did he mean?

"I though you had come in, because his hair was up and you know how it's all curly like yours and he acquired a French accent when he visited there for a few months a-and you're the only person I know who has curly hair and w-wears it in a ponytail, so I kissed back thinking it was you...then he took down his hair, and switched back to his normal v-voice, and called me a f*g again!" Alexander cried.

"Alex, it's okay, you didn't know, it's not your fault..." I pulled him in to a tight hug, letting him sob into my chest, holding his shaking body in my arms.

"Shhh, it's okay, it's okay...it's going to be okay, I'm here for you," I kept him on top of me, felt his body stop shaking, heard his breath slow down.

"T-thank you, Lafayette. Can I tell you something...?" Alex looked up at me, still puffy-eyed.

"Of course."

"Je t'aime," he said hesitantly, like he was scared.

"I love you too Alexander," I told him, hugging him warmly. Did he think I was clingy? I hope not.

"Thank you for being here for me."

"Of course, anything for my boyfriend," I blushed slightly. "But may I please borrow your phone?"

"S-sure," Alex unlocked his phone and handed it to me. I had to call him, but I needed to wait until Alexander fell asleep.