JeffMads Modern AU | Year 1 {Complete}

Take Three

"I still can't believe I agreed to this."

"It's because I'm very convincing."

We sat in Maria's dorm, the only light coming from the "Pretty In Pink" Bath and Bodyworks candles she had lit. (Theo had a collection.) She assured us that Theodosia Bartow, her roommate, had gone out for the night and wasn't coming back.

"Okay so... since we're a cult... we're going to have to worship something..." Maria contemplated as she threw Fruit Loops up and caught them in her mouth.

Alexander was scrolling through Twitter looking for ideas.

I was sitting on Maria's top bunk, stroking her Eevee plush.

"How about... no..." Alexander sighed.

"What if..." I started. I had no ideas. "Never mind."

"Hmm... oh! Alexander?" Maria turned to him.

"What?"

"You're gay, right?"

"Uh... I'm bi—"

"I've had a marvelous idea!" She clapped her hands. "We can be a gay cult."

"Maria..." I said.

"What? C'mon, it'll be fun! Thomas and Veronica can join and, hell, Seabury too! It's going to be great."

I glanced at Alexander, who also seemed unsure.

"Yeah... but what about our reputations?" Alexander clicked off his beat-up phone.

"What about them?" She munched on her cereal.

"If we start a... group like that, what will people say?"

"Why does it matter? I'm not ashamed of it."

"Well, I don't think we should be that public about it--"

"Why don't we let James put his two-cents in, huh?"

They both looked up at me.

"Uh..." Way to put me on the spot. "Maybe the cult can be about something else...?"

Alexander slapped on a smug grin. "See?"

"Bitch." She scooped a pillow off the floor and chucked it at him.

"Hey!" He had a playful expression as he threw it right back at her.

She laughed. "No, no, it's fine. I wouldn't do it without y'all agreeing."

I felt I was third-wheeling.

"Maybe this was a stupid idea..."

"No, it's not stupid," Alexander said softly.

"What about musicals?"

"Okay, now that's stupid."

She giggled.

"Hey," I said, "I'm worn-out... think I'm gonna bail." I slid off of the bunk.

"Right..." Maria glanced from me to Alexander. "I'll walk you out."

"You don't have to..."

She was already standing. "Please. I'll walk you out." She was almost stern.

"Okay, you can walk me out."

When the door was closed she stopped.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"You can't leave me with him."

I was confused.

"I- I just don't like him that much. Huge asshole and all that..." She spoke fast.