My Name Is Alexander

Chapter 2

John's PoV

I finish my homework at eleven. Yawning, I shove my papers and textbooks and computer back into my backpack. Then I go downstairs to get something to eat. My dad's home now, doing paperwork at the table. Hmm what should I have tonight? Cereal? Toast? A bagel? A bagel. I take a bagel and cream cheese out of the fridge and cut the bagel and put it in the toaster. Two minutes later I take it out and spread cream cheese on it before taking it to the table to eat. My dad looks at me as I sit down. "Why are you gay?" He asks me.

"Excuse me?" I blink. He points to my bagel.

"That's gay." He points to my bagel in my hand. "That is very much gay."

"Dad. Eating a food item that possibly resembles that does not make one gay. Being gay makes one gay." I shoot back. "Cream cheese does not signify gayness." I take another bite and decide to eat the rest in my room to avoid my father berating me for supposedly being gay. I walk into my room and put a bagel half on my desk, eating the other, and open up my computer. A YouTube notification pops up and I click on it. 'Trolling Macaroni part I-forgot-what-part-we're-on on CoDM once again' I grin and click on it. Nonstop seventeen-seventy-six has been my favorite YouTuber for years now. I wish he'd do a face reveal. He's said he never plans on doing one due to the fact he would rather walk around and have nobody recognize him then walk around and be swarmed by fans. I respect that. The video starts with his normal, hilarious intro.

---

"Alright folks, thanks for watching me whoop Macaroni's ass once again. Don't forget to sub and smash that like button, we're rising fast and you don't wanna miss it. Once we hit seventy million subscribers, I'll release some merch. You won't wanna miss that, so go subscribe. Anyway, 'till next time, Nonstop seventeen-seventy-six out!" The video ends.

"Hell yeah, I know what I'm getting!" I mutter, finishing the last of my bagel about twenty minutes later. I scroll down to the comment section for the description. Yo, forgot to mention in vid, but I'll be doing livestream/Q and A this Saturday starting at exactly 12 pm USA East Coast time. Yes, Macaroni will be in it as well, and my brother will come in around 12:30 if any of you wanna ask him anything. Ight, peace out. Yes! He hasn't done a livestream since last year, and the last Q and A was two and a half years ago. I'm so excited! Only two days away, I have something to look forward to! I turn my computer off and grab a pair of green pajamas to take a shower.

---

I jump into my bed ten minutes later, my damp blonde hair falling in my face. I brush it to the side and roll over. I hate falling asleep. Most people can fall asleep pretty quickly, but it always takes me forever. Tonight I don't fall asleep until an hour after I get in bed.

Alex's PoV

Sleep is for the weak. Wait, what's sleep again? Oh right. I honestly did forget for a minute there. It's three am and I'm playing Minecraft. Fucking fight me. I'm playing my UCH and trolling kids on it while I'm vanished. Fucking hilarious. Setting them on fire, spawning creepers, taking things from their inventory, the works. There's my signature mixture of black coffee and Redbull at my elbow and I click away. I'm on my alt account and am currently unvanished and engaged in a PvP with two kids. I can hear colors. I haven't slept in two weeks. I'm fine. The colors are talking to me now. I need more Redbull coffee. I chug some and the color's voices fade away. I haven't eaten anything for five days. I'm doing great. I check the time, it's three seven in the morning. I should get off and do my homework. I kill the other kid and exit Minecraft. Stifling a yawn, I turn on my lamp on my desk and grab my backpack from its corner. I rip it open with a sigh and start reading the chapters and taking the notes I need for Science. Then Math. Then History. Then English. Then Law. By the time I finish it's five and I've had three cups of Redbull coffee. I groan softly and shove my textbooks and papers back into my bag and drain the last bit of my drink. Then proceed to grab a dark red shirt and black ripped jeans from my dresser because that's pretty much all I have. On second thought, I trade my shirt for a dark purple one. Rubbing my eyes, I open my door and walk out to take a shower. Yes. At five in the morning. I feel like it. I take my gauges out and turn the water on.

---

Bitch, you ain't getting a walk through of my shower. That shit's private. I take about fifteen minutes. Hey, longer hair requires more time. I have to wash twice with shampoo to make sure it's clean, then use conditioner, let that sit for a few minutes, rinse it out, then I can get out. It takes time. Fuck you. I put my gauges back in and walk into the kitchen for another Redbull. Gilbert is in the kitchen, looking at me disapprovingly. "What?" I snap, glaring up at him. He shakes his head sadly. " 'O should be asleep Alexander." He says softly. "Eet's not 'ealthy for you to be awake for this long."

"Whatever. Move, I need a Redbull. Your hair is starting to talk to me. Always white that starts talking first, I've barely heard any black talk to me." I say, staring hard at his bleached hair. "Shut up. No, I'm not going to sleep! Shut up Gilbert's hair!" I push him out of the way and open the fridge, grabbing a Redbull and chugging it. The voices around me fade away.

"Keep it down, 'o know Dad will be upset if you wake 'im up, and even more upset that 'o steel 'aven't slept." Gilbert warns. I wave at him as I retreat back into my room with the Redbull. School doesn't start until seven, I have about another hour until I have to leave for the bus stop. Because I'm not having Dad drive me. Especially because he's my History teacher. That would make it ten times worse. So no, I'd rather take the bus. I sit on my bed and stare at the spider on my wall. Take another sip of Redbull.

---

It's six, so I have to leave for the bus stop now. "Bye Dad. See you at school." I call, pulling on my combat boots and leather jacket on, chugging a final cup of coffee and making sure my water bottle is full of it. Is it incredibly unhealthy? Yes. But at least I bring another bottle that has water in it. I need my coffee, okay?

"See you soon Alex. And if I hear you're in detention again, you're grounded. I can't have you kicked out of another school, alright? I love you son." He ruffles my hair with his large hand warmly. A tiny smile pulls at my lips.

"Sure. Love you too. Don't embarrass me, 'kay?" He chuckles. "I'll take that as an 'I'll think about it.' C'mon Gilbert, let's get this hellish day over with already." I pull the front door open and walk out. Bus stop is right at the end of the street and I need that time to fix myself. At school, I have an identity. I'm the rebel, the bad boy, the ladies (and boy's) man. I can't be my gaming, Redbull coffee-addicted home self at school. I have a reputation to uphold at school. I slip into 'school mode'. Casual, cocky swagger, slight smirk, hands deep in my jacket pockets, head tilted arrogantly, my hair pulled back in a neat but messy ponytail. The looks I would catch on girls faces in my old school. They wouldn't even try to conceal how hard they were crushing on me. Caught quite a few boys staring at me too, but they always tried to hide it. I get to the bus stop and lean casually against the lamppost, my black backpack hanging from one shoulder. Gilbert, because he's a great slightly older brother, keeps a respectful distance away from me. He knows to keep interaction at a minimum. I love him for that. There's a girl here too, I see her discreetly checking me out from the corner of my eye. I wink at her and grin slightly before ignoring her. I flirt with everyone, and I mean everyone. Guys, girls, and nonbinary pals, even though I've always known I'm gay. Never dated, just casually flirting with multiple people at the same time. Moved on before they think I want something more. Still need a first kiss. Just haven't found the right man. Oh look, the bus is here. It pulls up and I jump in, sitting in the seat right behind the fire exit. It's always been my preferred seat, dunno why. I hate bus rides. I can't read my book. I'll look like a pussy. So I have to stare out the window because I don't want to be on my phone. I spend enough time playing video games already. I really hope Dad won't embarrass me. I'm going to have to watch myself and call him 'Mister Washington' or 'Washington' instead of Dad. He's my homeroom and History teacher, so I get to see him a lot during school. Yay. Can't wait.