My Name Is Alexander

Chapter 6

Alex's PoV

I open up my emails on my computer. Junk, junk, junk, an invite to VidCon, more junk. I sigh. VidCon's been trying to get me to come out to Cali for the past three years. I've declined every time. But this time, I hesitate. John just said that he hopes I'll make an appearance there this year. So now I actually have a reason to go. For once, I don't trash the email. I stand up with a sigh and head to the living room. "Hey Dad?"

"Yes Alex?" He asks, pausing The Office.

"If you could take a vacation to Cali this summer, would you?" I ask him.

"Why are you asking? Are you hoping to go to Universal or something?"

"No. Just, if you could go this year, would you want to, for about a week?"

"Well, yes, it would be nice to go to California. It would be a nice change of scenery."

"Alright. Thanks Dad." I retreat back to my room, thinking. I know for a fact that Gilbert would agree to go immediately. And Dad says he's down for a trip. John wants me to go. I have the money to get us all tickets. I haven't done a face reveal. I'm the third most popular YouTuber and haven't done a face reveal in five years. This might be my chance. I have nothing holding me back other than the fact that I would be swarmed by fans every second of every day. I don't know if I can handle that. Well, I have two months to think about it. I open up the email and send a quick reply saying that I'll think about it. When I made my video, I added a link to my brand-new merch website as I just hit seventy million subscribers today. Hoodies, shirts, mugs, water bottles, hats, fuck, I even made stickers 'cause I fucking felt like it, and much more. Gotta appeal to my younger subscribers too. My logo? A teal circle with "N-S 1776" in black on it. Not flashy, but I ain't a flashy guy. Okay I kinda sound like a hypocrite. I ride a motorcycle that I keep sparkling clean. But that thing is my baby, I love it. Other than that, I ain't too flashy. I yawn. The Redbull's wearing off. I need sleep. I need to think about this tomorrow. Not today.

---

I wake up three hours later. I roll over with a groan and see that John's texted me. ❤John❤: Yo Nonstop finally released his merch!!! You ordered any yet??? I grin at my closet, which has one of my own shirts in it, in black.

Me: Yeah, I ordered before I even started watching the video. Moment he said he released his merch, I clicked the link like there's no tomorrow

❤John❤: Same!!! Same day shipping?

Me: Hell yeah! What color(s)?

John: Yellow! You?

Me: Aww, you'd look cute in yellow. I got black. Do I really wear any other color?

❤John❤: Good point. I'm so excited! We finally got merch! I bet by tomorrow, everyone's going to be wearing his stuff

Me: Wouldn't doubt it. Even Thomas is bound to be wearing one of his shirts or a hat. They're like, best friends

It's weird talking about myself like I'm a different person.

❤John❤: I wonder if they know each other irl, or if they have any plans to meet if they don't know each other

Goddamn, I gotta get on that. I want to tell him who I am. I've known him since I was ten. And I honestly feel kinda bad about not telling him immediately it's me. I want him to know.

Me: Fuck, I gtg, my brother's calling me. Ttyl!

I lied. I'm just done talking. I need to be alone now. I'm going to go on a walk. I need to think. There's fifteen things pounding in my head and I need to clear my head. "I'm going for a walk! Goodbye!" I yell, walking out into the outside world. I hiss like a cat and squeeze my eyes shut as I emerge into sunlight. It hurts. My eyes adjust after a minute and I just walk down the street. I don't pay attention to where I'm going, I'm lost in my own world. That is, until I crash into someone. "Aw shit, sorry man!" I cry, reeling backwards. "That was my fault, I should pay attention to where I'm going." I laugh lightly. He has short, tousled brown hair and brown eyes, a white t-shirt and jeans. I hold my hand out. "Hamilton." He shakes it.

"Meade, Richard Meade. Nice to meet you."

"Likewise. What're you doing?" Hey, don't judge me. This is America, you can normally find out a person's life story in the first ten minutes of meeting them, and then never see them again.

"I'm just going on a walk to take a break from homework." He says, continuing to walk. I fall into step beside him.

"Same here man, but I'm just taking a break from life." I say, kicking a rock carelessly. He smiles. "I need to get on my homework, but I haven't had the energy to. My dad cut me off from caffeine, only two cups a day. I need to try to convince him to let me have three."

"What'd you do?" He asks curiously.

"I stayed up playing video games and I fell asleep. I hadn't slept in two weeks before that. My dad says it's for my own good, but I need my mixture of Redbull and coffee to survive. It seriously sucks." I explain. My phone vibrates. "Hang on, it's gonna be my brother." I stop and answer my phone. "Yes, Your Majesty?" I answer.

"Shut up." He snaps. I grin.

"What'dya want Gilbert?"

"Just checking in on 'o. O're still awake? O're not falling asleep?"

"I'm fine Gilbert. I'll come home in twenty minutes, okay?" I ask, my voice softening.

"Alright. I love 'o Alex."

"Love ya too. See ya in twenty." I hang up. "He's just checking in on me. I fell asleep at the park earlier and my friend had to bring me and my motorcycle back to my house himself. My brother was pissed." I chuckle softly. "Anyway, I got twenty minutes to hang, if you want."

"Sure." He says. I grin. See this is why America's awesome. You crash into a random dude on the street and then you're suddenly best friends. It's great.

John's PoV

There's a knock at the door. I open it promptly like my father said. I stand to the side as a girl my age and her father walk in. She has brown hair a little past shoulder length and warm brown eyes, light skin, and a light green dress. She smiles at me through thick eyelashes and I force one in return. "John Laurens." I hold my hand out and she takes it delicately.

"Martha Manning. It's nice to meet you." She says sweetly.

"Likewise." I say with forced politeness. "Would you like to join me in my room?"

"Alright." She agrees. My father shoots me an approving look. I try not to roll my eyes. I don't want to do this. But as long as she doesn't try to flirt with me, I should be fine.

I'm high

-Bottomless