One Last Time //Lams//University AU//Part 1

Chapter 8

November 19th 2017
Wednesday

Alex POV
It had been a few days since I went on my date with John, in fact, we had been on another one since. Finally the time had come and John asked me to be his boyfriend, of course I said yes. We had a pretty open relationship with the group.

It was Wednesday and classes had just ended when I was called into Mr Washington's office, I figured it was our regular chat about school because we've been having them since I arrived, he says he sees me as a son. To be honest, I see him as the father I never had. Don't tell him I said that.

I walk into his office, he doesn't have his usual smile on his face, I get nervous. He points to one of the two chairs in front of his desk and I take a seat.

"Alexander we have received some news from the government about you." he said and my nervousness immediately increased. "They tell me the last member in your family died and you have no living relatives, or any guardian for that matter." I look down, I hadn't told him about my cousin dying.

"Son, why didn't you tell me?" he asked, "I-I..." I said but couldn't finish the sentence, he exhaled, "The reason I called you in here today is because of your age, you are not legally able to look after yourself." I looked back up at him with wide eyes, "What are you saying?" I asked afraid of the answer, "I mean that you will be sent to an orphanage, granted it'll only be for a couple years until you turn 18, but you will be forced to resign from this school."

I stayed silent. Eyes wide, holding back tears. "That being said, if you were to get adopted last minute by someone you would be allowed to stay." he continued. I looked at him confused, "B-But who would adopt me?" I asked. He opened his desk and pulled out a bunch of papers and put them in front of me.

"I've talked it over with my wife and she couldn't bare the thought of you going into an orphanage, I don't want to lose my best student either." he said, I looked at the papers, they were adoption papers with my name on them. "Of course it's completely up to you, but if you say no, Martha will give you a peice of her mind."

I look back up at him, he was smiling, I felt tears come to my eyes, "You m-mean it?" I asked, "Of course I do!" he laughed, I covered my mouth to stop myself from choaking. Washington got up and walked towards me, he sat down in the other chair and placed his hand on my shoulder, "So?" he asked, I nodded my head and he pulled me into a hug. I was so happy.

"Thank you." I said softly. The papers needed to be signed by a lot of people so it would take a little bit but at least I wasn't going to an orphanage. Don't think I'll be calling him 'Dad' anytime soon though.

I leave his office and walk down the hall heading to my dorm where the group would most likely be. As I'm walking I start to remember things I really wish I hadn't. And I lose my happy glow immediately.

I could hear the beeping of the monitor, I open my eyes to see a white room, I'm lying in a bed, it's a hospital bed. I look over to see my mother, she looks so pale. A few nurses rush in to check on me. After a few minutes they leave and I get up, I walk over to my moms bed, she opened her eyes a little, "Alex..." she said, I climbed into the bed with her, she held onto me. We stayed like that for a little bit until-

NO! I WILL NOT RELIVE THAT MOMENT!

I can feel the tears streaming down my face, thank God no one is wondering the halls right now.

I get to my dorm and open the door to find my friends all sitting silently playing genga on the coffie table. They looked so focused it was kinda funny, they're normally so loud and obnoxious. I look to my right to see John standing right by the door on his phone, probably waiting for me. "Hey baby." he says looking up from his phone at me, his smile drops. He puts his hand on my cheek and his thumb gently under my right eye wiping away my tear.

"You okay?" he asked worried, I look over at the rest of the group, they hadn't even noticed me yet, they were so focused on not knocking over the tower of little wooden blocks. Rude.

I look back into John's eyes and shake my head no. "You wanna talk about it?" he asked, I shake my head again, "Wanna sit in your room and watch Miranda on your laptop?" he asked, I smile a little, and nod my head yes.

He smiles too and takes my hand leading me to my room, leaving the rest of the group to their silent game of genga, although it wasn't silent for very long because someone clearly knocked it over and there were yells of joy and anger for a full minute before they built the tower again and went back to being silent.

John put on Miranda and I snuggled up to him. I'm so happy I met him... Damn this is by far my favorite musical.