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

Chapter 22

December 30th 2017
Tuesday

Alex POV
John has been staying with us for a few days now. It's so nice to be with him again.

We're cuddling on the couch watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S while Bella plays with her toys on the floor in front of us, I look outside. It stopped snowing and now it's just a field of white.

Bella looks up to see what I'm looking at, "Ooh! Can we go play in the park?" she asks excitedly, I look at John and he shrugs his shoulders, "Okay then." I say switching off the TV.

Bella cheers happily and runs upstairs to grab her sweater, "Let me just get something more warm." I say getting up off the couch as John goes to put on his boots. I run upstairs to my room shutting the door so I can put on a long sleeved shirt so I don't freeze to death.

I take off my shirt and grab another one when my door opens, it's Bella. She looks at me worried. She walks over to me and touches the scar on my stomach, "What's that?" she asks.

I look down and realize what she's talking about, "Oh, I hurt myself pretty bad last month so I had to get stitches." I say, she looks up at my arms, "Why are you covered in scratches?" I have no idea how to answer that.

I kneel down, "Well, sometimes people don't feel happy so they hurt themselves because they think it will help them. It doesn't help though so it's not a good thing to do." I say trying to explain it best as I can to a five year old. "Are you one of those people?" she asks, I nod my head, "But, I'm trying to stop."

The door opens a bit more and John walks in, he looks at me and his expression changes, "Bella can you wait outside? I need to talk to Alexander." he says and I get worried. She nods her head and walks out my room, I stand up. John walks to me and gently takes my arms.

"What happened?" he asks, "...panic attack." I say quietly, "I couldn't do your method... I needed to do something..." I say trying not to cry, "Please don't be mad."

He runs his hands up my arms to my shoulders, "I'm not mad Alexander." he says and pulls me into a hug, I hug him back. We break apart and I put on my shirt and a sweater. He grabs something out of his bag and we walk out and down to the door. Bella has her boots and her coat on.

I slip my boots on and pull my coat over my shoulders. We walk outside into the cold, "I much prefer summer." I say and John laughs. We walk to the park which isn't much of a park and more of a cloud.

Bella runs off to the playground leaving John and I alone. "There was something I wanted to give you for Christmas." John says pulling a little box out of his pocket, he opens it to reveal the cutest little bracelet with a star on it, "Oh my God..." I say as he takes it out, he gently takes my arm and puts the bracelet on my wrist.

"It's beautiful." I say and kiss him, I wrap my arms around his neck and he puts his hands on my waist, "Thank you." I say quietly, he kisses my cheek, "You're welcome."

"John, come push me!" Bella calls from the swings, we pull apart and I laugh as he walks to her. I turn around from them and examine the bracelet. It's silver with a small star and a few moons scattered around, it's beautiful.

I'm about to turn back to them when I feel someone right by my ear, "Hey there." they say right into my ear, I freeze recognizing the voice and choise of words. "You know, it's not nice to not respond when people wish you a merry Christmas."

My heart beat increases as my breathing fastens. He wraps how arms around me from behind and pulls me closer to him, he puts his hand on my chin and tilts my head backwards so I'm looking him in the eye, "It's also not nice to not respond when someone calls you beautiful."

I close my eyes and try to calm myself down.

"Hey. Leave him alone."

Jefferson let's go on my chin and waist and turns around to see John. I walk forwards and turn around so I'm facing the both of them but at a safe distance. "Laurens. What a nice surprise." Jefferson says in a sarcastic tone as John glares at him. Bella runs to me and hugs my waist.

"Have you not learned? Or do you just want me to break something else?" John asked in a cold tone, Jefferson laughed. "Sure."

I didn't want a fight to break out, especially considering Bella is right here and there will probably be consequences of getting blood all over the snow. "John, let's just go. Please." I say quietly but loud enough for them to hear.

Jefferson turns back around and walks towards me, he lifts my chin so we're face to face, "Leaving so soon?" he asks, my eyes widen in fear. Then something lightly punches Jefferson in the leg. He looks down to see Bella, "Get off!" she yells punching him again.

"Whose this?" he asks confused letting go of me, I pull Bella away from him and John walks around him and up to me, "Get lost." he says. Jefferson smirks, "Fine. I'll go. See you in school Lexi." and with that, he turns and leaves.

I sigh letting my hot breath make white clouds in the cold air, Bella clings onto my hand, "Who was that?" she asks, "Someone not good." I reply and she looks back at him as he walks down the street. "You okay baby?" John asks worried, "I'm fine. He didn't do anything." I say.

I pick up Bella and put her on my shoulders, "Let's just go home. We can have some hot chocolate." I say and Bella cheers in delight. "Are you sure you're okay? He seemed a bit...different." John says.

I just shake my head, "I'm alright." he sighs and nods. We walk home and I go make hot chocolate while John entertains Bella.

I sit with my head on the counter while I wait for the water to boil. "What is up with him?" I wonder, "Why is he so... Obsessive and controlling? We broke up like two years ago yet he's still so-" my train of thoughts gets cut off by John walking into the kitchen.

"Hey baby, you alright?" he asks. No point in hiding it from him anymore is there? I pull out my phone and click onto the message Jefferson sent me on Christmas eve.

He reads it and then looks at me worried, "Is this why you had a panic attack?" he asks and I nod my head silently. He sits down next to me and wraps his arm around my shoulder. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

I stay silent for a moment. "It's not really that important. And it's definitely not what you should be thinking about right now." I say and John looks at me sadly. "Alexander, it's not what I should be thinking about. It's what I want to think about. I want to care about you, and I do."

I look at him, "You mean the world to me and you may not believe so but I would much rather worry about you then about school." I laugh and lay my head on his shoulder, "Thank you, John." I say. The kettle finishes boiling and I pour us three mugs of hot chocolate. I take mine and Bella's and John takes his.

We walk out into the living room and I hand Bella her mug. John puts F.R.I.E.N.D.S back on and we snuggle back up to each other.

John kisses the top of my head, "I love you." he says quietly, I lean my head back against his chest, "I love you too."