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

Chapter 25

January 5th 2018
Monday

Alex POV
I woke up this morning in a not so good mood. I should be happy because school's staring tomorrow but it's just one of those days, you know? You wake up feeling really depressed. Like the world is crumbling around you and you just need a hug. But you don't say anything to anyone because you don't want to be a burden to them so you keep it to yourself and go about the day with a fake smile and people realize you don't look alright but when they ask if you're okay you respond with, 'I'm fine.', making up some cliche excuse and walk away when inside you're really dying. Sorry, I'm just being dramatic. I'm fine.

I've packed up my room and have started bringing my bags to the sisters car that's waiting outside.

"Nooooo! Don't go!" Bella yells clinging onto my leg while I drag my bags downstairs.

"I have to!" I say trying to shake her off, "Why?!" she asks not letting go, "Because I have to go to school, I will come back to visit." I say, she let's go of my leg and I bring my bags down to the car, "Finally! What took you so long?" Angie asks and I load my bags into the trunk.

"Bella doesn't want me to leave." I say, she runs back out and hugs me around my waist, "I'll miss you!" she says, I kneel down and hug her properly, "Aww, I'll miss you too."

She let's go of me and I get into the car, "See you soon!" I say as we drive away.

"She's so freaking cute." Angelica says as we drive to the school, "Took me two hours to get out of the house." I say and Peggy laughs. We get to the school and grab our bags heading up to the dorms. "We'll meet in your dorm in an hour." Eliza says to me once we get to my dorm, "See you later." I say and they walk to their dorms.

I enter my dorm to be greeted by Lafayette lying on the couch on his phone, "Hey!" he yells looking up at me happily. "Hey, how are you?" I ask, "I'm good mon ami! And you?" I shake my head, "I've been better." I say. He puts his phone down.

"What's up?" he asks, I put my bags down and sigh, "I'm turning 17 in six days." I say, "Thats right! You are! Why are you upset about it?" he asks, "Well let's start with the fact that I told John I'm already 17 and turning 18." I say and he sighs.

"You need to tell him." Laf says, "I know, I know." I say, "There's something else isn't there?" he asks reading my facial expression. "Well, yeah. I've never been fond of my birthday but this is my second birthday with Jefferson and the last time I had a birthday with him... Well, you know it didn't go well." I say, he nods his head, "Yeah, you also need to tell John about that." he says.

I sigh again and drag my bags to my room and begin to unpack. I finish and walk back out sitting down on the couch next to Lafayette, I switch on F.R.I.E.N.D.S and Laf sits up to watch it with me, he loves F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

We watch like two episodes and then someone knocks on the door. I get up to open it, it's Herc and Eliza. "Hey guys." I say letting them inside. Eliza sits on the floor and Herc sits on the couch as Laf scoots onto his lap.

"Is John here yet?" I ask Herc and he shakes his head, "He said he got held up at home." Herc says, I nod my head and walk into the kitchen to get a glass of water.

I really should tell John the rest of my backstory, I trust him and I really care about him. He deserves to know.

The door opens and Peggy and Angie walk in, "Hey guys!" Peggy says taking a seat on the arm of the couch. "I ordered Pizza, John isn't here yet is he?" Angie says grabbing one of the chairs at the table and dragging it to the couch.

"Not yet." Laf says looking in my direction, I look away putting my glass down on the counter. "Hey Alex, you okay?" Eliza asks worried, I turn back to them, they're all looking at me, "Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just tired." I say, "You wanna go lie down?" Angie asks and I nod my head walking back to my room.

I shut the door and sit on my bed, I pull out my phone to text John.

[tomcat has entered the chat]

tomcat: Hey, where are you?

[gayturtle has entered the chat]

gayturtle: Sry babe, I'm having trouble at home. Will be there at 6

[gayturtle has left the chat]

[tomcat has left the chat]

I check the time, it's 15:04. He's not gonna be here for another three hours. I sigh and lie down, I stare at the ceiling for what feels like a year to me. My door opens and Eliza walk in, she sits on the bed next to me.

"Are you sure you're okay? You seem a little off." I shake my head, "I'm great." I say in what might be the most unconvincing voice I've ever heard anyone use. "There's some left over pizza, you want any?" she asks, I sit up to check my phone, 16:54. Oh my God it's been almost two hours!

I lie back down, "I'm just gonna stay here." I say, Eliza nods getting up and leaving. I turn onto my side so I'm facing my bookshelf, I stare at it for a good half hour before my door opens again, I don't bother to look up because it's probably just Eliza again.

"Hey, the others say you seemed a bit down." said a soft voice, I sit up, it's John. He holds out his hand for me and I take it, he pulls me into him and I cling onto his shirt as he hugs me.

We just hug in silence for a bit. It feels so nice to be in his arms, I don't realize I'm crying until hear myself take a jagged breath. He lifts my head and wipes my eyes with his sleeve, "Hey, it's alright..." he says softly, "Shh."

He pulls me back into a hug as I begin to sob, a lot of built up pain and depression come flooding out. He rubs my back reassuringly. Another few minutes pass and I stop crying. "You wanna go get some Pizza? The guys ordered another box when I arrived." I nod my head and wipe my eyes before standing up.

We walk out of my room, the guys were once again playing genga on the coffee table. They look up as we sit down on the couch. John hands me a slice of pizza. They look at me worried but don't question which I'm glad they didn't. I don't know what the answer would have been anyways.

They continue to play genga and John puts F.R.I.E.N.D.S back on. I cuddle up to him and eat the pizza. He makes everything so much better... I'm so glad he didn't turn out like Jefferson.