Chapter 10: The Biggest Disappointment You Know

About 6:00 AM, Alex woke to a pounding on his door. "Wake up, Alexander," came Angelica's muffled shout from the hallway. "Eliza is arriving today!"

Alex stumbled out of bed and opened the door, glaring at Angelica. "Are you fucking kidding me?" he said.

"Rude." Angelica said, and pushed her way into his room.

"You're rude." Alex grumbled but didn't try to stop her from entering.

"You know that if you're not up and dressed when George and Martha get here, Martha is going to make that face." she said. "Besides, you didn't tell me what happened with John at the bar last night that made you watch epic rap battles of history until 2:00 AM."

Alex scowled. "Nothing." he said petulantly and started digging through the pile of clothes in the corner of his room.

"Lies." Angelica said. "Dish, or I'll tell Martha that you only use that iron she got you when she visits."

"I...I told him." Alex said, without looking at her. "About the kiss."

Angelica raised her eyebrows. "And?" she prompted.

Alex took a deep breath and turned to look at her. "He apologized to me, Ang." he said. "I just...He deserves better than me." Alex dropped onto the edge of bed.

"Oh, Alexander." Angelica said. She crawled over the bed to where he sat and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "You really love him, don't you?" she said.

Alex nodded and dropped his head sideways onto Angelica's shoulder. "As long as you show him that, then you'll be everything he deserves and more, okay?" she said, wiping at her eyes. "Look at what you did." she said. "You've gone and turned me into Eliza."

Alex smiled weakly and sat up. "Thanks, Ang." he said, and hugged her tight. She returned the embrace for several seconds before they both let go and went about getting ready for their guests.

Angelica squealed when a knock sounded at the door an hour later. she threw open the door and wrapped her arms around a ruffled but not entirely surprised Eliza. When they separated Alex was standing behind Angelica, grinning at the two women. "Alexander." Eliza said and wrapped him in a quick hug.

"Where's mom and dad?" Alex asked, looking around.

"They went to get settled in at the hotel." Eliza explained. "They knew I would be staying here so they dropped me off."

She picked up the bag she had dropped when Angelica had hugged her and headed to Angelica's room, Alex and Angelica trailing behind her. "They said to meet them at The Morning Glory at noon and Martha said to 'tell him to bring that boy of his.'"

The Morning Glory was Martha's favorite restaurant and they had at least one meal there every time they visited. Alex rolled his eyes. "He's not really my anything, but I'll tell him." he really need to remember to keep things to himself where his mother was concerned. If he wasn't careful, she'd be picking out flowers for their wedding by the end of the weekend.

He pulled out his phone and texted John.

You up, freckles?

The reply came almost immediately.

I told you not to call me that.

What endearments am I allowed?

Are you seriously quoting Pride and Prejudice right now?

It's Peggy's favorite movie. However I would like to point out that you recognized it.

Yeah, yeah. What did you want?

My parents want to have lunch at noon, do you want to come?

There was a much longer pause this time. Alex nervously put his phone back in his pocket.

"We should go to The Alley tonight." Angelica was saying. "We haven't kicked Alexander's ass at bowling in forever."

Alex shook his head. "I am an excellent bowler. You two cheat."

Both girls put their hands to their chest and gasped. "Slander!" Angelica cried.

Alex felt his phone vibrate and forced himself not to pull it out of his pocket. "You make up rules to give yourself points." he shot back.

"You use the bumpers." Eliza accused.

"Yeah, when I was 15." Alex countered. His phone went off again and he could no longer stand it. He quickly pulled the device out of is pocket and unlocked it.

Sure, sounds like fun.

I have to admit, Freckles is growing on me.

Alex beamed and typed his response.

I'll pick you up at 11:30, Freckles.

"Is that John you're texting?" Eliza asked.

"It's always John." Angelica quipped.

"I was just telling him about lunch." Alex said defensively.

"What about how you want to marry him and have his babies?" Angelica asked. "Did you tell him that?"

Alex glared and Eliza smacked her on the arm. "How are things between you?" Eliza asked.

Alex told her what had happened at the bar last night. By the time he was finished, both Eliza and Angelica, who hadn't heard the whole story yet, sat stunned.

"That poor boy." Eliza said shaking her head.

"Yeah, I think his dad has really messed up what he thinks of himself." Alex said softly.

"You should just go to the benefit with John and punch his dad in the dick." Angelica said, which was a prime example of why John had not bothered asking her to go. Eliza smacked her arm again and looked at Alex.

"I'll go with him, of course." she said.

"Thanks, Liza." Alex said softly. They spent the rest of the time they had before lunch talking of lighter topics. Eliza decided to forgo lunch with the Washingtons in favor of spending some one on one time with Angelica so Alex headed off to pick John up alone.

John paced the floor of his room as he waited for Alex to arrive. He could feel the muscles in his chest tighten and he wished that Herc hadn't gone to the library early this morning.

He was sure that Alex's parents would hate him. Why wouldn't they? And when Alex saw their distaste for him, he would surely lose interest. He shouldn't have agreed to this, he was only going to fuck it up like he had at the bar last night. He had barely slept that night going over that conversation in his mind.

He was such a loser that he couldn't handle a simple conversation about feelings and he couldn't believe that he had kissed Alex in his sleep. Alex had said he wasn't mad but what must he think of someone that lost control of themselves like that?

"Fuck." he said out loud and rubbed the spot in the center of his chest, trying to calm down. His phone went off with a text from Alex saying he was downstairs. John took a deep breath and made his way down, praying he could keep it together.