CHAPTER 14:

John lay with his head on Lafayette's chest, listening to his heartbeat and lazily watching the scenes of a boring hallmark movie play out on the screen in front of them. He could hear Lafayette clicking away on his phone, tapping out some message to someone that John couldn't care less about over his back. In between his furious typing, and the sounds of messages being sent and received, his best friend ran his hands up and down John's back, petting him lazily in a soothing way. This was all he had wanted to do today and he was blissfully content to just stay laying there nuzzled up to Lafayette without a care in the world.

The French man heaved a sigh then, and John noted the hint of annoyance in it. "Je n'y crois pas," he muttered more to himself then anyone else. "Tu ne peux rien faire sans moi?"

John shifted his head to look up at Lafayette's face. "Is everything okay?" he asked.

"I am working with a new manager, she thinks she needs my approval for. Every. Little. Thing. Bonjour Monsieur Lafayette, dites-moi quelles couleurs préférez-vous? Voulez-vous la robe courte ou la longue?" His tone was mocking and he rolled his eyes to further display his annoyance.

"Voulez-vous une pipe ou une branlette que vous voudriez mieux aujourd'hui?" John replied, smiling as Lafayette chuckled even though he had to turn his head away because the bouncing of the man's chest hurt his neck.

"That is exactly what it feels like. Non non mademoiselle, I hired you to do a job so that I would not have to. Why do you come crying to me about all of these things?"

"How new is she?" John asked.

"Only two weeks. I hired her two days after I got here. She is supposed to look after the new store opening in a month."

"Store?" John said, again turning his face up towards Lafayette's. "You have a store now?"

"Non, it is not so much mine as I am just on the paperwork for the time being. A friend wanted to open her own beautiful store. You know, like Collete," Lafayette explained. "I am just a financial investor and business partner, so I get a say in some of the decisions being made. But I do not want to have this much say." He sighed and started immediately replying to a new message after it came in. "I will have to get up early tomorrow and go into town to address this."

"It must be nice to be able to do whatever job you want whenever you want and still not have to worry about money," John replied dryly.

"When you want to stop listening to ton papa and do as you please I will buy you a restaurant. Until then do not tell me how I should spend my money."

"What if I don't want a restaurant?" John asked.

"I will buy you whatever business you wish to occupy your time with then, but only if you are sure and it makes you happy." Lafayette set his phone down on the coffee table, though the chime that another message had came through made him sigh.

"So, are you taking on any other jobs while you're here?" John asked.

"I was considering giving dance lessons again, but I do not think that would be very wise right now." He brought a hand up to pet John's head and kissed at the crown of it. "Opening a store is very busy work it would seem. I might need to stay focused on that for now."

John was just nuzzling his face back down against his best friend's chest when the front door opened and Thomas's voice boomed excitedly, "GUESS WHO HAS A DAAAAATE TO GO SEE A MAJOR BROADWAY PLAY NEXT WEEK?!" Immediately, John was made to sit up as Lafayette moved to greet him in his own excitement.

"REALLY?! YOU ASKED HIM AND HE SAID YES?!"

"HE SAID YES! I HAVE A DATE!"

"A DATE DATE!"

"I HAVE A DATE DATE!"

John rolled his eyes from where he remained sitting on the couch as Lafayette screamed and jumped up and down excitedly for Thomas. "Congratulations," he told Thomas after the screaming had stopped enough for John to be heard. "James seems like a nice guy, too bad he wants to date you." He didn't mean that to sound so salty, or for Thomas's mirth to disappear so suddenly.

"You are just jealous because Thomas has a date and you have yet to ask anyone out for yourself, ever," Lafayette said, oblivious to the looks the other two exchanged for a brief moment. "But you can try to change that when we go out and celebrate tonight!"

"Go out...where?" Thomas asked, looking between the two.

"A bar I know that will have lots of boys for John to pick from when he tried to pick one up. And good drinks for you to celebrate your new boyfriend."

"John is going to pick up a guy?" Thomas asked. "John who? My Adams or my Jay because I know you're not talking about our Laurens right there." John felt himself bristle a bit at that.

"I can ask a guy out just as easily as you can!"

"Uhhh, no you can't."

"Oh, you're so right Thomas," John retorted, fake smiling as he tapped at his forehead and stood up. "Because you don't actually know how to ask a guy out while I actually do."

"And that is why you have had so many boyfriends," Lafayette teased.

"Oh, bite me," John said and headed for the laundry room to check on his clothes. The machine had chimed a while ago, but he'd been too content laying on his friend's chest to get up then. He pulled open the dryer and fished out the clothes, setting them on top of the machine and then opening the washer to switch the load of Thomas's bed sheets into the dryer. Once he set the dryer to work again, John started sorting through the articles of clothing that Thomas had washed, easily finding all of his things, but John frowned when all he found was Alex's pants and underwear. Hadn't Thomas washed Alex's shirt and sweater too? He stopped the dryer and poked around inside, even though he knew he'd emptied it of the small load it had already, just to be sure. Shaking his head as the missing items failed to turn up, he quickly changed back into his normal clothes and folded everything else. "Thomas," John called as he walked out of the laundry room, carrying the clothes with him. "Do you know what happened to Alex's shirt and sweater?"

"His what now?" Thomas asked, confused.

"The rest of Alex's clothes. There's only his pants here."

"I washed everything Hamilton gave me. You'll have to ask him what he did with whatever is missing. Where is the little gremlin, by the way?"

"I think he had to go to work," Lafayette said. "Some woman come by and picked him up earlier. A co-worker of his. You need to move because your house is haunted by unhappy women."

"What, did he leave without his pants?"

"I'll make sure he gives back the clothes he borrowed," John said. "But I just wanna make sure I have all of his stuff, and I know that sweater needed a wash; he tried to use it as a towel after he spilled his drink on me."

"Where was the last place you remember seeing him with it?"

"The back of your truck." John set the folded pile of clothes down on the couch and headed out the front door to go check, sure enough finding the missing shirt and green sweater, still wet with the hose water John and Alex had been doused with. As he gathered the material and rung out the excess water he realized Alex had also left his phone and wallet in the hoodie's pocket, along with a small music player wrapped in cheap earbud headphones. Worried it might have been damaged sitting in a wet environment for how many hours, John clicked buttons first on the music player, until it showed him it was still working alright, then side buttons until the phone turned on. Nothing seemed wrong with the screen, and as he wiped away the moisture he realized with a start that Alex didn't have a lock on his phone. Frantic, John clicked the button that would close the screen again and pocketed the device, then stowed the wallet away in the same pocket. He didn't need to go through Alex's personal items.

"Did you find what you were looking for?"

John looked up as Thomas came walking toward him. "Yeah, looks like the sweater got left behind in your truck. I'm just gunna rinse it out in your utility sink and throw it in the dryer, is that alright?"

"Sure," Thomas said with a nod, but stopped John before he could hurry back to the house. "Listen, John...uhhh, I know you don't usually go out and talk with guys, so I just want to be sure that this foolish plan of Laf's to take you out tonight is actually something you want and not just him dragging you along on something you don't want to do."

John shifted in place, feeling uneasy being alone with Thomas as he considered his words for a moment. "Yeah, I want to go out tonight. So what of it?"

"Because if you're gunna try to go home with a stranger," Thomas started, rubbing at the back of his neck and finding it hard to look John in the eyes, "then I want you to promise me you won't make the same mistakes you made with me."

Again, he felt himself bristle then. "I made mistakes?" John scoffed. "Who shoved their tongue in my throat when I didn't ask for it? Or their unwanted hand down my pants?"

"Admittedly, I didn't read you right," Thomas countered. "Nevertheless, here's what you do if you get in another situation like that again; use the palm of your hand to strike up and aim for the nose. Hit hard and run. If he gets hold of you from behind, elbow down, hit his stomach, bend forward will break his hold. Eyes, nose, ears are the best areas to go for to disorientate, got it? Eyes, nose, ears."

"Is that what I should have done to you?" John snipped.

"Yes," Thomas said with such conviction that John's anger deflated some. "You should have fought me like hell, John; God you have no idea how much it scares me that you didn't. And I know you'll go running to Lafayette a million times before you ever even consider asking me for help, but I want you to know that you can call me to come bail you out too."

John relaxed under Thomas's concern, though the topic they were discussing still put him on edge. "Well, I highly doubt I'm gunna need your help tonight...but I'll keep what you said in mind."

Thomas nodded and reached out to pat John on the shoulder. "Laf's in the bathroom freshening up, so as soon as he gets out he wants to go. You better hurry if you want to get Alex's things in the dryer before then."

"Oh, I got like 20 minutes then," John said with a small laugh. "I'll probably be back out before he is."

"I'll leave without you if you aren't," Thomas teased, and for the first time John chuckled at his jab. "Go on, and tell Laf no amount of makeup is gunna make his personality better."

"Yeah, yeah," John said. He stepped past him and headed back toward the house, with Alex's clothes in hand.

Alex thrust himself frantically into and out of Maria as she bounced along on his lap. A hand fondled her breast, the other jumping while she moved and her hair tossled about her face and shoulders. His other hand slapped at her rump, the sound arousing him almost as much as her moaning how much she loved having him inside her. He felt himself growing tighter, wanting to pick up his pace but he knew she was having fun and he needed to wait. Slick juices leaked from her arousal, letting him slip in and out with ease.

Maria tossed her head back and started rocking as she moaned, and Alex knew she was getting close. He'd get there in a few strokes when he needed, but he slowed his pace and tried to match with the way she was rolling her hips now to get her off even more. It worked because a moment later she was rolling her head back and leaning father over him, telling him she was almost there and encouraging him to keep his pace. He pushed up into her, kissing at her neck and licking down to a breast as he steadily brought her to orgasm. Then he rolled over her to top, and thrust himself happily back and forth until he spilled himself inside her. He panted happily over her, kissing her chest, neck and face, smiling as she pulled him in for more kisses and wrapped her legs around him so he couldn't pull away. He felt full and happy enveloped by her in their post coitus cuddles, and he brushed the hair carefully from her face so he could smile at her.

"Feeling better?" he asked as he lay on top of her body, nuzzling his face against her shoulder.

"Yes, much better," Maria replied. "God Alex, nobody else fucks me as good as you do."

"I'm sure that's not true," he chuckled.

"It is," she told him. "You should feel proud. You know how to treat a lady."

"Well, I'd do anything to help you," he said and kissed her cheek.

For a moment they lay in silence cooling down, Alex blissfully stroking her skin the absent way he always did after they fucked and Maria contemplating beneath him. She broke the spell with a sudden thought, blurting it out before she could stop herself, "let's run away together."

"Hmm?" he questioned as he sat up. "What was that, Maria?"

"Let's run away together," she repeated. "Let's just...let's just throw everything we need in my car and go somewhere far away."

"What, like a vacation?"

"No, like for real. Alex, run away with me, please."

"And where would we go?" he asked, bemused by her thoughts. The notion was ridiculous to him, and he was certain if Maria stopped and thought about it a little bit she'd see that too.

"I dunno; Let's go to Hawaii," she said.

"You can't drive to Hawaii, Maria."

"We'll drive to California," she countered. "Then sell my car and buy plane tickets."

"And where will we stay?"

"We can camp out on a beach until we found jobs, regular jobs. We'll save up and get a little apartment or a little house."

"What about your family?"

"We'll take Susie with us, I know you would make a wonderful father to her and we could start our own family when we're ready."

"Whoa, hold on; I'm not ready to be a father," Alex said. "And I still have school."

"You can transfer to a local college."

"If I wanted to graduate from a college in Hawaii I'd be attending a college in Hawaii," Alex said. "But I intend to graduate from Harvard in three years, Maria. I worked hard to get here, I don't want to throw that away."

"I love you, Alexander."

He pulled away from her and sat fully upright at hearing that. "Maria, we can't be together," he said. "You know this."

"Unless we run away," Maria said, pushing herself up under him. "If we don't work for Burr anymore then we could do whatever we wanted."

"I want to work for Aaron, I enjoy my job, Maria."

"Why? He doesn't care about you, Alex. He doesn't care about anyone."

"I disagree. Look, you can be mad at him, I get it. You need the work and he's forcing you to take a day off, that's stressful. But I don't think that's a good enough reason to run off to Hawaii, or anywhere else for that matter. And I mean, you're also talking about leaving your husband here, Maria. That's...a lot to take in. Is everything okay?"

"I just want to be with you, Alex," she said, reaching for his face and kissing him. Alex stayed still and didn't feed into it, even pulled away just a bit. As she let him go she whispered, "I thought you loved me."

"I'm sorry," he replied. "I mean, I do, but...this is...not...what I want..."

She nodded under him, blinking back tears that started to form in her eyes. "Right. I don't know what I was thinking. It would be stupid to run away." She shuffled out from under him and started collecting her clothes. "We'll just treat it like any other time, it doesn't have to be a big deal. Forget I even said anything, Alex. You're right, running away would be stupid. God, I'm so stupid..."

"I don't think you're stupid, Maria," Alex told her. "I think you're unhappy about something in your life and looking for a way to change that. And that's okay, if you're unhappy you should definitely chang—"

"Alex, don't give me any of your pyscho-analytical talk right now," Maria snapped. "You're not a therapist, you're not even a lawyer yet and frankly, I don't need you weedling your big stupid nose into any area of my life where you don't have business, okay? Just...forget anything we discussed here."

"Oh," he said, watching her finish buttoning up the jeans she'd pulled on again. "Well, okay, if that's how you feel...I just wanted to help."

"Well, you're not anymore."

"Right, because agreeing to run off with you would help somehow."

"You could have at least just agreed to make me feel better."

"Maria, I'm not gunna lie to you to make you feel better about yourself or your life. You're my friend. Please appreciate that I'm honest with you."

"Well next time I'd appreciate if you were less honest."

"Right. I got that." Alex got to his own feet and started collecting his clothes again. "Well, if you got everything that you need, I think it might be best if you got going."

"You're mad at me."

"Don't tell me how I feel right now," Alex said. "I'm not mad or upset, but we clearly need to step away from each other here and just breathe."

"I should give you your money back—"

"And don't insult me anymore then you just did, Maria."

"I'm not trying to insult you Alex, I just don't want you thinking I'm taking advantage of your kindness here."

He breathed deeply and rubbed at his temple. "I gave you that money to take care of your family. Go take care of your family. That's all I want from you, Maria."

"Yeah, and just to fuck me, like every other man I've ever met," she muttered.

"You came on to—" Alex sighed and shook his head. "I do not want to just fuck you, Maria. I'm sorry if I made you feel that way. Please believe me when I say that wasn't my intent. Can we maybe talk about this over lunch or something, tomorrow? After we've cooled off from...this?"

"Sure, whatever. Are you sure you're not mad?"

"No. Are you?"

"...No."

"Okay."

"...Okay."

Alex ignored the way she stood silently in his dorm room as he finished pulling his own clothes back on and ran his fingers through his hair. If she had anything more to say she didn't say it, and Alex was done feeding into whatever upset Maria was clearly still feeling. He pretended it was more important to look for his hairbrush and comb through his locks then look at her and after a moment of awkward silence she finally muttered, "well, I'll see you around..."

"Yeah," he said without looking up. "Catch you later, Maria. Be safe getting home." And then she made her exit and Alex let out a long sigh. He didn't know what any of that was about, and he had the strangest feeling of regret over sleeping with his best friend outside of a work situation. He chewed on his bottom lip as he thought over what he should do; should he tell Aaron what had transpired and risk making Maria mad at him? Should he keep his mouth shut and just pretend like they hadn't gotten into some passive fight? Should he ask her about it later and hope that she was in a better mood to tell him what the honest to god fuck was going on?

It had to be stress. She had to be stressed. That's the only conclusion Alex could figure. Just...she said she needed the money, and that Aaron canceling her sessions today wasn't ideal for her. So Alex made the decision not to tell Aaron what had happened, no matter what. Because if he thought Alex and Maria were fucking around off camera because they had feelings for each other, then one or both of them would be suspended or fired and the last thing Alex wanted was to get Maria canned or have to figure out how to go back to making money with his own camera on an amateur site without the security Aaron offered him.

Alex sighed and just hoped things between him and Maria would blow over without another incident.

John practically clung to Lafayette's arm as they passed through the line and security to get into "one of the best clubs in the city, with many cute boys!" He didn't bother to remind Lafayette that he said that about every club he'd ever dragged John too, or that a lot of them had the same kind of atmosphere that put John off and that the crowds and loud music that accompanied such places generally made his anxiety shoot up way past a comfortable level. Normally, he would have. He would have bitched and complained and bemoaned till the cows came home how much he didn't want to be there and how eager he was to go home, or anywhere really, where it was calm and quiet and safe, but this time he made a point of keeping his mouth shut. He still basically clung to his best friend's arm as they walked past two huge bouncers in tight shirts that said SECURITY across the front. They gave John a curious look and he hoped they didn't think he was using a fake ID because he was too young to drink; his face was just young, people told him that all the time. But after a moment of scrutiny they finally let him, the French man and the Virginian past and John breathed a sigh of relief.

Until he got a good look at the inside of the club.

It wasn't fully packed yet, but it had enough people in it already that John felt immediately overwhelmed. How in the world was he going to find anyone in this sea of noise and movement who would tolerate him long enough to prove he wasn't some gay shut in incapable of leaving his metaphorical closet? All these people, they came here because they wanted to and John had spent way too much time angrily muttering to himself while standing naked in a laundry room just half an hour before to honestly have anything in common with any of them, right? He wanted to go home. He opened his mouth, intent on asking Lafayette if they could just turn around, when he stopped himself.

He was being ridiculous. There were so many people here. ONE of them had to be okay with sleeping with him for just one night. Not even one whole night! John could probably get away with a fuck and run if someone was just looking to fool around a little. Hell, okay, did he even need to go all the way? What if there was some other scared baby gay out here in the big scary sea of noise and movement dragged out by his more experienced gay best friends who were just trying to get him to hook up with someone, anyone, because they didn't want him to be all alone in his own little closet for the rest of eternity too? John could take him under his wing, they could be scared out of their minds together, and maybe it would be good for both of them to find some private dark area to giggle together about how stupid this all was and how much they wished they could just not be there in the big sea of noise and movement. Then John could go home with him and maybe it'd be easier to kiss a guy like that and get on with his life.

"Who are you looking for?" Thomas said a little too loudly into John's ear. He tried not to hold it against the guy; John was certain he wouldn't have heard him otherwise.

"Someone who looks as ready to leave this place as I do!" John yelled back. He felt Thomas tap on his shoulder and then followed his point across the room. At first, John didn't see what Thomas was indicating, until he realized the guy was pointing at a section of a mirror behind the bar where John could juuuuust make out his own face. He slapped at Thomas as the man chuckled. "That's not funny!"

"You said you were looking for someone just like you."

"I meant like me! Not me-me!" John sighed knowing it was likely that his thoughts from before would be hard to hear if he tried to explain them in this sea of noise. He kept following Lafayette forward through the crowd of people, hoping he had scooped the place out well enough to know where other shy people like John might like to hang out. But then again, the bar would be fine too.

Lafayette ushered John up to the edge of the wooden counter that came up just above John's waist. Already there was a crowd of people clustered around it and Thomas flanked from the other side to keep anyone from pushing into his friends. "Do you know what you want?" the French man asked him, leaning in close to be heard over the noise of the music and people clamoring for the attention of the bartender.

"I'll just take my usual," John replied. "Better I stay with stuff I know how it will affect me, right?" He forced a smile and Lafayette nodded in approval. He flagged down the attention of a bartender and placed the drink order for both himself and John, then Lafayette turned to Thomas and said, "Are you sure you do not even want one drink?"

"Hard pass," Thomas replied. "You're still buying me soda tho." He turned to the bartender. "Coke. Not Pepsi, Coke-Cola. Hold the ice."

"Why aren't you drinking?" John asked as the bartender went to get their drinks.

"Designated drivers don't drink, John," Thomas replied. John glowered at him, but decided to say nothing more as a beer was placed in front of him.

"You know something I just remembered?" Lafayette said. "You never got your whiskey from me for helping us move John's things yesterday."

"Consider this that drink then," Thomas said. "Here, a toast; welcome back to Cambridge, John, and here's to you doing your best." He clicked his glass against John's then took a sip, nearly spitting it back out. "I said I wanted coke!"

"The drug dealers are in the alleyway out back," John commented.

"Haha, you're hilarious," Thomas muttered, taking another sip of his drink. "Drink your damn wheat water."

Lafayette tsked him. "Why are you being so mean, mon ami?" he asked Thomas. "We are here to have a good time and your mood is very sour."

"Thomas is always mean," John started to say, but his words were drowned out by Thomas's response of, "Because babysitting you and John really isn't my idea of a good time, Laf."

"I don't need to be babysat," John snapped instead. He threw back his head and downed the entire beer in one go, wiping at his mouth with the back of his hand as he set the glass back on the bar. "Hah! Now watch me go talk to a guy and convince him to take me home with him!" he added as he turned toward the dance floor.

"That would be the very definition of babysitting you, John," Thomas called after him. John waved him off with his middle finger and headed deeper still into the crowd. "This is your fault," he said turning toward Lafayette.

"I only nudge him," the French man replied. "He has to get back out there sometime, or do you really think pining for me is good for him?"

"Ass," Thomas muttered, but said nothing more.

John made his way through an overcrowded sea of people telling himself the touch of claustrophobia was just a result of his anxiety disliking crowds of strangers. He looked around for some corner he could slink off into, just some niche someplace he could put his back too and observe from until he really felt brave enough to go out and actually try his hand at talking to someone. Every place he looked was already filled with people and John didn't think himself brave enough to ask if he could just sit near any of them, so he made his way deeper still into the club. He spotted a door that people were moving in and out of and headed towards it, curious as to what was beyond. He was almost too relieved when he found that it opened to a quieter patio courtyard, with another bar and dance floor, and an elevated sitting area that wasn't yet packed with people. Not only was the back area a smidgen less crowded, the noise wasn't all compressed into an enclosed space and there was even a slight breeze wafting in the night air. He sighed in relief.

This was where the other scared, awkward baby gays would want to hang out, for sure. John shook his head and told himself he needed to stop thinking such things; it would likely make him really awkward later if he did.

He found a couch with only one other person sitting on it, while texting on his phone, and worked up enough courage to ask, "excuse me, would it be alright if I sit here for a bit?"

"Yeah, sure," the man said, and scooted over before resuming his typing. "Knock yourself out, kid."

"Thank you," John said and carefully sat down on the free seat. For a moment he sat in silence looking out at the smaller crowd of people enjoying themselves far more then he was right then. Beside him the man finished his text and finally put his phone away, looking out into the crowd as well. John tried to casually eye him from where he sat without being obvious that's what he was doing. His prim white pants had an iridescent sheen to them that flitted through a light blue and green shine when he shifted in place, and he'd paired them with a simple black t-shirt, black combat boots and a dull gray beanie. A single chain hung around his neck with a pendent of some kind of spiral design centered on his chest. He was broad shouldered and looked to be tall, tho John couldn't tell if he'd be taller then himself as they were both sitting and honestly John was shit at making guesstimations like that. He looked about as bored as anyone could be sitting in a room full of strangers and John figured he had to start somewhere. "Hey," he said, drawing the man's attention to himself, "I, uh, like your pants. They're really cool."

"If you try to tell me you'd think they'd look better on your floor at home I will scream," the man said with a straight face and John felt his cheeks warm up. "I've heard that line six times tonight."

"No, I, umm, wanted to know where you got them from? They look nice, I'd like a pair." That was a boldfaced lie, John knew he'd never in a million years have the courage to wear something that would make anyone take notice of his lower body. But it seemed to work.

"I made them," the man said.

"You—you made them?"

The man nodded. "I work part time with a tailor, sort of like an apprenticeship. These are a byproduct of my work there."

"Oh. Well, they look good on you. Uh, I'm John, by the way. John Laurens."

"Oak," the man said.

"Just...Oak?"

"Just Oak. Like the tree."

"Does Oak have a last name?"

"No," the man replied. "Just Oak."

John felt this wasn't going to go anywhere. "Do you come here often?" he tried anyway, just to be sure.

Oak shrugged noncommittally. "I come here enough," he said. "I know the faces of the regulars. But you're new."

"Student," John said, as if that answered everything. Apparently it did because Oak nodded once to show his understanding. John didn't know what else to say and patted a little rhythm on his knees, feeling awkward. "Sooo, what do you do for a living? Aside from the apprenticeship?"

"That's classified," he replied, taking a scan of the crowd. He didn't say anything else and John was going to just let the conversation drop, when suddenly Lafayette came climbing up the stairs to the sitting area and spotted them, hurrying over with a smile.

"There you are," he said. "I was wondering why you were not out on the dance floor, I see you are making a new friend?" Lafayette leaned forward the way one might when they talk to a child and his emphasis on the word friend sounded condescending, like he thought John wasn't taking his personal mission tonight seriously.

"Yeah, Oak and I were just talking," John said. "Where's Thomas? Did you leave him somewhere?"

Lafayette rolled his eyes and stood up straighter. "Non, he see some girl he made very angry when he broke up with her, now he is hiding in the bathroom like that would somehow save him. I told him I would come get him when we are ready to go home." He turned to Oak with a charming smile. "I am sorry, where are my manners? My name is Marie-Joseph Daveed Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette," he said with his signature flourish and bow. "But I know that is a lot to say, sooo just Lafayette will do." He offered his hand as if to take Oak's but the other did not give him one.

"You're standing in the way of my view," Oak said calmly. "I would appreciate it if you moved."

Lafayette stood up and looked behind him at the dance floor a few steps below them. "Your view of the dance floor?"

"Yes," Oak said.

"Well, would you like to dance?"

"No."

The French man nodded then as if he understood. "Oh I see, you like to look at people."

"People watch," John supplied. "The phrase you're looking for is 'people watch,' Laf. Sorry, Oak, he's French."

"Believe me, I noticed," Oak replied. "He's also still in the way of my view."

"Désolé!" Lafayette said and moved to sit next to John, nudging him so that he would have to be the one to sit closer to Oak. "Is this better for you, ami?"

"It is a marked improvement, yes," Oak told him without looking over.

"So, Oak, what do you do for fun?" John said, trying to get himself back on task.

The man chuckled and glanced over at John. "You're really gunna keep trying here, aren't you kid?"

"Trying what?" John said, feigning innocence.

"To get into his shiny pretty pants," Lafayette said and caused John to blush profusely. "Please tell me you did not pick him only because of the shiny pants?"

"Laf," John said through gritted teeth and a fake smile, "don't you have somewhere else to be?"

"Non, not yet," the French man replied. "Besides, I would like to get to know your friend here too, especially if you are going home with him."

"I won't be going home with him if you keep hanging around."

"You won't be going home with me, period," Oak cut in. "Sorry kid, better you know now."

"Oh," John said, feeling a weird wash of relief and disappointment come over him. "Okay, right; umm...sorry to have bothered you." He started to stand up but Lafayette held onto his shoulders and kept him from moving on.

"And what is wrong with my friend, John?" the French man asked.

"I'm not into casual hookups."

"Right, got it," John said, again trying to rise up only to be pulled back down by his best friend.

"He is a very great boyfriend. What about that?"

"Well, that's it's own matter."

"I don't need a boyfriend," John said, turning toward Lafayette. "Laf, the plan was for me to find a one night stand, remember?"

"Or a boyfriend," the French man countered, "You do better with boyfriends anyway. I think you should ask Oak out on a date. He seems...decent."

"And I think you ought to stop telling your friend what to do," Oak said.

"You just said if he ask you out you would be okay with that."

"I did not say any such thing." Oak looked at John. "Is he always like this?" John nodded, until he caught the Look Lafayette was giving him then shook his head with his own Look that said that very motion was a lie. "Right, well, I think it's time to re-evaluate your friendship here."

"Excusez-moi, you do not know John as well as I do," Lafayette said, clearly getting heated. "And I take back what I said, you would be a terrible boyfriend for him."

"Okay," Oak replied, clearly not bothered by that. "Not that you said that, but whatever floats your boat."

"I think we should go now, Laf," John said.

"No, I am not done with him yet. What makes you think it is okay to twist my words around? I was trying to be nice and you decide to tell mon cher ami that I should not be trusted? You, Monsieur, are an unbelievable ass."

"Laf, c'mon, let it go," John said. "We'll regroup at the bar and decide what to do from there." He stood up and thankfully this time was not pulled back down. "Are you coming?"

"In a moment, John. I want to hear his reply." But Oak simply pretended Lafayette wasn't there anymore and said nothing in response. "So, do you even have anything to say?"

"It was nice talking with you, John," Oak said, smiling up at him for a brief moment. "I hope you find what you're looking for. And if you want to run, I can handle your friend here."

"Do not ignore me!"

"I'll be at the bar, Laf," John said. "And sorry about him," he added to Oak just before he made his little escape leaving Lafayette to seethe at the man alone.

He made his way back to the bar, this one less crowded then the one inside, and found a stool to sit on until the bartender had a moment to take his order. He knew Lafayette had said he would buy John his drinks that night, and that he was limited to just three, but fuck it. If the guy was gunna sit and be pissy at a stranger for turning John down then he couldn't care if his best friend bought himself a few more drinks while he waited. Maybe he'd go over in a few minutes and if Lafayette was still trying to get a raise out of him John would just lie and tell him he'd found someone to go home with, then catch a bus back to his dorm. That...actually didn't sound like such a bad idea to be honest. And if Lafayette asked whom John was going home with, he'd just point to a random stranger and say it was them.

The disappointed weight settling over his chest wasn't anything to worry about, at least that's what he told himself. John was used to being alone now, and maybe in time he'd learn to like it more then the way he'd felt waking up next to Lafayette when they were living together. If he was alone the rest of his life, well, that wouldn't be so bad. He could leave the toilet seat however he wanted or cook the things he liked and not worry about if the other person had allergies or disliked a certain food. He could enjoy the peace and quiet, he could get a dog. He could...he could...he could be sad and miserable the rest of his adult life because, fuck, if he thought it would just be better to go home alone then actually work up any courage to try having a one night stand then what was he even doing wasting everyone's time here? It was official, John was just gunna die alone and he needed to make peace with it right now so he could move on with his life.

"Well, aren't you just a cute one."

John turned to find an incredibly handsome man smiling at him and he nearly choked on the beer he'd ordered. Clean shaven, tall, deliciously dark, black leather jacket with a crisp white undershirt and jeans just tight enough to show off the ass without giving away all of his secrets as he leaned against the bar next to John. "See something you'd like to inspect closer?" John's eyes snapped back up to the deep brown ones that twinkled just right in the low bar light.

"N-no?" John stuttered.

"No?" the stranger mimicked, a playful mock frown gracing his face. "Are you sure? I could have swore I just caught you staring."

"Sorry," John muttered. "I didn't mean to be rude..."

"I didn't think you were. So, do you come here often?"

"The gay club isn't exactly my usual scene," John said into his cup.

"Honestly? It's not mine either. I'd rather just stay at home."

"Huh, coulda fooled me."

"What, is it the clothes?"

"You look like you're looking. Just don't know why you're looking at me."

"Maybe because you look like someone cute I can chat with for a bit."

John found himself beginning to smile, despite himself. "You're a real smooth talker, aren't you?"

"Hey, don't get mad at me for that, I gotta find someway to warm you up to the idea of dancing with me."

Was he...flirting with John? "And what if I told you I don't dance well?"

"I'd say a couple of shots of tequila convinces anyone they can dance and offer to buy you a drink." Shit he is!

Now John was smiling openly despite himself. A cute guy was flirting with him and even he had to admit, it felt kinda nice. "I'm John," he said and offering his hand. With a smile, the stranger took it and brought it to his lips to kiss. He felt the blush deepen on his cheeks as he noticed the man didn't take his eyes of him.

"I'm Leslie," Aaron Burr replied. "It's very nice to meet you, John."

END CHAPTER