(A/N - Trigger warnings - extreme homophobia, offensive language)

John's POV

"Ok, so, let's go over it one more time." Alex said to Laf, Herc, and I before we left our dorm for breakfast the next morning.

"Alex and I broke up last night after dinner." I started.

"So you two aren't on speaking terms." Herc said.

"I took Alex's side, and Herc took Johns." Laf said.

"And I get mad whenever John speaks to me, and vice versa." Alex finished. "Are we all good?"

"Yeah." I said.

"Yup." Herc said.

"Oui." Laf said.

"Ok, then let's go." Alex said, him and Laf leaving the room first. Herc and I waited two or three minutes before leaving the room after them.

Walking to the cafeteria, I contemplated what I was about to do. I loved Alex so much, and pretending to hate him would be the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life. I didn't know what I was going to have to do, have to say, that would make the scene look believable.

Alex and I had talked last night after we came up with this plan.

"We need to make a pact." He said.

"Ok." I responded, schooching closer to him on the couch.

"Out there, we may need to say things, do things, that may hurt the other person. But, in here," He leaned closer to me, "we are different people. Nothing we say out there matters when we're in here. In here, we belong to each other." Then he kissed me.

"Ok." I smiled.

I know we made that pact last night, but still. Would I have to hurt Alex? I didn't want to. I don't think I ever could.

"Hey," Herc said, putting his hand on my shoulder, "It'll be ok." I smiled.

We walked into the crowded cafeteria, and I went through the breakfast line.

I took a deep breath when we got to our table.

Here we go. I thought.

I sat down a few seats away from Alex without looking at him. All four of us ate our breakfasts in silence.

This isn't so bad. I thought.

Then, the inevitable happened.

"So, the fags broke up, did they?" Thomas said, walking over with James Madison in tow.

"Can it, Thomas." Herc said.

"No, seriously, what happened?" James said, mock sincere.

"Just leave us alone." Laf said.

"Not so talkative today, lover boys?" Thomas mocked.

"Please just go!" Alex exclaimed. "Clearly no one wants you here, so just go!"

"Don't you have something to say, John?" Thomas cooed. "What do you think of John?" He raised his eyebrow, as if to warn me.

I took a second to think of what to say. I didn't want to hurt Alex by going too far, but I knew that might be the only way Thomas would be happy.

"I think he's a fag." I mumbled. I looked down at the table into my cereal, not needing to see the pain in Alex's eyes, no matter how much I was going to make it up to him later.

I heard a chair scrape across the floor, and saw Alex run off.

It's all part of the act. I thought. It's all part of the act.

XXX

Alex's POV

I ran off to the bathroom. Mostly because I was playing the part of the sad ex boyfriend, but also because I didn't need to see what happened next. I knew John didn't mean what he said, I did, but it didn't make it any easier to hear.

The door opened to the bathroom a few minutes after I got there, and looked up expecting to see John. It was Laf.

"John wanted to come, but I told him it would look better if I came. I'm so sorry, mon amie." Laf said. "After you left, Thomas seemed happy and walked away."

"Ok." Was all I could muster.

"Alex, you know John didn't mean what he said." Laf explained.

"Yeah, I know." I choked out, on the verge of tears.

"Just let it out if you need to." He said, and I started crying.

"Do you think it will ever get easier? Him hurting me? Me hurting him?" I asked, looking at Laf.

"I don't know." He admitted. "This whole thing is new for me."

"Is it weird that I just want to be with him right now?" I laughed.

"No, not at all." Laf assured me, smiling.

Just then, John walked in. He ran over to me and hugged me.

"Honey, I'm so so sorry." He said.

"I know, I know. What are you doing here?" I asked him.

"I waited for Thomas and his friends to leave, then I ran out." He explained.

"I'll leave you to it." Laf said, spinning on his heels and walking out.

Once Laf left, we started kissing.

"I really am so sorry." John pleaded.

"I know, I know. You did what you had to do. That's part of our deal." I reminded him.

"Yeah, I know. This is never going to get any easier." He said.

"Nope." I agreed. "Oh, happy one month anniversary, by the way."

"Really? That's today?" John asked.

"Actually, it was yesterday. But, with everything going on, we forgot to celebrate." I explained.

"Oh, well maybe we should do that tonight." John said seductively.

"Yeah, maybe we should." I said.

Then, suddenly, the bell rang.

"Oh, crap." John said.

"Alright, I'll go first, then you count to sixty, then come out." I suggested.

"Ok." He said.

I was just about to run out when I turned back around and kissed him.

"I love you." I said after we pulled away.

"I love you, too. Now go!" John said, pushing me out the door.

(A/N - Hopefully nothing like what happened at breakfast will ever happen again. But, knowing Thomas, he'll provoke something. Don't forget to review!)