Midnight:

Chapter 3:

January 1st

John's Dorm

3:30 PM

"We need to talk. Now."

A frown was etched onto John's face as Ellie stood there. He knew he couldn't avoid her forever and must have seen Marta leave. Sighing, he swung open the door all the way and let her in. Ellie made her way in and sat down in the chair that his sister had just been in.

As soon as the door to the room shut, Ellie began. He didn't need to ask her why she was here.

"Really, John? You leave the poor guy that I worked so hard to set you up with!"

John winced a moment as he sat down on his spot on the bed. "I didn't mean to, Ellie! We kissed and like suddenly, everything felt all too real. I have a fiancé back home."

"Yes, but you don't love her."

Sighing, John closed his eyes as he let his head rest against the stone wall behind hm. "I don't know what to do, Ellie! She keeps trying to reach out and contact me and all I can think about is Alexander and how much more fun I had with him last night than I've ever had with Martha! I know that's messed up but it's the truth!"

Ellie frowned from her spot in the chair. "Then why did you run away from him?"

John threw his hands up in the air. "I was scared, Ellie. Scared to think that I would have to choose between my family and path that's already all laid out." It had been planned since he was in high school, go to college as a pre-med student. Marry Martha and eventually go to medical school before doing a residency after. It wasn't John's plan; it was his father's and all his life he thought his father knew best for him.

"Well," Ellie began as she stood up from her seat as she made her way over to the door. A sigh escaped her lips as she turned back and looked over at John. "Truthfully, I was coming over here to yell at you for ditching a great guy, but it sounds like your conflicted enough."

John stared at her for a long moment. "Can you tell him I'm sorry?"

She shook her head. "No, it wouldn't mean anything coming from me." A small pause before she spoke once again. "If you want to though, he studies a lot in the library. You're bound to see him there in one of the private study rooms."

John nodded as he pushed himself up from the bed, making his way over to the door with Ellie. Ellie wrapped her arms around John in a hug before letting go. "I have to go, but cheer up, okay? You'll figure it out."

John nodded as she left. "Thanks, Ellie." He watched her bound down the hall from his dorm room. She was right he had a lot to think about.

He shut the door behind him and went back over to his bed, falling on top of it, gaze fixated on the ceiling.

He wouldn't be able to sleep anytime soon.

January 7th

Campus Library

12 PM

John had shut himself in his dorm room for the past week. He had been deep in thought and wanted to wallow in his misery on his own, not wanting to drag anyone else down with him. While most of the campus was still gone with the holiday, he was thankful the library was still open. Hours were modified sure, but they were still open.

He needed to get out of his dorm and find something else to do than letting two different situations play out in their hundreds of alternate endings.

He needed a book to read.

As he came into the main part of the library, he did a quick glance over at the tables where people studied. They were empty save for one person sitting in the back on his computer, probably gaming.

As he turned to head over to the stacks, he stopped. He remembered Ellie saying that Alexander came in here to study. He shook his head as he suddenly made his way to the study rooms, finding Alexander locked away in one on his own laptop.

John took in a deep breath before knocking once on the door.

He was probably the last person he wanted to see right now but it didn't matter. He had to apologize.

John was about to knock again when the door opened.

Alexander frowned at him. "Oh, it's you."

John wanted to draw back, but he cleared to throat and looked up at him. "Look I wanted to apologize to you about New Year's." To John's surprise, Alexander turned around and went back over to his laptop, leaving John to catch the door before it shut on him. "Hey, are you listening?"

Alexander nodded. "Yes, but I only have this room for another half hour, and I want to get this work done. You can keep talking, I'm listening. You were in the middle of an apology."

There was a pause before John continued. "Like I was saying, I'm sorry. There was a lot going on and I scared and ran away." A pause. "But that was a complete dick move to you on my part."

"Yes, it was." Came Alexander's answer moments later. He shut his laptop before giving his full attention to John. "Iwas having a nice time with you and then the next moment you were running like it someone was going to come after you. I understand that we don't know each other that well and you have your personal life that I don't know anything about, but it was a really shitty thing for you to do."

John let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Maybe I'll tell you over a coffee sometime."

"Sure, I'd like that."

John's eyes widened as he looked down at the other man in surprise. "Wait, seriously?"

Alexander nodded as he shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

"I just thought you wouldn't want anything to do with me after I ran away."

"You apologized and I appreciate that."

"And you want to get coffee with me?"

Alexander nodded. "Sure, why not. We were getting along really well and why not and see where this is going to go."

There was a moment of silence as John didn't say anything. He pursed his lips together in thought as he glanced over at Alexander. "While coffee with you sounds nice, can we make it a real date instead? After I ran away from you and was just a complete jackass it's the least I can do. I mean if you want to go that is."

"Sure," Alexander reached to the notebook next to him. He ripped out a piece of paper and wrote his number on it before handing it to John. "Here's my number."

John took the piece of paper from Alexander, glancing over it quickly before looking over at him. "How does this Friday sound? Eight o'clock?"

"Sounds perfect, text me where we're meeting."

John nodded as he turned and left Alexander in the study room. He let out a loud sigh once he was back in the main part of the library. He couldn't believe that he had just asked Alexander out on a date while he still had a fiancé.

"I am a horrible person," he mumbled under his breath as he finally made his way over to the stacks.

His phone went off all of five minutes later. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone seeing that he had a new text from Hercules: Heard you have a date! Congrats!

John texted back: If I'm still engaged to Martha doesn't this make me a horrible person?

He could feel whatever anxiety had left him in the room just now creeping back up as Hercules answered him once more: Kinda, you need to be upfront with BOTH of them.

John's answer came seconds later: I need help please.

Gilbert and I will be by later tonight to help you through this crisis.

John didn't bother answering Hercules' last text. He glanced around the stacks and found he was too anxious to look for a book for even read. He headed back out of the library swearing under his breath.

He would probably have a better time binge watching something on Nextflix.

AN: This chapter's a little shorter than the others because I'm fighting off a cold but still wanted to get something to you guys this week! Next chapter will be a bit longer. The pacing should be slowing down now since we're finally settling into this but we still have a ways to go and lots of things will be happening over the course of this fic. Til next time! Love you all!