despite the fact that she was the guest, it seemed that eliza didn't get a choice on what movie they watched. not that she minded much. the little mermaid had always been one of her favorites, as well as thomas's, it seemed.

together, the three of them piled into the couch; thomas on the right, james the left, and eliza right in between the two of them.

"thank you again," she whispered softly to james, as thomas hummed the music at the beginning of the movie.

glancing at her quickly, james smiled. "it's nothing," he replied, his cheeks tinting slightly. "honest."

still, eliza was grateful. despite the fact that they hardly knew each other, thomas and james had offered to let her into their apartment. briefly, she wondered how two college students managed to afford a place like this- two bedrooms, a full bathroom, a kitchen/dining room, and a living room could all be found in their apartment- but it didn't seem like her business.

somehow, of course, her thoughts wandered and floated back to alexander. but this time, different memories were brought forth: how she had met alex at the bodega on the corner, how they used to take walks together through the park, holding hands and eating ice cream, and how alex had gotten so drunk at a party that he accidentally kissed john laurens instead of her (it's a long story, but it involves seeing double).

now, though, she was trying to figure out where they could have met up. had alexander met the other woman on campus? at the café where he worked? in class? she couldn't shake the images of the two of them, arms around each others' waists, feeding the ducks in the park, or sharing a milkshake, or eating together at eliza's favorite restaurant.

suddenly she felt her eyes fill with tears. "excuse me, please," she muttered, not meeting either james or thomas's eyes as she stood.

she felt their eyes on her back as she walked as calmly as she could out of the living room and to the bathroom. suddenly she collapsed on the floor, legs curled under her and her back against the closed door. a choked sob escaped her lips, and she curled up into a ball, letting the sobs rip through her, her tears splattering the tiles floor.

after what could have easily been anywhere from a matter of minutes to a few hours, eliza heard a soft knock on the door.

"lizzy?" james's voice came through the door, a mixture of nervousness and worry. "are- are you okay?"

as eliza hurriedly wiped her tears away, she heard thomas muttering something to james.

"of course she's not okay, dumbass. don't ask if she's okay, ask if she needs something."

"oh." came james's whispered reply. "um, lizzy, do you-" james's question was cut off as eliza opened the door.

she knew she looked like hell, but there was a tiny smile on her face. these two dorks...

"no, i'm not really okay, but that's not your fault." she sighed heavily. "and i will be eventually. okay, i mean."

james's shoulders relaxed slightly, and thomas let out a loud sigh of relief.

"so, do you need anything?" thomas finally finished james's earlier question, and eliza tilted her head slightly.

"does this place have any food?"