It was recently brought to my attention that I made a spelling mistake, and it was bothering me. So, I fixed it, and I'm re uploading the chapter. Thanks for understanding guys, and don't worry, nothing has changed except for that one error!
"Lafayette, this is unnecessary. You don't have to buy me lunch," John grumbled. Lafayette only smiled, linking his arm through John's.
"Oui, but I must. You don't get out much anymore, John. It will be good for you to get away from studying. This is my treat," he declared, still pulling John along by the arm. "And who knows, maybe you'll see ALEX there!" John blushed. It had been a few weeks since he and Herc had been introduced to Alexander, and there hadn't been a day since that the two of them hadn't talked. That fact, of course, gave his other friends a perfect opportunity to give him shit.
"Not likely..." John sighed, still blushing. After an eyebrow raise from Lafayette, he elaborated, "Alex has a project he's staying in to work on." He was sure of that, considering the fact that last Tuesday Alexander ended up having to turn him down on his offer to get dinner. That had stung, even though he'd had a valid reason. Not that John would ever admit that, of course...
"Well, still. Now come," Lafayette ordered, and John trailed behind him. In part, he was grateful that Laf was so accepting of his crush on Alex. The two of them had been, well, sleeping together, to put it frankly, although very few people knew. They'd had a thing about a year back, which had ended when Laf ended up having to go back to France for a semester. And, although they broke it off, they had remained good friends. Now Lafayette had a girlfriend back at home, and John... He wasn't exactly sure what he had.
"You know," John said, catching up with Lafayette, "maybe I should just seduce you back into dating me, and then Alexander's non-identified sexuality won't be a problem." Lafayette laughed, punching John in the shoulder.
"How you say, you wish!" He joked, smirking. John chuckled slightly.
"No, no, I'm not kidding! You could just leave... What was her name, Adrienne? Yeah, just abandon your long term, happy girlfriend and all my problems will be solved!" They dissolved into laughter as they entered the café.
After ordering food and finding two seats in the crowded room, the pair finally settled down to eat. "So..." John mused, around a mouthful of cheeseburger.
"Hmm?" Answered Lafayette, taking a bite of salad.
"You know, I've never understand how you can eat that shit," John said, "but that wasn't my original point. I was thinking about maybe asking Alex if he wanted to go to a movie." Lafayette nodded. "But," John continued, fidgeting in his seat, "is that too forward? Is it not enough forwardness? Help me out, man, you French people are supposed to be good at this stuff!"
Lafayette rolled his eyes. "John, as your friend, I have to tell you to calm down. Alexander's a nice boy, and even if he likes women, he is still your friend." John considered that for a moment, before shrugging. "If you think it's too forward," Laf continued, "invite someone else to, how you say, chaperone. I would offer, but this weekend I'm returning to France, and-"
"I know," John cut in, sighing. "Maybe I'll ask Eliza? Ang and Peg both have a training thing out of town, honestly I could never put in all the effort they do to become teachers... But anyway, that means she'll be alone and bored." Lafayette nodded in approval. Smiling, John said, "Yeah, I'll do That! Liz's cool."
"I am indeed," came a feminine voice from behind them. John turned to see Eliza herself strolling towards them.
"Hey, you," he called, gesturing for her to pull up a chair next to Lafayette. Smiling, she took her seat and faced John.
"Can I ask why I'm cool this time?" she asked, smiling warmly. Laf and John both chuckled.
"You just are," John responded jokingly. "I was actually gonna ask if you could do me a favor, though." Eliza laughed and rolled her eyes.
"I see how it is. Buttering me up so I'll do stuff for you, eh, boy?" She accused, although her tone have away her lack of conviction. John offered a mischievous shrug.
"Dunno, am I?" He shot back, sticking out his tongue and earning giggles from both Laf and Eliza. "Okay, but in all seriousness, I was thinking about asking Alex to go to a movie, and I was wondering if you'd tag along."
Eliza raised an eyebrow. "Why would you want me to third wheel on your date?" She asked, confusing in her eyes.
"Well, I don't want to seem too forward," John stated, to which Eliza nodded understandingly. "So, this way, it's less of a date and more of a 'hey come meet my friend' thing. You get it?"
"Yeah, I get it," Eliza said, smiling at him. "I'll go. It should be fun, and it's *got* to be more exciting than being stuck at home while Angelica and Peggy are at a teaching conference." John smiled at her and kissed her cheek.
"You're the best, Liza!" He thanked, still grinning. Elizabeth simply nodded.
"Yeah, of course. I've been wanting to meet this mysterious Alex anyway," she teased, winking. John blushed slightly while Lafayette and Eliza laughed, at his expense none the less, and yet he couldn't be brought to care. Things were turing out better than he had expecting. Things were going genuinely well. All he could do was hope it would last.