"Alright, Mr. Laurens," a bored sounding front desk woman droned, "you're free to go. Is there someone here to pick you up?" John nodded, gesturing to the room. Behind him, Mulligan and Peggy stood. The woman nodded, handing him a file and returning her attention to her computer. Sighing, John walked towards his friends.
"Thanks again, guys, for getting me," he mumbled, standing with his hands in his pockets. The pair exchanged nervous, borderline angry glance, before Peggy made a not so subtle gesture towards John and Mulligan nodded. John cocked his eyebrow at them, obviously having seen what they clearly didn't want him to see. "Is everything okay?" He asked.
It was Peggy who answered his question. "Everything's fine," she said in an unconvincing tone, and Mulligan rolled his eyes. John gave them both confused glances.
"Don't worry about it, everything really is fine," she assured, and although her voice sounded more sure, doubt clouded his thoughts.
That doubt was silenced by confirmation, however, when Mulligan snapped, "To hell it is. John, let's go." Wide eyed, John trailed after him. Behind him, he heard Peggy sigh before following. Falling back slightly, he raised his eyebrow at her. Peggy shook her head, a clear gesture to drop it, and kept walking.
It wasn't until they had been driving for a considerable amount of time that anyone spoke. "Are going to tell me what that was all about?" John asked. Both parties were silent. "Guys. Really."
With a sigh that bordered on a cringe, Peggy finally admitted, "It's about Alex." John felt his throat tighten. Part of him had already known that it must have had something to do with the boy, but Peggy's tone made him worry. "After he stormed out, and your dad sent us all out..." She trailed off.
"The bastard went and asked out Eliza. And she said yes," Mulligan finished, tone seething. John felt his heart stop.
"A... Asked out Eliza? But..." He couldn't even formulate the words. Peggy gave him a sympathetic look from the front seat.
"I'm sorry, John. I knew that Eliza had the hots for him, but-" John cut her off.
"She WHAT?" he demanded, not wanting to believe it. And yet... It made all too much sense. Alexander was understandably angry, and he wanted revenge. John could understand that. What he couldn't understand was how on Earth Eliza could have helped him. He never would have thought.
*gasping* She's back! Yes, I am, and I'm sorry it's been so long. That doesn't wipe the tears of the years away, but I'm back in the city and I'm here to stay! And do you know what I'm here to do? I AM here for you! Hope y'all like this chapter!