The next few weeks were absolute Hell. John was very nearly sure that Alex was avoiding him, and he himself was avoiding Eliza. He just couldn't bring himself to face her, nor could he figure out what he would say if he did end up seeing her. So, to save himself from the awkward encounter, he opted to simply skip the situation at all costs.
Classes were another thing completely. It is was 2:50 on Thursday, nearing the end of the last class of the day, and John couldnt help but glancing over at Alex. Repeatedly. Mulligan, who was sitting next to him, nudged John's side with his elbow.
"He's not worth it," he very near growled, giving John a pointed look. John sighed.
"Herc..." He began, but Mulligan silenced him with a wave of the hand.
"I know. He was your friend. He was my friend too. But a friend doesn't do something like that. To you or Eliza." That statement hit him hard. John had been so focused on his own feelings that he hadn't considered how Eliza felt even once. Mulligan continued. "It's obvious that he doesn't feel the way about her that he does about you. Hamilton is being unfair to both sides, and that's pretty damned cold."
John mulled over that for a few moments. Herc had a point. He sighed, glancing over towards Alex once more. This time, however, Alexander was looking at him. John's eyes locked with Alex's briefly, and in that moment, both a million and zero things passed between them. The moment ended, though, when Alex huffed and looked away. John could almost swear that his cheeks were slightly red.
A few seconds later class was dismissed. "So... You sure you don't want to come over tonight?" Mulligan asked, as they were gathering their things. John smiled but shook his head.
"Thanks, man, but tonight I think I want to stay in." After a moment, he added, "Why don't you and Peggy invite the Schuylers over?" At that statement, Mulligan cringed.
"Peggy and I are... On a break," he explained. John's eyes widened.
"But... Why? You guys seemed so... Happy," he plainly stated, almost not believing it.
Herc shrugged. "Yeah, but we got in a fight. Pegs was defending Alex, saying that Eliza was thrilled and that she was going to stand by her side. I was backing you, saying that what Alexander did was a dick move. We argued, she stormed out. I called Angie and she told me that Peggy is staying with them, and that everything is fine."
Cringing, John mumbled, "I'm sorry. You guys shouldn't be fighting because of me." Herc shook his head and slung an arm around John's shoulders.
"Hey, it's what friends are for. I've got your back," he smiled, and John returned the gesture.
"Alright, man, I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" He assured, before turning and heading back towards his apartment. The walk was fairly quick, although it felt like ages because of the downpour. Ages of solitude, while it was pouring, in which John was left to his thoughts. Thoughts that continued as he trudged up to the door, and stepped out of the cold. With a sigh, John shrugged off his soaked jacket and hung it by the door.
He made his way into the living room and settled down on the couch, pulling out his laptop. Tumblr was already open from that morning, and it was his every intention to spend the next several hours there, but the guilt was consuming him. With a sigh, John grabbed his phone and dialed Peggy's number.
"Hello?" Came a feminine voice, but it most certainly wasn't Peggy. John felt his words get caught in his throat as he realized who had picked up the phone.
"E-Eliza?" He asked, and for a moment the line was silent.
"John. Hey," she finally said, sounding nervous.
John took a breath and said, "Hey. Is Peggy there?"
Eliza paused slightly. "Yeah, she just left her phone sitting in my room. Hang on, I'll get her." She was silent for a second, before saying, "And John... I'm sorry."
"It's... Fine." He sighed, and waited for Eliza to track down Peggy. It wasn't fine, but what was he going to say? After a few seconds, another voice was heard on the line.
"John?" Peggy asked, and a hesitant smile could he heard in her voice.
"Hey Pegs," he smiled. "How have you been?" It was a set up question, but necessary anyway.
"I've been... Alright," she said, and John knew that it was a lie. It was obvious that she was hurting just as much as Herc was.
"I..." He sighed, shaking his head at himself. "I'm gonna be blunt here. I think you should get back together with Hercules." He could hear Peggy's breathing on the other line change, as a crack of thunder sounded outside.
"No," she said flatly, tone guarded.
John frowned. "Pegs... My fight with Alex isn't your fight with Herc. Just because you two disagree with what he did doesn't mean that you should break up." Peggy was silent on the other end. He waited for a moment before sighing.
"Look, Peg Leg, I'm not trying to get in the middle, I'm just sa-" he was cut off by the sound of buzzing in his phone call. "I... I'll call you back later. Just think it over."
Peggy sighed and mumbled, "Alright. Bye John," before ending the call. John pulled the phone away from his ear, and his eyes instantly widened at the name on the screen. His phone read, "Incoming Call From: Alex❤"
Finger hovering over the button for a moment, John wondered if he should pick up. Curiosity got the best of him, though, because he found himself answering the call. "Alexander?"
Sobbing was heard on the other end. "J-John," breathed a shaky voice, one that he would recognize almost instantly.
"Alexander, what's wrong?" He asked, tone urgent. Alex's sobbing didn't stop.
"Its happening again," he cried, voice muffled. That didn't make any sense.
"Alex, talk to me. What's happening? Are you alright?" He asked, again, previous concern having grown into slight panic. Alex whimpered.
"Please... No..." He weakly managed, and John felt his heart speed up.
Without a second thought, he assured, "I'll be there soon. Just stay put." And that was that. He was already grabbing his keys.
Hello my beautiful people! So I've started school, ugh. But I think I've actually got an update schedule. I'm going to (try to) post ever Thursday. Alright, bye!