Midnight:
Chapter 14:
May 21st
12:10 PM
Manning's' Garden
Martha shifted a bit as she looked over at John, a frown on her lips. She was unsure about what he wanted to talk about. She didn't want to state that she was nervous but she could tell from her own fiancée's expression that it probably wasn't a good thing. Not saying another word, she followed him until the two were at a bench that was a good five feet away from the backdoor. "John?" She began once she was seated on the bench, reaching a hand out to gently touch his arm. "Is everything all right?"
There was another moment of silence as John bit his lower lip, taking in a deep breath. His looked back at her, He wasn't sure how exactly he wanted to do this. He should have done this months ago, knowing how she felt and all. It was a terrible feeling, leading her on this this. "No, nothing is all right," he sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. It was now or never. "Martha, I'm not sure how to tell you this, but, I'm gay."
Martha frowned, glancing down at her feet, or what she could see of them, trying to process the information she had just been given. "I don't understand."
"I'm not into women."
"I know what it means to be gay, John! I just," she let a hand rest on her stomach. "Can you sit down so we can talk about this more?"
John blinked, realizing that he had started to pace, a nervous tick of his. He nodded his head, sitting down on the bench next to her. "How long have you known? The whole time we've been together?" She asked quietly, glancing over at him.
John was silent at the question that she posed, thinking how best to answer her. "It's a tricky subject, that's for sure. I know when we first got together, I had no idea. As time went on though, it became more clear that I held no attraction to women. That's why I broke it off around Thanksgiving break." Martha looked away, frowning still. "It has nothing to do with you, Martha. You're a good person, you know."
She couldn't help the snort that passed. "It's hard not to fee, uh, responsible in a way. Besides, why did you agree to marry me in this case?
"That wasn't my idea, Martha. That was my dad. Once he found out he really pushed for us to be married." John paused as he sat there and fidgeted with his hands. "I mean, I get it, but I never wanted to marry you. I just wanted us to try and be friends, but I suppose, given where we are, it wasn't much of a choice.
Martha frowned, trying her best to pretend that she wasn't hurt by his comment. "Have you told your father?"
"Why do you think we're here? The fact that the wedding has been moved up to tomorrow?"
She chewed on her lower lip. "John, I don't want to be married to someone who doesn't love me. Someone who will never love me."
"Martha, I do care about you."
"Do you?" She snapped, eyes narrowing as she looked at him. "Because this is a fucking mess, John!" She pushed herself off the stone bench the next moment. "I'm going inside to talk to my father."
"Thank you," he muttered. She looked over her shoulder, glaring back at him.
"I'm not doing it for you," she commented as she looked forward again. "I'm doing it for me and our child because I don't want them to grow up in a house where their parents don't even like each other."
He was silent for a long moment before he nodded, watching her as she disappeared back into the house.
Room 205
1 PM
"So," Alexander began as he looked between Hercules and Gilbert. "Is someone going to finally tell me what's going on?"
He had been awake for a while now and Hercules had been off the phone with Ellie. He had a feeling in the pit of his stomach but wasn't sure until he heard it from either of his friends. Gilbert and Hercules exchanged a look before Hercules spoke up. "You do deserve to know what we know."
"So?"
They looked at each other before Gilbert took out his phone, handing it over to Alexander. "Please don't get upset," the Frenchman began as he rubbed the back of his neck. "John sent us a text earlier and the wedding has been moved apparently."
Alexander's eyes gazed downward at the phone screen, pursing his lips as he looked at his two friends, letting out a small sigh. "I see," he paused a moment or two before he handed the phone back to Gilbert. "Well, I suppose it's a good thing I talked to him the other day then."
"Are you not mad?"
Alexander's shoulders came up and down in a small shrug. "What would being mad accomplish? I finally got closure on this whole relationship and I was planning on going back up to New York once the time was right."
"Or you could crash the wedding."
"What good would that do? It would only hurt in the long run, and I don't want either of us to go through that. I don't even want to put his fiancé through any of that either."
Gilber shrugged, siting back in his chair, lips pursed. "No worries, it was just a suggestion."
Laurens' Kitchen
2 PM
"I cannot believe you did that!" Henry called, the door slamming behind him. "Of all the stupid things to do and you tell Martha you're gay?"
"Well, to be fair, I am!"
"She is asking her dad to put a stop to the wedding."
"Well," John began, a small frown on his lips. "Maybe we should."
There was a small pause as the two of them stared at each other for a long moment, Henry letting out a small snort. "Well, it's not happening. You two will be getting married tomorrow and that's final."
"But Dad—"
"End of discussion."
AN: Happy New Years, everyone! I've had this next chapter ready for months but I've been, and still am, ill. Also this will be wrapping up sooner or later now that I'm having some memeory on where I wanted to take this.