~Wednesday, October 9~

"Look who's worried~" Peggy smirked, leaning on John's doorframe.

"Y'all should also be worried," John frowned, grabbing his bag from the bedroom floor.

He had just finished packing and was ready to leave with Mr. Washington.

"We are." Theo said calmly.

"I care, okay?" He said, grabbing his turtle plushie.

"Also, Laf, take care of Jazzy for me." He quickly added, getting a groan from Laf.

"I'll do that if you don't want." James offered.

"Thanks, Jemmy."

"You care of Alex too much." Peggy smirked. "Not that I don't, I do. But it doesn't seem like you just care."

"What do you mean?" John asked, going to the living room, the rest following him.

Lafayette said, "You're not realizing it."

"What?"

Theodosia sighed, "Let him find out."

"What are you guys talking abo--"

"GO OR ELSE YOU'RE TOO LATE TO SAVE YOUR PRINCE!" Peggy screamed.

"I-" John blushed, interrupting himself.

"I'll see you in the weekend." John smiled and changed the subject, waving and going out to the hall.

Peggy watched until the door closed. She sighed shaking her head, "When will he realize..."

~~×~~

The 61-mile journey was rather boring and yet awkward.

It wasn't everyday you get to tag along with your teacher to get to New York.

John sat all the while at the back, since Mr. Washington's suitcase was at the front, playing random songs from his favorite musicals.

"We're here." Mr. Washington finally said after the tiring travel.

John nodded, removing his earphones, he opened the car door and stepped out.

"Thanks, Mr. Washington." He said, getting his bags.

"Of course, John," He smiled. He then placed on a stern look. "Don't you dare tell anyone else."

John nervously smiled and nodded, "Thanks again, Mr. Washington!"

"Anytime."

With one last nod, John walked towards the dorm building.

He then remembered that his friends didn't know he was here.

Turtle_is_layf:
Hey, Angie

Oldest&Wittiest:
John! I'm surprised
you haven't called today

Turtle_is_layf:
No need.

Oldest&Wittiest:
Wdym

Turtle_is_layf:
Where are you

Oldest&Wittiest:
Wth you know I'm
in NYC

Turtle_is_layf:
Specifically..?

Oldest&Wittiest:
I'm in Eliza and Maria's
dorm

Turtle_is_layf:
Kay. Thanks

Oldest&Wittiest:
What...

Oldest&Wittiest:
John?

Oldest&Wittiest:
JoHn?!

Oldest&Wittiest:
JoOHNnNN?!

Oldest&Wittiest:
What are you up to?!

Read 10:34 AM

Angelica threw her phone in frustration, wanting to know what John was up to.

What she didn't know was that John was literally going up.

"So, then Mr. Adams screamed at him--" Thomas said, but was soon interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Expecting anyone?" Hercules asked Eliza and Maria.

Everyone looked at the door as Angelica approached it to see who was behind it.

"I'm up to this."

Angelica's eyes widened as she saw John, answering her previous question.

"WHAT THE FUCK JOHN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"

"JOHN'S HERE?"

Angelica got pushed aside by Hercules, who quickly welcomed John.

"I..uh, something." He mumbled.

"What the heck? How did you get here?" Maria asked. "And how about Peggy?"

John took a seat beside Eliza, and softly chuckled, "Peggy's not with me. And I catched a ride with Mr. Washington, 'cause ya know."

"What are you doing here?" Eliza asked.

"Er, to check on Alex." He said, barely above a whisper.

"Ah," Thomas smirked. "Came to see your love?"

"Also known as Alex?" Angelica laughed.

"Shut up!" John pouted, blushing. "But yes."

"Okay, please try to talk to him," Eliza frowned, worry clearly evident on her face. "I'm so sorry--"

"Eliza, that would be enough!" They all groaned.

"It's not your fault," John weakly smiled. "I'll check on Alex then."

"You can leave your bags here." Maria offered.

"Thanks," He smiled, getting up. "I'll go there now."

He left his bags there, and with one grateful nod, left them and walked towards Alex and Hercules' dorm.

He walked down a few flight of stairs, since the elevator was not worth-while to wait, and arrived at the landing.

He found Alex's door, and knocked.

Silence.

Complete silence.

John hesitated, but it was the only way he could ever think of.

He got a hairpin from his tangled mess of hair, and twisted it slightly. He tried to pick the lock, looking around the corridors if there were anyone watching him.

With a sigh of relief, the lock clicked. The door opened slightly, light from the hall entering the dark living room.

He slowly and quietly, not wanting any pandemonium, entered the room. He crept towards Alex's door and could hear shuffling inside.

He could here footsteps and the creaking of the floorboard. The creaking stopped.

Then, he heard the unmistakable sound of metal dropping.

A knife.

John thought, this was his chance to enter.

He opened the door, and the sight of the room made him gasp.

"Alex?!"

John let out a small shriek of shock.

Alex was curled up on the floor beside his bed. His eyes were glossy from tears, and his cheeks were dried with tears.

What made John dread the moment worse was that Alex was cutting deeply by his wrists. His arms seemed to be flooded with blood, and it looked like he could get knocked out any second.

"John!" He exclaimed, trying his best to hide his arms. "You weren't supp--"

"What do you think you're doing?!"

John rushed into the room and gripped the knife out of Alex's hand.

"W-Why?" He mumbled, his eyes stinging for he longed to cry.

"I--"

"Nevermind about that. We'll talk about it later," He sighed. "Come on, let's wash it."

Alex reluctantly nodded, and stood up with John's support, which was rather hard since John was a couple inches shorter.

"Why must you be so tall?" He grumbled.

Alex stayed silent. John led him to the bathroom, where he washed his cuts.

Alex was propped against the bathroom counter. John washed his bloody arms with a wet cloth gently, trying to refrain from crying.

Once the bleeding softened, he wrapped bandages slowly around it, his breath shaking. The blood was slightly seeping out of it.

John took a deep breath and sighed, "Why did you do it?"

Alex sobbed, "I-I don't even know. I'm so fucking stupid--"

"No, you're not," John said. "Come on, let's get you some water."

Alex hopped off the counter, regaining his balance with the help of John, and went to the living room. He flopped down the couch as John went to get him a glass of water.

"Now, tell me. Why?"

Alex sighed, slowly sipping the water.

He said, tears building up, "I'm stupid, you know. Okay, don't say what I think you're gonna say. It won't change, you know I'm stupid. I'm so fucking sorry. I promised, ya know. But love is so fucking hard and I can't..I'm just wrong..."

He curled up again and started crying softly in his arms. John sighed and went closer to Alex, wrapping an arm around him in hope to comfort him.

"I-It's just, I don't know, I feel hopeless. I feel like I don't feel important or something. I even decided to kill myself -- no don't give me that look, it was true -- but then you showed up."

He smiled, "Thank you."

"Of course," John smiled weakly. "But you aren't hopeless. Maybe someone out there is just gonna turn up.."

John was pained inside, he was talking about himself.

"You're not hopeless..."

Alex sniffled and lightly chuckled, "I wouldn't be alive without you. Thanks for traveling a lot of miles." He added sarcastically.

John smiled, his heart soaring with joy.

"Don't do it, okay? Promise?"

Alex sighed, "Okay. I promise."

Alex leaned on John's shoulder, in his surprise, and slowly drifted into sleep.

John smiled as he adored Alex peacefully sleeping.

He only wished Alex's life was actually peaceful as it was right there.