A/N Me updating two chapters? In one day? It's more likely than you think.

Peggy found herself in her room that night, a board up on her wall. She had decided to try and figure the whole thing out herself. But, being Peggy, she had decided to do it like a detective. Which means, she had a picture of almost everyone in their grade on the board with string connecting them all. When she decided that someone wasn't it, she took the picture down. So far, she had shortened it down to five people: Eliza, Angelica, John, Kitty Livingston, and John Andre. 

She heard the door open downstairs, signalling Eliza was back.

"YO!" She shouted. "HOW'D IT GO?"

"STILL FRIENDS." Eliza shouted back. Peggy nodded even though no one could see her and ripped Eliza's picture off of the board.

1 down, 4 to go.

•••

Alex didn't end up going to school the next day. The stomach bug had been making it's way down the street and happened to claim him as it's next victim. And of course, he felt like he was dying. He spent the whole time in his bed, frequently asking Martha if John could come over. Why just John, he couldn't figure out. But John always came over after school to check on him and let him know what school work he missed.

Peggy stopped by frequently too, but seemed to stay down in the kitchen with Martha, papers and pictures scattered across the table as they scribbled things down and spoke in rushed whispers. He could never figure out what they were doing, and George told him to just ignore the two of them.

It was currently Wednesday, and Alex was waiting in his room for John to come in. A few minutes later there was a knock on his door.

"You can come in."

John stepped inside and closed the door behind him, several books in his arms.

"There was, so much, that you missed today. Both school work wise and just in general. Like first off, Eliza had her flower grow right in the middle of class. It ended up being for John Andre, and he has a flower for her, too, so everything worked out."

"Aw, that's awesome."

"Yeah I know, right? Also, Jefferson and Reynolds got into a fight. Over what, I have no idea. I just happened to pass by the fight in the hallway."

"Well that sucks, I missed it. Anyways, onto the school work."

John sat down and started showing Alex what he missed, not really having to explain how to do any of it to him. As Alex sat on his bed working on the stuff ("I'm just getting it done so I won't forget about it!"), John sat in Alex's swivel chair and sketched on some extra paper he had. They both sat there, the only sound being pencils as they moved across the paper. 

Alex had finished what he was doing and had just laid down on his bed again. He listened to John draw for a moment when he suddenly had an urge.

"John?"

"Hm?"

"I wanna hug."

The pencil stopped and John turned around.

"What?"

"I said I wanna hug."

"I don't think I've ever heard you ask for a hug. And besides, what if I get sick."

"Oh well, just hug me. Please?" He asked, stretching his arms in the air and doing grabby hands like a child.

John sighed before getting up and moving over to the bed, sitting down next to him. Alex sat up and curled into his lap, wrapping his arms around him and resting his face on John's shoulder. He sighed when John wrapped his arms around him, and they sat there. Alex didn't know why, but he felt content in his arms.

(A/N oh you poor oblivious boy)

John had to admit, he liked this feeling. Alex was cuddled into him as they hugged, and John noticed just how small Alex was. The flower behind Alex's ear floated up and down everytime John breathed, it being close to his face because of the way Alex was situated. And John was happy. Happy sitting there in the bedroom on Alex's bed, hugging him even though he had the chance of catching the sickness.

Finally, he reluctantly pulled away.

"Alright, I don't wanna get sick. So, have you finished everything?"

"Yeah, looks like it."

"Well I'm gonna head on home. See you tomorrow."

"See ya."

And as John walked home, he thought about that hug. He didn't notice how his mom looked confused when he walked inside, or how his little sister watched him enter his room because she noticed he was acting different.

He was too busy smiling to himself.