"Now, go back to your dorm and figure out the truth." Eliza says, opening the door for me.

I sigh and stand up, leaving the blanket she had given me on the couch. I hug her before standing outside the door. "Thanks again, Eliza."

She smiles. "Anytime, Alex. Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow."

I tilt my head. "Why? Did you schedule me for a shift tomorrow?"

"No, for your birthday, silly." She giggles lightly and I frown.

"That's not neces-"

"No, you don't get a say, we are doing something tomorrow."

I sigh, knowing there was no point in arguing with her. I wave before walking back to my dorm. I open the door and see John sitting on the couch, looking uncomfortable as Carrie cuddled up to him and his dad was nowhere to be found.

John sees me and smiles before looking down at Carrie. "Oh, Alex you're back. Alright, you should probably go."

"Oh, but I thought I'd-"

"Your visit is over, Carrie. Goodbye." John says firmly, standing up.

Carrie sighs and then kisses his cheek. "Alright, bye Johnny."

John cringes and then takes a deep breath. "I've asked you before, Carrie. Please stop doing that and calling me Johnny."

She giggles before bumping me on purpose and walking out. "Bitch." I mumble before closing the door and turning back to John. I cross my arms and wait.

"So um...C-can I explain?" John asks, looking even more nervous than I've ever seen him.

I sign and walk over to the couch, turning off the TV. I then look up at him with a frown on my face. "Okay, explain. You better have a damn good reason."

He sighs in relief and sits across from me, fidgeting with his sleeves. "Ok so..Obviously, that was my dad, and the girl is my ex girlfriend." He says.

I bite the inside of my cheek, trying not to get too angry. I nod, letting him know he can continue.

"Carrie is actually the reason I'm gay, but my father doesn't know that and neither does she. I broke up with her like a year ago, but my dad wants her and I to get married or something, so he spontaneously brings her over to try and convince me."

I sigh. "So, you hadn't come out to your father before dinner?" I ask and he shakes his head. "And you have a boyfriend now and didn't think to bring it up at dinner?"

He hangs his head low. "I couldn't, Alex. You don't understand what would happen if I did.."

"Please, fill me in on what would happen. I would love to know why I can't meet your dad as your significant other." I say, a bit of anger showing in my voice.

John sighs. "My dad is a total homophobe..And as much as I don't care about his approval, I unfortunately need it or he will ruin my life." He says, sounding sincere.

"How does he have the power to ruin your life? God, John, you're an adult and moved away from whatever shithole house in New York he lives in." I say angrily, my eyebrows furrowed gently.

"He lives in South Carolina, Alex. He owns a fucking plantation there and comes all the way up to New York with a girl I used to go out with just because he can and wants to influence my life as much as possible. How are you not understanding this?" He asks, looking up at me and frowning. His eyes then widen and his face softens. "I'm sorry, Alex, I didn't mean to get angry-"

"No, no you're right. What would I know about life being tough and having dad issues?" I ask, standing up and going into the room. I then go over to his bed, grab his pillow, blanket, and turtle plush and throw it out of the room. "I'm going to bed, don't fucking disturb me." I say before closing and locking the door.

Timeskip brought to you by my shot that I am not throwing away

I wake up and look around me, expecting to see John laying next to me. I frown when I see he's not there and then sit up and look across the room at his bed. I see that his bed is empty and I tilt my head before remembering the fight we had last night.

"Ah shit." I mumbled. I was so angry I wasn't even listening to what he was saying last night..

I stand up and go to the door, unlocking it and opening it slowly. I look out and see John fast asleep on the couch. I sigh in relief and go to the kitchen quietly. I then FaceTime Lafayette, turning the volume down halfway.

"Mon ami, what do you want at 7 in the morning?" He groans, his camera only showing the ceiling in his dorm. I must've just woke him up.

"Laf, I need your help making apology pancakes." I admit, blushing lightly. "John and I got in a fight last night, and I have no clue how to make pancakes."

I hear a sigh come from the other end of the phone. "How bad was the fight?" He asks. I grab my phone and flip the camera to show John sleeping on the couch, cuddling his turtle with tear stains on his freckled cheeks. "Well, shit Hamilton, you better add some cinnamon to those pancakes."

I sigh and flip the camera back around, looking at the screen. "Yeah, I know. Are you going to help me or not?" I ask.

He chuckles. "Give me a few minutes I'll be over after I get ready. I'm bringing my ingredients, though. I don't trust whatever crap John buys." He then hangs up and I laugh lightly.

Another timeskip because I'm lazy brought to you by the Schuyler Sisters (work!)

"Thanks, Laf." I say, brushing off some of the pancake powder on my arms.

He smiles. "Of course! Anything to make it up to John. You better do more than just serve the pancakes, you better settle the argument."

I nod. "Yes, I know. Thanks again."

He nods and grabs a plate of pancakes he made for him and Hercules before stopping in the doorway. "Oh, by the way, Eliza texted me. Happy birthday, official adult." He chuckles before walking out and closing the door.

I roll my eyes while chuckling and grab the other plate of pancakes and walk over to the couch. John looked so cute asleep, but I knew I had to wake him up with a fresh plate of pancakes rather than a cold one. I shake him a little bit and he furrows his eyebrows.

"Ugh..Five more minutes.." He mumbles.

I chuckle and set the plate of pancakes down on the couch, shaking him again. "Come on, John. Laf helped me make pancakes."

He inhales and then sits up immediately, looking at the pancakes. He smiles and then looks up at me and nods, understanding. "Ah, they're apology pancakes."

I sigh and nod. "Yes, John. Come on, let's go eat and talk."

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