Alexander's P.O.V

There was a beach near campus and we all decided to go there. It was that day I found out Pro. Washington had a wife name Martha and a 4 year old daughter named Charlotte. Everyone had sat on a towel with their roommate. Eliza and Maria were sitting on the towel to the left of us. Hercules and Laf to the right of us.

"Hey! Why don't you two make out?" Eliza yelled jokingly. "Oh shut up!" John called back, following with a giggle. I can't lie though. John was cute. He also had freckles. Damn. I think I have a crush. "Why don't you two kiss?" I shouted jokingly. The two of them blushed and looked away from each other.

from behind us I heard Hercules say "Looks like the cinnamon roll has a crush on the slut-"

"Slut?!" Maria yelled, looking like she was fighting back tears. "Dammit! I'm so sorry Maria! I let it slip." Herc quickly said.

"Its okay...."Maria said.

-

fast forward about a day. I was walking by a lounge area and heard crying. I walked over to the girl and asked "Hey, whats the matter?" 

She looked up. "MARIA?!!?" I shouted. She was shaking. "I'm sorry....i'll go." She said. "No its fine! Come here. If you wanna vent I'll listen." 

She inhaled and began explaining.

Maria's P.O.V

"So you see....a year or 2 ago I had a boyfriend named James Reynolds." I explained. "He was really abusive. Made me hate myself. I attempted suicide several times. I was in the hospital several times because of him as well." 

"Wow. That's awful." Alex said to me.

"Yeah. He would force me to sleep with guys with girlfriends, sometimes even wives , and then he would blackmail them. I became known as Maria Lewis : The Campus Slut. But then the Schuyler sisters came. You know, Angelica, Eliza and Peggy. I became friends with them. Then at one point James put  me in the hospital again. Eliza came to visit me and I broke down crying. I explained everything and she quickly told the nurses, who told the police and finally James was arrested." I continued.

"Why didn't you tell the police sooner?" Alex asked.

"I don't know...I guess I thought he would hurt me. I don't really have a reason." I responded. "After that I managed to make myself Eliza's roommate. Truth be told i'm certain i'm in love with her. But who could ever love me? Maria Lewis, The campus Slut."

"Ex-campus slut." Alex said putting his hand on my shoulder. 

"Whatever.....I've grown up in the slums. I don't deserve anything except a painful death." I said back to him. 

Alexander's P.O.V

Wow. Maria has the same thoughts as me. She thinks she is more worthless then a spec of dust. Finally, someone I relate to at this place.

-

I was doing some work for my history class when John gave me some coffee and sat down next to me. "So, where you from?" He asked. For a second I was shaking. Remembering everything horrible that happened there. "Oh...I'm from St.Kitts and Nevis. to be more specific, Charleston in the Nevis part." I respond. "Oh that's in the Caribbean right?" John asked. "Yeah." I respond.

Suddenly I feel a panic attack coming on and I start shaking. John puts his hand on mine and I calm down. Yep. Alex, you clearly have a crush on him. "You okay? You were shaking." He asks, sounding concerned. "Yeah, its nothing. Where are you from?" I ask trying to talk my mind off Nevis.

"South Carolina. I came to New York because its been my dream since childhood. What brings you to New York?" He responded. "I'm here for a good education." I respond.

-

John's P.O.V

Alex....He is so damn cute! Wait! Why do I think this way? Why can't I just be normal?! Why can't I be straight like the rest of my family?! Alex was asleep right now so I open the door to the bathroom.

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! SELF HARM!

I took out a small pocket knife and began.

cut

maybe one more

cut

cut

cut

cut

maybe one more time and i'll be do-

Alex opened the door.

"Occupied!" I shouted. Nice going John.

Alex's P.O.V

"Sorry!" I said as I quickly closed the door. Dammit Alex. Knock next time you idiot!

John's P.O.V

I quickly cleaned up the blood. "Sorry about that. You can come in now." I said to Alex, as I opened the door. "Okay. Sorry for just opening the door like that." Alex said. "Oh no your fine!" I responded to him. I walked over to my room and decided I would try to fall asleep.

Alex's P.O.V

I pulled out a pocket knife. (guess what : self harm trigger warning) I cut.

I cut again

and again

and again

and again

Just one more time wouldn't hurt.

Right Alex?

Right?