John's P.O.V

"John. My beautiful son." And just like that, my mothers hand slipped from mine and the others from my father's. "Eleanor? ELEANOR?!"

-

I was sitting at that table with my dad. Martha , Mary Eleanor , James and Henry Jr had run up to their rooms and were violently sobbing.  Suddenly , but not so suddenly , my dad smacked me across the face then proceeded to throw a hard plastic plate at me.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" I yelled. "SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH! I CAN'T BELIEVE ELEANOR WOULD EVER LOVE YOU! LOOK AT YOU! YOUR NOT EVEN SAD THAT YOUR FUCKING MOTHER HAS JUST DIED!"

I had forgotten...I just wanted to keep my mind in check...and not completely break down. But right after he said that I begin quietly crying. I had been in South Carolina for 2 weeks now and by all means I was ready to go back to NYC.

The airport was actually only a 10 minute walk from the house. My siblings all came downstairs , all giving me hugs , and I even heard Martha mumble "I'm sorry." 

"It's okay."

They broke their hugs and all ran back up to their rooms. "Dad, I'm leaving now." I said. "Good, don't ever show your face here again faggot."

-

After I got off the flight, I walked to my dorm. I opened the door to see Alex , Maria , Angelica , Eliza and Peggy. They all whipped their heads towards me. "Oh my god. John whats wrong?" Eliza asked. On the verge of tears all I could say was "Mom...fever...gone."

The 5 of them ran towards me and Alex and Eliza sat me down.

Alex's P.O.V

I put my hand on John's back. "Look. Everything will be okay. Just pull everything together and we'll all help you cope. I promise you, everything will end up fine." I say, with the most monotone voice I had ever used in my entire life.

It took a second but then John blew up. "Easy for you to say!" He screamed. "Your parents are still alive and they still care you! You have no right to tell me what to do in this situation!" He said and then slammed the door to his room. The girls proceeded to leave and I called Herc and Laf. 

Laf picked up. "Hello mon ami. Whats up?" 

"Nothing much. I was just wondering if Herc and you wanted to hang out with me." I say reluctantly.

"Yeah sure."

-

"I don't know. Granted, I feel like anyway would have their emotions all in wack when a parent dies." Herc said.

"Yes but John has never been short-tempered like that." Laf responded. 

I stare at my food. "I could never imagine watching my mother nor father die right before my eyes." Herc said. "Yeah." I say.

"Alex, is something wrong?" Laf asked. "No. Everything is fine I assure you." I respond.

"Alright."

-

I open my dorm to see Maria cleaning up the kitchen. "Hey Ria. Do you know where John is?" 

"He went down to the campus cafe." Maria responded. "By the way, can we talk?"

"Oh sure. Is something the matter Maria?" I asked sitting down next to her on the couch.

"Ummmm......you can keep a secret right?" She asked, sounding insecure.

"Yeah of course."

"Well....Eliza's a thief." She said.

"Really? Eliza doesn't seem like that type of person. What did she steal?" I asked. Who knew Eliza could find it in herself to steal. Maybe her nice cinnamon roll-ness was all an act. Regardless silence ensued.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"My Heart." She responds.

"OOOOOOOO! Ria has a crush!" I laugh. "Oh shut up! How about a deal? Now that I've told you who I like you tell me who you like." She says, giggly. "John Laurens in the place to be. Wait! I have an idea!"

"What? Please tell me it not stupid." She says with a smile. "We write love letters to them. See how they react and hope it doesn't ruin our friendship." Yep. That was my genius plan.

"That's great! Can you write mine? I'm not very creative." She asked. "Of course!" I say taking out a pen and paper. I lay them on the coffee table in front of the couch. "Alright Ria. Lets do this."

Eliza's P.O.V

I had just gotten off the clock at my job at Walmart. Angelica had just gotten off from Target. We had changed clothes and we sitting on a hill near campus. I turned to my big sister. "Angelica, do you think I could win Maria over?" 

I heard Angelica laugh. "Of course! You could win anyone over just by existing. Your nice, beautiful and always put others before yourself." She tells me. "Thanks. Y'know what? I'm gonna confess my feelings to Maria." I respond to Angie.

"Alright. I think she is in Alex's dorm." Angelica told me. "Alright thank you!" I said as I ran down the hill to the dorms.

John's P.O.V

I poked at food with my fork. I felt bad for yelling at Alex earlier. But granted I wasn't really thinking. God what I would give to have my mother like him. As well as have an accepting father. Well granted his family may not know he's bi.

It takes a lot of balls to come out to your family or anyone really. I recalled the day I came out to my parents and siblings. I was 14 at the time.

Mom and dad had just gotten my siblings to settle down and eat dinner. It was then my mom called me down. I had decided that day I would tell everyone i'm gay. I was hella nervous.

I sat down and took a few bites of my chicken as my family made small talk around me. Then finally some silence happened. Without thinking I just blurted it out

"Mom , dad , everyone , i'm gay."

My siblings looked around. Martha had to tell my younger brothers and sister what gay meant. Mom sighed and dad got up. "Henry, what are you doing?"

Dad smacked me smack dab across the face. "Henry what the hell?!" My mom yelled. I lead my siblings upstairs and we locked ourselves in Mary Eleanor's room as the argument ensued downstairs.

Surprisingly I wasn't hospitalized.

Then a waitress walked up to me. "Sir, are you ready to pay your bill?" 

"Oh yes ma'am."

I decided that by tomorrow I would say sorry to Alex.