Warning: Scratching self out of anger, crying. It's just kind of sad.

-Chapter 8

 John sat on his bunk, contemplating the breakfast scenario. Alex wouldn't really like a mess like him, right? 

 He sighed and reached for his photo book. He looked through the photos with his dad. He didn't look anything like Henry. Henry was a ginger with deep brown eyes. John did have strands of shimmering strawberry blonde hair here and there, but it was very subtle. 

 John missed his family. Now that he thought about it, he didn't have a family anymore. His birth mother was dead, along with his dad. He really didn't have any family that could take care of him. Tears gathered in the freckled boy's eyes, his curls falling over his face. He shouldn't cry over such a petty thing, or so he thought. He felt pathetic, when in reality, he had every right to cry. 

 John leaned his forehead on the rail of the bunk bed and let tears fall from his eyes, most of which landed on the green quilt under him. He sniffled, wiping his eyes. Don't cry, John.

 But John couldn't help but cry. So there he sat, letting his emotions spill from his eyes.

 John lifted his head for a moment, looking at the picture of his dad again. Henry and John were fishing, something they always did in the summer. That is, until he passed. Ever since then, it had been hard to do a lot of things. John introverted himself for the most part, not talking much. This gave him little anxiety when approaching strangers, even cute ones like Alexander. 

John suddenly felt anger. He scratched his arm, hoping to see blood bubble up from his veins. He scratched harder, telling himself that the pain felt good. And to him it did feel good for the moment.

 There was a knock at the door, scaring John to death. Who could it be now? 

 He sighed quietly, wiping his eyes, and shoving his long sleeve down. He grasped the hem of each sleeve with his hand, his right arm stinging. He walked over to the door and opened it. 

 There stood a happy looking Alexander with a giggling Maddie on his leg. He then saw John's face and frowned. "Hey, what's wrong?" Alex asked, furrowing his eyebrows in concern. "It's.. nothing.." John mumbled, opening the door wider for them to come in. Alex stepped inside, pulling Maddie along. He wasn't sure if Maddie should hear this, so he asked her if she knew the way back to her own room. 

 Maddie replied saying that she did know. She'd been in it many times. So, we let her go. 

 Alex turned to me as I sat on his bunk, fiddling with my fingers. "John, I'm not stupid. I know something's wrong." He said softly, sitting next to his.. friend. In reality it hurt to call him friend, but Alex needed to keep it together and not get overly attached. He knew that.

 "I'm- It's- I just was looking at photos.." John stammered, feeling weak. "Oh.. I understand.." Alex said, then hugged John tightly. John wouldn't let himself cry, though he did hug Alex back. The embrace felt so nice. He hadn't been truthfully hugged in a long time. To long for him to remember that last time.

 Alex pulled from the hug, and looked down. He gasped, seeing little stains of blood drying on John's sleeve. He didn't. He couldn't have.

 "J-John?" He asked, stuttering. "Yeah?" John replied with a questioning tone, he looked where Alex was looking, hoping he wasn't hard from the embrace. (I'm not sorry) Instead, he saw the stains of blood. He gawked slightly. "You didn't.. did you?" Alex asked in disbelief. Would John really cut? "What?" John asked, then gasped in realization. "N-No! I would never.. I just- cut myself on something. I can't really remember what it was.." John said, looking Alex in the eyes. 

 John's breath hitched as their eyes locked for a moment. Alex was so close he could- No. Alex wouldn't like him like that. It wasn't possible. "Oh.." Alex breathed, seeming to be in a trance from John's emerald eyes. John's heart sped up, giving him little anxiety. He could handle it though. 

 Then, Alex did the unthinkable.

A/N: What did Alex do?!??! Don't you just LOVE cliffhangers!?