Chapter 4
Angry Little Gremlin's P.O.V
John came back downstairs with a sad look on his face. His lips were trembling, his hands were shaking, and his eyes were glossy.
I ran up to him and embraced him in a tight hug. "Jackie! What happened?!"
"I-I'm fine, my dad told me that I can't come on the trip. A-And h-he, he- never mind..." Tears started falling from his eyes, staining my hoodie. (was he wearing a hoodie before?)
"Hey, It's okay, we'll figure something out." I rubbed his back and led him to the couch. "Why can't you come?"
He looks up at me and falls out of the embrace. "He didn't 'want to pay for my shit.'" He air quotes.
I guess I didn't remember there were other people in the house, because I was startled when my dad's voice started booming. "John, son, that's no problem, this trip will be paid for by Martha and me, for everyone. We all want you to come."
John started sniffling, and I brushed my hand against his wet, freckled, cheek. He closes his eyes, embracing it and smiling slightly, but Peggy ruins the moment. "Awww, you two are so cute! Definitely my OTP." I frown and everyone starts clapping, even my parents.
"Hey, do you wanna talk in my room. Privately." I whisper.
"Y-Yeah."
I lead him up the stairs and stare, at his brown, curly, hair bouncing up and down.
Up. Down. Up. Down. Up. D-
I find myself in pain and faceplanted on the stairs. I look up and see John smirking slightly, trying not to laugh. "You okay, Lex?"
I can hear some scattered snickering behind me, and my nose hurts, but I just answer with, "I'm fine, Jackie." Just then, my nose starts bleeding. I don't know if it's because of how I fell, or if it's because John is so incredibly cute and hot, but it's bleeding.
I hate when my nose starts bleeding because when it starts bleeding, it doesn't drip like it's supposed too. My nose starts gushing out blood. It's so annoying because if I don't get a tissue or something immediately, there are no spots of blood, it's pools of blood all over my shirt and pants.
"You sure?" John smirks.
I roll my eyes and tilt my head back as I run into my room. Soon enough, Mom bursts in and throws ice packs at me, and tells me to place them on my bleeding nose. I ignore her though. I don't really know why, I guess I don't really think ice packs are going to help me.
I hear the door crack open again. John. "Hey, Lexi."
I pat a spot on my bed, so he knows to sit down. Instead of sitting, he crawls onto the other side of the bed and lays down with me, his head on my chest, and arms wrapped around my waist. This is normal for us. Ever since we met, we were really close.
"Johnnnnn" I whined.
"What did you want to talk about, hun?" He squeezes my waist, and I put my arm that isn't holding a tissue to my nose, around his precious little body.
"What was that "never mind" from earlier?"
His face drops in an instant. "Really, it was nothing, Alex."
"John-"
"No!" He pulls his body off mine and sits up.
"Please"
"No."
"Johnny..."
"No, Alex."
"Johnny-"
"Fine!" He snaps. "My father said some unkind things. It was just words, I'm fine."
"I'm gonna talk to him-"
"No. Stop. You'll only make it worse." He lays back down.
"What's it, Jackie?"
He doesn't answer, so I leave him alone, for now.
Ten minutes later, my nose stops bleeding, and we head downstairs to hang out with everyone.
There's a lot of POV switches
TurtleBoi's P.O.V
"Shit!" I said jumping off Alex's bed. We were gonna play truth or dare, but I guess not. It's for the better though. Knowing Laf and Herc, they'd make me do something incredibly stupid or embarrassing in front of Alex. I don't want Alex to think I'm annoying or weird. I don't wanna ruin the perfect friendship I have with him.
"Language." Martha scolded as I sprinted down the stairs. I tripped on the last step, and almost fell flat on my face. "Sweetie, where you going?"
I got up, took my sweater from the couch, made sure I had my wallet, phone, and keys before I slipped my shoes on. "Sorry, Martha." I sighed. "I really need to get home, my dad's probably looking for me, and I'm staying out way too late. God, he's gonna kill me."
I walked to the kitchen, to say goodbye to the Washingtons before heading back up to Alex's room. "Guys I'm really sorry to leave right now, but I gotta go, bye."
I was almost out of the house, but Peggy grabbed my wrist and tugged it gently. "What do you want, Pegs?"
"Johnny! We're gonna miss you! Goodbye! Farewell! Safe travels, my dearest, Johnathan!" Peggy shouted as I began walking out the door.
"Bye, PegLeg!"
"Byeeeeeee!"
***
"Dad, I'm really so-"
"Where the hell have you been!" My dad shouted at me. "You're over an hour past curfew!"
"I'm sorry, I just lost track of-"
"What?!" He interrupted again. "Lost track of time?! Don't give me that crap! Where have you been?"
I took a deep breath to stop myself from losing my temper. "I was at the Washingtons with my friends. You can call them if you want."
"Y'know what?! Maybe I will! Go up to your room now. Don't think we're done talking about this, though."
Hammy's P.O.V
"He went back to his place, right?" I asked.
"Yes, Dear. You know how his father gets. He's probably gonna call-" Mom was cut off by her phone ringing. "Perfect timing."
"Hello?" She answered. I couldn't hear the other voice, just Mom.
"Yes."
"Yes, he was here."
"No."
"He's a good kid."
"Alright. Bye."
Mom hung up, I gave her a hug, just because, and she kissed my forehead.
"Can everyone sleepover tonight?" I pulled out of the hug.
She patted my leg and walked away. "Of course, Dear. Don't stay up too late."
We ended up talking and playing until 3 am. Maria slept with me because she's my best friend, Liza and Peggy shared the guest room, Herc shared with Laf, and Angie took our pullout couch.
TurtleBoi's P.O.V
I was laying on my bed before my father came in. My stomach was churning, and I felt like I was going to throw up.
What would he do to me?
"John." My father called.
I hummed in response.
"Answer me." He commanded.
"Yes, Dad?"
"That's better." He grumbled.
I was getting nervous. He always got really mad at me for disobeying him.
"Johnathan, I need to ask you something." He said.
I swallowed. "Y-Yeah?"
"Don't stutter." He raised his voice a little, and it was scaring me. Dad was a little violent when he was drunk, but I could tell he was completely sober. "You've been staying out late more often. Where do you go?"
"The Washingtons," I answered.
"The Washingtons?! Every time?!" He shouted. I just nodded. "DO YOU NOT APPRECIATE EVERYTHING I DO FOR YOU?! Every time YOU COME HOME YOU ALWAYS SAY 'OH DON'T WORRY, I ALREADY ATE.' I DO SO MUCH FOR YOU, AND YOU CAN'T EVEN BOTHER TO APPRECIATE IT! YOU DON'T PAY ME RENT, YOU DON'T PAY FOR YOUR MEALS, IF YOU LOVE HANGING OUT WITH THEM SO MUCH, WHY DON'T YOU JUST LIVE THERE! HUH! THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR YOUR PART OF THE TRIP! YOU DON'T CARE!"
"Dad, I-"
"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!" He cut me off and he smacked my face. It was different this time, though. Other times, it was a stupid mistake my alcoholic dad made when he was drunk. He wasn't drunk today. He was very sober. I felt tears threatening to come out, making my vision blurry. "You're such a baby. If you were any more of a disappointment, I'd kick you out. You're lucky." He slammed the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
My father doesn't love me. My own father.
His words rung in my head. "If you were any more of a disappointment, I'd kick you out."
Oops, I'm gay.
My tears came flooding down. I needed someone to talk to, someone who would listen.
Freckles: R u awake? If you aren't it's fine, and if u r, u don't have to answer either. I don't wanna annoy u.
I sigh. They're probably doing something fun, and I'm just interrupting.
Hammy's P.O.V
It was hard to sleep for some reason. Something felt missing. Suddenly, I heard my phone ping, and as soon as I read the message, I felt better.
Freckles: R u awake? If you aren't it's fine, and if u r, u don't have to answer either. I don't wanna annoy u.
AngryGremlin: lol
Freckles: ???????????
AngryGremlin: the fact that you think you could be annoying
AngryGremlin: and you think that I sleep
AngryGremlin: can I call you
Almost immediately, I get a FaceTime request from John, and I quickly run into my bathroom.
"Hi," John says while smiling. He had one of those perfect contagious smiles that would make anyone feel happy. He probably got it from Peggy.
"Hi," I responded. As I smiled back, his splattered freckles seemed to light up.
I zoned out for a moment, staring at the freckled boy's perfect face when I noticed something. Before I could say anything, he starts. "What's that noise?"
I focus, waiting for the noise to come, and when it does, I drop my phone and race into my brother's room. "What the hell, Laf?!"
I turn on the lights, and Laf jumps up. "W-What are you doing here, Alex?!"
"Again?! You guys couldn't wait until you were alone?"
"W-We thought e-everyone was sleeping!" He stammers. I turn to Herc, and he just rubs his neck and shrugs.
"Okay, that's it. I'm getting my sleeping bag, and sleeping on your floor." I grumble. Laf opens his mouth, but I quickly cut him off. "No. You can't stop me, cause I can just tell Mom and Dad about this."
***
The next morning, everyone agreed that we should invite John over, so we could discuss our trip. We have one of those locks where there's a number code, so when I heard the door unlock, I got up to greet him, but Peggy beat me to it.
After brunch, we all sat down together to plan out our vacation, but John said something that had startled us.