Chapter 5
3rd Person
"I-I don't really wanna go on the trip..." John lied. He did want to go on the trip.
He wanted to spend time with his friends, he really did, but he didn't want to worsen the relationship he had with his father. It was terrible already.
"A-Are you sure, Johnny?" Peggy asks him.
"Yeah..."
John could feel the tears threatening to spill out. "I'm just gonna go..."
John walked out the door, and onto the street, right beside the sidewalk.
The summer without all of my friends. He thought. At least we're all going to the same college. I wonder when Dad takes that away too.
"John." He heard a familiar voice say from behind him.
The boy turned around to see George running towards him. "I'll drive you home."
John smiled and nodded.
"So, what's wrong?" George asks.
John was surprised. Usually, he was pretty good at concealing his disappointment and sadness. He'd skipped out on events before.
Nobody needs to know...
"Nothing, I'm fine." He replied as a fake smile strained his face.
Straighten the spine, smile for the neighbors, everything's fine, everything's cool...
The Washingtons gave John a weird feeling. It was a feeling that John only felt with his mom. And it only felt stronger once she passed away.
Ever since John had met the Washingtons, they had been there for him. Especially after his mother's death.
Before John could retreat to his room, George pulled him into a hug. "You're not, son."
John attempted to respond, but a sob unintentionally escaped from his chest. "I-I'm really not..."
George closed the front door and sat on a nearby bench. While rubbing the boy's back, he whispered, "Let it all out."
After a few minutes, he calmed down, and George asked the typical questions like, "What's wrong? Are you okay?" John answered those questions vaguely, but there was one that he couldn't seem to answer.
"C-Can you repeat the question?" He asked, even though he heard the question very clearly.
"What made you decide not to go on the trip?" George repeated.
John didn't know what to say. He knew if he avoided the question, George would be even more suspicious. He knew George would figure it out eventually, but he didn't want anyone to know about what had been happening.
It would probably only get worse.
"No comment?" He tried to avoid the question.
"You sure?" George knew something was wrong, but he didn't want to force the boy. "I don't wanna force you to say anything, but I can tell there's something wrong."
"Don't tell anyone. Don't do anything."
The man nodded but was suspicious. He was like the boy's father.
George didn't know Mr. Laurens very well, they had only met a few times when John was being picked up or dropped off. Something seemed off about him, though.
"I don't want to upset my father." John paused. "He's a little...harsh when he's upset."
"How?" The man started rubbing the boy's back comfortingly.
"He said I was ungrateful, and he yelled at me, and he said that he didn't want to pay for my part of the trip."
"We already said that-"
"I know." John interrupted. "I just really don't want to upset him."
"How about I stay with you until your father get's back, and I'll talk to him." George offered.
"Okay."
***
"Hey!" A voice shouted.
John assumed it was his dad and was correct.
John crept downstairs and peeked behind one of the walls in the kitchen, so he could see what was going on.
"Who are you, and what the hell are you doing in my house?!" Mr. Laurens shouted again.
"Sir, if you could just let me explain-"
"No! Who are you, and what the hell are you doing in my house?!" Mr. Laurens repeated, cutting off George.
"George Washington. My name is George Washington, and I was dropping off your son." George sighed when Mr. Laurens calmed down. "I actually wanted to talk to you."
"We can talk in my office."
TurtleBoi's POV
Long story short, my dad let me go on the trip. There was a lot of yelling, but I'm here.
We decided to go to Charlestown, Nevis, Alex's hometown, since he hadn't been there since...I don't really know, actually. I was told he immigrated here about two years ago.
When Alex mentioned Nevis last week, he said: "It's the single greatest little place in the Caribbean!"
We'll have to see, Alex.
"At least you won't bother me if you're there." My dad muttered.
I brushed off the comment and ran over to Maria and the Schuylers. "Heyyyy!"
"JOHNNY!" Peggy screeched.
She ran up to me and squeezed me. That girl may be the smallest person I've ever met, but she's also the strongest, the craziest, and the loudest. I swear she's more hyper than Alex on 5-hour energy and coffee at 3 am. That's saying something.
I try to say: "Great, but I can't breathe." But it comes out as: "G-Gr...eat...can't...bre-breathe."
"You're fine, Nina. Stop overreacting!" She laughs and squeezes me tighter. Soon, I start coughing, and she lets go.
"Yup. Definitely overreacting, Pegs." I cough more and laugh.
She rolls her eyes, and I go to hug the rest of the girls. When I get to Maria, I whisper in her ear. "Control your girlfriend."
Maria laughs, and Peggy looks up at her, expecting her to explain. She shook her head, and Peggy pouted.
After a few minutes of frustration, Peggy had enough. She grabbed my hand, and gripped it, slowly increasing the pain.
"Tell me, or John's hand gets it, Ria!"
"You wouldn't do that. I know you Pegs, you wouldn't break your best friend's hand." Maria pointed out.
"Watch me I'll-"
Peggy got cut off by Alex, Laf, Herc, and the Washingtons joining us.
"Thank you." I embraced Alex in a hug. "You were just in time. PegLeg was about to break my hand."
"I'd like to see that." He pet Peggy's head. "She's so cute, innocent, and smol!"
"I'm like two and a half inches shorter than you, bitch." She snapped. "I can- and will- stomp your kneecaps backward."
Peggy grabbed Alex by the wrist, pulled it off her head, and punched him in the stomach.
Alex yelped in pain, leaned on the wall, and gripped his stomach. His face was scrunched up, and his eyes were screwed shut, but he was still the cutest thing I have ever seen. Peggy just smiled innocently and said: "Oh my god, Alex! Are you okay?!"
Peggy giggled, and Alex flipped her off.
After a few minutes, Alex could stand, and we began the journey to the plane.
***
"Alright, the plane to Charlestown, Nevis, will begin boarding now." The loudspeaker announced.
We were still in bag check, but luckily, the gate wasn't too far away.
Everyone grabbed their items and stuffed them in their suitcases and backpacks before we ran off to the gate.
"We..." Alex gasped for more air. "...made it!"
"You good, bro?" Laf asked him.
Alex gave him a thumbs-up and turned around to get on the plane.
Our seats were pretty spread out, but Angelica and Eliza sat together, the Washingtons sat together, Alex sat with Maria, Laf sat with Herc, and I sat with Peggy.
Alex and Maria were the closest to us, and I saw Alex pulling out his laptop, and typing furiously. Of course. We're on summer break, and he's still writing like he's running out of time. That beautiful boy is non-stop.
I turned my head and saw Peggy leaning on my arm, and taking a nap. I don't blame her, it's a five-hour flight, and it's only seven in the morning.
***
"Pegs." I shook her shoulder, in hopes that I would wake her up. When she didn't, I squeezed her shoulder, and she instantly sat up straight.
"Ow! That hurt!" She complained.
"We're here, PegLeg."
Her face instantly lit up, making it impossible to tell she was asleep ten seconds ago.
We stepped off the plane and met up with everyone at the baggage claim. Pegs and I were the last ones there because she 'needed' and iced coffee. She was already pretty hyper, so I was confused.
"Like I said, TurtleBoi, if I don't have coffee-"
"Finally!" Eliza exclaimed. "Y'all took forever! We already got your bags."
We rented two cars. I rode with Maria and the Schuylers, and everyone else rode with George and Martha.
The hotel was nice, and we got two rooms as well. Martha shared a room with the rest of the girls, and George was with us boys.
"You were right, Alex." I sighed. "This might just be the single greatest little place in the Caribbean."