Forever Young

Don't tell John

Trigger warning: lots of feels, bullying, homophobic slurs
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Aspen's POV

Before Alex found her

I went for a walk around campus after I left Alex in his dorm. That is when Jefferson's group came up to me. Now, something I've noticed is whenever I see them Jefferson doesn't look like he is being a douche. In fact it seems Reynalds is way worse then him. Now, there was a girl with them and, Thomas Pain? Why is he with them and, holding the girl's hand? He's Angie's boyfriend!

"Hey, Aspen right?" Reynalds calls me over.

"James, no," I can hear Thomas Jefferson say.

I walk over to them cautiously, "what do you want?"

"Well she's got some spirit," Lee comments. "She is probably way braver then her brother!"

"Excuse me?" I say, angry that they would talk about my big brother like that. "John is the bravest boy I've ever known, and he is twice the man you'll ever be, Reynalds!" He looks angry but the girl with them steps in.

"Ok, ok let's all be cival here." She says, "we just want to have a calm chat." She extends her hand for me to shake and I just glare at her. She puts her hand down, "Sally Hemmings, this is James Reynalds, Thomas Pain, Charles Lee, Thomas Jefferson, and James Maddison."

"I already know Pain," I say scowling at him. "I wanna know why he is here and not with his girlfriend!"

"Aspen, I-" Pain is cut off by Sally.

"Thomas is with me now," Sally says. "Now, down to business." Before Reynalds continues Sally's sentence I look around at there group. My eyes are drown to Jefferson, he looks at Sally and Pain with anger, jealousy, and pain in his eyes. The boy next to him, James Madison, puts his hand on Jefferson's shoulder.

"We want you to join our group," I hear Reynalds say which brings me back to reality.

"What?" I say shocked at there offer.

"You heard me," he says.

"No! No way!" I say, and Reynalds advances toward me.

"Wouldn't you rather hang with us instead of the bastard orphan, and your faggot brother?" Reynalds sneers. Then I punch Reynalds in the nose. He looks back at me in shock, but then his eyes go dark, her walks toward me and raises a hand with three large rings on it. I flash back to home with my brother getting beat. I come back at James's hand hits my face, hard. I stumble back and fall on the ground. I get a few hard kicks in the side by Sally before they walk away without a word.

Later that day

I had gotten back to my dorm and to my relief Peggy haddent come back yet. I put on a sweat shirt to hide the new bruises on my sides and stomach. I sit on the couch and pull out my phone and look at myself in the camera. I have a small cut on my face and a large blueish brown bruise on my face. How will I explain this to my friends, how will I explain this to John? He would go and get himself killed!

Just then Alex walks into my dorm, "Hey Aspen, you forgot you-" he sees my face. "Oh my God! Aspen what happened?!"

I don't look at him, "I, um, ran into a poll?" I say sounding more like a question

"Interesting poll," he says and sits on the couch in front of me. "I don't believe you, what. Happened?"

I take a deep breath and tell him the whole story. He grabs my hand and tries to pull me up, "we have to tell John!" He says and I pull my hand out of his.

"No!" I say, "he will end up doing something stupid that could get him killed."

"Then, how will you explain that?" He gestures to my face.

"I don't know, I'll where make-up or say I ran into a poll." I say, "I don't know!

"Don't worry," he sighs. "I'll help you hide what happened." I smile and hug him tightly, "promise me one thing, though?"

"What," I say pulling away.

"That you will tell him, and Eliza!"

"What's Eliza gotta do with this?" I ask.

"She cares Aspen, I know she does." He gives me a soft smile and I nod.

"I'll tell them, and I'll tell Eliza how I feel about her if you tell John how you feel about him!" I say giving him and evil smile.

"I- fine..." He says knowing he can't argue with me and win, or, maybe he can. From what I heard he is pretty good at debate.

John's POV

I get to the dorm and it is vacant. Alex must be at Aspen's because they are the only ones who didn't come with us the Angelica' s dorm. I go into the bed room and lay on the bed. I end up falling asleep.

A few hours later

I wake up and it is 2 a.m. I look over to Alex's bed and see him not in it. I get out of bed and come out to him, nervously pacing. His computer is open on the couch.

"Hey, Alex you ok?" I ask worriedly.

He looks up at me and he relaxes he still looks stressed but not as much anymore. "Oh, hey John, yeah I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" He seems a little squirrelly.

"Yeah just," he takes a deep breath. "I need to tell you something." We sit on the couch I look into his brownish-amber eyes. "Ok um John I... Um... I think your..." There is a long pause, "thank you for bringing me into your group. I love all of you and I think, your sister is Peggy for you!" He laughs a little. It's cute.

"Of course, Alex!" I say, "what are friends for."
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I totally just friend zoned Alex. Whoops. I hope y'all enjoyed!
- your favorite weirdo 💚