Chapter Text
John gets back to his dorm at about six o'clock and he can't stop grinning from ear to ear, his cheeks lightly flushed. He shuts the door behind him and is greeted by Lafayette, who, while seemingly engulfed in homework, quickly adopts John's smile,
"How did it go?" they ask excitedly, sitting on the edge of their bed, ready to hear the details.
John sits down on his own bed and tucks his feet beneath him. He looks dreamily at Lafayette and says, "He's amazing."
"Is he, now?" Lafayette replies suggestively. "What happened?"
"He showed up at the café and we ended up sitting there for almost three hours," he begins excitedly. "It sounds crazy, right, but I could listen to him talk for even longer. He's brilliant. And funny, Laf, he's charming and he reads and he likes me, and oh my God."
Lafayette is giddy with happiness for their friend. "What did you do after?"
"We left the café and walked around the campus for a while," he continues. "Then we got lunch at this cute little deli, I'll have to show you guys, I had no idea it was there, but Alexander knows all about these little niches around town.
"He bought us both lunch to help pay me back for bailing him out, and when I tried to pay, he said no and put my hand back down but he didn't let go, Laf, he held my hand until we sat down to eat, oh my God."
Lafayette is grinning like a madman while John seems to have fallen into a dreamlike state, going through the day in his mind again. He returns to the present and says, "And he offered to walk me back here and I said okay and halfway here he held my hand again and I almost died, he's so adorable and sweet and he literally kissed my hand when he left and Lafayette, I swear this is the end of me."
"I told you, mon ami," Lafayette says, "that it would turn out well. When are you going to see him again?"
As if on cue, John's phone dings and he clicks on the screen. He grins even wider. "It's Alexander."
Lafayette does a little hop on their bed as they question excitedly, "What does it say?"
John reads, "'Hey John, I hope this isn't weird but I'm already bored.'" He chuckles and looks back up at Lafayette. "See how adorable he is? If you had only seen him, Laf, he was just a little nervous but still really charming and - and I'm charmed."
"You don't say," Lafayette replies sarcastically, but they're still smiling. "I am so happy for you."
John grins back at them and types out a reply to Alexander. Lafayette returns to their homework, looking over at John every few minutes, glad to see that he doesn't stop smiling for even a second.
***
Lafayette goes out at about eight o'clock to get dinner for John, themself, and Hercules, who is meeting them at the little pizza place. Hercules is waiting at the entrance when Lafayette arrives.
"Hey," he greets, and Lafayette smiles back warmly.
"Hello," they respond, and then immediately add, "You will never guess what happened today." Hercules raises an eyebrow as he holds the door open for Lafayette. They turn around to face him when they're both inside. "John met his soulmate today."
Alarms begin to go off in his head. "Alexander?"
Lafayette looks back at Hercules in surprise. "You knew?"
"Yeah, he was freaking out after my class the other day, and I recognized him," he answers. "I didn't say anything because I didn't want John to find out."
"Neither did I," Lafayette agrees, but then continues, "but then he found out on his own and decided to meet him, and Hercules, you have to see him. I haven't seen John this happy."
"So it went well?"
"He is smitten," they nod, grinning widely as they step in line at the register. "Alexander even texted him just a few minutes after he left."
"This is good, Gil," Hercules nods seriously, a faint smile showing on his face. Lafayete feels their cheeks turn pink at the use of their first name. "This could be really good."
"I think it will be," Lafayette agrees. Their eyes meet and they share a smile, their hands brushing.
They reach the counter and order two pepperoni pizzas, which are handed to them almost immediately. Lafayette pays and Hercules carries the boxes.
"I'm glad I approached him in the café," Lafayette remarks as they exit the restaurant.
"Yeah, about that," Hercules comments, "I know we said we weren't going to say anything about us yet, but I don't know how I feel about you flirting with other guys."
Lafayette gives him a sly look. "Jealous, mon ami?"
"Yes," he responds immediately, then says in a quiet, gravelly voice, closer to their ear, "incredibly so."
Lafayette nearly shivers. They raise an eyebrow at Hercules instead. "Save it for later." They both grin at each other, sneaking glances on their way back to the dorm.
***
When Lafayette and Hercules arrive at Lafayette's dorm, they open the door expecting John to be on his phone, still grinning, talking to Alexander.
They were mostly right. John was still grinning, and he was still talking to Alexander, but he wasn't on his phone, because Alexander was sitting on John's bed beside him. They were giggling like children. It would have been endearing if Lafayette and Hercules weren't so surprised to see him there.
"Alexander?" Lafayette says first, moving in further to allow Hercules room. John and Alexander look up at them in slight surprise.
"Guys!" John greets happily. "This is Alexander!"
"We've met," Lafayette says, a smile creeping onto their face. "How are you, Alexander?"
"I'm well, Lafayette," Alexander replies. "And you, Hercules?"
"Wait, how do you know Herc?" John interrupts, eyebrows raised.
Alexander's eyes flash in fear for a moment, but before he can answer, Hercules says, "We ran into each other on the way to class the other day."
Alexander sends Hercules his silent thanks.
John says then, "Well. I hope it's okay that he came over."
"I know I just left a little earlier, but John invited me, and . . ." Alexander shrugs sheepishly and glances over at John. They share a little smile.
Hercules and Lafayette exchange a knowing look and they both say, "It's fine," smiling down at Alexander and John.
They have dinner and talk and laugh until it feels as if they've all been friends for ages. When it's almost midnight, Alexander announces that he has to leave and actually get some sleep before class in the morning. Hercules and Lafayette, slyly cuddling closer by the minute, say goodbye, and John followers Alexander outside the door.
They giggle a little as their eyes meet. Neither knows what to say.
Finally, Alexander says, "I'll talk to you tomorrow." It sounds like a question.
"Yeah, tomorrow," John nods in agreement.
Before he turns, Alexander grins and places a light kiss on John's cheek, then smiles sweetly at him. He turns and leaves, looking back twice.
John smiles to himself. Alexander won't be gone for long.