Their lips part and Alexander looks down shamefully. John notices. "Is something wrong, Alexander?" he asks. Alexander glances off. "Yeah.. Uhm. I.. I just remembered this essay is due soon, so I've gotta go back to working. B..Bye." Alexander murmurs, practically pushing John out of the room. "Oh, okay. Text me later, Alexander." John insists. Alexander nods and closes the bedroom door in John's face.

  Alexander turns around and slides down the door. He hugs his knees and tears up.

  Meanwhile, John walks downstairs and Thomas is at the door drinking a glass of Kirsch. Thomas glares at John. "You done fuckin' my co-worker?" Thomas queries, smugly. John stops right in front of the door. "Ha, ha. Very funny, Jefferson. But even if I was, that don't concern you." John tells Thomas. Thomas scoffs. John walks out.

  There are very few people John despise, Thomas is definitely one of them. His grudge against him is foul. Between him and Thomas, the feeling is mutual.

  Thomas huffs and he goes upstairs to check on Alexander. He assumes that he's working.

  He knocks on the door. A shaky voice comes from inside, seemingly right in front of the door.

  "..Yeah?.."

  "Oh, Alex. Can I come in?" Thomas responds.

  Alexander's a hot mess, he can't let Thomas see him like this. "..Uhm.."

  Thomas notices Alexander's refusal to give him a straightforward answer. "Are you okay?" he asks. Alexander doesn't respond. He buries his face in his knees and sniffles.

  Thomas waits for Alexander to respond, but when he doesn't, Thomas decides he doesn't have time to waste. "Alexander, I'm comin' in." Thomas announces. "Will you protest? If not, I'm openin' the door." He queries. Alexander doesn't respond.

  Thomas sighs.

  Thomas opens the door, and Alexander backs up. Thomas analyzes Alexander. He's been crying.

  "Alexander.. What's the matter?" Thomas queries, getting closer to Alex. Alexander shakes his head. "I'm.. I'm conflicted." He murmurs. Thomas scrunches his eyebrows. "Conflicted?"

  Alexander nods. "Have you ever loved two people before, Thomas?"

  Thomas pauses. Alexander awaits his response.

  "I mean.. Have you ever been in love with multiple people at the same time?" Alexander queries. Thomas rubs his chin. "No, have you?" Thomas asks, smugly. Alexander sighs. He tears up and averts his eyes from Thomas.

  Thomas notices. Alexander wipes his tears and sniffles. Thomas frowns. "You don't needa tell me what's goin' on, but you know what will make ya feel better? Workin'." Thomas suggests.

  Alexander smiles faintly. "Yeah.. Yeah, let's get back to work." Alexander says, sitting back down on the bed. Thomas sits next to him and Alexander opens his laptop.

  It starts raining while they work. The rain keeps getting louder, but Alexander brushes it off.

  At 5pm, it starts thundering. Raindrops woefully tap the windows over and over. Lightning is minimal but mindful. Thunder is booming and loud. Alexander can't stay strong much longer. He takes a deep breath and shakes his head.

  Thomas has been oblivious to the thunder, despite avoiding his work duties. "Alexander, this explanation makes no sense, in fact.. It makes me need another explanation for that explanation." Thomas complains. Alexander looks at him, unamused.

  "Fine, I'll fix it.." Alexander mutters. Just then thunder booms and lightning follows. To Alexander, the sounds were bone chilling.

  Alexander screams and winces. His breathing gets frantic. Thomas' eyebrows raise. Alexander calms himself down and shamefully glances at Thomas. "You know, I was trying to stay strong about the weather.." Alexander mutters, fidgeting with his rings. Thomas sighs. "It's alright, this storm is just about the craziest storm I ever seen. Lord.." Thomas responds.

  Alexander glances at the window and the rain beating down on the window frightens him. He averts his eyes quickly and tears build up in his eyes.

  Thomas glances off, remembering the day at work where he had comforted Alexander. Thomas inhales sharply.

  "Alexander," Thomas starts, this catches the attention of Alexander. "Everything'll be okay, ya idiot. C'mere." Thomas reassures, gesturing for Alexander to come to his embrace. Alexander smiles faintly and wipes his tears. He crawls over to Thomas and lays his head on his chest. Thomas pats Alexander's back.

  "Rainy week, it seems. It's rainin' cats n' dogs out there." Thomas announces.

  Something about Thomas was comforting to Alex. Perhaps the southern charm, or the way he spoke to him. Albeit, Thomas did annoy him at times.

  Alexander glances up at Thomas. "We're so.. odd. Aren't we?" Alexander queries, awaiting Thomas' response. Thomas raises an eyebrow. "Speak for yourself, darlin', I am FAR from odd." Thomas claims. Alexander chuckles. "But yeah, anyone who hangs out with you is bound to be odd, I suppose." Thomas smugly says, patting Alexander's head. Alexander rolls his eyes and exhales.

  Thomas glances outside. "Rain still pourin'." He murmurs. "I wonder if it'll rain tomorrow.." he continues. Thomas notices he's been thinking out loud. "Oops, pardon me. I'm talkin' too much.."

  "No, keep talking. I love your voice." Alexander mutters into Thomas' chest. Thomas' face gets hot. "A..Ah. Alright." Thomas stutters out.

  Thomas goes on a 30 minute tangent about rain storms while petting Alexander's head. Alexander finds his voice soothing. He thinks to himself,

  'God, I could listen to him talk for hours and hours..'