8. Elijah
8
Elijah
“Damn, Eli.” Katelyn sighed, flopping back onto the bed.
I joined her on the mattress, trying to catch my breath.
“Yeah,” I smiled, looking at her. She was a beautiful girl I met a few months ago at the start of the school year. She lived a few doors down from me, and we hit it off one night at a party when I found out she was from London. Drunkenly, I kept quoting Forgetting Sarah Marshall—"You sound like you're from London!"—which made her laugh. She was calm, liked the same things I did, and quickly became my first friend here at school. Naturally, we stuck together.
Her dark black hair and deep makeup were intriguing around her baby-blue eyes. They stood out on her face just like another person in particular always did.
“Tell me what you were just thinking.” She tugged my chin between her black nailed fingers, making me look at her in her eyes.
“I was just thinking about back home.” I gave her a quick smile.
“That’s…hot?” She laughed.
“I just meant…yeah, I guess that is weird.” I scratched my head as she stood up from the bed. I watched as she slid on her white lacey panties while she walked around my room, looking for her little cropped t-shirt.
I took that as an opportunity to pinch off the used condom, throw it in the trash, and pull up my boxers.
“You still haven’t told your dad yet, have you?” She said, pulling her shirt over her pierced nipples.
“No, I haven’t.” I sat on the edge of the bed and ran my hand through my hair. It was always such a mess after sex.
“What are you waiting for?” She slid back beside me. “You, me, in London, UK? It’s every photographer's dream. Think of the pictures you’ll get to take.” She nudged me on the shoulder.
“You don’t have to convince me. I get how special it is.” I laughed.
“So what’s the hold-up?”
I flopped back on the bed, smooshing my pillow against my face.
“It’s my dad.” I groaned.
I felt her fingers graze up and down my stomach.
“You don’t think he’ll let you go?”
I sat up. “No, he’ll definitely let me go. It’s the not being home for Christmas and New Year's thing that’s bothering me.” I hung my head down.
“So you’ll miss one holiday season. So what? Everyone misses at least one holiday with their parents at some point.”
I looked at her. “I don’t. My dad and I…we’re really close. He’s the best dad on this planet. I don’t want him to be alone.”
Katelyn sat up straight as the point finally hit her. “You should call him. You sound homesick.” She patted me on the back. “I’ll go grab us something to eat from downstairs.” She slipped on her little mini-black skirt and exited the room.
She’s right. I’ve been pretty homesick since being here. I’ve been loving college, truthfully. My art skills and interests aren’t seen as something that makes me weird here. I actually have many friends, and people want to hear what I have to say here for a change.
There’s no Harry or any of his football goons like back home, and that horrible night has been getting less and less important to me.
I shivered, thinking about everyone seeing my naked body. Okay, it still stings, but at least no one here knows what happened.
The only thing that has sucked is not being around dad—my best friend on this planet.
I know he’d see the opportunity to go over the holidays, but I’m not sure I’m the most comfortable with it.
As though he read my thoughts, my phone started buzzing. Seeing it was a Facetime call, I quickly groomed my hand through my hair before accepting the call.
“Hey, I was just thinking about you.” I smiled at the phone.
“Hey, kid.” His face lit up the screen, and I felt my heart finally at peace. He looked happy and healthy, which I always liked to see. “You’ll never guess who came into the restaurant today, " he laughed.
“Who!?”
“Jim Carrey!” He yelled. “I couldn’t believe it! I saw a man sitting there across the room and thought, ‘Hey, that looks a lot like Jim Carrey,’ and then suddenly Yasmin, the hostess, came running over saying, ‘I just sat Jim Carrey!” He laughed.
“Oh my god, that’s insane.” I rested back on my headboard. It looked like he was outside of the restaurant around the back. It looked like it had just snowed.
“Right!? I got you a signed menu. It was the best I could do.” He smiled.
“Thanks, dad. That’s so cool.” I smiled back.
“How are you doing, kid? I miss you. I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve hugged you.” He sighed.
I looked down and away from the phone.
“What is it? I can tell some things wrong. Is it a girl?” He continued.
“What? No.” I shook my head. “I…I got invited to travel to London, UK, dad. All expenses paid.”
“What!? No kidding! That’s terrific, kid! That’s great news!” He beamed. “Is this for a school thing or what?”
“Not exactly. Um…I mean–I can take loads of pictures there, which I’ve always wanted to do. It’s just that…I have to go during the winter break.” I pushed out.
I watched as his smile faltered.
“Oh…buddy…” He struggled to get out.
“Dad, I’ve missed you since being here, and if it’s going to make you upset, I won’t go if you don’t—”
“No.” He cut me off. “You should go. I want you to experience life, Elijah. You should experience this.” He gave me a soft smile.
“Dad, are you sure?”
“Yeah, just take loads of pictures. Make sure to call me as soon as you land. I want to see pictures with you in them, too. You promise me!”
I laughed. “Yes, of course I will.”
He smiled. “Tell me, is this for a special someone?”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m going with a girl, yes.”
“I knew it. My son is a stud.” He shook his head.
“And how are you doing there by yourself? Are you doing okay?”
I watched as something flickered across his face—a feeling I hadn’t seen in him before.
“Yeah, I’m…doing good. I’m fine, kid. Don’t worry about me being lonely.”
I smiled. “Oh, Gwen, still coming around? Who’s the stud now?” I laughed.
“You’re ridiculous.” He shook his head, laughing. “I love you, goodbye.”
“I love you, goodbye.”
I sighed, leaning back. Katelyn opened the door and walked in with two sandwiches from the cafeteria and some water.
“So, how’d it go?” She smiled.
“Not too bad. I think everything’s going to be okay.” I smiled, accepting her into my arms as she crawled into my lap.
“Good. I mean, the holidays will be over as soon as you know it, and after that, you’ll be home for summer break. I’m sure it’ll whizz by faster than you think.” She said into my chest.
“Yeah, you’re right.” I ran my hand through her hair. “You’re so right.”
She looked up at me with her blue eyes, and just for a moment, I saw him.
I closed my eyes and locked my lips around hers.
They don’t taste the same, but it’ll do.