Chapter 22 Elijah
Elijah
“I really appreciate you staying back this weekend.” Flux smiles at me over her shoulder. I nod my head and smile as she continues scribbling another note on the white board.
We’ve been preparing for upcoming mid-terms and I knew this would be a lot to handle on her own.
“Of course. I wouldn’t want you to have to do this alone.” I grin, flipping the papers on her desk.
“Not many students would want to stay at school this weekend. No Thanksgiving plans?” She asks, looking back at the board.
My stomach sinks. “Uh…not really,” I mutter.
Sensing my lie, Flux puts her hands on her hips and turns to me. “You’ve really been pushing yourself this semester, Elijah. I can see it and I’m proud of you.”
I swallow deeply. “Really?”
“Absolutely. You’ve got real talent and you’re making real use of it.” Her eyes flicker over my face, as though she’s studying me. “But, I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t make me curious about you.”
I tilt my head. “Oh?” I let out a nervous laugh. “I’m not sure what there is to be curious about, I’m a pretty open book.”
Her eyebrows pinch as she steps closer. “Are you? Because, from the outside looking in, it seems like you hold your cards close to your heart and pour out your soul into your work.”
My mouth drops open. “I—”
Her eyes narrow. She sets her whiteboard pen on the desk and takes her glasses off. “Where were you supposed to be this weekend?”
My heartbeat speeds up. “Here. I wasn’t supposed to be anywhere else.” I shake my head.
Her slow blinks make me nervous as she looks away. “My guess, the real answer is going to be found in your art. Would I be right?” She smirks, looking back to me.
I swallow deeply.
I guess she’s right. Of course I would’ve wanted to be home with Tobias this weekend. But, I know he feels the same as she does. They want me to push myself. Show my value.
And unfortunately, that comes with making sacrifices.
She continues, moving some hair behind her ear. “I may have taken a peek in the studio the other day.” She says, biting her lower lip.
My eyes widen. “You promised you wouldn’t look.”
She holds up her hands in defense. “I promise, it was just a peek.”
I snort, shaking my head. “You’re relentless.” I hand her a sticky note I know she’s about to look for.
For our mid-terms we were tasked with creating an installation piece and I’ve been very private about mine. It’s not perfect…yet. But it will be once I’m done.
“Keep pouring your heart out into what you want the most, Elijah and you’ll never regret anything a day in your life. I promise you.” She looks down at the paper and jots down the notes on the board.
I suck in a deep breath. “Yeah. Will do.”
I hope she’s right.
But, I can feel the lingering question stirring my insides.
Is this what I want the most?
***
I return to my dorm, trying to avoid the rain as best as I can. The moment I enter, I drop my bag, and fall to the floor.
I’m wiped. Mentally and physically. Between balancing my other classes, working on assignments and projects, and just genuinely trying to balance my mental health, I’m feeling more than tired.
The building is quiet since everyone is back at home.
Home. Where I should be.
With Tobias.
I’m not sure why I let Katelyn climb into my head. I guess on some level, I was scared to go home and it was the perfect excuse.
Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time that you’re supposed to be thankful for the people you have in your life.
But honestly, sitting in that house, feeling the vacancy of my dad would’ve been too hard.
Holidays have turned into just another reminder that he’s gone. Tobias is strong. He could handle it. He always can.
But me?
I just…I couldn’t be there.
Pulling out my phone, I swipe to Jude’s Place’s social media. It’s been hard keeping up with it being back at school, so the last updates are from the summer. All our friends are just having fun and enjoying the time being together.
The food looks great as usual.
God, I love it there.
I keep swiping through all the memories until my finger stops on one in particular. This one is from two years ago.
My hand clutches around my phone so hard, I think it’ll make an imprint.
My dads laughter booms through my ears. He’s holding a pizza, making some dumb joke about a mushroom’s favorite pizza being a fungi or something. Dumb joke but next thing I know, tears are dripping onto my screen.
He looks so happy. So full of life. I can hear my own laughter from behind the screen. I sound so…oblivious. Ignorant to grief. I’m jealous of that version of myself but I also feel sorry for him. He has no idea what’s to come.
I stuff my face in my knees as I lean back on the edge of my bed.
I miss him. I miss him so badly that it hurts.
I swipe again and land on a still picture of his arm wrapped around Tobias.
A strong pressure sits on my chest as I stare down at it. Their smiles light up the screen and that’s when another wave hits me. I won’t ever get to see that smile from either of them ever again.
There’s a knock on my door, making my stomach twist. Since Katelyn can’t fly off to London for Thanksgiving this year, she told me she may drop-by but damn. She couldn’t have picked a worse time.
Ripping myself off the floor, I drag my feet to the door.
Whatever, since we’re both stuck here together I guess we can just watch movies together or something.
I swing open the door. “Hey, Kate—”
My eyes go wide as I take in the magnificent sight.
Peering at me through his blonde hair turned brown locks from the rain, standing there in his soaked grey hoodie, making my chest ache.
Tobias.
My breath hitches as I take it all in.
He’s here.
He came here…for me.
“Hey baby,” he flashes me his charming smile. He lifts up a bag in his right hand, revealing he’s carrying a thermal cooler with some irises tucked under the handle. “Happy Thanksgiving.” He shrugs shyly.
I don’t wait another second.
I lunge for him, knocking him backwards as I attach my lips to his.
He wastes no time, gripping my waist, guiding me back into my room.
He closes the door with his foot, the same time as I reach around to lock it, not even breaking apart for a second.
“You’re actually here.” I pant, taking a quick moment to pull his hoodie up and over his head.
He cups my jaw. “Wait…have you been crying?” He asks, slightly pulling back to examine my face.
I bat his hand off and pull my shirt off over my head. “Doesn’t matter. You’re here now.” I tug his waist, guiding him back to the bed. My calves hit the edge, and I fall, frantically undoing my jeans and kicking off my boxers.
His eyes devour me as he sheds his black joggers.
“Come here,” I beg, reaching out. He obliges, climbing over top of me before he can even get his boxers off. He kisses me with the kind of hunger that makes my knees go weak. “Fuck, I missed this."
He tastes so delicious. It’s only been a couple weeks but I yearn for the taste of him.
I widen my legs even further so he can press himself further against me. Brushing his thickness against my hole, I pull on his hair in response, making him suck in a sharp breath.
“I’ve been needing you for so long.” He pants. “You have no idea how badly,” he murmurs, nuzzling my neck.
The words making my dick twitch against my stomach. “Tell me how you want me. I’ll do anything,” I say, breathlessly.
He looks away, his cheeks reddening, making my smile fall. “What is it?” I ask, tilting his chin back toward me.
“Touch me," he says softly. Grabbing my right hand, he guides my fingers to his ass.
My eyes widen when I feel something hard. “What the—” I look over his shoulder, seeing a purple diamond base sticking out of his hole. “Tobias, is that a—”
“Claire’s idea.” He buries his face in my neck, hiding his bashful face.
I don’t know whether to ask questions, laugh or devour him.
“Remind me to thank Claire.” I laugh, squeezing my thighs around his waist even tighter.
Flipping us over, I slam his back against my bed.
“Hold still,” I order him, taking his wrists and positioning them above his head. "I’m taking full advantage of this."
He nods his head, biting his lip. Now I see it. He looks lustful and dazed as ever. He must’ve been starving for it the whole way here with that in his ass.
Shit. That makes me even more excited.
I reach out for my bedside table and knock off a few things on top in the process of trying to open my drawer. Thankfully, I open it, taking out the lube I absent-mindedly threw in there.
“Does it feel good having it inside of you?” I smirk, putting some lube on my fingers before crowding him once again. “Tell me.”
“It was awkward at first. But then–” Tobias hisses as my left hand wraps around his dick. “It felt really good. Not as good as you, though.”
I’d hope not.
I’ve never been jealous of a piece of plastic before. But seeing it poking out of him, stirs up some sort of response in me that I can’t explain.
I press my thumb to his rim, swirling the lube around, letting him adjust. His body writhes, every muscle responsive. “Look at you,” I murmur.
“Ah—” he moans, arching his back and bucking his hips into my hand.
I watch as he clenches around the toy, needier than ever. I can’t look away. “So fucking beautiful, taking it so well,” I say underneath my breath.
“Shit, E…keep talking—fffuck.” He squirms, legs falling open like he can’t help himself. I slide it in and out, slow circles, until I find his prostate and he gasps, back arching.
I watch his hands open and close above him like he’s searching to hang on to something. "Such a good boy, staying in the right spot for me. I’m so fucking proud of you.”
“Oh yeah?” Tobias pants, eyes fluttering open to watch me.