Chapter 24 Tobias
Tobias
I can feel my sweaty palm as it clings to Elijah’s. He’s all bright eyes and smiles as we walk into Flux’s room. I take a deep breath in as her head pokes up from behind her desktop computer.
“Ah, Elijah, I was just wondering where you…” Her voice trails off as her sharp eyes connect with mine. She lowers her glasses on the bridge of her nose and stares straight at me.
Elijah basically bounces on his toes as we get closer to her. “Professor Flux, I’d like for you to meet—”
“Tobias.” She finishes for him, standing up. I shift awkwardly on my feet as she rounds the desk until she stops right in front of me, taking her glasses off. Raising her hands to my cheeks, she turns my chin softly to inspect my face as though I’m some sort of statue or artifact.
“Um—” I swallow deeply. “Hi?” A small laugh leaves my lips, startling her back into the present.
“Oh, I’m so sorry for touching you.” She softly laughs, taking a step back. “It’s just—” She looks at Elijah and they share a look between each other, making me feel on the outside of some art secret. “I see it now.” She nods, looking back to me. She chews on the end of her glasses.
“See what?” I smile awkwardly, scratching the back of my neck.
“Why you’re his muse.” She winks cheekily before slipping her glasses back on.
I feel my neck burn as my cheeks grow hot. I look back at Elijah, seeing his face bright and cheery. He mouths, ‘she likes you’, excitedly as he bounces on his toes.
“I try to tell him all the time how beautiful he is. Now maybe he’ll start believing me.” Elijah laughs, slipping his bookbag off his shoulder and onto the desk.
Oh great. Now I’m really blushing.
“Oh jeez. Well…thanks, I guess.” I suddenly don’t know what to do with my hands. I look around the room, trying to focus on anything else as Elijah starts flipping through some papers on her desk.
“Well, you’re both very lucky to have each other.” Flux smiles at us both. “Alright.” She claps her hands together. “I imagine you came to visit Elijah and not work on silly school things.” She waves at us.
Elijah’s eyes widen. “No. I stayed because I wanted to help.”
Hm. That’s weird. I didn’t realize that coming home was an option for him. Did Elijah not want to come home to me?
Flux nods her head. “Alright then. Elijah, how about you grade with me. And Tobias, you good with stapling?” She hands me a stapler.
I nod my head because why not. “Yeah, absolutely.” As long as I’m with Elijah, I’m happy doing whatever.
Elijah gives me an excited wink and pulls up a chair for me to sit beside him.
Within a few hours of work, I found out a lot from Professor Flux. I can see why Elijah looks up to her so much. She’s very poised, classy and knows a shit ton about art.
She speaks about her travels, and I watch the way Elijah’s eyes light up hearing all of the stories.
I’d love to take him away someday. If he’d let me, I’ll take him anywhere he wants to go. God knows I’d love to.
“Great work, you guys. The amount we got done today is amazing.” Flux sighs happily, leaning back in her chair. “Do you two have any plans for after this?”
Elijah shakes his head. “Probably go out to eat dinner and then…”
I feel that familiar pit in my stomach start to stir again. “I’ll have to head home.” I mutter.
Flux nods her head. “Ah. Well…Elijah, did you at least show Tobias the project you’ve been working so hard on?”
Elijah looks away bashfully, biting his lip. It makes me smile seeing him so shy about it.
“Oh, come on. Now I have to.” I pull on his hand, bringing him closer to me.
“No, it’s not done yet.” Elijah shakes his head.
“Mr. Thorne. You better go show your muse what you’re creating or I’ll have to fail you.” Flux winks at him, putting her glasses back on her face.
Elijah blows out a big breath, but takes my hand, pulling me away from the desk. “Fine, fine. Let’s go.” He caves, pulling me out of the class.
“Thanks again, boys. Tobias, it’s been great meeting you!” She calls out, giving us a wave.
“Bye. Same to you—” I yell out before Elijah pulls me through the doors. “Jeez, babe.” I laugh at his urgency. We tumble out into the hallway, laughing at everything and anything as Elijah guides me to the art room.
“She looks a lot meaner than she is. She’s actually pretty nice.” I say, feeling the relief of that meeting.
“Yeah, I think I’ve got her soft side for some reason.” Elijah shrugs. “I’ll take it.”
“You deserve it. You work so hard.” I nod.
We arrive at what I’m guessing is the art room, and Elijah leans his back on the door.
“You’re not allowed to laugh.” He narrows his eyes at me.
“No laughing.” I agree. Even though, I’d never.
“And, you’re not allowed to say anything for the first fifty seconds. Like, really take it in. You know?” He bites his bottom lip, scanning my face.
I tilt my head, reaching out to pinch his chin softly. “E. Come on. It’s me.” I breathe softly.
“Exactly.” He gives me a soft smile and rolls his eyes, falling victim to my so-called ‘charm’. “Okay, let’s do it.” He opens the door and turns on the light.
Right away, my focus is taken by the back wall. I’m winded. Speechless. Absolutely mystified by what I’m seeing.
It’s a collage unlike I’ve ever seen before.
Collected on a huge canvas, as big as the wall itself is a picture of myself.
I know it’s me, because the closer I get, I can make out my blue eyes staring back at me, my hands clasped over my mouth, and my blonde hair falling over my face.
From far away, it may seem like a picture, but as I walk closer and closer, I can make out the small tiny details.
Smaller pictures taken that make up the different shades and colors that when put together, makes the entire portrait.
“So, it’s not done yet.” Elijah rushes out, cutting me off.
“I need a few more pictures to make out here.” He points to my shoulder.
“And, I’m waiting for some more trees to change so I can get more shades to put in your hair.
It’s…been a process.” He bites his thumbnail, stepping back, staring at my face.
I feel overwhelmed looking at it. He has captured everything down to the little brown freckle I have under my right eye.
“It’s all nature.” I say softly, leaning in to see the pictures that make up the color of my eyes. The different shades of blue skies, water, and even butterfly wings that collect to make up my exact shade is outstanding.
“Yeah, well…it’s sort of to represent the world. My world…” He stammers.
I look over at him, feeling the weight of his words press on my chest. He created something as beautiful as this solely out of his love for me.
I lick my lips and try to look away before the tears drop.
“Woah, woah, hey,” Elijah rushes in, clasping my face with his hands. “It’s alright. It’s just a picture.” He laughs lightly.
I shake my head, not wanting to make a big deal out of how sweet it is. He’s so good to me…and I’ve been lying to him.
“It’s not just a picture. It’s…you just love me so well.” I smile softly as he wipes a tear from my cheek. “I don’t deserve it,” I breathe.
Elijah’s eyebrows crease as he clenches his jaw. “Tobias, I thought we weren’t going to speak like that anymore.”
I look down at my feet, immediately regretting my choice in words. I don’t want him to worry about me.
“I know. I’m sorry…I—”
“Hey,” Elijah props my chin up with his finger, making me look into his eyes again. “You’d tell me if things get dark again…wouldn’t you?”
This question shocks me.
I don’t want him to know how far I’ve been slipping. I don’t want him to worry. Worry leads to questions and that just leads to a whole bunch of answers I can’t give him.
I glance back at the canvas. That beautiful piece is so full of love.
Looking back to him, I’m overwhelmed with that same fear I’ve grown to know all too well. The fear of losing that love.
No, I can’t.
So instead of words, I answer him with a deep kiss. Letting my lips answer him in the one way they know how. Deeply and all consuming.
“You know I’ll be here for you, right?” Elijah pants against my lips. “No matter what?” he says, cupping behind my neck.
I nod my head softly. Without a second to waste, I move my tongue past his lips as he opens up for me, accepting all that I have to give him.
I feel his mouth pull into a smile, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. Gripping his waist, I walk him back into a nearby table.
“Holy shit,” Elijah gasps as I grab him, hoisting him up onto the table and moving myself between his legs. I run my hands firmly up his thighs and squeeze his hard-on through his pants. “What if someone walks in?” He laughs, dipping his head back.
I lick up the column of his neck, nibbling on his chin.
“Who cares?” I smirk, holding his face in-between my hands.
I kiss him deeply, melting into his embrace. It feels so good being wrapped up in him. As though he holds me down to the earth when I float out too far.
My body feels at his mercy. It makes me feel alive in this dimly lit room, surrounded by his love.
“I want you.” I pant, unbuckling my jeans. “Right now. Just like this.”
He swallows deeply, looking over at the door. “But—”
A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth as I slip my pants down to my ankles. Elijah looks down at my swaying dick. “Okay, you win. Fuck me.” He agrees, rushing to undo his own.
I quickly help to slide down the bundle of his pants and boxers, leaving them around his ankles as his legs wrap around me. There’s no time to take them all the way off.
Pulling him close to me by his thighs, I align our dicks against each others. “Damn,” I sigh, soaking up the connection. “You’re fun,” I say, rubbing us against each other.
He huffs out a laugh, joining his hand with mine, stroking us both. “I’ll give you what you want, whenever you want it. You know that, right?" He asks breathlessly. “I’m all yours, T.”