Mem'ries Of The Way We Were (Elijah)

[Deleted]

Ashley sat in the library at Ilvermorny, more distracted than she cared to admit. She was a fantastic student in all respects. She almost always had her homework done early, did well on all the tests and that was exactly the way she wanted it. She liked being a good student. However, like with most good students, she occasionally lost her focus. Anyone watching her wouldn't know that, since she had a book open in front of her and was turning the pages every so often, but Ash wasn't paying attention to a word. It was fine, all her work for tomorrow was done, but she just didn't feel like going out and finding her friends.

The thing was, ever since that second time she got to hang out with Eli, she found that she wasn't really interested in teasing or making fun of others. She didn't stop entirely, since that was something her friends would notice for sure, but she didn't lead it and when she could get out of it, she did. It was a new feeling, this reluctance to belittle others, and she was confused by it. She was also confused by her growing desire to spend more and more time with Elijah. However, like he said, it was weird to try and interact inside the castle. 

So she sat in a corner of the library, where hopefully no one would find her and she could pretend to do her work while she really thought about her new friend.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

ELI HADN'T GONE TO THE LIBRARY TO LOOK FOR Ash but he hadn't gone to study either. It was a strange train of thought. One built mainly on the fact that if he were to see Ash in the library, well her friends probably wouldn't be around there to terrorise him. And, it was usually a place for quiet study. So, maybe he had gone hoping to see her, but he denied the idea that he'd gone for that sole purpose alone. That was too dangerous a thought. The kind of thoughts of which he was having many recently.

Wandering the stacks, Eli's eyes roamed with more attentiveness than ever. So, when he eventually saw her tucked away in a back corner he almost dropped the tome in his hands. He approached slowly, his head swivelling in search of Bianca or Katherine or any other lackeys. Finding none, his shoulders relaxed a little more. He pulled the chair out beside her, gnawing on his top lip as he sat down.

"Hey, Stranger..." He whispered in greeting, the soft beginnings of a smile on his face. "How's your head?" It wasn't like him to talk so hushed, but he did it so he could talk to her for longer. And if he reached up to gently tap the back of his hand against her temple, it was only to try and make her smile, and not because he liked the way her hair felt against his skin. 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Ashley was so distracted thinking of Eli (while telling herself that she wasn't thinking of him) that she didn't even notice someone approaching her. At least, she didn't notice until the chair beside her moved. She turned to face the person with a serious expression, ready to tell them that she was trying to focus and didn't want to be distracted right now when she recognized him. It was Eli. Her eyes immediately softened and the corners of her lips turned up. He was the last person she expected to see in the library, but she was so happy that he was here and she didn't want to try and figure out why. They were friends. That was a good enough reason, wasn't it?

He was smiling at her as he whispered. "Hey," she echoed back, not entirely sure what to say. He asked about her head, reaching up and touching it gently and Ashley's smile grew at his touch. She liked the way that felt. "It's good," she chuckled softly. "Your Feverfew flower is working wonders for me," Ash wanted him to know that. It was so nice not having to go to the hospital wing every time she got a headache. She quirked an eyebrow at him as she teased, "What are you doing here in the library? I thought you were more of an outdoors kind of person?" A part of her wished that he was here for her, but that was ridiculous. He probably needed to study or something and saw her and decided to say hi. Yeah, that was it. It made complete sense.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

THERE WAS SOMETHING INFINITELY GRATIFYING about getting something right for once. It beamed from between Eli's teeth as he smiled at Ashley, nodding his head gratefully. "Good, good, I'm glad." He rambled, the tips of his ears turning a ruddy red colour as he fiddled with the outline of the book in his hands. But as her expression turned inquisitive Eli realised he'd been caught. He was not a library kind of man.

"Ah," He sighed, looking down at his book with a mildly embarrassed smile. "How could you tell?" But what he was really doing was delaying the inevitable. "Other than hoping I would run in to you...?" He muttered, his smile crooked so it creased only one side of his face, the side facing Ashley. He wanted her to know that, before he admitted the next thing.

"Well, I'm kind of- sort of-" Nothing was coming out right. "I'm practically failing charms... and transfiguration... and I definitely wont pass Apparation this year." Blowing out a weary sigh, Eli flexed his jaw while he tongued his cheek. It was so embarrassing, but he didn't like lying to her. 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

He was obviously happy when she told him that the plant was helping with her migraines, and Ashley couldn't help grin back at him. What? When he smiled, she couldn't help but smile back. She liked it when he was happy. He seemed to get a little embarrassed at her question, but Ash chuckled. "Well, for one thing you get in trouble when you run in a library," she teased, nudging his shoulder with hers. Then she shrugged, "I don't know, you just seem more at home out there. It fits you." Ash was smiling up at him, then realized that she was staring at him. Crap. She looked away, only to look back in delight when he said he was hoping to run into her. "Really?!" She didn't need him to repeat it, she was just surprised that he'd want to see her that badly. 

Then he was stammering a bit and Ashley's smile faded slightly as she listened. He wasn't passing his classes. If this was anyone else, she would have smirked and subtly made them feel bad for failing, like she'd done with Kaylee in their History of Magic class. She would've bragged about how well she was doing ... but this was Eli. She wouldn't do that to him, she couldn't. She bit her lip nervously. She didn't want to say something that would offend him, but she also wanted to help. "I could ... tutor you," Ash answered in a soft voice. "I mean, or help you study or something?" her face was turning red. She didn't want to brag about how well she did in school and she was a year behind him, but she desperately wanted to help. She looked down at the table, not knowing what else to say.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

WOBBLING HIS HEAD FROM SIDE TO SIDE, ELI pretended to consider what she was saying. "Okay... you got me," He said, lifting a hand to cover his smile under the guise of rubbing his face. It was feeling a little scruffy lately. Or, so he told himself every morning as he looked in the mirror. "But, you only get in trouble if they catch you." He quirked his brows once, tongue pressed in front of his bottom teeth. It was almost as if he were daring her... but he didn't.

Sitting back, Eli eventually nodded as he rocked on the back legs of his chair. "I feel at home out there," He admitted. The feeling of fresh air. Grass between your fingers and padding the bottom of your feet. There was honestly nothing like it. He hated being cooped up. It made it hard to breath sometimes. But, at the very least she seemed pleased that he'd hoped to see her. Maybe a little too surprised, though.

"Newsflash, Ash." He said, letting go of the desk edge and coming down on all four with a muted thud as he poked her side. "I like you." And it was true, though how deep that like was beginning to root itself was between him and the owl that lived just outside his dorm room window.

However, it couldn't be sunshine and daisies all the time and Eli found himself ranting a little as he listed off all the classes he was flunking. But, for some reason he wasn't afraid of her ridiculing him. Maybe he would have been a week or two ago, but not now. Not when she was looking at him like that. All soft at the edges. It made him melt.

Though he stiffened slightly at her quiet offer. "Tutor... me?" He'd been tutored before, or at least they'd tried. But, they always droned on. Were too technical or fast in their way of teaching. Ashley, he didn't want to disappoint her. "You'd do that for me?" But he also didn't want to fail. "Don't you have enough work of your own." His shoulders were rounded, back curved as he half folded in on himself. Cradling the book in front of him, he was sheepish in the way he carefully eyed her. "I don't wanna... make things harder for you."

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Ashley grinned when he admitted that she was right ... then he was mentioning how you only got in trouble if they caught you. Her mouth opened to form an 'o' and she was speechless, for once. He was probably teasing, but then again it was Eli. He could be entirely serious about that. Gaining her composure a little she shook her head, "I'll take your word for that." She watched him rock on his chair as he said he liked being outside. 

Then he came down, poking her and saying he had a newsflash. Ashley jumped away, somehow keeping herself from squealing. They were in a library, after all! Then he said that he liked her and thoughts started coming a mile a minute. He couldn't mean that he liked her, right? He meant it as a friend. She was smiling though, pleased that he'd actually come out and say that to her. "I like you too," she said, though a part of her felt nervous admitting it. She wasn't telling him she had a crush on him, just that she liked spending time with him!

She saw him stiffen and Ashley grew tense. She didn't want to make him upset. That was the last thing she wanted and she was nervous that she'd messed things up by saying that. She couldn't speak. She nodded to answer his question. She was willing, if he wanted. Then he asked if she'd do that for him, and if she didn't have enough to do on her own. Ashley shrugged. "I'm pretty good at staying on top of my studies ... and of course I'd help you. We're friends, we do stuff for each other, right? You found me flowers, I can help you study," she gave another hesitant smile, not knowing how he was receiving her suggestion at all. Then she shook her head, "Helping you won't hurt me." Ash was sure about that. "I do well enough on my own, I promise."

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

HE SNORTED SLIGHTLY AT HER SLICK REPLY, AS IF she didn't already know a little too much. Eli occasionally though of how unlikely a friendship they had, but that just bummed him out. Instead he focused on how nice it felt to be known by her, at least slightly and newly. When he thudded forward and prodded her, he was surprised she didn't call out, but even Ash respected the laws of the library.

He couldn't deny the thrill that ran through him as she admitted that she liked him too. Eli was a well liked individual, being as friendly as he was. But, somehow it felt different when she said it. Particular in a way that stuck to his ribs like glue. He didn't push her though, content with that small admission. At least, for now.

His studies, however, were a different topic entirely and Eli felt out of his depth. Even though he was nervous about allowing her to know that small and fractured part of him, he slowly began to realise that he wanted her help. Maybe it was because it meant they had a legitimate reason to hang out. And that he wouldn't have to seek her out in the most ridiculous and covert of places. Or, maybe it was because she was so sincere it hurt to look at her.

"Okay..." He whispered, letting his head fall on to his folded arms as he hid a fond smile in the creases of his robed arms. "Yeah... okay." He didn't know what else to say, rubbing his nose against his arm and letting his eyes fall half closed as he thought. "I want that then... help me pass, please." And then he lifted his chin to rest on his arm, smiling now in a way that felt natural and not ridiculously gushy. "Thanks, Ash." Licking his lips, he reached over to nudge her hand softly, not yet brave enough to reach out and hold it. "I don't know what I'd do without you." And it sounded like he was joking, but he knew a world existed where it was entirely true.

[END]

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

TIME JUMP

Ashley closed her eyes and sighed happily. She and Eli were sitting in the meadow where he’d shown her the Feverfew a few weeks ago. It had kind of turned into their meadow- at least it had in her mind. It was a place where they could come and no one would be able to find them, even if they were looking, which made it perfect for studying. At least, Ashley thought it did.

At the moment, Ash was supposed to be helping him study for charms class. She wasn’t sure how much she was actually helping, but she was trying to work with pronunciation and wand waving techniques. Basically, she just loved having an excuse to spend time with him. Even during their study sessions, they took a lot of breaks and talked and she just felt more and more comfortable around him each time they did one of these. ”So you got that, right?” Ash teased, leaning forward and nudging his shoulder with her own. It almost felt like time for another break.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

THE MEADOW WAS SO PEACEFUL WITH ASH IN IT that even while studying he could still keep his breath. It was extraordinary. Sure, he still struggled and some techniques just didn't work but the difference between any professor ever and Ash was, well Eli genuinely wanted to do well for her. Few professors inspired this reaction from Eli, but what was stranger still was that he didn't even notice.

Closely, he tried to mimic Ashley's wand waving among the Feverfew and birdsong. But, as did many of their studying sessions, soon enough they idle chatter. From a second where Eli told her about Wyatt and Zeke, his best friends and partners in crime. Or, simply detailing the first time his mom took him to a muggle animal reserve. Silly things that stuck between the more serious task of helping Eli not fail. Feeling the nudge, Eli leaned back in to Ashley's touch instinctively.

"What now?" He joked, pairing heavy lidded eyes. They were beginning to adapt to an effortless back and forth, though only when they were isolated like so. It went the way any great friendship did, but lately Eli was feeling a little different. Though he wasn't entirely sure why. His wand was stiff in his hand and he jokingly reached forward to prod her with it without thinking. The end gently pressing in to the softness of her hip. "Didn't hear a thing-" He added dramatically, though that was not true. His wand technique was already a thousand times better. 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Ashley smiled when Eli leaned toward her, then started teasing her. It was nice, how comfortable they were feeling with one another. It was almost like they could just sense when the other needed or wanted a break and she could tell he was getting in that kind of a mood now. She rolled her eyes when he started teasing her, though she felt beyond happy to have his attention. It was strange how much his opinion meant to her after such a short time. They were just friends, but ... no. Ash wasn’t going to think that way. She had no intention of doing anything to ruin their friendship so she wasn’t going to overthink anything. She just wanted to enjoy her time with him. She opened her mouth to retort when he poked her side with his wand. Ash jumped and gave a high-pitched squeal, turning to push his shoulder in a small form of retaliation. And she liked having an excuse to touch him, but that was neither here nor there. ”Elijah Fleming, don’t do that! She didn’t even hear what he said, she was too distracted by the poke. He kept doing this and she was nervous that he’d figure out just how ticklish she was. Eli would definitely take advantage of that.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

HE'D ONLY PRODDED HER IN JEST, HADN'T EVEN thought about how she'd react. It was always simply an attempt to draw her attention to him. An instinctive desire to reach out to her, even if only for fun. But, when she reared back Eli remembered all the other times he'd done just that. And how viciously she reacted when he did. Something gleamed behind his eyes and the beginning of a smile hitched his lips.

"Do what...?" He asked innocently, but he was scooting closer, his knees drawn up to his chest, his arm dangerously close to her. "Do... this?" And he prodded her again. Not too hard. Just enough for her to feel it through her shirt. "Why not?" He asked, his eyes crinkling as he grinned devilishly. 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Ash saw the gleam in his eyes when she jumped and started trying to scoot away from him. He’d noticed. Well ... it was kind of bound to happen sooner or later now that they were spending so much time together and since he liked poking her for some reason.

She fake glared at him. ”You know exactly what!” Ash was trying to be serious, but she couldn’t. Not with him so close and he was moving closer and closer. He poked her again and she squealed, giggling as she tried to scoot away from him again. She shook her head as she gained her composure again. Man, he barely even touched her. She glanced up and bit her lip at his last question. He had to already know why she didn’t like it ... but she couldn’t not answer his question. ”I’m gonna regret telling you this,” she muttered, ”but I’m ridiculously ticklish.” Ash closed her eyes, trying to prepare herself.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

THE MORE ELI THOUGHT ABOUT IT THE MORE HE began to connect the dots. How she would shy from his persistent nudging. He hadn't thought about it at all before. Thought it was nothing but a natural reaction. But, maybe it was a bit theatrical. He'd thought she was doing it to be funny, and he'd laughed every time. Like a damn... fool.

As he moved closer, poking at her side again, he was reward with a burst of laughter. Like music to his ears. He liked when she laughed. It pulsated in his chest like a deep bass beat. His tongue pressed between his teeth and his nose wrinkled as he attempted to maintain his innocent facade. "I... don't." But his fingers were beginning to twitch again, just to prove a point.

Ash proved it for him before he could test the theory. He relaxed for a moment, his brows pulling together in thought. "Ticklish?" He asked without expecting an answer. As if it surprised him. "I never took you for the ticklish type." And then he sat still for a moment. His eyes roaming out across the clearing as if it entirely over and done with.

Until, of course, he drew in a breath some minutes later. "I promised I'd warn you so..." His lips quivered as he blew out a hard breath, his cheeks twitching with an impending grin. "I'm gonna tickle you now." And just as he said that he leapt for her, throwing his weight across her middle, his hands clawed as he erupted in to laughter.

Digging his fingers in to her sides, Eli persisted for a few seconds before rearing back to check her face. He'd pulled her in to a lake once and hadn't warned her. It felt important to check she was in on the joke this time. "I don't think you're ticklish like at all..." He said between breathless bouts of laughter. 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

He said he didn't know ... yeah right! She could tell, just by the look on his face that he knew exactly what. She was ticklish and he'd figured it out. A tiny part of her was disappointed, but the other part was surprisingly excited. If Eli knew that she was ticklish, Ashley was sure that he'd use that sometimes, which would be hard because she didn't like showing weakness, but with him ... Ashley could deal with it.

After she'd closed her eyes, nothing happened. Ash opened her eyes a crack to look over at him. He was just watching her curiously, almost like he didn't believe that she was ticklish. She nodded when he said she didn't look the type. "I try to make it so no one will even think of trying," she admitted. "There aren't many people that touch me, honestly, but my brothers ..." she shook her head with a wry grin. "They love it. They abuse it far too much during each and every break." There. He was learning a little about her now. She was surprised that he hadn't tickled her again, but was kind of relieved about that.

Then he started talking about warning her and she looked over at him suspiciously. What was he going to warn her about now? She could never fully guess with Eli and for some reason she thought he wasn't going to tickle her again. Then he lunged at her and moved to tickle her. Ashley didn't even have time to try and get out of his way until he was on top of her, tickling her mercilessly. Ash was giggling and laughing, kicking and hitting him, but not hard. He paused for a second, but she was grinning at him and squirming to try and get out from under him. "Stop- Eli- please- you- please!" she giggled as she plead with him to stop, not able to get any complete phrases out, but she didn't expect him to. She wasn't even close to being angry. She actually kind of liked it, not that she'd admit that.

Elijah Theron Fleming