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last online May 3, 2024 3:22:45 GMT -7
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Jul 2, 2018 13:35:01 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2018 13:35:01 GMT -7
They'd been working for ages, which was a good thing because Ash wanted to get this work done before they left for break. Then again ... they hadn't stopped to take any breaks and those were her favorite parts of study sessions with Eli. She liked talking to him and them teasing one another. Basically, she just loved interacting with him. Any time she could make him smile was a treat and she loved how comfortable she felt telling him things about herself, even though she didn't always do it. She didn't want him to think she was only concerned with herself. As they worked, she occasionally glanced up from her charts to look at him. Most of the time he was focused, but then one time ... he was already looking at her. She smiled and put her pencil down, about to ask if he was ready for a break when he told her today was his mom's birthday. Her smile grew a little at the random comment. It was definitely Eli-worthy, but that was another thing she liked about him. He never did as she expected. It was refreshing. She rolled her eyes, "You don't have to apologize." She stood up and stretched for a second before moving to sit beside him. "Why don't we take a break, and you can tell me about your mom?" she suggested. "Have you sent her a gift already or are you waiting until you go home?" They were leaving in two days. Making her wait wouldn't be that bad. Elijah Theron Fleming
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Elijah Theron Fleming
ILVERMORNY ALUM MWRC APPRENTICE RESEARCHER
509 posts
Infatuated with Cordie Smith
played by Chanel
in too much space we hide.
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last online May 1, 2024 15:23:25 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Jul 5, 2018 13:30:18 GMT -7
Post by Elijah Theron Fleming on Jul 5, 2018 13:30:18 GMT -7
ELI FELT INFINITELY AWKWARD AFTER BLURTING out about his mother. He'd just been looking at her, and his chest was aching and he remembered all the reasons why he didn't want to remember that day. And then he told her. He hadn't spoken about his mom to anybody, beyond the obvious. Wyatt and Zeke would always be there, but in a lot of ways he liked that they liked distracting him. With Ashley it was like the quiet was urging him to talk... to reveal parts of himself he didn't know existed.
Looking down, Eli knew Ashley was looking at him. He didn't need to see her to know. But, he briefly wished he could take it back and they could go back to normal. Even more so when she spoke. "No- not it's fine, I just-" He stopped to draw in a long breath, his throat tight. "I don't... want to." And he didn't, but at the same time it was like he needed to.
"We don't buy gifts for her any more..." He muttered, still looking down at his parchment. He'd taken to scribbling nonsense along the edges to occupy his hands. "She uh- disappeared... about three years ago." Shaking his head, he wrinkled his nose and tried to paint on a smile but it was strained and awful looking. He didn't have to see it to know. "We don't, really celebrate her birthday any more."
He swallowed thickly, discarding his pen and throwing himself backwards. He landed with a thump on the ground, slinging an arm over his face. "I didn't mean to like, unload on you," He said with a harsh laugh, rubbing the sleeve of his sweater against his eyes until they didn't sting any more.
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last online May 3, 2024 3:22:45 GMT -7
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Jul 5, 2018 13:50:03 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2018 13:50:03 GMT -7
Eli wouldn't look at her and Ashley suddenly realized that something was wrong. The atmosphere around them was suddenly tense and she found herself regretting that she said anything at all. She started shaking her head, opening her mouth to tell him he didn't have to talk about it when he said he didn't want to ... but he was already talking. Her eyes widened as he explained, but Eli wasn't looking at her still. Ash looked down to her hands, which she was wringing anxiously. She didn't like this tension, and the sadness. She glanced up to see Eli forcing himself to smile. She reached forward to touch his arm gently, but he was already throwing himself backward, apologizing. Ashley shook her head, watching him again. "I don't mind," her voice was soft. "Really ... I'm- I'm sorry I asked. I wasn't trying to ..." Wasn't trying to what? She trailed off, having no idea what to say to him. What could be said? She turned away, trying to compose herself. She shouldn't have asked questions, but how was she to know and now Eli was all sad and she didn't know what to do. She wasn't good at comforting people. She turned back to him slowly. "Is there anything I can do for you?" Doubt it. He'd been dealing with this for three years, but she couldn't help but ask. Elijah Theron Fleming
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Elijah Theron Fleming
ILVERMORNY ALUM MWRC APPRENTICE RESEARCHER
509 posts
Infatuated with Cordie Smith
played by Chanel
in too much space we hide.
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last online May 1, 2024 15:23:25 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Jul 5, 2018 14:16:41 GMT -7
Post by Elijah Theron Fleming on Jul 5, 2018 14:16:41 GMT -7
IT WASN'T OFTEN THAT ELI ALLOWED HIMSELF TO feel bad about being silly. But, when it came to his mom he dissolved in to embarrassment and awkwardness. Two things he tended not to focus on at all. He had been the one to bring it up, so why did it feel like he was under a spotlight. Unwillingly? It was the only subject Eli couldn't freely talk about, but he needed to.
Worse still, was that Eli never intended for Ashley to feel bad. About how she handled it, or for him either. Under his arm, he could enjoy the blissful darkness and pretend he hadn't dug himself a hole. But, he couldn't stand her pained tone of voice. Dragging his hand away, he looked up at her and managed a small, sincere smile.
"I'm okay, Ash," He said, attempting to reassure her. "I just... I never talk about this stuff, but- today only happens once a year, you know?" He sat up slowly, hair falling in to his eyes as he wrung his hands in his lap. "You make everything so quiet, it's like- I don't know, it's not hard to talk to you." Reaching up, he ruffled his hair, face screwed awkwardly. He was sure he wasn't saying it right. Whatever it was he was trying to say.
"She was... she got it, you know?" He tilted his head back, looking at the exposed starlight above. Out on school grounds there was no light pollution, not like at home in California. It was just a clear night sky. It was cliche, but maybe if his mom was alive, she could see it too. "She never tried to make me something I wasn't. Just... better."
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last online May 3, 2024 3:22:45 GMT -7
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Jul 5, 2018 14:26:05 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2018 14:26:05 GMT -7
Then he was smiling at her. It wasn't his normal, happy smile but Ashley returned the small smile. Did that mean she hadn't ruined everything entirely? He told her he was okay and Ash didn't say anything but she knew it wasn't true. She nodded as she sat up. Come on Ash, think of something to say to him! But what could she say? She had no idea how he felt with all the things he'd been through. She didn't have any main disappointments or heartaches like him. Her head twisted to the side a little. "I make everything quiet?" Was that a good or a bad thing? Hopefully he didn't feel like he had to tell her anything. She didn't want him to feel forced around her, ever. He was playing with his hair, looking up at the stars and all Ashley wanted to do was give him a hug. She didn't really understand what he was saying about his mom, except for the fact that she accepted him for the way he was. "She sounds like a really good mom," Ashley answered softly. Then she decided to stop holding back. She leaned closer to Eli and gave him a hug. She wanted to be there for him, to help in any way she maybe could. An awkward side hug probably wasn't the best way, but she couldn't think of anything else. Hopefully he wouldn't mind. Elijah Theron Fleming
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Elijah Theron Fleming
ILVERMORNY ALUM MWRC APPRENTICE RESEARCHER
509 posts
Infatuated with Cordie Smith
played by Chanel
in too much space we hide.
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last online May 1, 2024 15:23:25 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Jul 5, 2018 14:42:10 GMT -7
Post by Elijah Theron Fleming on Jul 5, 2018 14:42:10 GMT -7
ELI WASN'T SURE IF HE WAS COMING ACROSS correctly. His thoughts were always at least a little jumbled. But, it wasn't common for them to be so jumbled around Ashley. Lately, his thoughts around her and concerning her had been quite coherent. He knew that he liked her and he knew that when he wasn't with her, he missed her. It was as simple as that, but his mom was a topic that he struggled with most. He hadn't intended to drag Ashley in to it, but there they were.
"Yeah..." He said, after a drawn moment. That was the only way he could think of putting it. Quiet was something he didn't often crave, but somehow needed any way. And with Ashley it was easy. "It's... a good thing." He added at the constrained look on her face. He wanted to reach out and touch her, to reassure her, but he didn't know how.
And suddenly, talking about his mom was a little easier. The air cleared a little bit and he was rambling on. Luckily, when he stopped to look at how Ashley had received it, she wasn't frowning. "She was..." He whispered. smiling as he thought of her. And then as his mind whirled over his mom as if she were still around, Ashley sidled up close to him. Her presence, and the sudden appearance of her arms around him, brought him back to reality.
Eli's arms instinctively wrapped around her, pulling her close while he could. The soft smell of her shampoo and the cold air of the tower. He couldn't think of anything else, and it was so... so good. She'd only gone for a side hug, but Eli managed to pull her flush to him. It was the first time she'd reached for him first and that rang around inside his head like an alarm bell. But, it didn't show on his face.
Slowly, and with a little encouragement, Eli tugged them both to the ground. He used one arm to pillow his head and the other to hug Ashley to his side. "Can we just... lie down for a little?" He asked, pulling his chin close to his neck so he could look down and catch Ashley's eye. "Is this okay?"
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last online May 3, 2024 3:22:45 GMT -7
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Jul 5, 2018 14:53:49 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2018 14:53:49 GMT -7
Eli insisted that it was a good thing that she made things quiet. Ashley still didn't know what he was talking about, but she found herself smiling at the idea. If it was good, then she wanted to continue doing it for Eli, even though she didn't really know what it was. She wanted to help him with anything he needed help with, whether that was studying or finding quiet or just helping him smile when he was sad. He smiled as he told Ash that his mom was good and she felt some of the tension release. He was smiling again. Any awkwardness she initially felt upon wrapping her arms around him went away when he hugged her back, pulling her up against him. Ash exhaled in relief; she did something right! Maybe it wasn't as hard to be close to others as she always thought it would be. At least, it didn't seem hard at all when she was with Eli. Her arms loosened when he started pulling her to the ground, but Ash didn't fight it. Somehow, it felt so right to be in his arms and Ash liked the feeling. She nodded at his question, scooting closer to him. She felt his gaze on her and looked up to meet his eyes, smiling. "Yes," she answered before cuddling into him so her head was on his shoulder and her arms resting on his chest. "This feels nice," she whispered, not even realizing she spoke the words instead of thinking them. She felt entirely relaxed, which wasn't something she could normally say. Elijah Theron Fleming
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Elijah Theron Fleming
ILVERMORNY ALUM MWRC APPRENTICE RESEARCHER
509 posts
Infatuated with Cordie Smith
played by Chanel
in too much space we hide.
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last online May 1, 2024 15:23:25 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Jul 5, 2018 14:59:58 GMT -7
Post by Elijah Theron Fleming on Jul 5, 2018 14:59:58 GMT -7
ELI WAS NEVER THE TYPE TO SHY AWAY FROM physical affection. He was a hugger, plain and simple. But, with Ash it was different. He never wanted to overstep and he didn't want to run her off either. So, he often found himself holding back. Especially after Thanksgiving Break. So, when she initiated contact for once, it left him a little breathless. But, it also reminded him how easy it was when they did. Effortless. With her on his chest, Eli could feel the expanding of her chest when she breathed. He thought, if he was very still, he might be able to hear her heartbeat. The tower was cold, but not when she was near him. He found he didn't want to finish studying at all. Let them stay like this forever. Happily, he realised. "Tell me about the stars?" He asked, and the arm that was wrapped around her absently reached for a few locks of blond hair. He played with them without thinking, twining them around his finger, his thumb occasionally brushing against her upper arm.
[END ELI]
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last online May 3, 2024 3:22:45 GMT -7
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Jul 5, 2018 15:13:57 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2018 15:13:57 GMT -7
TIME JUMP- AFTER CHRISTMAS BREAK Ashley was so relieved to be coming back to school. She loved Christmas and spending time with her family, but this time was different. She ... missed Eli. She didn't even understand why, wasn't quite sure if she wanted to understand it, but she missed him. She wanted to see him and talk to him and she refused to try and figure it out. Instead, she wrote to him. She was careful and made sure that her family didn't notice, telling her owl to bring his response to her room instead of somewhere where everyone would notice. She wasn't ashamed of Eli, but she didn't want her family telling her to stay away from him. So they'd written and the fact that she could write to him and talk to him was what made it so much easier. Still ... being back in school was much more of a relief than she cared to admit. In the last owl, she'd asked him to meet her in their secret study room the night they returned, after dinner. She had a gift that she'd gotten for him and she wanted to give it to him. She sat in the room, tapping her foot impatiently. When was he going to show up? She felt like she'd been waiting for hours, though she hadn't. She'd just gotten out of dinner a bit ago. Elijah Theron Fleming
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Elijah Theron Fleming
ILVERMORNY ALUM MWRC APPRENTICE RESEARCHER
509 posts
Infatuated with Cordie Smith
played by Chanel
in too much space we hide.
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last online May 1, 2024 15:23:25 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Jul 5, 2018 15:23:10 GMT -7
Post by Elijah Theron Fleming on Jul 5, 2018 15:23:10 GMT -7
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR BREAK WAS LONGER than Thanksgiving, but Eli found it flew by. Maybe that was because of the letters. A little stack of carefully bound and opened pieces of paper. All addressed to him, all from Ashley. She was the only person he'd written to. And, perhaps that made him a bad friend, but he'd never been good at keeping in touch. Ashley was different.
For Eli, he knew his friends would always be there, they were constants, but with Ashley he couldn't be sure. As if he might blink and she'd disappear in to smoke. She wasn't constant, but he wanted her to be. But, now he was back and that meant he got to see her. He didn't wait long. That's where the letters helped, they could arrange to meet.
Eli was quick to excuse himself after dinner. Climbing the stairs to their study room two, three at a time. Her gift was tucked under his arm, badly wrapped and a little battered at the corners. He opened the door expecting to find it empty, he was always early, he realised. But, there she was.
"Hey..." He said breathlessly, his hair a little shorter than two weeks before. He reached up to swipe phantom locks from his face, finding his forehead instead. He was smiling like a fool. "What're you doing here?" He joked, one arm behind his back to hide her gift.
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last online May 3, 2024 3:22:45 GMT -7
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Jul 5, 2018 15:31:24 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2018 15:31:24 GMT -7
Ashley glanced at her gift while she waited. It was sitting on the small table beside her, a small box. Normally she gave big gifts to people, but when she thought about Eli ... well she hoped he'd like what she found for him. She touched the wrapping, then jumped when the door opened. She looked over, but kept her expression controlled, despite the fact that she was delighted to see him. Eli was breathing hard, obviously having hurried here. Did he run up the stairs or something? She wouldn't be surprised. She shrugged at his question. "Oh, you know. I'm just hanging around in an empty classroom, enjoying the peace and quiet." She turned away from him, looking outside the window as she teased him. "At least, I was," she added, keeping her expression straight. No smiles. Not yet, anyway. "What brings you to this part of the castle?" Ash didn't turn away from the window. She wanted to see what Eli would do. Elijah Theron Fleming
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Elijah Theron Fleming
ILVERMORNY ALUM MWRC APPRENTICE RESEARCHER
509 posts
Infatuated with Cordie Smith
played by Chanel
in too much space we hide.
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last online May 1, 2024 15:23:25 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Jul 5, 2018 15:46:38 GMT -7
Post by Elijah Theron Fleming on Jul 5, 2018 15:46:38 GMT -7
IT WAS ALWAYS HARD TO READ ASHLEY'S EXPRESSION. She had impeccable control of her features, though Eli couldn't do the same. His face broke out in an uncontrollable smile, creases forming on his cheeks as he looked at her. The familiar plain of pretty, pale skin and wavy blond hair. But god, his heart still rattled in his chest.
Leaning against the frame briefly, Eli snorted. "Hope I'm not interrupting," He joked, brows lifted as he pushed off the frame and slowly walked in to the room. His breathing finally even. She looked away, but he kept walking until he was beside her, pushing up on the table beside her. He saw the box in her lap, perfectly wrapped and pretty. His own looked sad beside it in his own lap, blue and silver wrapping paper with the brown box showing on the corners he'd poorly wrapped. The bow on top unravelling big silver curls. "Get anything good?" He asked, smiling secretly.
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last online May 3, 2024 3:22:45 GMT -7
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Jul 5, 2018 15:57:06 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2018 15:57:06 GMT -7
Ash heard him snort and figured he was laughing. She finally allowed herself a chuckle. "Even if you were, I'd allow it," she answered, turning to see him as he approached her. He sat next to her and Ash suddenly felt a tinge of nervousness. She talked with Eli all during the break, felt as though she was growing closer to him, but what if he didn't like her gift. What if he thought it was silly she got him a gift. Then she saw that he had a box in his hands and felt herself relax. She shrugged at his question, "I mostly got books. A few clothes, but nothing that really stands out. What about you?" She leaned over and nudged his shoulder a little with her own. No reason why, she just ... she liked being in the same room with him again, being able to see him. "It's nice to hear your voice," she commented with a small chuckle. "And did you get a haircut?" Ash's eyes narrowed as she tried to be sure of what she was seeing. "I got you something," she whispered, lifting the box to show him. Elijah Theron Fleming
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Elijah Theron Fleming
ILVERMORNY ALUM MWRC APPRENTICE RESEARCHER
509 posts
Infatuated with Cordie Smith
played by Chanel
in too much space we hide.
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last online May 1, 2024 15:23:25 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Jul 5, 2018 16:19:59 GMT -7
Post by Elijah Theron Fleming on Jul 5, 2018 16:19:59 GMT -7
THE LETTERS HAD TIDED HIM OVER THE BREAK. Writing to her was just as easy as talking to her, except maybe even easier. That way he didn't have to think about how long he was looking at her, if he was giving too much away. But, none the less, he was happy to see her.
"Christmas is a thing at the Fleming house," Eli explained as he shifted in place comfortably. He thought about what he'd gotten, not a lot of gifts per say. "I got a new book on Hard to Find Creatures," He explained, thinking about the weight of it in his trunk. "Some film for my camera and a new compass." He smiled happily. "We go all out on food." He patted his stomach, like he'd gained a pound. His mom used to call him a trash can, but he didn't tell Ashley that.
Nudging her back, Eli was just happy for the point of contact. "Yours too," He said, wrinkling his nose slightly in a goofy smile. "And your face." He reached up to ruffle the short strands of his hair and huffed a little bit. "Ugh, yeah." He grumbled, but he was still smiling. "My sister, she's older, she said she had veto power on my 'mullet'." He shook his head, gripping the present in his lap. "It wasn't a mullet."
Eventually, his eyes drew to the gift Ashley held. It seemed that great minds thought alike, or something. "I thought you might..." He smiled, rubbing his nose before gently placing his gift on her legs. Inside was a little jewellery box and inside that was a thin, delicate silver bracelet. On it were three charms he'd carefully selected. One silver star, a little silver frog on a lily pad and a finely carved ice cream cone. "So did I."
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last online May 3, 2024 3:22:45 GMT -7
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Jul 5, 2018 16:32:31 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2018 16:32:31 GMT -7
Ashley felt her body relax as she smiled and listened to him explain Christmas at his family's house. "Sounds like a lot of fun," she commented, "and tasty." Sure, her family had good food. They went to lots of parties during Christmas break and there was wonderful food at each one of those, but a part of her wished she could just relax a little bit and spend time with her family. Maybe play games or something ... but that wasn't the way they did things. At least she still got to spend quite a bit of time with her brothers. They made it more fun for her. She giggled when he said that he missed her face, assuming that he meant he missed seeing her face, but she didn't question it. She laughed again as he grumbled about his haircut. "It looks good," Ashley said with a shrug. "It's a little different without those longer curls though. I might not be able to spot you in a crowd anymore." Ashley widened her eyes and laughed, teasing him. This just felt so comfortable. When she mentioned bringing something for him, he lifted a box too. How did she not notice that he was carrying a box? She handed the gift she'd wrapped to him, her heart racing as anticipation of the moment came. Would he think her gift was stupid? She'd gotten him a journal, for once he'd finished his ... 5th one? Whichever number he was on. It also had a small note from her written on the inside cover, just thanking him for being her friend. She grinned up at him, despite her nerves. "We should open them at the same time, okay? Ready?" She paused, giving him a second to object, but not much longer than that. "Now!" Ashley quickly tore the paper off, staring at the small box for a second before opening it. "Eli," she breathed his name, awestruck as she touched each of the small charms on the bracelet. Then she looked up to him, delight shining in her eyes. "Thank you so much!" Snapping the box shut, she threw her arms around his neck in a tight hug. "I love it."
Elijah Theron Fleming
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