little silver links | ashley

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

ELI WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DRESSED LIKE AN ANGEL but he wasn't feeling very angelic. Brigh's Jameson had made his tongue a little loose and the Halloween Party had overall been great. And he didn't know how, but he was wearing a blazer that wasn't his own. But, as it all wound down Eli couldn't help but think about the bracelet's weight in his pocket.

It had been a gift Eli had poured over for months leading up to Christmas last year. How he'd agonised over what a girl with everything could ever want. So, when everything went to Hell, Eli never considered a world where Ashley would want to keep it. But, she had, and he had found it broken. It had taken in a good six hours to figure out how to repair it, and even then the charm still left the links somewhat malformed. What felt more important was returning it, if only to get Ashley to talk to him.

Excusing himself from Brigh and his friends, Eli searched the crowds for Ashley. He knew she was around, having spotted her almost as soon as he'd arrived. Finding her again was more difficult, because this time it was Ashley avoiding Eli. Which Eli hated. In time, he found her by the drinks table. The food almost completely depleted but the punch bowl mercilessly self replenishing. There was a small line of sweaty students waiting. Eli had never skipped a line before, but he did this time.

"Ash," Eli said, coming up beside the blond and tugging gently at her elbow. "I need to talk to you." He said this with urgency, a serious look on his face. Which was difficult since it was awash in the light from the glow stick wrapped around his neck. His 'halo'. "Please?"

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Ashley was doing her very best to enjoy the dance that the Hogwarts students came up with. She'd come with the intention of trying to distract herself from the dark-haired Hufflepuff boy she said goodbye to the previous day ... and the fact that she somehow lost the bracelet he gave her. How could she lose it? The bracelet was the one evidence Ashley had of her friendship with Eli and it meant more to her than she could express. She spent most of the day searching for the thing, but it had an invisibility charm on it and she had no luck. She couldn't stop thinking about it and mourning the fact that she lost her bracelet, which was another part of why she came to the dance. Of course, Eli was also here, which was distracting in and of itself, but she found someone to spend most of the dance with that wouldn't remind her of him or the bracelet she lost. Sav Macmillan, the boy she met over the summer on a blind date. He was very handsome and confident and easy to talk to and he didn't let her get away with being vague or looking around the room. He demanded her attention, which was nice.

However, as it got late, Ashley found she needed a drink. She went to the refreshment table and got in line, slowly taking steps forward when the people in front of her moved away. As she waited, Ashley looked around the room. She smiled at Sav, but couldn't find the other person she was looking for, the one with the long, dark hair. That was probably for the better. She jumped when she felt someone pulling on her elbow, and she turned around and froze as her eyes widened. Eli. No, he couldn't do this to her! She told him they couldn't be friends, so why was he coming up to her. He said he needed to talk to her, his expression entirely serious and Ashley's stomach twisted as another memory filled her senses. Another time when he desperately asked her to talk and she refused him in the worst way possible. Even though they weren't friends anymore, she couldn't do that to him again. She searched his eyes, looking for any sign that this was some game, or some sort of trick. Then he said please and she slowly took a step out of line, uncertain about what she should do. "What do you need?" her voice was soft as she tried to stay in control of her emotions. Talking to him was hard. "Do you want to talk in here or ...?" she looked around, unsure of what he had planned. She didn't know what to do, but she'd followed him so far. She'd let him say what he needed to, at least. If she gave him that chance last time, they might still be friends now.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

FOR A SECOND, ELI WAS SURE THAT ASH WAS going to refuse. That she'd yank away from him, derailing every plan he'd set in motion. It wasn't just about giving her back the bracelet, it was about the things she had said the day before. He didn't accept them, not by a long shot. And he'd never been good at giving up, either. Another 'please' almost dropped from his lips, but she spoke first.

"Five minutes," Eli said in a rush, still gently gripping the fabric at her elbow. "Just five. Then you can go back to your date." Casting his eyes across to where the handsome student waited. He hadn't expected her to have a date. It was a sharpness he was not prepared for.  

Slipping a hand down to where Ashley's arms hung, Eli looped his pinkie around hers. It wasn't quite as overwhelming as grabbing her hand, but he had to anchor her somehow. "This way." He said, cocking his head behind him and slowly backing away until she had to decide. Disentangle from him, or follow him.

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Eli was speaking quickly, seeming almost desperate and Ashley started to wonder what was going on. What was so urgent, but would only take five minutes? She nodded to him, her mouth falling open when he mentioned her "date". Sav. "He's not my-" Ash broke off, turning to see the Gryffindor, who was actually looking at her again. She smiled and help up her pointer finger to show she'd be back in just a moment. She turned back to Eli, feeling tense again. Sav wasn't her date. They just happened to run into one another and spent most of the evening dancing together ... but Eli didn't need to know that. They weren't friends. They weren't friends. 

Her breath hitched when Eli's pinkie wrapped around hers gently. It was a familiar gesture, something they'd both done last year, but Ashley wasn't sure if she should let him. After everything she said yesterday, why was he still treating her like a friend? She should pull away. Ashley kept telling herself that, but her body wouldn't do it. Then he was backing away and after a minute hesitation Ashley tightened her finger around his and followed him. "What's going on, Eli?" she whispered softly. "Is everything all right?" Despite herself, Ash was worried for him. She shouldn't care or try to involve herself with him, but she couldn't help it. She never could when it came to Eli.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

WHEN ASH DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY PULL AWAY ELI could have sighed in relief. He kept it internal, though, simply tugging her across the dance floor to the large, double doors that served as the exit. "Everything's fine," He assured her, turning before he slipped his hand more fully in to hers to guide them across the room. He didn't want to do this in front of everyone. Katherine was here, as were many of her little underlings. He wanted Ashley's full attention.

The corridors were more sparsely occupied, but a few dizzy students meandered in plain sight. Eli eyed either side before pulling them toward a flight of stairs near one end of the hallway. Away from other students and prying eyes, he turned back toward her by the banister. "Sorry for- you know, springing this on you." He said, already reaching in to the pocket of his dress pants.

Inside Eli's pocket, Ashley's bracelet felt incredibly fragile. He pulled it out folded delicately over his callused knuckles, the warped link pinched between his thumb and forefinger. "I- I wanted to give this back to you," He said tentatively, wondering suddenly if she would want it back at all. "I found it on the floor yesterday, it was kind of banged up, but I-" Eli ducked his head with a slight smile. "I fixed it." It was with a slight bubbling pride that he had managed to do so without any help. He held it out for her to take back.

"I didn't know you even wore it..." Eli added, a slight hoarseness to his voice. His eyes flickered back to Ashley's, an intensity to his blown pupils. He searched for a revelation in her face, anything that differed to what she had said the previous day. He pulled the bracelet back, out of reach to Ashley as he wet his bottom lip. "Why do you still wear it?" He asked boldly.

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

He didn't say anything right away, instead leading Ashley across the room swiftly. She felt her anxiety rising until, right before they left the room, he told her things were fine before he really held her hand. Ashley's heart felt as though it would burst from her chest and she blushed, though no one was looking at her and in the dark hallway, no one would have been able to see it. 

They went down the hallway a bit and Ashley couldn't help but feel suspicious. What in the world was going on? Once they were near the stairs, he let her go and Ashley's hand formed a fist. Why did she feel empty when he released her? Why couldn't she be strong? At least she didn't have to let him know how weak she was. Her eyebrows furrowed when he apologized and then ... the bracelet. Ashley's eyes widened as she stared, taking a step closer to Eli so she could see it better. That was her bracelet, wasn't it? How did he- he was speaking. Ashley bit her lip as she listened to him. "You fixed it?" she breathed in wonder, the corners of her lips turning up as she pulled her attention from the bracelet and looked up at Eli. "How did you find it? It was-" she cut off, feeling strange telling him she'd made it invisible.

Then he was saying he didn't know she wore it. "I made it invisible," she admitted softly, looking down at the bracelet once more. She started to reach towards it, but Eli pulled it away and she looked at him, her eyebrows furrowing. "I ..." What was she supposed to say? That she missed him and this was her only physical connection to him? No, she couldn't say that. "It felt wrong to not wear it. I didn't for a few days, but I ... missed it." She took a deep breath, "You didn't want to be friends anymore and I didn't want to upset you, so I put an invisibility charm on it." Ashley shrugged. She didn't know what else to tell him. After a minute, she looked back up, "Are you going to give it back?" Please, please, please. Ash didn't know what she'd do if he kept it.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

SEEING THAT SHE DID NOT COMPLETELY DISREGARD the bracelet's reappearance, Eli felt further encouraged. So, she hadn't purposefully discarded it. That was a good start, he had his foot in the door. But, hearing that she had made it invisible while wearing it made Eli's brows draw together in a frown.

"You missed it?" He said with a slight quirking of his lips, pulling them together until they pressed between his teeth. "You missed me?" He added bravely, a question, one brow quirking upwards. Perhaps the Jameson was making him bolder. Though it was short lived as she revealed just why she had kept it invisible.

"I wouldn't have been mad," Eli interjected, thrusting the bracelet toward her. "I bought for you because I wanted you to have it, no matter what." He explained, frowning deeply as his mind went in to overdrive. "Look, Ashley-" He said, taking a step toward her. They were almost toe-to-toe now. Eli hadn't noticed that Ashley had already taken a step forward. He reached up, unable to stop himself, and gently palmed her upper arm. As if to draw strength from it.

"I couldn't- I didn't know what to say before." He said, in reference to the previous day. "I was angry when I said we shouldn't be friends anymore- I was so... hurt." Eli's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed heavily. "But- but I'm not any more." The tips of his fingers flexed on Ashley's arm, that warmth as familiar as it was strange.

"I just- I want you to know that- even if we're not friends anymore I- I forgive you, okay?" He murmured, dropping his gaze to his feet before drawing toward her. As if his whole body had a natural tilt, leaning in to Ashley's gravity. "I forgive you, Ashley. I don't care about it any more." And there was a desperation to his tone of voice, a reverence. "So I don't want you to care about it, either, okay?"

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Eli's questions were ones Ashley honestly should have expected after what she just revealed, but they took her more by surprise than she wanted to admit. When he asked if she missed him she couldn't speak, so she nodded her head instead. She missed him then, so much. Weird as it was, she couldn't help but feeling that she missed him more right now when he was standing right in front of her, but was somehow a world away. 

Ashley nodded mutely when he said that he wouldn't have been mad, taking the bracelet delicately and cradling it in one hand, covering it with the other. She wouldn't lose it again. She refused. Her eyes widened when he said he wanted her to have it no matter what. "I'll always want it," she breathed. Normally, he wouldn't have been able to hear that, it was so quiet, but he was so close now ... she didn't know if he could. He touched her arm and Ashley closed her eyes, relishing the sensation. She loved it when he touched her, but at the same time was trying to convince herself that it wouldn't happen again. 

He started talking about that day, about how hurt he felt and the guilt hit her like a punch in the gut. Ashley's body tensed and she turned her head away from him, looking at the ground. She didn't pull herself out of his grip though, she just couldn't look at him as regret rushed through her yet again. If only she hadn't done that. He said he wasn't angry anymore and a small whimper escaped her. He couldn't mean that. He was Eli, he was being nice. She started trembling ever-so-slightly, hoping that Eli wouldn't notice.

When he said he forgave her, Ashley spun her gaze to meet his, but he was looking down at his feet. "Eli ..." he was moving closer. It was almost like he was holding her in his arms now and Ashley wanted nothing more than to take another step forward and feel his arms wrapped around her, to have him comfort her so she could really believe that he meant it. As it was, she didn't know what to think. "but I ... how? How can you forgive me for that? I can't ..." her voice broke and Ashley looked down again. "I can't." She couldn't forget about it, or forgive herself. 

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

SHE MISSED HIM. IT DIDN'T MATTER THAT IT WAS only a nod. It mattered that she admitted it. And while he could have drew the same conclusion from yesterday, it was different in the wake of Ashley's decision. To cut them off entirely. To end it without a second thought. Eli hadn't been as strong the first time around, he'd said the same thing, but it hadn't stuck. He could only hope the same could be said for Ashley.

"Then you'll always have it," Eli whispered back to her, the words heavy on his tongue. He never wanted her to think that what they had, their friendship, came with vicious contingencies in the wake of their 'break up'. The gifts he gave her before, they still stood. No matter where they were standing. It was just so difficult to find the right words sometimes, especially for Eli. But, he tried.

He watched Ashley's face, the micro expressions that told stories when she could not. She looked agonised, and he hadn't wanted that. He'd thought, if he told her he forgave her, that she could stop focusing on that single moment. Because he had, so why couldn't she? "Look, people hurt people, okay?" Eli said flippantly, lifting his other hand to clutch Ashley's other arm. "That's the whole point, right? When we- when we connect with someone, you know?" He let go of her arm to gesture between them.

"When you let someone in, you give them the power to hurt you." He'd read that somewhere, probably in something Ashley or Zeke had been reading. It seemed cheesy at the time, but it was true. "I know you didn't mean it, Ashley." One of Eli's hands migrated up to palm the side of Ashley's neck, eager for her to look at him as he bent slightly at the knee until they were level. "Just... think about it, okay?" He said, his mouth creasing slightly with a thin and hopeful smile. "I miss you." And then he let go, his feet leading him back a step and then another.

Eli didn't want to force her, that wasn't the point in them talking. He'd wanted to show her that for him, what had happened was in the past. He could be near her, he could touch her, without thinking about that interaction. And he could. He only hoped she could do the same. If forgiving herself meant giving her space, he could do that. He would do that. For a little while. Until his attention went full circle and he was drawn back in to her orbit, just like before. 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Ashley gave a thin-lipped smile when Eli told her she'd always have the bracelet. He didn't mind her having it and wearing it. That fact shouldn't have been a surprise, but it was. It was such a relief to her that Ashley exhaled in relief. "Thanks," she didn't have to hide it anymore. She wouldn't put the invisibility charm on it either. "And thank you for fixing it. That means so much to me." Ashley wanted to make sure he knew that.

He took hold of her other arm, explaining that people hurt people. His tone was so much lighter than she expected, but at the same time ... he was trying to reassure her. Of course he didn't want to sound angry or upset. He talked about connecting with people, giving them the power to hurt you and she frowned, shaking her head slightly. "I never wanted to hurt you," the words were run together, like she couldn't get them out fast enough, but he was already saying the same thing. He already knew. He moved his hand to her neck, encouraging her to look at him again. Ashley slowly looked up, raising the hand that wasn't holding her bracelet and grasped his wrist tightly, trying to keep his hand where it was even though she knew she shouldn't. She didn't want him to let her go yet. He asked her to think about it, smiling at her and Ashley shut her eyes tight, dropping her hand from his wrist. "I can't," her voice was choked, making speaking hard, but she wouldn't lie to him. She couldn't even consider being closer to him again. Her eyes shot open when he said he missed her, and she bit her lips, but she couldn't stop looking at him as he slowly backed away from her. 

With Eli not holding her here anymore, stepping away from her, Ashlely felt herself doing the same. She gave a brief half-wave and then turned, walking back to the party, but not without stopping to look back at him more than once. Eli missed her. The knowledge was wonderful and horrifying at the same time. If he missed her ... he probably wasn't going to leave her alone. She was going to have to be ready, though how she could ever prepare herself to be near him, she had no idea.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

ELI NODDED MUTELY, SO TENTATIVE AROUND HER. Like he was walking on his tip-toes. Afraid he might spook her and she'd run off again. But, he wasn't easily deterred. Determined that he would win back her friendship in whatever way possible.

Holding her arms, Eli spoke with more intensity than he was used to. Gone was his care-free smile, his lazy demeanour. "I know- I know you didn't." He said, laughing dry, his voice hushed but fierce. "That's the whole point." The feeling of her hand around his wrist, his palm against her neck. It was the closest they had been since that day when they'd kissed. His memory flitted there and away, another wound his tongue kept probing at.

And when he stepped away, and she did too, he wasn't as surprised as he thought he'd be. He'd forgotten how stubborn she could be, but so was he. Especially when it came to people that mattered to him. Like Ashley. The ghost of her touch around his wrist like a white hot brand.

[END ELI]

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!