rewrite the stars | ashley

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

THE MOVING STAIRCASE ALWAYS FASCINATED ELI but on this particular day he was less excited about the staircase and more excited by who was travelling on it. Ashley's blonde hair seemed to shimmer under the dim chandeliers that lit the way. His hand coming up to flash a wave as he shifted restlessly from foot to foot. He'd been thinking about this particular adventure for some time. But, especially since he'd begun to suspect that Ashley might like him more than as a friend.

Suddenly, Eli valued their alone time all the more. Every exchange was analysed to a fault, his brain turning in ways it had never turned before. Ashley was none the wiser he reckoned. She was probably one of the smartest people he knew and yet she could really be clueless sometimes. He often wondered how she hadn't figured him out either.

"Come on," He reached for Ashley, eager to get moving as his hand clasped around hers and he began leading them up the winding, immobile stairs of the tower. Evening had well and truly fallen at Hogwarts, but Eli had no intention of retiring to his common room any time soon. It was a risk asking her to meet him so late, but he figured he'd take the fall if they both got caught.

Up they went until they reached the locked door to the Astronomy tower. Eli slipped his wand out of the fold of his robes and carefully tapped it against the key hole. "Alohomora," He declared proudly, and shockingly the lock gave and the door opened. "Those Charms lessons are really paying off." He whispered over his shoulder, a smirk on his face as he pulled her in to the room and locked the door behind them. "There's a small meteor shower tonight." He told her as explanation, his head lifting to the open ceiling. "Thought maybe we could watch it together?"

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Eli wanted to meet with her. He hadn't told her what for or what they'd be doing, but she met him at the top of the moving staircase, close to the astronomy tower. She honestly wouldn't miss it for the world. Of course, being Ashley, she was there earlier than he asked her to be, and was dressed nicely but warm. Even though she didn't think they were going outside, it was cold in the castle. She was wearing a jacket instead of her robes though, Eli's scarf wrapped around her neck. Why not? She was meeting with him, she might as well try to return his scarf, even if she really just wanted to keep it. When she saw Eli approaching, a smile danced across her face and Ashley waved back at him.  

He walked right up to her, taking her hand as he pulled her over to the staircase. Ashley followed, her interest definitely piqued. What did Eli have planned for tonight? A part of her wanted to try and persuade him to tell her, but she also just wanted to wait and see. If he wanted to surprise her, she was sure she'd love it. Though it was going to have to be fast or they'd be late for curfew. 

When they reached the top of the staircase, Eli unlocked the door and Ashley giggled. "Apparently. Wonder where you found such a good teacher," she teased, playing along. She followed him inside, a little surprised when he locked the door again. She grinned at his suggestion. "Oh yes! That sounds amazing!" She paused a moment as a thought occurred to her. "It's not going to be done in time for curfew, is it?" Ashley asked with a daring smirk. She was more than willing to break the rules- with Eli. 

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

THE PLAYFUL WAY THAT ASH ANSWERED ELI MADE his lips curl upwards fondly. He liked when she was like this, so carefree that she didn't mind complimenting herself. She was right, though. He hadn't had a better tutor. "Me neither," He said with a grin, pulling her further in to the room before reluctantly letting go.

Eli had locked the door again in case any patrolling Professor's or students wandered by. He did not expect them to be finished in time for curfew, and he was honest with her. "Probably not..." He admitted, scuffing his feet as he checked her expression for some kind of disapproval. Breaking the rules was easy for Eli, he'd long since stopped caring about his point average and classes that were no fun to him. Luckily, her eyes seemed to gleam with promise and he sighed with relief.

Turning his back, Eli weaved his way through the tables to a cupboard near the back. "I stashed some supplies here earlier today," He told her, his back turned as he opened the bottom drawer and pulled a smile pile of provisions from inside. There was a large tartan blanket he'd found in the Hufflepuff common room, a charmed flask of warm hot chocolate, a little package of butter popcorn and two little charmed tubs of ice cream. He stood up with it all teetering in his arms. "Do you like butter popcorn?" He asked curiously, placing it all on a table and quietly beginning to clear a spot in the middle of the room. "Help me with this table?" 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Eli admitted that they likely wouldn't be back to their dorms before curfew in a hesitant tone. What, did he think she was going to be upset about that? Ashley wasn't really a rule breaker. She liked staying out of trouble and all, but this was Eli. Getting into trouble with him would be worth it, especially if it meant she got to spend more time alone with him. It seemed to take him a few seconds to catch on, so Ashley decided to help him. "Sounds perfect." She could tell Eli thought about this quite a bit and didn't think it was likely they'd get caught. He was being careful and she was interested to see what he had plans.

He started walking around the tables to do something and Ashley found herself gazing around the room with interest. Of course, she'd been here during classes, but she never really got the chance to explore or see anything from a point of view that was different from her seat. She turned to look at him when he said he stashed supplies here. "How long have you been planning this?" she asked, not even trying to hide her delight at the idea. He was planning things in advance for her. If she didn't know better, she'd think he might like her, but she did know better. 

Ash scoffed when Eli asked if she liked buttered popcorn. "Who doesn't?" she teased, moving across the room so she could see everything he was pulling out. "You got ice cream?!" Ashley laughed, giving him a tight hug before agreeing to help him. "Where do you want it?" she asked, stepping to one end so she could lift it and help him move it wherever he wanted. She chuckled as she looked at all the food and the blanket. "I'm so excited for this! What next?" Ashley was fully content to let him lead the way. She wanted to see what Eli would do.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

THOUGH IT WAS NEVER ELI'S INTENTION TO BE A bad influence, he naturally strayed in that direction. Rules were often restricting, and Eli had always disliked being bound by what he thought were silly regulations. For instance, a curfew. He saw no harm in taking time for something as magnificent as a meteor shower. Luckily, Ashley didn't appear to hesitate. Eli felt light with relief.

"Uh..." Eli paused for a moment as he felt his face warm. He'd been thinking about it far longer than he ought to have been, but he couldn't help it if the moment he'd heard he'd thought of Ashley. "Not too long..." He stalled as he turned his back, setting his little stack of supplies down as he went for a table. "Read it in a news letter a few weeks ago, I think." He curled his fingers around the underside of the table and felt embarrassment stiffen his arms, but Ashley seemed far more interested in the tubs of ice cream. He laughed shakily and nodded, before quickly asking for help.

"Just... over here a little." He instructed and he hobbled backwards as they shifted it out of the way. "Better to be front and centre, I say." And then he stood under the vacated space and lifted his head to the exposed night sky above. "Perfect..." He mumbled to himself before marching off and retrieving the blanket he'd put away. He shook it out in a great ruffle, letting it settle down on the ground before he gathered their small cache of food and drinks.

"C'mon," He said, collapsing on to the blanket in a scatter of limbs. "Sit." With a cheek creasing smile, Eli felt alight with promise. He wouldn't say it out loud, but it felt like a date. They'd had similar experiences and adventures, but this time it felt different. It hadn't been intentional, but he found he liked the idea of it. A lot. He pried the lid off an ice cream tub and passed it to Ashley while looking down at his tattered watch. It had been his grandfathers, a family heirloom with a cracked face and worn leather strap. "We got about 20 minutes before it's supposed to start..." He said absently. "Think we got time to eat?" But he'd already spooned up a heap of creamy ice cream, shoving it in his mouth without hesitation. 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Ashley's curiosity rose when Eli hesitated. She wasn't really expecting him to tell her how long he'd been planning this, but he obviously was taking her question more seriously than she meant it, and he was blushing. Not a lot, definitely not enough that she'd say a thing about it, but it was just enough that Ashley could see it. She grinned when he said that he'd read about it a few weeks ago. "I'm glad you thought of me then," she answered seriously. Out of all of his friends, she was the one he brought here and that thought made her feel all warm inside. She loved it. 

She followed him, glad that they weren't moving the table too much. Of course, she could do it, but the more they moved it now, they more they'd have to move it back. "Definitely. Especially if we're the only ones here. Then we don't have an excuse to not be front and center," Ashley agreed, watching Eli as he went to the middle of the room and declared the position perfect. Ashley watched, a little uncertain if she should offer to help him set things up or not. She knew he was excited about this. He'd planned it perfectly. 

Eli collapsed onto the blanket and Ashley laughed as she made her way over to him. "Okay!" She agreed easily, moving to sit right beside him. She glanced up at the ceiling, the smile feeling bigger and bigger as the seconds passed. Eli planned this for her. She looked back over to him, taking the ice cream tub. "Right, twenty minutes," she echoed, before laughing. "Eli, I always have time to eat ice cream. If you think these tubs are gonna last 20 minutes ... do you even know me?" Ash leaned over to nudge his shoulder with her own, taking a big bite of the ice cream. She shivered slightly. "So was the ice cream supposed to keep me interested just in case the meteors wouldn't?" she teased in between bites, smirking as she looked over at Eli. He was so cute sitting there beside her. She loved the way his long hair fell into his eyes, the way he had a perpetual look of excitement on his face. 

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

THE FUNNY THING WAS, ELI FELT LIKE HE NEVER stopped thinking about Ashley. She was always on his mind, night and day. He couldn't even escape in his dreams. His infatuation only seemed to be growing and even more so now they'd he'd started to entertain the idea that she might like him back. Even just a little bit. So, when he smiled and nodded, he was really laughing internally. 'If only you knew...'

When she settled down beside him, Eli felt excitement jump across his skin. He felt like a live wire whenever she was close, sparking and crackling at her proximity. The ice cream was delicious, obviously. And Eli laughed with his mouth full, clamped shut as he snorted, at Ashley. "You're right..." He agreed easily, licking the sugar off his lips as he played the spoon across his teeth absently. "I should know better." Ashley's undying love for ice cream always endeared Eli, he couldn't help but smile around his spoon, nudging her back as she nudged him. Just like always.

Spooning ice cream in to his mouth quietly, Eli turned to look at Ashley with a breathy chuckle when she spoke. "Well, couldn't hurt, right?" He spun the spoon in the tub restlessly, quirking his brows as he smirked. "You're hard to please, you know." Which wasn't true at all, he was teasing her.

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Sitting beside Eli just felt right. Now that things were good between them again, she felt like being by him was the only right place to be. Then again, Ash also knew that she was entirely falling for him. She couldn't help it. He was so thoughtful and fun and always paying attention to her, remembering small things that she told him. She laughed when Eli admitted that he should have known better and then lifted an eyebrow. "I'll be surprised if this makes it five minutes," she teased, taking another bite. Seriously though, the two of them were going through it so quickly. 

Shaking her head, Ashley chuckled again when he said it couldn't hurt. "Ice cream never hurts! Unless ... you eat so much that it makes you fat." She giggled, taking another big spoonful, "But I'm going to keep on running so I won't have that problem. You're welcome to join me if you want, since I'm dragging you into my bad habits of eating ice cream constantly," she teased, wiggling her eyebrows at him. She giggled again, "Yeah right, you know exactly how to please me," Ashley teased, picking up the end of his scarf (that was wrapped around her neck) and swatting him in the face with it. She might as well tease him back, right?

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

ELI PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE SAVED THE ICE CREAM for last, but he'd wanted to start with something Ashley favoured. It had been the first thing he'd planned to bring when she'd agreed to come along with him, so it made sense that they dig in to it first. But, the tubs weren't very large and Eli had already found the bottom when he lifted his head to bark a laugh at Ashley.

"Or brain freeze," He added, jabbing his spoon at her as he grinned happily. "Plus, I think you'd need a ton of ice cream for it to make you fat on its own..." He squinted as if he was doing the math for it. "At least a ton..." He tapped his chin with his sticky spoon before scooping out the final mouthful from his tub and slinging it in to his mouth, leaving a little smudge at the corner of it as he did. "It's kinda cold to run right now, isn't it?" He quirked his brows in challenge, loving the way she teased him. "Suppose after this winter, we could just... roll down the trails together."

As he set his empty tub down, Eli froze in shock as Ashley flicked him with her scarf. He thought he might know how to please her, but not totally. She still managed to surprise him. The tub toppled over as he pulled back, an open mouthed grin on his face as he regarded her with surprise. "Using my own scarf against me?" He noted the soft material of it, the familiar tasselled ends. He liked when she wore it, like a part of him was with her when he wasn't. "You are stone cold, Fontaine."

And then he reached over and tugged at the end of his scarf gently, unable to stop himself from doing so. "Suits you..." He said absently, a fond smile on his face as he looked up at her. "Makes your hair look sort of... golden...er." And then he pulled back, feeling like he was revealing too much too soon. Clearing his throat, he reached for the flask of hot chocolate, juggling the two cups as he busied himself. "How're classes and stuff?" He asked, partly to change the subject, but also because he wanted to know. "You always ask me about mine, but what about yours?"

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Ash giggled when Eli mentioned that brain freezes hurt. "Yeah, okay you have a point there," she agreed. The lighthearted atmosphere here with him was just perfect! She'd never been happier to break the rules; she'd do something like this again in a heartbeat if Eli asked her to. He started teasing her about how much ice cream it would take to make her fat and Ashley laughed some more. Eli just made her want to laugh. It didn't matter that her sides were starting to hurt and that her cheeks were aching from smiling so much already, she couldn't stop. "I'll take your word for it," she retorted in between chuckled. She shrugged when he said it was too cold to run. "It's not cold if once you start running," Ashley argued, her tone all-knowing to tease him some more. "What, you stop running in the winter then?" Then she burst into giggles when he talked about rolling down the trails. She tried to think about something to say to that, but every time something came to mind, she laughed some more so eventually Ash just gave up on it. 

The look of surprise on his face when she flicked him with the scarf was exactly what Ashley expected. She shrugged, "Well, you abandoned the poor thing. It wants some revenge." She remembered that he lent her the scarf on Thanksgiving, after messing around with her in the leaves, but she still figured she might as well tease him back. "I'm telling you, it's not me. The scarf misses you!" She chuckled before a more serious thought came back. "You sure you don't want it back? I have other scarfs I can use when I'm cold, you know," she suggested, remembering how his mom made the scarf. Surely it meant a lot to Eli. Did he really want her to keep it for an unknown amount of time? He wouldn't let her give it back before, but she wanted to make sure. 

Ashley rolled her eyes when he said it suited her. "It would suit anyone," she argued before he said it made her hair look more golden. Her eyes softened with pleasure. "You like that then?" Ash asked, wondering if that was why he wanted her to keep it for now. She tilted her head, watching Eli curiously. He turned the subject to school and Ashley shrugged. "Classes are fine. I honestly have nothing to report. I mean ... I did learn most of this stuff last year," she teased, referring to how she'd helped him study last year as well. Even if she hadn't, school wouldn't have been a problem for her. "I don't really have a problem with it," she answered, feeling a little self-conscious about the fact that school was so easy for her when it wasn't for him. She leaned back, placing her hands behind her or the ground so she could turn her head toward the open ceiling. "How long now?" Ashley asked curiously, glancing over at Eli again. 

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER WAS THAT ELI WASN'T very disciplined about anything. He didn't run because it was good exercise or because it was healthy. He ran when he wanted to, when the mood struck him, or when he wanted to be chased. "I mean..." He shrugged defensively, a large smile on his face. "I'm from California, we don't really... get winter like this." He couldn't help but laugh at that, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably. And suddenly they were both collapsed together with a fit of it.

"I did not abandon it!" He retorted, shaking his head at the audacity. "I sent it on an adventure..." He crossed his arms and tilted his head daringly. As if for her to beat that. "I don't think it misses me at all." He said, kissing his teeth as he looked at her. "What, with your pretty perfume and fruity smelling hair." He fluttered a judging hand at her. "You've turned my scarf against me." And then he was laughing again, at the sheer ridiculousness of their good-natured bickering. Though Ashley looked serious a moment later as she offered to give him it back. "I like when you wear it," He admitted, shrugging his shoulders helplessly. "But... you don't have to keep wearing it if you don't want to."

Though Eli's mum had exceptional taste, he didn't think the scarf would suit anyone. Not more than Ashley, though he might be biased. Looking at her with his smitten blinders on. "I love it," He said softly, unable to stop himself before he said as much. She had a sort of... hypnotic quality on Eli when he was around her. He changed the subject to classes before he dug himself a very big hole.

Snorting, Eli pinched his lips and nodded in agreement. He hadn't thought of it like that. "I guess you should be thanking me then," He teased, unscrewing the top of the charmed flask and wedging it between his legs as he balanced one mug on his knee and handed the other to Ashley. Pouring them both a mug full of steaming hot chocolate before he bent to check his watch quickly.

"Another... five minutes," He tilted his head so-so. "Four now." The time had flown by, it always did with Ashley. Looking up, he caught her eye. "Maybe... maybe we should lay down, be ready you know?" He didn't want to miss it, but he thought it was completely possible when he was talking to Ashley. He set his mug to one side and shifted to pull one of only two school robes he owned; for a pillow. He rolled it up and set it between them, they'd have to share, but he didn't mind laying very close to her. He shifted down the blanket and lay down, testing his head on the makeshift pillow so that he left enough space for Ash. 

@ashley  

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Ashley rolled her eyes when Eli said that they didn't get winter like this in California. "But your last few winters have been at Ilvermorny," she reminded him. "I mean ... they're not as intense as here," Ashley added, "but haven't you had a little bit of practice there?" She giggled with Eli as he laughed. She loved his laugh. It made her so happy

"An adventure?" Ashley laughed, "So I'm an adventure now," she asked, shrugging her shoulders as she tried to school her expression to look serious. She failed. When Eli started talking about how his scarf liked her more because of her pretty perfume and her fruity smelling hair, Ashley felt as if she were floating. He liked her perfume? She nodded knowingly, "Well, I guess I can't argue that I smell better than you do," she teased back. Eli shrugged at her and his next words stunned her. A slow smile grew on Ash's face. "I want to wear it. I just ... I know it means a lot to you so I didn't want to keep it if you ..." Ashley trailed off, shrugging one shoulder, "Thanks Eli."

Eli said that he loved the way her hair looked with the scarf and Ashley looked away, her cheeks warming just a little. He was being so sweet. She honestly couldn't handle it. If she were with anyone else and they were saying these types of things, she would think they liked her, but Eli? She didn't want to make anything awkward with him. 

When he started teasing her about thanking him Ashley chuckled, "You're right," she said, smiling sweetly as she moved so she was kneeling in front of him. "Thanks so much Eli. You're making school so easy for me," Ash winked at him, chuckling just a little bit. Then she sat back, crossing her leg and taking her hot chocolate and taking a sip, sighing as the warmth filled her. It wasn't too cold in the classroom yet, but Ash knew the cold was coming. It couldn't stay warm forever. 

Eli said it would be starting in just a few minutes and Ashley nodded, taking another sip of the hot chocolate. She put it down on the floor a ways away so she wouldn't knock it over. "Okay, good idea," she said, smiling as she watched Eli make a pillow out of his robe. He laid down and Ashley couldn't help but joke just a little more. "Oooh, that looks so comfortable. Leave a spot for me!" She scooted a little closer before laying down on the blanket, her head on the edge of the robe. There wasn't a lot of room though. From above it looked like plenty of space, but now that she was lying down, her head kept tilting to the side. Ashley shifted further away from Eli, trying to make it work from maybe another angle. It didn't. Sighing a little, she moved again, this time accidentally bumping him. "Sorry," she muttered, deciding she should just pretend to be comfortable so she didn't bother Eli. Still, she couldn't help making tiny changes in how she was situated every few seconds. Why couldn't she get comfortable here? 

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

ASHLEY HAD HIM THERE, HE'D FELT HIM ON THAT front. He'd experienced a few bitter winters at Ilvermorny, but it felt different at Hogwarts. Colder somehow, maybe it had something to do with the higher altitude or something, he wasn't sure. Or, maybe he'd just gotten used to the way an Ilvermorny winter occurred, snow tipped pine trees and a smooth, snow globe sky. "I'm a west coast baby," He shrugged, pretending to shiver with a little smile.

With a shrug, Eli nodded as Ashley asked if she were an adventure. "I think so." And he did, because had done some crazy things in the past. He'd climbed fifty foot trees until he could see the horizon. Had felt the smoke of a wild fire clog his lungs as they fled on broomsticks. But, Ashley still managed to make his heart race at the littlest thing. So, he let her keep his scarf and simply brushed it off. It meant something, but so did she. "I'll get it back eventually." He said, without any indication of when. "I trust you with it." And he did, he knew she'd take care of it, even without knowing the sentimentality it held.

Clasping his mug of hot chocolate he smiled easily. He thought they both must know what she'd really down for him. "Your welcome," He teased, blowing on the top of his cup before he took a sip. It was rich and chocolatey and exactly what he'd wanted it do be. He'd have to thank the house elves down in the kitchens for concocting such a winning drink. He set it down as the clock ticked closer to the commencement.

Eli held very still as he lay down, half expecting to feel the chill of space between himself and Ashley as she lay down beside him. But, she seemed unsettled as he felt her move around, a sigh audible as her legs shifted and then her head. She eventually bumped in to Eli and he realised he wasn't helping anything by laying so still. "Here," He muttered, feeling brave as he looped an arm around her, hand pressing against her shoulder as he scooped her towards him. They were just laying down, it didn't have to mean anything if she didn't want it to. Slowly, so she could disentangle herself if she wanted, he pressed them in to a tentative embrace, his arm under her head a makeshift pillow. 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Eli was pretending to be cold to tease her, Ashley was pretty sure, and it worked. She laughed, just shaking her head at him but not saying anything. He was already proving her point, which she didn't really care about but at the same time she thought it was adorable. He was adorable. Then he was talking about how he thought she was an adventure and Ashley looked down for a second, grinning. She loved how open they were with one another now. It was different from last year, in a way that made things better. She liked the open honesty, even though it made her wish even more that things were different, that they could be more than just friends. 

"I'll be careful to not break your trust then. Your scarf is safe with me!" she answered, giving him a quick salute to be funny. In all honesty, her words were basically the understatement of the year. The scarf was Eli's and it mattered to him, which meant that there was no way she would let anything happen to it. 

She chuckled when he teased her back, but didn't say anything about it. They both knew that they were teasing one another, but at the same time she wanted him to know that he did help her. Tutoring her did help her know things for her next year of school and it just helped her mentally and emotionally. She was always happier when she got to spend time around Eli. 

Sitting down with Eli was supposed to be nice and comfortable, something fun as they watched the meteor shower (or whatever was supposed to happen, Ash couldn't quite remember) but it wasn't. She couldn't situate herself and she felt oddly awkward about that fact, not saying anything about it because she didn't want to make Eli feel awkward too. However, he must have been able to tell, because the next thing she knew he slid his arm around her shoulders, pulling her towards him. Ashley's heart skipped a beat and she smiled as she scooted closer. "Thanks," she said softly, unable to entirely hide her embarrassment. Being so close to him was nice, especially as the chill evening air encompassed them. "You're so warm," Ashley muttered as she snuggled closer. She hated being cold, so it was only logical to want to be closer to him, right? The fact that she felt more alive the closer she was to him didn't play into it at all ... lies. "Any minute now?" she asked, looking up to make it look like she was still interested in the stars. She wasn't. All she cared about right now was the guy beside her. 

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

IT WAS BLIND BRAVERY THAT PROMPTED ELI TO pull Ashley to him. Encouraged by his ever increasing suspicion that she might like him, though he shook that thought from his head while she was tucked so close him. Better to school his thoughts lest he ruin what was quite possibly the best moment of his year. They'd hugged before, and sat close, but never like this. Never so close that he could almost hear her heart beating. though it was almost impossible above the rapid battering of his own.

His chin pulled in, he tried to look down at her, but his chest rumbled with a laugh as she snuggled closer. "I am?" He asked, his nose wrinkling. He'd never been happier to be warm in his entire life. She burrowed in to him and he held his breath, afraid that one wrong move would shatter it all. She was looking up, but from this angle all Eli could see was the gentle outline of her face. Her long, feathered lashes casting shadows on her cheeks whenever she blinked. The slope of her button nose and slightly pouted upper lip. He felt like there was a frog in his throat.

"Ri-right," He stuttered, nodding and almost battering her head with his chin as he turned his face to stare at the sky, though he cast her a long look from the corner of his eye as he lifted his watch and began counting down. "Five, four, three..." His hand flopped on his stomach, brushing against the scarf that was still draped around her neck and they watched as eventually the sky was streaked with flashes of light. Burning pathways of rock and heat. They'd burn up before they reached the earth, but it was enough for Eli to stop for a moment and stare. And he finally was able to breathe. 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!