In Too Deep (Eli)

[Deleted]

Today was about as far away from a good day as it could possibly be. Sure, the day started out fine and Ashley walked around with a pretty good attitude. At least, until the entire fiasco in the courtyard. Really, the entire situation was entirely ridiculous and Ashley knew that, but it didn't change the fact of what happened. She was angry at Joe, so she took it out on him by flirting with some guy who was, apparently, way off the market. She'd upset Joe's brunette beauty, so her brother was angry at her. Apparently the guy she flirted with used to date the girl Joe liked ... he was the guy Joe mentioned all those weeks ago. Well, how in the heck was she supposed to know that? Out of all the guys she could have chosen to flirt with, she had to choose the one that had a bunch of drama connected with him. Honestly, it just seemed to be her luck. So now she felt guilty for hurting that girl unnecessarily, not that she'd admit that to Joe. She was still angry with him. Besides all that, she saw Eli walking away from the courtyard when she did and that was eating at her on the inside. Did he see her flirting with Riley? Or was he honestly just walking by? She couldn't tell, and that fact made her nervous to talk to him again, even though that was all she really wanted to do. 

So, despite the fact that her anxiety was reaching new levels, Ashley set off to find Eli. She decided to start at the Black Lake. She'd run into him there several times before so maybe she'd get lucky today and he would be easy to find. If not, Ashley wasn't entirely sure what she'd do about it. 

Ashley smiled, exhaling heavily, when she saw a head of familiar dark hair not too far off in the distance. "Hey, Eli!" she called, starting to jog so she could catch up to him. Despite the fact that she was nervous to talk with him, there was already a smile on her face. She couldn't help it! When she was around him, she was happy. "How are you?" Ashley asked cheerfully, deciding to pretend like she hadn't seen him there and hoping that he hadn't seen anything. Either way, she was pretty sure she'd be able to tell if he had. Still, she crossed her fingers behind her back, hoping. 

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

CROUCHED ON THE STONE EMBANKMENT OF THE Black Lake, Eli brushed his hands in the icy water and tried to reason with a lake full of grindylows. "Look," He was saying to them, not knowing if they could hear him. "We got off on the wrong foot, I think." The stone incident rang in his mind, reminding him that it was something of a risk to venture close again, but unwilling to give up.

Reaching in to his pocket he pulled a greasy napkin, unwrapping it to reveal a handful of cooked beef strips. "I know you mostly eat algae and all that good stuff." His calves were beginning to ache but it was too cold to sit down on the ground, the stones wet and icy in places. "But, I heard you have a taste for a good cut of meat." Actually, he'd heard they'd feasted on a few humans on occasion. "I brought you something to try." And then he very carefully sent the beef strips swimming out in to the water, pushing it until the ground sloped and turned black. He didn't hear or see a thing, but the water bubbled and snapped and no rocks sailed to meet his face.

Turning his head and pumping his fist in triumph, Eli figured he should leave before his luck ran out. However, he saw a figure in the distance which caught his eye and his heart dropped. Squinting to be sure, Eli pushed off of the ground and made to leave before she noticed him. Eli hadn't spoken to Ashley since he'd seen her with the other boy. He'd sort of, without realising, been avoiding her. Perhaps to stop himself from saying something, or even to gather his thoughts about where they stood. He wasn't sure about anything any more, and definitely not about whether she liked him or not.

Speed walking around the river perimeter, Eli thought he'd evaded her sharp stare when her voice made his steps stutter, hands curling in to fists in his pockets. He couldn't help but slow, not wanting her to think anything was wrong. She hadn't anything wrong, he shouldn't feel as he did. "Hey..." He tried, plastering a smile on his face which he hoped would work, though he turned his head too quickly to look forward. She was smiling that smile, the one that made his heart race. All teeth and cheeks and eyes. "Good- good," He croaked, nodding his head too quickly. "You?" He still hadn't looked at her again.

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Eli was walking fast, but it didn't even occur to Ash that he was moving so quickly to try and get away from her. He slowed when she called his name and Ashley hurried to catch up, trying to ignore the rising nerves. He didn't see what happened in the courtyard, she didn't want him to have seen it. She was wishing that so much that she hardly heard his greeting, but a part of her knew she was wrong. There was an odd tension in the air, something strange between them and she felt her heart fall. Did he even want her here right now? She glanced over at him, seeing his smile that looked full of tension and her expression fell a little, though she tried to hide it. Maybe she didn't need to try and hide it though. Eli wasn't looking at her. Ashley glanced down at her feet, considering making some ridiculous excuse and leaving. If Eli didn't want to talk to her ... she shouldn't force herself on him, but she wanted to talk to him. Eli made her see things a new way. He answered that he was good, then asking about her and Ashley forced another pointless smile before just shaking her head. "Fine." No she wasn't. "I got into an argument with Joe, so I guess I feel weird today." She hated fighting with Joe, but she also hated him ignoring her like he had earlier. She was starting to think that she hated this tension with Eli more though. Gone was their normal, easy camaraderie and it was her fault. She knew it was. 

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

IT FELT INSTINCTUAL FOR ELI TO TRY AND comfort Ashley when she looked as she did. Drawn and hesitant, like something was bothering her. But, he hesitated because he didn't know how he felt. Like she'd betrayed him, but she hadn't. Like she had something to tell him, but she didn't. He was conflicted and it showed as he fiddled with his hands and nodded, a frown wrinkling his brow.

"Oh," He muttered, gnawing on the corner of his mouth as they walked side-by-side, the gap between them too large and yet not large enough for Eli. "Wh-what happened?" He'd fought with his siblings before, plenty of times, it was usually nothing. Fixed without every really having to say why or how. Looking forward, Eli tried to fill the space with sound to alleviate his awkwardness, though it came out as more of a ramble.

"When I would fight with my sisters, we used to have this thing..." His adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. "Like, a way of saying 'I forgive you' without actually saying it." He looked at her and then away again. "One of us would say, 'I heard you like hodag sandwiches.'" He gave an awkward laugh, rubbing at his nose as he realised how ridiculous he sounded. "And if they said, 'who me?!, like in a voice, it meant it was over." He pulled at his bottom lip to stop himself from talking, shaking his head and stuffing his other hand deep in to his pocket. "It's kind of dumb," He mumbled under his breath. "But it worked."

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Eli still wasn't looking at her and everything just felt wrong. Ashley shouldn't be forcing this. She should just walk away and let him do whatever he wanted. She should, but her feet wouldn't let her. They kept walking alongside Eli, though there was definitely space for another person (maybe two) to walk in between them. It felt so wrong! Her occasional glances over at him showed that he felt the same tension. He was playing with his hands, frowning and she wanted to crawl into a hole. 

He asked what happened and Ashley looked at the ground, shaking her head as she quickly decided what to say. She wasn't going to lie to Eli, but if he hadn't seen what happened in the courtyard, she didn't want to tell him all of it. She was embarrassed by what she'd done. And if he had seen ... well he probably wouldn't want her to try and explain. He probably just wanted her to leave him alone. "I was an idiot," she started, a short self-depreciating chuckle slipping out. "I got mad at him for ignoring me and walking away when I was trying to talk to him, so I did something stupid." A definitive blush covered her cheeks as she looked at the ground determinedly. She didn't know if she should continue or not. Her stomach was twisting with nerves and she found herself playing with the scarf at her neck. Eli's scarf. It was the only one she really used anymore. She'd use it until he asked for it back.

Eli broke the short silence that followed, explaining what he used to do with his sisters when they got into fights. A small smile quirked the corners of her mouth and she slowly looked up about halfway through his story. He looked embarrassed, but she thought it was cute. "It's not dumb," she told him, her voice soft and quiet. "I think that's really sweet." Ashley looked back to the ground. "Joe and I normally yell at one another until we get it all out or one of us starts feeling bad and apologizes." She shrugged, "We're both pretty stubborn." And today she'd "won" their argument, though she didn't consider it winning. She was the one who caused a scene and upset quite a few people. Apparently including Eli. She definitely lost.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

HE FELT THE PRICKLING EMBARRASSMENT THAT accompanied him whenever he felt he'd talked too much. Like he'd revealed something important by saying a whole lot of nothing. It burned the back of his neck, turning it a burnt red that he palmed nervously. She tried to explain but Eli was barely listening, his rambling taking over before he could really register what she telling him. He made no connection with what he'd seen in the courtyard, simply guessing it was a typical bicker between siblings - just like his own.

"Everybody is different," He muttered awkwardly, though he couldn't imagine just screaming until it was over. "It always ends the same, right?" With forgiveness, usually, whether it's said or simply done. He knew that Ashley was stubborn already, and couldn't help the half smile that took control of the left side of his face. "I'm sure it's fine now." He said softly, because he couldn't help but try and comfort her. But, he still turned his face away instinctively, as if hiding that last trail of lingering resentment. "Why are you still upset?" He wondered, because if it was quite typical then what was bothering her. "Did it just happen, or?"

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

The entire situation just felt wrong. There was an awkward atmosphere that hadn't been between Eli and Ash since they decided to be friends again and she didn't like it one bit. The easy camaraderie that they'd experienced as of late was much better and Ashley Fontaine knew that she was the reason it was gone. She was the one who decided to flirt with a random stranger out in the courtyard where apparently everyone could see. Even though she hoped Eli didn't see, that hope was basically nonexistent now. 

She nodded when he said that everyone was different and that at least it all ended the same ... well, maybe not so much with her and Joe. Ash shrugged, "We love one another no matter what, but that doesn't mean we always get over our arguments quickly. I think he's mostly not mad at me anymore ... but he still is a bit," she trailed off, looking at the ground instead of Eli. She bit her lip nervously. Ashley wanted to explain to Eli, wanted to clear the air and make things normal between them, but she didn't know how. 

Eli started to ask more questions, like why she was upset still and if it just happened and Ash sighed. "Today, yeah." She rolled her eyes at herself. Why was she dragging this out? She knew she'd tell Eli all about it, she couldn't keep anything from him. Might as well get it over with now. Then Eli would get angry at her for being an idiot and she could just ... find somewhere where she could lose it. "I just ... I got mad at Joe. I haven't talked to him in a long time, so I walked up to him and he blew me off to go talk to some girl he's always spending his time with. Like, he didn't even say five words to me before walking off and I ... guess I overreacted. I wanted to do something that would make him mad enough that he'd pay attention to me, so I walked up to some guy and started flirting with him and apparently I did it in front of all the wrong people so basically the world is angry at me now, including Joe and the girl he blew me off for ..." she bit her lip before continuing in an almost inaudible voice, "and you." There. She knew it was her fault this tension was between them. She just didn't know how to fix it. Maybe putting everything out there would help somehow? She kicked at the ground, shrugging her shoulders and feeling like a complete moron. Ashley didn't know what else she could say.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

ELI DIDN'T REALLY KNOW JOE SO HE DIDN'T know what to say to make her feel better. He only knew Ashley, and his feelings for Ashley were already clouding his judgement. "That makes sense," He muttered dismissively, rubbing at his eyes as he walked. Anything to avoid facing her and showing her the frown he couldn't wipe off his face. He wanted an explanation but he couldn't ask for one, because he wasn't entitled to one. Plus, it would reveal too much and he wasn't ready for that.

Although, Eli didn't expect for Ashley to explain without asking. Apparently he wasn't as good at hiding his feelings as he thought and his neck immediately turned red. "I-" He stuttered, palming the back of his neck as he laughed nervously. "You don't have to explain yourself." He said, trying to be casual, but failing miserably. "You can flirt with whoever you want." Though he wished she wouldn't. "The world doesn't get to be angry at you for liking some guy." He said softly, turning to her and shooting her a genuine smile. "Not even me."

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Eli said that she was making sense, but he still wasn't looking over at her and she was starting to hate herself now. Why did she always have to mess up everything with Eli. Things were going so well with him! She was starting to wonder, after they'd fallen asleep together the other night, if maybe he might like her. How could he though, when she pulled stunts like this? He would probably be better off with anyone else but her, as much as she hated the thought. 

She glanced over to see his embarrassed expression and realized that, once again, she'd crossed a line by assuming her actions were the reasons he was upset. Obviously she was wrong. She'd just thought, since he wouldn't look at her, that he had to be upset because of her. Apparently she couldn't read him as well as she thought. He commented that she didn't have to explain and that she could flirt with whoever she wanted. He finally turned to her, really smiling and Ashley gave a hesitant smile back, until his words registered. She shook her head quickly. "Wait. I- I don't like him, Eli. I've never even talked to the guy before today." Not that Eli would care to know that, but she didn't want him to get the wrong idea here. 

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

ELI WAS EMBARRASSED THAT SHE FELT LIKE SHE had to make him feel better. Like he was wounded bird or something. He shook his head, looking skyward as he swallowed roughly and waved his hands to try and get her to stop. He laughed drily, his smile stiff but present. "You don't-" He stuttered, pulling his hand down his face as he tried to find the least pathetic way to say to her. "You don't have to try and make me feel better." That was as good as it was going to get.

"Look," He stretched his arms behind him and forced himself to look at her when he relaxed. She was so sweet, he thought. So concerned about him that she felt the overwhelming desire to make him feel better. "I saw, okay?" He admitted it for the first time. "I know you know I saw." Dropping his head briefly, he pulled his hair away from his face and groaned a little in the back of his throat. "And I stormed off like a baby." The more he said it the better he made himself feel, even if it was only pretend. "I can't have you all to myself." Though he wished he could, it was true. "I'm being jealous, okay?" He shrugged with open palms, telling the truth for once. "But it's fine now."

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Eli wasn't looking at her again. Honestly, could this day get any worse? It seemed like any time she tried to talk to him and make this better, she actually just made it worse. He was waving his hands and giving some sort of hard laugh that made her heart sink. He haltingly told her that she didn't have to try and make him feel better. "I wasn't saying that to try and make you feel better," Ashley insisted. "I was trying to tell you the truth." 

Then he was telling her to look and she stared at him, eyebrows furrowing. He started talking about how he knew that she knew he saw her flirting, and that he stormed off. Her eyes widened as he continued. Was he jealous? Then he admitted it out loud. He was jealous! Ashley could hardly believe it. She shook her head, "No, no you don't have anything to be jealous of Eli. I don't want anything to do with that guy, I swear. I was just trying to get Joe's attention." She took a step closer, watching him seriously. She meant it. She wanted Eli to know that she wasn't going after some other guy. He had to know the truth. 

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

THOUGH ASHLEY WAS TRYING HER BEST TO reassure Eli, it fell on deaf ears. Mostly, he felt embarrassed that she felt the need to explain herself. Like she was afraid she'd hurt his feelings, or something. Which meant, to him, that she knew that he had feelings for her in the first place. Somehow, he felt embarrassed and rejected all at once. He was afraid if he stopped talking she might try and let him down easy, and that was the last thing he wanted.

"I-" He was still smiling, but it was stiff and awkward on his face. "It's fine." He said softly, looking down at his feet. Even if it was true and she didn't like that guy, it still felt like a divide between them. "Stop trying to explain yourself." He believed she didn't like him, mostly because she wanted him to. "It's none of my business." And though he wished it was, he didn't want her to tip-toe around him because he'd seen something that he wasn't supposed to. "I believe you." He said sheepishly, though he was fiddling with his hands nervously. "You don't have to... make me feel better about it, even if it was." 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

This was all just so wrong. Ashley liked Eli. She'd liked him for the better part of a year now and he seemed to be convinced that she wanted to be with someone else. It was ridiculous! Like she could pay attention to any other guy when all she wanted was his attention. Of course, she'd tried to be discreet about it. She thought that Eli didn't think about her that way anymore, that she'd messed up all chances of him caring for her that way last spring when it all went wrong. But, the way this conversation was going ... had she? 

He was forcing smiles, telling her that she didn't have to explain, that it was none of his business and Ashley just stared. Could this day get any worse? He said he believed her and for half a second Ashley smiled, thinking that things might go back to normal, but then he said that she didn't have to make him feel better. She stepped closer to him, heart racing as she tried to think of some way to convince him, to make him realize that she really wasn't going after the other guy. "It was. It was all for Joe's benefit," she told him, her voice soft. Then an idea came to her. An impulsive, reckless idea (especially when it came to keeping her feelings for him a secret), but once it came to her, Ashley couldn't think of anything else to do but that. Ashley smirked as she looked up at Eli, tipping her head to the side in a teasing way. "If I was really interested in that guy, would I do this?" She asked, reaching up and placing her hands on his cheeks before pulling Eli down into a kiss. It wasn't a hesitant, half kiss like the first one they shared months ago. This time, Ashley was really kissing him, giving in to what she'd wanted to do since the two of them became friends again. 

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

IN ALL HONESTLY, ELI WAS SIMPLY EAGER TO STOP talking about what had happened in the court yard. He was embarrassed by his reaction and the fact that it had upset Ashley in the process. But, he'd just been so disappointed. She'd rejected him without ever really saying a word. He'd gone from thinking she liked him to someone he didn't even know. Someone she hadn't even told him about. Even if he was wrong, he had realised there was a very big disconnect from an important part of her life. He suddenly felt like an outsider.

With his head dipped, Eli stiffened when she took a step towards him. He lifted his chin slightly, catching her staring at him intensely. She had a smirk on her face and his brows drew together, lips parting slightly as he drew in a breath to ask her why she was smiling at him, but her hands were already on his face. And suddenly, her lips were pressed to his. Eli froze, arms going limp for a moment as she leaned in to him. It took him only a second to kiss her back, his heart catapulting in his chest as he grabbed her hips and leaned in to it. His mind had gone blank, breath held. This had only happened once before, but not like this. Never like this.

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

At first, Ashley's kiss was hard and determined, almost like she thought that Eli would push her away or pull away himself, but as he moved to hold her, pulling her closer as his hands moved to her hips, Ashley felt herself relax into the kiss with a sigh. She and Eli had never done anything like this before, but it felt so right. Sure, they kissed that one day before the dance, but that was more a quick peck than an actual kiss. The feel of his arms around her now, his lips against hers, was stimulating to Ashley's soul. Her heart pounded fiercely as her hands slid down from his cheeks to rest lightly on his shoulders. Still, she continued to kiss him. She didn't want to pull away. She didn't ever want this to stop. Ashley had never felt this way about anyone before. 

They couldn't stay like that forever though. After some time that felt like hours and somehow only seconds simultaneously, Ashley gently pulled away. She looked up to Eli's eyes, smiling softly as she muttered, "I couldn't care less about that guy in the courtyard." She leaned in to kiss him again, but then the realization of everything she'd just done came crashing down on her. She kissed Eli Fleming. Really kissed him and now she didn't know what to expect. Her cheeks started to burn and Ashley suddenly felt the overwhelming need to run away. What if he was just being nice? What if Eli knew all along how she felt and just didn't want to ruin their friendship by saying something? What was she supposed to do now? "I-I-" Ash stammered, not knowing what to say as she took a step away from him, feeling the panic set in. Did she just ruin everything? She had to get away.

Elijah Theron Fleming