𝗟𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗲

8-𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗨𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗱

"Cheers, Azaiah, tell me when you find anything" Elias spoke into the phone, hanging up and putting his phone in his pocket.

"Thought we weren't allowed to bring our phones" Natalia said, sat on the windowsill whilst taking a long drag of her cigarette, smoke engulfing her lungs.

"Thought you quit smoking" Elias replied, sitting down opposite Natalia.

"You caught me" Natalia spoke, a smirk on her face as she put her hands out to the side in false surrender.

As she put her hands out to the side, Elias took the opportunity to steal the cigarette from Natalia's hand and place it in his own mouth instead.

"Hey, dickhead, give that back!" Natalia yelled, reaching to grab the cigarette but Elias held it away from her grasp, a proud smirk on his face as he watched her struggle.

"Not until you tell me why you started smoking again" Elias told her, taking a drag from the cigarette and puffing out a large cloud of smoke.

"You do realise I can get up and beat it from your fucking hand?" Natalia said, quirking an eyebrow in annoyance. She just wanted to enjoy some peace and quiet.

"Oh, I know- but this way's much more fun" Elias teased, making Natalia roll her eyes exasperatedly.

"Fun? Really?" Natalia rhetorically asked, leaning back against the wall.

"Well, we barely know anything about each other. I want to at least know about who I'm sharing a bed with tonight" Elias spoke, hashing off the cigarette out of the open window next to him.

"First, I'm not sharing a bed with you" Natalia sternly told him. Elias ran his tongue over his bottom lip whilst letting out a throaty chuckle.

"Second, I'm not playing your shitty games, alright?" Natalia said, her face void of emotion due to the lack of energy she had.

"Then you're not getting your shitty cigarette. Who rolled this? Mini Maldonado?" Elias mocked, examining the poorly rolled cigarette in his hands. Natalia thought she had done well considering the blood in her system was at an all time low thanks to Elias.

"Fine" Natalia spoke, getting even more frustrated and annoyed by the second. "What do you want to know?"

"Wow, didn't think it'd be that easy" Elias chuckled, Natalia still looking deadly and unimpressed.

"Pass me the fucking roll first" Natalia spat, holding her hand out but Elias still held the cigarette out of her reach.

"First question: what's the real meaning behind that tattoo? I can tell when you're lying" Elias told her and Natalia sighed, shutting her eyes for a moment.

"If you want me to tell you, pass me it" Natalia spoke, her voice monotone.

Hesitantly, Elias gave it to her. He expected Natalia to say some snarky comment or punch him, yet she just took it, taking a painfully long drag.

"It was a drunken tattoo, that bit wasn't a lie" Natalia started, staring out the window and avoiding eye contact with Elias completely.

"When I was 8, Aurelia, Estela and Enzo went out of town for a week- it was just me and my dad at home" Natalia started, pausing to take another drag of her cigarette.

"A robber got in, they were armed. My dad told me to hide under the bed and-" Natalia began, pausing to tilt her head back to prevent the tears from falling.

"He didn't make it, he was shot" Natalia said, taking Elias by surprise. He hadn't expected her to open up to him, let alone to this extent. Now he felt incredibly guilty of what he came here to do.