New Girl in Town

Chapter twenty-three

Elisabeth (Sat, Dec 20)

  Holidays went better than I expected them to go. I had fun. Elijah had fun. Kate had fun. Patrick had fun. Lucy and Emily had fun. We all generally had fun. But it felt like something was missing. There was this something that was just missing...no matter how much I tried to get myself to feel purely happy, I just couldn't. Deep inside, I was still feeling awful.

  Elijah was outside with the others, having fun and playing around, but I didn't really feel like going out. Something was telling me that it was better if I stayed inside, although I envied how the others were enjoying that day. Christmas wasn't too far, and I was honestly extremely excited because it was my first Christmas with Elijah and his siblings. We'd be celebrating at Kate's house, and Elijah's family - together with Emily - would pay us a visit on that day. My mom sadly couldn't visit us. She was still at the hospital, and her condition didn't seem to be getting any better. As for my dad and Stephanie, they wouldn't even bother to come, even though they live next to Kate's. The whole situation was so, so messy, that I shouldn't even bother to wonder why I felt like something was missing. My mom is not fine, my dad and sister are not living with us anymore. Those were the things that were missing.

  I suddenly heard a knock on my door and Elijah came in. "Hey, hey. How are you feeling?" he asked, sitting on the bed and hugging me. It felt good to have Elijah hug me. It cheers me up. He cheers me up.

  "I mean, I'm doing okay but you know-," I couldn't even finish my sentence. His blue, ocean eyes were staring at me so deeply, I felt like I didn't even need to talk. It felt as if he could hear my thoughts right there and then. I could definitely get lost in those eyes of his. But, for some reason, he just wouldn't stop looking at me. I started getting quite worried as to why he wouldn't say a word. He was just sitting there, staring at me. He suddenly leaned towards me, kissing my forehead, and then, pulled my head to his chest. And for a moment, I felt at peace. I felt safe.

  "Shhh...You don't have to explain it. I know what it is that is bothering you. And you don't have to be afraid. I'm here," tears had started forming in my eyes. No matter how hard I tried, the pain was there. It couldn't go away. It was...too hard to move on from it all. The tears that had previously formed in my eyes were now falling non-stop, like a waterfall. Elijah's hoodie had started getting wet from my tears, and I think he noticed it, because he gently pulled me away from him, just so that he could get a better view of me. My eyes must've been pretty puffy, I hadn't cried like this in a while. "You will get through it. You're strong, you can do this..." he said, this time tears forming in his eyes. "You're not alone in this, okay? We'll deal with the pain together," he was now crying, but the smile he had on his face didn't fade at all. He was hopeful...He believed that I could do it, no matter the obstacles.

  

  "Hey! It's snowing," Lucy said, pointing at the window, where ice was forming, but you were still able to see outside. The snow had covered most of the surface, making it look all white. I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder.

  "Looking at the snowy street, huh?" Elijah said while getting closer to me.

  "Yeah! It's so lovely. I'd missed the snow so, so much. It reminds me of the times when I was younger and I'd play out in the snow with Stephanie and mom...Such good times," I replied, turning back to face him, and reaching out to hold both his hands. I wanted to cry once again, but I instead smiled. "And I'm hoping I can make such good memories with you, too, Elijah," and like that, we both rushed to get our shoes and jackets. I grabbed Elijah's keys and walked out in the snow, with him beside me. It was so cold that you could easily freeze to death. But at that moment, all I wanted to do was enjoy the moment. To just lie down in the snow and let my body and soul enjoy all of this.

  "Catch that!" I heard him say, and turned to see a huge ball of snow coming towards me. I wasn't quick enough, and it fell on my face. Elijah rushed towards me to see if I were okay, and I immediately started laughing. "Hey! That's not funny, I was worried," but instead of getting a reply back, all he got was a ball of snow. It must've annoyed him because as a reply to my reply, he threw another ball at me. All of this continued until we were both lying on the ground, trying to catch our breath.

  "You know, Eli? I don't know how many times I've told you that, but your eyes remind me of the ocean. So mysterious, yet so calming. But they also remind me of the sky. So fascinating, yet so magical. There's something in those eyes that I just cannot explain. I could get lost in those eyes any time of the day...they're like a drug to me. So mesmerizing, yet so addictive. I just...I can't get enough of you. The way you look at me, the way you talk to me, the way you show me affection. I'm addicted to you," I turned my head to look at him, and I don't know if it was because of the cold or because of what I had said, but his face had honestly turned so, so red. He got up and reached his hand so that I could stand up as well. We were now standing just inches away from each other.

  "Just know that I'd do anything to fall for you all over again," he whispered in my ear, and just like that, his lips landed on mine. I couldn't stop feeling those butterflies in my stomach. I put my hands around him, signaling him not to stop. We stood out there in the cold, filling each other's souls with warmth, as our tongues were dancing on their own rhythm.