Letting Him In

Chapter-29

"And that is when I knew that it was time to go home
And that is when I realized that I was alone
And all the vibrant colors from the lights fade away
And I don't care what they say"

-Alec Benjamin, Jesus In LA.
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Elijah

It felt surreal walking into school, holding his swim bag over one shoulder. This was his first swimming competition in years, and this might as well be the last in the foreseeable future. Once chemo started, he was sure his mother wouldn't allow him to step foot in a pool– risk of infection, she claimed.

He pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on one fact: he had to win today. Because even if he only got one chance to do this, he had to take it, and he had to win.

Standing by his locker, Elijah threw his swim bag in for now.

"You look like you just ate rat poison," Jason commented, coming to stand next to him.

Elijah rolled his eyes. "Thanks, Jase."

"No, seriously. What's with the long face?" he asked. "Usually you're broody, but today you seem extra broody."

Elijah felt a pang of guilt. He knew he had been a bit of a stranger to his school friends these past few weeks; it had even skipped his mind to ask Kaeden to tell them about everything.  Which meant he had to do it himself; he couldn't exactly keep it a secret with people he spent nine hours with at school.

And since he didn't want everyone to know, this was going to be tricky.

But that was a problem for later, because Jason was one of the people who deserved to know. Elijah knew that when Kaeden had said all those things to him in front of half the school in the cafeteria a few weeks ago, Jason had been the one to talk some sense into him.

"Elijah?" Jason asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh, yeah," he said, snapping out of his thoughts. "I need to tell you something, but please don't freak out. And don't tell anyone else; I don't want everyone to know."

He paused, and Jason raised an eyebrow. "Okay... wait, is this a coming out thing? Are you gay?" he asked. "I mean, if you are, I'm cool with it, obviously. But this is random."

Elijah had to stop his eyebrows from shooting through the roof. He felt panic built up before he realized Jason was kidding. He didn't know. But it was good to know that when Elijah did come out, atleast he would have Jason who would support him.

"Haha," he said sarcastically, his voice tight. "No, dumbass, this isn't a coming out thing."

"Okay..." Jason frowned. "What is it, bro? You're kinda scaring me with that face and voice."

"My cancer's back," he said, pursing his lips as he took in Jason's reaction.

It was slightly comical, really. Jason frowned, before his eyes went wide, his mouth dropping open the slightest bit.

"What the fuck?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper as he looked at Elijah like he had just killed his puppy.

"Yep," Elijah said, looking away to grab his books out of his locked, slamming it shut.

"I- what?" Jason stuttered.

Elijah turned back to him, leaning against the lockers. "Dont tell anyone," he repeated, sighing a little. "Treatment starts today, so if I'm a shitty person anytime soon, don't blame me."
Elijah tried to ease the mood, but it clearly didn't help.