For All Eternity

Chapter 3

Five Years Ago

Loralie and Elijah happen to be best friends ever since their first standards at school. Elijah hopped in Loralie's home, most of the times after school. After all, it was their best hangout (no one to disturb or bother them). Loralie lived with her elder sister, Vanessa in the city of Los Angeles. Her parents lived at their hometown (that was Newlook, Kansas). So, they were the master of their own.

"I'm done with him, just done", Loralie said, slamming the door of the room shut from where she entered.

"What's with you now?" said Elijah, exasperated.

"I just broke up with that stupid loser", she said as she sat down on the couch placed beside Elijah's.

He offered her the packet of chips he was eating from,"Wanna have some?"

Loralie raised her eyebrows. "You heard what I said, right?" she said looking astonished.

"This is the FOURTH time that you've told me this in the last seven months", there was a bite of impatience in his voice.

She stared at him in disbelief.

"Alright, what should I say then, huh? It's okay Lora, you'll find someone better, forget him and move on, I'm always there for you", he said in a derisive tone.

She kept fixing him with an eerie, unblinking stare for a long time. "That's what I expected from you", she said finally breaking the silence.

"Well! if that's what..." he started but was interrupted by a shrill whine.

"Urgh! El, keep your mouth shut", she said, annoyed of her best friend's behaviour.

Elijah heeded her and fell silent.

Don't mind the silence; it was likely to occur every other day. Arguments, clashes and disagreements were daily manifestations. However, they didn't last long. Elijah walked up to the kitchen and brought them some chocolate pancakes along with chilled pineapple juice. They were both asleep on the couch after a thriller movie that evening. It was around nine-thirty when Loralie's sister, Vanessa arrived home from work. The creek of the door startled Elijah and he woke up. He carried Loralie to her bed with vigilance and wished her a good night while she wasn't even listening.

He met Vanessa downstairs who greeted him with the same, old smile that she had giving him since ages. He got into his sleek, black car in the parking area and drove home.