light in the dark ; mileven

8.

EL.

"yeah this fucking dumbass decided to show at the door!" max exclaimed and yelled at amos, "i told you it was a surprise. that meant to the hotel!"

amos raised his arms in surrender. "i'm sorry! i thought el wasn't here!"

"i am always here." i stated quietly and placed a little piece of tangerine into my mouth.

amos went to scoot over hug me from the side and then laid down on my shoulder as we sat on the couch together.

"i'm sorry sis," he whispered as max hugged my other side.

i wrapped my arms around them. "i'm okay. no more crying, right?"

then i smiled and looked up, "but hey, everyone loved my pottery! and my little heart bookmarks. i was very happy.."

amos grinned and pinched my cheek, "i loved your picture book,"

"that was for the children!" i smacked his side as max laughed, "he borrowed it from a child in line then read it together whilst they waited. then he said, hey im damon from— i forgot the name of your movie, but yeah, and then the child left."

i shook my head and laughed, "amos, you can't just say that."

he shrugged. "well i did,"

"come on," he took out his phone, "let's take a photo for pop, he'll freak." he chuckled as we all smiled and snapped a quick photo.

then we took a silly one to cheer him up when he needed it.

"you guys didn't tell dad right?" i asked and max shook her head quickly. "no, i didn't. we don't know about amos—"

"hey!" he shouted then kissed my temple, "no, sis. i didn't. you can tell him yourself if you want or when you feel like it."

i smiled, "thank you. i'm being a baby about it though, i—"

"el, he just fucking appeared," max told me, "you deserve to be upset. he doesn't get to do that,"

i cover my face. "he looked the same. just.. not as happy. did you guys see him?"

"i wanted to smack him across the face," amos and max both muttered at the same time then gave each other a high five on top of my head without hesitation or a glance at each other.

"i know." i whispered. "he might have just been travelling then landed here. i don't think i'll see him again anyways,"

"well, i did tell him i didn't want to see him again," i added and max nodded. "good. he's not welcomed here."

"agreed." amos nodded.

"but what if i see him again?" i whispered and i hated how my voice cracked. "does that mean i should give him a chance?"

max hummed. "depends if you want to know why he just poofed."

i do.

i have wondered for nine fucking years. i have always wondered what i did.

what did i do to him?

what the hell did i do?

"i'll decide when i do see him," i decided then laid my head to amos' and pulled max even closer so we could all cuddle like we used to as kids.

♣︎

MIKE.

i cannot believe i saw her again.

i cant get her eyes from out of my mind. she was absolutely beautiful in that dress, her small braids and that goddamn fucking daisy in her hair.

she didn't seem happy to see me though.