affection

twenty seven

friday

the bell echoes through the long corridors obnoxiously, only seconds before those same corridors fill with students. usually elliot would be amongst these students, but he's having an off day.

lean muscles flex against the pedals on his bike as he rides down streets upon streets he's never explored before. the handlebars twist slightly with every unexpected dip in the asphalt and his shirt lifts up his back as the wind ripples through the dark fabrics of his clothes.

the shorts he's wearing exposes the bruises on his pale legs, he was always so clumsy.

his hair shines and flutters against the wind and sun, when he reaches a smooth, long street, he even dares to let go of the handles. arms lift up, and above his head momentarily before he stretches them out by his side.

adrenaline gets the best of elliot as he screams, eyes fluttering shut for just a moment, feeling free.

just as his eyes open, he quickly notices a group of boys in the middle of the road ahead. his hands find the handlebars once again and his knuckles turn white holding the breaks, feet flaying to the ground and scuffing along the floor.

the pedals hit the back of his legs painfully, but he would rather not wipe out a whole group of teenagers right this second, so he will have to deal with those bruises later. he stops about three feet away from them.

"dude, what the hell?" one of them says, stepping forward and glaring at the boy.

elliot flushes a deep crimson, muttering a quiet, "sorry."

"hey, i know you." another says, "you're elliot."

and in that very same moment, he wishes he did wipe them all out. the boy in front of him, sets a firm foot on the front wheel of his bike, and he knows exactly who he is. he remembers the taunts, the pushing and shoving, the way it all made him feel.

the way he would go home crying most days, the way he was forced to take a different route to school just to avoid them.

the way kai had protected him.

"hey," the first boy says, "it's chill. just look where you're going next time... and try not to, y'know, hit anyone."

the group laughs, shoving each other around playfully, and elliot couldn't be more confused. the foot lifts from his wheel, and the grip he has on the breaks finally loosen.

"i'll try my best." he says, quietly.

they laugh even harder at this, and a boy at the back calls him funny.

but elliot doesn't think he's very funny.

"sorry again." he mumbles, trying to steer around the boys and he pedals away slowly.

he doesn't dare go any faster, half in fear of running other people over and the other half simply because his legs won't let him. he notices only now how much he's trembling, his legs feel all jelly-like and his throat feels as if he hasn't had a drink in weeks.

elliot gets lost in thought just reminiscing everything he's been through with those very boys. all that they'd put him through. when he finally breaks out of it, he looks around with uncertainty with no idea with no idea where he is.

the streets don't look familiar at all, the houses here are a lot bigger than the houses he's used to, and he thought his was big. the trees look greener, and the sun is already starting to sink below the horizon. the sky is an assortment of oranges and dark blues, turning purple.

he checks the time on his phone, and sees a few messages from his brother asking where he is. he frowns and pockets his phone without replying.

the chain on elliot's bike clicks as he continues pedalling down these new streets, hoping he'll come to one soon enough that he recognises.