Letting Him In

Bonus Chapter #3

As promised, a chapter for the very first time Dean and Elijah broke up. Enjoy (oops?).

Ps: it's a long chapter. Don't say I didn't warn you.
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I should not be left to my own devices
They come with prices and vices
I end up in crisis (tale as old as time)
I wake up screaming from dreaming
One day I'll watch as you're leaving
'Cause you got tired of my scheming
(For the last time)

It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me
At tea time, everybody agrees
I'll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror
It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero

-Anti-hero, Taylor Swift.
(Literally the perfect song for this chapter).
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Elijah had known that college would be stressful, but he hadn't realized just how much. Between his assignments, classes, more assignments, swimming practice, and constant checkups- because apparently being cancer-free didn't mean no more hospital trips- he barely had time for anything else. And in case he forgot to mention, assignments.

He hadn't actually talked to Dean in almost a week, other than the good morning and good night texts, with the occasional message in between. Ever since college had begun and Dean had moved to another state, a sort of loneliness had come over Elijah. Sure, Kaeden and him were in the same college; they were even roommates. But it was a different kind of loneliness, one only Dean could seem to cure.

He sighed, shaking himself out of his thoughts. He needed to complete this assignment in the next two hours, and it counted for a major part of his grade. He could face time Dean later if the other boy was free.

Getting back to his work, he didn't notice the room door open until someone tapped him on the shoulder. Turning around, he saw Kaeden there.

"You coming to the party at Liam's tonight?"

Elijah shook his head, gesturing to his cluttered work table.

"Too much work," he muttered.

"You need to take a break, Lijah," Kaeden said. "When was the last time you actually even slept?"

"Hmm? It's fine," Elijah mumbled, already lost in his work. "Grab me some pizza if you're going out."

He heard Kaeden sigh, before the door opened and closed again.

Three hours later, he was finally done. Stretching his arms over his head, he groaned as his joints cracked. He could almost hear Leo teasing him by saying that he was getting old.

A sad smile flitted across his face. He missed his siblings; he'd have to FaceTime them sometime soon.

A knock on his door made him jump slightly. He looked at the clock on his table, which read 2 am- way too late for any of his friends to show up, considering they always called first if they were coming late at night. Kaeden had the keys so wouldn't be him either.

Frowning, Elijah walked over to the door. And opening it, stood the last person he'd been expecting to see.

Brian West.

Unfortunately, Elijah had known that the other boy was in the same college as him, so they were bound to cross paths. He just hadn't expected him to show up at his door.