Residue

4. Entrusted

After a couple of weeks of unwanted company from Elijah, Ephedra relented. She acknowledged him as her friend.

At the weekend, she went to the coffee shop near her house, laptop in tow as she ordered a simple hot chocolate and sat down in a secluded area. Her little MacBook came to life as she got her wallet out, getting the money ready for her to pay.

From her peripheral vision, she saw that a small cup in a small saucer was placed on her table.

"That'll be a dollar, eighty-nine." She handed the money over to the waiting barista and she looked up.

"Is that you, Effie?!" Elijah shouted with recognition registering in the tall boy.

"My name is Ephedra. We have been over this, Elijah." That did not stop her from smiling.

"And we have established you would call me Eli. But since we are calling each other things we are not comfortable with, Effie will have to do." She rolled her eyes.

"Eli, why are you a barista in my local coffee shop?" This guy was everywhere.

"Why are you not?" She has needed a job ever since she was orphaned.

"I was going to apply for a job here soon, but you work here so I am now reconsidering," she was always teasing him, ever since he taught her the art of 'banter'. Why he said it in a ridiculous British accent, she would never understand.

"My heart has been destroyed. Think about it, it would be fun to work together!"

"I'm not allowed to do anything of this nature until my name has been cleared in the on-going investigation of my mother's murder," a wistful look settled in her dark eyes. Eli's jaw tensed and his eyebrows furrowed.

"They still think you did it?"

"Frankly, they do not have a lot of other suspects. I am not sure why they are so adamant in pursuing this line of action. I am certain it was one of her dealer's as she was always in debt."

"There's something fishy going on, I'll help you get to the end of it," he checked his watch. "I have to get back to work, my shift ends in two hours. I'll buy you dinner and we'll go back to your place to work some more."

While he tended to customers with a big, natural grin, she tried to work on her assignment for History. It was very hard to not see how normal it was for people to feel good around Eli. She was grateful to him.

Ever since they met in the girl's restroom that day, he's been like an infection, unnecessarily there. He was a very good person, who helped her with her homework and helped her review the evidence and motives of her mother's investigation. He was the only person she trusted in this world.

After he finished his shift, he put on his black jacket and walked with her to the local Subway. He paid for a foot-long and allowed Ephedra to choose the toppings. The worker cut it in half and put it in a single bag for Eli to carry. He brought her her favourite drink and brought himself a bottle of water. They walked to her apartment.

Ephedra fumbled with the keys but managed to get them in. Although the place was small, it was spotless. Ephedra was not a big fan of dirt or germs or untidiness.

He walked through to her room after he took his shoes off, knowing the death glare she'd give him if he did not comply with her rules. As he walked down the corridor, he looked at the room across from Ephedra's with police tape covering the outside. With a sigh, he proceeded to her room and sat himself on her bed.

He always managed to make her blush when he did that. Putting the bag that contained their meal on her bed-side desk, he looked up at the wall opposite him. There were pictures and lines and notes and colourful maps. They had been working on this for the past few weeks.

She sat on the chair in front of her desk. "Do you want to eat something more filling? Name anything you want and I shall cook it."

His eyes went wide. "Is your cooking that good?" Seeing her nod, he continued, "Why do you know how to...?" He saw her look down and bite her lip. He would not pry for the details. "No, thank you, then. I don't mind, I had a huge lunch in my break. Have my half, too." He took a swing from his water bottle.

"Eli, you eat your own half. There is plenty of food for the both of us."

He patted the space next to him and she sat on the bed. She was still wearing her jeans and shirt under a navy blue sweater. She would change later.

"How are you?" He pierced her with his intense gaze.

She looked truly perplexed. "What do you mean? I am fine."

He encompassed her smaller hands in his larger ones. "Let me rephrase the question. How are you coping?"

A dark, faraway look crossed Ephedra's face. "I am h-holding up," her voice cracked and she cursed herself for being so weak. Her lips quivered.

Eli looked away, allowing her privacy. "You know, you don't have to be brave with me, Effie."

She sniffled before she began to quietly sob. Slipping his hands out of hers, he grabbed the back of her head and guided her to his chest. His shirt was getting wet but he didn't care.

She hugged him more, wrapping her arms tightly around his torso. "I hate it, I can barely keep up with the bills, I can't find a job; no one wants to hire a 'murderer'. I just want my parents back. I'd do anything to have even five minutes with my dad. I miss my family before he died." Her sobs racked her body. Eli's heart strings were being tugged.

"It's going to be okay." He stayed with her like that until she slept. He did not even realise he fell asleep with her until there was loud banging on the door.

Not again.

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Thank you!

The tension! Stay tuned to see what happens.

Until next time!