Oblivious

17 // Hiccups and sobs

Latibule
(n.) a hiding place; a place of safety and comfort

-Elijah-

It's dark and cold and I'm sitting in my car in the drive way.

A song I don't know the name of is playing softly in the background. My fingers tap the rhythm on the wheel.

Nelly's laying across the back seats. Tightly wrapped in the blankets I brought out for her.

She refused to sleep in the house. Even when I offered her my bed.

She was shaking and crying and I know something must have happened before I arrived. I asked her about it but all she could get out was hiccups and sobs.

Now she's sound asleep in my back seat and I can't get comfy. And I'm so glad that tomorrow is Saturday and I don't have school.

Leaning my head on the wheel my phone lights up.

I glance at it to finds it's a text from Elora.

Elora: You still awake?

I think of waiting a few minutes before replying  but then I roll my eyes to myself and think what's the point of that and reply straight away.

Elijah: what's up?

Elora: 🙄

I narrow my eyes at the screen.

Elora: Watcha doingggg???

Elijah: trying to sleep.

Elora: Boringggggggg
Elora: Talk to me instead

Elijah: why are you awake?

Elora: I was reading and then it got to a really embarrassing part and now I need something to distract myself
Elora: why are you awake?????
Elora: who uses punctuation over text??

Elijah: couldn't sleep.
Elijah: what you reading?

I decide to ignore her last text. Not using punctuation feels weird to me.

Elora: Secretsss
Elora: Have you tried counting sheep??

Elijah: Are you reading porn again?

Elora's bubble appears then disappears a few times and I'm half convinced she's going to leave me on read. Leaning back in my seat, my knee bounces as I wait for her reply.

Elora: We don't speak of that 🤫
Elora: you saw nothing 🙈

Elijah: what you going to do if I did.

Elora: I'll cut off your tongue swear

Elijah: Bit violent don't you think?

Elora: Not violent enough if you ask me

I start to type then her bubble appears and I delete my message.

Elora: want me to leave you alone to sleep???

I blink down at my screen, glance at Nelly in the backseat, glance towards the house, turn the radio up a little and type something I don't mean.

Elijah: Yes.

She doesn't reply straight away and I half convince myself to take it back and tell her the truth. I want to talk to her. I want her to stay up and distract me from the fact I can't sleep.