Room 537

Chapter 25

Charlie

I leave in one month and Elijah and I still haven't talked about what'll happen when I do. Every time I think about bringing it up Elijah shoves my penis in his mouth. Not that I mind because it feels really fucking good but we're running out of time. I'm scared and I think he is too. The problem is I want to face this head on and Elijah wants to avoid it with sex, lots and lots of sex, really, really, really good sex.

I feel his heart beat against my ear. "Elijah..." I whisper.

"Yes, baby." His heart rate picks up and his fingers still in my hair. I think he knows what I'm about to say.

"Have you ever thought about running away?" I ask.

"I've tried a few times."

He doesn't say anything after that.

"You're an adult, Elijah. You have the right to leave this place. You shouldn't even have to be here. "

I sit up as I look at him. He follows me. "Is all of this really gonna be over in a month? After everything we've been through together?"

"Charlie- "

"Because if you're going to break up with me Elijah I'd prefer you do it now instead of just avoiding this. Whether we like it or not I have to leave in a month. It feels like I'm the only one putting in the effort to keep us alive here."

"Charlie." He says. "I want this. I want us. But what can we do? Escaping is impossible and even if I do, where will I live? What am I gonna do when you go back to school? How am I supposed to get a job? This place, even though it's fucking hell, it's the only place I know Charlie. I want to escape but I'd be escaping one problem to go to another. A problem I don't even know. "

"I love you Elijah. I love you so much it fucking hurts. Yes, the world outside of this place is going to be scary, but everything is scary Elijah. At least we wouldn't have to sneak around and risk dying just because we're together. You could stay with my mom and I. We'll come up with a plan to get you work. What we have is special Elijah and I'm willing to fight for it but I can't do it alone. Fight with me. Fight for me. Fight for us, Elijah. Please." I practically whisper the last part. My voice is raw. If he says no, I don't know what I'd do. This relationship means everything to me. I never believed I deserved a love as deep as this, but now that I know I deserve it, now that I have it, I can't let it go.

Elijah

Something in me is telling me this is a bad idea. That Charlie and I are being delusional and that this perfect world that we've created in the safety of these four walls is about to come crumbling down. But hearing Charlie say that loves me, asking him to fight with him, for him, for us, I can't say no. I can't even think of it.

So I slowly nod my head and take his hand in mine as a promise to him and to myself. A promise that I'll fight for us in a battle that seems unwinnable. A battle where all odds are stacked against us because our relationship is built on the foundation of all the walls we had to break through to get to where we are now.

"Okay. I'll do it." I say. "I'll fight for us. I'll fight for you Charlie. I don't know how we're gonna do it but we will. If there's anything I believe in it's us. You and I, Charlie Calloway." I kiss his knuckles.

"You and I, Elijah Lockwood."

Then, he kisses me. He kisses me like we've already won the battle, the war, everything. They say victory tastes sweet but my version of victory tastes like Charlie.

I crawl on top of him, straddling his lap. His hands roam all over my body as I travel down his. "Elijah." He says. "Make love to me."

Charlie's going to be the death of me but that's a death I'm willing to suffer.