JUST LIKE HEAVEN, elijah hewson.

007. I Couldn't Be More in Love

007. I Couldn't Be More in Love.

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Tracy listened to the running water upstairs. She gulped. Elijah Hewson was taking a shower in her house. He was in her house. Her heart beat oddly in her chest. She looked at the orange yolks of the eggs and the clear whites turning opaque the more they warmed. She never cooked for anyone who wasn't herself. She had felt oddly pressured and she couldn't explain why. Almost as if she wanted to please him. She had an oddly domestic urge to feed him and comfort him that she never had before. Tracy felt pathetic.

Elijah let the steam clear his head. He winced as he felt the raw skin on his knuckles re-open. She was taking care of him. Why? He felt like an open wound; exposed and vulnerable. He'd opened up to her. Stupid. He had to keep his distance. She was getting too close. He wasn't good for her. He thought about the split in her soft, pink, bottom lip. If not for him that wouldn't be there... Just get cleaned up. Thank her. And don't talk to her again except for when you need to at work.

It wasn't as awkward as she imagined eating breakfast with Elijah Hewson. She stole small glances as the wet curls of his hair brushed into a quiff and his small, feminine nose. He had beautiful long eyelashes.

He was eating the food she had made and it was making her feel self-conscious. A compliment would make her feel awkward and embarrassed but his silence made her feel on edge. Was it bad? She winced the edge of her toast brushed against her split lip.

"I'm sorry about that... Is it sore?" Asked Eli softly.

She nodded slowly.

"A bit. It's okay. Not your fault."

Elijah shook his head.

"If I hadn't fought with him you wouldn't have had to break it up. And you wouldn't have gotten hurt. It is my fault..."

He held her gaze until Tracy had to look away. He was too pretty. This was too domestic.

Eli shuffled in his jacket that Tracy returned. It had smelt like her. Vanilla, cigarettes, and her coconut shampoo. He grew to find comfort in that smell, even years later.

"Thanks... for listening. And for breakfast. I should go. See you at work," Eli spat out quickly and shuffled away like she was holding him hostage.

Tracy felt her stomach churn. He was leaving. At work? That was a week away. He didn't want to be seen with her outside of work. He didn't want to be her friend or spend time with her. He was making his intentions clear. Tracy saw right through it. He wanted to avoid it. He wanted to clam up. He didn't want her to get hurt.

Tracy grabbed his arm again.

"Eli, stop. You don't need to protect me. I'm not scared of you. Stop trying to clamp up."

Elijah's heart ached. The way his nickname rolled off her lips so gracefully made him want to die. He felt his stomach swirl. Her grip was firm but gentle on his arm. He glanced at her face. She wasn't letting him go - literally and figuratively.

He smiled tentatively.

"I'm not afraid. I just don't think it's a good idea."

Tracy rolled her eyes.

"Why? We get along alright don't we? I like you."

His eyes widened and he looked shy suddenly. She liked him? What did she mean by that exactly?

"We do... But like.. what would we even do?"

Tracy shrugged.

"For someone who has a shit ton of friends, you really don't get how they work. You don't have to do anything. There's no expectation... On my part anyway. Just to be clear though, I don't fancy you or anything like that. And I never will. So don't get any ideas."