NADIA
As I walked into the pizza shop, the aroma of fresh dough and melted cheese enveloped me, making my stomach growl with hunger.
My phone buzzed with a text from Blue, and I smiled, knowing she was wondering where I had disappeared to.
Blue
Girl where are you? Hope you're doing okay!
Little did she know, I was doing more than okay. I was with Elijah, and we were about to join the gang at the pizza shop.
I slipped my phone back into my pocket and followed Elijah into the restaurant. The sounds of sizzling meat and lively chatter filled the air, making me feel like I was in for a treat.
We made our way to the table where Blue, Ishan, and Anthony were already seated, their faces lit up with excitement. Blue looked up and smiled, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Where's Vicky?" she asked, her gaze flicking between Elijah and me.
Elijah shrugged, his shoulders moving effortlessly under his fitted shirt. "She had morning sickness, so she couldn't make it." Blue's expression turned sympathetic, and Ishan chimed in, "Thank God you guys are here." I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his enthusiasm.
"What's going on?" I asked, sliding into the seat next to Elijah. The leather creaked under me, and I felt a sense of comfort wash over me.
Ishan grinned mischievously, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I'm third wheeling because these two are so in love, but they refuse to admit it." He gestured to Blue and Anthony. Elijah chuckled, "It's about damn time," he said, loud enough for the whole table to hear. Blue protested,
"There's nothing going on!" but she was a terrible liar. I shook my head, playing along. "Where were you guys?" Anthony asked, changing the subject.
Blue launched into a story about how I stormed out of biology class, her words tumbling out in a rush. With Anthony teasing her in the process. banter was easy and natural, and I couldn't help but notice the way Blue's eyes sparkled when Anthony was around.
Yeah she definitely likes him.
Just when I was about to respond Giovanni appeared at our table, his smile warm and familiar. "Nadia, hello!" he said, his eyes locking onto mine. But before I could respond, Elijah's hand closed around mine, pulling me closer. My heart skipped a beat as I looked up at him, surprised by the sudden gesture.
Where was this coming from?
"Are you feeling any better? Did you sort the issue out?" Giovanni asked, his concern evident in his voice.
I took a deep breath and tried to brush off the lingering awkwardness. "I'm feeling much better, and the rest... I eventually will," I replied.
Elijah's gaze lingered on me, and he was probably wondering what Giovanni was talking about. I avoided eye contact, focusing instead on Giovanni's expectant expression.
But before I could continue, Elijah chimed in, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Don't you have an order to take or are you going to talk to my girlfriend the whole afternoon?" His brow arched upward, and I felt a flush rise to my cheeks.
Giovanni cleared his throat, immediately apologizing, and I felt a pang of guilt. If it wasn't for me, he wouldn't be in this awkward situation.
I shot Elijah a sideways glance, wondering what game he was playing. Was this payback for the time I intervened with those girls, or was he genuinely staking a claim? Anthony's smug expression only added fuel to my frustration, and I wanted nothing more than to throw his drink in his face to wipe off that annoying smirk.
Giovanni quickly took our order - one large pepperoni pizza for the group and a milkshake for my dessert - and hastened away, leaving us to our tense conversation.
As soon as Giovanni disappeared, Elijah's gaze returned to mine, his hand still resting on mine. "What was that about?" he asked, his voice low and even.
I raised an eyebrow, playing along. "I could ask you the same thing, 'boyfriend.'"
Ishan's eyes widened, eager for gossip. "What the hell did we miss?" he asked, but Elijah ignored him, his focus fixed on me.
"What issue was he talking about?" Elijah asked, his tone surprisingly calm and gentle. His curiosity was palpable, but I didn't want to delve into the topic and dampening the mood.
"I'll tell you some other time, yeah?" I said, brushing it off with a nonchalant smile. Before he could press for more information, I quickly turned the tables on him. "And you?" I asked, my eyes locking onto his.
"What about me?" I repeated, my voice laced with a hint of playfulness. I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. "You do know you can't call me your girlfriend until you ask me properly, or at least until the time is right?" I teased, my heart skipping a beat at the thought of being his girlfriend.
Elijah's gaze never wavered, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "I know," he said, his voice low and husky. He tucked a stray braid behind my ear, and I leaned into his touch, my skin tingling at the gentle gesture.
"I just needed a reason for him to stop looking at you the way he did," Elijah explained, his eyes never leaving mine. I felt a flutter in my chest at his possessive words.
Just then, Anthony's voice cut through the tension, his tone laced with amusement. "Can you just kiss already?" he asked, causing me to avert my gaze, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Elijah's eyes never left mine.
□□□
My whole life, I had always been a light sleeper, able to detect even the slightest disturbance. So, when I felt a hand on my cheek, I knew I wasn't dreaming. But, I was too exhausted to open my eyes, the weight of my eyelids feeling like lead.
The sleep I had been depriving myself of the night before came crashing down on me like a tidal wave, threatening to pull me under. I struggled to open my eyes, my lids feeling heavy and uncooperative.
"Hey," I heard a faint voice call out, but it sounded like it was coming from a distance, echoing in my mind. "Nadia," the voice repeated, this time more urgently, and I forced my eyes open, my vision blurry.
As my eyes adjusted to the fading light outside, I realized I was in the passenger seat of Elijah's car, the familiar scent of leather and him enveloping me. I sat up straight, my body stiff from the long drive, and turned to face him.
"We arrived at your house," Elijah said, his eyes watching me with a hint of amusement.
I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. "How long have I been asleep?" I asked, my voice husky.
"Since we were at the pizza shop," he replied, a small smile playing on his lips. "You didn't get to eat your pizza, so I got you a new one."
My stomach growled at the mention of food, and I smiled, feeling a surge of gratitude towards him. "Thank you," I said, taking the pizza box from him.
I opened the door and got out of the car, my legs feeling like jelly. Elijah followed suit, and we stood facing each other, the tension between us palpable. I bit my lip, unsure of what to do next, but my body seemed to have a mind of its own. I tiptoed closer, my arms wrapping around him in a tight hug, my head resting in the crook of his neck.
"Thanks for everything," I whispered, inhaling his scent and feeling a sense of comfort wash over me.
I pulled away, my eyes locking onto his, and began walking towards my doorstep. I turned around once more, and Elijah was still leaning against his car, his eyes fixed on me.
"Enjoy your pizza," he said, a hint of a smile on his lips.
I chuckled, feeling a flutter in my chest. Sometimes, I forgot that he was human, just like everyone else, and that he said things like that too.
"I will," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "See you at the gala, boyfriend," I added, a playful glint in my eye.
With that, I turned and walked into my house, not looking back this time, the weight of his gaze still lingering on my skin.
YOU ARE READING
RED
Teen Fiction"You're the most callous person I've ever met!" I yelled. "It's not like you're a saint either, Siren." "Red," I correct him. Right when I thought he was inhuman, there was twinkle in his eye when I said this. Ever since the disappearance of his n...
