Beyond Friendship [Remastered]

Chapter Twelve.

"Final Breakup..."

trigger warning(s); swearing and 12+ for makeout :) 

Word Count; 1,875 (1.7k)

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"Okay, let's do this then. Now." Elijah stated.

He released his arms around James and backed away a bit, he took off his hoodie and handed it to James. James is covered in Josh's scent and it's sickening to Elijah. He hates everything about Josh, now. Just the thought of him angers him but he's good at hiding it.

"Now?.."

"Yes, now." Elijah replied.

He watches James pull his hoodie over his shoulders and button it up, it's a soft cotton so it should keep James warm. Elijah smiles a little at the sight, he loves seeing James in his clothes, that's how it's supposed to be. He and Elijah, always.

"Are you sure? I think Josh has been drinking, I don't want you guys to fight if he does something..." James mumbled, barely audible.

His words shook as he said that, Elijah could hear the fear in James' voice as it tumbled out of his mouth. Elijah lightly lifts James' chin and makes him face him, they meet eyes and the fear and worry are visible on James' face.

"If anything happens, it's because I'm protecting you. I promise I won't do anything unless he touches you." Elijah reassured, earning a gentle smile from James.

"Okay, let's do this then..." 

Elijah grasps James' hand lightly and walks with him toward the front entrance to Elijah's house.

At Josh's House

They get out of James' car and see Josh sitting on his front steps, shirtless, his house is eerily silent. He has a bottle of Rum sitting next to him and he has bruises trailing up his chest, James walks up to him slowly, with Elijah not far behind, leaning against James' car.

"Hey, Josh," James says.

"I knew you were coming."

"How?" James asked.

"Listen...we need to talk." Josh stood up slowly, alerting Elijah. "I think we should break up for a bit..." He continued.

"Oh, that's actually why I came here."

"I know I haven't been treating you well. What we had before was beautiful but it's gone now." Josh started. "I know you aren't to blame, you did everything you could."

"How drunk are you..." James questioned.

"I didn't drink today, not yet. I'm an asshole when I'm drunk and you deserve a sincere apology."

James let out a sigh of relief, glad Josh wasn't drunk again. He kind of feels bad for Josh, he saw the kind side of him before his parents got to him and ruined him. He was a really nice person.

"I know my apology won't make up for all the times I've wronged you and...assaulted you, but I'm genuinely sorry for everything I have put you through. You didn't...don't deserve any of it."

Josh glanced behind James and at Elijah and smiled slightly before looking back at James with watery eyes. Josh hugs James gently, surprising him.

"I will always have love for you, even though I didn't show it. Let Elijah love you in the ways I couldn't." Josh finished.

He places a soft kiss on James' lips before breaking it quickly and releasing his hug on James. He takes a few steps back and smiles before grabbing the Rum bottle and going inside his house. James was shocked at what just happened, what changed Josh's mind all of a sudden? Was all his bad behavior really dependent on alcohol?