Chasing the storm

13

The sound of Scarlett's heels on her suede ankle boots echoed through the compound. Her phone clutched tightly in her hands, receiving messaged from Freya, telling her that Alex had gone out.

But that want the only thing she was clutching her phone for. For just minutes before, she received two text messages sent under the name Alex.

I love you and I'm sorry

Let's try and make this work

Scarlett was in such a state of shock that he'd reach out to her like that. It also made what she was about to do 10x harder.

"Hello there" Elijah entered the room after picking up on her breathing pattern and deciphering her from the rest. "I wasn't aware you would be coming around today, if I had of known I would've made this place a bit more presentable"

"It's fine" she forced the smile. Her head felt like something was on the inside, trying to kick its way out, but that was just the hangover. However the blank rings under her eyes and the redness in them was a joined effort from Alex and the alcohol. "Is there anywhere more private we can go? I need to talk you you"

Elijah looked around the room, fiddling with the cuffs on his black blouse "it's empty here"

"I know, I just don't want anyone walking in" she replied

"Alright" Elijah was confused by the strangeness of her actions and curious of what on earth was so important to speak about. "Follow me"

Elijah lead her into his downstairs study area, just a few insignificant books and a hand crafted wooden desk as well as a few old chairs, a very old fireplace and an exquisite red and beige carpet forming all kinds of patterns.

"What is it you wish to speak about?" He asked, taking a seat on one of the chairs, motioning her to come and sit beside him.

Scarlett ignored the request and perched on the end of the desk, resting her boots on the chair that was tucked underneath.
She didn't really know they were centuries old.

"I was talking to Freya, yesterday" Scarlett tried to form the words and sentences in her head to stop them sounding so harsh and to make herself stop feeling like such a bitch. "And she said something to me, it made me think"

"I assure you, if you were hurt by the words I'm wouldn't of meant it in that way" Elijah didn't Believe that Freya would choose words that could be misinterpreted or could be made to hurt

"No it's not that" she brushed the comment off, Scarlett's fingers were intertwined with each other as they rested on the top of her knees "it's-" her cowardice stopped her as well as her lurching stomach. "Elijah I-" again she halted, she never knew speaking words could just be as intimidating or as frightening as faking a 500 foot plunge into the unknown.

"What is it?"

"Freya told me that I was unintentionally leading you on" she finally admitted, feeling the bile rise in her throat

Elijah opened his mouth to throw words out as quick as he could; to deny it, to fight his corner, to lie. But he couldn't, his face said it all, the open mouth, the widened eyes.

"I don't want to be mean here, I don't want to lead you on and hurt you" she said, but it looked like it was too late, Elijah closed his eyes in a slow blink, swallowed and leant back on his chair. She didn't want him feel alone in this "because Elijah, I do have those feelings for you as you have for me"

His ears perked up. Was she saying this out of pity it was she being truthful. Elijah raised his eyebrow "is this the truth?"

With the mix of the headache, these past events and the small amount of alcohol mixed in her system, Scarlett couldn't take much more of it, she held back tears but the sniffle managed to break through "yes, Elijah" she nodded her head and she stood up, mirroring Elijah's.

Maybe this was what she needed, maybe she needed to tell the truth about it all. "When you and Alex came into the bar, it was you that I wanted to speak to, but Alex was the one that asked me out first, if I would've had to choose there and then I would have picked you" she explained "and we got to know each other really well and I developed more and more feelings for you that I tried so hard to keep down, but the result was only you getting hurt by me leading you on"

Elijah Hung on every single word she said, absorbing them, replaying them in his mind over and over again. Patiently waiting for the single word that would just shatter the towers he has built

"But" there it was, the fast heart beat in his chest started to slow as it sunk as well. By this time, Scarlett was crying, maybe out of guilt, guilt for admitting this to Alex's best friend, guilt from knowing that Elijah Won't come away from this unscathed. "Everything turned out different, Alex wants to try again and I think I'm going to do it"

Elijah came up with millions upon millions of things to reply as long as he makes you happy or I'm happy if you are but no. Instead he decided on something a lot less like him "I have tried to deny these feelings ever since I've met you" he said "and now you know, I can openly say something that has been stuck to my chest"

Scarlett closed her eyes and let a tear fall down her cheek as she readied herself for the massive blow of his words.

"Scarlett." He took a deep breath in "I love you and I have not been able to stop thinking about you ever since our first words, you are a beautiful, smart and strong woman that I will never deserve"

"Don't say that" she shook her head, sinking lower as his words came unexpectedly "you are way out of my league"

Elijah carried on "Alex is my best friends and I respect that you two are going to try again, but I cannot move on and forget about this until you admit to me, as I admitted to you, how you really feel"

"Elijah don't make me..." She cried "I love Alex"

And she did, she did very much love Alex. But there was something stronger tag grasped her every time the thought of Elijah crossed her mind. And the thing was, Alex was like her comfy pair of slippers, she knew where she was with him (some of the times) she was almost secure. But Elijah, he was new and different and exciting, he captured her in ways no other person has ever done before.

"Say it" Elijah wasn't one for forcing, but when he heard the truth then he could move on. He could accept everything and just ignore everything else. "Please"

She didn't want to, she couldn't. It seemed as if she said it physically, out loud, then this will be set in stone, it was something she could never take back. "Elijah" she breathed " 'lijah, I really don't want to say it, I don't want to hurt you" she walked up closer and placed her hand on his cheek "of course I love you"

Elijah had so many emotions running through him, he didn't know whether to jump with joy or cry. The positive energy she gave him overflowed and he didn't know what else to do except for to lean down and push her lips into his.

The stubble on his chin brushed against her face, their lips moulders perfectly into one another, making Scarlett completely forget about the world around her, she forgot about everything.

That was of course, until she felt her stomach pang. The feeling of guilt pushed her back into the reality she wished she didn't live in. And finally, she plucked the courage up to push herself away.

Scarlett paced the room, her hands on her head "oh god what did I just do?" She asked herself, finally forcing herself to look at Elijah. "I love Alex" she repeated and if convincing herself "I'm with Alex" she began to sound crazy, the stress just crept up on her.

Elijah allowed her to grab her coat and run out of the door.

Maybe he shouldn't have done that.

But he was glad he did.