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"I'm glad you're back Eli" He said from across the room. I took my seat on the uncomfortable sofa. I nodded, signalling him to continue,
"I think you need to let yourself see the beauty of the world."
I sighed, hunching over more.
"I had a good day with Luke." I admitted.
"What did you do? You two seem to have something good going now"
"We just had a day out" I grumbled, not wanting to open up.
"I can tell you're not happy being in here. Off you go, We can talk another day." He sighed, waving me off.
I struggled up and headed towards the door,
"Thanks for letting me back.."
I walked back along the corridor and into the garden space. I fell down onto the swing seat and pulled a cigarette out. Lighting it and swinging back and forth, I reflected on the day.
A hand pulled the cigarette from my mouth.
"Tell me how you feel." The overly theatrical voice I had grown used to had softened and become serious. "Not the lies we all tell everyone else. Tell me your real feelings."
"I can't even begin to explain." I shut him off.
Laying down on the grass, he pointed up at the stars illuminating the sky. After pointing out a few different shapes, I joined him laying down.
My head rested on his shoulder while his hand stroked up and down my arm.
"Last time we were out here, before you went away I mean, I kind of ruined everything didn't I?" He asked,
"Yeah, you really fucked up," I laughed "But I forgive you"
He sighed happily in return and we began pointing out the shapes in the sky again.
My eyes fluttered shut then open again, his voice slurred and then silenced, my body feeling like it was floating.
The next thing I knew, I was being shaken awake by the handsome boy next to me.
"Eli, it's so late we need to go inside." He whispered,
"No" I complained, "I'm tired, leave me here"
"I'll carry you then."
My eyes shot open- "I'll crush you, you can't."
"Come on up we go." His strong arms lifted me from the ground. I stayed as still as possible, trying to limit the amount of weight I put on him. We reached my doorway and he placed me down on my bed. I rolled on to my side and curled into a ball. Too tired to even say goodnight, I shut my eyes.
I could feel his eyes on me. For a few moments he just watched, then with a sudden burst of confidence, Luke bent down wrapped me in my blanket and placed a soft kiss on my cheek.
If the light from Pearls fairy lights had been any brighter; He would have noticed the red rush to my cheek. My stomach fluttered, I rolled around to watch him leave the room and shut my eyes again. Quickly, I drifted off.
The next morning, I was the first awake. I climbed out of my messy bed and threw on some clothes. I chucked my hair up into a messy bun and walked downstairs. I went and sat in the living room while I waited for everyone.
The trees on the streets captured my attention. It felt like a lifetime spent staring at the intriguing way that the leaves moved. The tread of feet on the stairs brought me back to reality.
I slowly lifted myself up out of the chair and walked to the dining room. Lobo walked out of the kitchen and placed a plate of toast on the table. I glared at the food, Luke sat down next to me and grabbed my hand from under the table.
"Goodmorning" He whispered into my ear as he tucked some hair behind it.
The rushed feeling flood my body again, nervously I said, "Morning."
I hungrily reached out for a piece of the toast. The sudden realisation that no one else had taken any forced my hand to jerk back. Luke 'hmm'ed and grabbed a slice, thinly spreading some butter on it. I reached out again.
