Elijah

Pre Story

    "Hey."

    "Cheese and rice! Don't scare me like that, Sydney. It's not funny." A frown formed on my face as I spun around on the stool. Sydney Pasto stood in front of me with a wide cheeky smile on her face. It was infectious. I grinned back. "What do I owe the pleasure of your presence, princess?"  Her dark brown eyes narrowed and she pulled the stool beside me out and plopped down on it. It slightly squeaked from the weight shift.

     "Your brother is back in town." I looked at her with a grimace. What wonderful news for a wonderful Monday morning. She watched me intently. "You're going to have to talk to him eventually, Hun. What he did was for the good of you." I shook my head. Of course she defends him. She is head over heels for him. I shook my head Again and turned back towards the counter where Jay sat down my cup of honey herbal tea.

   "Thanks Jay." I sent him a warm dimpled smile and he blushed. Taking a sip of the tea, I felt it warm me up as it went down. He made the best tea in town, hands down no doubt. I heard Sydney sigh beside me and I rolled my eyes. "Is there a reason as to why you are still sat beside me, Pasto?" My voice came out hard. I heard a huff and she stood up.

   "Get it through that thick head of yours, that your brother did what was best. Stop being a child. Your twenty three years old, start acting like it." Jay stood in front of me looking at Sydney in shock. It was almost rare to see the towns golden girl snap at someone, unless that someone was me. I laughed.

    "Sydney, I have my life together better than you do. Don't come in here to MY shop and tell me that I need to be on speaking terms with my brother. I am perfectly fine with what I am doing. If you want to tuck your tail between your legs and go running back to my brother, go ahead. I am not one to stop you. Welcome to my family sister. I hope you make off just as well as I am currently." I calmly said to her. I looked down at my watch and stood up. I had a meeting with my companies Managers. She stood in front of me with a few tears in her eyes. I had no time for this.

    "He just wants to talk to you. Get off your high horse and talk to him. You are always away. Running your stupid companies. When are you going to see that family is worth more than your tillion dollar company, huh?" I shrugged, not really caring if it was or not. I was going somewhere in life. Not being dragged down by a bum of a brother. Grabbing my purse I started for the door.

     "Have a great day, Jay! I'll have to talk to Synthia to raise your pay. You're doing amazing!" He nodded his head and turned to his customer at hand. "Sydney, if you are so set on me speaking to Chris, come into my office at four today. I have a meeting that ends at three thirty. What he did doesn't make this easy. You really wouldn't understand. My father is stopping by at four as well. I hope to see you there. If you're late, I won't consider talking. Bye now." I opened the door and walked out. The streets were busy. It had been so long since I've been in this town.

     "Miss. Elijah!" I stopped in my tracks and turned towards the girls voice. A grin taking over my face at the sweet child who I hadn't seen since I graduated. She ran to me and jumped up, gracefully wrapping my arms around her to steady us. "I missed you, Elly!" I smiled again and put my head on her shoulder. The familiar smell of her house hitting me. Memories smacking me into reality.

    "Hunter, you can't run off like that!" I heard his voice and my body stiffened. It was deeper than it use to be. I looked up and saw the wealthy man walking towards me, confusion written across his face. "El?" I nodded my head and sat Hunter down. Her arms going around my long slender legs. His eyes assessed my outfit and a small smile formed on his beautiful lips. "Nice to see you, after six years. How are you?" My throat was dry. Come on idiot, your the best known public speaker why can't you speak? "Cat got your tongue?" I released a breathless laugh.

    "I'm good, how are you, Cameron?" His eyes lightened with happiness.

    "Great. I saw my business just jumped three spots ahead of yours. I'm quite shocked to see a woman so high up. I'm proud of you. You always were different." I laughed again. I wasn't shocked that he sat at number one in the business industry. He was smart and good looking. Hunter tugged on my baby pink pencil skirt and I looked down at her. Small tears were on her face.

     "Daddy is sick. We are heading to the hospital now. Would you come with? He misses you around the house." My eyes snapped to the man in front of me. Would it be a good idea?

     "Is that okay?" I asked.

    "What happened between us, Elijah, has no affect on how my dad and mom adore you. You are their child as far as they see it. And I'd hope one day you will be. Please join us?" His words hurt me. Cutting through me like nothing I've ever felt. I wanted to cry. I nodded my head and watched Hunter grin before letting my leg go and running towards the hospital across the street. "I still love you, El." I looked at him with such kindness I wanted to puke.

     "I know you do, Cameron. But I left for a reason."

     "That reason being your brother. If you'd give me the chance to make it up to you, I will. I'm sorry what happened to us. I think about it every day, Elijah. It hurts me too." I looked at him. How could it hurt him? I was the one it affected. "It was my baby too." After six years I finally understood why he shut down. He is right. It was his baby as well. Not just mine.

     "I'm sorry. It just, I had to leave. Seeing you and seeing my brother, I couldn't take it. I lost my baby because of him. And seeing you reminded me of what I had lost." He pulled me into a hug. A small kiss was pressed to my head.

"Please don't say sorry, El. We both lost a part of us. I just hope you'll let me back in one day. To try again. You know it's always been you." I closed my eyes and pulled away, following Hunter through the door.

"I know, and it's always been you too. Come on, let's go see Dad."