Missing Pieces

Adam and Eli

A/N: This is a "What if" or A/U one shot from Fanboy. You will need to have read Fanboy first. This starts at the end of Chapter 18 during the party and shows what might have happened if Adam and Eli got together the first time they met and Adam never got together with Cole.

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"Adam, have you met Eli?" Brent asked, motioning to Eli. "I hope it's okay I brought him."

"Of course," Adam held out his hand just as Eli turned to look at him. Adam caught himself sinking into those eyes. Pictures didn't make Eli look even half as striking as he was in real life.

"Hi, it's nice to meet you," Eli smiled. "We're almost neighbors. I live two blocks over, in the cheap apartments."

"Oh, well, uh, maybe I should get used to having you around," Adam wasn't sure what else to say to that, but he did know he had to get control of himself.

"Probably not, we stay busy," Eli laughed.

"You'll run into each other though," Brent spoke up. Adam had completely forgotten Brent was standing next to them.

"Yeah, I didn't mean every day," Adam agreed. "Um, maybe we could get coffee or something though?"

He didn't know why, but the look on Brent's face changed. It seemed like Brent was hiding a smile. Maybe he'd said something wrong? Adam didn't get to think about it for long because Eli's expression changed too.

"Um, that would be nice," Eli seemed shy now, like he wasn't as sure of himself. "Can I, uh, get your number?"

"Yeah," Adam pulled out his phone, relieved to have something to do with his hands. "I need yours too."

"Sure," Eli met Adam's eyes again. Adam hated to look away but he could feel Brent watching them so he turned to see what his best friend wanted.

"I think I should go find my boyfriend. Yes. That's what I'm going to go do. Somewhere else," Brent looked back and forth between the two of them before he backed away.

"So awkward," Eli sighed.

"Yeah, I don't know why he's being so weird," Adam made a face but got a text from Eli a second later. "Great, let me save this right now. Um, wait, do you know how to put it in the cloud? Brent always has to show me. I just have really bad luck with losing phones."

"Oh, I got it," Eli took Adam's phone. "I would die if I lost my phone, it's literally my heartbeat anymore. Also I'm trying to save money for a house so like, buying new phones doesn't help."

"Really? I want to buy a house," Adam thought immediately of the horrible one his parents built with his money. He'd probably never be able to afford his own at the rate he was going. Having to pay back Jeff and Monroe was going to eat up all his paychecks. "It's nice to dream about anyway."

"You'll get there before me," Eli gave him a sad smile.

"Don't count on that," Adam shook his head. "Long story, but I don't actually have much money at the moment."

"Maybe you can tell me sometime," Eli didn't seem to be judging him, which felt really nice. Adam couldn't remember the last time he'd met someone he hadn't felt like he had to prove himself to at least a little. "Okay, see under your settings?"

"Yeah, I remember this part," Adam agreed. Eli tapped on something just as a new text came in from Brent and his tap happened to open the text instead of the settings.

"Oops, sorry," Eli cringed but Adam knew they'd both read the text before Eli swiped back to the settings.

Brent: um i need to hear DETAILS after this you two would be so cute together if you were into that