Life Just Keeps Going On

Reunited and it Feels so Good

The first thing that my mind registered was that he wasn't gone. He wasn't a figment of my imagination. Even though he basically made it seem like he was dead or something... he was here. 

"ELI!" I ran to him, wrapping my slim arms around his neck. He hugged me back, rather tightly, like he never wanted to let go. And then I realized... this fucker left me. He took himself out of my life, without a goddamn explanation. I shook my head and pushed him off of me.

"Why did you leave me, Eli? Did you just wake up one morning and think, 'Hey! Let's hurt someone today!' What was going through your mind Eli!? You left me when I undoubtedly needed you the most! What the fucking fuck?!" 

"I can explain Indi, just give me a mi--"

"Do you know how much you hurt me? Honestly, do you?!" I extended my arms out in front of me for emphasis. By now the tears were rolling down my cheeks, and I was close to screaming my head off. Eli took one good look at my arms, and before I could take them back, he grabbed my wrists. His eyes skimmed over the fresh cuts, now glazed over with sadness; his eyes were watering.  

"You started to cut?" He whispered, looking up with a startled, almost tortured expression. I made my arms burn so he could let go, I didn't mean for him to see them, and I bit my lip and nodded. I knew he was serious over this subject- he'd lost a couple people because of it, and I guess he loved me too much to see this happen to me. 

"If... If I tell you why I left, will you stop? And I mean it." He pleaded now, looking down at me. I didn't respond, so he sighed and turned around to a wall.

"I left because I didn't want to get attached. I thought you were gone, for good. You couldn't even tell me where you were! And the last time I got close to someone..." I frowned and took a step towards him. The last time you got close to someone, they died in a car crash, I finished in my mind. His ex, to be exact. 

"I'm sorry, Eli." I said in a hushed tone, wiping the tears away. He turned around and gently grasped my face in his large hands. 

"Please. Forgive me." He looked into my eyes as he said this. Some part of me, a very little part, was saying no. Just no. He could be lying, he could be making this up. But most of me was saying yes, and he was a bad liar anyway.

"...Oh, okay." I sniffled. He grinned and the next thing I knew his lips were crushed on mine, stopping me from saying anything else. Our lips moved in sync, and I noticed his were ice cold, while mine were burning hot. A perfect match, I guess you can say. 

Someone cleared their throat right near the door and we both jumped, separating ourselves from each other. 

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Dad said. I knew he was being sarcastic but he had a pretty stern voice for a sarcastic person. 

"Er, no, not at all. I'm Eli, nice to meet you." Eli said as he regained his confidence.

"Indi's father, nice to meet you too." Dad shook his hand, eyes hard.

"Oh." Eli pursed his lips and turned to face me again. He's huge, he mouthed. I chuckled and wiped my cheeks again-- stupid dry tears. And puffy red eyes.  

"Well, I guess I'll be on my way then. And sir, I just need to talk to you for ah, a moment." He opened the door for dad and they went outside. Wait, what were they talking about? Why did he need to talk dad? I groaned and flopped down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. After five minutes dad came back in and sat down next to me.

"Is it true, Indi?" He asked, stroking my hair.

"What do you mean?" I turned around to face him.

"You, um, cut." God, the word sounded so foreign when he said it. Like it was a new concept. I groaned once more and put a pillow over my head.

"I don't want to talk about it." I mumbled.

"You'll have to sooner or later, the doctor's coming back in here." 

"Noooooo." I whined, knowing that beginning to protest and fuss would do nothing.  

I heard three knocks come from the other side of the door and knew I was in for just a mighty good time.  

~*~

The doctor had cleaned my cuts and wrapped them so they wouldn't get infected, then just talked to my dad about signs and stuff. Not to let me get close to anything sharp. Try to check my pockets or inspect my room, the whole pizzazz. He talked to me for a bit and gave me a card to a therapist his son sees, his cuts as well. What a small world. After that they finally discharged us, thank the Lord.

"Okay, thanks Stark." Dad said as he gave my phone back to me. Apparently the douche was gonna pick us up- yipee! 

"They shouldn't have put these bandages on me. It's too hot to wear long sleeves and everyone's going to notice and ask." I muttered to myself, checking my phone. Eli left a message, telling me to call him tomorrow. I smiled and put the phone away.

"Are you okay?" Dad asked, voice filled with care

"I'm fine dad. Are you? You killed a bajillion chitauri, I'd suspect you'd be a bit soar." He laughed and ruffled my hair (he always does this!), then sat down on the concrete sidewalk. I did the same and looked at my fingers, they also had small tiny self-inflicted cuts.

"Dad, I love you. You know that right?" I asked suddenly, still staring at my fingers.

"Of coarse." He responded.

"Good." He smiled and was about to say something when Stark pulled up.

"I'm tired." I said, climbing inside the car. We got in and Stark looked at the both of us.

"Why the bandages shrimp?" He asked, starting to drive. God damn it!

By the time we arrived to the HyrdoBase, I was done. Dad had to carry me all the way to my room, and after that I wiped out and slept the entire night.