Beautifully Designed

Chapter 16-Released

My fingernails pinched into skin, just to make sure this was reality. That Elias sat across the table, chowing down bacon and eggs as if not tasting the breakfast for months.

Actually, he hadn't. At least not of this three-star quality.

As we sat in the 1950's style diner listening to music of the glorious past, everything felt more weird. As if nothing was right.

The red and yellow booths were too bright and squishy. The barstools screeched whenever someone turned to get of the seat. The speakers in the corner of the diner crackled every now and then, fading in and out. The waitress smacked her gum as she rolled shakily by in defective skates and an over washed poodle skirt.

Elias either chose to ignore these observations, or just didn't see as I did.

"Can you pass the salt?" He asked, swiping a napkin across his mouth and taking away any trace of crumbs.

"Sure." After handing the little glass vial over, Elias shook the contents out generously.

I didn't know how to act around him. After not seeing each other for so long, he was equivalent to a stranger now. A stranger that looked just like my big brother.

After he had turned up at the park, Annie and Chase were both shocked. More so than even I was at the time. When Elias suggested going out to eat and catch up on everything, those two had bolted from the scene faster than I could snap two fingers. Not that I minded, of course, but it was a little disheartening they hadn't really welcomed Elias back into the world.

Elias shook his head once, dark brown hair ruffling with the movement. It had grown out since the night before the accident. The carefree look that charged his atmosphere had long since vanished; in it's place held a hardened, bigger, older man that was once my scruffy brother. Muscle had dominated his biceps and shoulders now, leaving little to the imagination of what had really been happening while he was locked away. I didn't doubt Elias had started many fights, as wrong as that may sound. He was a stubborn person, as hard-headed as our dad.

"This is unbelievable. Here, try some." A fork appeared under my nose suddenly, eggs speared on the prongs.

Carefully, I pushed his hand down to the plate. "No, thanks." After a moment, I felt the need to get him to open up about everything. "How...are you, Elias?"

"Good, and you?" He said casually, smiling around the slow munching.

"I'm well, thanks."

Can it be any more uncomfortable?

"I haven't gone to see mom yet, I was hoping you would go with me." Elias asked sheepishly after swallowing.

"Of course, but how doesn't she...know?" I asked softly.

He shrugged both large shoulders, as if saying It's whatever.

Of course it wasn't, she would be overjoyed and never let him out of her sight.

Suddenly his face fell, and it seemed as if there was an internal battle taking place until he finally spoke. "I'm leaving, Ethel."

What?

"What?" I asked in disbelief, mirroring my startled subconscious.

Elias merely nodded. "I can't stay here and have mom and dad order me around. I'm the one who got out early for good behavior, and their just going to keep me locked up like the last however many months."

"Eleven." I corrected weakly, and his face fell once again.

He reached a hand out, and gripped the one I had resting on the table. "You have to understand, sis. Please." Elias voice was low, pleading, as his big brown eyes stared unblinkingly across the table at me. My throat constricted at the sight, one look that apparently hadn't been completely broken with the time away.