Spark Into a Flame

Elliott

A/N: Requested by @vanilladancer! Hadn't heard from Elliott yet in this story.  On a side note, Daniel Radcliffe was standing outside my apartment today...XD XD.  They're filming the Unstoppable Kimmy Schmidt next door literally and he was just outside my stairs having a cigarette.  He's super short but was really nice.  

My phone buzzed at my side table and I groaned, turning over. I peeked an eye open and looked at my alarm clock. Ten a.m. on a Saturday. I'd been stuck with three 8 o'clock classes my first semester so I relished my sleep-in days. Rubbing at my eye I picked up my iPhone and glanced at the caller ID. Lin. The guy rarely called me, except if it was an emergency or I was in real trouble with my mom. I cleared my throat and unplugged the phone from the charger and spoke a sleepy hello.

"Hey, man," Lin greeted me from the other end. I could hear Alex and Jack playing in the background. "You awake?"

"Not really," I told him honestly. I let out a big yawn and stretched my free arm to the side. My roommate was still completely out, as per usual. "Everything okay?"

He let out a breath through his mouth. "Your mom's having a bit of a rough time," he told me, his voice low. "Wedding plans going astray, kids acting up. She could really use a pick-up. Are you planning on coming home anytime soon?"

I hadn't talked to Lin since I'd broken up with his daughter. And who wanted to talk to the father of an ex-girlfriend, even if he was the man your mother was soon going to marry? I hadn't been home since I'd moved into my dorm about five weeks ago. Partially because it was my first time away and I liked the freedom and partially avoiding Joey. Sure, it was a cowardly thing to do, but I was a nineteen year old guy. That's what we do.

"Uh...no I wasn't planning on it..." I said like a question.

"Listen," he leveled with me. "I know it might be awkward with Joey around, but your mom would really like to see you. She misses you. We all miss you. Just for the day?"

I ran my fingers over my hair, considering. I was good at making excuses and I certainly could in this instance. Midterms, sports, labs, papers...but something told me I shouldn't. I loved my mom and while I didn't want to hang out with her constantly like I did when I was five, it had been a while. If my mom really was struggling, I didn't want to make it any worse.

"Uhhh...yea I think I could make that happen," I told him somewhat reluctantly.

"Really?" he sounded surprised. "That would be great, Elliott. I think it would really perk her up. What time do you think you could be here?"

I looked at the time again. "Maybe noon?"

We finished up the phone conversation and I sat up, knowing if I just laid back down again I'd fall asleep. After dicking around on my phone for a few, catching up on social media, I grabbed my shower caddy and towel and hit the bathroom.

As I showered I thought about what I would say and do around Joey. It had been a couple weeks now since I'd had any contact with her. She'd texted me a few times after I broke it off. I tried to be gentle about it, but there was no point in trying to fake feelings for her. I loved Joey and I think a part of me always would, but I just couldn't see myself continuing to be with her right now. I know it hurt and that's the last thing I wanted to do to Joey, but wasn't dragging it out worse? Wouldn't it be shittier to keep dating her, leading her on, when both of us could be dating other people that were better for us?

We'd had a pretty solid relationship in high school but things were different now. When I'd graduated I told myself I'd make every effort to keep the relationship up. We could make it work. I could be patient and wait for her. And I tried. Maybe not for long enough, but I just had a gut feeling. Now that I was at college things were different. All around me, guys dated girls freely with no strings attached. College girls had come on to me and I'd had to push them away. There were some I was interested in and I felt like I was missing out by not letting myself be single. Wasn't college about figuring out who you were? And wasn't part of that having different experiences with different people? How could I do that if I was tied down with Joey?