The Imperishable Flame⎪✓

❨22❩

♀︎

Grabbing my discarded clothes from the floor, I silently step into the dress I wore yesterday. Elijah is sleeping, his delicious abs are on full display and my heartbeat quickens, the tight knot in my stomach wants to stay here, the more rational part of me knows that I have to leave. We allowed ourselves one night with amazing sex, but we can't allow this to continue, both of us would be sacrificing some seriously important aspects of our lives. Him more than me. 

If I stay, he will be amazing and do all of these lovely things, my heart can't handle him treating me with such respect after the night we just had. My emotions are fucked up as it is, this will only contribute to my inner turmoil. 

I sneak towards the door and throw one last glance at him, his muscular arms are sprawled across the bed, the sheets hanging dangerously low on his hips, daring me to stay and explore more of his body. Seeing him like this, disheveled hair and a beautiful little smirk on his lips makes my heart hurt, he means more to me than I would ever dare act upon. The timing is off right now though. 

Managing to leave the apartment with little to no sound escaping, I storm down the stairs and wish for my Uber driver to be there already. Reaching the final step, a black Ford Focus pulls in and I sigh in relief, hurrying into the car and politely greeting the elderly lady. 

*******

"Well, well, well..." Lucy tuts with arms crossed in front of her chest when I enter the dorm room. "The walk of shame truly does suit you, I must say."

"Yeah, thanks," I quip and remove the heels, before flinging the dress over my head and onto the floor. 

My roommate sits down on her bed roughly, "Listen, I'm sorry if I did anything to piss you off last night. You're very sensitive and I need to remember that."

Scoffing, "Funny how that apology took a sudden turn. Don't worry about it though, I may be sensitive but you need to learn when to keep your mouth shut."

"Wyatt told me that exact thing before we parted ways last night, maybe you're right," She ponders and taps her chin twice. "Your body count, or lack thereof, doesn't concern those boys anyway"

If only she made that conclusion before spilling my secrets to those said boys. Not wanting to dwell on it anymore, I grab a pair of tights and a hoodie from my closet. Stepping into the clothes I look at Lucy, her face is flushed red and I wonder for a minute why she seems so upset. "Is everything okay with you?"

A huff leaves her lips and she waves me off, "Yeah, everything's great!"

"Now that's a lie."

She throws herself onto the bed in pure frustration and I sit down next to her, "Travis is a jerk."

"That's not the biggest revelation known to mankind, but fair enough. Why is he a jerk then?" The sarcasm clearly isn't appreciated, and she glares at me momentarily before returning to her stoic facial expression. 

"He made a big deal out of me wanting to sleep in my own room last night, I even offered that he could join, but apparently that wasn't good enough. I held my ground and then he drove off without another word, now I think we're fighting."

"You think you're fighting?"

"Well," She pauses. "We are fighting, but I find the fight very pathetic and immature, so I don't want to actually admit it to myself."

Tilting my head to the side I look at her saddened eyes, "Maybe you should go talk to him, it sounds to me like both of you are riled up. We did drink last night and alcohol has a tendency to make you kind of crazy."

"I don't want to talk to him," She scoffs. 

"And I don't believe that, please communicate with him," I urge and give her a small smile. 

Her body stiffens and she sits up right in front of me, "Let's make a deal, I'll go talk to him if you tell me everything about last night."

"Fine," Memories come flooding back of him and I, the red tint on my cheeks most definitely recognizable as her eyes widen. "We knew each other in high school, he was kind of the only person who truly got me when I went through some quite traumatic things. But college came and he has a life of his own, we decided to part ways and now he is here in Barnsley apparently."

She's very clearly hanging onto every word, "And what do you say happened last night?"

"We had sex," I whisper and she squeals at me, throwing her arms around my shoulders. "But please don't make a big deal out of it, Lucy, nothing will happen between him and I."

A smile plays on her face, "You say that now, sister!"

"I'm very serious though."

"Why?" She pauses in wonder. "Wait! Do you like Wyatt?"

Choking on my own spit by her words, she slaps my back and laughs at my reaction. "Fuck no! Wyatt seriously isn't my type of person. I will be civil with him because of you and Travis, but don't ever think there is any potential there, at all."

"But he likes you!"

Shaking my head, "He is boring, Lucy. I literally feel zilch in his company, nada, nope. Perhaps only the slightest bit of annoyance when he gets all touchy, but nothing other than that."

She raises an eyebrow at me, "And what does Elijah make you feel?"

Her slightly intrusive question catches me off guard and it makes me ponder. Elijah is like no one else, he is unapologetically himself and he truly is such a great guy. The deep attentiveness in his heart makes it hard for anyone to hate him, the honest genuine thought behind his every last action is a clear proof of how much of an authentically good person he is. Not only that, but my body is so responsive to him, he makes me feel amazing by simply looking at me. And when he touches me... My god, there is nothing that could ever compare. Especially now that I have had a taste of him. 

"You know what? I think you're in love with him," Lucy suddenly states. 

I forgot everything about her even asking me a question, "I'm not."

"You just spaced, it's so clear how much you care for that man."

"No, Lucy."

She grabs my shoulder and I feel like our roles are reversed, she never takes on the guiding role in this friendship. "You, my dearest friend, need to allow yourself to feel these things. The two of us may not talk about our past, at all, but I can visibly see how much this specific part of your past still means to you. Dakota, please let him in."

A knock on the door interrupts our chat and Lucy opens it immediately, "Well excuse you, there is no need to knock this loudly on our fragile little door."

"Lucy," I state and she finally looks at the man standing in front of her. 

Travis is standing there with a bouquet of yellow dahlia flowers, those flowers surely aren't cheap and I should know. The apologetic look on his face makes it clear how much he truly regrets their fight and my heart sings for the two of them. He looks at her and shakes his head, "I'm so sorry for being such an idiot, babe. We can stay here for the night, I don't care, as long as I get to be with you."

Lucy throws her arms around him and I look away while they kiss, they deserve their privacy. When I return my gaze Lucy is looking at me, "I'll go with Travis and stay with him for the night, is that okay?"

Waving her off with a smile on my face, "Go, please. Have fun!"

"You're the best, Dakota!" She sings while closing the door behind her, I shake my head and enjoy that they made up again.