Don't Forget Eli

Chapter 2

When I was walking home, I had a little spring in my step. My day turned out better than I expected.

I opened the unlocked front door and yelled that I was home, but no one answered, like I expected. I walked to the kitchen, dropped my backpack by the end table against the wall, and dug trough the fridge until I found something to eat. Then I spent the rest of my afternoon on the couch until my parents both walked in at the same time. My mom had her phone pressed between her ear and shoulder, while she carried a white, plastic grocery bag. My dad followed with the same blank expression he always had, carrying two white plastic grocery bags full of food. They brought them to the table and started to dig through. Mom brought her Chinese to her office and my dad brought his to the old blue recliner in the living room, while I sat at the table awkwardly and fiddled with the chop sticks.

When I layed in bed that night, I couldn't help but think about my past. And then my chest tightened. I remember tyler. His blue eyes looking into mine, and his smile stretching from ear to ear, and his voice whispering my name. I tried not to think about that night. I turn over so my face is in my pillow, muffling my sobs. And I fell asleep with tear stains on my pillow.

••••••

I woke up to a dark room and thunder in the distance. These are my favorite days, because the rain is so soothing and I can be more relaxed. I took a quick shower, brushed my teeth, combed my hair, and put a little more thought into my outfit then I had a few weeks ago on my first day. Then I walked out of the door with a peice of toast in my hand, and my bag on my back. I looked to the sky, as a rain drop fell on my cheek and slowly slipped down. I couldn't help but smile.

During the last week I had grown closer to Francesca and Eli. I sat by them both at lunch, and me and Francesca went to the mall together. Eli was becoming more of a brother to me because I felt like I could tell him anything.

I sat through 1st hour with dread, and patiently waited for second hour to come. The first hour bell rang, signaling it was the end of the period, and I rushed out of the door.

I sat at my art table watching the door, like always. Francesca and Eli walked in the door, side by side, like always. I smiled at them both as they walked across the room and said hi when they were close enough for them to hear. They both sat down, said hi, and we all went to work in our sketch books while having light conversation. I thought to myself that this was a really quiet day for both of them.

"What's going on guys?" I questioned them. They looked up from their sketch books and both had a mental conversation about telling me or not.

They both said in unison, "nothing" and went back to sketching

"Seriously? Guys, are you feeling okay?" I said impatiently. They both didn't bother looking up to answer, and sat sketching lines, nothing more.

I dropped my pencil on my sketch book and pressed my lips together, expecting more. When they both where silent for longer than I expected, I got up, took my sketch book and back pack with me, and left the class room.

I took a left down the hall to the doors. I pushed the double doors open and saw a red brick courtyard surrounded with flowers and an old wooden picnic table in the middle.

I walked cautiously over to the table, being careful not to step on the flowers, and set my back pack down. I swung my legs over the hard, prickly wood bench, and unzipped my backpack to shuffle through for my sketch book. I pulled out my book and a pencil and began to finish my picture when the double doors creaked open. I peered through my eyelashes to see Eli walk through the door.

"Hey there." He said as he walked over to the bench I was sitting on.

"Hi" I said sternly.

He sat next to me, one leg over the bench, the other still on the other side.

"Are you doing okay?"

"Yeah, but your the one I should be asking," I still looked down at my paper

"Look," I took my eyes off my paper to look at Eli ,"Me and Francesca should have told you what was going on. But i don't think i am the one to tell you." He paused to look at the ground, and looked back at me,"Last night, Francesca's dad was in a car crash. He was sent to the hospital, but he isn't doing to well. Francesca is really upset, and so am I because I have known Mr. Leer since the 4th grade. I hope you understand why we didn't tell you."

"Wow," I looked back at my paper and felt my face flush, and tears coming on.

"Taylor, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm fine." I couldn't tell him, not now. Not here

Eli got up and came to my side of the picnic table. He sat down next to me and hugged my hunched over shoulders as I began to cry silently. Eli knew I wasn't going to tell him, but I could tell he wanted to comfort me.

We both heard the class bell ring, but we sat there, and I turned to him and hugged him back. We sat there for a while, enjoying the courtyards peace.

"Hey," Eli said softly," I want to show you something. Come with me." He got up, grabbed his bag that he had set on the ground, and walked towards the double doors we entered through. He reached out his hand.

I gathered my sketch book, pencil, and bag, and I walked to him. He put his arm around my shoulder as we walked out of school.

We both sat in his small car in silence. My eyes were still puffy when he turned on the radio.

He pulled into a cemetery not far from the school. It was light and looked peaceful with all of the stones sticking up out of the ground.

"Here we are," Eli said as he unbuckled and got out of the car. I got out to, and followed close behind as he walked farther and farther into the cemetery. Then he took a seat on a stone bench far away from all of the graves. I took a seat next to him on the small bench and pressed my hands in between my legs.

Eli sighed," I remember coming here when I was a kid. It's always been nice here. Nobody is ever here to be bothered by and I could think about anything."

I looked down. I could feel everything I have been thinking about just erase, and I was able to think clearly.

"Eli," I began," thank you." I said quietly.

He looked at me with a puzzled expression.

I gestured to the cemetery," for this. It really helped me just get my mind off of things."

He smiled," I knew it would."

We sat on the bench holding hands and Eli wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

Eli drove me back to school a while later, in time for fourth period.

I spent the rest of the day zoning out and wishing I was back in the cemetery with Eli.

•••••