This thought just randomly came to me while hanging with my mom. An Eli-centered fic. Takes place after Eli leaves, after giving Clare the headphones.
Hope you like it!
He stepped through the front door and let it close behind him softly. He grinned, feeling ridiculously self-satisfactory.
"Clare Edwards, you are one of a kind." He murmured to himself before walking into his living room. His mother was sitting down, sipping tea while music played softly from the radio.
"Hi mom." He greeted half-heartedly, pausing at the threshold only for a moment, before starting down the stairs.
"Eli, wait." She called. He stopped descending down to the basement, more commonly known as his room, and walked back into the living room.
"Yes, mom?" He asked, surprised. His mom was usually so silent. She smiled up at him sweetly before patting the seat beside her. This surprised him further. He really wanted to retreat to the comfort of his room, but he was too intrigued. His mother only usually spoke when it was important.
"Hello, Elijah. How was school today?" Eli usually flinched when anyone said his full name, but not when his mother did it. Only his mother had the right to call him that. And maybe his father, depending on his mood. It surprised Eli that she was asking him this.
Mrs. Genevieve Goldsworthy was a soft-spoken woman with amazing artistic talent. She had long, straight black hair and warm brown eyes. She had an old-fashioned, proud aura about her that attracted people to her. She was intelligent and kind. But recently, Eli's mother had become distant, choosing to paint instead of be around her family.
His father told him she was depressed. It scared them both. Eli's father, Arnold, even stopped working for a period of time to ensure her wellbeing.
It's why they moved in the first place. They needed a change of scenery. It made Eli happy to see her returning to her old self. It looked like he wasn't the only one enjoying their new home.
"It was fine, mother." She beamed up at him. A real smile. It made Eli return the smile equally as bright. She reached over and cupped his cheeks with her soft hands.
"That is truly wonderful. You seem so happy. I'm glad we moved. Even your father's business has been booming here. Elijah, have you made friends?" Eli nodded in response with a shrug.
"A few." He tried to sound nonchalant, but failed miserably. She smiled innocently.
"Any girls?" She asked, her voice holding an underlying suggestion. Eli felt his neck get hot, but rolled his eyes in an attempt to seem like it wasn't a big deal.
"Yeah, one." Eli felt a groan coming its way coming when he saw the spark in his mother's eyes. But it still made him happy to see her interested in something, even if it caused his embarrassment.
"Do you like her?" She asked eagerly. Eli coughed out a small 'sorta.' His mother clapped her hands in delight.
"Where's dad?" He asked, desperately trying to get the subject off of him.
"He was working late on a case." She responded coolly. Arnold owned his own law firm. Another reason for their move was so Arnold could expand his empire. The old building he worked at was bite-sized compared to this monument.
"Say mom, you're kind of a girl, right?" He asked suddenly. She rolled her eyes.
"Hey, you noticed! Thanks." She muttered sarcastically. When you met Genevieve Goldsworthy, you knew instantly where most of Eli's personality came from.
"How do I ask a girl out?" He asked, somewhat flustered. Man, it was so embarrassing to ask his mom questions like these. But he trusted her to say the right things.
"Well, knowing you, you aren't the overly romantic type. I say be blunt and ask her to hang out." Eli rolled his eyes yet again. His mother could be so simplistic. She smiled before reaching behind the couch to pull out a large canvas painting.
It was a park setting with a woman sitting down, reading. She sort of reminded Eli of Clare, but it could be because his mind had been occupied solely on her up until recently. Small details such as birds in trees and full garbage cans could be seen. What really caught Eli's attention was the great detail in the lighting. Bits of sunlight poured in where the leaves had parted. It was superb in Eli's eyes.
"Wow. It's fantastic." He replied. She smiled shyly.
"I really like this piece, too. I made it for you." She admitted with a small, bashful smile. Eli leaned over and kissed his mother's cheek.
"Thank you. I'll go hang it up right now." He said, taking hold of the painting and leaving. Genevieve leaned back, finishing off the last of her tea. Her son was so absorbed recently, that it scared her bit. But she was glad to know he hadn't forgotten about her. She was even happier to find out that his time was spent over a girl. Genevieve started to hum happily with the song on the radio, trying to figure out a way to convince Eli to get the girl to meet his mother.
What did you think? Drop a review, you beautiful people!
~S.S.