Chapter 7
When I was sitting and talking with Elliot I didn't think about Austin or the song I wrote or anything, really. I just laughed and joked and talked with Elliot. It was nice.
"I have something for you." He said as he pulled out a long box from his jean's pocket. I blushed deep red. Why did he keep getting me things?
"Oh Elliot! You didn't have to!" I stated sweetly. He just smiled and told me told me to open the box. I did and I loved what was inside of it. It was a silver necklace with the words love written in curly, cursive letters. For some reason my heart fluttered and I felt butterflies when I saw it. Why, though? I didn't have feelings for Elliot, did I?
I smiled hugely and I heard him laugh from across me. I looked up and met his deep, sea-blue eyes that I felt like I could drown in. My eyes surveyed his features. Those eyes and his dark, chocolate brown hair that slightly stuck up, giving him that messy, sexy look that never failed to make me giddy. I had to admit, he had gotten better looking over the years that I hadn't seen him.
I remember when I first saw him with his dorky glasses (the type that are apparently in fashion now) and blue coloured braces. I remember his lanky, thin build and his constant sniffle. But, out of all the things I remember, is his heart. How huge it was, baffled me. Kids his age were usually rude and taunted the girls at my camp. But he hadn't to any of them and that's what made me like him. How much he actually, genuinely cared about people.
I smiled, remembering how we spent every day of that camp together, laughing and joking-like we are now-and just being friends. I touched my wrist, caressing the friendship bracelet he had given me before we had to emotionally part. Oh, God that day was devastating! I remember I was crying and he tried to calm me down by saying that we would meet again because we wouldn't have met just once for any reason. He was right. I hadn't realized I had my eyes closed until I opened them to find Elliot with his eyes closed and a goofy smile on his face, as if he too were remembering our experience together.
I looked at his wrist and smiled. He had kept the bracelet I had made him too. It was blue-his favorite colour-and had his name on the front and the words "best friends" on the back of it. Mine was pink and had the same thing except for the fact that my name was Ally and not Elliot. When he opened my eyes and found me staring, he blushed beet red and averted his eyes, embarrassed. I just giggled like a little girl.
"So how's Austin?" Elliot asked. The sudden sound of his voice and the words he used was like a slap in the face. I took a shallow breath before answering his question.
"Oh, he's fine. He slept for a while and then ended up throwing up into a big bowl and had Tylenol and then he was fine. When I left he was talking to his girlfriend." The words burned in my throat. I hadn't realized my hands were shaking until Elliot took a hold of them and rubbed them, as if I were cold. It was funny, because that was exactly what I felt like. Cold. As if somebody had gotten a liter of ice-cold water and poured it over top of my head. I smiled weakly but I knew he could see through it and I swore at myself in my head for not being able to compose myself properly.
"Oh. I see. You have feelings for him." He didn't say this like a question; he said it like it was a statement. Which it was. I waved my hand, as if it was nothing.
"Just a miner crush. Nothing big." I sated. He nodded. I knew he didn't believe me but he wasn't going to push the subject and make me feel even more like shit. Not like Austin would. That guy would push anything to its limit, not really caring whether you got hurt or not. Don't get me wrong, he would apologize right after, it's just that he doesn't like lying, he won't tolerate it. I have been lying to him this entire time but he hasn't picked up on it because he's been so focused on Kira. The sound of her name echoed in my head and it was like I was on fire. As if someone were burning me alive. I hadn't realized I was crying until Elliot wiped away my tears. I bent my head down, not letting him see my face. I couldn't believe how out of control I was with my emotions. Usually, I don't let anybody see me like I am now besides Trish.
"Hey, Ally. It's ok. I'm here for you. Do you want to go sit by the water?" he asked. I nodded, not saying a word. I picked up my purse and the necklace Elliot had given me and waited for him to get his things so we could go to the beach. He collected his things but, before we left, he put the necklace on that he gave me and smiled sweetly at me. I smiled back, even though he and I both knew that it was fake.
When we got to the beach, we sat down on the sand, and watched the waves coming up on the shore. My head was in his neck and I clutched at him as I cried over my guy issues. He held me back and said soothing words into my ear as I just let the tears fall and fall and fall. Once I was finished, I was in Elliot's lap, hugging onto him for dear life, but he didn't mind. I let go of him and looked up at him through the piece of hair that covered my face. He moved so he could look me directly in the eyes.
"Thank you." I whispered. He smiled genuinely and squeezed my body against his in a hug.
"No worries. I'm here for you Ally. Whatever you need." He said. That's when I thought of something. When I was with Elliot, I forgot about Austin-well, besides tonight-and all of the problems I was dealing with. I came to the realization that I did have feelings for him but I had stronger feelings for Austin and I wondered if what I was about to ask of Elliot would be considered selfish?