Y O U .

Y O U . "I could be looking for y o u in all the wrong places . I could be missing on y o u with ALL of this d r e a m i n g . I better chase this G H O S T before it LEAVES me . I can F E E L your warmth when my eyes go into h i d i n g ." elodie nora abernathy seventeen halston high dance team captain

[elcdieiiisms]

B R Y C E .

“see, don’t give me that look when you agree with me.” even if she did it rightfully so. bryce didn’t want to think about having to deal with classes like that. frankly, it didn’t occur to him that thee was harder classes until his friends began to complain about their own classes. his nose scrunches again at the mention of the cassidy - the wrong cassidy. “ew. royal.” it wasn’t gong to take a detective to tell that royal did like bryce and while he didn’t fully return the feeling, it was hard not to dislike him after being disliked for no reason by him.  “hey,” an look of mock offense appears on his face. “don’t be rude, you’re in my room you know.”

“what look? i’m not giving you any sort of look, i would NEVER give you a look bryce alexander,” elodie giggled. her smile faltered slightly at the mention of royal. “i know, i know. but he’s been relatively nice to me.” at times just a little too nice. despite royal’s best efforts elodie was still holding on to the boy she knew in middle school. the boy who she was friends with. “i don’t think i’m being rude to you,” elodie shook her head. she pouted, leaving her head on his shoulder. “and what are you going to do about it, huh? kick me out?”

[elcdieiiisms]

P H E O N I X .

         “ no, no —” he paused to flash a playful grin, “doomed is the word i’d use. you don’t have to agree though, you’re biased,” he teased further. bryce would probably say something of the like in some sense if the positions were flipped, though, it was all in good fun. nix didn’t actually believe what he was saying. “catriona forsythe and elodie abernathy telling me i’m going to be alright? jeez, i’ve got a lot to look forward to. hearing other people say it is nice, rather than myself having to. i just can’t wait to get out and go back to school — not being in ap literature is driving me nuts,” he chuckled, spreading out the pieces and taking in a slow breath as he tried to decide where to start. “it’s my heart,” he didn’t miss a beat answering her, this was elodie after all… she’d know if he was lying. “all the tests i’ve done were for that. i haven’t been given any names for what it is yet — when i do, you’ll be the first to know.”

“i know that you would never betray me like that nixie boy,” she teased him. “i suppose i am biased. he is my boyfriend and i do love him,” she laughed. elodie had been saying that out loud more and more now, that she LOVED him. she obviously meant is but it was still just a little odd to say out loud. “you ARE going to be alright, you think i’d actually be this calm if i wasn’t absolutely sure you’d be alright? you know who i am. not having you there is really weird. having your seat be empty is just so ––– ODD.” she decided to keep her focus on him, even though his had shifted to the puzzle pieces in front of them. his heart. this was a little more serious than she thought apparently. “just keep me in the loop alright? you know i’d do anything to help you,” she gave him a reassuring smile. elodie gave his shoulder another soft squeeze before turning her attention to the puzzle pieces. “ –– start with the edges?” she suggested. she figured that he’d have to talk about enough people about what was going on, they could just talk about their puzzle.

[elcdieiiisms]

L O U I S A .

       ‘   THAT’S RIGHT  —  i totally meant to. ’    elodie clearly knew nothing about lou,      if she had wanted to dent the car,    it would currently be rocking a boot sized dent.    she’s nearly broken that guys nose in bali.    ‘   in fact  i sought out blue’s car specifically. ’    eyes wide,    she scoffs.    the defence mechanism in full swing.   ‘ that’s the kind of terrible person i am. ’ maybe that’d put a smile on her sisters face.

elodie folded her arms across her chest and let out a sigh. before everything happened with her parents she had a good relationship with her sister. but after all the time they spent apart they had grown into two very different people. “god ––– you’re just so ––– UGH!” elodie couldn’t string together the right words to describe just how frustrated her sister was making her.

[elcdieiiisms]

T E D D Y .

@elcdieiiisms

      ❛  please don’t tell me you hate me. ❜      he couldn’t stand the idea that elodie would hate him in any world. he knew why he’d been called over here ( see: their most recent text thread ) and he knew there was no way elodie was happy about it. so, hatred was his assumption.           ❛  you know i’m not good when people hate me –– especially you. ❜      his groaned as he fell back on the all to comfortable bed in her room. he tried not to think of all the times she’d fallen asleep and he’d snuck out of this room. that was the past, and he wanted to make sure she knew that.

“teddy i don’t hate you.” elodie sighed as she shifted on her bed. she had her legs folded in front of her as she watched him. “i know you’re not good when people hate you teddy, i’ve known you for too long to not know that,” she let out a soft laugh. she couldn’t actually hate him. sure she was upset that he had kept secrets from her, but he had kept them for a reason. “i just never like –– never expected that i guess. of all the people for you to date i just never thought it’d be y’know .... my BROTHER.”

[elcdieiiisms]

B R Y C E .

his eyes roll once more at her, but bryce laughs anyway, knowing there was no bite to the girls words. “ew.” his nose scrunches up at the thought of even being in that classroom, let alone taking the class. thankfully, it didn’t look to be in bryces upcoming future ( though, that could change ). “why don’t you ask like, griffin to help you? he’s smart. or ella could, she’s smart n’ i think she’s taking it too. or blue. but he’s too much for me to get.” an arm wraps around her middle, settling back on the pillows behind him. “that’s not even like, half of rehearsals.”

elodie shot him a look after he rolled his eyes. “ew is absolutely right babe,” she giggled. she could laugh about this now but she knew she was struggling. it wasn’t an awful struggle but she knew that she needed to work harder to keep up. “blue has been helping me a little bit. i uh i’ve actually been getting some help from royal. he’s pretty good at it.” it was no secret that there was tension between royal and elodie. they had a constant back and forth that was almost indescribable. elodie leaned back with him, inching herself even closer to him. “i know, your rehearsals last forever. you poor baby,” she teased him.

[elcdieiiisms]

R O Y A L .

hearing the other’s voice caught him off guard. he didn’t expect to see elodie without her tagalong, especially in the state he was in. however, the words she spoke rung true. he was alright. nix was alright. it was visible –– the relief on his face like a weight was lifted off of his shoulders. ( however, if elodie were to point it out he’d walk right back out that door he just came in. )       ❛  i don’t care, elodie. ❜       your emotions stated differently.

she could see just a little something in his demeanor change when she said that nix was fine. she couldn’t quite figure out what had changed but she thought it was a good change. elodie completely disregarded his comment about not caring. “yeah he’s up today and talking. i went and sat with him –– we did a puzzle.” even if royal said he didn’t care she figured she’d give him an update. they were BROTHERS after all. 

[elcdieiiisms]

G R I F F I N .

               “now i’m intrigued.” he chuckled, glancing at whatever her reaction would be. “i’m joking, elodie.” surprised at how much the other was babbling, she usually spoke to him so confidently and never really rambled on like this. he turns his computer to her as a detailed schedule pops up, “i schedule every day down to the second; from editing to practice even to when i need to eat.” he turns the technology back to himself, “i still only get about 5 hours of sleep but it’s senior year and i guess everything is riding on this.” he gives her a soft smile, “you’re welcome.”

“you can ask him. i’m sure he’d tell you,” elodie rolled her eyes playfully. “but you and i will NEVER have a conversation about that.” it was almost odd just how well they had been getting along, but she wasn’t going to press on that issue. her eyes widened as she looked at the schedule. “that is ––– impressive. i don’t think i could ever even hold myself to something like that. how do you keep up with all that?” she knew the other was always busy but had never fully realized just how busy he was. “i try to get at least seven.”

[elcdieiiisms]

M A T E O .

         “i will now,” he reassured her with a nod. if there was anyone he’d go to first, i’d be annie or elodie that was for sure. they both had a way of making him feel comfortable, which was something he longed for. “i’ll have to bring it up eventually i’m sure — with everything going on. it’d be hard not to,” he sighed, thankful for the hand on his shoulder. she kept him from completely breaking down. “has she been okay? she’s— she’s going to hate me for what i did. i never left her anything, elodie. just a typical goodnight before i left. i’m such an idiot.“

“you better. i’m going to hold you to this osborne,” elodie grinned. she gave his arm a light, reassuring squeeze. “take your time, okay? as long as you promise to say when a problem happens, i don’t care so much about what it it.” she definitely did care about what is was but pushing him too far wouldn’t get her anywhere. “she definitely misses you. –– hey, HEY breathe for just a second here. she’s your sister, i think she’ll just be glad that you’re back.”

[elcdieiiisms]

P H E O N I X .

         “ well, i am honored. it is our thing, after all — i could never do a puzzle with anyone else, ” he chuckled and began opening the box, dumping the pieces between them while she spoke. he stopped to look up at her when she mentioned bryce, another light laugh parting his lips and he shook his head, “of course he did. he’d be doomed without you, el.” there was no point trying to hide how he was feeling in the situation he was in, especially to her of all people. there were only three people that he didn’t have much problem opening up to, and that was elodie, bryce, and his mom. “good, she’s been having a hard time in here. can’t really even sit still — breaks my heart,” he muttered quietly but offered a reassuring smile, the squeeze to his shoulder comforting. “not as freaked out as i was when i woke up. i’d probably feel a lot better if i wasn’t in here for all of it,” he admitted, pursing his lips and giving a single shrug, “i know that everything’s going to be fine though, so i’m not worried about that.”

“i know you’d never dare to do one with someone else. that’ll always be our thing,” she laughed. elodie could still remember the day in kindergarten when he had ‘proposed’ to her with a piece from his favorite puzzle. they were pretty inseparable as kindergarteners, she never wanted to lose that bond with him. “i don’t know about doomed, but definitely injured more often.” she couldn’t imagine a life without either of these boys. bryce and nix would always hold a special place in her heart that could never be filled by anyone. “i know it must be a little rough for her, but she’s a tough lady. she’s just worried about her baby boy, but you’re going to be alright nix. “yeah you were pretty out last night. i came for a bit just to see how you were doing, but you weren’t awake so i got out of everyone’s way. i’m glad you’re okay nix, REALLY glad.” she looked back down to the puzzle pieces, “do they ––– do they know what happened yet?”

[elcdieiiisms]

G R I F F I N .

               he chuckled, “it’s fine, elodie. at least you guys do that in private, myself and saff on the other hand are very known for our public displays of affection.” that wasn’t because they were that type of couple but no one really knew that their schedules never coincided with one another even going over to her place seemed to be something he needed to plan in advance. “i usually stay a couple weeks ahead so i don’t get overloaded with school or videos. i’m writing a paper for poli sci –– i already finished the chem packet so if you need any help, i don’t mind helping.”

“no, no you don’t want to hear about it. that’s weird let’s just never talk about it like ever again, deal?” she was definitely blowing this way out of proportion but she couldn’t stop herself from babbling on. that has crossed whatever imaginary line she had set in her head. “i’ve been trying to keep ahead but practices  have been keeping me busy. since basketball season has started we’ve got a performance every week. thanks ––– i uh appreciate the help.” she looked back down at her work and took a breath.

[elcdieiiisms]

L O U I S A .

       ‘   I GENTLY    tapped it.  ’      she bites her lip before smiling cautiously.    diffusing the tension was something lou had  never  been good at.     she’d tried it so many times with her father,   a casual joke in between the arguments that just made that vein on his head protrude from his skin.     she doubts it will work on elodie either,     ‘ i said i was sorry!      what more is it going to take! ’    she’s talking about more that just the car now.

“so what if you ‘gently tapped’ it?” elodie held up air quotations with her words. “you could have done some damage, whether you meant to or not, and i think you meant to.” she swallowed and glared at her sister. “stop lou, just STOP.” her arms crossed her chest and she let out a huff. she did not want to be having this conversation with her sister.

[elcdieiiisms]

P H E O N I X .

         when he saw the way he reacted he immediately took it back, hands lifting to show his surrender — an apologetic smile stretching his lips. “sorry — call it a coping mechanism,” he uttered silently, arms retreating to wrap around himself. when she joined him on the bed though, the bright smile returned and he crossed his legs beneath the blanket, shifting a bit closer to access the table better. “no, no, i assumed you’d never pass up the opportunity to do a puzzle. regardless of whether or not it was x-men,” he chuckled quietly, he was still regaining his strength which was frustrating — especially when he had to search for the nasal cannula when his breathing became difficult, he was supposed to keep it in technically — he just wanted this to all be over. “you know me! always having fun! today i swallowed a small piece of jello without chewing it — talk about wild, huh?” he joked, stuffing the oxygen piece back into his nose before proceeding. “good, good. my mom should be back at some point too, she could definitely use some elodie time too.”

her hand raised and she pointed an accusatory finger at him. once he apologized her hand lowered and her face softened. she quickly slipped off her shoes and crossed her legs up on the bed. she had unfortunately been accustomed to sitting on the edge of hospital bed likes that. “i would’ve ever pass up the opportunity, especially if it’s a puzzle with you,” she looked to him with a loving smile. while her and nix weren’t nearly as close as her and bry, the three of them had known each other since kindergarten. she considered nix one of her closest friends. “oh WOW you really are having quit the wild day,” she giggled, “bry tried to do that once and nearly died.” her smile faltered slightly as she watched him fumble with the cannula. she felt pains in her chest just seeing him like this, seeing him not at his best. “i will make sure that she gets some elodie time, promise.” she reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. “i know you’ve been asked this a million and a half times but how’re you feeling? ––– ACTUALLY feeling.”

[elcdieiiisms]

G R I F F I N . 

                “no, i understand.” he said as he winced with every letter he typed on the computer in front of him. “saff tends to do that; she’d probably go off on a tangent about rainbows and happiness. not exactly great topics while you’re trying to do homework.” he chuckled softly. he didn’t really know how to small talk with the other, usually they only talked in the matter of one bryce archer. “so, what are you working on?”

she opened up one of the notebooks in front of her and kept her gaze on him. “bry just tries to get me to take a nap, or make out with him,” her face dropped once she realized she had made that last comment out loud. “oh god you don’t want to hear about that i’m sorry.” she nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked down to her notebook. “i’ve got a couple questions to answer for gov before i try and tackle that chem packet. –– what about you?” she was more than happy to change the subject.

[elcdieiiisms]

G R I F F I N .

               his right hand is still bandages up, making it rather hard to type on his laptop but he needed this paper to be finished with. his eyes look up when he hears the familiar voice, “yeah, sure.” he croaks out, the past couple weeks since his concussion hadn’t been so good and part of him finds ease in the conversation. “you’re, um — not studying with bryce?” he asked softly, considering their setting.

her eyes quickly glanced at his hand before looking back up to his face. “thanks,” her words remained soft. elodie placed her bookbag down on the table and unpacked it before sitting down. “he’s got rehearsal. plus you know how distracting he can be. i love him, but i’m not always productive enough around him.” a smile smile creeped it’s way across her lips. for the longest time the only thing she and griffin had in common was bryce archer.

[elcdieiiisms]

she looked around the library and sighed. of course all the tables were full and of course the only face she could recognize was griffin’s. elodie couldn’t quite figure out what he was working on, and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to know. she took a few hesitant steps closer to his table before clearing her throat. “can i uh ––– sit here with you?” she paused for a moment. “all the other tables are full.” // @griffincd

[royalblaiir]

       ❛  why does everyone keep fucking asking me how he’s doing ? ❜       he groaned as he walked into the coffee shop across the street from the hospital talking to no one in particular. he’d made it all the way to the lobby before turning back. fuck that guy. he wanted nothing to do with him and he’d made that clear over the last eighteen years. he’s not my brother.     

[elcdieiiisms]

as soon as she heard royals voice elodie tried to disappear into the background. she leaned against the bar, waiting for her coffee and trying to think of an escape route. he got too close and she knew she needed to speak up. “he’s alright,” she chirped. elodie knew this because she had just finished up her visit with him (and finished their puzzle).

[elcdieiiisms]

B R Y C E . 

“i think you just wanna ruin all the hard work i did this morning by making my bed,” he nudges her side with his elbow lightly, as to not hurt her. bryce sometimes overestimated his own strength. “calc?” a frown appears on his face, leaning over to investigate just what exactly was on the papers in front of her. “looks complicated.” a piece of lined paper looked complicated to him, but she didn’t need to know that. “maybe. hoping, but you never know.” he lets out a small laugh when she wraps himself around him. “how long you’ve been here?”

“you made your bed this morning? i didn’t really notice that you had,” she teased him and mirrored the way he elbowed her. “calc,” elodie sighed and rolled her eyes. for the first time in years she was struggling in one of her classes. she didn’t want to complain to bry because she knew about his struggles. “it’s complicated, ‘m just having problems understanding it but it’s alright.” elodie leaned further into him, nuzzling her chin into the crook of his neck. “like forty minutes i think. i can’t really remember how long it’s been.”