i don’t want to leave without explaining my leaving cause i know i have plots with people for both elias and levi but i just got news my sister passed away so i just can’t do this right now, i need to take a timeout from everything and be with family right now
the echoing of rain splattering against the window stirred elias, eyes blinking slow as they adjusted to the dark of the room. a red glow illuminated the ceiling and cast shadows on the ceiling that danced around. elias glanced over to see it was still the early morning hours, hand coming down across his face in frustration. pulling himself up in bed, his fingers reached aimlessly until they touched the top of his shoes and he pulled them up on his feet.
turning around, he made sure to grab his shirt that had been flung to the side of his bed in exhaustion, the soft fabric sliding on easily. familiarity helped him navigate the room in the dark, elias finding a pad of paper and writing a quick note on it
‘waffles and fruit in fridge for you xx’
elias took the note and placed it on top of levi’s cellphone to ensure the other would see it before he moved back to his side of the room and grabbed his backpack. he grabbed a jacket first as some protection from the rain before pulling the backpack on and making sure he had his phone, wallet, and keys. elias left the dorm room as quietly as he possibly could--safe in the hallway.
it was dead on campus; something strange to elias. he was so used to everything being so loud, blaring. this was almost too quiet, as if something was hiding in the night. his mind fell to the carnival, the murder that happened. he was pretty the few friends he had wouldn’t be so keen on him walking outside at three in the morning in the rain.
he borrowed someone’s bike ( a silent promise to bring it back in one piece ) and took the trip to the nature area in ithaca. rain hard against him, elias kept pedaling with his head ducked low and repeating to himself that it would all be okay. with no cars really on the road, his trek was easy, elias soaring off the road and up onto the grass, taking a bike path into the trees.
he went off the path after a few minutes, stopping to get off the bike and walk his way to where he needed to go. elias made sure to make the trees, not too keen on getting lost in the woods so late at night and with the weather.
deciding he was far enough away. elias leaned the bike up against a tree and cleared himself a spot in the leaves. the backpack was heavy, elias more than happy to drop it down onto the ground beside his little spot. he opened it up to get the little garden shove, setting to work on digging in the soft ground. and elias kept digging and digging until he knew he wasn’t going to have to worry about dogs, loose dirt falling away, or anything else that could disrupt the hole.
with the cover of the trees, elias was able to throw the rest of the contents of the backpack into the hole with ease. papers, cards, the chip to a cellphone, and a few pictures. reaching for his lighter, elias set one of the pictures aflame, careful to shield it from the rain as he tossed it into the hole. sitting there in the mud, wet and cold, he watched everything burn. it was strange to see everything go up in smoke. it was worse knowing that burning everything didn’t mean it didn’t happen.
elias shoved his hair out of his face and picked up the shovel, dropping dirt into the hole and killing the flames when he was sure everything was burned. hands aching, he dropped the shovel when he finished and pushed leaves over the spot, making sure it looked like nothing had ever been disturbed. grabbing the bike, elias walked it back up to the trail and took off, heading back in the direction of campus.
the sun was starting to come up, elias taking in the bright sunrise colors painted across the sky. it was still quiet, but there was a stirring now. this side of the world ready to wake up.
and elias sat up straighter, smiling. finally there was a weight off his shoulders.
“They’ll move on, something tragic happens every day around here. Take advantage of that dreadful trend,” he said with a shrug. “You know me, I’m an unstoppable force of nature. I’m not going anywhere.”
Levi was right about that. It seemed like every day there was something new going on. As long as Elias kept his nose out of trouble, he’d be okay. “I’m gonna stick with being behind the scenes. I think I fit better there than in the mess of things.” He reached for his water, taking a quick sip from it. “Yeah, there’s no getting rid of you,” Elias teased. “I’m glad you didn’t get caught in the fire. I’d rather be hanging out with you here than at the hospital.”
“I never doubted you for a second,” he smirked, “you’re looking good, honestly.” Levi scratched his arm briefly before nodding. “I’m happy for you, I am,“ he said softly, "you’ve missed one hell of a show around here.”
“You’re probably the only one. I’m pretty sure everyone else if waiting for me to fuck up.” At least, that’s what Elias thought. After everything with Pearl, he wouldn’t be surprised if he was still a wanted man. “I heard I missed some shit, looks like you came out of it all in one piece.”
Elias rolled his eyes at Levi, lighthearted with the smile he had. “Thanks. Seriously, not easy. The first while was...hard. Really hard. But I’ve only cracked once so I’m proud of myself.” Elias shrugged a shoulder. “I told you I was gonna get better.”
“That was a suspicious shot. I call conspiracy,” Bradley complained needlessly, glass of whiskey hooked precariously to her mouth like at any moment it might slip from her hand and splinter. Setting it on the corner of the table, she decided how to line up her shot. “Obviously. What’s next, becoming vegan? Recycling? I’d rather choke.” Her eyes narrowed when she missed. “This game’s fucking rigged.”
Elias rolled his eyes and held up a hand defensively. “I can’t actually cheat at this game. At least, I don’t think I can.” He wasn’t entirely sure how you were supposed to cheat at a precision game. He watched her line up the shot, Elias shook his head and watched the ball stay clear away from the pocket. “It isn’t rigged and I don’t know what’s next. I honestly have no fucking clue what people do when they’re trying to...you know, get better.”
““Sounds like a boring leaf.” Lydia leaned over, eyeing her shot carefully. “But, I mean, whatever floats your boat.” She watched as the ball slid into the pocket, and grinned cheerily.”
“I am a boring leaf. It is so tempting to go back to being drunk and doing coke in the bathroom, but I can’t do it.” Elias had already broken once; had a drink when he’d been having a low point. He felt like shit the rest of the day and had been trying not to go down that road again. “I’m not doing the therapy shit so I’ve gotta do something. Cutting out my vices seems to be the only way to do it,” Elias pushed off the other pool table, smiling. “Nice shot,” he added as he lined up for his own shot.
“Absolutely not for fun,” Elias snorted. “I’m not sure that’s anyone’s type of fun.” He leaned back on the other pool table to let Lydia take her shot. “I made some really shitty choices when I was high or drunk and hurt people I care about.” Elias shrugged his shoulders. “My emotions get too heightened and stuff happens. So I’m attempting to turn a new leaf, get better.”
“Fuck,” Elias groaned and let the word drag out as he straightened up from the pool table where he’d just been taking his shot. He’d needed something to do and found himself at one of the pool halls rather than his usual spot. The ball slid into the pocket and he managed a smile. “Being sober sucks. Nothing is as fun when you’re sober.”
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