value me <:
[stella telling @praenuntius how she feels about him]
They were sitting shoulder-to-shoulder behind the counter of the diner. It reminded Stella of being seven and building a fort with her first foster brother. Safe and hidden and small. Big enough for just the two of them and their milkshakes. Stella smiled into her straw, stirring the drink a little. Her eyes danced over to the side, peering at Elijah’s face.
He seemed to be enjoying himself but she could never tell with him. He was such an enigma to her, entirely unreadable. But she had to admit that she liked that. She liked having to rely on the communication. Learning to wait and hear the facts directly from him -- it was a hard lesson but one well-needed.
“Hey, so.” She took in a deep inhale. Communication went both ways, after all. Looking up from her milkshake, she found his eyes. Held his strangely penetrating gaze. “I just... I felt like you should know. Or maybe, just, I want you to know. That you’re...important to me.” She swallowed thickly, frustrated with herself. It hadn’t come out how she wanted it to, how she meant it.
Taking in a breath, she tried again. “You’re important to me and I’m glad that I get to know you. Be around you. You’ve....taught me a real lot, and not just with the books and all. I’m...” She licked her lips uncertainly, but forced herself to keep her eyes on his. “I’m a better person because of you. That’s what I mean.”
A blush was blooming along her cheeks and over her nose. Returning to her milkshake hastily, Stella thought fuck it and dropped her hands over his.