The night sky overhead contained a vivid mix of golden starlight and swirls of deep blue, awakening Elias’ senses as he fell in step next to Laila, walking up the stairs leading to her friend Anja’s apartment. She was wearing a crimson v-neck sweater and simple black skirt. Elias was speechless when he first saw her an hour ago, his mouth had literally fallen open in awe.
In an effort to be completely present in this moment, he closed his eyes and breathed in the fresh air around him, cataloguing each and every detail.
Even dreams didn’t feel this good.
Elias had been here once before, as he recalled that day four months ago when he’d walked into a strange and unfamiliar apartment to pick up his sister’s jacket, unaware his life was about to change. Once again face to face with the white door, Elias rang the bell. An amusingly odd feeling came over him, as if he was reliving that moment. He almost expected to hear classical music drifting in from a far off room.
The door swung open in front of him and a flash of blond hair peeked through. Anja squealed in delight as she took in Laila standing there carrying bags of food in one hand and her musical equipment in the other.
“LAILA!! You’re here!! I’m so glad you made it. I have some of the equipment you dropped off earlier sort of set up in the back corner of the living room, so you can just drop the rest of the stuff near that area. I’m so excited that you’re DJ-ing the party tonight.” Anja was practically bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet.
Laila grinned up at her friend lovingly. “I’m so excited, I haven’t spun tables in a while so it’ll be interesting to see how it goes.”
Elias was surprised once again to find yet another hobby Laila had picked up, as he learned earlier, on her travels visiting her dad overseas. She continued to surprise him everyday.
“Oh hey, Elias right?” Anja said, glancing back at Elias who walked up the stairs behind Laila.
He nodded, smiling at her. The initial embarrassment from his awkward pick up attempt a few months ago, all but gone.
“Come on in.” Anja opened the front door wider, allowing them to step through. “Oh also watch out for my cat, he’s a real asshole and he likes to walk right in front of people’s feet, trying to trip them.”
“Oh I don't think I saw a cat last time I was here, what’s his name?” Elias asked.
“Karl.”
Elias frowned slightly at the strange name before he strolled through the entryway, the cozy atmosphere of the small space immediately wrapping around him like a warm blanket. He glanced at Laila to his left who was rearranging the music supplies in her hands, eyes scanning the room for the corner Anja had set up for her.
As she spotted it, she beamed and nudged Elias before saying, “I’m going to go set up.”
He nodded and gave her his best look of encouragement.
She wandered off into the crowd and Elias fell back, searching for the guys and Sana. Surprisingly his gaze fell on a friendly face in the crowd; it was Isabel.
Elias hadn’t seen or heard from her since they had hooked up. He recoiled internally as he thought about that regretful night. Elias had made so many mistakes the past few weeks, but he heavily regretted hurting Isabel.
His old self would have considered turning around and avoiding her, but he didn't want to be that person anymore. Elias hunched his shoulders up resolute in his intentions and strode over to her standing with a red cup in her hands.
Isabel’s face brightened instantly when she saw Elias, giving him a warm, amiable smile.
“Hey Isabel, how have you been?” he asked in genuine interest.
“You’re so sweet, I’m great. Never been better,” she replied and he believed her words. Her bright eyes were full of joy.
“I wanted to apologize again for being such a dick the last time I saw you,” Elias looked down nervously at his feet before meeting her eyes again.
“Elias you don’t have to keep apologizing. In fact I’m glad that we didn't work out. Because if it weren’t for that, I never would have met Trine. She’s amazing, we’ve been seeing each other for a few weeks now.”
She?
Elias did not see that coming.
But good for Isabel. He was happy that she had clearly moved on, it had been weighing on his conscience for a while now.
“That’s awesome. So is she here tonight?” Elias asked, looking around even though he had no idea what Trine looked like.
Isabel nodded, she turned to her right and pointed out a tall girl, close to Sana’s age with long brunette hair. Isabel waved to her across the room, and Trine smiled back at her, affectionately.
Elias turned back to Isabel and said, “Seriously I’m really happy for you Isabel.”
“Thank you! And what about you? Are you seeing anyone?” she asked.
He blushed as he unconsciously searched for Laila in the throng of people. Finally, he spotted her loose flyaway curls a few feet away, moving around frantically as she tested out her equipment. “I am. Her name’s Laila.”
“Oh, I think I know her, she used to be friends with those Pepsi Max girls? Trine used to hang out with them too, but she left because she said they were terrible friends. Trine always spoke fondly of Laila though,” Isabel mentioned.
He grinned hearing that. “Yeah she’s one of a kind.” Elias looked up and spotted Sana in the crowd, mingling with Adam and Mutta. “It was great talking with you, I’ll see you later. I definitely want to meet Trine, she sounds cool,” he said.
“You too, for sure I’ll introduce you guys, talk to you later.” Isabel waved bye to him and made her way over to where Trine was standing, placing a kiss on her cheek softly.
(((The Next Episode-Dr. Dre)))
At the start of the new song, the bass shook the walls as everyone got on their feet, bodies pressed close to each other, letting loose.
It seemed like Laila had gotten her tables set up. As he glanced at where she was standing behind the turntables, he couldn't help but notice the intense look of concentration written on her face.
Elias made his way over to where Sana was standing, nodding to Mutta and Adam.
“Congrats bro on your editing internship!! I’m so proud of you,” Sana added, punching him lightly in the shoulder.
“Thanks Sana.”
“You got it?!!” Mutta exclaimed.
Elias nodded, unable to contain the grin that spread across his lips.
“Bro, that’s amazing,” Adam said.
“Thanks Adam!” Elias gazed around the room. “Where’s Yousef and Mikael?” he asked suddenly.
Sana rolled her eyes and said, “Where do you think?”
When he didn't answer she continued. “They’ve only been here five minutes and they already challenged each other to a dance off,” Sana said half exasperated, half amused.
He turned to look over at the crowd in the middle of the dance floor and sure enough he could see them already in full swing. Yousef was doing a passionate variation of hip-hop street dancing while Mikael was breakdancing furiously. All the while, the group of people around them were hyping them up.
At that moment, Chris came up to them, grabbing Mutta’s hand as she said, “Come on, let’s dance!” she said shaking her hips, dragging him into the congregation in the center of the room.
Adam went and joined Yousef and Mikael on the dancefloor, jumping up and down, pumping his head.
“I’m dating a literal five year old,” she half shouted over the music as it got louder.
“You knew what you were signing up for when you agreed to date him,” Elias countered.
“True.”
(((Wild Thoughts-DJ Khaled)))
Elias glanced up at Laila who smiled back at him. She slid the mega headphones wrapped around her ears off her head, and stepped down from behind the tables, making her way over to him.
“Aren’t you in charge of the music for the whole night?” Elias teased as she stood in front of him, sliding her hand in his.
“I’m allowed to slip away for one song,” she replied. “Besides, don’t you want to dance with me?” She put on an endearing look that he couldn’t resist. His heart beat wildly in his chest as his eyes met hers.
All at once, they both fell into the rhythm of the song, hips swaying in time with the beat. They moved together as one, falling into step with each other.
As he spun Laila around in his arms, he couldn't help but feel incredibly lucky for everything and everyone in his life.
Looking around at his sister, at his friends, at this amazing group of people around him, Elias knew he had so much to be thankful for.
ENDING CREDITS
(((Lions-Skip Marley)))
Writer (Ep 1-4) & Producer
Anna (smoothyousef)
Writer (Ep 5-10), Beta (Ep 1-4), & Co-Producer
Anisha (savedbythespell)
Co-Producer & Editor
Cristina (sanabakkousk)
Illustrator
Rida (ree-duh)
Promoter
Simone (ur-nitemare)
TAKK FOR ALT
Thank you to our beautiful readers who love Elias as much as we do and who’ve kept us going through this project. We can’t thank you enough for your lovely comments and investment in this fic. We love you all!!
Elias raised his brows, trying to process what she’d just said. “I…I guess it depends on what you choose to focus on. Some could argue that sadness doesn’t really exist, that it’s just a lack of happiness. Just like darkness doesn’t exist; it’s a lack of light. You could spend all the time in the world dreading the day you aren’t happy anymore, and then when it hits, realize you’ve spent all of your time focusing on the future and the inevitability instead of enjoying the now.”
check out @smoothyousef's elias season on @skamelias
“No that’s the dumbest idea, we’re not doing that,” Elias laughed in reply to Mikael’s suggestion for their next Hei Briskeby video.
The guys had come over to create ideas for their next video, but they weren’t exactly in a productive mood.
“Well we have to choose something, the last time we ran out of ideas, I was stuck with makeup on my face for four days,” Mikael said exasperatedly.
“I told you how to get it off, you’re the one that didn’t use the wipes Sana gave you,” Mutta interjected, shaking his head.
Mikael rolled his eyes stubbornly.
“Anyway, I was thinking of sending in a few of my earlier videos edits for film school applications,” Elias added in an attempt to change the subject.
“That’s awesome,” Even nudged Elias’ shoulder in approval.
“Just make sure when you start making movies, you tell diverse stories and cast actual people of color in roles,” Mikael said.
He nodded, “I’ll be sure to, maybe I’ll put you in one of my movies Mikael,” Elias grinned, laughing lightly.
Mikael put on his cheesiest smile then, squinting as he slid his black sunglasses onto his face dramatically. “Who me? I can’t say I’m surprised, I would be the best choice…obviously.”
The guys cracked up as Adam smacked the back of Mikael’s head.
“Hey Mikael, this is random but whatever happened to that girl you made out with a few months ago? What was her name again? Mutta asked, curiosity laced his voice.
Mikael shifted suddenly, a slightly uncomfortable look on his face. “Uhhh…nothing, I don’t know. I wasn’t that interested in her…” he trailed off looking at his fingernails in interest.
“But when’s the last time you went on a date? Seriously we need to set you up,” Adam mentioned.
Mikael shrugged him off as he said, “No… that’s okay… I’m good, really.”
Elias peered over at Mikael, who looked visibly distressed, as if he was fighting an internal battle. Suddenly, that text from Ali flashed across his mind. He wondered if Sana had been right?
“Actually, there’s something I’ve been wanting–no needing to say….I’m not sure how to…” Mikael struggled to get the words out.
“You guys know that stage when everyone starts finding girls attractive?” Mikael finally managed.
“Puberty?” Mutta asked.
“Are you giving us ‘the talk’?” Yousef joked.
Mikael rolled his eyes and half-grinned despite himself. “No, I’m not mature enough for that.”
Adam snickered. “Yeah I remember when that started happening.”
Elias noticed Mikael eyes grow serious as he said, “It never happened for me.”
The room was quiet then.
“Wait, what do you mean?” Mutta asked.
Even shifted in his seat, almost as if waiting with bated breath for Mikael’s next sentence, watchful eyes on him.
“I mean…I’m not attracted to girls….” He paused.
Elias raised his brows in surprise.
“I-I like guys” Mikael looked downcast and Elias’ heart sank in his chest as he realized how long Mikael had probably been holding this inside him, afraid of disclosing his true self to the rest of them.
Why hadn’t Mikael told them?
He thought back to that day a few weeks ago, outside the cafe, Mikael had looked like he’d been caught, his face fraught with worry that Elias had seen him when he wasn’t supposed to.
Even’s eyes widened in disbelief, a brief flicker of something flashed across his eyes.
As if reading his mind, Mikael glanced over at Even, a nonverbal look passing between the two of them. Mikael appeared almost apologetic.
Adam was the first to break the silence, “Thanks for trusting us enough to tell us, Mikael.”
“I was really nervous because I’ve known you all for so long, and it just felt like you knew this one version of me, or you had this idea of who I was in your heads and I didn’t want you guys to treat me differently,” Mikael confessed.
“How could you think we would ever treat you differently?” Yousef exclaimed. “You’re still the Mikael we know and love, nothing’s changed.” He smiled at Mikael.
Adam and Mutta nodded in agreement.
“Mikael, you could have come to me…” Even started.
“I know, I just…felt so guilty last year when you kissed me and I freaked out. I was still denying it at that point and I guess I internalized some things. And then after that we couldn’t reach you and we heard you tried to….” Mikael said in a distressed-filled voice. “Anyway I felt like I drove you away so I’m sorry for that.”
“It wasn’t your fault!” Even insisted. “I had a lot of stuff going on with me back then but the point is I’m in a better place now and you shouldn’t beat yourself up anymore about the past.” Even held out his hand for a fistbump which Mikael reciprocated, smiling back at him.
“I’m glad you’re doing better, Even,” Mikael admitted.
“So that girl you kissed at that party a while ago…” Mutta said abruptly. He was sitting with his feet tucked under his legs, on the edge of his seat, as if enthralled by a fascinating revelation.
“I guess I was trying to pretend like that was me until it actually was, but..it doesn’t work like that.” Mikael said.
“Isak could have told you that,” Even said lightly. The teasing took away some of the tension.
Mikael’s mouth broadened into a wide grin. “True.”
“Wait, wait, wait, so all those times you said you were meeting someone, who was that? Was it Ali?” Elias asked, in need of some clarification.
Mikael stilled, a suspicious glint in his eyes. “How do you know about Ali?”
“So it’s true, he’s the one you were meeting?” Elias counted, a smirk written plainly on his face.
He watched Mikael roll his eyes heartily before saying, “Yeah, alright, you got me, I was meeting Ali.”
“Ali? The guy who’s doing an internship with your father? The one Sana brought home that one time?” Even asked.
“Yeah, him.”
“Mmhmm, so are you guys dating?” Even winked playfully.
“What? No! No we’re not–that’s not. No, I just think he’s cool. Whatever, leave me alone.” Mikael brushed him off.
Adam gave him a deadpan look before he burst into laughter, the rest of them following suit behind him.
“You’re really funny Mikael, maybe you should be a standup comedian instead of an actor,” Mutta said wiping an imaginary tear from his eye.
