Out at the museum

'Thank God... I can't believe she let me out... I have to thank Eli...' (Y/N) thought.

It was a few days after the excursion with Sky, and when she got a text from Eli.

'Hey, do u wanna hang out together. It's been too long, and I thought we could catch up together... alone.' Eli texted.

(Y/N) had a few more days to go until the finals, but she was super stressed that she texted 'Sure' without thinking twice.

So, when Lyla wanted to enslave her that day, (Y/N) had a simple excuse of fulfilling a childhood friend obligation and not turning back on it.

Lyla was at first enraged, but in the end to (Y/N)'s pleading seemed resigned and said, "Don't be late..."

When that was what (Y/N) intended to do, mostly to escape Lyla's tyranny.

"So, what are we going to today?" (Y/N) asked Eli once she met up with him outside the same cafe he works. She was wearing a simple blouse with jeans. Eli was wearing trousers, and a sports shirt. There was a top pocket with the same stuffed bird in it.

'Must be a special item,' (Y/N) mused.

"I thought I would show you around the museum," Eli said, fidgeted a bit. "They are showing new art exhibits, especially lifelike statues of the 1800's. So, if you don't mind..."

(Y/N) smiled, "Ah... taxidermy, you are interested in that?"

"Yeah, so what?" Eli said, slightly defensive.

"It just reminded me about our childhood when we hung out and we watched the birds. How much you like the liveliness of them, and wished to preserve them. I knew from then that you might like something like this. So, sure why not? Let's go," (Y/N) said, hooking her arm to his.

Eli's smile was immediate. She was his true childhood friend, the only person to understand him when the rest looked at him so weirdly. She was the only true person that ever lived while the rest just pale in comparison...

And he planned to spend every moment with her, no one else should. They are not worthy of her.

"C'mon," Eli beckoned (Y/N) as they walked a few blocks to the museum.

White marble, and the size of two condos, they went in with free admission as it was a very important exhibit to celebrate the museum's anniversary.

"Wow... the paintings..." (Y/N) said, gravitating toward them first. They were full of life and stories, which was her attraction.

"Is that all?" Eli asked, slightly mocking, slightly disappointed.

"You may like those wax statues, and taxidermy, but paintings have more stories than what the rest could offer..." (Y/N) said.

"But statues are so lifelike you feel like he's alive. Such attention to detail!" Eli said.

(Y/N) shivered, "No offense, but that's kinda... creepy."

"What is?" Eli asked, oblivious.

"An inanimate object looking alive. It's like you know it's not alive, but you can feel it..."

Eli shrugged, "Why not? That's a bravo for an artist. In fact, it reminds me of my mortality... the fact that we died, but we will still live and preserve just thanks to art. Like you never died..."

(Y/N) shivered again, "Sometimes I forget that you are that weird."

Eli half smiled, she was still the same blunt straight forward person, no filter with her at all. So, at least you know that she wasn't lying to you...

"So? In fact, if it were me, I would like to preserve myself like that," he waved at the statues, "To still look alive even when my own soul departs..."

(Y/N) made a face, "Still weird. But wouldn't that make people who grief for you even harder, you know, if you look more alive than dead?"

"No, it won't," Eli said softly, "If she were to be more alive, then I would think she was still there with me, instead of gone... I never wanted that."

The way his voice quieted, (Y/N) said, "Your Mom?"

Eli nodded, and (Y/N) sympathetically patted his shoulder.

They were 5 when Eli's mother died, of cancer. It was a bit of a mess, that funeral, when Eli's mother was buried, he kept screaming for his mother, and ran to her, if his father didn't stop him. It wasn't hard to blame for his behavior, death is hard for everyone.

"After that... I always wanted to preserve their bodies... more lifelike, so that at least, it's like they are sleeping..." Eli said, patting his stuffed bird.

"It's been 11 years, Eli," (Y/N) said softly, "I'm sorry that I have to bring back painful memories."

Eli went back out of his reverie, and went back smiling at (Y/N) who was putting her full attention to him, "It's alright. You can't stop your own truths."

But (Y/N) was still a little guilty, and said, "Let's explore some more."

All the exhibits were well done and interesting, that they were at the museum for hours before they retired and went to the park. They both sat down on a bench, and (Y/N) spoke up.

"Thanks for the trip. You also gave me an excuse to escape training," (Y/N) said.

"Even after knowing all this time, I still can't believe that you are a pop star. You always wanted to live a normal life, as far as I knew," Eli mused.

"Yeah... watching anime, playing otome games, saving every Pins of those hot vampies from DL and squealing at all my fanfic's faves..." I daydreamed.

"Forget what I said about normal," Eli said immediately, half laughing at (Y/N)'s fantasy amd half irked at them because he wanted her to have her eyes on only him... only him.

"Whoever said I was normal?" (Y/N) laughed, "I'm weird and proud of it."

"Yeah, I remember when we were both weirdos... me with my food ideas and you with your..."

"Fangirling," (Y/N) said, "But other girls do it too, they are just not extreme about it."

Eli snorted, "And even when I hated the fact that they always mocked me for it, you seem to take it in stride."

"Damn right I do. Why should I let how others dictate my life. Our lives are our own and deal with it if I live the way I wanted," (Y/N) said.

"Which is why I was always so attracted to you since we were children. You were always there for me..." Eli said.

"I only helped you stand up for yourself. It was no biggie," (Y/N) said. In kindergarten, a lot of kids bullied Eli for his food ideas, labeling him as the disgusting child, but (Y/N) always stood up for him when he was teased mercilessly. At that time, (Y/N) had no idea why they were so mean to a boy, who was just being himself. Since then, they were friends.

"But you were the first... and ever since, I have always wanted to repay you... but the chance never came out. Now, maybe someday, I can repay you back..." Eli said, with a look on his face. He was now facing (Y/N) with that look, both hands on his face.

(Y/N) scooted back a bit, "Please stop making that face..."

"What face?" Eli asked, now hands dropping to the side as he gave her a puzzled look.

(Y/N) sighed when the look gone out, "I dunno, but when you just gave off that look... it's called the yandere face, and I dunno 'bout you, but seeing it in real life is a thousand times creepy. I just wanted to run away."

"OK, if it bothers you, I won't make that face. By the way, what's a yandere?" Eli asked.

"I forgot that you don't really watch much anime. Yanderes are stalkers, obsessed with their target and wants the person of their obsessions to themselves. In fact, i'm writing that type of story..." (Y/N) trailed off.

"Now, that suits you better than being a pop star. I remembered how active your imagination was, and how many stories you always told me. C'mon, tell me..." Eli said.

And (Y/N) did. Eli listened, watching her expression morphed to one phase to another. She was truly beautiful, a person that helped him too many times, and was always there when you needed her.

He had to keep her, treasure her, lo-

His thoughts were stopped from a phone's beep, coming from (Y/N).

She fumbled for her phone and whitened slightly when she saw the text.

She immediately stood up, and said, "It's nice seeing and catching up, but if I don't go now, Lyla will have my hide." She kissed Eli on the cheek before leaving.

"That's thanks for everything. For being my friend, don't worry about paying me back, alright? Without you, I wouldn't probably be the person I am now," (Y/N) said and finally left.

Eli immediately touched his cheek when she left, promising never to wash it. The feel so intensely... good.

Despite what she said, he will still find ways to pay her back.

And much more...