6: fredbear's family diner

"Thank you," I mumbled. 

This loser with Daddy issues has been bed-rotting for the past 3 days, and my brother has been checking on me every few hours to make sure I don't kill myself.

I emailed my teachers all of my homework, and they sent me the stuff I needed to do so I would stay caught up, especially in my AP classes.

My brother pushed open my door, walked over to my bed, and got in bed with me.

"Dude, what are you doing?"

"Making sure you don't kill yourself," my brother said, and I felt my throat go dry.

"I won't," I said as my voice cracked.

He pulled me closer and kissed my head.

"You better not; I don't know what I'll do without you," my brother said, and I heard him gulp.

"You'll be fine."

"I don't think I will," my brother said, and this time his voice cracked.

We stayed in silence.

"Has that fucker called you?" Daniel said, breaking the silence

"Yes."

"Have you answered?"

"No. I haven't."

"Why?" my brother asked me.

"He probably thinks I'm a fucking weirdo," I said honestly.

"Oh," my brother said as he rubbed my back. Yeah.

"Same with Nate and Kegan. They've been calling me, and Kegan hates me, so I know it's bad if he is calling me. But I don't want to face them because of what happened. Elijah probably told them, I am a freak with a crazy fucking brother," I said and Daniel squeezed me tighter but didn't say anything.

"So, did he do anything to you that night?" Daniel asked as he pushed my hair out of my eyes. He didn't listen to a word I just said.

"No, I already told you that," I said, and he sighed.

"I had a nightmare; that's what happened," I added.

"About what?"

I gulped.

My throat was feeling dry again, and I felt like crying.

"Dad." I forced my voice out, and my brother looked down at me.

"Dad? What about him? I know he used to hit you when we were all out. Was it about that?" Daniel said. I sighed. He raised an eyebrow at me

I felt a nasty pit in my stomach.

I was going to tell him. I had to.

"Please don't tell Mom," I said, and I gulped again.

"Don't tell mom what?"

"Please, Danny, just promise me you won't tell Mom, okay?" 

"Jesus, I promise, now just tell me." and he raised his arms, laughing. He brought his hands back down to where they were

"I'll tell her after when I'm ready," I said.

"Hurry up and stop being a weirdo," he said, rolling his eyes at me.

"It was about Dad sexually assaulting me," I mumbled, and I watched Daniel's face fill with rage as his nails dug into my sides.

"About him doing what?" I could feel the anger in his voice. He kept blinking, and I could feel his breathing pick up.

"Danny, you are hurting me," I said, and he let go.

"Dad sexually assaulted you? How many times? Oh, baby, please tell me how many times," Daniel said as he looked like he was fighting tears and rage.

I looked at him.

"Tell me how many fucking times!" Daniel screamed. I felt myself jolt.

"It started when I was around 8, and then it stopped a few days before he died, so I don't know how many times, but only when you guys weren't home," I said. I was starting to hyperventilate.

"I don't know; I haven't thought about it in a couple of years, but your mentioning him the day I had the nightmare just sparked me to start to spiral and think about him,'' I said, and Daniel looked at me with this look of disgust.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you from him," Daniel said, and I watched as he stood up.

"Danny?" I got up to follow him.

"Please don't look at me differently; I would have told you, but you love Dad," I said. "I didn't want to ruin that relationship you had with him."

"You will always be my baby brother, no matter what happens to you. You will always be my baby brother," Daniel was crying. Oh, that. I felt my heart start to break and my lips start to tremble.

"Oh, baby, don't cry," my brother said, and he squeezed me. He gave me the biggest hug I have ever gotten in my life.

Now the two of us were stupidly hugging in the hallway—me, who hasn't showered in 3 days, and Daniel's shirtless sweatpants ass, who hadn't left the house either.

He let go of me, and he pushed open his room. He grabbed every photo of Dad.

"He's dead to me and was never my father. My father would never lay a hand on my brother, so he's not my father," Daniel said, and he grabbed his lighter.

"I thought you quit smoking?"

"I did; I'm not going to throw away a perfectly good lighter though," he said, and I watched as he lit every photo he had of Dad and him or just Dad.

"The smoke-." The smoke alarm started to blare.

Daniel laughed as he stomped the stuff out and opened a window.

"Go shower; you stink," Daniel said, and I nodded as I walked into the bathroom. Are you sure it's not you lighting shit on fire?

He sat his ass on the toilet and started scrolling through TikTok.

"Get out, weirdo," I said, laughing as I got in the shower.

"You aren't leaving my sight," he spat, and I started to bathe.

That line was short-lived because he went to buy me and him ramen, leaving me home by myself.

Me: You stupid fuck. You forgot your keys.

I laughed at his fuck, and I closed my phone.

I sat down in bed and finished up the final two problems of my math homework.

Great, very nice.

I grabbed my phone and took a picture of my homework.

Hello,

I hope all is well, and I'm once again sorry I'm not in class, but I have been getting the notes online and following them to get my homework done. Here is the one due tomorrow and the one due today that I already sent you. When I'm feeling better enough for class, we can talk and catch up. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Alex

I heard a loud banging on the front door.

I quickly rushed downstairs because my ramen was finally here.

I threw open the door.

Before I could even process anything, Elijah stepped into my house and shut my front door.

"Uh I, what are you doing here?" I asked. He looked pissed as fuck.

"Ditched practice," he said, getting closer to me. I stepped back.

"Do I scare you so much that you are going to back away from me?" Elijah said, and he rolled his eyes.

I wasn't used to this side of him.

This irritated, angry, and explosive side of him that he hid very well.

It's kind of hot.

Okay, that was problematic.

"No, I just don't. Uh. What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I thought you killed yourself; that's why." Elijah spat, and he grabbed my wrist and pulled me close to him.

"I don't want to hurt you, but I've been worried sick," he said, hugging me and mumbling into my neck.

"I've barely known you for a week or two," I said awkwardly, patting his back.

"I know, but it feels like I've known you for longer," Elijah says, looking at me.

"I've called you, Nates called you, and even Kegan has, and still no response. And every time I come here, Daniel chases me away," Elijah says.

"You came here?" I asked and he nodded. Daniels is a little fuck, but I don't think I could confront Elijah for the past 3 days, let alone now but I'm happy he's here now in front of me

"For the past few days, actually. And I was told you didn't want to see me," Elijah snapped.

"I-."

I heard banging on the front door.

"Go hide," I said and Elijah, without a second question, ran up the stairs.

I opened the door.

"You're stupid," I said, taking my ramen and walking towards the stairs.

"I saw his red convertible outside. Go on, show me where he is," Daniel said, hitting me with the ramen bag as I walked up the stairs.

"What's his name? El. ELIJAH! You've been caught; come out, you fucking idiot," Daniel screamed as we walked into my room. What happened to not embarrassing me?

Elijah was lying on the floor, and Daniel sighed.

"Sorry," Elijah mumbled.

"You can lay on the bed, but no getting handsy with him," my brother said, and then walked out. Okay, he redeemed himself for not embarrassing me.

Elijah lay on my bed as I sat down and ate my ramen.

"You being angry is very funny," I said in between bites.

"Why?" He said he was laughing. "You've got a thing for angry guys?"

I laughed.

"That's not a no; should I be angry more often then?" He said it with his eyebrow raised.

I laughed again. Not answering that out loud, but yes. Yes, you should.

He was very good-looking. I was aware of it, but I was not this aware.

He just has a very sexy build and a big body. And everything about him just fell so nicely; he was perfect.

His lips are so perfect; they are still pinched up and perfect.

And his hair was lovely, and his curls just fit his face perfectly.

Everything about him made me feral, especially his-.

"I think it's just out of character for you to be angry," I said while eating some more. I need my mind to stay focused and just eat. 

"It's sadly genetic, and I'm very bad at covering this terrible angry side of me," he said, pushing his curls out of his face. You are so sexy.

"I beg to differ; you are very good at it," I said, and he shrugged.

He put his head on my pillow and continued to just watch me eat.

"You're pretty cool to be around. I know we have been kind of forced together because of my weird-ass best friend and his fascination with Nate, but I'm glad. You are cool and not bad to look at either," he said, rolling on his back.

"You're a sweet talker," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Eh," he said, shrugging again. He looked like he was lost in thought 

"What's on your mind?" I asked him.

"My mom's pregnant." that's so random, oh my god

"God damn, your parents are still active?" I asked laughing and he nodded.

"I'm happy for them because my mom's overjoyed and my dad's happy; she's happy," Elijah said, looking up at my ceiling.

"Is there something else?"

He didn't answer. 

Okay then.

I finished my ramen and got up to go throw it away downstairs.

"I'm going to take this, Kegans calling me," Elijah said, and I nodded.

"Danny, are you done with your food?" I asked, pushing his door open.

"Yeah," he said, handing me his bowl, and I walked downstairs.

"He didn't do anything to you, did he?" Daniel asked.

"No, he's a good guy," I said, and Daniel went back to his room.

I threw my stuff out and made my way back up the stairs.

Elijah was talking very loudly to Kegan on the phone.

"Unlike you, I don't flirt with the whole fucking world. He already thinks it's weird that I'm angry, let alone flirting, especially your type of flirting," he said. Why am I spying on him right now?

Flirt with who? Why do I keep stressing myself out about these situations? I'm hyperventilating again.

I could hear Kegan mumble something.

"Hey, I've been fucking worrying about you so much that it's genuinely messing me up, and my coach benched me for the first game because I can't focus. And to add insult to injury, hey, I'm going to say some bullshit excuse and leave your house because your boxers cover NOTHING and I'm too busy looking at your ass like a CREEP. Like, why would I say that? He's going to hate me if I say that, and his brother, Daniel or whatever the fuck, who already hates my ass, will skin me alive if he finds out I was ogling his brothers ass," Elijah said.

Flattered, consider me flattered.

I turned around and pushed Daniel's door open.

"What?"

"I'm looking for pajama pants."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to make Elijah uncomfortable," I said.

Daniel stood up.

"Sit down; I'm fine," I said, and he sat back down but glared daggers at me.

I put on his pajamas and walked into my room.

"I'll call you later," Elijah said, and he ended the call.

He watched me as I walked in.

"Why'd you put on pants?"

"Because I can? Why do you want to look at my ass?" I don't know what came over me but I immediately started having second thoughts about the words that just came out of my mouth.

Elijah smirked and propped himself up on the bed.

"Why are you giving me that look?" I asked, laughing.

He continued to give me this weird look with that sexy smirk.

"No reason," he said, laughing. 

"Are you going to come to the game tomorrow?" Elijah asked, completely changing the subject.

"Babe, I haven't been to school in 3 days; why would I-." I stopped mid-sentence. Because I want to see my sexy fake boyfriend play football, that's why.

"I'll ask my chauffeur. He'll probably say no because he's blaming himself for literally everything right now and won't let me leave the house because of it," I said, jokingly.

"Sounds more like a dad than an older brother," Elijah said. He's nothing like my dad; he's not my dad. He's. I looked at Elijah. 

It wasn't his fault; he didn't know, but he just hit a nerve.

I felt my breathing start to pick up.

"I'm sorry, did I say something?" Elijah asked, and my chest heaved as I looked around. My room was starting to spin, oh god. Oh god.

"Hey, hey," Elijah said, reaching out for my hands.

I gulped. I'm panicking. I'm panicking.

"Do you want me to call your brother?" I didn't want to freak him out.

But Danny always helped me calm down.

"Can you just-." I stopped myself. God, I feel like vomiting. Oh god.

Elijah wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me in towards him. 

"You are okay; I'm never going to hurt you," he said, rubbing my side.

I felt myself slowly stop freaking out.

God, I didn't used to do this.

I calmed down finally, and Elijah checked if I was okay. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry, that was very embarrassing," I said. Now I'm reacting to the word dad weird.

"It's okay," Elijah said.

Daniel pushed open the door, and he sighed.

"He's helping me, Danny," I explained. He wasn't buying it.

"Get out," Daniel said, and Elijah sighed.

"Text me if you need anything," he said, getting one more squeeze in a little too close to my ass.

My face became flustered as Elijah walked to the door.

"I hope you come tomorrow," Elijah said, looking back at me.

"Come where? It's a Saturday." Daniel said this in the doorway, blocking Elijah from leaving.

"There's a football game tomorrow night, and I thought it would be cool if he came," Elijah said.

Daniel sighed.

"If anything happens to him, I will kill you," Daniel said, letting Elijah go.

"Does that mean he can go?" 

"Whatever."

Whatever is a yes. I smiled as Elijah walked, and my brother gave me this weird look.

Yes. 

Yes.

Yes.

"What are you wearing?" Daniel said, standing in the doorway, looking at me in my mirror.

"I don't know. Okay, so momma bought me these pants, and I think they are just. They look cute but ugly on me," I said, and Daniel walked in and sat on the bed.

"They look good—tight but good," Daniel said.

"Stop looking at my ass."

"As your brother, these are cute, and I love them. As one of these random ass guys you go to school with, it makes your ass look big."

"Is that a bad thing?" I said, turning around.

"Eh, not necessarily," Daniel said.

"Wear this too," he said, handing me a jacket.

"Someone peaked in high school," I said, putting it on. It had Daniel's name on it in all caps and all of the shit he's won on it. It was insane how much stuff he has on here.

I put on my tennis shoes and I looked pretty okay.

I had on a cute shirt that matched the dragon pattern going up and around my ass.

"Let's go then," Daniel said and Isaac ran in.

"Ahh, my baby," I said, picking him up as we walked.

He babbled nonsense to me as we walked, and my mom was cooking dinner in the kitchen.

"You look cute, honey, but are you sure about the pants? They are a little tight," my mom also said.

"Should I change?" I asked, and she shook her head.

"They look good, baby," she said, and she took Isaac from me.

She smiled.

"Wait, let me get a picture," she said, handing me back Isaac.

I smiled, and Daniel put an arm around my shoulder.

She took the picture.

"Okay, go, baby. I sent it to both of you," she said, taking Isaac back.

We waved Mom off as I and Daniel walked to his car.

I sat down, and he started driving.

We sat in his crusty radio static silence as he drove.

"When are you going to tell mom?" He said it, breaking my train of thought.

"I don't know." Never.

"You have to tell her." No, I don't.

"I know." And it hurts.

We made it to my school, and there were a lot of people there.

"Call me if anyone tries to mess with you," Daniel said, and I nodded.

Thank God I came late because I can't hold conversations with people that long.

I showed them my school ID because they let you in for free if you go here, which I do. I walked around and scanned the area. A whole lot of people.

"Hi." Oh, it was Mike.

"Hi Mike," I said. He was with his friends. This is awkward.

"You must be Alex; Mike has been talking a lot about you," the guy said, draping an arm around my shoulder. Not even 5 minutes in, and I'm already uncomfortable.

"Really?" I just met him.

"Talking about how easy you are," the guy mumbled in my ear as he squeezed my ass.

His friends laughed, and so did Mike.

Douchebag.

I immediately pulled the guy's arm off of me.

"It was nice seeing you, Mike; maybe next time get your stupid ass out of lunch detention and find better friends," I spat, and all his friends were going ooo. I ate him up with that. No, I didn't, but we are going to pretend. 

"He'll come back; he wants me; I know it," Mike said, and I felt myself seething. I don't want your dick; I want you dead, babe.

I felt an arm go around me.

"Hi, Sanchez." It was Kegan, and I have never been more happy to see him.

"I saw you touch his ass," Kegan said with a smile to the guy who did that.

"Ew, I'm not gay-." Oh shit. His nose was definitely broken after that.

"Trust me, let Elijah see you, and you would have something way worse than a punch coming," Kegan said, dragging me out of that, thankfully.

"What do-."

"It's just bait to get them to fuck off; it's not real," Kegan said, letting go of me, and I followed him. Oh. I wish it was, but I guess not. 

"There's my bunny. BUNNY!" Kegan yelled as he walked over to Nate and kissed him.

Okay, I'm still not used to that.

"Are you guys dating now? What did I miss?" I asked.

"Kegan doesn't put labels on stuff," Nate spat, and Kegan sighed.

"Where have you been anyway?"

"At home, bed rotting, I had some issues, and they are slightly better now, so I'm here," I said, and Nate nodded. He was going to crack me open on FaceTime one of these nights.

The same thing continued, and from whatever Kegan was saying, we were winning.

"Maybe you should make a move on Elijah," Kegan said, instigating.

"Nope."

"You in these pants are already making a move on him," Nate added.

"Is anyone on my fucking side?"

The two of them laughed.

"We should go to the locker room so you can see your man all nice and sweaty," Kegan said, leading me and Nate towards the locker room.

There, Elijah is talking to some girl.

Good for him. Good for him.

"You came!" He pushed past the girl and quickly pulled me in for a sweaty, disgusting hug.

"You called." References that this stupid fuck won't even get.

"Kegan!" The girl said she was basically bouncing over to him.

"Go in the locker room now," Elijah whispered, and the two of them pushed past the girl and into the locker room.

Elijah was looking down at me as he took his helmet off.

"You look good. I'm glad you got yourself out of bed," he said. Got me smiling and shit. 

"I'm glad I did as well. For the looks of it, you played well," I said, and he nodded.

"Yeah," he said. He was looking down at me still, but studying my face like he was once again, like yesterday, lost in thought.

"You want to go get something to eat?" He asked, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.

"Is that a date?" I asked, walking in front of him, to lead him away from this girl.

He went quiet as we walked into the locker room.

"It's a joke," I said, turning back around, and I watched his eyes dart up to mine. Bruh, looking at my ass. 

"No, I'd love for it to be a date. We could, uh, double date with Nate and Kegan and dump the bill on him." Elijah said, cranking his neck to the side.

"I like how you think." I'm excited.

I pressed Daniel's contact.

"Elijah, Nate, and Kegan are going to go to a diner after the game if that's fine,'' I said.

"Yeah, I just want you to be home," he said, and I nodded.

"Okay, I love you." The line went dead.

"He's letting you go?"

"Yep!" I said, and Elijah smiled at me.

He's so handsome, oh my god. Back to what I said yesterday about how feral I get when I see this man.

I followed Elijah into the locker room.

Kegan and Nate were talking about something.

"Momma, let you bring your hellcat?" Elijah said, and Kegan turned around. Damn, what were they talking about? Because Nate looks irritated. 

"No, bruh, I'm still stuck in her Honda," Kegan said, leaning up against the lockers.

"Okay, well, me, you, Nate, and Alex should go on a double date at the diner near your house," Elijah said, and Kegan nodded.

"That sounds cool; I'm down. I don't know about Nate, though; he's a little mad at me right now."

"What did you do?" I said, butting into their conversation.

"Nothing," Kegan said, laughing, and walked over to Nate.

"Bunny-."

"Don't fucking call me that," Nate snapped. Damn, what did he do?

"Nathaniel, Elijah invited us to go eat with them at a diner. Do you want to come? Are you going to be annoying the rest of the night?" Kegan said I feel like they are like an old married couple or something.

Nate's face lit up as he looked at me. "Are you going?" I nodded.

"Yes, oh my god, I would love to come," Nate said, and I smiled.

"Okay, we can take my car, and then I will drop everyone off, and Kegan, you can come pick up your car after or something," Elijah said, and he nodded.

Elijah opened his locker and started throwing his football shit into it. He took off whatever the fuck the outfit is called, put on some jean shorts, and kept on the athletic shirt with the sleeves cut off of it. 

He put on a watch and then sprayed himself with whatever cologne he had in his locker.

"Okay, let's roll," Elijah said, and he grabbed his bags. The four of us walked to Elijah's car. 

He put his stuff in the back seat and opened the passenger seat door for me.

"I'm not sitting with him," Nate said. Aren't you literally dating?

I rolled my eyes and let Nate sit in the front.

I sat my ass next to Kegan in the back. 

"Wait, why can't Nate sit in the back with me?"

"Shut the fuck up. Always gotta ask so many questions," Kegan snapped as Elijah pulled off. Bitch.

"Don't talk to him like that," Elijah snapped back at Kegan. Damn, the whole car was in a bad mood.

After a while of driving in silence, Nate broke it, "Alex, are you doing anything tomorrow?"

"Probably homework," I said, and Nate nodded.

"Why?"

"I was just wondering," Nate said. Elijah pulled into the parking lot of this place that was literally called Diner. 

Elijah pulled up the top of his car, and we all got out and walked into the diner.

"Table for 4, please," Kegan said.

"Okay, right this way," the lady said, and she walked us to a table.

Nate shoved me into one side of the booth and sat next to me. Why are me and my bae being used as pawns for these fools?

"Are you guys celebrating anything today?"

"Yes," Kegan said with a smile.

"It's his birthday," Kegan said, pointing at Nate. I looked at Nate.

"Oh, what's his name?"

"Nate."

"Okay, we will make sure to sing happy birthday to him," and the lady walked off after handing us our menus.

"You are a bitch," Nate spat, and he kicked Kegan's leg. Kegan laughed with a smile. It was not Nate's birthday. 

The four of us all got our orders, and Nate and Kegan continued to bicker and be irritating.

And finally, the lady handed us our food.

"What did you get?" I asked Elijah.

"I don't know; it's okay. It's like something with pancakes," he said, continuing to eat with little bites.

"How about you?"

"Waffles, they are very good," I said with a smile, and he smiled at me. "That's good."

"Yeah," I said, eating my food. 

I watched as Kegan put some of his food on Nate's plate.

"I know you like it, bunny," he said, and I watched as Nate ate that part.

"See?"

We all continued to eat, and I watched Nate's leg go up. They are so goddamn weird, I can't even.

"Bunny," Kegan gave him a look.

Nasty. Fucking nasty! In front of my waffles?

"You want to go outside; you look stressed," Elijah asked.

I rubbed my face. Did I look stressed?

"Yeah, sure, let these two mack on each other," I said, laughing and grabbing one more bit of my waffles. 

"Alex," Nate called, and I turned around and watched Kegan slide his into the booth next to Nate. He would be fine; a few kisses wouldn't kill him

I shrugged as the fresh air from the door invaded my senses.

It was cold, but a nice cold. Elijah walked over to his car, and I watched as he put the roof down.

He climbed over the seats and sat down on the back of his back seat. If that makes sense.

I embarrassingly struggled to get into his car and then sat next to him.

He smiled at me and then looked up at the moon. A sexy man in the moonlight.

He sighed. "I love going on late-night drives after games. They make me happy."

"That's nice."

"It kind of makes me forget, well, everything. My parents, my classes, being class president, the whole world. It's just me and Ronda," Elijah said, smiling.

"Is Ronda your car?" I asked, and he looked at me.

"Are you going to add that to your list of my red flags?" Elijah said, laughing.

"My what?" I said, laughing with him. 

"Kegan said Nate has one for him."

"Probably because he is full of them."

"Fair point," Elijah said, laughing again.

God, he was so handsome when he smiled. His teeth were perfect, just like he was.

"I wouldn't put that on your list; I think it's endearing that you named your car," I said.

"So you do have a list?"

I rolled my eyes. 

"I'm joking, I'm joking," elijah said with his hands up. 

We stayed in silence as our laughter died down.

"What would be on that list?" He turned and looked at me.

"Hmm, that's a good question."

"Don't pretend like I don't have any."

"Trust me, I'm not," I laughed; Elijah didn't. My bad. 

"You are easy to read, but sometimes I don't know what you are thinking," I said.

"And that's a red flag?"

"Second red flag, feels the need to question every goddamn thing I have to say," I said, staring daggers at him.

He put his hands up.

"You were very cheery and kind when I first met you, but as I get to know you, you are very irritable, and whenever something doesn't go your way, you either snap or you just walk out," I said. He had no snarky remark about that.

"Don't ask for stuff you don't want to know the answer to," I said, and he mumbled something. 

"I had that coming; anything else?" he asked, being irritable again.

"This isn't necessarily a red flag, but-." I stopped myself.

"But?" Elijah asked with an eyebrow raised as he got closer to me.

You stare at my ass a lot, homeboy. 

"You are bad at keeping your eyes to yourself," I said, and we made eye contact. Damn, I'm sweating now. 

"And what's that supposed to mean?" He got closer to me.

"Stop looking at my ass."

"Oh me. I would never." He got closer. My heart was pounding, and I felt my chest heave.

"Really?" I got closer to him.

I could feel his breathing pattern. It was normal.

I blinked.

He was looking at me with this hazy look.

I closed my eyes. I couldnt. I pulled back.

"I-I. I'm sorry," I said, scooting back so we weren't as close.

I wasn't ready for that, no matter how much I wanted to kiss him. I couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to do it.

Not right now; I'm still not in the right headspace from the past few days.

I watched him lick his teeth. He was irritated.

Now it's awkward, and the cold no longer feels good as I feel it creep slowly up my spine.

"I'm sorry," I repeated, and I gulped. My breathing started to quicken, and I felt myself start to freak out. Oh god. Oh god.

Elijah sighed, grabbed my shoulder, and brought me into his chest.

I could hear his heartbeat. His heart was racing. He rubbed my hair.

"You're okay," he said, and I felt my heart slow down. I was calm; it was okay. It's okay. 

I pushed off of him.

"I'm sorry," I said again.

"Its fine," he said, and he swung his legs around and got out of his car.

"I'm going to go back inside," Elijah said awkwardly, and I watched as he walked back inside the diner.

I let him down. I'm hyperventilating again.

My stomach feels gross, and I feel like crying.

"What?"

"Danny, can you come pick me up?"

"What's wrong? He didn't hurt you, did he? I'm here," Daniel said.

I watched as a car in the parking lot was turned on.

"You've been here the whole time?"

"I don't fuck around when it comes to my brother and strange men," Daniel said.

I ended the call and quickly made my way over to his car.

I opened the door, and I slumped down in the passenger seat.

"Who do I need to kill?"

"Me." 

Daniel put his car in drive and pulled out of the parking lot.

"Why?"

"Elijah tried to kiss me."

"So he did hurt you?"

"Well, we didn't kiss because, well, I got all weird again. He hates me for sure now," I said, covering my face with my hands.

"No, he doesn't."

"He was mad."

"Did he outright say that?"

"Well, no, but I could tell he was irritated," I said as Daniel stopped at a red light.

"If he can't understand that you weren't ready, then he needs to stop being a bitch, simple as that. You are the prize, not him," Daniel said, pressing the gas pedal.

"Yeah," I mumbled. 

We pulled into the driveway and then into the garage.

"Thank you," I said, getting out and making my way into the house.

"How was the game?" my mom asked.

"Fine, I think we won," I said, trying to get past her.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, I'm going to go play video games," I said, quickly going up the stairs.

I opened my door, and I shut it.

Anything to keep my mind off it. Anything.

I turned on my PC and grabbed my Oculus.

Farmland love.

If I can't have him in real life because I'm awkward, I can have him in this stupid game.

"You're a fuck up." was the first thing I heard when I opened the game.

"And that's why Nate can't stand you," I snapped back at Kegan.

I clicked play, and it dropped my flat back into my room.

"Hi babe," I turned. Elijah was lying on my bed in the same clothes he had on today. 

See, when it's behind the screen, I have so much dare and balls.

"Your mom let me in," he said, reaching out for me.

Whatever, he's sexy and-.Suddenly, we are cuddling. I don't know how it happened, but we are in my bed cuddling, and he's telling me that he loves me.

I don't know how that happened. Some may say I am easily swooned by sexy men, but that's just a theory—a game theory. 

Elijah was rubbing my stomach and had me in a leg lock as he continued to blow at my ears.

"You are very much in my personal space bubble," I said.

"I like your bubble more than mine," he said, nicking my neck.

I laughed, and I felt his blowing stop.

"Why didn't you kiss me early today?"

I felt my heart jolt.

"What?"

"Earlier at the diner, you stopped. Why?" Elijah asked.

Hold up I thought it didn't correlate to real life. Wait, wait, what? What is happening? Is this real? Am I real? Is any of this real?

"I wasn't ready," I said, and he kissed my neck.

"I wish you told me that at the moment," Elijah said. He was a lot more understanding in this virtual world.

"I'm sorry," I said, and he flipped me over so I was facing him. He kissed my head.

"You are so handsome," Elijah said, smiling at me. 

"Why did you say it like that?"

"Say it like what?" like that. That deep voice is making me feral. My bad sexy. I'm so sorry I didn't kiss you earlier. I'm so sorry.

"Are you okay, baby?" Why isn't it socially acceptable to bark at your sexy man?

"Please, I beg, sir, talk normally," I said. My face was flushed, and I was fighting all of my instincts to not let this man have his way with me.

I think a famous scholar once said, The sexier the man, the more you lose your senses. 

He kissed my head and said, "I am talking normally."

"Can I kiss you now?" he asked me.

All of my senses were out of the window because a sexy man with a deep voice said so.

"Yes," I said a little to desperately.

He smiled at me. 

"You looking at me like that is making me crazy," I said.

He laughed, and he kissed my nose. "I like you like this."

"Like what?"

"Desperate."

"You are going to burn in hell; get off me, nasty," I said, trying to push Elijah off as he laughed. 

He leaned in and pressed his lips against mine. It felt a little stiff, but I tried my best to lean into him.

I felt his tongue rub against my bottom lip, and I felt my whole body relax. Survival instincts were turned off.

I opened my mouth, and I felt him push his tongue into my mouth and rub it against mine.

I felt my toes curl, and I heard myself moan as he kissed me.

He put his hands on my waist as he continued to kiss me.

Feral, feral for this man. I was feeling things that I had never felt before as I let him explore my mouth.

I heard a knock on the door.

Elijah pulled back and rolled his eyes.

"Go away," he yelled.

"Alex, I need to talk to you," Daniel said and Elijah groaned. He pulled away from me.

I pulled off my oculus. 

He pushed open my door.

He and my mom both walked in.

I looked at Daniel. 

"Danny told me something," my mom said.

He wouldn't. No way. He wouldn't.

"Why didn't you tell me you had a crush?" I felt my shoulders relax.

"Hold up, I didn't even tell you that," I said, pointing at Daniel, who was now lying on my bed.

"So you do have a crush on him?"

"Get out," I said, flopping on my bed.

"You are a snitch, and momma, don't listen to anything Danny says," I said, kicking Daniel in the stomach.

My mom smiled at us.

"As long as he will treat you well, I'm fine with it," my mom said.

"I'm not," Daniel said.

"No one cares, Danny," I said, rolling my eyes.

Whatever, I'll call Nate tomorrow and tell him what happened.