Eleven

Elijah had always looked forward to poetry night on Fridays. Though sometimes he would sit on his bed which was only big enough for one person and weighed his options of whether he should go or not. He loved poetry night, listening to everyone's own little story about something, whether it be personal or just voicing their options on something. Elijah enjoyed it but every time he walked through the door of the community center he would never bring anything to the plate. Soon enough molly would be asking why he hadn't written anything in the past few weeks, almost a month.

Elijah could simply tell her he's in a rut, which would undoubtedly be the truth but he couldn't. The more he accept that he couldn't bring anything to a white sheet of paper, that inspiration had stopped flowing from the tip of his pen. He feared he would no longer find the strength to walk through the doors of the community center. There were many people who came to the poetry group to listen but they only stopped by so often. Elijah loved the small area reserved solely for poetry he even sat through countless nights of sitting on the hardness of the folded chair.

That was the place he met Carly and Molly. It bought about new relationships that Elijah was thankful for. Poetry for him was more than just writing down on the sheet of paper, it was putting a piece of your heart if not the whole of it into words, telling the things you found hard to say, shaping them in any form one wished. Poetry was a part of his life yet he couldn't bring the light of life back into it.

Tonight was different though, he wasn't going to worry as he was too excited and nervous to even think of giving himself a beating before heading to the community center. Elijah had anticipated the day, waiting for evening to fall so he could get ready. The word 'date' rung through his mind like a melodical lullaby, sending him into a world of unexplored emotions that he found a sense of bliss in.

Elijah didn't expect for Scott to say the four letter word. The person he'd admired from afar only being able to talk to him under circumstances in which he didn't know it was actually him, Elijah thanked the day he walked into the bookstore and met him. That he was able to maintain and control himself as he hung around Scott. Their meeting might just spark a flame in a fire that Elijah thought had lost its flame some time ago.

For a date --which he still find hard to say without his cheeks turning red-- he hadn't expect it would first be at the poetry night. Even though he was the one who suggested it, he felt he should've picked someplace else. He loved the place but he felt like he wouldn't have a chance to talk with Scott since they would mostly be listening and not interrupting the poet on stage.

If he would just be able to bask in the presence of Scott then that should be enough. Elijah fixed his hair once more, thinking it wasn't good enough in the pervious position. He'd went for simple brown khaki pants and a burgundy sweater. Elijah wanted to strip right down to his underwear and start all over but time didn't allow it. Did he look good? Was it too simple or flashy?. He gave himself a one over, sighing thinking he would have to make due with what he was wearing.

His eyes then settled on his face, should he ditch the glasses? Did it make him look like what they would say a 'nerd'? Elijah had always been told by people that he had memorizing blue eyes that he his behind his glasses. He didn't wear contacts so he didn't find it necessary to keep any. He could call Carly but she was likely trying to get a story done. He'll just have to stick with his glasses.

The sound of his phone ringing pulled him from his reverie. He walked over to his small desk that was now limited in papers and pen scattered around. Taking up the device, his breath was caught in his throat. Scott was calling him, his fingers slid over the answer button before he could think what to say.

"H-Hey Scott" Elijah said, slapping himself on the forehead as it didn't come out the way he wanted it to.

"Hey Elijah" the person replied, he let out a breath of relief when he realized it wasn't Scott and that he didn't have to hear his awkward answering of the phone. "Sorry to burst your bubble but this isn't Scott, its Maddie remember me?"

Elijah indeed remembered her, she was Scott's little sister and he also remembered how they stuck together like glue; inseparable. "Yeah I do" he said, sounding more calm.

"The thing is I need you to come and pick up my darling older brother" Maddie said from the other end, sounding more like a demand than a request.

"Sure" Elijah replied, the more he thought the more it kept feeling more like a date.

"What are you doing with my phone?" He heard another voice. This time he was sure it was Scott's voice. "Don't tell me...."

"See you in twenty" Maddie laughed before ending the call.

Elijah pulled the phone away from his ears, he crouched to the floor, pressing his hand against his chest. A switch was flipped at the sound of Scott's voice, he was in for a whirlpool of emotions tonight.

**

Elijah remembered clearly where Scott had lived, right next to the Hamptons house. It dawned on him as he drove to to Scott's house, how does his family felt living right next door to where such a foul crime was committed. Elijah would be scared out of his mind but with the perpetrator caught and having the faith to stand against such evil that threatened their neighbourhood, not making the group of people with such unsavoury behaviour push them to the limit of ruining their day to day life, frightening them into a corner. But that didn't mean Scott and his family wasn't scared along with everyone else in the neighbourhood.

Mikey was from around these areas. Elijah was sure Mikey along with everyone else on the baseball team knew Mrs. Hampton. As he passed the house with only a few lights on, Elijah wondered how Mikey must feel that the one person who cheered them on the most died by the hands of one of the people he hung around. Intentionally or unintentionally, Elijah wanted to know how he felt.

He pulled up in front of the Finnegan's home. Taking a deep breath, fixing his hair and adjusting his attire before exiting the car. This was his second time at Scott's house and now it was nerve racking. He knocked on the door a few times, wiping his sweaty palms and darting around for some kind of distraction.

"You must be Elijah" a brunette haired woman who smiled fondly at him with blue eyes like his own but darker. "Come on in"

"Thank you" Elijah said, allowing himself entrance. He hoped she didn't realize he was nervous.

She guided him towards the living room where Maddie sat with her baby along with someone who looked to be Scott's dad. The only person missing was Scott himself. Mr. Finnegan looked up at Elijah, his gaze made Elijah felt that one wrong move and he would regret it.

"Don't just stand there" Maddie said, patting to the area beside her.

He took shakily steps to his seat, Mr. Finnegan not taking his gaze off him. Elijah could feel his palms getting more sweaty and his nervousness getting blown through the roof.

"Elijah was it" Mr. Finnegan finally said, Elijah nodded immediately. "I heard you're going on a date with my son"

"Yes, we're going to the community center for poetry night" Elijah explained, his voice was shakily and almost inaudible.

"Take good care of him" To Elijah it sounded more like 'break his heart and you'll have to face me' but to David it was just a simple take care of his son.

"Stop scaring the poor boy" Mrs. Finnegan entered back into the room, sitting beside her husband.

"I'm not doing any" Mr. Finnegan replied, smiling as his wife nested beside him. "I'm just having a casual conversation with Elijah"

It was hard to believe this was the same man from before. "I'm just glad that Elijah here is bringing Scott on a date" he looked towards Elijah and smiled.

"Here's the main person of tonight" Maddie said when she saw Scott entered the room.

Elijah turned his head to look at Scott. He was at a loss for words, the wind knocked out of him by the sight of Scott. Elijah automatically stood to his feet and walked over to Scott. "You look great" Elijah complimented him. Did his voice sound steady? Did he managed to say the words without faltering?

"Thank you" Scott replied, his gaze flashed behind Elijah looking at his sister who was smiling and parents who silently clapped and gave him a thumbs up.

"I placed what you needed just outside the garage" Mr. Finnegan said to Scott, making Elijah knit his brow in confusion. What did they need?

"Now you two should get going" Mrs. Finnegan said, getting up and pushing them towards the front door before Scott started having second thoughts. "No need to rush home" she gave Elijah a hug and kissed Scott on his cheeks before leaving them in an awkward silence.

"Sorry about my parents" Scott apologized, as they walked towards the garage.

"Don't worry about" Elijah told him, walking close enough that he could smell flowers like on the sunny morning of a new day in spring each passing wind that tickled Scott's skin. Elijah felt like he was in a meadow of freshly blooming flowers. "You have a nice family, a scary father but non the less nice"

Scott chuckled, "sorry about him" he apologized again.

"No need to" as they neared the garage, Elijah saw two bicycles resting against the wide garage door. "Bicycles?" Elijah raised a brow.

"I hope you don't mind" Scott said, hesitating to finish his words. "I have a thing with cars so I tend to stay away from them" Elijah noticed how Scott was reluctant in saying those words. He didn't want to make Scott feel bad about the things he feel uncomfortable with.

"I haven't rode one of these in years" Elijah smiled, walking towards one of the bicycle. They looked to be a few years old, probably from Scott's childhood days.

"This one seems stuck" Elijah frowned as he tried spinning the paddles. Scott did the same of his to ensure it was working. "We're stuck with one" Elijah added noticing Scott's own was working.

Scott didn't know what to say, he stood there weighing his options on what to do when Elijah walked over to him. "I have an idea but I don't know if your up to it. I use to do it a lot when I was a kid"

Scott had a faint idea when he  saw Elijah pushing the bicycle down the driveway. "Get on" Elijah said, his foot resting on one of the paddles while the other rested on the ground.

"I don't think that's a good idea" Scott said, reluctant to get on.

"Just sit and I'll do all the work" Elijah turned towards Scott. "I promise I won't let anything happen to you"

Scott hesitantly sat on the leather seat, his feet resting on the rear axles.

"Now put your arms around me" as the words made Elijah's cheeks burned and his heart race they wouldn't reach the community center without Scott's burning touch on his waist. "Next I want you to trust me"

Scott didn't put his arms around Elijah making him feel like he'd crossed the line and said something Scott didn't want to hear but when he felt nervous hands snaked its way around his wist as they set off into the night. The wind brushing against their skin. Elijah felt truly happy.

**

They arrived a few minutes late for poetry night but that didn't stop them. Scott became invested with each passing poet that he couldn't pry his eyes away. Elijah on the other hand couldn't keep his eyes off Scott. The ride was still fresh in his mind, it felt like they were on a journey just the two of them lost in a separate world just to themselves. Tonight was by far the best poetry night for Elijah.

"Thank you yet again" Scott said as they made way to the bicycle. "Tonight was great but I wished we had the opportunity to talk more with you"

"I wished so too" Elijah replied. "I'm glad you enjoyed your first poetry night and even though we didn't talk much I enjoyed just being with you" he admitted.

"I can't help but think why you were so persistent on binging me here"

"Honestly, when we met at the bookstore I thought that you had so much to say and that you could write a beautiful poem" Elijah replied honestly. "I might be wrong though"

"I've never written a poem before. I don't think I could write anything as good as those inside" Scott rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Do you write?"

"Not at the moment" Elijah said dejectedly.

"Maybe one day I'll hear your work" Scott said, walking closer to Elijah. "Is it okay if I...umm..if...I" Scott couldn't get what he wanted to do into words but Elijah nodded either way.

Elijah's eyes widen when Scott took him into a hug, he could tell how nervous Scott was or was it just him. He fell into the hug, his arms resting on Scott's back, he could feel his warmth but he could also tell Scott was feeling distanced from the hug even though they were so close to each other.