Seventeen

"Could you stop that" Maddie frowned from the far end of the couch, typing away on her laptop. "I'm trying to focus here"

"How am I disturbing you?" Scott chew on the end of his pen, looking at Maddie with a curious raised brow.

"You're over thinking so much its like your brain is fried sending all those smoke in the air" Maddie did some weird gesture with her hands. "I can smell your frustration all the way over here"

Scott looked back at his notebook before him. It was still blank just as when he took it from his dad and sat in the living area two hours ago. For the first in his life Scott was trying to write a poem, he believed when Elijah said he could write something beautiful. Was writing something that's suppose to be this hard until his brain fried like Maddie said.

"This is the second time since week you're doing this" Maddie pointed out. "You did it during dinner, sending all your emotions out making us curious"

Scott knew Maddie was referring to the day Elijah had call him. It was unexpected but non the less he answered the call and every second of it was worth it. When Scott heard the question Elijah threw at him, he knew exactly what he meant. Scott had felt that way a long time ago but it ended on a bitter note-- so bitter he could still taste the after effect.

Scott didn't expect to feel like that every again. That he couldn't trust anyone as far as he could throw them. Yet, here he was with a tug in his heart at the mere mention of Elijah's name. He could feel the bitterness fading from his tongue, being replaced with something rather sweet. Scott didn't know what the after effect would be after savouring something so sweet. One could say he was taking a risk but it didn't felt like that. It was more like he knew what he was heading in for, not fully sure what but he was ready to accept anything at this point.

"Gosh your doing it again" Maddie closed her laptop, her face saying she was curious as to what had her older brother sending hearts into mid air but tried to hide it behind frustrated eyes.

"Sorry?" Scott said not sure if he should apologize for gaining such emotions after such a long time or the fact that he was letting it pour from every inch of his body.

"Let's go for a walk" Maddie stood, pulling on Scott's arm for him to follow her.

Scott painfully uncrossed his legs, feeling the full effect of sitting there for so long. He'd taken breaks but not too many. He wasn't even sure if he could go on that walk with how stiff his legs felt. Maddie wasn't having that when she was standing by the door waiting for him. Scott started off like a toddler learning to walk, he was half okay by the time he was off the front porch.

It was refreshing to see the Holland children on their front lawn after so long. Despite recent events everyone wanted to keep a calm exterior. Mr. Hampton was out and tending to the rose bushed to the side of his front porch. To Scott's knowledge --mostly his mother who would stop by when Mr. Hamptons daughter was busy-- he was moving back with his daughter. The rose bushes must've reminded him of his late wife as he caressed the petals, lost to the current world we live in. The house held a lot of memories for the both of them, each scene being replayed much like now before Mr. Hamptons eyes. He was likely reminiscing about Mrs. Hampton tending to those very rose bushes. Scott could only imagine how heartbroken Mr. Hampton must feel, losing his wife and then having to move from the house they spent many memorable moments together.

It all came down to safety and their daughter felt the need to bring her father somewhere much closer and safer. Scott turned to look at his own house. He's left his childhood home once before but he always knew that he could one day return. Would he be able to turn his back and walk away if push comes to shove? In a sense he could understand the Hamptons daughter to have the last of her family secure. A part of Scott didn't want to leave behind the memories he made in his home and this town.

"Those look lovely Mr. Hampton" Scott yelled.

Mr. Hampton looked up at him, smiling at the compliment, "Thank you"

It may have been a small compliment but if it could help in anyway Scott would like that.

"That was nice of you" Maddie said after they fully passed the Hamptons house.

"I was just trying to cheer him up" Scott said, looking over his shoulders one last time. "What did you want to talk about?"

"What do you have to say?"

"Nothing" Scott shrugged. "Just wanted to write a poem"

"Are you going to take the stage tonight?" Maddie snickered.

There was no way Scott was going to take center stage. He was just there to enjoy --and spend time with Elijah-- poetry. "I'm just testing my skills"

"You don't have a bone of poetry in your body" Maddie said, waving to a few of her college friends across the street.

'That's not what Elijah thought'  Scott wanted to say.

"You don't have any either"

"Care to elaborate" Maddie turned to face him, challenge written all over her face. "I can make one right now"

"I don't have all day" Scott crossed his arms, reminding her that he had to meet with Elijah later.

"It will only take a few minutes" Maddie rolled her eyes playfully. "I wont keep your boyfriend waiting"

"He's not my bo--"

"And I'm not Maddie Finnegan. We both know that's not true" She dismissed Scott's previous statement. "Let my inner poetry be portrait"

Scott stood in the burning heat of the sun, shifting into the shade as Maddie tapped her foot against the ground. The walk didn't seem so pleasing now, Scott would rather lounge on the couch and wait for her brain to fry just as his did.

"I've got it!" She examined, stepping in front of Scott ready to deliver her mind blowing poem.

I found a treasure more precious than gold,

Buried in the sand waiting for my hold,

I opened the chest to find love and happiness

Something so small yet it gave me so much joy

"That's all I've got" Maddie broke her flow.

"How did you come up with that?" Scott didn't want to acknowledge she came up with something good. He knew Maddie would rub it in his face.

"I just thought about Simon" he figure she would say that Simon was involved somehow. "He's the most precious child to me so I thought about my love for him"

That's what Scott needed to do. Find something or someone he could express about. Scott could write about his family or even the bittersweet memories of his past. He could write about the present him, the guy whose making him get a second chance.

**

There it was, the feeling Scott got the first time he entered the community center. Elijah walked beside him, close enough that they bumped ever so often. Scott could already feel himself getting distracted by Elijah this time around.

"E-Elijah" a short haired girl said frightened when Elijah rested a hand on her shoulder. Scott had recognized her, when he saw her chewing on chocolate it clicked. It was the girl who was giving away chocolates. "You came"

"I always come to poetry night" Elijah outstretched his hands, "hand them over"

Scott watched as they exchanged words, wondering what was in the small bag that girl had to hand over. More over what was Elijah's relationship with her; younger sister perhaps? Elijah placed the small bag in his own, smiling at the pouting girl then turned to Scott. "She has a chocolate obsession"

Scott mouthed a small 'oh' looking at the girl who was still sulking, empty bags of chocolate in her lap. She looked up at Scott for the first time since he arrived. His shoulders tense when she kept staring, her expression unreadable. Scott looked to Elijah for help but he gave him only a reassuring smile.

"I remember you" She finally said, getting up and walking in front of Scott. "Milkshake guy"

"His name is Scott" Elijah corrected.

She glared at him playfully, "I'm molly" she smiled.

"Nice to meet you" Scott replied automatically.

He felt like he was meeting someone important to Elijah. Their exchange could tell anyone that they were close. Scott took a seat beside Elijah who sat beside Molly. Scott's eyes traveled to Elijah's hand that was rested on his lap. As if his body wasn't his anymore, Scott took Elijah's hand in his.

He looked at it thoroughly, smiling then looking up at Elijah who was blushing from the sudden contact. "Your hand, its better"

"I already told you it was" Elijah said, intertwining his fingers with Scott. "But I'm glad your worried about me" He gave Scott's hand a light squeeze.

Scott averted his gaze, if he looked any deeper in his light blue eyes his heart might just leap out of his chest. His hand didn't left Elijah's though, he loved the feeling that came along with it. As his hand rested in Elijah's he couldn't help but feel that tonight Elijah was a bit more confident. Scott found his own courage to look back at him. Elijah had an effect on him like no one else could. Scott felt like he could give himself to him at any moment because Elijah made his walls crumble piece by piece, creating something new in his darkened heart. Giving him the light he needs and the comfort he seeks.

"I get it" Molly said from the side, tilting her head to the side, a smug on her face. "I see what this is all about" she started winking until her eyes looked like they were twitching uncontrollable.

"Elijah do you know that ice cream shop not too far from here" Molly said. Elijah nodded, raising a curious brow as to why she would bring that up. "I could use some ice cream since my chocolate stash was stolen. Could you please buy me one?"

"They're about to start" Elijah replied, pulling their intertwined hands closer.

"Missing a few minutes of poetry night won't kill you" Molly said, her pleading puppy dog eyes not wavering.

Elijah looked towards Scott who didn't know what was happen. Molly kept pleading as Elijah sighed then ruffled his hair. "Let's go" he finally said, getting up and pulling Scott along with him.

"Is it okay that we left her all alone" Scott asked as they walked outside the doors of the community center. The night was calm, few people walked around in the midst. The night air was chilly as usual leaving Scott's hand aching for the warmth of Elijah's.

"She wanted for us to leave" Elijah replied. "She only eats chocolate flavoured ice cream occasionally strawberry and she knew I wasn't to going buy her any since she's already ate so many chocolates already"

"Why would she want us to leave?" Scott wanted to know if she wasn't enjoying being in his company. He knew he wasn't the best person upon first meeting but he was trying.

"If I knew Molly well enough I'd say she was thinking something like why spend time listening to poems when they could go have fun somewhere else" Elijah said, turning to smile at Scott. He looked heavenly under the street lamp, the darkened night not daring to overshadow his brightness held in that smile. "Fair to say we're going on an ice cream date"

"We could go back if you like"

Even though Scott wanted to listen to the beauty of poetry. When he looked at the smiling Elijah it was hard to say no, "No, it's fine"

"What flavour do you like?" Elijah asked, not wanting to continue on in silence. He kept close to Scott as he always does, not being able to have a large distance between them.

"Strawberry" Scott replied, looking from the stars he was previously admiring and onto to pavement. "What about you?"

"Vanilla"

Scott turned to look at him. Of all flavours Elijah choose vanilla. It was shocking to Scott, he expected him to say something like cookie dough or something along that line. "Really" Scott chuckled.

Elijah rushed in front of him, making Scott stop his movements. "I'll have you know it's delicious"

"But it's just..... plain" Scott took a step forward as Elijah started walking backwards.

"Plain and awesome" Scott could almost see the enjoyment he got from vanilla ice cream in his eyes. His excitement that of a child that made a smile tugged on Elijah's lips.

"Strawberry is a much bet--" Scott stopped short when Elijah fell butt on onto the pavement. A can flying to the side as he glasses went lopsided on his face.

Scott rushed over to him, crouching in front of Elijah who was fixing his glasses. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I was just a bit careless" he adjusted his glasses then looked at Scott. "Laugh if you must"

Although it was a serious situation and Elijah could have injured himself. Seeing he was okay, Scott let out a few laughs. The way Elijah came crashing to the ground like a house of cards was a funny scene. Elijah even started to laugh at his own self. Having enough, they both caught their breaths. Elijah looked into Scott's loving brown eyes, his hands moving its way to cup his cheeks. Scott looked at his hand, the feeling he got whenever Elijah touched him rose in his chest.

He could feel the closeness to Elijah each passing minute, their faces only inches apart. Scott felt the slipping of Elijah's hands from his cheeks, he wanted to grab ahold of them and place them back telling him that it was okay. Elijah got up and brushed himself off, offering a hand which Scott took and stood before him.

"Let's go before the ice cream shop closes" Elijah said, giving a smile that wasn't his usual.

As they continued to their destination. The night only in the midst of its beauty. Scott somehow felt disappointed.