Nineteen

“We can't give up now, he's starting to make progress. We have to put our faith in him.”

“I know but how much longer, I can't bare to see him like this any further. ”

Scott raised himself from his bed when he heard a series of talking. He's been in his room all day, his mind in a turmoil. A repeat of last night playing over and over in his head, the sensation he felt on his lips at the thought of Elijah's lips on his. Scott didn't know what to do, he's been thinking all day on how to approach the current situation. He knew for sure that he didn't hated it, he liked the feeling. How Elijah was gently, his soft lips that trembled upon first contact. It made Scott run his thumb over his lips ever so often.

There was no doubt Scott felt something for Elijah and that kiss might just confirm the unexplained feeling in his heart. There was something holding him back when he firmly planted his feet on the ground and vow to not let anything hold him back from finding happiness again. Yet, here he was with every passing second making Elijah wait for his answer. Scott could only imagine how anxious he must feel, wondering if he was going to be rejected or accepted.

Was Scott going to reject him? He's never really seen that as an option. Elijah has been the best thing that happened to him since he moved back home. Elijah was someone he felt comfortable with, someone he could be around and all his worries would dispel into thin air. And the way he smiled, his glasses that Scott found to be so cute. When Elijah's hand is in his, the burning affection and the lingering for more when he let go.

Scott gripped his chest, his pulsing heart beating faster at each though of Elijah. As if a cage filled with butterflies had been let loose in his stomach. He thought back to the question Elijah asked him a few days ago. Scott should follow his own answer, he should follow that feeling he felt. That feeling was telling him that he wanted to be with Elijah, he wanted to see his smile everyday. For Elijah to hold him and tell him those three little words.

He never thought there would be anyone to pull him from the depths, allow him the chance to love again. If he hadn't met Elijah maybe he would've lost all hope. That he would still be tormenting Scott from so many miles away. The person now wasn't the Scott that was cowering from fear, he was facing them head on and fighting to his last breath. If he hadn't went to that bookstore that day he would've missed that faithed meeting but faith wasn't going to let his chance slip. It bought Elijah right on his front door giving him a second chance. He's glad his family gave him the courage to go have that milkshake with Scott, that he went to poetry night and did so much after.

Scott was having his life back.

He opened his bedroom door, peeking his head out to see Maddie angrily walking up the stairs. Did it have anything to do with the conversation he heard earlier? He didn't hear Maddie's voice only his mother and father. Much he would rather for them to have any conversations pertaining to him in his presence. Scott will never forget that they all have his best interest at heart.

Maddie turned to look at Scott, her expression softened as she mustered up a smile. Scott exited his room, closing the door behind him then walking over to Maddie. He knew there was something bothering her by the look on her face. Scott allowed himself entrance into Maddie's room. It didn't have much, mostly things belonging to Simon and cute decorations. Maddie stood by her bedroom door, watching Scott as he seated himself on her bed.

She closed the door behind her and said, "Did something happen?"

"I want for you to answer that question" Scott said, watching Maddie grow uncomfortable each passing moment. "Did something happen Maddie?"

"Nope, everything's chipper on my end" Maddie replied, sitting beside her older brother. A fake smiled plastered on her lips.

"Is it mom and dad?" Scott asked, recalling their earlier conversation.

"What? No, what's mom and dad have to do with anything?" Scott knitted his brows, he thought for sure Maddie was upset because of what they said.

"Then what is it?"

"How did things go with you and Elijah" she shifted the conversation. Scott hadn't really taken notice until now that everyone has been directing all their attention to him even Maddie herself. He was sure she had a few problems of her own. How many times did she storm up those stairs only to sit in her room and let the rough winds pass.

"This isn't about me and Elijah" as much as Scott would like to tell her about the amazing view, the apple pie and kiss. In this moment it was all about Maddie Finnegan. "This is about you"

"I'm fine Scott" Maddie rested her hand on his in a reassuring way. "I'm serious"

"What's this?" Scott grab ahold of her hands, pulling down the sleeves of her blouse revealing a fresh bruise on her wrist. "How'd you get that?"

Maddie pulled her hands from him, covering up the bruise then said, "it's nothing serious. I just estimated the wrong size of a bracelet and it ended up being too tight"

Scott knew his younger sister was a bad liar. She was bold and straight forward but she couldn't tell a lie. "You know you can talk to me Maddie"

"I have a lot of homework to do plus I have a test coming up" Maddie said, walking over to her desk where her laptop, books and papers where. "I'd like to be alone"

"I talked to Mikey" Scott said. He didn't talk to Mikey at all, he just wanted to see if Maddie would react somehow.

There was a long pause, Maddie slowly looking up to look at Scott, "I-Is that so. You better not let mom find out"

"I'll leave you to study" Scott headed for the door. He got the reaction he needed, he knew there was more to Mikey and Maddie than she let on.

Scott didn't head back to his room. Instead he was planning on heading out. He remembered Mason had a cafe around town. It was the perfect excuse to leave the house with the chance of encountering Mikey. Somehow he always seem to find Scott and he was hoping Mikey would cross his path. Scott didn't know what he would do when he stood face to face with Mikey. If anything he wanted to resolve anything without the use of violence.

To Scott's luck he saw Mikey the same place they met the first time. He looked to have business with Scott the moment he saw him, he headed in his direction. Scott slowed his pace, acting as if he didn't notice Mikey walking towards him.

"Scotty" Mikey called, catching up to Scott who stopped and turned to look at him. "I need to talk to you"

Mikey looked much different from the first time that met since Scott came back home. His scruffy beard was now clean shaven, his clothes was clean and well fitted. But there was still the smell of cigarette on him. Even his hair wasn't sticking in all directions.

"Sure, what did you need to talk to me about?" Scott was still amused by how well he cleaned himself up. This was the Mikey he knew, the fashionable jock who always bought his A game.

"Not now" Mikey replied. "Meet me at pops tomorrow" then he started walking back to his 'friends'

"Wait!" Scott yelled, Mikey turned to look at him. "Could you tell me where Mason's cafe is?"

Mikey chuckled, "Two stores down from Pops"

Scott wanted to thank him but Mikey was back with his posies in the blink of an eye. He got a blast from the past when him and his best friend used to hang out. That didn't dispel who Mikey had become but didn't overshadow who he was. Scott couldn't wait to talk to him tomorrow, there was so much to discuss.

**

Mason's cafe was small and cozy. It gave you a relaxed feeling upon entering. As any other cafe would, the delicious aroma didn't allow you to take a step back out after entering without having a bite. Scott didn't see Mason anywhere in sight. If he was the baker, then he was hold up in the kitchen. He took a seat and ordered a cup of coffee. Asking the waiter if he could tell Mason he was here.

Sipping the warm liquid, he looked around the cafe. It wasn't full due to the time of day so when he got a glimpse of Elijah at the far end of the cafe with a short hair girl, he choked on the brown liquid. Elijah said something to her in which she turned and smiled at him. Waving, making him wonder if he knew her. Elijah excused himself, walking over to Scott who was starting to panic in his seat.

"Hey" Elijah greeted him, his hands buried deep in his pocket as his light blue eyes pierce Scott's brown ones.

"Hi" Scott replied, settling his cup of coffee on the table. There was so much that he wanted to say but the words couldn't leave his lips. If only Elijah could read his mind-- his heart and see all the emotions he couldn't express. Sadly he had to use his words to convey his feelings.

"That's Carly" Elijah said, noticing Scott looking at the girl behind him. "I believe you two know each other"

"Yeah we do" Scott had to stare long and hard at Carly. She had grown so much. Her long blonde hair was now shoulder length but her glasses remained in tack.

"She's been wanting to meet you"

"I could go say hi now" Scott suggested, getting up from his seat when Elijah eased him back on his seat.

"She's a bit busy right now"

"I'll talk to her next time then" Scott looked at Carly then at Elijah.

A loud crash resonated throughout the cafe. Elijah and Scott turned in the direction of the sound to see Carly stumbling a bit, her cup of coffee on the floor.

"Is she okay?" Scott asked, worried to the bone that something bad might happen to Carly.

"She's beyond exhaustion" Elijah ran a hand through his hair. "I have to deal with her so can we umm... talk tomorrow"

"Yeah" Scott knew the talk would let them know where they stand.

Elijah was about to say something else when Mason greeted Scott, dusting his hands on his flour stained apron. For a second Scott saw a grim look on Elijah's face before he smiled and walked over to Carly. Mason took a seat opposite to Scott, his eyes following Elijah's every move. Carly was okay as Elijah helped her out the cafe.

"I didn't know you and Elijah were friends" Mason drew Scott's attention to him. "I always thought you hated him"

"Why would I hate him" Scott raised a brow. He wouldn't call Elijah his friend at this point. They were stuck between friendship and a relationship. Only a single answer separating them.

"Back in highschool it was clear that he was infatuated with you. You ignored him so I thought you disliked him " Mason shrugged. "We weren't close but I noticed that much"

"I didn't know him until recently" Scott admitted. He knew Elijah wanted to play baseball because of him back in middle school but that was as far as he got.

"Then all turns out well for him" Mason said. "I can see you've changed quite the bit too"

"Not as much as you have" Scott said, not wanting for the conversation to stay his way for too long. "A cafe owner, your even more outspoken than before"

Mason chuckled, "I'll take that as a compliment. This cafe has been a dream of mine and not to boast but my baking skills are top notch"

Scott didn't think there was anything that could top Elijah's apple pie. "Do you think that maybe..." Scott hesitated, he wasn't sure why he was asking such a question. "If we had continued after that kiss then maybe we would have something now?"

Mason was taken back by the question. "Back then I liked you but you didn't take a step and so did I. I thought faith didn't want us to be together, you fell back into your normal life so did I and I was pretty sure you didn't like me"

Maybe Scott didn't like Mason in the same way he did. If Scott had to answer his own question he was glad faith had different plans for them. Yes, he might sound cruel and that he's experienced some bad things because of it but that led to something great. Someone that he was meant to be with, that would show him the greater things in life.

He's found his answer and nothing was going to falter his decision.