Twenty - Eight

Maddie was getting tired of her older brother's behaviour. She was just a door over and could feel the sadness seeping through the walls and causing a dread feeling in her room. She understood that his heart was broken but that didn't mean he could send dark clouds in her room. Scott had said he would talk to Maddie about the situation and that was a week ago. Rolling her eyes she pulled her headphones out, closing her laptop.

Luckily Simon was asleep so she could go over to his room and get him to talk. Not by force though. Maddie was happy that her brother was elated the previous week and them talking and Mikey being Simon's father was let out of the box made them a bit closer or so she thought until Scott sudden change from sunshine and clear skies to rain and dark clouds.

Maddie knocked on Scott's bedroom door, her arms crossed as she waited for an answer. She knocked again a few times earning some muffled noise from the other end. Maddie decided to try the knob this time and it was unlock.

Scott turned to the other side when Maddie pushed herself into his room. He was feeling even worst if possible. A breakup was meant to ease the pain as time passes by. Or so Scott thought. The pain was increasing ten folds. The world seemed dull and his heart just wanted to see Elijah, to be near him.

The night was still fresh in Scott's mind. The feeling of the raindrops, the harsh words that left his lips. He wasn't only impaling Elijah but himself also. Each wound still fresh and bleeding. His love still strong and unmoving. The feeling of Elijah's hand on his cheek for the last time, he subconsciously touched his cheeks. Scott knew if he had stared any longer in the blue eyes that he loved he would pull Elijah in his arms and allowed him to kiss him. Scott without any questions missed Elijah. Wanting to go over to his apartment that was filled with his scent, eat his apple pies that was baked with love and watch movies only to talk and not pay attention. Scott wanted to go to poetry night with Elijah and see Molly again. He missed taking off glasses and sticking them atop his own head then kissing him. Scott missed all of that.

A chuckle left his lips at the thought. His phone rested under his hands. Elijah hadn't call him today. It was painful but it made Scott knew Elijah was still there. That he hadn't giving up much like Scott did. That he wasn't letting the harsh unmeaning words chase him away. Scott could understand if he had run away. Elijah had loved him for years on end when Scott didn't know. And Elijah didn't give up then, he waited on Scott until he was finally able to hold the person he wanted to in his arms. Scott was grateful for the meeting Elijah and him loving him. A person could get exhausted at one point. Exhausted by pain and the cruel things life threw their way.

Scott didn't want Elijah to get exhausted. Did he want Elijah to wait on his fears to run away? How long would that be. How long would they be apart just for Scott to get his shit together and stand up. Elijah couldn't wait years again than would be unfair without an explanation. Scott wanted to keep him safe and for that to happen he needed to end things bittersweet. It was all for Elijah's sake he kept telling himself. Was it really Scott Finnegan, was it all for Elijah's sake?

"Get up!" Maddie yelled, hitting him on the head with a pillow. Pulling Scott from his thoughts before he could come to terms with an answer.

"No" Scott muttered, his head buried into the sheets. "Leave me alone"

"Not today big brother" Maddie said, almost steaming as she marched to the end of the bed, pulling on Scott's legs.

Scott groaned as he tried holding onto the sheets. He was too weak, too weak for anything, "Stop it Maddie let me sulk"

"No!" Maddie said firmly, pulling Scott with all her strength.

Scott later fell to the ground with a loud thud, him groaning out in pain, "now get up and put on a shirt" Maddie ordered, throwing her hair out of her face and huffing for breath. "We need to talk"

"I don't want to talk" Scott whined, climbing back onto bed when Maddie kicked him on his legs. "Ouch!" He cried out. "Have some sympathy for my broken heart"

"Be downstairs in five minutes" she said before leaving.

Scott just lied there, sighing. His mind wondering to Elijah as it always does. Scott couldn't imagine the pain he must be feeling. His was like being pricked by a needle compared to Elijah's pain. That didn't make his any less significant. He still felt a slight sting and he bled. Trying to rid Elijah from his mind he got up and took up a white T-shirt. He was down the stairs as quickly as his legs could bring him and that was very slowly. Scott saw Maddie running from in the kitchen into the living area.

As he entered the living area Maddie smiled at him and held up two spoons. Running a hand through his already messy hair he sat on the couch waiting for Maddie to speak.

"Oh don't look at me like that" Maddie said, pushing one of the spoons Scott's way.

"What are you doing?" Scott asked through his sadness and slight irritation.

"Helping you through your breakup" Maddie replied, jumping into to sofa and pulling out a blanket. "What's a break up without ice cream, blankets and some cheesy movie"

"That's not going to make me feel any better" Scott told his younger sister. Pulling the blanket close.

"Who said it was going to" Maddie grinned as if it was a good thing. "It just fits the mood so let's get talking" Maddie opened the tub of ice cream and handed it to Scott after taking a spoon fill.

"I want vanilla ice cream" Scott said, filling his mouth with ice cream anyways.

"Ew, I hate vanilla" Maddie said, playing the movie even though they weren't going to watch it.

"Me too" Scott replied. He disliked vanilla but he wanted to eat it because it reminded him of Elijah.

"Aren't you going to say something" Maddie said, handing back the ice cream to Scott.

"Well...."he trailed, poking the ice cream aimlessly. "Parker's in town"

"Oh, Parker's in town. When did he--" Maddie stopped midway, her spoon dangling in the air, "Parker! Thee Parker! Taboo Parker? Parker that ruined your life"

Scott held his ear as Maddie shouted so loudly it could shake the place, "Stop shouting and yes"

"Why is he here? Better yet how do you know that" Maddie spun on her seat almost knocking the tub ice cream out of  Scott's hand.

"He left me a letter--multiple letters-- then Carly came to talk to me then I knew for sure it was him" Scott said, losing his appetite he placed the ice cream on the coffee table.

"You're saying that like its nothing" Maddie's eyes were starting to flame with anger. "We're talking about Parker. The very guy who ruined your life that I want to beat the shit out of him"

"There's no need to worry" Scott tried to assure her but his words were nowhere near assuring. He never knew what Parker could do. "I took care of it"

"How? Enlighten me Scott" Maddie said sarcastically, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I umm...broke up with Elijah"

"Jesus Scott....I just want to...." Maddie was more than frustrated. She settled for pretending to strangling Scott. "Just tell me what happened from start to finish" Maddie took deep breaths.

Scott began to explain everything. From Mikey's warning to the letter he found that night. Scott told Maddie about the letters that followed and how parker started to threatened Elijah. To when Carly stopped by and told him that he was the reason Mrs. Hampton died and others. To the bittersweet parting of him and Elijah.

"What are you doing?" Scott asked after he finished explaining everything to Maddie.

"Calling Mikey. I want to know what that bastard know about this" Scott ignored the fact that she kept Mikey's number. She dialled furiously and pressed the phone to her ears. Cursing under her breath as he didn't pick up yet again. "He's not answering just like he's been doing the last few days"

"You need to calm down Maddie"

"I'm not going to calm down Scott" Maddie yelled, throwing her phone to the ground. "How can I calm down when Parker's here and you've done something so...so stupid Scott. You were doing so well with Elijah and now you're letting Parker take that away from you. I thought you'd change Scott but you haven't. Elijah loves you and you just dump him without an explanation. Scott you're just running away again"

Scott didn't know what to say. Maybe he did need someone to scream and yell at him for his stupid mistakes. Tell him the things he was scared to say out loud. The doorbell rang before Scott could say anything, more like Maddie voicing her opinions. Scott got up since Maddie didn't, she was reaching for her phone regretting throwing it away in the first place. Scott trotted over to the door, wiping a tear from his eyes before he opened the door.

"Hi" the person greeted. Scott recalled the person's face but couldn't put a name to it. "Molly" she said when Scott raised a brow. "Elijah's friend"

"Yeah, Molly, umm why are you here?" Scott asked, looking over at Maddie who was still trying to get to Mikey.

"Can I come in?" Her voice was now just above a whisper. Scott remembered how lively she was much like Elijah. It made him thought that she knew what transpires between him and Elijah.

Scott shifted to the side and allowed Molly in. Closing the door he turned to face her. She gave a glance to the frustrated Maddie who was ignoring them, "would you like something to drink or..?"

"No I'm fine" Molly said quickly. "I just came to give you something" she took an envelop from behind her which Scott hadn't noticed and handed it to him.

"What's this?" Scott asked after taking the envelope. The outside having little drawn hearts on it.

"You'll have to read it to find out" Molly said, moving pass Scott to the front door, her task now complete. She stopped halfway, turning to look at Scott with frustration in her eyes then said, "Do you know how much you've hurt him?"

"Molly I--" Scott chocked on his words, not being able to voice what he wanted.

"He's cried so much. Even when he was writing that he did it through the pain" Molly's voice croaked out, her eyes welling with water. Scott held onto the paper tighter when he heard Elijah wrote it.

"Why did you do it?" Molly asked, a tear falling down her cheek making Scott fill with guilt that he wasn't only hurting Elijah but Molly too. "Give me back the smiling Elijah" Molly ran up to Scott and started pounded on his chest. He stood there unable to do anything as Molly cried. He tried holding back his own tears.

"Give him back. I'll give you all the chocolate you want so please make him smile again" Molly's voice broke at the end, her punches getting weaker as she looked up at Scott one last time before running out the door.

Scott stood there in his own guilt before he decided on opening the envelope. There was a note inside.

I love you.

Was all it said. Scott pulled out another paper that had a poem. It had small doodles all over. Smiling faces, hearts and hearts with a E+S written in them. He took a deep shaky breath before he began to read the poem entitled 'Why'.

Fate, why are you cruel?

You took him from me;

Once, twice will there be a thrice.

Destiny was so kind

It bought him back in time to save two broken hearts wondering in the dark.

Destiny, why are you suddenly agreeing with fate?

You're taking him away leaving me astray.

Why are you so cruel?

Why are you so far?

Was my love not good enough?

Was I not good enough?

-E

Scott could no longer hold back the tears. They'd won. Elijah was blaming himself for something Scott did.

"You let that little girl cry" Maddie said from her seat on the sofa. "You should go see him. Its been a week after all. Explain it just like you did to me. Do before you both hurt any further."

Scott knew Maddie was right. How are things to get better when he doesn't explain, when he just keeps running away and being pushed in a corner. Scott was going to talk to Elijah but before he did he had to grab something from his room.