Eight

Scott looked at himself in the mirror for the fifth time. He didn't know if it was simply enough dressed in dark blue jeans, white T-shirt and a denim jacket or if it was too much for a simple milkshake in a diner. He'll just have to trust his sister on this one. Scott would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous, it was he first time being out with someone after everything.

Maddie being the hopeful one said that if things went further and Elijah did something to plunge Scott back into his shell that she would personally kick his ass. Scott didn't even know if today would go well. If Elijah would fall for a guy like him or him falling for Elijah.

He knew Elijah was good looking and had a smile that could blind you upon sight but Scott didn't know what to make of it. He'll just have to leave it up to the future. As he stood there he suddenly felt a grip on his hand, a desperate hold that squeezed his hands. Scott looked at his hand, knowing that nothing was there but he couldn't help but work his hands a bit. He must have imagined it, all this nervousness had him imaging things that weren't there.

Scott walked back to his bed, taking up his phone that was barely filled with anything. A few contacts and pictures but that was it. He had half an hour to spare before he had to meet Elijah. Scott took a deep breath and went out the doors of his bedroom. All that was left was for Maddie to join him.

Scott closed the door behind him and headed downstairs. Gianna was sitting on the couch rocking Simon in his crib. She caught sight of Scott and smiled at the fact that he was going out. Scott took a seat beside her, watching the stairs for Maddie.

"You don't have to worry" Gianna said, not taking her eye off Simon.

"I'm not" Scott said, trying to hide the nervousness that threatens to take over his words.

"I'll pretend I believe you" his mother chuckled. "You can always refuse us Scott" she finally turned to look at her son. "Especially Maddie, she can be quite stubborn but know that we're trying to help. If you don't like our methods then say so, we won't get upset"

"I'm fine mom" He didn't want to worry his mother any further.

"You're doing it again" Gianna frowned. "If you don't want to talk to us yet then at least tell your mother what you want"

Scott wanted a lot of  things. He didn't want to worry his family more than he should, he wanted to explore outside without worrying, walk normally pass a car without feeling like the hard exterior was going to collide with him. Scott wanted to be able to talk to people and establish connections without worrying that they would one day betray him in the worst way possible and most of all he wanted to be able to trust and love again.

"I want my life back"

Gianna kept her silence, accepting her son's words. Smiling that for the first he's said the words he's wanted to all these years.

"Is my fearless brother ready" Maddie said, as she quickened her pace down the stairs. She was dressed simply: black ripped jeans, a white under blouse that read "rock" and a jacket that hung all the way to her thighs.

Scott stood as Maddie made her way over. She checked on Simon who was asleep, kissing him on his forehead. "I'll be back quickly" Maddie said to her mother.

Gianna fanned her off. "You make me look like I don't like looking after my grandson" she joked.

Maddie chuckled, "I know you love him to the point you'll do anything" Maddie then looked towards Scott, "Ready?" Scott nodded.

Gianna looked at him with concern. Scott smiled, signalling to her that it was going to be okay. They said their goodbyes to their mother before heading out the door. The neighbourhood was quiet for the most part, the Hollands children weren't on their front lawn as usual and the Hamptons house looked to be clouded. The neighbourhood had taken a turn from fear, protecting themselves and family member. You could never be too safe.

The Finnegan siblings walked down the street to the diner. Scott pacing himself as Maddie walked full ahead. Scott buried his hands in his pocket, his gaze held to the ground. The air was warm as it brushed pass his skin and threatened to ruin his hair. Scott faintly remembered pops diner, the spot that everyone in town can't resist. He remembered having a burger there for the last time before he went away and that was roughly around six years ago if he remembered correctly.

Pops Diner was the best thing around these parts and Scott didn't thing that there was anything that could top it. As they strolled pass the very same bookstore that he first met Elijah, Maddie steadied her pace with Scott's.

"How are you feeling?" She asked, looking up at Scott who was a few inches taller than her.

"Fine?" Scott replied, not really sure of his feelings. He was border lined between feeling nervous and worried.

"I figured that since it was a bit quiet and a car that passed us like ten minutes ago might stir up some feelings and thoughts"

Scott was so lost he hadn't even realized that a car had passed, he turned to look around but the car was long gone in the distance.

"I haven't said anything but these last few days I haven't heard the beeping, I feel much more at ease ever since the accident" Scott said, thinking it was time he told someone.

"That's great" Maddie beamed, clasping her hands together. "We always told you that everything would fine and with Elijah now maybe things could get even greater" Maddie said, her hopes increasing even more.

Maddie stopped herself, ceasing Scott's footsteps in the middle of the walkway. "The most crucial thing I haven't asked is, what is your thoughts about this?"

Scott looked at his younger sister, the look her eye saying that she'll accept whatever his answer was. "I'm starting to thing its a great first step but I don't want you to keep your hopes up with anything happening between me and Elijah"

Maddie turned on her heels, her hands crossed behind her back as they continued to walk. "Do you know why I'm still single?" Maddie finally spoke, continuing before hearing Scott's reply which would definitely be a why. "Because boys my age don't want a girl who already has a child, they don't want that responsibility. But you know what I'm content with my life, I'm happy and the source of all that happiness is from my son so I feel like nothing else matters as long as I have his love and he has mine. So Scott I want you to find back your happiness, find something or someone that makes you full to the brim until you're over flowing with joy"

Before Scott could reply, Maddie ran into the diner. She wanted to leave those words with Scott or she simply didn't want to hear his answer. Even Scott knew in himself that he would've said something to make her speech go to waste. He entered Pops Diner, the greasy air that was suppose to make you want to head back out the doors made you want to enter further and get a taste of a meal cooking up.

The diner had changed a lot, there was more space, the booths upgraded but there was one thing that didn't: the old jute box in the back of the diner. Scott saw Elijah who was sitting nearby by the window, waving at him to come over. Maddie sat just behind him in the other booth, minding her own business, acting like she wasn't there and that her older brother was just a few centimeter away.

Scott took his seat smiling at the boy who looked like a Cheshire cat. He was simply dressed, light blue jeans and white top with a plaid jacket, his usual glasses hanging on the top of his nose.

"For a second I thought you weren't going to show" Elijah said in relief. If only he knew that Scott wanted to cancel so much before.

"Well I'm here" Scott replied sheepishly. Thinking that for even a second he was going to leave Elijah sitting here all by himself.

"Then shall we order our milkshakes" Elijah smiled as he always does.

"I don't really know what kind of milkshake to order" Scott told him. Its been eons since he last walked through the doors of Pops Diner, he would have to look over the menus which would've increased and changed over the years.

"I forgot you only just came back" Elijah adjusted his glasses nervously. "I usually go for the strawberry, I'll get you one too if that's okay with you"

Scott nodded, his brows knitted in confusion as he watched Elijah went to get their strawberry milkshakes. He recalled Elijah's words and there was no way for him to know that Scott had only just  returned a few months ago. The only person who knew was Mikey and he's made it through a few months without anyone knowing, they would bombarded him with too many questions. Scott couldn't see a guy like Elijah mixing with someone like Mikey. As far as Scott knew, he didn't remember a Elijah when he was in highschool.

Elijah came back with the two milky goodness, handing one to Scott then taking a drink from his own. Scott looked at the milkshake which indeed looked delicious then back at Elijah.

"You said something about me just coming back" Scott said. "How did you know that?"

Elijah removed his lips from the straw then spoke, "when we first met I didn't realized it was you but after I did, I realized that this was the home runner Scott Finnegan" he explained.

"Did you tell anyone else about this?"

"Just one and that was Carly Huston. If it wasn't for her I wouldn't even have realized it was you" Elijah looked at him with concern as to why he was asking him such a question.

"Could you do me a favour and not tell anyone else" Scott sounded like he was begging for him not to mention him to anyone else. He couldn't be bothered with having to answer questions he didn't want to answer.

"If that's what you want" he complied. "When I knew it was you, I couldn't believe I met the towns legend" Elijah sparked like a firework on a summer night. "I've looked up to you back in middle school"

Scott didn't know how to feel about such kind compliments but he appreciated it so he muttered, "thank you" if only Elijah knew that he wasn't so great right now.

"You've gotten so handsome to the point I couldn't even recognize you" Elijah kept blabbering on, making Scott blush at the compliment. "I hope we could get to know each other some more. I would love that"

Before Scott could think his voice had betrayed him, "I think that would be okay"

Maddie was even shocked that she looked around for a second at Scott.

"Great" Elijah pulled his phone from his pocket. "I'll give you my number so we could stay in touch"

As Scott drank from his milkshake and exchanged numbers with Elijah, he thought that going to pops diner and having a milkshake with Elijah wasn't so bad after all.

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I guess I should point out that I've slipped in a few hints in which adds to how I want to end this story (Let's hope it plays out) I don't know if anyone had noticed but I've placed them in three different chapters already; three different hints. If you haven't noticed then that's fine, they are more hints to appear in the future chapters. :) A_Summers.