Eleven. Deja-vu

*Eleanora Elliot*

I went home, my mom smiling at me.

"Hey Ellie. How was work?"

"Good." I nodded.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm so tired." I wasn't but oh well.

I went to her, lying on the couch, resting my head on her lap.

Her fingers raked my scalp, she knew it was a lie too. She always did. But I had a choice to talk about it with her.

She never pushed.

My ankles were grabbed and placed over my dad's lap.

"Bad day?" He asked.

"Eh."

He hummed and I shut my eyes.

-

"Honey." I heard Lia say and I yawned.

"Wake up."

"Why?"

"You napped for 6 hours. And you have two guests eating dinner with your parents." She said and I opened my eyes.

"Are you joking?"

"No."

"Why are they here? And isn't it late then?"

"They wanted to talk to you and take you to eat but your mom made food so it became an uno reverse." She smiled.

I nodded.

"How did I get here?" I looked around my room.

"Dad. Duh."

I was lost.

"Am I hallucinating?"

"Nope."

"Okay." She helped me up and I went to my bathroom, refreshing myself of nap breath and anything gross about me currently.

I walked downstairs and my dad was laughing with them about something.

Oh my god.

"Goodmorning sunshine." My mom beamed.

I just looked at the two big ass men making my parents laugh.

They never did that to me.

"Why are you here?"

"Got carried away I suppose but originally it was for you, I think I may prefer your dad." Lore smirked, taking a bite of the grilled cheese dipped in tomato soup.

"Do I get any?"

Lia handed me a plate and sat.

We only had 5 fucking chairs.

Something about me was irked about this.

It was weird.

Hale stood.

"Sit."

"It's fine-"

"Sit." He kept his tone gentle but his face firm.

I walked around the table, past him, sitting beside Lore, and his now standing frame.

I ate.

They spoke. Laughed. Bonded.

This felt like a lucid dream. Almost like Deja-vu.

So odd.

"I hope it isn't a bother but we'd like to steal your daughter for a night drive." Lore said.

"Not a problem. Stay safe though."

"No problem." He smiled. Charming.

I looked at my sister who gave me a wink and a grin.

They patiently waited as I finished my food even as my family cleared the table for bed.

Hale took my plate.

"I need to dress warmer."

"It's nice outside." Hale said.

I turned on my heel.

"That's sort of my way of saying I'd like to change regardless." I smiled.

"Hurry up, princess." Loren rolled his eyes.

I walked upstairs and to my room.

With this information I pulled on grey sweats, fuzzy socks, and a black tank top.

The friction was intense but not terrible.

I redid my bun and put on my slippers as I came downstairs.

"Ready?" Hale asked.

"Sure."

"Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Elliot!" Lore shouted.

"Anytime!" My mom yelled back.

"Get outside." I pushed at them and they laughed.

Hale opened my door for me.

I sat in the passenger as Hale drove, Lore in the back middle seat.

I pulled my feet up onto the seat.

"Why does that bother you so much?" Lore asked.

I didn't know what to say.

"I don't know."

"I feel like you might."

Hale began driving.

"I just... I don't know I've never had men I know in the house and speaking to my parents. It was strange for me."

He accepted that answer and sat back.

I had my knees hugged to my chest, rolling down the window.

The night was perfect. The perfect summer night. Summer couldn't some soon enough.

"Why am I here?" I asked.

"Things were tense after yesterday. We don't want it to be like that." Hale said.

I shut my eyes, feeling the harsh cool wind on my face.

"I don't understand why not. We're just friends, shit happens."

"We aren't 'just friends' and you know that." Lore said.

"No?"

He remained silent.

And I knew that friends didn't exactly do what happened. Not even that, but no one could be nonchalant between us for any event.

I was turned on from Hale, them staring at my bare chest, there was more than 'just friends' feelings and I know that.

"The second I cross the friends barrier I'm pushed back. So that's what we are." I said.

"Because we want to be respectful." Lore mumbled.

"You are."

Silence.

"You're difficult." Hale whispered.

"I'm confused."

"That's fair."

"Do my parents know how old you both are?"

"Yes. They asked."

"Does my age not bother you?" I asked.

"No. You're an adult. Are we too old for you? Are you deflecting?" Hale asked.

"You know that word but not interesting?"

"Don't change the subject."

I smiled.

"I don't know. 34 is pretty old."

"I bet. For a girl that's only ever had one boyfriend senior year." Lore said and I turned around, looking at him.

"They told you that?"

"Yeah." His shit eating grin might've been the sexiest thing I've ever seen.

"Well damn. Airing out all my dirty laundry."

"Tell us about him." Hale said, I shut my eyes against the wind again.

"He was a dick. But not a bad first boyfriend. I don't think I exactly loved him but he was my first everything generally."

They hummed.

"Are either of you divorced?" I smiled.

"No. Dick." Lore grumbled from behind me.

I laughed at that.

A hand very smoothly parted my knees and slid down my leg until it settled on my thigh, between my legs and I shuddered.

I opened my eyes, looking as we were on the empty freeway, the streetlights flying over us.

"Where are we going?" I asked, looking down at the ringed hand between my legs.

He gently gripped and I bit my lip, trying to keep from the sound that wants to desperately try to leave me.

"No where in particular." He replied.

I nodded, shutting my eyes before they rolled back themselves.