Stolen Voices ✓

May 24th

'Did you have a reason for coming, or are you just here for moral support?' he teases, trudging up to her begrudgingly. She now had an array of Dr. Seuss books lounged out around her in a halo, sitting cross-legged on the carpet. Elias moves to relax next to her, leaning his back against the wooden bookcase, watching her curiously.

Her eyes flick up to his, and there erratic. Her pupils are dilated so big that the icy blue of her eyes turns a darker shade of blue. They are the deep expanse of the ocean rather than the shallow end. She stares at him with intensity, her knees bouncing in animation.

"Remember this book," she holds up Oh, the Places You'll Go!. Elias nods, recalling that that was the book he'd used to ask where she was from. Her response had been witty to Elias that she so openly admitted her crazy.

It had also fascinated him to her. She charmed him with her words, her carefreeness. The jagged beauty that made him take a second glance at her.

"Who knew I'd be stuck with you five months later," she giggles, tossing it aside and plucking up another children's book. She flips through the pages rapidly before gasping, dropping the story to the floor, and throwing her hands up towards Elias's face.

"How's my favorite person?" She asks, innocently looking to him as if she didn't just spaz out. He only shakes his head, smiling. He finds her jitteriness enjoyable, how she can bounce from one thought to the next, diverting attention.

She keeps looking over her shoulder as if waiting for someone to appear. Like she is looking for someone, only Elias doesn't know who.

'I'm good. Are you high?' He deadpans her a once-over. In acknowledgment, she clicks her tongue, standing up. Holding her hand out to Elias in to take, his misery leaves him as if it never happened. Mara has that effect, the ability to rid his history into a simple figure of his past.

"No, I am not high, just happy. I'm feeling a lot today so just go along with it," she waves it off with a grin. "I do have a reason for being here, though."

'What is it?' He challenges, holding onto her hand on instinct because he likes the warm feeling that snakes through his veins. Even more so because he is afraid she might just disappear. She is acting like a child on a sugar high, with bounds of energy. Her decisions are irrational and impulsive. She just acts on what she is feeling without thinking twice of its effects.

"I don't remember, but I'll let you know when I do," she shrugs, skipping away. She pulls Elias with her, him carrying her backpack because she left it behind. It is heavy, weighing him down, but he doesn't look inside it.

He never asked her why she has it, he just knows she always does. She carries it like it is her life and guards it like she is afraid of what will happen if someone got a hold of it.

She stops suddenly, twisting around, so she is facing him. Her eyes zeroing in on her backpack in his hands, snatching it away from him with a frown. Her expression turns grim as her eyes focus on him, slinging the bag over her shoulders.

"Don't take my stuff," she scrapes her teeth, glaring at him.

'You forgot it,' he brushes off her attitude, 'so I grabbed it for you.'

"Oh," she gasps, her frown turning into a smile so quickly he'd forgotten it was even there, "thank you."

She disappears again, leaving Elias in her dust. He shakes his head, staring at his hands that are still outstretched in the libation. Rolling his eyes, Elias scratches the back of his neck in both confusion and surprise. She never fails to keep him on his toes.

"Common weirdo," Mara pokes her head out from an aisle, dragging Elias's burning gaze to her. She disappears behind the oak bookcase again, her copious honey hair whipping behind her.

When he finds her halfway in the aisle, she's holding Ramona and Beezus in her palm. She glares at it, ignoring Elias, who lingers behind her. The mint of his breath, fanning the nap of her neck. Attacking all her senses as he peers over her shoulders, her body heat radiating over her back.

She is gripping the book so hard her fingertips turn white, her purple nail polished chipped as if she was picking at it. She doesn't look happy, staring at that book.

"I remember now," she leans back, letting all her weight be placed on him. His hands lower to her waist, holding her upright while he hums. She sighs, her head falling against his racing heart, squeezing her eyes shut. Her back is pressed against his front.

When she spins around to look at him, the smile has reappeared on her face. Her anger has been wiped away into a clean state so much so that even her eyes shine happiness. Either she is a fabulous actress, or she can alter her feelings quickly, Elias realizes.

'What do you remember, Emmy?' He beams, hugging her back when her arms wrapped around his torso. She squeezes him tightly. He doesn't freeze at her touch, so used to it by now.

He doesn't really have a chance not to like it. Mara doesn't seem to have any sense of boundaries.

"My sister's wedding. My mother being psychotic. How much I hate my family. There's a lot to unfold and hours of therapy," she mumbles into his chest. Elias laughs, vibrating against Mara's ears as he pulls her away from him.

'What about it,' he taps her nose, ducking down slightly, so he is eye level.

"Well, I need a plus one, I guess. No, that's a lie. I don't think I can survive it alone, so I wanted to know if you'd come with me. Actually, I'm demanding you come with me." She groans, her head falling onto his chest. He runs his fingers through her hair, brushing out the curls that litter her tangled waves of blonde tresses.

'When is it?' He signs in the space between them so she can see. She just stares at his hand, biting her lip.

"June 3rd," she grumbles.

'Sorry, I'm busy,' he signs, his hands moving back to her hair, tugging it. She looks up at him, glaring at his teasing smirk. She pokes his chest, driving her finger into his skin before he turns away from it after the pain recedes.

"I wasn't really asking, you know," she crosses her arms over her chest.

'Chill Medusa,' he shakes his head, smiling wide. His teeth show, his dimples popping out that melts some of Mara's glare. 'I'll be there.'

"Great!" She claps, and her smile has reappeared. Elias's elation never falters as he's never felt this content in a while. He is exhibiting something he has never felt before, and he doesn't mind it. In fact, he searches for it, the feeling that pumps through him.

Whatever it is, he wants more.

---

Authors Note:

The fun is happening, guys, it's coming soon.

Thoughts?

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- ❤ Nia

Edited 4/1/22