Hierarchy of Need [t.r]

Chapter Twenty One

"How are you, I know we haven't really had a chance to speak since we got back," choosing her wording carefully felt vital. "I'm good, yeah. Mainly I've been studying for finals. I never got to ask you about how you were after the whole... air raid thing."

Elio felt his chest contract as he looked at her, she always looked so beautiful in the firelight. And part of him didn't really want to ask about the air raid. He felt selfish for thinking it, but he felt he should've been the one with her. Not Tom.

But of course he was with her when she needed someone. It was always Tom. And it pained Elio to realize it would never be him.

"Oh I'm okay, mostly." Delilah bit at her thumb. Something about Elio was off, he was usually a decently opened person, but something seemed to shut off. The air around him felt heavy, a complete contrast to the typical lightness of him.

"So, I've um, been invited to that trip you're all taking over the summer." The environment around them felt awkward and she loathed it, Elio was usually so easy to deal with. "Is that okay?"

He raised a brow and picked at the book he was holding, running a finger down the worn spine. "What do you mean?" His heart had picked up its pace at an annoyingly quick rate. He didn't know if he could survive a summer with her in France. Delilah already drove him insane, but a summer in France? Merlin, he'd be even more of a goner.

"I mean... are you're okay with that? If you don't want me to come I completely understand."

"Well why wouldn't I want you to come?"

Delilah felt like tearing her hair out right about then.

He looked at her for a long moment, watching the way her mess of golden hair shifted as she moved and the way her nose always did that small twitch that reminded him of a bunny, it was adorable. Elio still loved her, and he enjoyed the time he spent with her. And he'd enjoy France with her no doubt, even though it would hurt knowing she was no longer his.

Then again, she never really was.

Running a hand through her hair, Delilah shook her head and stood up. "Never mind, just thought I should ask."

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The next evening, Olive had rested her feet in Pyrrhus' lap, lazily flipping through her transfigurations text book, the words mushing together incomprehensibly in her head. There was muffled arguing coming from across the main study section of the library, though she didn't pay it much mind.

Pyrrhus however, had his head tilted as he watched the two, throwing a few Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans into his mouth. "How do you eat those?" Olive huffed, her lips tugged down in disdain. He shook the box at her, popping another bean into his mouth, thankfully this one was cinnamon. "It's a surprise in every bite, I like to be kept on my toes." Pyrrhus shot Olive a wink and she rolled her eyes before trying to have a crack at studying again.

Turning his head, he continued to watch Delilah and Tom bicker. It's been going on for about ten minutes, probably arguing over their potions essay they were assigned. They always seem to be at each other's throats. He didn't pull his eyes away from them, but leaned over towards Olive to whisper, "they're quite an interesting match, no?"

Looking at them over her book, Olive worried at her lips as she analyzed how they acted towards each other.

She knew how painful it was to love Tom, or at least think she was in love him with him. But Delilah was different, Tom actually gave her his undivided attention. But perhaps that was worse, Olive knew the dangerous things he was into, things no eighteen year old should even know about. But was Delilah aware of his nasty habits? Or did she just choose to remain blind to the facts swarming around her like incessant bee's.