The Forgotten Ones

Chapter 19: Sanity

Your dad is taking us out to go shopping. Going to be out all day. I'm sure you'd rather stay home. Ava and I made breakfast for you. I left twenty dollars on the counter in case you want to order for dinner.

Elias squinted his eyes at the little scribbles on the side with a heart that looked more like a deflated bubble before following the arrow leading to a few tiny words.

-Ava says she loves you.

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly at that. "Love you too princess." He mumbled, setting the note down before taking a gander at the plate. Just two halves of toast along with a couple pieces of bacon and an egg to top it all off. It smelled better than it looked. The bread was charred and soaked with butter, the bacon resembling pieces of crispy black licorice, and the egg still seemed a little too wobbly. He didn't know why he expected anything else. No one in the house had any experience with cooking, but he was still grateful.

Sliding into the stool, he picked up his fork and began poking at his food, watching the egg jiggle like jello. A part of him was delighted to have the house to himself, but the other part groaned in frustration. Now who was going to distract him from his regretable memories of last night? They came rushing back, washing away all other thoughts like a giant wave.

Sunshine and Cush were friends. It almost seemed impossible--way more far fetched than the idea of rainbow boy smoking. Sunshine was so bright, bubbly, and sweet while Cush was...not. How in the world could those extreme opposites ever be friends? The way Cush described it made it seem like an arranged friendship in a way, like when people had arranged marriages, minus all the face sucking and I do's. Elias always cringed at the idea whenever it was brought up in history class, but remembered that most of them were actually successful. Perhaps over the years of those two forcibly tolerating each other, their tolerance turned to an actual bond, comparable to that of siblings.

It was clear there was something there. Elias could tell by the twinge of regret in Cush's voice. However feeble it was, it was apparent Sunshine's pain had some effect on him, no matter how much of it he let Elias see. Though, Elias couldn't deny that it had an effect on him as well.

Crunch.

Eli grimaced as the burnt, bitter crumbs invaded his mouth. Quickly spitting it out, he finally noticed the shriveled black twig in his hand. He was too encompassed in his thoughts to notice he'd been eating. Releasing the bacon from his fingers all at once, he watched as it shattered against the plate. As he swallowed the last bit of crumbs, he couldn't help but to relate it's taste to his feelings from last night; sour.

He couldn't let things sit like that between them. Elias hated tension. An apology was owed and the longer it went unpaid, the longer his stomach churned. Or perhaps, it was from his breakfast.

Begrudgingly standing from the stool, he set his plate in the sink before grabbing a cup. Opening the fridge door on a hunt for milk, his eyes landed on the cooled package of cookie dough. It was already open, but still clearly had half inside waiting to be made. Elias couldn't help but sigh. Nothing was going to let his mind rest from thinking about Sunshine. The chocolate chip cookies were as bright a sign as any.

He didn't waste any time in taking out his phone, hesitantly sending Sunshine a text.

'Hey. We need to talk.'

He slid his phone onto the counter, taking a deep breath as he poured a small cup of milk. He'd already been washing down his food with it when he noticed the reply.