Ava's POV:
Eli smirks, "You got to give something to get something." He puckers his lips.
"Eli. I'm in no mood to joke." Eli's personality is quite transparent. He uses humor as a defense mechanism.
And I hate that part of his personality.
He puts down his fork and rests his chin against the table, "Why does it matter whether or not I come here?"
"I want an answer, not a question."
"So do I."
My eyes narrow, "I asked first."
"It's about me."
"You're my friend. I want to know why my friend stops coming here. Is that an acceptable reason?"
His eyes lurk upward, "Sounds reasonable." He pouts, "I don't know. After you lost your memories, I thought it was awkward to drop by so often."
"Wouldn't it make more sense if you drop by often, and attempted to get close to me again?"
He grins, "Disappointed I didn't?"
"Disappointed you aren't a better liar." My words are sharp and cruel, I know it.
His smiles drop, "Your personality never changes even after you lost your memories. You've always been so mean Ava Makee." There seem to be layers of hidden meanings behind his words. Those layers are meant to be a distraction. He's indirectly changing the subject again. This time, in a much smarter method.
But, in the end, Eli is still young and his methods are still rusty. The chair below me scraps against wood as I got up. I circled the table and his eyes follow. My hands dropped on the surface, preventing him from escaping. "Answers."
"Questions," he responds.
"If I'm not the reason, then why did you stop coming to my house?"
"I got sick."
I cock my head, "Sick?"
"While you were in the hospital, I got sick. And, even after you got better, I didn't. My family was over the moon concern, so they didn't allow me to go to anyone else house." When I look at him, I couldn't pick up any reaction; clues that he may be lying. He's telling the truth.
"And now?"
He turned his body, one of his hand covered mine. It's hot. Burning hot. "I'm here, aren't I?"
I swallowed fiercely while his eye refuses to remove itself. It was a declaration of war, one where I seem to be losing.
"Ava." The kitchen door opened and I removed myself. "Do you have any extra-" Ben stops talking when he saw Eli. He points a finger at him, "You-"
"Me." Eli grins, "I'm here because my mom asked me to bring Ava some food. She found out Trevon used me as an excuse to meet up with Mina. Why are you here?"
Eli is good. He's able to control his surrounding so well, it's almost scary. Particularly for someone his age. I didn't turn around. If I did, Ben may see my face.
"I'm here because...I happened to drop by."
Eli leaned back and raise a brow, "Oh? Then, kindly explain the extra blanket? Trevon and you are having a sleepover without me...and Trevon?"
Ben closes his eyes and exhale, "You know."
"I know. So, please, savor the lies for someone else."
Like he's one to talk.
"Ava," Ben called for me.
I turned around, "He only knows Winnie is here. Either I say that, or I lie and tell him that we're sleeping together. Which one do you prefer?"
"There's nothing wrong," Ben told Eli.
"I know," Eli replies.
"Everything is okay."
"All right."
"Winnie is fine."
"Sounds good."
The storm seemingly died down, and soft droplets hit the windows. I'm not sure how it looks outside since it's dark. But, I know one thing. If my parents decided to pop in, I would be grounded until Eli needs a cane to walk.
"Your extra blankets are still in the guest room right?" Eli asks.
"I think so." I can't believe he knows my house better than me.
Eli got up and went to the guest room. He came back with three blankets and two pillows. "You may grab two blankets and a pillow." He sure made himself at home. Ben grabbed two blankets and a pillow. "Good luck with crazy upstairs." Eli pat Ben's shoulder.
"She's not crazy," Ben replied.
Eli threw the rest on the couch and smile, "Why are you still here? Waiting for her to climb out the window?"
Ben's eyes widen and he rushes toward the bedroom.
"Winnie can't climb shit," I said.
Eli chuckles, "I know that. Come on, there's a storm outside and your bedroom is the hardest room to sneak in and out."
"And how do you know that?"
"Memory lane." He hops onto the top of the couch, "I hid inside your bedroom once and broke a leg trying to escape through the window."
"That's a memory I would love to have back."
He smiles, "That would be nice." He got off and finished the food.
After we finished dinner, Eli did the dishes.
"You're not going to go home?" I question.
He stacks the clean plates inside the dishwasher, "What type of man would I be to leave a girl all alone?"
"The type who would get in trouble once his mother finds out he's not at home."
Eli wipes his hands, "I'm glad to know you're thankful after I drove all the way here, in the dangerous rain I may add, to cook you dinner and wash the dishes."
I settled my head on the edge of the couch, "You pre-heated it."
He scoffs, "Women. Always have something to complain about."
"Then, what should I had said?"
"I'm glad you brought it up." He took a hop, "You should've said: Thank you Eli for driving in the dangerous rain to bring me food. Thank you for cleaning up after I ate. Thank you for staying with me on such a dangerous night."
"Woah. Woah. Hold it back boy," I said. "I didn't agree with that last part."
"But, you are thankful!"
I rolled my eyes, "Okay. A little bit."
"Brownie points?"
"Two."
"Yes! Good job Eli." He gave himself a high-five.
"Elijah Wood, were you always like this?"
"Like what?"
"So positive?"
He leans in closer to me, "The best type of life is the one where you live without regret. Why dwell on something that can't be changed?"
"You're saying you don't get sad?"
He leans in closer until his face is an inch away from mine. "I'm saying: Don't get hung up on things that aren't worth it."
I advert my eyes and move away. He's too close, "You're not going to leave?" I tug the blanket closer to me.
"I was considering that."
"But-"
"But, how could I leave you here all alone with Benny Boo and WinWin?"
"What?" WinWin?
He lifted a finger, "Think about it. WinWin could change her mind in the middle of the night and attempt to burst out the door. Who will hold her back? BennyBoo? Please."
"And I assume spaghetti arms can stop her?"
He wiggles his arms, "These spaghetti arms can extend and wrapped around her. Then, you can use your strength and drag her back."
I don't know if I should cry or laugh at the scene in front of me. I've never interacted with such a ridiculous guy before in my life. A guy who's waving his arms around like spaghetti while pouting his lips.
I bit my lower lip when Eli lowered his arms and wiggle them like a jellyfish. "Okay. Okay. I'll compromise. Just stop doing whatever it is you're doing!" I exhale sharply to prevent myself from laughing, "You can stay and protect me for one movie."
"Spaghetti arms win again." He leaps over the couch and settled himself beside me. "So, babe, we Netflix and chill?" He winks.
"You're supposed to wink with your other eyes."
"Like this?" He winks with the wrong eye.
"No. Like this." I winked.
"Woah. No need to be so flirtatious. You already received 1000% of my attention."
I couldn't help but shake my head, "Elijah Wood. What am I going to do with you?"
He scooted closer, "You may do whatever you please with me."
I push him back, "I'll take the offer. Sit over there."
"Boo." He rolls toward the other side of the couch. I grabbed the remote and turned on the TV only to feet warm toes wiggling against my thigh. I look at Eli who winked, "Am I doing it right?"
"Girls don't like guys who are too pushy."
He rests his chin against the cushion, "Then, push me away."
My fingers paused momentarily before it resumes its action.
"Any movie is fine," he said.
Once the movie turns on, the light turns off. Ten minutes into the movie, I regretted my offer. I can feel every movement; hear every breath from the guy across from me. He did as I told. He stayed where he's supposed to be - at a reasonable distance.
If someone were to come in, they wouldn't misunderstand our relationships.
But, underneath the covers tell a different story. I can feel Eli's warm legs brushing against mine with every movement. He adjusted his weight and it moves again. He couldn't have done this on purpose right? I look at him and noticed how he's deeply focused on the movie.
His bangs drift down once his head settles comfortably on the pillow. He grabbed a handful of the popcorn he made earlier and threw it inside his mouth. He chuckles lightly, "What?" I noticed how his voice sounds a bit deeper than usual. It must be the lack of vision.
His eyes flicker toward me.
Busted.
"How weird," he said. "Why is she so angry at him?"
I don't know whether I should be grateful that he didn't tease me or embarrassed that he caught me staring at him. "Have you ever heard this quote?" I decided to move forward. Bring up the fact that I got caught staring would only make things awkward.
"What quote?"
"They say a man's heart is very fickle."
Eli laughed, "But, what about a woman?" My eyebrows deepen at his rebuttal. "A man's heart may be fickle but transparent. A woman's heart is a deep ocean of secrets."
"You stole that from Titanic."
"And you didn't steal that from elsewhere?"
"Well, you asked me about the reason why she didn't trust him." I'm referring to the movie.
"What are we doing?" Eli question.
"Defining men and women hearts."
He sat upward, "That's not what I mean. What I mean is that we shouldn't. A heart is a heart...is a heart. Why are we even separated by genders? Aren't we all humans? Humans that are just born with different anatomical parts?"
"I mean...that's another way to look at things."
He flicks a finger in the air, "I proposed we agree, that humans are fickle creatures. We are all freaking fickle licky dicky doodle homosapiens!"