ACTUALLY, LOVE IS BULLSH*T.

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STARCROSSED (book one).
°• CHAPTER FOURTEEN •°

" DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE APOLOGIZING FOR? "

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LOVE COMES IN SO MANY DIFFERENT FORMS. Elijah Wolfhart couldn't possibly count them all. There were too many actions that had been done for him to count using the five fingers on each hand. Maybe a calculator would help out. Maybe then he could keep count. Then again, he'd have to keep track of everything the ones he loved had done for him. The heartbreaking way that Nevaeh felt as if she had to keep her secrets from him. She couldn't bear to burden him. Or how Tobia spent years drilling into Elijah's head that feelings were important, that crying even when you're a man is okay. But there are happier, bright sides to it. Like when Jonathan refused to leave him alone because he knew his best friend secretly hated it. Nevaeh and Nancy showing up on the mornings it's hard to get out of bed with toast and orange juice. Or how none other than Steve Harrington read books on stargazing just to keep up with his doting for the cosmos.

And it'd be just as hard to keep track of how Elijah showed love. His heart could explode with how much endearment it carried. For starters, having given up his own health and wellness just so they don't have to bear pressure on themselves. That was a major one. Tobia, Nevaeh, even Steve - they didn't have to feel for a second how much Elijah could carry with him every day. He spared them of that pain by sustaining it just so they wouldn't have to. It was love even when it hurt, a lot.

For Nevaeh, Elijah carried her since the day she was born. He walked her to and from school even if it made him late. He would forget to do his own homework the nights he made her dinner, braided her hair, and tucked her into bed. Elijah also continued to look out for her even when she was old enough to do so herself. He made sure she was staying sober. For Tobia, Elijah filled in the role of a father figure even when he was too young to do so. He even took care of him on the nights he'd get home from work late. And Steve? God, there wasn't a thing he didn't do for him. He kept the painful burden of his secret. Because Elijah loves them so, so much. Even when it hurts.

Elijah isn't exactly sure what hurt more. Carrying these burdens or getting smacked into by Billy during their first-period Gym class all over again.

It didn't take long for Elijah's blood to start boiling and it certainly wasn't from the heat rising in the gymnasium. It didn't help this was the first morning he's taken the medicine Doctor Owens prescribed him. He mentioned that the first three days are going to be the toughest compared to the two weeks of symptoms he'll have to adjust to it. Elijah would usually brush it off because he's long decided other people's opinions on him don't matter, but he was seconds away from wiping Billy's smug expression across the floor if he doesn't knock it off.

Even the whistleblowing from their coach sounds like a screech that could make Elijah's ears bleed. It didn't help he was barking orders like the separate team of boys couldn't hear even though the older man was standing a few feet away. Elijah was going to make him choke on that stupid whistle next when he's done with Billy.

The opposite teams are attempting to block each other from catching the orange ball that was bouncing back and forth. One member of the shirtless team passes it to Billy and when Steve shoves his way in a poor attempt to block him from catching it, only for Billy to cackle so loudly that the laugh bounces off the walls. He smacks the ball on the floor a few times so it bounces back to his hand. "Alright, alright, alright! King Steve! King Steve, everyone!" They face one another closer as Steve crouches, preparing to snatch the ball away. "I like it. Playing tough today," he says with a cold grin, a single scarred eyebrow cocked.

"Jesus! Do you ever stop talking? Come on," Steve urges. He's damp with sweat, panting, and eager to win a game that Elijah wishes he could tell him didn't even matter. All you had to do was dance on your feet around the gymnasium and the instructor would give you enough points to pass the class. That's all that really mattered. But Steve? He was desperate to prove something. Anything.

Billy's awful cackle echoes again. "What? You afraid the coach is gonna bench you now that I'm here? Huh?" He barely gave Steve a chance to think it over when he bolts forward, slamming his elbow into Steve's chest who grunted and fell over from the impact. Elijah winces at the sound the smack makes when he collides against the hard flooring. Billy leaps and with a single swing of his arm tosses the basketball into the hoop. The net sways with his victory, followed by yet another blow of the whistle that screeches as the victor cheers and high fives a few of his teammates.

Elijah hasn't given a damn about even attempting to make a basket or a win for that matter, but his sneakers still squeak when he moves towards Steve's direction where he pushed himself to rest on his elbows. He stops in his tracks though when Billy hunched over Steve. Elijah's prepared to bounce that asshole's head off the floor if he tries anything, however, he doesn't. Not at first. He simply extends his hand in Steve's direction.

It may look like a peace offering to Steve as he clasps it with his own. That's his problem. He's too naive, too trusting. He wants to be friends with everyone. But Elijah knows better. A boy like him had his heart broken one too many times to be blind to the action, especially by those he once trusted the most. He knows what Billy was doing wasn't with the use of a white flag, but a red one.

Yet again, Elijah Wolfhart realizes he's right as he (at first) wordlessly watches Billy utter a few words quiet enough for only Steve to hear before he shoves his hand into his upper chest and sends him sprawled on the ground again.

Elijah's face curls as he bumps Billy's shoulder once he's upright and poisonously spat, "Prick."

The venom slid off Billy's skin much like the beads of sweat. Elijah refuses to break their eye contact because he won't be the first to back down.

But Billy's gaze quickly scans Elijah from his head to his toes before he challenges in an equally furious voice, "Queer."

Elijah's blood boiling brings sudden steam that makes his skin flush. His head feels like it might explode with the power as he spun so fast his vision blurred into red. "What the fuck did you just - "

"Eli," Steve pipes up before Elijah can finish. The fury starts to simmer. He glimpses over his shoulder to see Steve was still on his back, an arm outstretched in his direction. "A hand?"

He isn't so subtle about it with wide, starry brown eyes that could just about knock Elijah off his feet harder than Billy could. Steve is perfectly capable of jumping on his own feet and hopping back into the game but he's obviously trying to buy Elijah's attention so no one has to place bets on a smackdown between a Hargrove and a Wolfhart, two hotheads dangerously close to spilling anger on one another. Elijah didn't know if Steve was more worried he'd kick Billy's ass or get his own kicked, but either way that it's put, he's tragically right. Elijah's already been suspended for smashing Lewis's nose into his skull the previous year. It wasn't a great idea to pick another fight.

His skin is warm, Elijah realizes, when he clasps his hand into Steve's. Their fingers curl around each other's palm so Elijah can find the ability to give a rough tug that helps the other steady on his feet. He can't help the way his gaze falls across him in case Billy did any real damage. "Are you okay?" Elijah asks.

The basketball game continues to go just like the world keeps spinning. Steve nods as if Billy had smacked the sense into him and he realized that winning the game was indeed bullshit. So was most of what went on in their lives. So much of it was bullshit.

It's a good thing the boys in their gym are basically required to shower before moving on to their next class. If Elijah would tell the story of how he first realized he was gay, it wouldn't have started with other boys in the locker room. No. Obviously, he tried to avert his stare from his peers. Elijah practically radiated the clear fear of being caught and what could happen in the aftermath. He always tried to get dressed as quickly as possible before hightailing it out of there, the dread of being known for what was going on in his mind lingering long after he was gone.

But no, of course, that's not where Elijah's troubles began. It was just the middle of his timeline. If he had to trace back to the start, it'd be the day he met the one he wished on every night on a shooting star with a longing heart. Steve Harrington. They were just little kids being forced into a friendship by their parents who were close, so quite clearly the Wolfhart kid didn't know what he felt, not at the time. Steve was a loud, annoying, kid who talked a mile a minute. Elijah was the complete opposite. He didn't smile until Steve complimented his cool firetruck toy and wanted to play with it.

They were inseparable after that. They became everything someone could hope to have in a best friend. But one thing these people who're that close won't mention is just how fucking painful it is when you're not friends anymore. When you grow up with someone you've known since you were in diapers, become attached at the hip with them, being by their side your entire life - it'll feel like someone stabbed you in the heart with the dullest knife they could find when they leave. The hole in your heart will be permanent and forever you'll be searching to find anything that would fill that empty void.

It's far worse when you're in love with said best friend, but point taken. Loving people had consequences.

Elijah can't help the way his thoughts wander to past memories that didn't even matter anymore as the spray of cold water hits him in the face. He flinches at first from the icy feeling pelting his warm skin in a freezing embrace. Elijah's long gotten over his fear of watching his male classmates undress after class. That's not what causes a flow of anxiety. It's the way everyone was afraid of him watching. Like if Elijah's stare landed on them for even a split second before tearing away, they'd be accused of having "homosexual tendencies" too. He's still on edge after what happened especially with Billy a few inches away from his right and feared finally snapping.

But Elijah attempts not to care. If he thinks so, then he doesn't. It works the same way kids think when they believe if they can't see you then you can't see them. His muscles shake with the strength it takes to do so. He pretends everyone is pretending that he was invisible like a ghost that just floated across the locker room, only existing to scare the shit out of everyone. Elijah knows it doesn't help there are still bruises painting his skin, scattered mostly across his ribs.

The purple splotches sting at the spray of water. Elijah swallows thickly at the wince of pain that wants to escape his throat. He won't give anyone, Billy Hargrove of all people especially, the satisfaction. He's shocked that the asshole actually speaks over the quiet thunder of their shower nozzles.

"Don't sweat it, Harrington."

Elijah lifts his head after scrubbing shampoo into his raven hair. The suds start to slide past his ears and across his jawbone from the few droplets that started to drown the bubbles. He can't hide the look of surprise that the words coming out of Billy's mouth weren't degrading towards either of them.

"Today's just not your day, man," Billy continues once Steve turned his head. Elijah huffs and shakes his head before ducking it under the hiss of water again. There's no way he's being nice without some type of consequence that'll follow.

"Yeah - not your week," an annoying, snotty voice echoes from the other side of the fountain. Elijah scowls immediately at the sound of it. He tries to block Tommy Hagan's voice by allowing the water to clog his ears. He's disappointed that it doesn't work. "You and the Princess break up for one day and she's running off with the freak's brother."

Suddenly Elijah is slightly thankful his little trick didn't work. Nancy broke up with Steve? He knew she was pissed about something the other day when she dragged Steve out of Gym class, but they went to Tina's Halloween bash together. A harsh spat must've followed after Nancy was drunk enough to accidentally spill a drink on herself. But why didn't either of them tell Elijah about it?

He finds out quickly when Tommy barks out a cruel laugh. "Oh, shit. You didn't know. Jonathan and the Princess skipped yesterday, still haven't shown." Elijah frowns tightly at that. He can feel his heart twist painfully. He gets lost in his thoughts momentarily. Where did they go? Jonathan was his best friend. Nancy was slowly creeping into being his second. Why didn't they tell him if they were together or on a journey of some kind?

They were Monster Hunters. They do it together or not at all.

"But that must just be a coincidence, right?" Tommy continues to taunt.

Elijah at last noticed Steve's face. His features had betrayed the way he desperately tried to block Tommy out and pinched in distraught. He flexed his knuckles and recalled how it felt when he beat Tommy into a bloody pulp. Elijah wonders if he remembers it too. He can't help the way his protective side took over and hit him with anger. "God, shut the fuck up, Hagan," Elijah angrily snaps.

Tommy's a coward that only cackles in reply. He spun away from the showers and snatched a towel to wrap around his waist before finally leaving. Elijah sighs and tries to relax his shoulders once Tommy was gone. It's difficult to just let the rage leave his system though when Billy's still standing right there as if he hadn't made any attempts to rough the other two up just for the sheer pleasure of it.

"Don't take it too hard, man," Billy says calmly when they're alone. "A pretty boy like you got nothing to worry about." He leans a tad closer. "Plenty of bitches in the sea."

Elijah scoffs in disgust at his use of words. He didn't expect much less from Billy. He was an ultimate douchebag who probably treated women like used tissues. "Hell of a way to talk about woman."

Although Elijah's baby sister did indeed have an impact on him, Nevaeh wasn't the only reason he bitterly spoke. She wasn't just a man's sister or a man's daughter. She was someone as were every other woman on this planet. Their relation to a man shouldn't determine what their worth is.

He wants to wipe the stupid smirk on Billy's face off when it appears. "Wolfhart, that's all that we are." A bunch of bitches, Elijah hears the unsaid words. His nose wrinkles while Billy quietly laughs under his breath and turns the knob connected to Steve's shower hose off. "Am I right?"

Steve is silent. He merely stares back at Billy with annoyance, suds dripping off the ends of his damp hair and falling onto his shoulders. He doesn't make a move to get out of Billy's way when he slaps him on his wet back, stating, "I'll be sure to leave you some."

The locker room fills with a tense quietness that Elijah hates as soon as Billy left. He fights off the internal panic when he glances towards Steve. However, he's not even staring in his direction. His eyes hold a deeper sadness that Elijah can't see into as they stare blankly at the wall. He frowns. He wishes there was something more he could do or say even when he battles with whether he hates Steve or loves him.

"So you guys broke up?" Elijah questions. He winces immediately as soon as the words leave his mouth but he couldn't help it. Curiosity, and a little hurt that no one told him, got the best of him.

"I don't know." Steve continues to refuse to look him in the eye and instead glares at the showerheads. He angrily mutters with a swipe of his hand towards the handle to flick the water back on, "Just a bunch of bullshit."

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A way that Elijah showed his love language was cooking. Well, whatever he actually could cook. He was still learning since he didn't have much of another choice. It wasn't like Nevaeh could live off of a diet of peanut-free snacks and once their mom died and Tobia began picking up extra shifts that led to him not being home, Elijah found out he fit into an apron pretty well. He would flip through whatever cookbooks he could find and make what he could with whatever they had but remained careful since his sister had a nut allergy. The last thing they needed was a trip to the hospital instead of dinner after Elijah would stab her with an EpiPen. It turns out Nevaeh and Tobia's love language was choking down whatever he came up with.

So far Elijah learned quickly he can make a mean burger. He still hasn't managed to master the ability to slice potatoes and cook them into fries so a bag of frozen fries crinkles as he yanks the cheapest option out of the freezer at the market. The few bills he took from the blue case at the Wolfhart house could've burned a hole in his pocket. Elijah hated that he had to take money from it even when it was there for necessities like food, bills, or whatever else they may need. He's put in dozens of applications over the summer and before school started up again in hopes of finding a job.

Those hopes were quickly crushed into dust. Elijah desperately called the businesses and asked eagerly about the status of his application, but it was no use. His reputation precedes him. But Elijah Wolfhart doesn't give up. If he was the type to do so, he would've shoved all of his feelings back into the deepest corners of a closet.

Elijah was starting to wonder if Hawkin's market was hiring as he wandered through the aisles in search of soda, clutching the plastic basket to his hip that was held down with the weight of frozen hamburger meat, the bag of fries, and buns. He considers asking an associate if they were hiring before stopping in his tracks when he rounds the corner of an aisle and spots Steve Harrington searching through bundles of flowers. Elijah quickly realizes how fast his luck ran out when he braces himself to bolt a second before Steve notices and calls his name.

A grimace appears on Elijah's face. It's been a long time since they've actually had a close, friendly interaction where he didn't want to hurl everywhere. Everything always seemed and felt forced for the sake of Nancy and Jonathan since they defeated that horrible creature from another world. It wasn't that Elijah didn't want what he had with Steve back. Most days he ached for it. It was that he didn't know if he could trust him again.

"Hey." Elijah offers Steve a smile that's far more painful than friendly. He watches Steve's eyes soften at the fact he actually greeted him and feels the familiar urge, the tug of his heartstrings, but desperately tried to shove it down as far as it could go without ever being found again. Elijah distracts himself with the piles of beautiful flowers Steve had been studying. "You're picking out flowers?"

Steve gives him an uncertain shrug. His gaze fell to the bundles of colors, the red, blue, yellow, green mix of petals like he couldn't decide. "Yeah. For Nancy. Some type of apology, I guess for... You know, what happened at that Halloween party."

His words bring Elijah to nod tightly. He's thankful he wasn't as drunk as she was to remember what happened. Steve gave him a ride home while Jonathan took Nancy since she was too pissed after too many drinks to ride with Steve. Elijah hates how his heart swells in his chest as if the organ could explode at how Steve was trying to apologize to the girl he loved. Watching his love for Nancy always gave him the same feeling. He imagined Jonathan, his other shooting star, felt the same.

"Hey, I'm gay, but consider me an expert since I have a baby sister." Elijah peels the plastic back holding a dozen roses. He can't help but think Lewis had never done anything romantic or sweet for Nevaeh and yet, she doted over him because of the attention he gave her. Elijah prayed Nancy was different for Steve's sake because she much as he hated it, all of the facts, all he ever wanted was for Steve to be happy. "Go with the red roses. Cheesy is best, Harrington."

"Really?" Steve's forehead creases like he's deep in thought. "Huh. I wouldn't have guessed." Elijah knows he's clueless - God did he know Steve was clueless - but it was sometimes cute. Strands of his stupid hair brushing across the crease of skin, close his wide brown eyes -

Elijah quickly shoves that thought down as soon as it crosses his mind. He knows he's falling too deep into the grave he was digging himself with the shovel Steve handed him. He swallows thickly and tries to smile again. "That doesn't surprise me, dipshit." Elijah lightly nudges his shoulder. The words fall from his tongue before he could even think about them. "She'll forgive you. You're the best."

He regrets them as soon as Steve hears them. His features immediately soften and Elijah feels the urge to run at the same time his knees wobble. "Never thought I'd hear you say that. Not again," Steve admits with a gentle smile. "I know you haven't forgiven me, Eli. And if you did I don't deserve it, but if flowers would help..."

An unsteady laugh fell from Elijah and he clutches the basket a little tighter like it'd help him escape. He hasn't forgiven Steve yet. Sometimes he wants to but he doesn't know if he can even though it's been over a year since shit hit the fan. At least not yet. But when Elijah hears that Steve believes he doesn't deserve forgiveness, he does wonder when they'll be able to step over that line or if the line was even created yet.

"I told you I'm gay. We don't do flowers for an apology," Elijah reminds him. He cocks his head towards the direction of the checkout. "I'm gonna checkout. I'll see you later, Harrington." He barely catches Steve's reply before he's nearly sprinting to the checkout.

It feels like forever while the bored cashier scans the few items Elijah has. He wishes his mind would just shut up, especially when it comes to Steve Harrington. For so long the boy clouded his thoughts and he desperately tried to convince himself it was out of hate. For the longest time, it was indeed hate. Elijah just wanted to know how he could love and hate someone so much at the same time.

The register beeping snaps Elijah out of his thoughts. The cashier is a middle-aged woman with a friendly smile that she supplies him with while reading his final total. "11.50, hon."

The color drains from Elijah's face. Fuck. He only had a ten in his pocket.

Panic floods his mind. Elijah knows there isn't a line behind him but he suddenly feels as if everyone's eyes have landed on him. He quickly glances at the bagged items and tries to pick apart the swimming thoughts of alarm. They can use sliced bread, right? They must have a loaf at home. It works just as well as buns.

"I'm - I'm sorry, could we... Maybe take the buns out?" Elijah asks weakly. He sees the cashier isn't bothered by that in the least as she nods and voids the item from her end before retrieving the bag of buns to set aside. Elijah's cheeks were burning in embarrassment and anxiety as he quietly thanked her after being given his new total, grateful it was finally in his price range.

He didn't know Steve was only a few feet away, overhearing, until it was too late. Elijah practically jumps out of his skin when Steve approaches with a concerned stare. "Hey, Eli, did you need a spotter - ?"

Elijah was startled before his features immediately turn dark. He cuts Steve off before he could finish. "No."

It's amazing how quickly Elijah's face can switch from somber to kind when he averts his attention back to the cashier. He misses the way Steve's features fell. "Thank you," he says genuinely and accepts the few coins she handed back. He barely gives Steve a glance when he grabs the grocery bag and gets the hell out of there.

The doors slid open as Elijah approached them. He releases a long sigh like it would've made it any easier to breathe once he was free. He lets the handles of the plastic bag loop through his arm and dangle as he rummages through his pocket for his box of cigarettes. He can physically feel any signs of anxiety slowly flow through as soon as the filter was placed between his lips. Elijah cups the other end with his hand to protect the flame when he flicked his lighter from the October wind and inhales deeply, allowing the smoke to fill his lungs. It's funny that it's what makes it easier for him to breathe when he's destroying his insides.

Elijah made the mistake of not taking his car. Well, mistakes were done accidentally. He didn't have much of a choice in the matter. The gas had been close to E since driving back from Hawkins Lab the day before. Every drop counted and trips to the Lab or school mattered more than a store that was just a few minutes away from the Wolfhart house. At least the weather didn't suck - autumn in Hawkins never did.

But the biggest outcome of the mistake is when Steve Harrington's car slowly starts to follow Elijah's footsteps, close to the curb. He attempts to block it out but Steve won't make it easy. He rolls down the window and shouts, "Hey, Eli! Where's your car? Did you crash it?"

The smile that appears is impossible to fight off but Elijah tries to keep the corners of his lips tugged into a frown to appear nonchalant. "Eat a dick, Harrington!" He calls back. "I didn't crash shit. If I can't afford bread, you think I can get gas?"

He purposely avoids meeting Steve's eyes because he knows he'll see them drawn in pity. Elijah wasn't asking for it. And yet, Steve still has the nerve to offer it because he meant his promise a year ago. "Let me give you a ride. I just have to make a stop at the Wheeler's."

"No thanks. My two feet work fine."

"Okay," Steve agrees casually. He shrugs and keeps the low pressure on his gas pedal. "Then I'll drive next to you until - "

Elijah's eyes roll to the back of his skull. Steve's nagging, insistent voice was bringing a pang to his skull. "Oh my God, fine!" He exclaims. Steve is practically beaming with victory when Elijah opens the passenger door with a little more force than necessary and tosses himself into the seat. "Happy?"

"Couldn't be happier," Steve replies with a grin plastered on his face.

Elijah struggles to block out the light Steve was supplying while he fumbled with his seatbelt. It was proven impossible after realizing just how fucked you are since you're in love with said (ex) best friend. Or was Steve still his enemy? Honestly, Elijah wished he knew the same way he knew that Steve wished he could sort out his own feelings to tell him what he felt.

There wasn't a lot of time to think about it while they make a pit stop at the Wheeler's. But Elijah can still feel the longing buried deep inside himself that desperately wanted to make sense of whatever they had, ached with the want to piece together the tangled mess of feelings, but it never seemed like there was time to do it. Not when Elijah wasn't sure if he could allow himself to open up to Steve again.

"Hey," Steve pipes up. They turn a corner and Elijah can see the Wheeler mailbox only a few feet away but the driver starts to slow his speed again. Steve taps the steering wheel as if he was hyping himself up for the question before he gets it out. "Um, I was just wondering... I wasn't, like, staring or anything. But I - I saw some bruises - "

"Nope." Elijah immediately cuts him off. He goes to unbuckle his seatbelt just as quickly. He vows to never allow Steve to know what happened and if either Nevaeh or Jonathan dared to tell him themselves, he may smother them with a pillow. "Not talking about it, Steve. Don't ask."

He just about kicks the door open as Steve rushes to follow. "Wait, wait, Eli. I just - "

"I ran into a wall. Okay? End of fucking discussion," Elijah declares. His voice is low, sharper than any razor blades, daring Steve to press the matter. He's seen what a spitfire like himself is capable of. He doesn't want to see him explode. Elijah inhales before blowing out a puff of air. He knows the side effects of the medicine were truly kicking his ass now. It was getting harder to calm himself down, worse than what it was before. He jabs a finger towards the Wheeler house. "Fix your hair and go talk to Nance."

A look of betrayal carves into Steve's face as his jaw drops. "What do you mean fix my hair?!"

Elijah rolls his eyes again. Steve had that effect on him. Somedays he was more annoyed in the presence of him than he was starstruck... Actually, every day he was.

"Do you even know what you're apologizing for?" Elijah questions as they cross the crunching, dry field. He can't help that he's curious about it. Nancy hasn't answered her phone and given him any answers, and while he respects their privacy... He's also incredibly nosy.

Steve shrugs. He's picking at the strands of his hair insecurely and fiddling with the flowers that he snatched before catching up with Elijah's steps. "No. I mean, what the hell would I be sorry for?" He asks as if Elijah had a clue about the situation.

Elijah parts his lips to reply before something catches his eye. A sign was sticking out of the ground. It was red, white, and blue with block letters that curved, reading REAGAN & BUSH '84. He gags as soon as he reads the words and knows right away he and Mr. Wheeler would not get along. Elijah Wolfhart was probably everything he hated.

He comes back to Earth from his political thoughts when a small form comes toward the pair. Elijah squints to see that none other than Dustin Henderson was storming away from the steps of the Wheeler's house. The kid was bolting straight for them as soon as he caught sight of them. "Steve, Elijah!" He calls. He eyes the flowers in Steve's hand. "Are those for Mr. or Mrs. Wheeler?"

Steve glances at the flowers like they were foreign. "No..."

"Good." Dustin snatches the bouquet out of his hand.

"Kid, what the fuck?" Elijah swore as Dustin bounded toward Steve's car and expected them to follow him.

"Nancy isn't home!" Dustin calls over his shoulder. Elijah's eyebrows furrow. That makes Day Three, was it, since Nancy and Jonathan booked it?

"Where is she?" Steve asks with equal confusion.

But Dustin isn't in the mood to give them answers or spend any time with small talk. "Doesn't matter." He quickly opens the passenger door. "We have bigger problems than your love life. Do you still have that bat?"

"Bat? What bat?" Steve repeats cluelessly.

"The one Jonathan made? With the nails?" Elijah remembers. He shakes his head unsurely. "Look, kid, you're not carrying around that weapon - "

"It's not for me!" Dustin exclaims. He just about stomps his foot in frustration and demands, "I'll explain everything on the way!"

"Now?"

"Now!"

Elijah huffs as Dustin crouches into the seat. "Hey, shithead, if we're going with you then get in the backseat."

"No way! I call shotgun!"

What the fuck?

He doesn't know if the look Steve pitched toward Elijah is an apology or not, but he sighs before following because he doesn't like kids. He never has. But love, well... It comes in many different forms. Even when it's bullshit.

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author's note:

i know i say this a lot but elijah is a part of MEEEE. having a long talk (or fight lmao) with my mom inspired a lot of this chapter. she tried to tell me how much she sacrificed for me, basically called me selfish, and i hunched over laughing so hard i couldn't breathe because i gave up nearly everything for my family because I LOVE THEM NO MATTER HOW THEY TREAT ME LMAO ANYWAYS

ye. so anyways. eli & steve are slowly growing closer. what's gonna happen?? why did jonathan and nancy leave eli behind?? will eli ever actually like kids?? oooo!!

ok this was a long chapter but the next few may be shorterish. still working out the last details. please be sure to comment and stuff im sad that my views here have been lower than usual for some reason and im worried no one likes my work anymore. but my head hurts and im sad cause this chapter lowkey triggered me so im finna take a nap.

thank you for reading ❤️

- koda

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