"Guess what I heard~" Elijah hummed as he walked over to his group of friends.

"What?" One of them asked, Jason.

"Well, according to my sources, two new people have enrolled." Elijah told them.

"Boy or girl?" Jessica tilted her head.

"Both."

"Oh?" James hummed,"Hopefully we'll see them."

"I've made it my goal for the day." Elijah nodded.

"I believe in you." James crossed his arms.

"Thank you very much." Elijah smiled.

"Here." He handed Elijah a lollipop.

"Oh, thank you, darling." Elijah began to unwrap it,"Anyway, I've got to go. Jane said she wanted to talk about my homework."

"Have fun, darling." James smirked.

"I'll try my best." Elijah shrugged as he walked off.

After walking for a minute, Elijah saw the Dean with two students. These must be the new students. Elijah tilted his head, leaning against the wall as he ate his lollipop. The girl, she was a brunette, she looked proper, neat and tidy. Meanwhile, the boy next to her was a little bit more carefree.

Elijah waited for the Dean to leave them alone, he wanted to speak to them. After a few minutes, the Dean walked off, leaving the two alone. This was his chance! He would be the first student they met so he needed to make a good first impression. Don't fuck it up.

"Hello there."

"What?" The boy crossed his arms.

"Smoking's not good." The girl pointed.

Elijah furrowed his brow, taking the lollipop out of his mouth,"Apologies for the confusion."

"Oh! Une sucette. I'm so sorry." The girl chuckled.

"It's alright." Elijah smiled,"My name's Elijah, Elijah G- Deans."

"I'm Wayne Howards. This is my sister, Fleur Howards." Wayne nodded.

"It is a pleasure meeting you both." Elijah hummed.

"Um.. Do you know where Mr Hauser's class is?" Fleur asked.

"I do, darling. It's just along this hallway and up the stairs. First room on the left." Elijah pointed.

"Darling?" Wayne crossed his arms.

"Hm? Oh, sorry, I just sort of call everyone darling." Elijah apologized.

Wayne nodded slowly,"Right. Thanks man, we better be going."

"If you ever need help, you'll find me around." Elijah told them.

"Yeah, whatever." Wayne sighed, pulling Fleur with him.

"He seems sweet." Fleur hummed.

"I don't trust him." Wayne shook his head.

"You never trust anyone."

"So?"

"You need to be nice." Fleur pointed.

"I'm as nice as I need to be." Wayne shrugged.

Fleur shook her head,"You're never nice to anyone."

"Oh come on, I was nice to you." Wayne pointed.

Fleur hummed,"I have that effect on people."

"Look, I'll try and be nicer if it makes you happy, okay?" Wayne sighed.

"It would make me very happy." Fleur nodded.

Wayne shook his head,"I'll try."

"Come on." Fleur ran off.

"Jesus- I'm coming." Wayne ran after her

*********************************

"Elijah." Fleur walked up to him.

"Yes, darling?"

"I got accepted into the cheerleaders." Fleur smiled.

"Oh, I'm so happy for you!" Elijah clapped,"You'll be so good, trust me."

"Do you think? The girls are.. Bossy." Fleur sighed.

"If they give you any grief, send then my way." Elijah pointed,"They can be.. Difficult."

"You want to battle a cheerleader?"

"I have a little side hustle outside of school, I know how to dance." Elijah pointed.

"You'll have to show me one time." Fleur pointed.

Elijah chuckled,"Oh, I will."

"How are you and James?" Fleur hummed.

"What do you mean?" He raised a brow.

"Well, I thought you were.."

"Oh- No, we're not dating." Elijah laughed,"No, he's my best friend. I was going out with Riley, but we ended things a while back."

"Oh.. I swear James told me you were dating." She nodded.

"Huh.. Well, we definitely aren't." Elijah shook his head.

"Maybe he's just confused." Fleur assured him.

"I don't think I've been giving him any signals.. Have I?"

"Not really, but he seems to think so." Fleur shrugged.

"I see.." Elijah sighed and rubbed the back of his neck,"Well, in other news.. There's a party tonight."

"Really?"

"Mhm. I was going to bring James but.. I think I want to bring you instead."

"Me?" Fleur smiled,"Of course I will come with you."

"Don't tell Wayne, he'll freak out." Elijah pointed.

"That we're going to a party?"

"That I invited you."

"He won't mind." Fleur hummed.

"He won't mind my arse." Elijah scoffed.

"He won't. Don't worry." Fleur assured him.

"He doesn't like me." Elijah sighed.

"Why do you think that?" Fleur tilted her head.

"He's always glaring at me, especially when we're talking."

"He's just.. Protective."

"Whatever you say." Elijah leaned back in his chair.

"I say what's right, Cherié."

"You are always right."

"See." Fleur nodded.

"Right, I'm going to try and finish some of my homework before this party." Elijah pointed as he stood up.

"Have fun." Fleur hummed.

*********************************

Elijah was stood outside of where the party, looking around for Fleur. Soon enough, Fleur walked over, waving at Elijah from afar.

"Ah, there you are, darling." Elijah smiled at her.

"You look nice." Fleur hummed.

"I always look nice, as do you."

"Thank you." Fleur bowed.

"Come on." Elijah held out his hand to her.

Fleur took his hand, squeezing it gently,"Think people will like me?"

"They better like you." Elijah pointed,"What's not to like?"

"I'm new.. They might not like me."

"They will, trust me." Elijah assured her as they walked in.

Fleur looked around, her eyes darting everywhere,"Wow, it's loud." She chuckled.

"You get used to it after a bit."

"Hopefully." Fleur nodded,"Will there be dancers?"

"Not unless they ask me." Elijah chuckled,"People will probably start dancing once they've drank enough."

Fleur hummed,"Right."

"Do you want anything? Drinks?"

"Oh- Just some vodka?" Fleur suggested.

"Ooh, I like that idea." Elijah smiled,"Do you want to come with or will you be alright here?"

"I'll be okay. I'm just going to go to the toilet." Fleur pointed.

"Alright, I'll be back soon." Elijah nodded as he walked off.

Fleur rushed off to the toilet, grabbing her phone and calling her brother.

"Flo? Do you need me to pick you up? Is something wrong?" Wayne asked.

"No- I mean.. I'm at a party and.. I want you to come over."

"A party? Why are you at a party?" Wayne questioned.

"Eli invited me." Fleur nodded.

"And you said yes?"

"Of course I said yes."

Wayne sighed,"Send me the address, I'll be there as fast as I can."

"Don't blame Elijah, he doesn't know." Fleur sighed, texting him the address.

"Fine, I won't. But I'm giving him a stern talking to when I get there." Wayne hung up.

"You-" Fleur stopped before she took a deep breath and walked out.

Although, when she left the toilet, Elijah was nowhere to be seen.

"Eli?" Fleur looked around.

She eventually spotted him near the bar but.. He didn't look himself. He looked disoriented, confused.

Fleur blinked and walked up to the bar,"Eli?"

"Hm?" Elijah turned to her, he was holding onto the bar for support.

"Oh, mon dieu.." Fleur cursed,"Have you drank anything?"

"Mhm.." Elijah held his head,"I think I need.. To sit down."

Although, that's when James appeared, two drinks in hand.

"James, I thought you weren't invited?" Fleur looked at him as she held Elijah's arm.

"Oh, I was. I came with Jason." James nodded,"Anyway, if its not a bother, I'll take Eli back to mine. He never knows his limit."

"We've only just gotten here, he wouldn't have drank that much."

"They have some pretty strong stuff, he's always experimenting." James put his arm around Elijah's waist,"Trust me, it happens more often than you think."

Fleur tilted her head,"I think I should come with then."

"Oh no, we'll be just fine." James tightened his grip.

"Flo?"

"Elijah?" Fleur looked at him.

Elijah was struggling to get his words out but he held onto her. He wanted to stay with her.

"Look James, I know we have not properly met but from the looks of it, Elijah does not want to go with you."

"I'm his boyfriend." James crossed his arms

"And I'm his friend who can clearly see that something isn't right."

"Well-"

"I got here.. As fast as I could." Wayne jogged over, out of breath,"The hell's going on here?"

"James has done something to Elijah." Fleur crossed her arms.

"I haven't done anything." James shook his head.

Wayne looked between Fleur and James,"Flo, we're leaving. Bring Elijah with you."

Fleur nodded, taking Elijah's wrist,"Come on, Cherié."

"You can't be serious." James scoffed.

"Oh, I'm serious." Wayne crossed his arms.

"Wayne." Fleur gave him a warning look.

"I wasn't gonna do anything." Wayne rolled his eyes,"..Much."

"If he's well tomorrow, I'll bring him to you." Fleur told James.

"You better." James pointed.

"Let's go." Wayne shook his head as he started to walk off.

Fleur watched James, helping Elijah walk with Wayne out of the party.

"Do you know what he's had?" Wayne asked her.

"I don't know." Fleur shook her head,"We only just got here so I went and called you and when I came back he was like this."

Wayne sighed,"We'll take him to our place, try and sort him out there."

"We have the stuff to help him, right?"

"We should do." Wayne nodded,"If we don't, we can call Ma."

Fleur hummed,"Help me with him, please?"

"Of course." He nodded.

*********************************

The next morning, Elijah had woken up on a couch in an unfamiliar room.

"The hell..?" Elijah sat up, holding his head,"Maledizione, la mia testa."

"Elijah?" Fleur walked through.

"Oh- Flo. Are we at yours? God, did I drink too much again?"

"Drink too much? No." Fleur shook her head.

"Huh, weird.. Well, did you have a good time?"

"We had to come home early." Fleur sighed,"They'll be other parties."

"Did something happen?" Elijah asked her.

"What do you remember from last night, Cherié?"

"Uh.. Well, I remember us going into the party, we were holding hands. Then.. I went to get drinks and you went to the toilet and.." Elijah paused,"And I don't remember anything else."

"What about.. James?" Fleur sat down.

"James.." Elijah closed his eyes,"Oh yeah, he got me our drinks."

"He did?" Fleur tilted her head.

"Mhm, he wants to be a bartender. He's studying mixology and all that." Elijah nodded.

Fleur crossed her arms,"What drink did he give you?"

"Well, I asked if he had any vodka mixes since you wanted vodka." Elijah told her,"Not sure what he gave me."

"What drink did you have, Sweets?"

"I.. I don't know." Elijah shook his head.

"Okay.. I don't think you should accept drinks from him anymore." Fleur shook her head.

"Why not?"

"Because I think he was going to do something horrible."

"What.. What do you mean? James is my best friend." Elijah shook his head.

"No.. No hun."

Elijah looked down at the floor,"What did he try to do to me?"

"I think.. I think he was trying to drug you." Fleur nodded.

Elijah quickly rubbed his eyes,"And the others times.. God, Flo, I was always on his couch."

"He always took you home? What did he do?"

"I don't.." Elijah stopped.

"I want to help."

Elijah began to shake as he began trying to remember,"No.. No- No! It was supposed to be different here."

"..What do you mean?" Fleur took his hand.

Elijah went quiet and covered his mouth.

"Eli.."

"No.."

"It's okay Cherié, you can tell me." Fleur squeezed his hand.

"When.. When I was fifteen, a group of boys took advantage of me in the school locker room.. One of them was my best friend. My only friend."

Fleur looked at Elijah and nodded slowly,"I'm.. So sorry."

"It's.. I'm fine now. I've been through worse." Elijah sighed.

"So.. Do you think James has been hurting you that same way?"

Elijah nodded,"I always woke up with weird cuts and bruises after a party. He told me I was just clumsy."

Fleur hugged Elijah,"He's supposed to be someone you trust."

Elijah hugged back, resting his head on her shoulder.

"You don't.. You don't have to go back to him."

"I'm scared." Elijah admitted,"James, he.. He's obsessive, he won't leave me alone."

"Well, you have me and Wayne who'll beat his ass." Fleur chuckled.

"I don't want either of you getting hurt because of me."

"We wouldn't get hurt." Fleur shrugged.

"You might.."

"I'll take bets we wouldn't." Fleur pulled away,"..We should tell everyone."

"No." Elijah shook his head quickly.

"He can get expelled- He'll be gone."

"No. Nobody will believe me." Elijah stepped back.

"They will." Fleur nodded,"I promise."

"If they don't then you have me and Wayne on your side."

Elijah smiled softly and took Fleur's hand again,"Thank you."

Fleur hummed, "Of course."

*********************************

Elijah was sat on the steps, smoking. He told himself he'd stop, but he hadn't really meant it.

"You don't stop with this sugar rush, do you?" Wayne sighed as he walked up to Elijah.

"Wish I could tell you this one was a lollipop." Elijah shook his head.

"Wow, upgrade from lollipops to smoke." Wayne sat beside him.

"I smoked before this." Elijah told him,"Just never in front of you guys."

"Hey, don't stop on our account." Wayne shrugged.

"I've been trying to for a while. I don't.. Want to be like this anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I'm out every other night. I'm on something all the time just to feel things." Elijah looked down,"I used to think it was better than before but.. It's not."

"Why don't.. You talk about it, man?" Wayne suggested.

"You'd be here all day." He chuckled.

"I got all day. We're more alike than you think." Wayne shrugged.

"Really?"

"Oh yeah." He nodded.

"Well, I'm originally from England but my family and I moved here when I was nine." Elijah began,"Dad said it was for work, and to an extent, it wss."

"To an extent?"

"My dad... He's a murderer. He killed ten women, although everyone else believes he killed eleven." Elijah sighed.

Wayne nodded slowly,"Why do.. They believe eleven?"

"Eleven women died, but he didn't kill the last one." Elijah took a puff of his cigarette

Wayne tilted his head,"You did."

"I took her last name, y'know." Elijah looked up,"Deans. It used to be Ganet."

Wayne nodded,"Right, right.. Well in that case then we're definitely more alike."

"You killed someone too..?" Elijah asked.

Wayne sighed,"Fleur and I.. We were trafficked as kids.. We've just moved back to the states recently and we wanted a normal life. The traffickers also trained us to be assassins." Wayne shrugged,"So.. Yeah, a couple."

Elijah patted his shoulder,"I'm sorry to hear that."

"You got used to it." Wayne nodded,"Come on, let's head inside. Go get Fleur, she's making some dinner."

"Oh, I'm a great cook. You should've said something." Elijah stood up.

"You might have to save the day." Wayne shook his head.

"I've been practicing. You two like spaghetti?" Elijah asked.

"Fuck yeah." Wayne chuckled.

"Well, you're in luck." Elijah hummed as he opened the door,"I'm half Italian, my grandmother taught me everything she knew."

"Don't brag much." Wayne joked as they walked into the apartment where straight away, they heard a loud groan from the kitchen.

"Flo, darling, do you need assistance?" Elijah called to her as he followed the noose

"I burnt the potatoes." Fleur whined,"It needs to be perfect for Ma."

"Ma's coming?" Wayne blinked.

"Today is the first, right? She said she was coming to visit on the first!" Fleur pointed.

"Dont worry, my dear. You go sit down, I can handle this." Elijah told her.

"You don't mind?" Fleur turned to him.

"It's the least I do after last night." Elijah nodded.

"Do you think you can have something made before.. Six?"

"Of course I can." Elijah chuckled,"Leave it to the master."

"I shall." Fleur nodded, walking up to Wayne and slapping his arm.

"Hey!"

"You forgot Ma was coming?"

"Look- It slipped my mind. I'm sorry." Wayne sighed.

"I'm telling."

Wayne gasped,"Don't you dare."

"Watch me, visage de merde." Fleur pointed.

"How dare-'

Elijah snickered as he turned to the pair,"Children, get out of my kitchen."

"Have fun, Eli." Fleur waved and ran off.

*********************************

As it was nearing six, Elijah was just about done in the kitchen as there was a knock at the door.

Fleur quickly ran to the door and opened it, "Mama." She smiled.

"Hello honey." Ruth hummed,"Where's your brother?"

"Tidying his room because he forgot you were coming." Fleur nodded,"Oh! I have a friend around, he's made dinner."

"Oh, a friend?" Ruth tilted her head.

"He's one of mine and Wayne's good friends."

"Oh, what's his name?" Ruth asked as she stepped inside.

"His name is Elijah." She hummed.

"That's a lovely name."

"He's sweet. You'll like him." Fleur nodded,"Eli?"

"Yes, darling?" Elijah hummed as he walked out of the kitchen, drying his hands.

"Meet Ma."

"It's a pleasure meeting you, Mrs Howards." Elijah turned to her.

"Please, Ruth is fine sweetheart." Ruth chuckled.

"Right, Ruth, dinner is just about done."

"Oh? What did you make?"

"Spaghetti bolognese."

"Oh, I love a good spaghetti. Did you make the sauce yourself?" Ruth tilted her head.

"I did." Elijah nodded excitedly,"My grandmother's recipe."

"Oh? Well done." Ruth smiled.

"Thank you." Elijah hummed as he headed back to the kitchen.

"Ma." Wayne walked over to her.

"Wayne!" Ruth smiled and hugged him.

"Aw, did you miss me?" Wayne chuckled.

"I did. My big boy running off to college." Ruth sighed,"But how could you forget about me coming?"

"You-" Wayne looked over at Fleur before back to Ruth,"I'm sorry, Ma. I've just been really busy and it slipped my mind."

"It's okay, you're just lucky mom isn't here." Ruth pointed.

Wayne shuddered,"I don't even want to imagine."

"Right, let's sit down and get this food your friends made." Ruth nodded.

"It's better than what Fleur made." Wayne winked.

"Shut up." Fleur called from the living room.

"What? You burned it." Wayne rolled his eyes.

"Did you help?" Ruth asked, sitting down.

"No, I was talking with Elijah."

Ruth nodded slowly while Elijah walked over.

"Your dinner is served." Elijah hummed as he brought over the plates.

"Oh my, this looks amazing." Ruth smiled, hugging Elijah.

"Oh- Uh, thank you." Elijah was taking aback slightly.

"Oh my lord, you need to eat much more. I can feel your bones." Ruth sighed.

"Yeah, it's the drugs." Elijah joked.

"What?" Ruth blinked.

"I'm kidding, darling." Elijah assured her.

"Well, you need to eat more still." Ruth pointed.

"I'll try my best." Elijah nodded as he sat down.

"Thanks Eli, for the food." Fleur smiled.

"It's not a problem, dear." Elijah told her.