19; they're gone

Just to clarify; Bella asked, specifically for the birthday she didn't want to celebrate, that Elias treated her normally and didn't make a fuss of her.

After the mess his 18th had turned out to be- Benjis nose broken, David's pinky sprained and the whole family having to pull them apart- Elias decides it isn't such a bad thing to comply to her wishes.

"Will you ever let me drive?" Elias says, like he does everyday, elbow resting against the open truck window, a cigarette between his long fingers.

"I've been told by your dad to never let you drive," Bella informs, glancing at him, eyes lingering on the red embers flying off the cigarette.

"You want one?" Elias asks, using his other hand to pull the pack out his pocket and offering it to her.

Bellas nose wrinkles- she doesn't mind the smell of it, that's why Elias smokes in the truck, but the window has to be open since she didn't like tasting it. "No thank you?"

"What-" Elias laughs at her unsure response, "-You don't want to try something new for your birthday?" He teases, inhaling the smoke happily.

"Actually, there is something I need," Bella mumbles, one hand reaching for something in her open backpack on the seats between them. "My moms demanding pictures."

The flash of the camera dazes Elias.

"Hey!" He shouts, blinking back stars. He snatches the camera out of her hands, ignoring the way she laughs. "Let me take one of us."

He throws the cigarette out and rolls the windows back up. Leaning in next to the brunette, he holds the camera out so they can both fit in the frame.

"Say vampire dick!" He smiles, Bellas face slacks in the way it normally does when he makes a dirty joke, then the flash goes off.

The car jerks to the side on the empty road at Bellas surprise. Elias grabs hold of the wheel, swerving them back to straight with a bark of laughter, "Jesus Bella! You really can't multitask."

"I can, I was just surprised," she mutters, giving him a faux glare.

Bella pulls into the small diner parking lot not long after. Elias jumps out of the truck, only pausing so the smaller girl can catch up with him before he rushes them into the restaurant.

A women greets them by name and seats them near the windows, Eli is used to the hospitality of his small town and doesn't even think it over. He just asks Bella what she thinks she'll have- Elias is one of those people who judges on their food choice.

"Did you hear about Mike and Jessica?" Bella asks after their food has been delivered. She ordered a burger, no onion, and he had curly fries and chicken strips.

"No, what?" Elias frowns, looking up from where he had been tearing chicken up with his fingers.

Bellas expression is questionable. "How have you not heard? It's all the groups been talking about today."

Elias shrugs, thinking back to school and the people there- he only makes small conversation with Angela and Tyler. Ever since he'd decided to end his human life- so to speak- after graduation, he'd slowly started distancing himself from human friends. It was just easier.

But today in particular he hadn't really been involved in the conversation, not with him thinking of his plans for the afternoon and the headache he had. Eli managed to conquer half the lunch before he made an excuse and dragged Jasper outside with him to smoke and use the silence to settle his head.

"I don't listen to gossip or do small talk," he points out, taking a bite out of a onion ring Bella throws onto his plate because she doesn't like them. "That's why we're good friends, you listen to them and I tell them to shut up when you look bored."

Bella huffs at him, as if she didn't know that too. "Well, they broke up, mutually. They both like different people apparently."

The duo pause, grey eyes meeting brown. Bellas mouth opens as she realises the reason- the pair wasn't very subtle in their crushes. Elias throws his head back as laughter rips out his throat- the small audience of the diner look towards the two teens at the noise.

Once their laughters dies they continue silently chewing- or just swallowing in Elias' case because he's so hungry he almost starts eating the plate too-The Sherwood boy dawns onto the fact Bellas silence isn't because she's peaceful.

"Bella," Elias calls, drawing her eyes from the floor and to him, "I know it's your birthday and you hate it, but why do you look so miserable?"

She presses her lips into a fine line, eyes flickering to something behind Elias. "Those men are staring at us," she whispers, brows drawing together,  "I think I remember them, they were at the police station yesterday, trying to write a complaint about Carlisle being at the hospital."

"No dont-" Bella tries grabbing Eli's arm to stop him but he's already twisting around in his seat, face hardening into a nasty expression.

There middle aged guys, big, burly- the type to drive a truck all day and go home to a miserable wife and snotty kids- are all looking at Elias and Bella with distasteful expression.

"You got a problem men?" Elias questions loudly, grey eyes a storm. Behind him Bella ducks in her seat.

The guys huff, turning back to each other in whispers, Elias already knows their topic of conversation and feels heat spark in his body.

"You just say what you like don't you?" Bella kicks his foot, making him stop glaring and turn back to her.

"Yep," he declares proudly, the workings of anger on his body easing out into a happier emotion, "Now do you want a dessert here or would you like to eat the cake Alice has got waiting at the house?"

Bella almost whimpers into the table.

"Come on," Elias encourages, leaning across the table to pat her hand in awkward comfort. "It won't be that bad."

She's still pouting as she looks up at him through her dark eyelashes, "Lets hope it's not like your birthday."

Elias realises after she laughs at his confused face that she's making a joke.

"That's not funny," he grumbles.

•••

Edward and Jasper are waiting for them when they pull up to their house.

Bella barely parks up before Elias springs out the truck. He doesn't notices the shining of lights coming from the inside house or the lanterns hanging from the trees surrounding him; just the blond pale man he loves and how he lifts one arm up so Eli can press himself into Jaspers side.

"Good afternoon Major," Elias breathes out, head rushing as Jasper smiles back- all teeth and happiness.

"Darlin," his lips press into the lining of his hair- A normal occurrence that means he wants to show his affection and surround himself in Eli's blood numbing scent. "How was your dinner?"

The revelation of him being distracted of human conversation and the image of those three men come to mind.

"Interesting," he tuts, turning his head around the outside of the house- Bella and Edward have disappeared somewhere. "How has it been running around after Alice?"

The blondes lips twitch upwards, "Come in and see," he tells, linking hands with the human, leading them into the glass home.

"I can sense the fire," Eli muttered, feeling how the heat churned from inside the house, small little flickers all over the place. It made his skin prickle. "Alice went overboard."

"Just wait," Jasper laughed, turning to watch the humans reaction.

Elias smells the roses before he sees them- and does he just. Alice has covered every available surface with them, all different shades of white, pink and red. They line all the way to the living room, where most of the Cullen family stand, waiting.

To the side of the large room is a three tier cake, class plates, a pile of silver presents. Not to mention the hundreds of tall white flickering candles lighting the room.

"Do you think you could set the house on fire?" Emmett asks as soon as the couple have come down the stairs, large frame following closely behind them as they took their place at the back of the room- next to Nathaniel.

Elias eyes the candles, feeling their heat in the tips of his fingers. If he concentrates, "Maybe, probably if i was in trouble."

Emmett ducks down to Eli's height, "You want to test it?" He chides, as if that will help the occupants of the room not hear them. Nate laughs lightly to himself next to them.

Elias grins back. After the James accident, Emmett and Carlisle- since he was a curious creature, always eager to learn new things- tried persuading Eli to test himself with his gift. It was small tasks, like trying to sense the candles, or pushing the heat into his hands without feeling emotionally out of control.

"Lets keep the destruction to a minimal, okay boys?" Esme looks at them, warm eyes a warning. Emmett, Elias and Nate all grin in unison at her.

"You can always try it when you turn," The brown skinned Cullen suggests, his words making Elis chest warm. "Emmett doesn't mind being a test subject for fire."

"As long as I get to wrestle with you, remember?" Emmett deals out, causing Eli to stiffen and grin at the same time. Human Eli has no chance, but vampire Elias does.

"You're on," The grey eyed boy nods, making the childlike expression on Emmett's face deepen. He truly is going to keep that deal.

Jasper- smiling and silently listen to his mate converse naturally with his family- leans until his lips are against Eli's ear, "You shouldn't encourage him, it's not you who has to hear him blabber on all time."

His breath tickles Elias, sweet just like the rest of him. The curly haired boy turns to face the blond, amused grey eyes meeting serene golden ones.

"Don't sound too excited Jasper," he purses his lips with fake judgment.

The blond lets go of Eli's hand so he can wrap an arm around his back. "If only you could feel how happy I am Elias," he reveals blissfully.

Emmett and Nathaniel laugh loudly as Elias ducks his head into Jaspers neck, a ecstatic look on his face.

Thankfully Alice bounds down the stairs, taking the attention off him. Her small body almost buzzes in anticipation and excitement- the opposite of Bella as she too walks down the stairs with Edward, taking in the decorated room with wide chocolate eyes.

"Sorry about all this, we tried to rein Alice in," Carlisle speaks through a laugh, not a slight bit remorseful.

Esme embraces Bella, "If that's even possible," she adds, pulling back and gazing at the girl with loving eyes. "Happy birthday."

The flash of the camera startles Bella.

"I..." Alice stammers as everyone turns to look at her, "-found it in your bag, mind?"

Bella just smiles, obviously used to it like everyone. Elias breathes out a laugh under his breath.

Bad mistake, Alice turns towards him and snaps another shot of him and Jasper together, stood away from the group. Elias doesn't want to leave his side- his smoky scent did filter Jaspers senses and blood lust, making it more bearable being around humans.

"You first Rosalie," The pixie girl hands over a small silver present to the blonde beautiful girl.

Rosalies face is close to boredom as she pushes the present to Bella. "It's a necklace, Alice picked it out."

Elias has to bite his lip to stop himself from saying something sarcastic. Jasper must realise too because he mutters a small, "don't," which doesn't help his own amusement.

"Show me the love," Alice orders over the awkward atmosphere, taking a picture of Bellas blushing face and Edwards frowning one.

"She said love, not depression," Elias comments under his breath without meaning to- Bella flicks her head to him with a flat stare. He mocks a grin in return.

"Behave," Alice chides to the two humans, only furthering their grin to each other. She passes another gift -that Elias didn't see her pick up- to Bella. "This ones from Emmett and Nate."

Bellas brows pinch together as she shakes the light package- Emmett looks completely proud of himself.

"He already installed it in your truck," Nate explains, nudging a buzzed Emmett with his elbow.

"Finally a decent sound system for that piece of-" he starts.

"-Hey, don't hate the truck," she warns to Emmett, cracking the tension, even making Jasper smile.

"Open Esme and Carlisles next," Alice instructs, passing another present. This ones the smallest.

"Just a little something to brighten your day," Carlisle riddles, arms around Esme, both of them almost anxious for her reaction.

"Yes, you've been looking kind of pale lately," Esme adds.

"It's a spray tan coupon," Elias says under his breath- because he's full of comments today, apparently.

Bella casts him a sarcastic look, "I'll share it with you then," she offers, making him laugh again.

She fumbles with opening the small package. Elias gets intrigued with what it can actually be and takes a few steps from Jaspers side, trying to get a better look at what's inside.

She jerks her hand, something slices. "Shoot, paper cut," she whispers, pulling her hand up to show the single drop of blood coming from her finger.

It happens so quick.

Elias looks at Jasper first- always him first- his face is slack, eyes terrifyingly empty as they set on Bella, his lips pulling over to show off his teeth- a snarl rattles the room. One from Edward and one from the boy Elias loves, both over the noise of glass breaking.

Someone grabs Eli's arm, shoving him away from getting to the blond- when had he even stepped to help him?- he lands backwards onto the floor, eyes still onto the horrifying scene.

Jasper gets thrown back by Edward, smashing onto the black grand piano, the noise painful. Without a beat Jasper is up again, running forward to attack, teeth snapping. The scariest part? His gaze, once so full of love, of wonder and nothing but good intentions, is gone. The bloodlust is taken over, taking everything he remembers of Elias and Bella, of himself. Suddenly, It's just two humans grouped together on the floor and the people in his way.

Emmett's steel arms wrap around Jaspers snarling and thrashing body, holding him back from attacking. Everything in Elias heats up in a indistinctive motion, he finds his hands burning the carpet as his heightened emotions mistake family from enemy. Especially as the whole room of hungry vampires stare straight at them. Shit.

Carlisle is the first to move, to break the second they're all stuck in.

"Get Jasper out of here," he instructs, authoritative calm voice easing Eli. One second he's across the room and the next he's behind Elias, holding onto Bellas arm- which is bleeding from the broken glass vases she smashed into.

Emmett wrenches onto Jasper, turning him around out the room- the blondes eyes are still dead, teeth still bared- past reason.

Alice looks tortured as she stares the humans down. "I'm sorry, I can't," she gasps, leaving the room, the scent of blood too much to handle. Nate- who's standing right next to Elias- is quick to go with her.

"Edward," Carlisle calls, making the broken boys head lift from where he's staring at Bella. "Take Elias and go to Jasper- he'll only listen to you two right now and Elias needs to see him to cool down."

Edward stiffens, as if he wants to disagree, but the human boy is already standing onto unsteady feet, ignoring the burns in the floor as he faces Edward with determination.

Edward waits for him patiently, placing a arm around Eli's shoulder, careful of the burn of his hands, and the setting of the Cullens house disappears in a blink.

They run, well the vampire, runs for only a minute before Edwards arms unwrap from him. Elias takes in the dark surrounding of the woods with difficulty, the moon only the source of light. Yet it's shine reflects off of Jaspers hunched form easily. Hes leaning against a tree twenty feet away, his face, more specifically his eyes, have regained their humanity.

"Jasper," Elias breathes out in relief, feeling the burn settling back in his him now. He takes a few steps, hallways sprinting to him.

But Jasper holds up his hands, face agonised. "Don't come near me right now," he orders in a detached voice, as if he's frightened.

Elias decreases into a slow walk, feet hitting the floor as light as he can, not wanting to scare the blond. "It's me," he says slowly, searching the boys face, "You're not gonna hurt me."

"I might have," Jasper snaps, shoving himself backwards and away from Elias, his back connects hard against one of the moss trees, a noise of strain comes from the wood.

"Even when you don't have a scent, I wanted to sink my teeth into something, and I couldn't get to Bella, I was going for you next," he snarls, more angry at himself, disgusted at himself.

The words shock Elias, but they don't scare him. He's been dating a vampire for months, he knows the risks and the danger, especially with Jaspers self control.

"This isn't your fault," he assures through a warm voice, but Jasper looks away, teeth churning together as agony tears his features into something heartbreaking.

"Look at me," Elias snaps, the tone of his voice makes Jasper turn to him. "You're still learning, no one blames you okay? I don't, Bella doesn't," he comforts, knowing its true- the girl wouldn't ever do that. They both understood the risks of loving a vampire, and how everything was worth the reward of their love in return.

Eli's in front of Jasper now, almost a arms distance away, able to see the selfhatred swimming in Jaspers dark eyes.

"Jasper," Elias starts again, reaching to touch him, but Jaspers gone. Eli's throat constricts as he turns, watching his surroundings- Jasper further away now, face enraged.

"How could you say that? How can you even look at me, at what I am?" He snarls out, eyes becoming distant again. He laughs, the sound pitying and ruthless, "And this is what you want to become?"

Elias freezes, feeling where the conversation is going before Jasper starts rambling through a frown, "I shouldn't have pushed you like this to be with me, I realise that now. This isn't what you should want, it isn't what I should give you."

Panic seizes Elias. "Do not make decisions for me Jasper," the boy warns in a nasty tone, one he's used in the moments they really argue.

"I know what I'm signing up for, I know. I want it, with you, stop digging around in that head and making yourself a monster when you're not," he accuses, desperately trying to make the blond see how he does. That was the problem here.

Jaspers expression doesn't waver, if anything the agony spreads deeper, so much Eli feels it sink into his own heart. "I am, I'm just good at hiding it."

The blond looks to the left for a second, then connects his empty black eyes to Eli's watering grey ones. "Nathaniel will take you home." There's no room for argument.

"Jasper please," Elias tries- his anger simmers down to panic now. His voice is wobbly.

"I need time Elias," Jasper says quietly, looking away from him.

Time, okay. Elias can give him time- it won't take long for him to realise he's overreacting- that they're okay, Bella is okay. Carlisle will calm him, things will be okay.

"I love you," the words spill out before he can stop them. "This isn't your fault."

Jasper doesn't say anything back, which hurts more than Elias would have ever thought. Nate appears next to Eli in the moonlight, meaning the end of their time. He tries to say something, anything, but Jaspers turning his back to Eli and the human can't find the words other than, please, Jasper, don't.

But Nate is already running with him slung onto his back.

•••

The car ride home is filled with silence, making everything worse. All Elias can do is look at the side of Nates face, wondering exactly how to make things right, but just keeps getting caught in the cycle of Jaspers goodbye.

"Should I have taken you to Carlisle?Did you hit your head?" Nate asks.

His worry makes Eli stop being stuck in his head, or at least his thoughts. No longer preoccupied, he becomes aware of the pounding going on in his head, and how he absentmindedly started rubbing his forehead to ease the pain.

"Nate, will this be okay?" Elias asks instead, pulling his hand away- pain be damned, he had more important things to deal with.

Nathaniel's beautiful face flattens into a smooth and worry free- except his eyes. He's never been able to hide the emotion from them, and the amount of worry in them reminds Elias of the time in the hotel room months back. It's like a punch in the face.

"It's hard for him, he just needs time," Nate sighs, worried for his best friend too, "He doesn't like you seeing him like that Elias, he doesn't like being like that. He feels weak."

The revelation burns Elias' eyes with tears. "He's the strongest person I know," he denies, blinking harshly.

Nates hand runs across his jaw, like he's trying to ease the tension there. "He doesn't think so. His trouble with temptation makes it feel like he's a burden to us," he explains, turning the wheel with one hand- it's then Elias realises they're on his street, pulling up near his house. All trips with the Cullens are short, they drive at amazing speeds.

"Thank you, Nathaniel," Elias says, remembering how someone shoved him away from Jasper earlier, someone stood over him protectively as his boyfriend lost control. It's only looking back now- as painful as it it- that he realises it was Nate.

He smiles bashfully, making Elias truly believe it can be alright. "It's what best friends are for."

"I'll see you soon," the human boy nods, opening the car door and stepping out, not receiving a reply as Nate drives off. Elias watches the car get smaller and smaller as it goes down the road, until it finally disappears. It leaves a funny feeling in his stomach.

Sighing, the boy walks up his drive to his house, ready to collapse in bed to see if sleeping will get rid of some of the tension in his shoulders, or the way his chest constricts with every breathe.

It's okay, Eli chants, his hand forming into fists as panic takes over, making his head pound harder. You're okay, everything's going to be okay.

The front door is unlocked- good, as the human forgot his keys- and the giggles coming from the living and the sound of the TV tell Elias his parents are awake well before his mom shouts out in greeting, "Hey honey, you're back early!"

Elias kicks off his shoes, looking towards the clock in the kitchen. It's barely past eight, and Bella and Elias left the restaurant at six.

"Elias?" His dad shouts warily, once Eli starts to think too hard and forgets to answer. The grey eyed boy walks into the living room doorway, giving his parents a barely there smile.

"Bella doesn't like parties, we finished early," he explains, fists still clenched next to him as panic builds, taking a step back to go walk down the hallway and upstairs.

"Hey, hey!" His mom shouts, pausing him and making Eli twist around to face them again. She leans off the couch, trying to catch more of the expression on his face under the dim lights, "What's wrong?"

Eli's hands clench harder. "Nothings wrong," he breathes out, smiling wide to give off the lie.

David sits up too, his expression weary. "Your eyes say otherwise, they always give your emotions away," he tuts, shivering at how distant they eyes are, and how sparky they are at the same time. David pats the couch, "Take a seat bud, what's up?"

Your eyes say otherwise. Eli winces, thinking back to Jasper, the way the empath had no empathy.

"No, it's okay," Eli reasons, stepping back, trying to smile for real but his chest aches more. "I'm just tired, I'm gonna go to bed." He moves again, too fast to be causal but Eli knows it's pointless trying to persuade them he's fine.

He runs up the steps, breathing erratically as he enters his room and locks the door behind him. The grey walls should provide him comfort, the sight of the driver's license plates on his way should comfort him; all he can think about is how the windows open in a invitation for Jasper to sneak in, how the right side of the bed is empty and how the panic explodes from Eli's chest and around his body.

Everything not okay.

•••

He doesn't sleep well that night. Or much at all. He spends half the night twisting and turning, waiting for the unnatural push of wind that gave way of his vampire boyfriend sneaking in to see him, the other half he spends sending texts to Jaspers phone.

By the time he's dressed, ready and outside, the bad feelings in the grey eyed boys gut is tenfold.

Elias waits on his porch for Jasper, like every morning, chest constricting with every minute that goes by. Time, he repeats. Jasper said he needed time, but away from me? Or everyone? Or would he be at school and- the possibilities he works on space out inevitably.

Bellas rusty truck pulls up instead of Jasper. Elias gets up with a sigh, feeling bad as he walks to the car, realising he didn't even check on her last night; but then again neither did she. They both got stuck in worrying about their boyfriends.

"Nothing?" He asks in a dreadful voice as soon as he's in the truck.

Bellas lips press together, her face a colour lighter than normal. "This will be alright. I don't care if I never have to go near the house, or Jasper, again," she turns to him with determination, "I'll fix this Elias," she assures.

The guilt shines through her. "This isn't your fault either Bella," he frowns, "These things happens when you're dating a vampire," he sighs out, casting them in silence again as they drive to school.

•••

The Cullens didn't show up to school, either.

He waits, expecting the blond to appear behind him and wrap his arms around Eli. Or Elias imagines himself walking out of lesson and to see Nathaniel waiting to walk to lunch. Or Alice appearing at his locker. But nothing. Every minute drags by and his dread settles stronger.

By the time he's home the whole house repulses him. His bed still has Jaspers scent, but not him, the kitchen is empty and all Eli can remember is thats where they sat and talked every day, the couch where they revealed their abilities to other other... it goes on and it's ridiculing.

Eli ends up sitting on the back porch, arms wrapped around his legs, chin resting onto his knees, waiting for... something. Mostly for Jasper to appear, to spend the night in his room, so they can talk things through like they always do.

His parents come and go, trying to talk to him, and they send Easton out at one point, but Elias just makes conversation and stays on the porch, like a dog waiting for it's owner come home. He'd feel embarrassed, if the dread wasn't taking over everything.

It's past midnight when the trees across the road of his garden start to rustle. Elias, unaware how long he's been staring and thinking, stands onto shaky legs, ready to see the form of his boyfriend.

But someone human stumbles through the clearing, landing onto their knees, on a mission to stand up again.

"Bella?" Elias calls in concern, wanting to run to her, but something about her appearance- dirty, like she'd spent hours walking in the woods- makes everything in him freeze.

Bellas face snaps up to him- her eyes are watery, she's pale, grief stricken, terrorised.

"You're here, you're actually here," she cries out, running across the garden, stumbling still. Elias reaches out and catches her just as she falls and has to pull her up again.

"Jesus Bella you're freezing!" He swears, running his hands up her arms, forcing the heat from his bones up to his skin and emitting in waves like he'd been practising.

"I thought they'd taken you, I though that you'd left," she cries again, holding him with tight hands, head burying into his neck. "Don't leave, don't leave me too, please," she sobs, her tears wet on his hot skin.

The words sink in slowly. "What?" He shudders, pulling away from her. Somewhere, something in his body breaks, making it hard to pull in a breath, but each withdrawn inhale numbs the useless organ in his chest keeping him alive.

Bella realises then that he's not sat alone on his porch because Jaspers said goodbye, that his boyfriend has broken his heart and left him. He doesn't know.

"They're gone. Ed-" she starts to say his name but she chokes. Shaking, she coughs out and starts again, "He said that they have to leave, that he doesn't want me," her wet eyes connect with his detached ones. "They're gone, and I thought that you'd left with them."

The words trigger pain- excruciatingly burning pain that made flames, James and anything else seem minor. The floor sways, his mind replaying the inconsolable news- he's gone. Jaspers gone.

Bella- like she wished someone had done to her when she found out- wraps her arms around him, crying too, tumbling to the floor as Elias' knees give out. The sink together, the agony shared between them unbearable, they sink and sink, not letting go of each other as the pain burns their soul.

Elias always hated burning.

And the pain begins. Like it?

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