21; comfortable in hurting

Just to clarify; something changes within Elias that night.

He feels it over the hours he stays awake- and stayed far away from his bedroom, still trying to hide from the memories stitched there- but he feels something within him change non-the-less.

Maybe it's his dads words spoken in hushed whispers on the phone that let Eli briefly glimpse of how others saw him, of how bad he'd really gotten; maybe it was the desperation in his moms voice as she begged her son to let them help or him let anyone  help.

Or maybe it was the way Elias got up from the bathroom floor, the exhaustion of throwing up and a panic attack wearing into him so much that when he looked in the bathroom mirror, he looked seriously ill.

He needs to change, he just didn't know how.

He wasn't the only one that changed within the night.

In the passenger seat of the truck as it drives aimlessly away from Charlie's house, Elias starts to stare intently at Bella. There's something different about her this morning, too. She looks a little more vulnerable, her eyes are lighter, like she's looking around the world with heightened senses.

Eli wonders about her plans with Jessica yesterday, what happened in Port Angeles that made her be... different. To anyone else she looks the same, but Elias isn't just anyone.

See in places Bella had gone quiet, he talks louder in her place. When the memories and the emotions loom over Elias, breaking him down, Bella is there, fixing him up with a gentle hand on his. Their support for each other flows stronger than the pain, it's why they like being together, why they're best friends.

After all, whats a better way to connect people than shared trauma, the leaving of a loved one, the heartbreak of a someone who can't be replaced?

"I want a bike," Bella mutters under her breath as she drives, her head following something outside the truck.

Elias snaps out his mind, looking to where she was. Two dirt bikes, rusted, old, the kind to not work, rest outside a growing pile of junk of someone's front garden. A SALE sign next to it.

"Then turn around, I'll ask for them," Elias offers without really thinking it through.

Bellas brows raise in surprise, "Really?"

"We can split the costs of fixing it, if you really want one," he offers again, because it's the most excitement she's shown in months and it sounds like it could be fun.

Bella makes a wide U turn, which really turns into a fifteen point turn, before she finally goes back down the road, parking outside the small blue house.

Elias vaguely  recognises the family house- the Markses- as he looks out the window at it. Their kids go to Forks school, but he can't remember their names.

"Are they in?" Bella says, the way her tone dips making it sound like Eli should know the answer personally.

"How am I supposed to know?" He huffs, sending her a funny look.

She purses her lips, "I mean, you can sense people's body heat, so can you sense if anyone's inside?"

Elias has to think about it... he'd never pushed himself to use his trick in such a big area. It was usually in a enclosed room or whatever house he was in; never in the open like now. "I don't know," he says, interested, "let me try."

Eli turns his gaze to the two story house, ignoring the way his skin sparked in the need to use his gift physically, not mentally. He pushed the feelings away, in no mood to burn, and instead focused on the range around him he could feel generating heat. The car engine, he and Bella sat in the truck...

"What does it feel like?" Bella whispered, just as Elias got feeling of the house. It was a little overwhelming since a lot of things in a house generate heat- radiators, electronics, lights.

"You know how you can feel when a shadow falls over you? Or you can see how a shadow taints something you can see?" The grey eyed boy whispered, closing his eyes as he focused intently, "Like that, but instead of darkness, it feels like waves of warmth radiating around me."

Bella watched the side of his face as he focused, imagining how it would feel to have that feeling with you all the time and not be able to turn it off. "Freaky," she shivered.

Eli hummed, agreeing.

"Come on," he said, perking up when he found a lump of warmth he recognised as a person. "Someone's home, let's see if they answer."

Bella knocks on the front door and takes a few steps back to let Elias take the lead of talking. It takes a minute before the lock clicks on the door and it swings open.

It's a young pale boy they're greeted with, sixteen maybe. He has electric honey blond hair to his jaw and light eyes and the sight of him makes Eli's feel like he's been punched in the chest. So close, but so different.

"Elias Sherwood," the boy recognises him with surprise. Then his eyes slide to where the brunette is stood behind him, "Bella Swan?"

Eli jerks a thumb behind him, shaking off how the boys appearance affected him. "How much for the bikes?"

The guys mouth falls open. "Are you serious?" He laughs.

Elias isn't sure if it's his dead tone or if it's the way his features align that confuses the blond. "Do I look like I'm kidding?" He says, harsher then meaning to.

Bella steps next to him, her dainty hand pressing into the bottom of his back, her way of telling him to shut up. "How much?" She asks again, nicer.

The guys eyes linger of the way their bodies connect before he looks back up. "Take them, they don't work though. My mom made my dad move them down there to get picked up with the garbage."

That didn't sound promising to Eli, but at least the guy was honest.

"Wow, thanks. Are you sure?" Bella double checks, though she's already shuffling on her feet, ready to go and get them.

"Yeah, definitely," he nods with a carefree smile, "I'll help you move them, if you'd like?"

"It's okay, thanks though," Elias nods to the boy, already turning, walking down the path to the bikes. He can hear Bella thank the kid again before she's following him.

They are heavy, but Eli is capable of shoving them onto the back of the truck- with Bellas help.

There's an undeniable purpose in Bella as she drives through Forks and towards La Push. Elias goes back to staring at her, wondering for her wellbeing, wondering what she's thinking about the bikes in the back.

"Bella, whilst I don't doubt you," he starts, fingers tapping against the leather seats. "Do I need to remind you that the most I know about bikes is how to drive one?"

"Do you remember Jacob Black?" She asks back, a hopeful tone lighting her voice, "He fixed this truck, I'm pretty sure he can help with those."

"I remember him," Eli mutters, sinking into his seat. He'd only had one conversation with the La Push boy- and that was about them. "Will he want to help us though?"

"Hopefully," she shrugs. "That's also if I can remember the way to his house..."

Elias didn't push it further, instead using the driving time to roll the window down and pull out his cigarettes. Bella ended up having to ring Charlie for directions- Elias heard the notch of surprise in his voice when she explained their new plans of socialising.

Jacob Blacks house is small, painted red with narrow windows, the colour reminding Elias of a barn. The boy in question runs out before they get to pull up, probably hearing Bellas truck halfway down the road like Elias does when she picks him up.

"Bella! Where the hell have you been?" He shouts as they both step out. There's an excited grin spreading over his wide features, white teeth a contrast against his deep russet skin.  It falters slightly when Elias goes to stand next to Bella.

"Elias, right? I met you once. Down at the beach," he checks, tucking a long thick strand of hair behind his ear. His tones still friendly, but Elias can detect the hardening of his eyes.

"That's me," Elias nods, already knowing that the younger boy thinks Bella is his girlfriend. It's a common misconception.

"I-" Bella starts, getting cut off when Eli coughs to correct herself, "-we, brought you something."

"Okay," Jake nods, only a little apprehensive looking.

"It's a little crazy," she warns, moving to take the cover off the bikes. Elias slides the back of the truck bed open for her, revealing the two rusty bikes.

Jakes shock is clear. "Wow, scrap metal! You shouldn't have," he teases, his general attitude to everything refreshing. Its like being around Easton. Elias feels the tension of his forever stiff shoulders unwind without command.

"We saved them from going to the junkyard. I think they'll probably cost more to fix than they're worth.But then I thought that... if I had a mechanic-type friend to help me out..." Bella edges on, her expression turning into an almost teasing one. It seemed it wasn't only Eli that felt lighter.

"Me, being the mechanic-type friend?" He supplies, getting closer, picking the bikes apart with technical eyes.

"We'll put the money into it," Elias explains, jumping up onto the bed of the truck, taking the covers completely off them, "and you can keep the one you like most, a fair trade?"

"The best trade," he nods at the boy, his eyes uncertain though as he looks back at Bella, "but since when are you into motorcycles?"

That's a question Elias wants to know, he turns towards her too. She shrugs, "I get it if you think this is really stupid and reckless," she mumbles, ready for the denial.

"Yeah, it's completely stupid and reckless..." He sighs, then his smile lights up again, "When do we start?"

"Now, if you're free," Elias offers eagerly, making a hand motion to the bikes. Jake grins, going to grab one by himself and lift it off the truck.

"Oh, hey, be careful. These things are actually really-" the words die in Bella's throat as Jacob lifts it off with ease, like they're weightless.

It's only then Elias realises the differences of his appearance from the last time he saw Jacob. His chest is wider, a thick underlining of muscle is detectable, the baby fat that rounded his face is gone.

He's good looking, Elias thinks, not really sure if he can tell. He didn't look for stuff like that anymore, he didn't notice boys or girls or anyone anymore.

"Jacob, you're like buff. How that can happen? You're like sixteen, I don't get it," Bella marvels, almost laughing, the sound makes Elias' chest feel light.

"Age is just a number baby," Jake points out, grabbing one end of the bike as Elias lowers it down to him.

"....And steroids are just an injection," the grey eyed boy mumbles under his breath, though Jacob hears it and bursts into laughter.

"Come on guys," he ushers, making a head motion for Elias to start pushing the other bike, "we have to be quick so my dad doesn't see them. He'll tell Charlie and we all know how he feels about motorcycles."

Elias and Bella both grimaced, and Elias wheels the bike across the mud and towards Jakes detached garage a little faster. He didn't need more parental concern.

"Yeah, it's best if we don't tell anyone about this, if you don't mind," Bella appraised, "My dad would have a stroke if he found out."

Jake chucked humorously. "That's fine," he sang, kicking the bike onto its stand when they were in the garage. "It'll be a secret," he hushed.

"You can tell your friends," Eli corrects, kicking his bike onto its stand. It struggled for a moment before getting balanced. "Just as long as it doesn't get back to anyone it shouldn't." Eli shivers as he thinks about what his moms reaction would be. She worried too much already, never mind him wanting to risk his life of a bike.

Jakes face broke out into a understanding expression, one too mature for his young age. Eli looked away from him once realising he'd let his emotions show on his face accidentally, letting the kid peak at the madness underneath.

"Well my dad doesn't know your parents that well enough to know they won't like this, so we should be fine," Jake assured, and both Elias and Bella watched in shock as he started gutting the bike with expertise.

"Trust me," Eli said, walking around until he was standing behind the younger boy to watch him work, finding it interesting to see. "They'll find out what I'm doing or where I am, they always do."

"Is this the rabbit?" Bella calls out from across the garage. Eli looks up, watching her as she ran her hand over the hood of a old red Volkswagen he didn't see when they walked in. "It looks good," she praises.

Jake flushes at the compliment and his smooth movements with the bikes insides stop, like he forgets how to function for a moment. "It's all finished," he confirms with a shake of his head, "Well not finished, but close enough. It just needs a little tweaking."

Elias looks at the classic vehicle with something close to excitement sparking through him. "Does it go fast?"

"Faster than Bella's truck," Jake laughs, especially as Bella glares at him, before looking back to where the grey eyed boy is still gazing at the car with poorly hidden disappointment. "Do you like racing?"

Eli shrugs stiffly. "I like danger," he says, accidentally. He pushes away the thought, moving until he's sat on the concrete floor next to Jake, paying more attention to what he was doing to the bikes. "How fast will you be able to make these go?"

Jake grins wide, "Fast," he promises.

"Good," he and Bella murmur.

Elias stayed on the floor as the hours passed on, trying in anyway to help Jake with the bikes which wasn't much. Bella opened one of the car doors and sat inside, knowing she can't help, and instead spoke every now and then with questions for Jake- school, friends, life on the Rez.

Jake only needed a little push to carry on the conversation, and Eli found it easy to listen to him. It was like listening to Easton speak, the type of chatter that went on but not in a boring way. Unlike the people at school he usually tuned out.

Elias didn't know what he classed as fun anymore, but those hours in the garage was as close to it as he got in months. It was relaxing, and it occupied his mind enough that the burn in his heart wasn't as noticeable. The day prior he'd wished to go somewhere that he didn't taint- apparently Jakes garage was it.

It got dark a lot quicker than they were expecting. They were surrounded by bike parts, Jake had a notepad in his hand, writing off parts they needed to buy, his voice toning into guilt as he explained how much it will cost.

The slam of a car door made all of the teens stand up, on edge, especially as a mans voice shouted Jakes name.

"Check that Bella," Elias orders, moving the same time as Jacob to grab a sheet to hide their project. A hard thing to do, since things are spread out all over the place.

Bella rushes to the half opened garage door, peaking her head out. "It's our parents," she says quickly,  "which probably means it's time to stop."

She sticks her head in, wincing as she looks at the grey eyed teen. "Your dads here Elias, I think he, Charlie and Harry Clearwater went fishing."

Eli sends a pointed look of teasing satisfaction to the other male, "Told you it was a small world Jake."

Jake shook his head with a laugh, long ink hair flying around. "Let's go before the come find us," he ushers them with a secretive grin, and for once Eli can tell they all match in emotion, all of them lost in the thrill of a it all.

Jake turns the lights off as they leave, just incase anyone tries peaking into see what they'd been doing; the trio walk out, towards where Charlie, David and Billy are at the bottom of the doors ramp, waiting for the teens.

"Kids," Billy greets them when close enough, the surprise not hidden at all. "I didn't know you was coming today Bella, or you either Elias."

Of course, Eli thinks stiffly, we haven't met before. You just know my dad through Charlie.

"What are you three up to?" David asks, cutting to the point. His eyes linger warily on Elias, to where his face seems lighter, less stoic for the moment.

"Jakes just showing us his car, he's a great mechanic," Bella answers for them with high praise, which makes the native teen flush red.

David hums, eyeing her now too, his expression matching Charlie's surprise. "I'll keep that in mind when I have a car problem."

"I'll only charge you half as much as the other mechanics do," Jake promises, which left Eli's lips twitching upwards. David tracks the sight with high eyebrows, definitely surprised.

"Billy made his famous spaghetti for all of us," Charlie tells them, shifting on his feet. Elias has no doubt all of the three men are waiting to talk about their kids suspicious behaviour as soon as they're out of ear shot.

For the first time that day Jake frowns. "You only crack that open when there's a army to feed," he speaks in a question, looking to the house. The door is open, light spilling from the kitchen and outside. Elias can tell people were inside, from actual sight and his gift.

"There is, so head in quick to grab a seat or risk eating on the floor," Billy warns gravely, turning around in his chair to lead them in.

"Sounds good to us," Jake nods, and his shoulder nudges Eli's, propping him to walk up the small ramp to the house. "Come on guys."

The house was crowded. Elias briefly looks around for his mom and Easton, half expecting them to pop up in the small house too, but its only his dad who sits at the crowded table, Charlie at his one side and Billy on the other. Eli is right- they are speaking about them if the glances their way are anything. But it isn't anything bad, not from the way they smiled said anything.

Harry Clearwater is inside too, along with his family. Elias doesn't know their names, not until Jake and Bella see the lost expression on his face and start whispering introductions to everyone. His wife, Sue, is the women walking around, handing out plates and cutlery for food. Her daughter, a pretty girl with long black hair and only a year or two older than Eli, is stuck to the side of the kitchen on the phone. She stays there all the night, preoccupied with whoever is on the other end.

Seth is a different story. He follows Jake, Bella and Elias out onto the porch, since there wasn't enough space inside, they grab chairs and plates to eat from their lap under the light of Billy's kitchen and the moon. Seths only fourteen, and seemed to idolise Jake.

Elias found himself liking this setting, too, not as much as Jakes garage, but it was okay. The conversation never stopped- laughter from inside spilled outside as jokes got passed around. Elias watched Jake and Seth chat to each other with a smile that wasn't fake, and the only time it left was the times he had to use his mouth to talk back.

It was so easy, because the attention wasn't on Eli. No one was lingering around with uncertainty, wondering if he okay or if they should be concerned with how he'd changed in the last few months. No one knew how Eli used to be, so this new Eli, the quieter pained one, wasn't so worrying.

It couldn't last though, Eli knew that. Before he wanted to leave- he could have stayed on that porch until the sun came up- David shouldered his way out the door and lingered around the group of teens. His presence stopped the story spilling from Seths lips.

"Elias, come on you can drive back with me," David says, the words light but hard in a order and not a request.

Elias knows it means he has to stop at home, again, and he feels his face confront into a sour expression. Wasn't last night enough proof I can't be there?

"Fine," the grey eyed boy quips, his response making his dad start to tread back into the house to say goodbyes to everyone.

"I'll pick you up for school in the morning?" Bella offers, giving him a sympathetic look as she sees the way his mouth ticks down. She's starting to get used to the lighter expression he wore all today.

Elias stands up with his plate in one hand, brushing crumbs off his lap from dinner with the other. Seth jumps up with a small, "I'll get that for you Elias!" And the plate disappears from his grip as Seth races inside to put it away.

"There's a good chance you might see me before then," Eli sighs, looking into the kitchen after Seth races off.

His dad is already looking back at Eli, and he doesn't hide the way his face shows how he has a million questions. "I have a feeling we're going to argue as soon as we're in the car."

"Is everything okay?" Jake croons, weary of how Eli and Bella acted at the situation. "Why will you argue?Your dad seemed nice enough when I met him."

"It's more my fault then his," Eli corrects quickly, not liking the thought of others thinking his dad was the bad person. "He's a great dad, and trust me I'm not the best son to have to parent. Especially not now I'm..." the words trail off, because he doesn't want to bring the mood down with a dark explanation of how he's a dickhead.

"Jake," Elias says with hope, ignoring the concern in the other boys face. "Are you free after school tomorrow to get together?" I think I'll need the sanity of all three of us in your garage after a night at my house.

"Yeah, yeah I'm free," he complies instantly, looking around them for any listening ears and dropping his voice to a whisper as he adds, "Come straight over and we'll carry on with the bikes."

Eli smiles at the secrecy Jake put on, especially as Bella lets out a small laugh. A real one. It sounded nice for a change. Elias could tell it wasn't only him that held onto the plans with hope- hope that tomorrow could be as easy as today.

"Eli!" David shouts, breaking the trio from where they're leaning together, ducking their heads with matching grins. He's the side of the house, next to the car.

"See you," Eli groans in bidding, pocketing his hands into his hoodie as he walks towards his dads car. He half hears their replies, too busy dreading whatever his dad has in store for him in the car.

But...nothing comes. Eli gets in, buckles up and David starts the drive back to Forks without as much as a sigh to give away how he feels. Elias shifts in his seat, unsure how to process with the sudden change in things. He was used to the shouting, the pleading for him to just talk or try explain whatever was happening in his head... he wasn't ready for the silence.

By the time they pull up outside the house and David turns the car off, Eli is running his fingers over his throat, not being able to stop tracing the scar or staring at his dad. Inside the house, it was dead, no lights on, meaning his mom and brother was asleep already.

"When you leave town, can you tell me next time?" David sighs grimly, sounding so worn out that Eli feels his heart clench. He takes the keys out of the ignition and starts playing with them in his lip. "I don't like learning from Charlie that my son was down in La Push."

"Sorry," Elias tries apologising, but the word comes out a whisper. I'm sorry, he wants to repeat. But knows it means nothing to David right now. "I'll be here tomorrow, too. With Jake and Bella," he offers instead. Trying to make conversation.

David nods, still not looking at Elias. "Oh, that's good. Tonight seemed fun," he appraises.

Elias licks his lips, "It was," he vowes, hoping that a declaration of him feeling any kind of happy emotion will help ease the situation. It doesn't.

David gets out the car without another word and Elias feels his bottom lip tremble as he follows him inside. He doesn't know which part hurts more- his heart, from the memories that come back of him as soon as they walked into the house, or the way his dad has seemed to given up on trying to help Elias.

"Try sleeping in the guest bedroom, since you won't go into your room," David mumbles, as they both kick off their shoes and take off their jackets. He sounds worn again, and doesn't look at Elias as he heads upstairs, "Just don't sneak down and sit on the porch all night, it makes your mom worry more than she already does."

Elias watched him go, frozen to the floor. He knew the silence was his fault- his parents had tried everything else with him and he didn't respond. They didn't know what to do with now. They didn't know how to help.

You can't help someone who doesn't want help. A part of Eli whispers, because he knows despite the way he'd desperately cling to whatever goodness he could get, whatever fun today or tomorrow would bring, the pain of him would still linger no matter what house he went back to or what he did to distract himself... he wasn't facing the problem head on, so it was still ruing him.

And Eli wanted it to...because he'd gotten comfortable in the hurting.

•••

"We're managing to get this done quickly," Bella compliments, sat next to the native boy as he guts the bikes and put them together again. Around them are multiple silver tools, all in which Bella only touches when Jake asks her to hand him one.

Elias is watching the two from where he's sat on the floor, legs crossed at the ankles, "You mean Jake is?" He corrects.

"Don't sound so surprised," Jake points a spanner at Eli, "I'm very good at managing things I'll have you know," he boasts.

Eli's lips purse mockingly. He is good at fixing the bikes, he'll give Jake that, but that doesn't mean Eli's going to boost his ego.

"You couldn't manage a fart without shitting yourself," he huffs.

Jake laughs, the sound deep and real. It bounces off the walls of the garage they're in and makes Bella and Eli's lips curl up into a smile.

"I don't know where you come up with some of the stuff that comes out of your mouth," Bella tuts at his crudeness.

Elias raises a brow back to her. "You should imagine the stuff I don't say out loud."

Jake laughs again, definitely imaging it.

"Hey, we're thinking, if we're gonna do this everyday and hopefully we will," she urges, motioning to her and Elias, both noticing how eager Jake is to comply to their wishes. "We have to, like, fit some homework in there somewhere. I don't want Billy thinking that we're a bad influence on you."

Jake looks deeply shocked, "You influence me? Please," he scoffs, twisting the spanner around something on the bike.

"I'm older than you. So that makes me the influencer and you the influence," Bella corrects, mouth almost ajar.

"If we're being really technical I'm the oldest in the room," Elias corrects again, making them turn to him. "What? I am."

"No, no, no, you're both wrong. My size and knowledge base actuallymakes me older than you," he looks surly at Bella, "Because of your gentle paleness and lack of know-how," he grins at her offended face, turning to Elias.

"and you..." he starts confidently, but the slack expression on Elias' face changes his mind. "...You scare me when your eyes do that cloudy thing," he mutters, looking away from the intimidating boy.

"Good to know," Eli smirks.

"We convinced you to build two-wheeled death machines. Don't you think that makes you young and naive?" Bella points out, as smug as Elias.

"Okay," Jake sighs, setting his tool down. "So, where do we all stand?"

Bellas eyes narrow, "I'm thirty five, and you might be like thirty two," she turns to her best friend, a mocking look on her face, "And he's-"

"-A forty year old with the back pain of a seventy year old and a mouth of a sailor, so watch it," he warns, making the trio all wear matching grins.

Jake pokes the brunette on her side, "He's got you there Bella."

A flare of heat, no, multiple flares, come from outside the garage. Body heat, Eli realises with a prickle running across his skin. He sits up straight with a hiss of, "someone's coming!"

Jake watches as Bella and Eli jump up to grab one of sheets to cover their work. "How do you know?" He puzzled, getting up too.

"Yo, Jake, you in there?" A deep voice shouts from outside.

Jake looks towards Elias with a confused expression. He hadn't heard any car door slam, any footsteps- it was completely silent.

"Told you," the grey eyed boy almost sings, liking being right.

"No, it's okay," Jake stops them from spreading the sheet over the parts, turning his head towards the garage door with a flustered look. "It's just my boys. In here guys!"

Two boys walk in after a few seconds silence, both with copper skin like Jake. One is slender, tall, with jaw length black hair that tucks behind his boyish face. The guy next to him is shorter, more burly, shirt stretched over his wide chest, and he looks like he knows the fact. The smirk he sports almost goes to his buzzed curly hair.

They freeze as they see the two unknown teens, especially Bella. Jake coughs, making a hand motion to them, "Hey, Guys, this is Bella and-"

"-Grey eyes!" Another voice shouts, entering the garage. Elias doesn't have time to look up when a copper skinned boy is throwing themselves at him.

Elias staggers backwards, aware of the arms around his middle. "Jace," he coughs, recognising the voice and the only person who hugs upon greeting.

"You two know each other?" Jake asks, watching Eli peel the other boy off him.

Elias realises then how much Jace has changed when there's space between them. He's taller, more burly, his sharp features still have that ruggedness about them, but his eyes are softer. Still Jace.

"Our moms are childhood best friends, they have breakfast on a Sunday at least once a month," Jace explains, throwing an arm around Eli's shoulder, looking at him with a mocking grin. "Also, I kissed him at a party when he first got to Forks."

"Get off me you hyperactive chihuahua," Elias shoves him with a roll of his eyes, ignoring the way the two other new males start to laugh and Jace puts his arm around him again straight after.

"Bella, meet Quil, Embry and Jace," Jake points them all out, almost embarrassed. She gives them a halfhearted nod of greeting.

"So the bike building story is true," Quil double checks, eyebrows rising as he shoots a look to Embry.

Bella grins, noticing Jakes friends inside joke too. "Oh, yeah, yeah. I taught him everything he knows," she jokes.

"...What about the part where you're his girlfriend?" Quil grins.

Embry reaches over and smacks the back of his friends head, "Dude don't mention that in front of her boyfriend," he scolds, eyeing where Elias is standing like there's a chance he'll lunge.

Both Bella and Elias start to choke on their surprise."Uh, we're not dating," he corrects, flashing a wide eyed look to Bella- she responds with a wince.

"At all. That'd be weird and..." she shivers, not able to fully put it into words as she looks at her best friend.

"Does that mean you'll date me?" Jace quizzes, nudging Elias.

The grey eyed boy throws his elbow into the boys ribs, earning a satisfying cry, and feels at ease as he jokes back, "In your dreams Cameron."

"No..." Jace considers, eyes glinting as he turned to Jake, "that's just Jacobs dreams, apparently. Since you've been telling everyone you have a girlfriend."

"Remember, I said she's a girl and a friend," Jake tries, though his voice is wobbly and he's blushing.

Quil looks proud of himself at the embarrassment of his friend. "Embry, do you remember him making that distinction?"

Embry shakes his head with a grin, "Nope!"

At the expense of her friend, or her own embarrassment, Bella changes the subject. "So you guys have girlfriends," she asks, and taking in account of Jace she adds, "or boyfriends?"

"I do," Jace confirms, looking directly at Elias with a knowing smile.

"Fuck off," The dark haired boy laughs under his breath, knocking the arm off him and going to stand next to Bella.

"Yeah, right, like any of you have partners," Jake teases, looking at all his friends, "Quils actually taken his cousin to prom."

That cocky expression wipes straight off. "You want funny, Black? I'll give you funny," he challenges, lunging for the boy.

Jacob meets him head on, both of them scuffling around the floor, trying to get each other into a headlock.

"I got five bucks on Quil," Embry bets, appearing next to Bella and Elias, who are watching the two boys wrestle with raised brows.

"You're on," Bella laughs, confident in Jake.

Elias snorts as Quil yanks onto Jakes hair- talk about cat fight. Then an idea appears as Jace wonders to stand near the group, laughing along.

"I got ten bucks on Jace," he whispers, turning, using both hands to push the unsuspecting boy into the wrestle pile. Jace cries out in surprise, landing on both of them, causing the two to start attacking him.

That's payback for the little comments, Elias thinks, throwing his head back in laughter.

So to clear things up- when I put him, like that, it means Jasper. It's just Eli doesn't like thinking the name, and it can get confusing having the same pronouns repeated. So him = Jasper. Him = other male characters relevant in the paragraph pov.

Also, Incase I get any slander from how he goes back from happy one moment to depressed the other- what Eli is doing is trying to move on but still not acknowledging the very thing that's hurting him- that's why his parents are frustrated to fuck. He's looking forward to days with friends, he's trying to find new things to distract himself (cos' let's be honest he is just distracting himself) and not facing his problems head on. He doesn't want to- because the pain is a reminder that he lost something, that he's still allowed hurt as he still hasn't gotten over it.

And comfortable in hurting- that shit is annoying. You get comfortable in a thing that's bad for you and you know you should change but you can't- it's a endless and horrible cycle.

I'm probably not making sense, but I just wanted to explain before I get a comment going "it's just a breakup and look how different he is"- Elias was giving up everything he knew- his human friends, his family, his life- he was getting ready to cut people out and to commit to Jasper and the lifestyle that came with loving him. And now Jaspers gone, Eli's wanted future with him is gone, and Eli's life is completely different to everything he wanted it to be and he has to navigate his life as well as try to heal.

Don't be a silent reader!