32; streaking through the streets

Just to Clarify; Elias wakes up from sleep with a gasp and the feeling of terror and fire on his skin.

It's night still, told by the way he opens his eyes to look down at himself and finds only darkness. With jerky movements, he rolls onto his side and fumbles to turn the lamp on next to his bed. Realistically, he knows that if he was in fact burning there'd be signs- smoke, fire, heat- but it's still a relief when light floods his room and all he can see is smooth clear skin.

I'm only burning in my dream, he realises, pushing back the waved dark hair that's too long and falls against his forehead. Grey eyes scan around the room, looking for the flash of red and white he associates with Victoria- the woman responsible for his nightmare. Realistically, he knows she isn't here, (he's be dead if she was) but he still has to check.

After his heartbeats turned back to a healthy tempo and he's looked around his room enough to notice how messy it is, he gets up from the bed. There's no one awake, not even Bella, and despite the temptation to ring her, or go to her house, Elias grabs his phone on the way to the bathroom and sends off a text that makes him giggle.

You awake? -Elias

He's halfway through brushing his teeth when his phone pings in a response.

Hilarious darlin. - Jasper

Elias laughs around a mouthful of foam, knowing that the blond boy is definitely rolling his eyes. By the time he's tiptoeing out of his bathroom and downstairs, another text comes through.

Is everything ok?- Jasper

Just a nightmare, Eli thinks sourly, going to type it before sobering up to how that would make Jasper worry. And how he'd ask what it was about. He twists the truth a bit and types out instead.

Yes, I'm fine. I just woke up and was thinking about you- Elias

He's technically not lying- every time he wakes all he can think about is Jasper. And Victoria's hurting him. It's one of the many reasons he can't fall back to sleep- he's all jittery, filled with adrenaline he can't use.

When Eli goes downstairs, its dark as well. He turns on the kitchen light and goes straight for the fridge for a water bottle so he can take his meds. The phone is in his hand, so he can move and see his screen as another texts comes through.

Dreaming about me?- Jasper

"Cocky fucker," Eli mumbles, the heat on his cheeks embarrassing since it's only a text message, but Elias can imagine the way Jaspers eyes would narrow and his lips would twist into a smirk as he typed it.

Maybe, maybe not. - Elias

The human pauses, unsure of how to word his next request, before thinking fuck it and types.

Are you free?-Elias

He puts the phone on the table, eyeing it nervously for the other boys response as he moves around the kitchen to grab the pills he left in the glass cupboard. He swallows two for a headache that he constantly has, and gulps down a mouthful of water from the bottle just as Jasper replies.

For you? Always :)How do you feel about a drive?- Jasper

Eyes still on the screen as his heart does a flip. They haven't done that in a while- it used to be a very special thing for them, for him. Stuck in thought, as Eli goes to place his pill container back in the cupboard when his hand nudges something accidentally. He doesn't have time to react when something falls and smashes, loudly.

"Fuck," he hisses, looking away from the phone. It's only one glass, but it's shattered half on the countertop and half on the floor. Great.

Sighing, Elias tiptoes over the shards since he's only has socks on his feet and bends down to the cupboard where a dustpan and brush is- it's too early in the morning to grab the vacuum and the last thing he needs is to wake his parents up. If the sound of breaking glass already hasn't.

It's on the bottom shelf, cluttered with old rags and some mail that's been shoved in here. Elias tugs and the dustpan comes out, as well as a thick form of papers. His other free hand grabs it and goes to shove it back in, already half turned back to the mess he's made, when some of the words on the headline catch his attention.

Forks Police Department Recruitment Form.

"Elias?" A confused and curious voice calls from upstairs, then the sound of footsteps coming closer. Eli rises slowly, dropping the dustpan as he holds the form with both hands, scanning over the details that have already been filled in. By the time David has arrived in the doorway, the papers being clutched between Eli's shaking hands as his anger forms. 

"You're joining the force again?" The teen mutters, lifting his head to face his dad.

David's face flickers between emotions as he looks between Eli and the paper. Guilty, frustrated, tired. It takes him a moment before he settles on confusion.

"What are you doing, rummaging the cupboards at four in the morning?" He asks like a accusation, walking over to Elias to snatch the form out of his hands. The sound of the broken glass under his slippers must only be loud in Eli's ears.

"I'm getting a drink, I dropped a glass," he points to the mess he made, his voice rising as the situation settles heavy on his shoulders. "Why didn't you tell me? Why are you hiding the forms under the sink?"

David sighs, one hand rubbing the white specked stubble on his jaw. When he speaks, he sounds exhausted, "Elias, you're so stressed already, your health-"

"-That has fuck all to do with this!" Elias steps back from his father, distrust bleeding through him. He looks into his blue eyes, the eyes that can't seem to look into his own. He remembers how he felt the other day in the cafe, when he spoke with his dad, when David looked at Elias like he was someone he used to know. When he looked at Eli with fear.

"Am I not part of this family now?" He realises, and is met with astounded silence that makes his anger further control him. "What? I get one small tumour and suddenly I'm not allowed to know things? I'm being excluded?" The words come out accusing and twisted- it's not exactly what he wants to say, (why don't you look at me the same anymore?) but it's the next best thing.

David sighs, doesn't deny it. That hurts worse than Eli would have ever thought.

"I'm not arguing with you when you're acting like this," he bends down and picks up the dustpan, turning his back to his son, "Just go upstairs, I'll clean this up."

Elias stands tall. "Why didn't you tell me?" He asks, hellbent.

David squats and starts brushing the glass together. "Go back to bed Elias," he orders in a flat voice.

Eli's hands warm and he has to pull them into fists to try stop the heat. "Why didn't you tell me!" He yells.

David's patience snaps too- he flings the dustpan and glass back to the floor and spins to face his son. "Because you're unstable already without piling more stress on you!" He screams.

Unstable? Fucking unstable? Elias almost laughs. Actually, he does a little. It's small and incredulous and humourless. He's the most stable he's been in months. Surely his parents could have seen that? Or are they so caught up on the things they didn't like seeing about him (that he loves Jasper, that he's not a little kid anymore, that he's dying and they can't help him) they couldn't actually see anything else?

"You don't know me at all," Eli whispers in realisation, hurt but not surprised. His face is torn between distrust and anger and he can't seem to move his feet fast enough out of the kitchen- making sure to grab his phone on the way.

David follows him. "Where are you going?" He asks once he notices how Eli turns right, to the front door. He's looking down at the phone screen as he pulls on a pair of shoes.

Eli doesn't make eye contact as leaves, only mutters in a dejected voice, "I'll be back after school."

It's dark outside too, other than the pair of headlights coming from a familiar car parked on the road. Elias practically sprints to the thing, not caring how the rain makes his feet slip or the fact the front door opens as his dad watches him leave.

Jasper doesn't get out- Eli guesses it'd be a waste of time since he'd have to use human speed with David there- but he does reach over and push the passenger door open for Elias. Always the gentleman.

The scent of Jasper is as calming as the smile he gives Elias once he climbs in. It's stupid, and exhilarating, how the anger and fire that threatened to consume him is now only a wave compared to the ocean it was a moment ago. Especially as Eli shuts the car door and Jasper says in the softest of tones, "Are you ok darlin?"

Unlike the 'I'm fine' he'd give other people, Elias thinks his answer over. He thinks back to the distrust in his dads eyes, of how he flinched when he looked into Eli's eyes at the diner the other day. The hushed conversation his parents were having that stopped when he walked in. It's all on a loop in his head... "Please drive," he begs in a whisper, his eyes closing to stop the tears.

Jasper pulls off in the order, his hands tight on the wheel as he looks at the pale human he loves. He'd been outside for most of the fight- he'd set off the moment he got the text from Elias. "It isn't your fault," he whispers, reaching over to lightly uncurl the human boys fists, not liking how tight he'd wound them.

Maybe it's the way the blondes touch settles Eli's heart and troubles, maybe it's because the coldness of jaspers touch feels like home, but Elias spreads his palm out and moves until his fingers interlock with Jaspers. "It is my fault," he admits, feeling less distraught since he's got something solid to hold onto. Since he has Jasper.

Jaspers brows plucker in confusion. "How is it?"

Eli sighs, sinking back into the seat, twisting sideways like he always used to so he can relax and give Jasper all his attention as they drive. Jasper likes that.

"Every day, I wake up and realise there's this wedge between me and my family. Because of the secrets I keep and the way they can sense them. Every day it gets bigger and I can't do anything about it," he purses his lips, remembering how his parents used to beg him to speak, to tell the truth as to why he was so depressed when Jasper left, (what happened Elias? Why have you reacted like this? Why can't you tell us?)

Jasper shifts in his seat- a sign of being uncomfortable. Elias frowns, especially at the blond admits, "I'm sorry, I know some of that burden, or most of that burden is because of me being in your life."

"Never apologise for being in my life," he snaps, squeezing the blondes hand tighter. It makes the vampire relax. "Trust me Jasper, it's been there long before I moved to forks." He frowns, "It started the same time I got my power." The same time he started keeping secrets.

Jaspers eyes, golden like honey, shine as he smiles. "I love your power," he vows deeply. Eli's heart does a jolt in his chest with pleasure.

"Hey," he calls, wanting to change the subject, not wanting this air of negativity around them. Jasper perks up in interested as Eli's cunning too sharp smile comes out. "Wanna see something cool that I learned whilst you were away?" For once, the word away isn't filled with pain.

Jasper nods without thought, especially since Eli looks so happy to show him. He isn't sure what will happen, but when Eli leans forward a little and concentrates, all Jasper can feel is a wave of warmth emit from the human. It wraps around his cold body and warms him like the sun would.

"My own sunshine," Jasper whispers in a deep voice, leaning into Eli, his eyes closing momentarily in bliss- if he weren't driving, he's sure he might have pulled Eli closer. If it wouldn't make the human so conflicted.

Elias grins wider, liking his reaction. At how his body relaxed. "You like?" He teases. Jasper nodded once, almost in a trance, until Eli pulled back the heat- leaving Jasper cold and his eyes open.

"So, what else did you learn?" He questions, mesmerised. "Or do, in my time away?" Again, the word away isn't spat out sourly- its just full of curiosity.

Eli laughs a little. "Keep driving, and I'll keep talking goldilocks."

So they talk. And talk. And talk. Till the sun starts to rise and every moment leaves Eli's heart warm and his soul tingling because despite it being over six months since they'd done this; car ride, no words left unspoken, music they love in the background. It's just like it was before. There's no tumour, no red head vampire after him and his sister, there's no choice weighing heavy on his shoulders- there's just the car and the way Jasper speeds as they talk. Its the stillness of the world, like they were the only people on it.

Its the way Elias tells Jasper- really tells him- how he was in the last few months. He wasn't Elias, not really. He was a person who wasn't cunning or sharp or quick to anger. All he was was broken.

Yet despite being broken, he'd found something akin to solace in people he never thought he would.

"Bella," Jasper says her name with surprise and respect. He hadn't realised to what extent Eli had bonded with her at first, not until that night at the Cullens home when Eli tried to leave. The way Bella felt- the deeply routed care and love she felt made his head spin.

"You know, my family and I were surprised when we came back to forks, at how incredibly close you and Bella were. When we left, you were barely friends and when Alice checked on her, she couldn't see you in her future. We thought it was because you'd both stopped being around each other, but really it was because you didn't have a future all together," Jasper pauses at that, upset with the truth of his own words. Eli's heart clenches.

"She's my sister now," he vows and despite Jaspers power not working on him, he knows he feels the same depth of protectiveness over her like she did him. Especially as a soft smile sketches across his lips. "Bella was my reason to get up in the morning, like I was her. I don't think we both could have functioned without each other... Jace used to say it's as if we're the only people we can talk to about the supernatural because we're both the same species." He laughs warily.

Jasper winces at the thought of Eli so lifeless, but the image is quickly washed away by a new interest. "Jace, the werewolf boy?" He asks.

"Yes," Elias sighs as he thinks of his friend. Of how they are now- from friends to distance associates. Or it feels like that. "Jace was, is a good friend, a great friend. He and Jake made me feel better in a time where it was hard to muster a smile, but after they turned..." he shudders.

Jasper watches Eli's reaction carefully. The way his grey eyes harden and his jaw tightens. "You don't like the werewolves," he realises.

"I like Jace," Elias quickly clears up, looking out the window as they drive. The suns up now, or it would be if the sky wasn't covered in grey clouds. "He didn't chance much, after the wolf thing. Jake did. And the other wolves..." his hands clench.

Jasper feels his own defences rise. "What about them?"

Eli looks back at Jasper, giving his shit eating grin that says he's been causing trouble. "They don't like me," he states surely.

"Because of me?" Jasper guesses, the rest of his words written in his eyes, because you love me.

"More because of me, actually," Eli corrects, which causes Jaspers eyebrows to rise. "When Victoria came back, we needed their protection, despite my best efforts. I told them the story of her mate dying, of my role in it. When we explained her plans of how she wanted to change me for revenge, Sam, the leader, he saw my reaction. Or my lack of one, I guess. He didn't say anything, of course, but you know me. I can read when I piss people off."

Jaspers eyes harden as he understands. "He protected you, because you were human."

"But he also sees me as a threat ready to take down if Victoria succeeds," Eli finishes.

Jaspers hands tighten too tight- the one of the steering wheel and the one wrapped around Eli's. It's a little painful, but Eli is more concerned with how guilt seems to be pouring off Jasper.

"Hey," he calls softly, rubbing his thumb over the vampires cold knuckles. Jasper sighs out once, then relaxes his grip.

"When I left," he says quietly, "I thought I was doing the best for you. But I just made a mess, and now..."

"Now you're back and for this moment, things are okay," Eli means it- he looks at Jasper, the car, their surroundings as they drive. All green forest and light sky and Jaspers golden eyes- it's a painting no artists could conjure. "Your turn goldilocks, tell me what you did in your time away."

Jasper huffs slightly at the nickname, but speaks. "Alice, Nate and I searched for Alice's human life, now that we had information on it. I know Alice explained about finding living relatives and her grave. But I'm guessing she left out the part where I dimmed the mood the whole time?"

Elias nods in confirmation as Jasper laughs lightly- such a pretty sound.

"I ran from you physically, but found you in everything I saw. Nate argued with me daily, telling me to go back. For an empath, I had no emotion in me, but I thought I was doing a good thing for the first time in my life," his grin twists ironically, and Eli rolls his eyes at the vampire. "At one point, Nate and Alice sent me back to Carlisle and Esme. They thought it'd help, but every time I was around them, I could feel their longing and heartbreak too. It was like loosing a child again when we left forks."

I missed you too, Eli thinks, mentally reminding himself to visit them. "And that made you feel guilty," he guesses.

Jasper looks away from Eli in shame. "I was trying to do good."

"I know," the human vows, squeezing the vampires hand encouragingly.

"If there's any silver lining," Jasper spoke with a softness and pride to him that he usually didn't have. It peaked Eli's interest. "I bonded a lot more with them than I thought ever could be possible. You know I was created different than everyone else in my family and I know they had fears that despite me being a Cullen, I wouldn't stick being one because I was never truly happy when I was alone."

He stops speaking, looking solely at Eli as if to say- being with you fixed that. It made me happy. It makes the humans cheeks flush.

"So," Eli summarises, his tone edging to teasing, "Carlisle and Esme were really just sat around terrified that you and Edward would feel like you didn't belong or die of sadness because you couldn't find a mate?"

That laugh came again- louder this time. Eli found himself matching it. "You could put it like that," Jasper said between giggles.

The radio, turned off as they got into more serious talk, turned back on for a seven am road news update- something Eli found cool about the Cullens stupidly expensive cars.

"We better get back for school," Eli mutters, glaring at the time showed on the screen. When he looks up at Jasper again, there's a soft fond smile on his face.

"I'll buy you a coffee," he promises, which makes the humans spirit rise.

•••

Bella is very happy to see Elias step out of Jaspers car in the morning. In fact, she's almost smug when Eli walks with her to lesson. It doesn't help that she asks for details on what they were doing and Elias tells her how he texted first.

"You wanted him over anyone else when you were upset," she says in a sing song voice, definitely smug looking as she works on a math problem.

Elias wanted to reach over and snap her stupid pencil in half. Childish? Very. Would it be satisfying? Even more so.

After that, he's lead to English with Nate. Who's also happened to see him leave Jaspers car and looks extremely happy about it. Honestly, Eli's just glad he doesn't have a lesson with Alice because she'd poke him for all the details of what happened.

No she's with Jasper right now so he's got an earful instead, Eli thinks, and can't help the way he starts to laugh randomly in lesson at the mental image of small Alice annoying the hell out of Jasper. Nate looks concerned, but Eli can't seem to care.

By the time lunch rolls around, Eli's finally shifted the topic of conversation to Bella and how her day went.

"So Charlie told you you're un-grounded if you hang around with a friend like Jake and not just Edward?" The Sherwood summarises the story she'd told as they walk to the cafeteria.

The schools filled with a sort of pulsing energy as graduation comes closer- Elias would normally be joining with them, if it weren't for the fact he's deeply offended of Charlie's words.

Bella nods grimly, gaze filtering past Edward and to the human next to him. "Pretty much."

Elias' mouth opens and shuts a few time as he takes in her words. "Am I a fucking potato? Seriously we're always together and yet he favours you to hang with Jacob?" he scoffs loudly, ignoring the way people glance his way as they walk down the corridor.

Next to him Edward starts laughing under his breath.

"You don't count remember, You're just as involved with the Cullen family as I am," Bella starts, Sending a pointed glare at her boyfriend- the same glare Elias sends him, "and you're my brother as far as Charlie is concerned, not a friend."

Eli throws his hand up in exaggeration, "That's exactly why I should count!"

Edwards volume increases as his amusement does.

"Don't laugh at me," Eli snaps at him seriously, pushing the cafe doors open with aggravated force.

Edward grins, "Your thoughts amuse me," he observes in a small voice, fighting the urge to laugh again.

They're about to scare you when I start planning to kill you, you ginger bat, Eli thinks forcedly, hoping that Edward hears most of the sentence since he only catches parts of his mind.

If Edwards disturbed wince is any indication, he gets the gist of it. Elias grins in pride, almost skipping to sit down at the table in the middle of the cafe.

"Just in time! Alright, check it out guys," Mike greets the three, his smile excited as he steadies the paper in his hands. Angela, Jess and Eric match his enthusiasm, their eyes almost glowing like most of the seniors at Forks.

"Alright, let's see what you got," Eric nods, swinging his arm over the back of Angela's chair.

"My fellow students," Mike starts dramatically, blue eyes wide.

"-Wow," Jessica mumbles, causing Angela to giggle to herself.

"-We are the future. Anything is possible, If you just believe," he pauses dramatically, well Eli thinks it's supposed to start as dramatic. But Mike looks like he doesn't know what to say since he purses his lips, scrunching the paper up.

"Anything else?" Eli chides, leaning into his seat with crossed arms. He usually doesn't speak much to human friends, but today he's in a good mood.

"That is the speech!" Mike gasps throwing the paper ball at Eli. It bounces off his shoulder and back onto the table, skipping to a stop in front of Jess.

"No, this will be my speech, when I want everyone to throw diplomas at my head, so thank you," Jess deadpans, snatching the ball and throwing it back at Mike, it hits him square in the face.

Eli snorts his laugh into his knuckles, then without meaning he turns his head to the left, some part of him already knowing what he's looking for before he finds it.

Alice and Nate are walking over to the table, hand in hand. Alice little body is almost flying as she skips and Nate is looking down at her with a bemused look only a person in love can produce.

Jaspers trailing behind them, his lean and tall frame easily recognisable, especially with his honey blond hair. Elias can't help the increase his heart does when he realises Jasper is staring at him, his pink lips upturned.

Elias kicks the chair next to him out from under the table as soon as the three are close. Jasper is quick to slide into it faster than the other two can- not that they would dare. It isn't a secret Nathaniel and Alice try their hardest to throw Eli and Jasper together.

"Ive decided to throw a party," Alice announces in her bell chimed voice. Since there's only one chair available at the table she pushes Nate into it before settling down on his lap.

"After all, how many times we gonna graduate high school?" Nathaniel grins secretly, arms wrapping around Alices petite waist. Quiet chuckles escape from the mouths of the people who knew what he really means.

"A party? At your place?" Angela says in shock, but Eli has reason to believe its more because Alice has said it like it was a invitation to them and not the actual idea.

Jessica swings her head around with her mouth open, "I've never seen your house..."

"No one's ever seen their house," Eric corrects, grinning guilty when Elias throws him a look of disbelief.

Was this what normal teens marvelled over? It felt very distant from his own problems, then again his own problems weren't exactly normal.

Edward exhales heavily. "Another party, Alice?" He deadpans.

Alices small body locks up as she glares at him. "It'll be fun," she enforces through tightened lips.

"Yeah, that's what you said last time," Bella recalls, flinching the same time Elias does. That night, that memory is something they both worked very hard on forgetting.

"And look how that one turned out," the grey eyed boy can't help but comment dryly, the burn of his heart coming back.

Alice's face flicks to him in a fierce motion. Elias suspects she's going to argue it out but then her face slacks, eyes going blank as a vision takes over her. She slumps back into Nate's chest, who protectively wraps an arm around her waist.

"It was memorable, wasn't it?" Jasper says smoothly, easily taking all the humans attention from Alice and to him. The look on his face tells Elias to distract the humans from whatever's happening with Alice.

Elias turns to Jasper fully, forcing a grin as if he's remembering it fondly. The diversion works greatly since Jess perks up, almost leaning into the table to look at the two of them.

"What happened?" She almost begs to know.

Eli's grin turns real now. "I ended up getting a tattoo," he lies nonchalantly, then slaps his hand onto Jaspers marble hard knee, "and then we got Jasper so drunk he went streaking through the streets," Eli's laughs is barely hidden.

Jasper glares at him for the lie. "Didn't we Jasp?" Eli boosts.

"Yes," the blond huffs, "but don't forget the part where you joined me Elle," he smirks crookedly, tone overly suggestive.

Eli's grin falls as the tables turn.

"Well now I can't wait," Jessica purrs, her words are suggestive too. That crush never did fade away in time.

Jasper makes a small noise at the back of his throat, as if he's pushing down a growl.

Elias laughs out loud, not even trying to hide it this time.

•••

Eli is still laughing when the bell rings at the end of the school day.

It doesn't help that Jaspers pout from Jessica's comment lasts all through the history lesson and then to the walk to the car.

"I went streaking through the streets, really?" The blond huffs out as they're on the drive back to Elias' house.

The light feeling in Eli's chest expands to the point his giggles return, "Come on, it was funny! They really believed it!"

The sides of Jaspers lips twitch. "It's scary how you can just lie on the spot like that," he glances at the human as he drives, eyes full of wonder.

One of Eli's giggles churns into a snort. "Pretty hypocritical from the empath that can change peoples emotions," he teases, curved brows rising in accusation.

"Touché," the blond shrugs, then his shoulders lock up, "though I think skinny dipping was a bit far darlin."

"Oh come on," Elias norts, leaning over the middle console and into Jaspers space tauntingly, "I think if I asked nice enough, you'd take your clothes off right now."

Jaspers head turns from the road, only inches away from Eli's. His light eyes are specifically dark as he says, "Ask me nice enough and you'll find out."

Eli's heart speeds up in his chest the same moment his breathing stops. The words are on his lips- he's curious what can he say?- but that same feeling comes back. Longing and fear. Wanting Jasper but scared he'll leave again.

He leans away from the blond, chest rising rapidly. The vampire looks proud of the reaction he has on the human, especially as Eli mutters out a small, "bastard."

Jasper smirks to himself. Payback.

It's just as they've pulled up to the house when Eli's good mood sobers up. His dads car is in the driveway, and he knows there's a heated conversation waiting for him inside.

"I can take you to my house, if you'd like?" Jasper offers, noticing the torn expression on Eli's face. "Or Bella's house, if that's easier."

"No, I gotta sort this out sometime," he mumbles, turning back to the blond vampire, "though I'd like to see Esme and Carlisle soon. I've missed them."

"I'll tell them," Jasper smiles, before it falls. "By any chance do you have any plans to tick off the bucket list this weekend?"

"I haven't really planned anything," Eli thinks out loud. There was some things he could do, with preparation.  "Why, what are you planning?" He asks back, curious to how Jasper sounded when he asked.

"We're going to be away for the weekend, all of the family are. We're...hunting." The last word comes out a struggle, like he's embarrassed. But that doesn't make sense, they've spoken plenty about Jaspers hunger and hunting. It makes Eli's mouth dry all of a sudden- something isn't right.

Then the scene at lunch plays into his head, washing the other thoughts away. "What's happening? Does it have to do with Alices vision earlier?"

Jasper shakes his head, blond hair swinging against his sharp jaw. "Alice sees a lot of things that don't come true, I'm sure it's nothing..." he pauses, looking directly into Eli's eyes with a intensity that's too heavy for friends. "I want you to stay in this weekend, ok? No spontaneous trips into the woods."

"Ok," Eli whispers, still unsure as to what's wrong but he can't seem to ask again.

"Thank you darlin," he sighs, visibly less stressed now. When he speaks next, it's as if he's willing the words to be true, "I'll leave Friday night, but I'll visit you Sunday."

•••

Elias' suspicion only increases that night when Bella calls to say she and Edward are going to Florida for the weekend, visiting her mother with the birthday gift she got last year.

He keeps his mouth shut, not wanting to stir trouble with Bella as she visits her mom- the last chance before graduation, where Carlisle had agreed he'd turn her. Instead, he smiles and helps her pack, tells her to have a good time and kisses her cheek when she goes.

When Charlie drops him off at home, he feels anxious. Like he's walking into a trap or something equally ridiculous- but everything is fine. His mom is on the phone to Nina in the kitchen, his dad is watching a Disney film with Easton in the living room. They never did have a talk about their argument, and it's made the air around them unsettled and weird. It doesn't help how anxious he feels now

Elias sits at the kitchen table, staring at the homework he can't focus on since he's listening to his mom talk to Nina. It's a hopeless attempt to see if Jace is home, if he's ok. But they just keep talking about different fucking tv shows and he keeps zoning out about how something is wrong about this weekend and it's causing Eli's head to pound.

"Elle, are you ok?" A little voice asks, making Eli flinch up- he'd been slouched in his seat, his head in his hands without noticing.

Easton looks concerned, so Eli quickly rearranges himself so it doesn't look like how he feels- like death. "Yeah kid, just tired," he reaches out, ruffling his brothers curly hair to ease him. It works, but it also draws attention to his mother. He's ordered upstairs to rest after that.

For once, he's too exhausted to have his nightmare.

It only feels like he flips onto his bed and blinks when Easton is bursting into his room through bathroom- that connected to his own room- the door smashes against the wall as he launches himself onto the bed, asking for breakfast.

Saturday is much as a drag as Friday. Only this time, his headaches turned into a flow blown migraine- and this one leads to a seizure. It takes a lot of convincing that he doesn't need to go to hospital- half because it's a waste of time, half because he promised Jasper he'd stay at home at the weekend.

He doesn't sleep that night either, and the fact he's swallowed enough pain meds to knock out a horse, when Jasper texts mid afternoon on Sunday, Eli is already asleep.

•••

"You can have a day off if you'd like," Cassandra offers on the Monday morning, her hand rubbing circles between Eli's shoulder blades. He's leant over the toilet, the contents of last nights dinner already brought up.

"No, I can't," the teen croaks, spitting out a horrible taste in his mouth. I can't spend another day in this fucking house. "I only have three weeks until graduation."

David crouches down next to his son, holding out a glass of water. "And if you push yourself too much you won't get there," he rebukes disapprovingly.

"I'm fine, It's just a little sickness. The headaches gone now," he groans just as his stomach flips again. His muscles lock up as he gags on the feeling of wanting to throw up but having nothing to bring up.

"You're green," David points out, tipping the glass against his lips, water slides down Eli's raw throat pleasingly.

He gulps a few mouth fills before pulling away, feeling slightly better. "I don't care if I'm blue, I'm not staying at home," he forces out. Staying at home alone is the worse thing he can think of, especially if his mom has to stay and baby him all day.

"Mom!" Easton yells from downstairs, "I'm going to be late!"

I love you little brother! Eli almost screams. Easton saves the day again. He needs to buy that kids a present or something.

Cassandra sighs in defeat, patting her sons back twice before standing. She says something in a low voice to her husband before leaving but Eli doesn't concentrate on that.

Shutting the lid, he sways forward, using the momentum to stand up straight. He moves a little too quick and stumbles backwards. His dad is quick to steady him by the elbows.

"I'm fine," Eli enforces again at his dads expression.

David sighs, already accepting how his stubborn son isn't going to be persuaded. "Make Jasper or Edward or Bella take you home the minute you feel like it's too much," he orders. "And ring us."

Elias nods eagerly, then the smile slides off as he realises what his dad is wearing.

"You're starting at the station today?" He says quietly, feeling betrayed yet again for not being told.

David shuffles on his feet, the dark blue police uniform he wears feeling like a suit of dishonour from how Eli's grey eyes harden. "I didn't want to tell you because you've felt horrible all weekend-"

"-yeah I got it," Eli sniffs, stepping around his dad and walking out of the bathroom. His words are low and harsh. "Have fun at work, try notify me by letter If anything else happens in this family, like a wedding or death or something, since talking to me doesn't seem to be working."

Eli shuffles out the front door of his house, almost collapsing on the porch steps with his head between his knees. He can handle the headaches, the seizures, the sickness, it's just the feeling of always being tired what bothers him the most.

Eli doesn't know how long has passed when before a cold hand curling around his arm makes him look up. Jaspers face is sketched in concern as he takes in Eli's appearance.

"Don't even start," he warns with a new fire burning in his chest. Jasper worries more than Cassandra. Especially on the bad days like this one.

Jaspers lips press into a fine line yet thankfully he doesn't say anything, only helps Eli to his feet, arm wrapping around the lower part of his back- as if he needs help walking to the silver Volvo. Normally such close of a touch would make that longing and fear start in him, but he's too tired to start all that.

"Here," Bella mutters, hading Elias a bottle of water when he and Jasper are in the back. The concern fills in her eyes as well- he wonders how bad he looks. He didn't get a good look in mirror when he was getting dressed.

"Thanks," Eli croaks, almost ripping the lid off to chug the liquid. After he's finished he shoves the bottle on the floor, relaxing back into his seat- or tries to, Jaspers arm is still there.

Eli shifts in his seat, leaning into the blondes chest instead. The vampire sucks in a surprised breath but doesn't complain. He twists his free hand into Elias' hair, knowing from experience that if he runs his fingers through the wavy dark brown strands it'll make him feel better.

It does. One moment he's relaxing in the cold of Jasper body, the next his eyes slip shut again for some well needed rest. Until a car door slams, jolting him out his relaxation. Eli's eyelids snap open, grey eyes taking in his surroundings- he didn't meant to drift off.

They're in the school parking lot, alone now. Irritation spreads along Eli's chest as he realises Jasper hadn't even tried waking him, and he probably wouldn't have either- if it wasn't for Bella slamming the door he'd have stayed there all day.

"Thanks for waking me," he grumbles, not looking back at Jasper as he pulls away from his cold chest and tugs the door handle, slipping out the car and onto the cement.

He looks around for his best friend, wondering what made her slam the door. He almost trips when he spots a copper skinned muscular teen near the front of the school- just a few feet away from Jake, Bella and Edward.

"Elias!" Jace calls out, waving his hands as if Eli isn't be able see his large frame from a mile away.

A laugh bubbles up out his throat at the sight of him. Elias doesn't realise he's running to Jace until the werewolf wraps him into a rare hug- the scent of pines and the ocean clings to Jace's skin like perfume.

"Jace! What are you doing around the place faces?" Eli jokes, unaware of the tension as he steps out of the boys embrace.

"Elias you look like death," Jace swears in a foreign language, large hand pressing against Eli's chest, "What are they doing to you down here?" Jace's chocolate eyes twist to something behind Eli, "Breaking your heart again?"

Something akin to a hiss comes from behind Elias. It's so low that no human will hear it. Elias turns, going to glare at Jasper, but Jakes angry voice steals his concentration.

"Actually we're here to warn you, If your kind come on our land again..." he hisses.

"Wait, what?" Bella and Eli question at the same time.

Jake stalls, looking between the two humans and back to Edward. Dark humour dances across his face. "You didn't tell them?"

Elias looks back from Edward and Jasper in disbelief- the same expression Bella has.

"Just leave it alone Jacob," Edward almost sneers.

"Tell us what?" Elias steps next to Bella, their hands meeting at the same time for silent comfort in the whole situation.

Jake almost grins as both Edward and Jasper wince. It's the bronze haired vampire who speaks first, voice light. "Emmett and Paul had a misunderstanding, theres nothing to worry about."

Jakes body starts to shake. "Listen to you. Did you lie to get her out of town, too?" He spits.

The clogs in Eli's mind click into place. Elias turns from their encounter, his own anger churning around his body until warmth spreads in his hands. Jasper is already looking at him with deep regretful eyes.

"I asked you," he fumes in astonishment, trying to hide his hurt. Eli's asked if anything was happening, but all Jasper said was a hunting trip- he didn't specify which kind.

"Elias, please-" Jaspers sorrowful tone washes out over the loud volume Jake starts to speak in, "-They have a right to know. They are the ones the red-head wants."

Terror grips Elias and Bella tighter than the way their connected hands squeezed together. Elias doesn't look at the other vampire or two werewolves. Fire churns under his skin as the anger intensifies. Elias can feel how it shows in his face, in his eyes, as he glares at Jasper.

"I asked you, I asked you multiple times," he repeats, panting with hurt.

Jaspers hand comes to touch Eli's arm but he slaps it away quickly, ignoring the pain that forms in his own fingers. The hurt tears across Jaspers face.

"I didn't want you to worry Darlin, i was going to tell you after, but you'd have stressed all weekend," he speaks lowly, trying to make Eli understand.

The heat roars now. Elias lets go of Bella's hand to not hurt her and instead faces Jasper fully. "You sound just like my fucking dad," He scoffs, hurt searing like fire. "How are we supposed to work Jasper? I tell you my plans but the same rules don't apply for you? How am I supposed to try trust you again if I have to second guess every word that comes out your mouth?!"

Jasper flinches as if he'd been smacked. "I'm sorry." He means it, he really does. That's what hurts Eli the most.

"You're always sorry," Elias shakes his head, turning his back on Jasper, facing Jace instead. Even Jace looks sad- from Eli's reaction most likely.

"Come on. Maybe I'll ask you what's happening and I'll get the whole truth?" the human asks, ignoring Jaspers calls as he walks to the werewolf's motorbike- well, Eli's old motorbike that he can't drive anymore. He had to gift it to the wolf so his parent didn't murder him.

"You'll always get the truth from me Grey," Jace promises, handing Elias the only helmet when the humans swings one leg over the bike. In front of them the roar of Jakes bike is almost deafening.

Eli grumbles again- mostly swear words- as he forces the heat to dissipate so that when he wraps his arms around Jace's middle he doesn't burn him.

"Hold tight little spitfire!" Jace shouts, the nickname most likely a dig at Jasper since he's the only one to call Eli that. Before Eli can scold him for it, the bike lurches forward the same moment it turns on.

Eli focuses on the feeling of the wind pushing against him and not the way he can feel sad golden eyes piercing his body.

I've been so sick it's horrible. I'm sorry this took so long- I'm taking this story a new direction with Eli's human family than what it used to be.

Any good song recommendations?

Any questions? I'll answer them!

Don't be a silent reader!