Chapter 17: 16: Ray

SIXTEEN

Ray

That day wasn't a one time thing like Elias feared it would be.

Mars was talking to him normally now. He knew that it was likely considering they finally talked about it, but some part of him had still been scared he would somehow mess something up.

He got Mars to school early again, and she wouldn't stop talking about the upcoming spring break. She went on and on about the beach, even though the closest one was an hour away minimum. He hated driving for a long time.

He stopped by that café he always went to if he dropped Mars off early. It was a lot more empty this time around, only a few people scattered about and no one in line. The music they played was relaxing and didn't bother his semi-sleepy brain.

Elias took a seat after ordering, leaning his cheek against his palm. He was more tired than he usually was every morning; he blamed it on a show he got into. He stayed up an hour later than he usually did. A bad mistake on his part — he felt like he could easily fall asleep at the table.

Just as one of the workers called out his name, his phone started buzzing in his pocket. He pulled it out and frowned at the sight of Gale's name.

He answered as he grabbed his order, giving the person a grateful smile. "What's up?" he asked into the receiver, pushing the door open with his shoulder, getting blasted by the warmer air that settled over where they lived, the cold having left far too soon.

"You don't have to come in today," is what she greeted him with, sounding winded. He furrowed his brows. "Something came up, so I decided to close the place. I know it's last minute, and I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Elias responded, sliding into his car. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, yeah. Just — family issues."

Elias nodded slowly. "I see. I hope things get better. Take care, okay?"

"Thank you, sweetheart. I'll hopefully see you tomorrow. And you'll still get your pay," Gale told him. She sounded exhausted. Her usual boisterous tone wasn't present, so that pet name didn't feel as comforting as it always had. "Bye-bye."

"Bye."

She hung up, and Elias locked his doors, sipping from his coffee. Now he didn't know what to do. He could sleep, get a few more hours in, wake up. But that was what the coffee was for. He'd be awake in no time — once he got home, he wouldn't even be able to close his eyes. That was how it was every time.

He put the car in drive, humming to himself. Maybe he could treat himself to something. Today was a surprise free day, which was nice — well, kind of. He was worried about Gale, but he also liked that he had an extra day off. Anyone would.

His first thought was one about Roman. He wasn't sure why he was the first thing his mind went to, but Elias wasn't upset by it. He liked his company. However, Roman worked that day. At noon, sure, several hours away, but Elias didn't want to bother him.

What if he wanted to sleep in, too? Elias halted at a red light. Should he tell him that the diner was closed so he didn't waste his time?

He nodded to himself, making sure the light was still red before he texted him.

Elias -

Diner is closed today, so you don't have to come by

Roman -

Oh what happened??

Elias didn't answer until he got home. He hated texting while driving. Once Mars got her license in a few years, Elias hoped she wouldn't be one of those teenagers that were always on their phones, even while speeding. It was an accident waiting to happen. Especially in school parking lots.

When he got home and tossed himself onto the sofa, he messaged Roman back.

Elias -

Gale has some family stuff to work out, so she closed up for today

Roman -

Oh okay, I hope she's alright

Elias -

She's strong, I'm sure she is. Or will be (:

Roman -

So what are you gonna do today? Since you're off??

Elias -

I don't know. I was thinking I could clean the house, maybe

Roman -

...

Elias -

???

Roman -

You're so weird

Elias -

What?? How??

Roman -

Who cleans their house on their off day willingly..??? Even I wouldn't do that and I'm a homebody

Elias -

The judgment is painful Roman

Roman -

Maybe if you do something fun it'll go away (:

Elias -

That smiley face was so passive aggressive

Elias realized eventually that he was smiling. He pressed his hand against his face, feeling it relax once he tried to keep his lips from curving upward any longer. The apples of his cheeks ached a little.

He hadn't smiled that hard in a long time. And it was all because he was texting someone. How much weirder could he get?

Roman -

Good that was the goal

Roman -

Well if you ever get bored throughout the day you can stop by if you want. You know, since I always stop by so

Elias -

At your work?

Roman -

Yeah. Only if you want to though

Elias -

Sure, give me the directions and I just might

Roman -

Okay (:

Elias did spend his time cleaning around the house like he said he would. He started with the kitchen, then moved onto the bathrooms, which became the most irritating next to Mars' room. Luckily, she'd started cleaning it by herself and saved Elias the trouble.

When his arms got tired, he abandoned his tasks and went to take a shower instead. He knew he wasn't dirty, but cleaning messy places tended to make him feel like he was. And it was better to be safe than sorry.

When he got out, he glanced down at his phone sitting on the counter. He'd been thinking about it for the past few hours — going to see Roman. But the thought of showing up empty handed felt weird, like he needed a reason to be there in the first place.

Roman had a reason to visit him. Food, coffee. Elias didn't have one, really, unless he counted just wanting to see him. Why was he overthinking it so much? Didn't friends go see each other at work all the time?

But those are high school kids that do that. Elias sighed and buried his face in a towel used to dry his hair. He could hear Marco laughing at him in the deepest, darkest depths of his brain. He seemed like he would make fun of someone for shit like this.

Elias reached for his phone. Maybe he should ask him if he was hungry. Or thirsty.

He went to tap Roman's contact, but his fingers were slippery from just getting out of the shower, the screen having become just as victim to the humidity. It toppled out of his hand and to the tiled floor, the loud cracking sound making him cringe and jump back to avoid getting his foot hit.

"Oh, shit," Elias whispered, reaching down. He turned it over, and the first thing he noticed was a crack in the upper right corner, followed by Roman's contact photo. He barely heard the concerned 'hello?' that came from the speaker. How the fuck did that end up calling him? Did my finger touch the call button before I dropped it?

He hurriedly pressed it to his ear. "Sorry," he blurted. "Um, that was an accident. I didn't mean to call."

"Oh. Were you going to text?"

"Yeah. Uh — I don't wanna keep you, so — "

"It's okay, I have some time to talk," Roman replied, and Elias faltered. Wasn't he working? How did he have time?

He decided not to question it. "I was going to ask if... you were hungry, or thirsty, maybe," Elias explained, running a brush through his wet hair. He hated the way it looked when he had to slick it back like that. He looked like a wannabe mob boss.

"Why?"

"Uh, just..." Elias wanted to smack himself. He was still so flustered from dropping his phone that he was stuttering. "If I come by... I don't wanna come empty handed."

Roman was quiet for a couple moments. Then, "Would you, um, still come even if I didn't want... anything?"

"If you want me to, yeah."

"Do you want to?"

"Yes. But I really don't want to come empty handed."

"Why? It's not a big deal," Roman said, and Elias could imagine the little frown he had on his face. He smiled to himself.

"Just... Think of it as me paying you back for when you got stuff for Mars," Elias stated, heading back to his room. "You wouldn't let me pay you back. Let me do it this way."

"But I told you it's okay. And — um, you just being there is payment enough."

Elias blinked, face warming up in response to his words. "Oh. Oh, okay."

There was a quiet laugh from the other end. Elias pressed his knuckles against his cheek. "Now you know how I feel," Roman mumbled. "Anyway — um, I have to go. Come by only if you want to. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Bye, Elias."

"Bye."

Elias bit his lip, then rubbed furiously at his face. Why did he blush because of that? Was that really how he sounded to Roman when he made him embarrassed? No wonder Roman stuttered around him. Elias would, too, if Roman said things like that all the time.

He laid down on his bed to cool off, throwing an arm over his eyes. It felt weird to have an entire free day that wasn't a no-work day or one where he had to take care of something important. It felt wrong, like he had to be doing something.

I'm not allowed to relax, he thought immediately, then cursed at himself quietly. He could hear what Kris would've said if she was still there.

"You're so stressed your eyelashes have gray hairs. Take a break, dickhead."

If only it was that simple.

I feel like I have a duty, you know, he thought, glancing out his bedroom window. The sun was out, but he knew the moon could still hear him. I want to give Mars the best life possible. For you, for her, and for me.

He didn't feel as if taking care of Mars was a chore — that wasn't it at all. He loved taking care of her. He liked to take care of anyone he harbored positive feelings for — it was just how he was.

Elias sighed and sat up, pushing his hair back again. I should start leaving now, he thought, getting to his feet and heading toward his dresser. Get my mind on something else for a change.

Despite Roman saying he didn't want anything, Elias made him the iced coffee he always ordered to bring to him. Once he parked and got out of his car, the drink started chilling his hands quickly. There were large garage-like stations where people were working, and Elias made his way over, glancing around to see if he could spot Roman.

He couldn't. It was no wonder, really, considering backs were turned or bodies half hidden underneath cars. Elias shifted in place, wondering if he should've just waited or tried asking someone. But he didn't have to, because —

"Hey, sugar, you need somethin'?" Elias blinked, looking up — he wasn't short by any means, but this woman still towered over him — at who had acknowledged him.

Elias gave her a friendly smile. "Hi, I'm sorry if this is a bad time. I was wondering if Roman was around?"

She placed her hands on her hips and looked back, squinting against the sun. "You Elias?" she asked before turning back to face him.

Elias raised an eyebrow. "Yes, I am."

"He mentioned you. Here — " She grabbed a nearby chair and dragged it under the hanging roof where the shade was. "Sit. I'll let him know you're here."

Elias blinked, hesitantly sitting down. "Okay, thank you."

He watched her walk toward a pair of legs sticking out from underneath a car a little ways away. She kicked his calf, mouth moving as she spoke, and soon enough Roman was sliding out from underneath, looking from her to Elias, who wasn't sure if he should wave or not.

Roman went to stand, but she nudged him back down with her shoe. She said something else, then walked away. Elias watched, amused, as Roman gave him a grumpy look, then went right back under.

It was fine. He could wait. Hopefully the coffee wouldn't get watered down by the time he showed up.

Unfortunately, it did.

Roman finished thirty minutes later. Elias' eyes landed on him again when he noticed he was coming out. The man got to his feet and put tools away, and Elias couldn't help that his gaze wandered to his bare arms.

Elias knew he was fairly built. But he hadn't known exactly how much until then. The tattoos wrapping around his biceps weren't helping the image.

It was normal to recognize a friend was attractive, right? He hoped so. Otherwise, he would feel extremely bad for checking him out the way he was. Elias may have been boring, but he knew when a good-looking person was just that. He wasn't blind.

Roman was walking over. Elias was forcing his eyes to remain on his face.

"Uh, the ice melted," Elias said once Roman stopped in front of him. He held the cup out. "I got you your iced coffee. So, it's probably watered down by now. Sorry about that."

Roman shook his head. Elias fully expected to hear his voice, but it seemed this was one of those times and places where he wasn't comfortable speaking. Because he tried his hardest to sign something — it wasn't clear, but Elias got the gist of it.

He'd tried his best to sign: "It's okay. I can still drink it."

Elias frowned. "No, it won't taste good. I'll make you another some other time, alright? Don't worry about it."

Roman stared for a second or two, then reached out and snatched the coffee from his grasp. Elias went to take it back, but Roman stepped away so he could take a long sip, making eye contact the whole time. Elias sighed heavily.

"Bet it tastes like sweet water."

Roman shook his head again. He took a step forward and held the cup out, nudging the straw against the corner of his mouth. "No way," Elias said, pushing lightly at his wrist. "I'm not subjecting myself to that torture."

He nudged again. When Elias still refused, he leaned down so that only he could hear. Now, Elias knew it was just because he was insecure about other people potentially hearing his voice, but —

— saying, "It still tastes good," in his low voice right in Elias' ear had the type of effect it shouldn't have had. Elias pressed his hand against Roman's chest and pushed him away abruptly, averting his gaze as warmth flooded his cheeks.

What was wrong with him that day? First he dropped his phone, stuttered over the phone and got flustered when Roman said something. Then, he saw him and checked him out, and now he's blushing again over another thing he said? Elias was going crazy. A free day was making his brain go wild with anything. This had never happened before.

Roman gently moved his hand. Elias hesitantly glanced up, watching as Roman signed an apology.

Elias let out a scoff. "God, you learned 'I'm sorry' when I told you not to. What did I say?"

Roman smiled, a real smile, and another penny was dropped into Elias' "You're Being Weird" bank. And then he laughed, quiet, allowing another coin to join the last one. He could hear the clatter in his head, taunting him.

"When's your break?" Elias asked. Roman held up four fingers. "Shouldn't you be working, then...? I can come by — " He stopped. No, he couldn't. He would be picking Mars up, and he didn't want to leave her at home just so he could talk for thirty minutes.

"It's okay," Roman decided to say. "I just wanted to see you. Besides, that was my last one for a bit. So we can still talk. If you want to."

"Of course I want to."

Roman smiled again. Elias thought it rivaled the sunset in particular.

___

A/N: sorry i had to get the sexual tension ball rolling. and the start of elias' journey to (roman)ce

finally a chapter that's almost 3k all i've been writing is 1k chapters

also just thought i'd let everyone know i finally have the confession scene written. and fluff and pining. u could like, find it on my patreon if u want 😳

my fruity self incorporated one of my favorite tropes too

n e ways. i've officially graduated. it actually wasn't as bad as i thought it would be!! still nerve wracking as hell tho. and i might be able to move out in july (': many things are coming together and i am v happy