"Eli, I gave up years ago. I even tried getting someone to help me before I did and they were too scared of my dad." He grabbed his book our of his locker and then closed it. "There's nothing anyone can do."
Eli sighed, looking down at his feet and rocking back on his heels, "There has to be something…" He mumbled, though it was more to himself then anyone else, "I'm sorry. I know you probably don't wanna talk about it."
Damian's silence agreed with Eli's statement. He'd given up way too long ago to be convinced into talking about it. Damian was just glad that Eli actually understood his feelings, at least even a little.
The bell rang not a moment later, causing Eli to sigh. Why did school have to cut short the time he got to spend with Damian? "I'll um.. see you later then.. if you want."
"Of course I'll want to see you later, Eli. You're my boyfriend. Why would I not want to see you? Just because it's a secret doesn't mean that I can't hang out with you." He gave a small smile towards the shorter boy, and it was sincere.
He blushed, looking down at his feet to try and hide it at least a little with no avail, "I mean, you have loads of other people you could hang out with, most of them more important then me so I'm just saying if you didn't then I get it."
(i guess, can't stop you)
"You know for a fact that I don't really have anyone else to hang out with, none more important than you. God if we weren't at school right now I would seriously kiss you."
“D-Damian you can’t just say stuff like that. Like yeah sure I wouldn’t mind if you did but what if someone hears? We could get in trouble.”
Damian took a deep breath, cracking his neck a little. "OK. OK, OK. But I'll see you this afternoon. Stop telling yourself there are people more important than you, though."
“Been thinking it for a while now, I don’t think I’m going to stop anytime soon.” Eli sighed softly, listening to the loud ringing bell echo through the halls, “I’ll see you later then.”
Damian watched as Eli walked off, leaning against his locker. He hated Easthallow so much and wanted to get out of it, but he didn't know how. He wasn't accepted here, and neither was Eli.
School couldn’t have gone longer. It felt like time had slowed and Eli hated it. He wanted to get out of school, he wanted to spend time with his boyfriend without the fear of being judged and shamed. Yet apparently they couldn’t happen.
Damian sat in the back of his classes, writing his own stuff. Teachers rarely called on him and it was easy for him to retain information, even if he wasn't really paying attention.
Eli had never been one to focus well, tending to day dream more often then not. It was something he didn't know how to stop but he didn't mind, even if it meant he failed. School was one thing he dreaded.
Damian couldn't help but draw Eli in the margins of his book. He rarely draw more than an eye and his nose. Occasionally, he would draw half of Eli's face, but it was never enough to distinguish the drawing as him.
Eli's mind wandered to Damian during his classes. It was hard not too when all you want to be is be with and see your boyfriend. But the couldn't even do that since apparently people didn't think anything different then the norm.
Damian smiled as he drew, something that his teacher spotted. "Do you have something to share with us, Mr Lunar?"
Damian glanced up, his eyes glowing a soft red. "No, sir."
"Very well. Carry on."
Luckily, Eli passed his class with no mishaps, no one calling on him even though it felt like they were going to a few times. He tried his best to concentrate, but he had little luck on that front.
The bell rang, a sign that it was time for lunch. Damian packed up his stuff and left, heading to Becky's locker instead of his own. He always took it upon himself to check his 16-year-old sister's locker, as it was often her go-to hiding spot for drugs.
Eli was held back after class, much to his dismay. Mainly because the teacher wanted to talk to him about getting a tutor, an idea he hated but he couldn't really say no. He said he'd find one, and left the class in search for a place to sit.
As soon as Becky saw Damian waiting at her locker, he face fell. She glared at him. "What are you doing here?" She asked as she opened her locker.
"You know what. Making sure you don't have a stash."
"What do you take me for?"
Damian spotted money in Becky's locker. "That better be for lunch, Bec."
Eli really only had one other friend at the school, a boy name Kyle. They had been close friends for a while and he was glad he wasn't along. He spotted his friend and headed over, smiling.
"So what if it isn't, Damian?"
"I worry about you. You can't keep overdosing. It's dangerous."
"Oh, fuck that. Can't you just leave me alone?"
"No. I'm your big brother. I want to look out for you."
"I don't need looking out for."
Eli sat, giving Kyle a side hug which was happily returned. The two engaged in conversation, immediately talking about a new type artwork by a local artist they both enjoyed.
"You know for a fact that you do, Bec."
"If anyone needs protecting, it's you. What will Easthallow do when they find out about your powers? About Eli?"
"How did you find out about him?"
"Oh, please. I'm not an idiot. I know my brother."
"How's your day been so far?" Kyle asked, digging into a mandarin.
"Fine, I guess, apparently I need to find a tutor since I'm failing english again."
"I thought you were doing better?"
"Nope.." Eli sighed.
"You can't tell anyone."
"I wasn't going to, Damian."
"I don't know with you, Bec. I never do."
"Ugh, fine. I'm going to lunch. Piss off."
Eli fell silent, drawing pictures on the metal table with a white board marker discarded on the floor. Kyle went back to eating his fruit and scrolling through his phone.
Damian watched as his sister walked off, then headed to the cafeteria. He was always given money for lunch, his parents not caring enough to buy school snacks. So he was going to buy some food.
