Chapter 25 Chapter 25
Violet
When I opened my eyes, Elijah had already stepped out of the car and ran into a shop. I was feeling dizzy so I held my head in my hands while Tyler and Gavin too appeared a little dazed.
“That was….fun”
Gavin muttered and I adjusted my eyes to the scene around us. Apparently, we were outside a cake shop.
“Is it Cassie’s birthday today?” I asked and slapped my forehead, concluding that was the reason.
But it wasn’t because both Tyler and Gavin shook their heads.
“I don't think so”
“Then what is Elijah…”
I began but Elijah handed me the cake box and began driving yet again. I hoped the cake wouldn't get squashed but luckily this time Elijah didn’t make me want to puke due to his mad driving.
We didn't bother asking him anything and just sat quietly as I saw Elijah curse himself.
I stared straight ahead and realized we were leaving the city limits and were approaching a dirt road.
The buildings and skyscrapers soon were replaced by greenery and corn fields. It was already dark when we got in the car but now it was only the moonlight and stars guiding us through whatever hell Elijah was dragging us.
I kept shaking my head repeatedly to drive the sleep off and thanked the Goddess when he finally killed the engine.
“Whare are we?” I croaked into the silence but Elijah grabbed the cake box from me wordlessly and began walking towards a fenced compound.
We three stepped out and I looked around to realize that we were outside a graveyard, a very old one.
I exchanged confused glances with the other two men who just shrugged and we followed Elijah.
The iron gate was rusty and creaked when Elijah opened it. The growth of vines and shrubs was rampant, indicating a general state of neglect.
Most of the tombstones were in a shabby state as well, some broken, others covered in dust and fallen leaves.
But in a far corner, I saw a little spark of light and a shadow around it.
Elijah quickened his pace and so did we to reach a tombstone that was cleaned, and several candles were lit up all around it.
Flowers were placed on top of the grave and amidst it all was Cassie, sitting quietly with her legs crossed. Her eyes appeared a little red and puffy.
Elijah gently sat beside her and opened the box of cake.
She sniffled and wiped her nose with her sleeve as he muttered.
“Sorry, I am late.”
We sat around the tombstone too as Cassie quietly picked the cake, lit up the small candles and blew them later.
“Happy birthday, mom” she whispered and fresh tears trickled out of her eyes.
She cut the cake into pieces and handed one to all of us before turning around and throwing herself into Elijah’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
The scene brought tears to my eyes as Elijah slowly patted her back and his gaze met mine.
“I am sorry for snapping at you earlier” He added gently and she shook her head.
“I was being unreasonable.”
His words were meant for her but they might as well have been directed at me. I didnt say a word and sat back, not wanting to interrupt their moment.
The cake felt like a rock but I forced it down my throat. I had no idea Cassie’s mother wasn’t alive anymore.
I recalled her words that she had thrown at Elijah earlier. She had asked him if he was even aware if his parents were dead or alive.
At that time, it only felt spiteful to me, spoken in the rush of the moment. But now, I could sense she was asking him to cherish what she had lost.
Maybe she was being eccentric and wild because her mother’s birthday was approaching and she wanted to drown out the sorrow by doing something stupid like dragging me to the strip club.
The air was chilly and I rubbed my hands together as I sat silently by the grave of a woman I had never known before.
“Happy birthday, Maria” I whispered to the grave and looked to the side.
And almost jumped when I saw something flicker on the right.
I fell down on my butt and almost screamed when I felt a touch on my shoulder.
“Are you alright?” Elijah asked me and I slowly looked up at him.
“Uh, yeah” I nodded and got up from the ground, dusting my hands and clothes.
Gavin and Tyler got up as well, yawning and stretching their hands.
“Lets go home soon. Graveyards are spooky.”
Cassie finally pulled away from her brother and gave me a teary smile as I pulled her into a hug.
“You scared us, you know.”
She apologized as I stared again at the spot that had caught my attention earlier. The fence on the far right where something had been glinting earlier.
The leaves rustled over the broken fence and swayed as something shone- a piece of metal that shone when it caught light.
“Let us go home. It's quite late.”
Elijah said and we all began walking towards the car and I finally tore my gaze from the broken fence and looked ahead.
Cassie was leaning heavily on Elijah, so much so that he lifted her up in his arms, wrapped his coat around her and safely tucked her in the backseat of the car.
Tyler yawned and Gavin looked at Cassie sleeping peacefully and mumbled.
“I wish somebody would tuck me in like that”
Elijah gave him a side eye.
“Want me to?”
Gavin quickly shook his head and Tyler began teasing him but they both got in the backseat, arguing but still being quiet enough to not wake Cassie up.
A small smile tugged at my lips as I saw these four people I had never met before.
Tyler and Gavin were very friendly and goofy while Cassie was a friend I never knew I needed.
And Elijah…well I was still unsure what we were.
Friends? Colleagues?
For a second, I imagined him fussing over me like that, worrying about me but then I blinked out of that thought when he got in the driver’s seat and rolled down the windows.
“You need an invitation?”
I shook my head and quietly got in.
The drive towards home was quiet like the night around us. The fields stretched on for miles together and the moon shone above us, casting an ethereal light.
I looked back at the three of them sleeping peacefully. Cassie’s sleeves were smudged with the candle wax as she pulled Elijah’s coat closer. Gavin had his head thrown back and was snoring loudly while Tyler’s face was pressed to the glass as well.
I hadn’t interacted much with Tyler or Gavin but it was clear that they loved him just like Cassie did.
Once again, I was painfully reminded of the lack of people in my life, people who loved me as fiercely as Elijah and his small group. And for a fleeting second, I wished I was part of it.