Hi guys! Regarding my previous message about my exams, I think I will still be publishing chapters during my exam season because I genuinely enjoy writing this story and I'm dying for you all to know how the story goes 😭
So here you go, enjoy! Don't forget to vote and comment!
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"I can ask you same thing," Eli said coolly as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Was that why you brought me out in the middle of nowhere?"
I gulped as my gaze dropped to the ground, unable to meet his eyes. I nodded softly and bit my bottom lip.
"Mia made me do it. Don't blame me-"
"And you did it, unwillingly," Eli commented as he walked towards me. He lifted my head up softly with a finger under my chin, making my eyes met his once again.
"Why did you ran off?" he asked. HIs seriousness was killing me.
"Uh... I..." I paused. "I don't know."
"You like me too, don't you?"
He pasted that stupid yet hot signature smirk of his on his face and I shot him a weird look.
"Go away, Eli. I'm not in the mood to talk to you right now," I said, pushing him away by his chest. "You already have a girlfriend, don't talk to other girls like that again, or else I'm telling Mia."
"Never knew you're that stingy," he said, sending a soft punch at my right shoulder before he walked past me towards the other end of the mushroom tree. "And may I ask, since when do I have a girlfriend?"
I turned to look at him, utterly confused. "What do you mean you don't have a girlfriend?"
His muscular back was facing me when he turned his face to the side. His jawline was so sharp that it could cut through the thick air surrounding us. His gaze fell onto the ground at his side.
"I never say yes," he whispered, before he turned back and walked towards the edge of the glowing plantation. He sat down near the edge and crossed his legs.
Without myself knowing, excitement bubbled inside me as I unknowingly let out a huge grin. I walked towards him and sat right next to him.
"How did you know I'm here?" I questioned him. His gaze left the beautiful scenery of the gleaming forest that laid in front of us to look at me.
"I didn't know you were here," he said, smiling as he uncrossed his legs, hanging them over the edge in midair while his lean arms supported his leaning body by resting onto the ground behind him.
"I'm the only one from the Shane Gang who knows about this place, and this is where I opt to go to whenever I want to clear my mind or just to have some time alone," Eli explained and I nodded. "Now that you too found out about this place, I guess I can't say the same thing anymore."
I chuckled and imitated Eli's posture, allowing my legs to hang over the edge of the mushroom freely as I took the time to take in the stunning view before us. Vein-like tree trunks stood mightily in the woodland, each holding up to an enormous, bioluminescence mushroom head, enlightening their surroundings. Little blinking bushes vanquished the ground, their radiance adding to the richness of the majestic forest. A few slugs were seen exploring the area, chirping and giggling carefreely. It was like a perfect art piece; not just any piece of work, but the most beautiful creation of the universe.
"Why did you cry?"
My head turned towards him in haste. On the other hand, he just glanced at me casually.
"Your eyes sold you out," he said simply and stared into me, expecting an answer from my unresponsive brain. "You do know that running off during Mia's confession and crying your eyes out does look like you have a crush on me, right?"
"Wow, how can someone be that direct with his words," I said and lightly rolled my eyes. "Don't fool yourself, I don't have a crush on you."
"Oh really? Then I am even more curious to know your reason behind your actions," he said and smirked at me. A soft sigh left my nostrils, I could start to feel the growing pain inside me. I looked back at the view before us, and without myself knowing, I started tearing up again. Eli's body visibly tensed up when he noticed tears forming at the corners of my eyes.
"I miss someone," I whispered, a tear rolled down my cheek as I brought my legs to my chest. "Running off the scene was not because I have a crush on you, Eli, but it was because I just... simply couldn't take it. Back from where I'm from, there was a boy. He meant the world to me, but I don't even know if he is alive or dead."
I turned to face him and looked straight into his ocean blue eyes.
"I miss him so much Eli, and now that I am part of the Shane Gang and in Slugterra, I don't know how to get back to him," I said, my eyes couldn't look into his any longer and my gaze dropped to the ground. "And even if I know the way home, I don't know if I would be able to let go of Slugterra, let go of the Shane Gang, my slugs, and-"
I paused.
And you.
Eli sighed and I looked up to him. I watched as he smiled softly at me, reached out both his arms, and wrapped them around my shoulders. More tears escaped my eyes as I allowed myself to lean in and wrap my arms around his neck. His arms held onto my back as he hugged me tightly.
"It's okay to let it all out," he whispered into my ear and I poured out my feelings in his chest as memories of Blue flashed in my head.
"I really, really miss him Eli..." I mumbled as I felt him gently caressing my hair.
Despite my drenched face from my tears, my eyelids flung opened when I felt droplets of liquid on my forehead. I looked up, just to see Eli was trying so hard to hold back his tears, but failed.
With his arms around my shoulder, I felt them tensed up as he hugged me even tighter. He lowered his head into my neck and started to sob softly.
"I miss someone too," he whispered, his voice was shaky and sorrowful. I was surprised. I had never seen Eli, the leader of the Shane Gang, shed a single tear before.
His dad must have meant a lot to him, just like how Blue meant the whole world to me.
I tightened my grasp around him. We cried into each other's arms, mentally supporting and depending on each other. I smiled weakly as I ran my fingers through his raven blue hair.
"It's okay, Eli. Your father is still out there searching for you," I gathered all there was left in me to smile for him. "Don't worry. One day you'll be able to meet him again, and he will be so proud of you."
His head raised and he stared at me. His expression was unreadable. Something seemed off, his blue eyes were telling a different story, but I just couldn't put my finger on it.
"You're right," he sighed with a sad smile. "He is still out there. There is still hope."
We exchanged a smile, and shifted our attention back to the forest. With me still in his arms, we shared a heartwarming memory together. Eli was certainly a great friend, and I was glad that we were able to support each other when we most needed it.
My eyes looked up at the dark rocky ceilings as tears streamed down my cheeks.
Please Blue, have faith in me. I will find my way back to you, and we will meet again.
...
After we stayed in that position and adored the view for quite some time, Eli showed me the hidden staircase that leads to the rooftop, and we went into the hideout from there. The staircase leads to his room's ceiling, which explains how the rest of the gang did not find out about the secret entrance. He pulled a ladder down and helped me down the steps. Once both of us were safe on ground, he pulled up the ladder and sealed the entrance on his ceiling.
He looked around his room as if he noticed something.
"Mia moved out of my room," he informed. I looked around the room and noticed that Mia's stuff was no longer there.
"Looks like you and I are sharing a same room again," Eli said, his eyes landed on me. "Now go. Mia needs you more than anyone now."
I nodded, before I headed out from his room and into Trixie's room, which as expected, was filled with Mia's belongings. Mia sat on her bed, stuffing tissue papers in her nose as well as drying her eyes with them, even though tears reformed at the corners of her eyes. Trixie was beside her, patting her back, not knowing what to do or say. She looked up and noticed me at the door, and she gave me a sad look.
"Mia," I called out for her as I went over and sat beside her. Trixie and I exchanged a look before Mia sneezed loudly, and looked up at me with red, puffy eyes.
"Ales, how can I face him now?" she asked as newly formed tears ran down her cheeks. "He said he loves me, but not in a romantic way... Did I do something wrong? Was I not good enough? Why didn't he like me back?"
She grabbed a handful of tissues as she continue to cry her heart out. After an hour or more of comforting, she finally stopped sobbing and went to wash herself up while I packed my things to move to Eli's room.
Eli helped me carry my stuff to his room, and once everything was in place, it was already one in the morning. I laid in bed with my thick blanket wrapping around my body like an anaconda suffocating its prey, facing the ceiling. Eli laid down beside me, exhausted as well.
"How's Mia?" he questioned out of the blue, his eyes remained closed.
"Cried for at least an hour, but other than that she didn't do anything stupid," I reported. "You seem to care for her a lot."
"Of course I do, she is part of the Shane Gang. I love her as a friend, a sister, a family... just not the way she likes me," he explained as he sighed. "I'll have to talk to her about our relationship tomorrow before things get awkward between the gang."
"Yes, you definitely should," I agreed. He let out a loud sigh as he turned to face me, his eyelids ascended.
"Hey Ales, I'm sorry for not being able to comfort you earlier, back at the rooftop. I was a crying mess myself," he mumbled. I chuckled as I turned to face him. "It's alright Eli. Your dad probably means a lot to you too."
I smiled wholeheartedly for him, but he stayed silent. He seemed to be processing something in his mind, but before I could even question it, he let out a small smile in response.
"Yes. He does mean a lot to me."
...
I woke up without Eli beside me the next morning. After I did my usual morning routine, I jollily walked down the stair to meet the rest of the gang.
"Morning Trix!" I greeted as I saw her at the couch. She was the only one in the common area. "What do you want for breakfast?"
She looked up from her hologram and gazed at me with tiny sparkles in her emerald eyes.
"Chocolate banana waffles with ice cream and pancakes please," she ordered, giving me a thumbs up. I smiled at her as I walked over to the kitchen and wore my apron that has cute slug prints.
"Will be ready in no time! Do you by any chance know what the others want?" I asked as I pulled out a mixing bowl.
"Kord and Pronto are still asleep. Eli and Mia went out this morning and I don't think they'll be back anytime soon," Trixie replied as I stopped in my tracks.
Right. Eli told me he will be talking things out with Mia.
"Any ideas on what they are doing?" Trixie questioned as she walked over to the kitchen counter and took a seat.
"Eli told me that he wants to settle things with Mia, so that things wouldn't get awkward between the gang," I answered as I started to make waffles and pancakes.
"Yeah, Eli definitely should," Trixie added. "By the way, why did you ran off last night? You got jealous?" she said, smirking at me.
I turned to shoot her a soft glare. "Jealous that Blue and I couldn't get together, not because I'm in love with Eli," I briefly explained, but she didn't look convinced. "Whatever," she said. "Quick. I'm starving."
A few minutes after that, the garage door opened, revealing the two expected slingers. Mia ran towards me and gave me a tight hug while Eli walked towards us.
"Thanks for making us breakfast again, Ales!" she thanked cheerfully while I raised an eyebrow, before looking at Eli. He smiled and rested a hand on his hip.
"I guess it went well?" I questioned as Mia pulled away from the hug. "Come on, I have to tell you what happened," she whispered before she dragged Trixie and I back to her room, leaving Eli alone to make breakfast.
She pushed the both of us in and shut the door behind her. The three of us took a seat on her bed as Mia started her story-telling session.
"So what happened?" Trixie asked, her tone full of excitement. Mia took in a deep breath before she wore a huge smile.
"Long story short, I figured out that my love for Eli was childish, and I admit that I like him as an idol more than as a crush, or because he is hot as hell and not because of what is inside, if you get what I mean," Mia explained. "And we have talked things out. Eli and I are cool now."
"That's great!" I exclaimed. "You don't have to be all awkward whenever you see him now!" Trixie added, earning a painful pinch on the shoulder from Mia.
"Shut your flopping mouth-"
Before Mia could finish her sentence, the siren went off and echoed through the Shane hideout. Our giggles died down, heads shot up and we sprinted to our closets, preparing for a new distress call mission.
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