e i g h t e e n

"Wait I forgot Mr Carrot in Mummy's room! I'll be right back!"

The squeak and patter of feet fades away down the hallway.

This left Elliot and Grace in the room on their own.

Already being their fifth visit to the quiet girl's room, Susie had made herself quite welcome, being the one who did most of the talking anyhow (which she was more than happy to do) and this left the two teenagers to listen and nod at cue.

It seemed that maybe, Grace was already beginning to feel comfortable around them. Or at least it seemed like that.

Although never having really spoken to each other past polite greetings, Elliot often drifted his eyes to her without realising, only to lock eyes with her.

Now with Susie's absense, the atmosphere is silent.

Elliot directed his gaze upon the window outside, noticing snowflakes begin to fall again over the city.

"Snow..." he says aloud without meaning to.

"Um, it's starting to snow now," he adds to recover himself.

The girl doesn't say anything in response other than a small nod in the direction of the window.

"Winter is my least favourite season though."

She looks back at him.

There is a faint curiousity in her expression, laced with a slight frown on her face.

"Why... why is that?" A small voice asks.

He shrugs with a sheepish smile. "It's too cold for my liking and just... I'd rather it to be summer."

"But summer is too hot."

He laughs.

"Well spring then, or even autumn again. Just anything other than winter."

"I quite like the winter..."

He doesn't expect it and turns to face Grace again, noticing the still sullen expression on her face.

He hadn't seen her smile yet, not even once.

He wonders if it's as pretty as she is.

"It reminds me of... of..."

Her voice drifts and she doesn't complete her sentence, only sighing quietly.

He still nods in response.

"...home."

The look of surprise must show on his face as Grace is quick to change the subject.

"Susie, she's very... bubbly isn't she."

He chuckles at the statement.

"Yes that's one way to put it and that is, if you don't have to live with her 24/7."

Grace only nods slowly and he's sure he notices the faint relief in her eyes for letting the previous subject pass.

"I'm Elliot... by the way,"

He doesn't mean to blurt it like that but he can't take it back now.

"Yes I know..." she says nodding, "Um I'm Grace, as you would already know."

This causes him to smile.

"It's funny isn't, we already know each other's names yet we haven't really actually talked at all," he murmurs, looking down at the floor.

She doesn't respond for a few moments.

"Elliot...?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you know what it's like to be..."

Grace drifts off again, looking unsure.

"No, go on." He moves closer to her, leaning towards her with a reasurring smile.

Her eyes widen for a fraction but she breathes in.

"To be... to be hidden away from the world and like, trapped in your own mind..." She says quietly, "Looking for escape from... yourself."

She releases a short and quiet breath, in and out, and turns her gaze back to the window.

He is slightly taken aback by the girl's heavy statement but replies nonetheless.

"I can't say I have."

He continues, "Although I'd imagine it would be quite bleak and lonely. But you're not always alone you know."

Grace furrows her brow and he finds it dificult to pinpoint her exact emotions.

She doesn't seem entirely convinced.

He wishes he could take this girl's pains and whatever was making her feel so small and faded.

"You are not alone," He repeats again, "Well not anymore at least," he adds softly.

He sees as his words settle in the girl's head and after a few moments, she shifts in her bed to face him directly, peering closely at the boy.

"I feel like... I don't know... as weird as it sounds... I feel like I can trust you... maybe..." Grace's voice trailing off.

"Yeah?"

She nods.

"Well... I could be a friend to you then," Elliot shrugs with a bashful smile, "That is, if you want one."

"That would be nice," she replies, looking down at her crossed legs.

"So friends?"

He lifts his arm up to offer his hand.

Grace looks at his hand in surprise at first before her features settle into a thoughtful expression.

"Friends."

She only nods, so Elliot takes his hand back, not affected by her cautious actions.

He gets it and at the same time, he doesn't. He probably never will.

She looks at him steadily and for a brief moment, Elliot begins to feel like he is drifting.

He opens his mouth to say something.

"I'M BACK!" A voice squeals, jolting Elliot slightly.

The small girl skips into the room, swinging her toy with her right arm.

"Did I miss anything?" She asks sweetly, swaying on the spot.

Elliot smiles at Grace with a knowing look.

And although hesitantly but nonetheless, she smiles back.

[a/n: rewritten/edited as of 27/01/17]