© 2017 Shay Spencer. All rights reserved.

The Distance Theory

Chapter 2

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In the past, I hadn't minded stirring up old feelings. They would come along with a forgotten photo or the mention of someone from long ago, and back then, I didn't think much of it. The feeling would rush over me and be gone as quickly as it had come; because the worst pain I had ever felt was not being able to know my mother. I was never entirely sure how to decipher that pain as it was, so I hadn't thought much of it.

But today, as I was driving home from Berkeley, the pain of all I had lost was practically as debilitating as it was the day Chase had left.

When I had decided to move on, to move to LA with Lewis, I thought I had gotten through the pain of losing him. I thought I had made my peace with the matter, and it wasn't like his previous e-mails had this sort of affect on me. There was just something about the mention that he had wanted me there beside him that left a cloud of guilt over me.

I couldn't stop my mind from running over the many possibilities that this one letter had left me without. The thought of how different my life could be at the moment stung unlike anything else I had felt over the last two months. Chase had asked me to move to Australia with him, and I couldn't forget that. I had wanted to be with Chase for as long as I could remember, and his letter had offered me everything that I had ever wanted.

But as much as I liked to entertain the idea, I couldn't ignore the facts.

I was in Los Angeles now, without Chase or Alan, and I loved it. I loved living with Lewis and not having a care in the world. I loved my internship and the opportunities that came along with living in the creative hub of the west coast. For once in my life, I didn't want to be the girl that I had left behind in Berkeley; the one that whined about not being able to be with her best friend. I wanted to be the new me that had come along with loving and losing Chase and Alan those two months ago.

So as I pulled into one of the last spots left in the parking lot outside of university housing, I left myself with that one good feeling. I would get over the pain that the letter had brought me just as I was still getting over the pain of losing him. Everything would be fine, and I knew I could get through it.

Pushing the mail into my bag and grabbing my keys, I got out the car. The long drive had my legs feeling stiff and yet jelly-like all at the same time. The long walk back to our section of housing sounded less than needed after the day I'd had, but I knew it would be worth it the second I walked through those doors.

I frowned as I turned the corner to our section of housing, letting my ringtone fill the quiet void that loomed around me with the absence of just about everyone outside in this housing section. I pulled my phone out of my pocket, taking note of the unknown number and the area code that didn't match anything I'd seen in California before. The thing that ripped my concentration from my phone being the laughter coming from inside Lewis' and my own house.

Walking inside, I felt a whole new rush of emotions that I hadn't felt ever in my life.

"Oh, hi," he greeted, slinging his damp white shirt over his shoulder. The strange man looked to be around my age, but it wasn't like I'd seen him around before. "You two really need to get the AC fixed. It's hot as hell in here."

"Yeah. We called someone about it last week," I played along. He pulled another box into his arms, standing up a bit straighter as he readjusted his hold on the object. "The guy can't be over until Monday. Sorry for the inconvenience."

"It's fine," he smiled awkwardly. He didn't seem to be a stranger to having his shirt off, but now that I was around, he almost looked uncomfortable. The sweat was trickling down his body and his chocolate brown hair was falling into his face at a rapid rate. "But you're probably worse off. A ten hour drive and coming home to this place is nothing to mess with. I'll get out of your way."

"Thanks?" I offered as I crossed my arms over my chest. "Who are you?"

He chuckled at my comment, "I'm Eli Devon. Elijah, if you want to call me that. Lewis asked me to move in? I thought he told you."

"He didn't." I narrowed my eyes in on the many boxes that now littered the free space Lewis and I had cleared in the living room. This was an inconvenience if I'd ever seen one.

"Oh," Eli spoke quietly, setting the box down beside himself once more. "I didn't mean to be the bearer of bad news or anything. I just needed a place to stay and Lewis offered again-"

"Again?" I cut him off. "How long have you two known each other?"

"A while..." Eli faded off without much effort.

"Bree," Lewis interrupted as he came skating around the corner into the living room. "Can I talk to you outside for a second?"

"Oh by all means, let's having it out here in front of Eli," I countered with a snide smile in his direction. "When did Lewis ask you to move in, Eli?"

Eli cleared his throat, averting his gaze from me, "last week."

"I must have missed that over our weekly house meeting," I chided.

"Bree-" Lewis tried again.

"No! I don't even know him," I paused, turning my attention to Eli. "I don't even know you. I really don't know what to make of you moving in here."

"I won't be any trouble," he reasoned. Eli pulled his shirt back off his shoulder and over his head once more in an attempt to prove this to me. "I'm just taking the extra room. I won't make any noise, I won't mess with whatever schedule you and Lewis already have going. I really just need a place to crash."

"So find a couch in someone else's apartment," I hissed. Shaking my head at myself, I turned back towards the door. "Sorry. I need a minute."

I walked out, not caring that I could hear Lewis trailing after me. He was the person I should be angry with. Eli had nothing to do with this, despite the fact that him moving in without my knowledge was what had me so angry.

"I'm sorry," Lewis sputtered as he shut the door being us. "He's not like a serial killer or anything, if that makes it any better."

"How would you know? You just met the guy 'a while ago' from the sounds of it," I mocked.

"Please," Lewis scoffed. "He's no stranger. I met him when I first came to find an apartment. We were supposed to move in together before it fell through. Then I asked you to move with me and he just happened to lose his place. We've got an extra room, Bree."

"So let's make it a damn media room," I laughed. "Let's turn it into whatever room your weird little brain tells you you've always wanted. But let's not invite some stranger to live with us."

"He's not a stranger," Lewis repeated. "And he's moving in. We can't stop it now."

"So you're doing all of this without worrying what I think?"

"Yes," Lewis nodded surely. "It's not like we can throw him back out on the street. He's got no where else to go, and we can barely cover the rent here as it is. This is a good thing."

"For you maybe," I rolled my eyes at him. Out of all the things Lewis had done in the past, this one had to have made the top of the list for things that I should have seen coming. He had acted so weird when I was on the phone with him earlier, and I knew he had been up to something. I just never would have thought it would be moving some guy into our house.

"Look, I know you've got a thing for roommates and all, but this could work," he started up again. "We need him, and he needs us. I don't see a problem with this arrangement other than the fact that you're upset I didn't tell you first."

"Chase was my best friend before we were roommates," I corrected him.

"So I should be on guard?"

"No!" I spat back before I slapped his shoulder. "I just don't want you blaming me if this thing goes south."

"So you're on board?" Lewis grinned happily back me.

I closed my eyes and let everything sink in. After the day I'd had, I didn't want anything more than to just head inside and go to sleep. It seemed as if the only way I would be able to do that was if I let Lewis win this one.

But I wouldn't let him hear the end of it.

"It's not like I have a choice." Lewis basically squealed before he roughly dragged me back inside, presenting me to a once again shirtless Eli.

I took a few steps forward, holding out my hand to him just before he picked up another one of his boxes.

"I'm Bree, by the way," I introduced. "Bree Hendly. Welcome to our block of campus housing."

"Thank you," he nodded, ignoring my offer of a handshake. He picked up his box, turning and walking down the hallway without giving me another glance. I couldn't shake the feeling that he now hated me for throwing such a fit over his moving in. I half regretted it all together. But it wasn't like I could change things now.

If he hated me, he would just have to deal with it. Just like I would now have to deal with having another guy roommate.

"I'm going to my room," I announced, turning my attention back to Lewis. "Don't wait up. I'll probably be asleep within the hour."

"Sounds good," Lewis gave me a gentle smile. "I'm really happy you're back, Bree."

"Me too, Lewis," I nodded before making my way down the hallway and into my room.

Shutting the door behind me, I leaned back against it, taking in a deep breath in an attempt to wrap my head around all that had happened in such a short span of time. I couldn't change anything that had happened, but I knew I could live with yet another new guy.

I'd made it work in the past, hadn't I?

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Very short in comparison to the last chapter - but I think it works? What do you guys think of Eli??

I hope everyone liked the chapter!

Remember to vote and comment with your thoughts guys! It would mean a lot ❤️

The next chapter will be posted on Monday - August 7th!