Five Years Later - Senior Year

"You have got to be joking with me!" I groaned, looking at the list of who made the winter showcase. Ripping the paper off the wall, I stormed through the hallways all the way to Mrs.Templetons art room.

The school was clearing out since it was the end of the school day and I knew she'd be in there tinkering away at whatever she was currently working on.

Just as I suspected, there she was with a shaping tool between her teeth and her glasses sliding down on her nose as she molded a piece of clay together to form something that looked a lot like a loaf of bread.

"What is this?" I breathed out, slamming the piece of paper on the table next to her.

"It is what you think it is, Elijah. I mean really, did you have to tear it down?" She sighed.

"I can't believe it. You know how important this is to me."

"Which is exactly why you got it." She smiled up at me, taking the tool out of her mouth. Walking over to me, she rested her hands on my cheeks, forcing me to look into her eyes. "You've got a talent for this, kid. You deserve nothing less than the leading expose."

I breathed out, trying my best to hold back the tears coming to my eyes. "There will be art professors from all over coming to see my work. I've been working on something like this my whole high school career–"

"Exactly. You've earned this, Elijah." She dropped her hands and rested them now on my shoulders. She was a lot smaller than me but the way she looked up at me with those big blue eyes and round glasses made me feel like a giant even more.

"Thank you, Mrs.Templeton. For everything."

"Oh, shush." She smiled, waving me off before returning back to her work. "Just remember me when you're rich and famous."

"Will do." I laughed, backing out of the room.

Suddenly, my back crashed into what felt like a wall. I dropped my book bag on the ground which dished out some of my homework papers on the floor.

"Damn, watch where you're going, Loser. You wouldn't want to hurt yourself." Harry laughed. My stomach turned. He's one of the annoying soccer players that think they're so cool at school.

So what? You can kick a ball around the field? Grow up.

"Fuck off, Harry." I spat, bending down to grab my papers. That's when his big fat foot came crashing down on top of my work, stopping me from picking it up.

"What'd you say, Loser?"

I looked up at him through my hair. He smiled down at me waiting for a reaction. This guy has been tormenting me since the beginning of high school and I never quite understood why.

Jealousy maybe? Girls for some reason loved hanging around me but honestly, I think it was because I made them feel safe. Safe from guys like him.

"I said, fuck off—" I stood up bracing myself for a fight before a hand appeared on Harry's chest.

"Come on, man. We're going to be late for practice."

I knew that voice from anywhere. I followed the arm to see my ex-best friend, Tobias. What a joke.

I shook my head. "Coward," I muttered.

"What'd you just call me?"

"You know, Harry. You're pretty hard of hearing." I laughed. "Why don't you do yourself a favor and listen to your little shadow here," I said tilting my head in Tobias' direction. I'd rather not speak to him directly if I could help it. It was already awkward enough knowing all of our history and lack thereof since.

"Let's go, Harry. He's not worth it." Tobias pulled Harry on the arm.

"You're right. He's nothing." Harry smirked, backing away and walking off.

Tobias looked down at his feet and shook his head. "You know, most people just say 'sorry' when they bump into someone else." He connected his eyes with mine which almost made me trip up on my words. I often forget how baby blue his eyes are. On some people such blue piercing eyes could be scary but on him, they look almost the exact opposite. Inviting. They look like home.

I shook my head, bringing me back to the current moment. I couldn't help but smile. He was always too nice for his own good. "And where's the fun in that?" I picked up the rest of my papers and stuffed them into my bag. Looking up I watched as blonde hair and broad shoulders rounded the corner without another word.

I headed out the backdoors of our school, Northbridge Acadamy Private School, to head to my car. Since I had to work at the restaurant today after school, I had to drive my car to school. No complaints though - Love driving my black Mazda 3.

Unfortunately, the back parking lot is exactly across from the back soccer field which meant I had to take an eyeful of the worst people in my school running laps around the track.

Picking up my pace, I dared a look up to see if I could see him. I don't mean to look at him. I really don't. It just...happens.

As though I had laser focus, I was able to spot him in a millisecond and it was as though he was able to spot me too. Was he looking for me? His baby blue jersey hugged tightly around his biceps and chest. I could make out every ridge of his body even from how far back I was.

He wasn't making it any less subtle that he was staring at me too. His breathing looked scattered as his lips slightly open with every step. I gulped at the sight.

Shit, fuck. I wish I didn't care. I walked quicker. I could spot my car now which was good. The faster I could get in my car, the faster I didn't feel the need to stare.

I looked over one more time to see him. Unfortunately, he was clearly pulled over by his Dad, the coach of the team. Ex-police officer was now head of the high school soccer team. Joy.

I hated his Dad. Growing up, Mr.Voss was always a total dickhead. Smiling to your face while knowing he talks shit behind your back, kind of guy. The worst part was I never felt like he treated Tobias that well. He was always whispering to him and it never looked like he was saying nice things. Whatever, what do I know?

I watched as his Dad gripped the back of Tobias's neck, pulling him in to tell him something. The gesture looked rough and I couldn't help but feel as though his Dad was staring straight at me as he did it.

Did he catch Tobias looking at me? Did he hate me for some reason? What did I ever do?

Tobias looked down at his feet, his blonde hair hanging in front of his eyes. His Dad looks a lot like him. But bigger, with broader shoulders, and shorter blonde hair. They look so much alike but hold no similar qualities. Good riddance.

I finally reached my car and slipped in, dropping my book bag on the seat beside me.

Breathing out, I try to rid lingering thoughts of Tobias from my mind. Off to work, I go.

☀️☀️☀️

"Lil, Eli is in the house!" Our top baker, Yari, calls out to me as I walk through the door. I can't help but laugh as he makes a ridiculous dance up on the spot.

"Woah, we're busy in here!" I take a look around taking a look at all the full tables of smiling, laughing families and people of all age groups filling the dining room. The restaurant over the years has only gotten bigger. After the growing success of the restaurant, the past owners Bill and Stacy couldn't handle the growth in their old age and decided to leave the bar to my Dad.

My Dad has done wonders with the place since taking it over. He morphed this place from a small hole in the wall to a 5-star Italian restaurant that specializes in stone-oven pizzas. It's incredible.

"Thanks to you! Your video you posted about our specials on Fridays just hit 50K views on TikTok!" Dad called out to me as I made my way through the back kitchen. He was taking what looked like to be a margarita pizza out of the stone oven. My mouth watered thinking about how good it probably will taste.

"You make it easy to hit those views when you keep making pizzas like that." I smiled, nodding to his creation.

He smiled back, walking over to me and giving me a quick side hug and a loud kiss on the cheek.

"Couldn't do it without you kid. Now, grab a slice of pizza from the side station and a bottle of water. Go change and you're taking the next table that walks in." He grabbed the small kitchen towel that was resting on his shoulder, twisted it up, and smacked my butt hard.

"Ouch! Dammit, Dad!" I laughed, following his orders.

"Move! Move! We've got mouths to feed." He laughed back.

The rest of the night went flawlessly. My tables tipped me so well, that I could afford to buy that new lens for my camera that I've been wanting.

Dad rounded the corner and leaned on a ledge to peer at the dining room. The night was dining down and it looked to be almost 12am.

"It's almost closing time. Do you want to close up shop or do you want Claire to?" Dad said looking at his watch.

I scanned the dining room. There was only one table left which was mine. "I'll stay on. I've had a good night, might as well keep the good energy flowing."

Dad smirked, firmly grasping my shoulder. "That's my boy." He walked away back into the kitchen.

I walked away to go and sit with Claire who was sitting, rolling cutlery at one of our booths.

"Claire, you're all done for the night." I smiled, sitting in the booth with her.

"Seriously? Yay! It's still early enough for me to meet up with Tommy." She shimmied. She was a cute girl. My age, blonde with big boobs. You know the type.

"I have no clue why you waste your time with us Private School boys. One of the soccer guys, to say the least. Don't you want better?"

She laughed, hitting me with one of the napkins in her hand before rolling cutlery into it. "It's not their fault you hate them." She rolled her eyes.

"Yes, it is. They're obnoxious and egotistical. They think because they're good at sports they can be mean to everyone else. It's pathetic." I said shaking my head.

"Sure. And you don't think there's not the same type of guys involved in art and drama?" She squinted. "Hell, I've even met jerk science geeks. You guys come in all shapes and sizes, I'm afraid." She shook her head.

I rolled my eyes. "I guess so..."

"You just have to find the diamond in the ruff. There's always a couple, unlike the others." She smiled.

I bit my lip and looked down at my hands. "I highly doubt that," I muttered.

"You may be surprised." She gripped my forearm, bringing my attention back to her. She was so sweet.

That's when the bell to the restaurant rang and loud voices swam through the doors.

"Oh, look! Speak of the devil." Claire smiled, jumping up from her seat. "Tommy, hey! I'm all done." She giggled, prancing over to one of the soccer guys.

My jaw tightened as I looked up and locked eyes with him.

He's here.

☀️

Authors Note:

Tobias gives me the stomach flips. Why does he remind me of an older Nick from Heartstopper?  And if you don't know who that is - GO WATCH THAT SHOW RIGHT NOW OMG.