"I didn't expect you to be here Finn."
"Well, I wanted to check on you but my longing for Rachel beats it more." a squeal coming from Rachel's lips as she came from the door, Elliot and Finn have been having the same conversation about politics and literature.
"I wasn't expecting Elliot to be here too Lily," she said sauntering over to the kitchen.
"I just happened to meet him right Elliot?" nodding his head Rachel shoving my shoulders helping out with dinner.
"So are you and Elliot a thing now?"
"What? No, Rae. He's just a friend." she hummed resting her head on my shoulder as I tend to the dishes asking her to prepare some plates.
"Well, friends don't just look at each other the way he looks at you."
"I could say the same with Finn hmm? Are you two dating now?" she chocked and cleared her throat before setting the plates down, the people on the couch don't seem to be paying attention.
"Finn and I are just getting there I guess," she answered voice breathy. As she turned away calling the boys over to the table.
Knocking on the glass door checking if Finn is busy, before going inside.
"You have Ross from graphics on line two Finn, also Tyler the author you asked is coming in at lunch. Do you want me to get a table somewhere?" he shook his head looking at the window outside, tapping my pen on the class table pulling him back to reality.
"Phone some take away, free up my schedule for this afternoon too." placing my planner on his desk shutting the blinds as I walk over to his seat, eyes trailing to his scrunched up forehead.
"Finneas," I said rubbing his shoulder until he looks at me. "What's up?" he sighed and just waved me away, eyes full of doubt and concern.
"Lily not now," snatching my hand from his shoulder and holding it tightly "Some other time okay? I promise." picking up the phone immediately getting absorbed with Ross from graphics, for a moment in that space right there staring in his eyes I was reminded of something I read not long ago.
Nathaniel Hawthorne once said: 'Time flies over us, but leaves it's shadow behind.'
"Finn, James Tyler is here."
"Send him inside." The dry air from his office practically punching out the oxygen from my body, ushering the author inside Finn's office leaving them to do business. A small chime from my phone giving a small escape from the dryness in the office, reminded of the state Finn is in currently in. Freeing up his schedule for the afternoon sitting on the couch as he let muffled groans be silence through the pillows.
"Finn, is this about Rachel?" his head shot up from the constraints of the cushion looking over his shoulder to face me, sitting up straight punching the cushion to find some kind of relief.
"You know, if you don't want to talk about it. You can just write it." he scoffed at the suggestion, this wasn't the 1920's where people have wider sets of imagination to understand vivid description and symbolism.
"Lily, I'm not that type of man. Maybe Elliot is," he sighed, "But not me." he leaned against the couch waiting for the hands of time to tell him to head home.
"Why don't you talk to her instead?" a flash of worry crept on to his eyes as I stood up, he managed to get up from the couch without falling whatsoever.
"Lily, that's just too much."
"You have the afternoon free, go." handing him his jacket and pushing him out the doors of his office, the clicking of my heels against wood flooring, the soft sounds of keyboards typing and phones ringing. Slapping his back hard as I can before smiling at him.
It doesn't answer why I'm here. Faint smell of alcohol taint the air, the waft of tobacco and cheap cigarettes along with smiles and erupting laughter. The smooth Jazz playing in the background as the wolf whistles begin to roar.
"Where's your friend Lily?"
"He's got a problem." the bar tender eyeing me urging me to tell him the deal, downing the shot he gave about ten minutes ago.
"Girl problem chief, he's in love and he doesn't want to admit it." the trumpet was loud but it was also soft, it grazed my ears but I don't mind right now. After a couple more shots his green orbs were tantalizing even from afar.
"Whoa there sweetheart, I think you have had enough." taking the glass from my hand helping me sit straight, he kept his hands on the counter preventing me from falling but trapping me against his chest.
"How many did she down?" he asked his hand gripping the counter harder, letting my fingers skim the expanse of exposed skin from his rolled up sleeve giggling at how he almost let go of the edge.
"Okay, time to go."
"Eli, not now." his eyes wide as he helped me stand, bracing myself against his arms. The flashing lights and faint breeze hitting my face, occurring to me every little action he does. From the sticky leather seats of the cab to the soft linen sheets of the bed, leaving a glass of water on the bed stand. The scent of chalk and strong cologne lingering continuously.
"Care to tell me why you decided to drink tonight?" a soft giggle leaving my lips as he took off my shoes, a scoff leaving his lips as he sits on the bed. His hand running through my hair freeing it from the tight band, brushing through leaning into his touch.
"No particular reason I think," I said sighing. "I just thought it was a good place to stay."
"A place to stay?" humming against the pillow as he rummaged through his drawers, tossing spare clothes. It didn't take a while for me to change and he comes back with a mug filled with coffee.
"I'm letting Finn stay over, he has problem to solve on his own." tucking me to bed leaving the hallway lights on, pressing a kiss too long on my forehead before he leaves. The selenic music echoing the house, wafting away from the sound into utter silence. The heat from the room and from the clothing I'm in was too much to bear, opening the window dragging a pillow as I look out. The lights from the buildings make a great view, symphonies of sirens, horns and loud voice string around. The sound of chalk and foot steps were echoing at the halls, letting the loose sweat pants fall from my waist. Pulling the duvet over my shoulders walking out the bedroom, there he was all entranced by his new work. The mug on the table once again empty along with balls of paper and dust from chalk.
"Eli?" his head looked back to meet my own eyes, threading to where I was leaning on the wall.
"Lilian, what are you doing?" shrugging my shoulders looking at the board behind him.
"What are you doing?"
"It's work Lily, get back inside." sauntering over the room to the board, the light strokes of chalk even in different colors was intricately placed to make this piece. His fingers skimming up their way against my bare arms, shivering under his touch as he placed butterfly kisses on my shoulder.
"Get back inside Lily." turning to face him as I let my own fingers ghost over his arms, a heavy breath of sigh leaving his lips as he pressed his forehead to mine.
"Come to bed Eli." looking down as I trace patterns against his arms, gently biting on my lower lip as his thumb brushed over to free it.
"If you bite your lip one more time, I'm going to do it for you." his hand lightly caressing my cheeks as I lean into it, a small hum of agreement leaving my lips. Hands tangling in his auburn hair, carrying me back to the soft plush bed under smooth white sheets and the pale moonlight.