"Thank you for driving me home. You really didn't have to." 

I glanced at Elijah after I pulled into a parking spot next to where I spotted his car.

His friend was going to be fine. The doctors had told us that Hayse would be okay an hour after we had gotten there. Family only could see him, so the rest of us had left. Yet despite the good news, I still wasn't sure where Elijah was, mentally. He had been quiet the entire ride home until now, and the silence had been unnerving.

"You don't have to thank me." I turned off the engine. "Are you doing okay?"

Elijah's eyes remained trained out the window for a second, his elbow propped up on the edge, and his mouth resting on his hand before he turned to me.

"Yeah. Just thankful that he is okay." 

I wasn't so sure that the first part was completely true, but decided not to push it.

"I am glad that he is okay, too."

I glanced at my phone, checking the time, and seeing that it was nearly four in the morning. A yawn escaped me, my eyes lowering as if the exhaustion had waited to hit until I noticed the time.

"Do you want to come in? I don't mind if you crashed here."

I waved my hand in the air, dismissing his concerns. "I will be okay, my apartment isn't that far from here."

His hand left the door handle and he shook his head. "I would feel better if you stayed. You are tired, and shouldn't drive home if you can barely keep your eyes open." 

 A serious expression coated his face, and I realized that if I drove home, he would probably stay up until I texted him, instead of getting the proper sleep that he needed.

"Okay, I will stay for a quick nap," I said, picking up my keys with a yawn. Elijah sent me a radiant smile and got out of the car. I did the same, following behind him. When we made it to the stairs, Elijah paused, his mouth curving downward.

"I forgot that they haven't fixed the elevator yet."

I nodded understanding why it was an issue. With my injury, I would make it up the stairs at a snail's pace, but it was the only option.

"Do try to keep up," I joked, stepping onto the first step, and immediately grimacing. Would it be too weird to crawl up the stairs?

"It is obvious that you aren't going to be able to walk up the stairs, Love."

"Should we go back to my apartment then? The elevator is working." It took two seconds for me to realize that I had assumed that he would come with me before I spoke again. "Well, I can go back to my apartment," I corrected.

He frowned. "You are not going back to your apartment. I can carry you up."

"You are not carrying me up, Elijah. I really don't mind going back to my place."

 His eyes shot my words down. "You are not going all the way to your apartment. Plus you drove my car here." Realization crashed down on me, and I sighed. "So, since I don't think I can watch you walk up these stairs in pain, the only option is for you to climb up on my back."

I bit my lip, weighing my options. I really didn't have more than one. Especially since it was his car that I drove.

"Do you think that you can carry me?" I asked. "I mean I am sure you are in enough shape, but I don't want to be too heavy," I added, realizing it probably sounded like I was insulting his strength, even though that was the last thing anyone could do.

"Love, you are like this big," he said, holding his hand slightly above his waist, obviously exaggerating. 

"No, I'm not."

"Could have fooled me."

 With a grin, he turned so his back was facing me, and it only took a moment's thought before I wrapped my arms around his neck. He tucked his hands under my thighs, securing me as he stood.

"Comfortable?"

I nodded, before realizing he couldn't see me when he still didn't move.

"Yes," I whispered, holding on tighter.

As if satisfied with my answer, he started up the stairs. I stayed in the half unaware state for the whole flight up, and he didn't put me down until we stopped at a door, so that he could pull out his keys.

When he finally unlocked it, I stepped in behind him, taking in the space before me. It was surprisingly well kept, but still had the visible signs of two guys living there. There was a hoodie placed on the back of the couch, and a duffel bag that was on the floor. 

Water jugs sat on the table and the apartment desperately needed a little decor. Elijah walked in and picked up a sock that had been lying haphazardly on the floor.

"Sorry about the mess, Cole and I didn't have time to clean up," he said almost embarrassedly.

I glanced around not knowing what he was talking about. The place was extremely tidy.

"It's okay, I don't consider this a mess. You should see the apartment when Skylar is trying to get ready," I said with a small laugh. He smiled, probably knowing exactly what I meant.

"Oh it is usually messy, but we picked up a bit earlier. A close friend is back in town and she came over earlier." I raised an eyebrow.

Oh.

From his words, I couldn't tell if the girl was close to him or cole, and with that being said, more than a friend to either one of them. I took a breath as my mind worked, my eyes seeking out what looked to be a lamp designed as a wishing well.

It would have been intriguing if it hadn't reminded me of all the pretty pennies I had wasted on wishing for a better future. An intact memory.

"Will it be a hassle for me to stay then?" I kept my voice even and my eyes on the lamp, feigning interest by leaning in and raising two fingers to hover over the antique.

"My mom got that for me when I first moved in." I glanced at Elijah as he chuckled, his eyes trained on the lamp. "She told me it was to remind me to stay hopeful, but cole just uses it as a swear jar." Even though his voice was light, there was a heaviness to his words that caused my chest to squeeze. Knowing his story, I understood why his mom had given it to him.

With a sharp breath, he shook his head slightly, before running a hand through his tousled locks.I sent him a small smile that he returned before stepping toward me.

"It's no hassle, Rowan. She's Cole's girl, not mine."

Disoriented by the change in the topic I just blinked at his words, the realization that he was addressing my previous question dawning a moment later. 

So that was settled. 

I hadn't known I'd been holding my breath until then. I swallowed with a nod, taking in his gaze and getting the feeling that I hadn't been as discreet about the reason behind my concern as I'd tried to be. 

"Oh. Okay then."

Elijah continued to watch me for a moment, not saying anything. His eyes ran over my face before dipping. It was when his mouth curved into a gentle smile that I had to break the lingering silence. I couldn't think straight with him watching me like that.

"Is everything okay?"

Although he nodded once, the expression in his eyes remained unchanged, even when he glanced at the ground before taking a step forward. "Do you want anything to drink?" He asked a second later, walking towards the kitchen. 

Even though I felt as if he hadn't honestly answered my question, I didn't press him about it more. Instead, I succumbed to the yawn that crawled up my throat, rubbing my eyes in sudden exhaustion. "No, I'm okay. What I need is to sleep."

At my words Elijah stopped in his tracks, whirling around and glancing at me apologetically.

"Right," he said, walking towards a closed door that he opened and disappeared into. Too tired to question anything I just eyed the couch in the living room, before placing my bag down beside it. I'd just prepared to crash onto it when Elijah spoke from behind me. "Are you coming?"

I lifted my head just as quickly as it had hit the cushion, seeing amusement flash across his face. He strode, stopping just in front of the couch.

"Come on." He bent down, picking my bag off the floor. "You're not sleeping on the couch."

"I don't mind," I whispered, laying my head back down on the cool leather and shutting my eyes. 

"Well, I do. I was raised better than to let a woman sleep on the couch while I am in my bed. And since the couch isn't at all comfortable it only makes sense that you come with me." My eyes remained closed, but I felt him move closer. "Besides, we slept together at your house, so it is fine."

My cheeks heated at the term, even though I knew that we had done nothing scandalous.

"Oh okay," I said, too tired to argue. I didn't move though, also too exhausted to move, and I heard him chuckle before I was swept up into his arms. I gasped, my hand flying around his neck. "I can walk you know."

"You are hurt," he said, his pace not faltering. 

"I can still walk, though."

"Well, then you were talking too long to get up." Too tired to respond, I just shook my head.

When he reached his room, he pulled open a drawer, pulling out a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. He did this all with me still in his arms, and I held on tighter, wondering why he hadn't just put me down. It would have been so much easier. When he finally did though, I immediately wished he hadn't.

"You can sleep in this," he said, handing the clothes to me.

I accepted them gratefully, glad to get out of the clothes I was wearing. They reeked of the chemical smell that coated all hospitals.

"Thank you."

He just nodded, his gaze lingering on me before he pointed towards his door. The bathroom is this way." I followed him wordlessly, trying to clear my thoughts and get a grasp on my emotions. When he stopped in front of a door, he stood there for a moment more, before tapping the wall. "You can change here." When he finally stepped out and closed it, only then did I let out the breath I was holding.

I glanced in the mirror, thankful that I didn't look like a complete wreck as I unfolded the clothes he had given me. It was clear on pulling them on that they were about three sizes too big on me. I laughed, at the way they billowed around me as if I was a child.

I rolled the sweatpants up at the waist, but it didn't do much to compact the fact that they covered my feet. Giving up, I left the bathroom, making my way back to Elijah's room and pausing as soon as I did. 

"Do those work?" He asked, when he spotted me, continuing to pull his shirt the rest of the way off. I swallowed, jerking my gaze away from his defined torso. When I looked at him again he lifted his head, his gaze swept over me from head to toe.

"I know. I look like a dwarf drowning in clothing."

"I think you look good."

"There is absolutely no way that is the truth," I laughed, holding out my hands, and showing that even the sleeves of his shirt were longer than my arms. "I didn't think I was that small."

He grinned, walking over to me, and grabbing my hand. "I told you so," he added in amusement, grabbing my hand. He did it as if not thinking about it. As if it was second nature. Elijah started walking, releasing hold of me, and getting in on one side of the bed. "You coming?"

"Oh," I said, realizing that I had just been standing there as he watched me. "Yes." I hurried over, getting in on the other side, and taking a deep breath to calm myself. I closed my eyes, noting that the pillow smelled like him, and not minding a single bit.

"Are you comfortable?"

"Yes, I am." I glanced his way. "Thank you for letting me stay.

"You don't have to thank me. My door is always open to you."

I bit my lip, hiding my smile. We both didn't say anything after that. I wasn't sure why he didn't but I knew that I would have been unable to form a complete sentence with the thoughts roaming in my head. All of them having to do with the person beside me.

Eventually, my thoughts died down as I let the serene calmness overtake me. It wasn't long until my eyes were too heavy for me to hold open, a smile fitting my lips as I fell victim to the sirenic call of sleep.