"All good?”

Now they were out of the bathroom, walking towards the cafeteria after splashing water on their faces and getting a peppermint candy. He wasn't proud, but they had lost a lot of time between waking up, talking to Bianca, driving to school and... going to the bathroom. His throat was still dry and his lips swollen, his knees ached, and a phantom sensation lingered in Luca’s scalp where Elijah had pulled tight. However, he couldn't control that nice feeling at the bottom of his stomach, content and satisfied by what he was seeing. Elijah, instead of holding his hand, clutched his waist, all possessive, staring down at anyone who looked at him for longer than three seconds. Luca had missed that too. And that made him a terrible person.

“Luca.”

“Hm?” He replied when Elijah stopped in the middle of the hall, touching his face and making him look at him.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want that to happen. It doesn't have to change anything between us.”

So that was it. Elijah was really afraid he was going to run off to Italy like he did before.

“Eli, I wanted to.”

To prove that everything was fine, he stood on his tiptoes, wrapped his arms around Elijah's neck and brought their lips together, letting his eyes close for a moment. Elijah immediately wrapped his arms around his waist and kissed back, all intense, nibbling his lips and tangling their tongues together, stealing his breath.

Luca heard a clearing of a throat and a whistle, but he didn't care, it was too late to worry about what people would say. Right now he needed to calm Elijah down and let him know that everything was fine. Then, he released his lips and remained in Elijah's arms, taking his hands to his friend's hair, trying to comfort him.

"Relax, all right? I was enjoying the moment.”

"Enjoying?” Elijah repeated, frowning, maybe squeezing him even tighter.

"I liked it.” He shrugged, trying not to laugh or blush, as the crease in Elijah's face deepened. "What's wrong with that?"

“If you like it that much, you didn't have to run away so far.”

Luca almost rolled his eyes, he knew how jealous Elijah could be and he knew how jealous he himself could be back. It's always been like this, the reason that really scared him and forced him to run away, showing him feelings he couldn't handle. He knew exactly what would happen if he came back, and here was the proof, the possessiveness personified. He knew he shouldn't, but he'd missed that too much.

“Eli.” Was all he’d said for a few moments and Elijah ducked his head slightly, seeming to realize what he was doing. "I'm here now, aren't I? I promise it's everything I learned in Italy.”

It was a lie, of course. Even though he was technically still a virgin.

"Really?” But that was enough for Elijah to lose his murderous expression and his face softened into a sweet, if slightly suspicious look. A little nice kiss followed, a brush of lips soft and wet, hands sliding around the back of his neck in an affectionate caress. "I promise it won't happen again."

“Don't promise what you can't deliver." Luca said when finally the butterflies in his stomach calmed down and he added: "I don't care if it happens again.”

"Sorry.” Elijah said in his usual tone, seeming back to normal.

Elijah shrugged and finally took a step back, looking at Luca with a bright smile, only to lift one of his hands and smooth Luca's hair back, Elijah's hands sliding to Luca's neck, and only then did Luca realize that Elijah was massaging the side of his neck, because the area throbbed slightly.

"Hickey?"

Another thing that didn't surprise him. Like, how could he not be? It wasn't the first time this had happened.

"Are you a dog?” Luca grumbled, not really caring, the rest of his body wasn't much better. And how could he have the right to complain when he could see a hickey high up on Elijah's chest where the shirt didn't hide the skin? Luca just couldn't remember when it had happened.

"Sorry.” Elijah said once more, his smile widening.

Yeah, looks like nothing had changed.

"Do you want to eat something?”

Why not? He let Elijah take his waist again and they both walked towards the canteen. Elijah ordered for them, a juice, a milkshake and a piece of pie without asking for permission. 

Bianca would've raged instantly if she saw how Elijah hadn't even let him speak, like he didn't have the ability to decide for himself a simple snack. The truth is, he would hardly have noticed this behavior if his ex hadn't done the same to him months ago. He had been offended at the time, finally starting to understand the problem, seeing what his order friends used to say about Elijah. And now, watching Elijah take the order and bring it to the table they sat... it was still hard to care when it came to Elijah.

Apparently, a blindness came over him when he saw those green eyes and puppy smile.

"Aren't you hungry? Want something else?”

"No, thanks.”

Luca took his first bite and moaned, feeling so happy to be able to taste the same flavor, even if his happiness had another reason. Was this happiness so intense just because Elijah had made this gesture for him? Or was it because it reminded him of simpler times?

“Eat slowly.”

"Yes, daddy. I'll eat it up nice and easy.”

Elijah didn't look the least bit impressed by the joke. He grimaced and took the napkin, wiping the corner of Luca's mouth, saying, “Please.”

And Luca? He just smiled and continued eating contentedly, happy to know that nothing had changed; the care and concern still evident, only now sex had become part of their relationship, finally filling in what was missing.

"Thanks.” Luca said without thinking, watching Elijah throw away his napkin. “I never said how grateful I am.”

“I don't want your gratitude.” Elijah then glared at him, trying hard not to get all serious and spoil the happy mood. But he couldn't fool Luca.

"I know. I wanted you to know.”

"Then, what?”

“This, between us, has nothing to do with gratitude. But I’m grateful.”

Luca wanted to say more, wanted to say that he never wanted to hurt Elijah and that he would never leave him again. Instead, Luca took Elijah's hand and smiled at him. Immediately, the surrounding environment became light again and the world around them stopped spinning, in the midst of all that chaos creating a little place just for the two of them.