"Thank you for coming.” Elijah Roberts opened the door and let her in.

Cora was immediately taken back, they weren't the best of friends and never would be. She couldn't explain it, Elijah usually had an aura of someone who would step on anyone to get what he wanted… or rather, Elijah was one of the most intimidating people she had ever met. Cora knew Elijah used his height and strength to stand out, but it was more than that. Sincerely? She never thought she'd be invited to attend the ‘popular parties”, much less by the skinny, nerdy little boy who sat every class next to the psychopathic basketball captain. What embarrassed her the most was how overnight Elijah's attitude had changed, from the bully to politely respectful.

That’s why at this moment Cora was standing in front of Elijah Roberts's door, hesitating to take the next step inside. You never knew what might be inside a psychopath's house. But finally, when it looked like none of them would give up, Elijah held out his hand. However, he only took the platter of sandwiches and snacks from her hands when she offered it to him first.

“That's a lot.” he said, obviously trying hard to sound friendly.

"It’s nothing.” Actually, It wasn't, they had ordered it the day before. Maybe her mother over did it.

The truth is, she wasn't sure what to bring. All Luca had said was for her to bring something and show up by noon. Usually she would stay well away from those kinds of people, but Daylla had asked her to spy, so here she was, trying to be civil to the wildest person she'd ever met.

"Come in.” Was all he said before Elijah turned and walked down the long hallway into the house.

She followed, surprised by the size of the living room. There was a large buffet table where Elijah had set out the snacks, long comfy sofas, beanbags, a movie screen, and so much food she thought was impossible to eat, not to mention the tasteful furniture, the pastel decor, and a wonderful view of a well-tended garden and an Olympic sized swimming pool.

“Make yourself comfortable.” Without waiting, Elijah disappeared up the stairs and into another hallway.

“He's just like that. You get used to it.”

Distracted, Cora jumped up scared to death, and looked toward the couch. It was Oliver! Finally someone decent in this place.

"What's going on here? Where are the people at this party?”

"Party? It's more like a sleepover night.”

"Sleepover?"

“Elijah and Luca don't like making it a fuss.”

“Hm?” She didn't understand anything.

“We get together to eat something and watch a movie. Sometimes we play something.”

"Is that what you rich people do?"

"No, but Elijah and Luca like it that way."

"'Elijah and Luca?"

Are they an entity by any chance? A unique being?

That made Oliver laugh. Sitting on the sofa, the boy held his stomach and threw his head back.

"You're more right than you think! I like you, I think you'll fit in very well with us.”

“Us? Who exactly? I don’t see anyone.”

"Guys, we've got company!" Oliver put a hand over his mouth and yelled, creating an echo through the room. Miraculously, people began to come from all directions, down the stairs, and from every hallway or closed door.

“Cora, it's good to see you. How's the fencing going?

Helena was the first to approach. She had been his partner for years before she had to focus on school and cheerleading. Beckendorf was behind her, all serious and quiet. What Cora didn't expect to find was Ben and Lily, Leo too. Not that it was surprising, they were all popular in their own way. She just didn't understand why Daylla wasn't among them; she looked like someone who would fit right in.

"What brings you to our humble place?" Ben asked charmingly, strutting over to sit beside her. "I never thought I'd see you here."

“Luca invited me, so I came.” She shrugged. Maybe she was just curious to know how these people lived.

"Don't worry, soon you’ll be bored. You will see.”

As if on cue, Elijah and Luca walked down the stairs, hand in hand and saying something so low that it would be impossible to hear from that distance. However, as soon as Luca saw her presence, he came to her and hugged her tight, saying, “I'm glad you came. Are you hungry?”

"Maybe later.”

"Right." Luca smiled at her, holding her hands quickly and got up going towards Elijah who had been watching everything with his arms crossed and with the most threatening expression she had ever seen. That is, all of that happened before Luca turned back to Elijah, because in the next instant, Elijah smiled, showing white teeth and pretty dimples, with so much love in his eyes and offering only kindness and happiness to Luca, that Cora thought Elijah was two different people.

She had been there for five minutes and already thought it was social suicide to try to do anything to disrupt what was going on between the boys. And with each passing moment, she was more surprised. He saw in slow motion Elijah receive Luca in his arms and squeeze him very hard and then kiss Luca's forehead, while Luca just smiled contentedly, practically swallowed by Elijah's body. She had never seen such a brotherly gesture turn so sexual and possessive in mere seconds.

"This is normal? Luca need’s help?” she whispered to Oliver and Ben who were beside her.

"Do you think he does?"

It was a good question. Almost disappearing behind Elijah, she saw Luca drag Elijah into the middle of the room and sit between the puffs, in front of a coffee table. Soon someone brought some plates of food close to them and everyone started to eat, even if the plates were closest to Luca. That is, almost everyone started to eat, Elijah just watched the events unfold, seeming to survey what was happening around him with a satisfied look watching Luca eat with enthusiasm.

“Want more?” Elijah asked Luca. And without waiting for an answer, he returned with a tray full of mini pizzas. “Your favorite.”

“Thank you, Eli.” Luca smiled sweetly and his voice sounded even more loving, oozing honey, sugar and everything good in the world.

"I think I'm going to be sick."

Cora agreed with Ben, kind of mesmerized watching that domestic scene. Thankfully it was broken when Elijah looked at them with a cynical smirk, saying:

“The bathroom is in the second door on the right.” However, Elijah soon said, remembering to be a host, “Why don’t you get a plate. I don't want to have to throw food away.”

And since he said it so sweetly, why not?

Cora was the first to get up and go to the buffet table. She started with a piece of lemon cake and a glass of apple juice. She sat down next to Luca and this time, it didn't look like Elijah was going to glare at her. Elijah honestly seemed content to sit next to Luca and watch him eat with an enamored look on his face.

By the end of the night, watching the second movie and seeing Luca sleeping on Elijah's shoulder in the greatest display of love she had ever seen, Cora came to a clear conclusion. She felt sorry for Daylla and anyone who tried to stand in the way of Elijah Roberts and his sweet, kind companion whose only innocent feature was his smile.

***

"Why so much food?" It was the big question of the night.

Cora noticed that as soon as one plate was emptied, another took its place, one tastier than the last. All she knew was that she couldn't take it anymore, and that she couldn't stop eating either.

“Elijah's family owns a restaurant.”

"I know that. Everyone knows.”

“Consider us a group of testers." Luca told her, eating a candy that Cora didn't know what it was. “If we like it, it stays on the menu. If not, go under review.”

"The question is. Who did all this?”

“Me and Alina, Elijah’s mom.” Luca shrugged and smiled when he saw Cora's reaction.

"You can cook?”

"Since I was little.”

“Aren't you rich?" When Luca looked at her, all confused, Cora added: “I mean, you don't have people for this?”

“I cook when I'm nervous or anxious. Or happy, too.”

"Seriously?”

“For us, food is a gesture of love.”

But Luca didn't say that looking at her, no. Luca had his hands in his lap and his face was flushed, watching Elijah chat with a group of boys by the porch as they continued to talk by the coffee table.

"A gesture of love?"

“I know Elijah seems rude sometimes. It's just that he has a hard time trusting people.”

"And you?”

"I trust him.”

"That’s pretty clear.”

“You know… we take care of our friends…”

"What does that mean?”

Luca smiled at her again, his black eyes twinkling as he took another bite of the candy. Soon Cora understood what was happening, Elijah was walking towards them, all proud of himself. At first Cora didn't understand anything, and only realized the trap when a smaller boy appeared behind Elijah. It was Chris, the boy she had seen in the halls and never had the nerve to talk to him.

It was even funny. Elijah pulled Chris forward and shoved the boy until he was in front of her, his face flushed with embarrassment.

“Cora, I want to introduce you to Chris Rodriguez.”

"We've seen each other around."

“Isn't that great?” Elijah winked at her and guided Nico by the arm so quickly away that when she saw, she and Chris were alone. And since they were there… why not? She smiled at Chris, thinking that deep down Elijah Roberts wasn't all that bad alter all.