"It does suck," Javi muttered as his shoulder relaxed. "I just want to make sure you know that this doesn't make you any less than."
I rested my arm on the console and leaned on it. "I know, I know. We were lucky to have even gotten invited to do this, it’s an accomplishment in itself. Doing it with you made it ten times better.”
Knowing these facts did not make the feeling of being a failure blink away, that was not how it worked. Though, while it did not get rid of the feeling it still made me feel better about it. I could recognize now that in everything there was an accomplishment that came out of it. All thanks to my arrogant rival.
"Somuch better," he emphasized. "But I’m disappointed that we don't have a reason to study together anymore."
"We can study for class together, Javi. It doesn't have to be for the competition."
He put the car in reverse and relied on the backup camera as he pulled out of the parking lot. "But can we really be rivals if we study together?"
"Studying together doesn't make us any less of rivals. It just comes down to who retained more from the study session,” I smirked. “I'm still trying to be valedictorian."
Javier scoffed lightly. "Trust me, I know. Don't think that because I like you that you will get it without a fight."
"Oh, don't worry, Mr. President, I know." I wiggled my eyebrows playfully. “You would do anything for me, anything besides let me win.”
“Exactly. I would kill for you but letting you beat me in chess is way too far,” he joked.
“Understandable.”
We both fell into obnoxious laughter. I remembered a time where this conversation between us would have been hostile. I would have been pissed that he was a cocky bragging bastard who always had to show me up.
But now? Now there was not an ounce of animosity between us.
Thirty-two
Javier
Alittle over a month had passed and it was now the beginning of March. It had passed by in a blur full of bliss and sweetness, it was magical. My life since getting to know Eli, and I mean truly know him, was wonderful. I got to see a side of him that he never showed to anyone else and it was the cutest thing.
I convinced my parents into helping him into therapy. Well, I shouldn’t say ‘convinced’ because they agreed the first time I brought it up. I never went into detail about his life, but they could see the signs.
Eli had only had his first appointment two weeks ago and a second one a couple of days ago. When I would ask him about how it was his responses would be vague. He would say things like ‘The therapist is nice,’ and ‘I think it went well.’ I did not think he was lying, he may have just been slightly embarrassed about it all. He got embarrassed fairly easily.
This past month he had been a lot happier, it was apparent in the way he now carried himself. He still had a complicated relationship with his siblings and his aunt continued to be a bitch, but he was getting better about talking about it to get it off his chest.
I found that he was actually a very attentive and affectionate person, despite how he presented. I got sick one weekend. It was just a cold, but if you asked Eli he would have told you I had pneumonia and needed to be hospitalized.
I was supposed to go on a business trip with my parents. It was a day trip, but because I was sick they let me stay home. Thank God, because I did not want to go in the first place. Anyway, Eli insisted that he stay with me since no one else would be home. I told him no because I didn't want to get him sick too, but he insisted that he come over anyway. It was raining and I refused to come get him, so I thought that would make him give up.
Until I heard the doorbell ring. There he stood with damp curls clinging to his forehead and wet clothes dripping on the front porch.
“Eli,” I said dryly.
“Javi,” he chirped, a smile painting his face.
I sighed before letting him in and moving quickly to find him a towel to dry off with. I handed it to him forcefully as I berated him for walking in the rain without an umbrella. Eli laughed it off dismissively, saying he did not care because he just wanted to be here.
"Anyway," He threw the towel on the chair, his body now a little less wet than before. "What do you want to eat? I can’t make much, but I can try."
"What I want is for you to stop acting like I am on my deathbed.” I took a seat on the couch. “You didn’t need to walk in the rain.”
“You’re acting like it’s pouring outside when it’s only drizzling.” Eli took off the soaked hoodie and tossed it on the chair. "It doesn’t matter. I’m here now, so answer my question."
It was unnecessary. If I could not take care of myself then my parents would not have left me home alone. All he did wasrisk himself getting sick by walking in the rain and being around me.
But it was his way of showing he cared.
