oddlylivinginshadows

[oddlylivinginshadows]

TORN BETWEEN TWO.

JULY 30TH, 2025 — oddlylivinginshadows - 1,366 words.

part fifteen out of fifteen parts

She was still so angry with him for telling her now but still ensuring contact with his mouth. The more angry she seemed to get the more fuel it was for their fire. She kept biting at him further making him all excited to be holding and kissing her. They made a stop to breathe a little. She took a swat at his arm calling him an asshole for the third time tonight. He smiled like a fool calling her out for being one too.

She was certain that she was not. He just crocked a smile on his face, "Whatever you say, princess," as he dived in for another kiss on her mouth. He wished for a more private setting they could take this into. He slipped the tip of his tongue in her mouth to begin the dance between the two of them. She bit down on it but it was gentle. THey held each other so close it's like they could breathe without engulfing the other first.

He asked if he could take her back to his tree house for the evening when his mom picked the two of them up. She told him that it better be warm in there or she wasn't going. They went hand-in-hand as they walked over to his mother’s car who just so happened to miss the entirety of the kissing scene. They sat quietly as she drove the car, occasionally asking questions about how his dinner was with his mystery date, and how Sam’s dinner went. Dinner went okay for both, though Eli wished he was a little better actually.

Sam bit her lip as she said nothing else for the car ride over. He snuck some clothes in a bag before promptly sneaking out Sam to the tree house. He flicked on the lights in there. Sam was impressed that the tree house had electricity in it. He led her back to a laying area for the two.

"Do you wish to change first?" She actually raised a brow that he would even ask that. He was teasing as he ushered to do it quickly to get comfortable. She slipped out of the dress as she got into the pajamas. She teased that this is giving her reminders of prom..

It wasn’t far off actually from what she can recall of what happened during it. He crawled on over to her with a blanket wrapped around him before gulping her down with it too. He tickled her from underneath the blanket before planting the kisses on her clavicle. He popped the collar of the buttoned up pajama top to go further down. He popped all the buttons of the top as he found her belly button.

"How can you be so warm after we were just outside?" She laughed stating it was her superpower to stay warm in the coldest places. Yeah right, he kept playing around her belly, and placing his cold hands on it. She shivered and took his hands away from touching. He moved his kissing back onto her mouth to continue the dance they had started moments ago.

He made sure she was comfortable when placing a pillow underneath her head. She moved one under her back to get the utmost comfort she could get. She slipped off his shirt to feel his stomach. She made little rings around the button. "Oh so you could touch and I can't?"

She giggled as she said nope. He whined about that being unfair. She flicked the shirt off to the side mocking him for feeling upset. He pouted his lip and flashed his best puppy eyes. She was not convinced when she pulled him down to lay on top of her. He slipped his hand, smoothing her back.

Rather than feeling anything, like her bra, he felt her back smoothed. He was pleasantly surprised she didn’t have it on, and didn't even ask about it. He worked slowly as he nestled in the crevices of her ear and neck. She must know that she had taken it off to surprise him. She thought it wasn’t a big deal to take it off; it's not like he can fully grasp the view of them.

He called her an asshole for teasing him like that. "I knew you were going to be all needy and wanty when I took it off," she whispered in his ear. A faint gasp left his mouth when she told him that. She maneuvered him to be the one on the floor. She sat upright on his lap staring him down.

Her eyes were sharp even in the dark. He felt his body flow to her control. She found fun in teasing him in the way she knew best. He found it rather amusing she was doing this to him but he wanted to know if he was the only one who got this treatment. "Sorry to ask, but am I the only one you have done this for?" She turned her head in a way a snake would coil its own.

She looked at him like a fool, which he was for asking that question. "You are thee very first and now never ask that again you hear me?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Good."

He bit his lip nervously as his heart fluttered like crazy. His body tingled every time she touched him with just the tip of her fingers. She was way too gentle with him, but her mouth? It was straight venom with how rough it was. He never wanted it to end.

"You’re only touching me, you know?" She does know, because it's all she knows what to do. She told him that she has never done what people think she has done. His mind instantly goes to the time Kyler had told them she had given him a blow job. Yeah, he knew that was fake but everything else too?

Now that was a surprise. He told her they could try some things to see if she liked them but he had a really important question to ask her. She grew nervous when he said that. "So um, my cousin's prom is coming up and I was wondering if you could go with me?" She blinked her eyes clearly confused as to why he’s asking her that now as well.

He tells her that he was just informed not even an hour after the dinner. She sighed, but she was hoping that it would be better than their own prom. He did too and said they can wear any color she chooses. She really wanted to wear midnight blue or a deep red. They could decide in the morning but right now, they were exploring their options on what would be best after all the kissing and touching.

She murmured embarrassingly that he might have the advantage from what she used to hear from Moon. Oh god, that made him stop in his tracts. He asked what she could have told her. And when she did, he quickly told her that is nothing compared to what he did. Then she assumed it must have been a different Eli or that it could be Kyler again. Eli swiftly changed the topic on what she wanted to explore during sex.

She wasn’t sure if it was actually sex or if it was just forms of touching and kissing. He scoffed out a wry laugh before planting deeper kisses on her mouth as she took turns biting at his neck. She claimed to have seen it in a movie and hopes she is doing well. He reassured her that she was doing just great. She wanted to be fantastic so she bit harder on his neck leaving her first ever hickey on someone.

He ran his fingers over it as he looked at her surprise. She leaned forward, gently planting a kiss on his mouth then called it for the night. She told to ask her about the prom thing in the morning if that was okay with him. His hand was still on his neck as she dismounted his lap and made a nest of blankets to sleep in.

[oddlylivinginshadows]

TORN BETWEEN TWO.

JULY 30TH, 2025 — oddlylivinginshadows - 1,346 words.

part fourteen out of fifteen parts

He felt like the waiting went on forever; he could feel himself getting sober the longer he stood there. She led him over to the table where there was awkward laughter filling the air. You could cut the tension with the knife is how bad it was. The client's son was creeping on Sam making her deeply uncomfortable with sexual jokes in her ear. Her eyes found Eli softening when he smiled upon their shared gaze.

He pulled up a chair between her and the boy, hoisting a hand over to her. "I'm Eli and you are..?" When the boy tried introducing himself, Eli had cut him off with a clean precision that made her wince for the boy. Eli continued asking him how old he was, and when he tried to say he was twenty, Eli gagged in disgust. Eli mocked that the boy should go for a gal his age and not one that was still in her junior of high school, or unless he wanted to seem like a pedofile.

The guy had backed off as Eli spun his attention back on Sam, apologizing if he had embarrassed her in any way, shape, or form. She reassured him that he had in fact saved her; she was too far uptight to stop him from doing anything. Eli held her tightly underneath the table when her father had returned with the clientele. He was surprised to see Eli there at their table. "Eli?!" Daniel laughed in surprise as he sat down.

The client asked if they knew each other. Eli said yes, at least for a while. He told her that he and Daniel had known each other since he and Sam were freshman year at West Valley. The man's wife asked if he and Sam had been together long, making Sam all bashful and wanting to hide. Eli had told the woman he was just an overprotective friend who was looking out. Sam nervously chuckled as she was drinking her cider still not wanting to be seen. He still held on to her, saying in her ear that it would be better if she went along with it so they could buy it.

Sam’s blushed face was noticed, but she pushed past her initial embarrassment saying what Eli was sharing was true. He even teased that she might’ve been interested in the friendship since his original Cobra Kai days, but decided not to for her dad’s sake. The client got interested in knowing if she wanted to do anything in Cobra Kai. She grinds her teeth but does admit that she did. Daniel seemed even more surprised when he heard her admit that.

"Well I didn't do it as it might have given that one a heart attack and me possibly being disowned...Haha.." That one was referenced to her father, because he probably would have if his eldest child, let alone his daughter, joined Lawrence in his teaching. They changed the topic to something else like how are their grades doing and if they do anything else together. Things were going good for the both of them and they did little runs to the bookstore to see if there was anything new to read. Her mom seemed impressed Sam was actually getting out of the house.

Amanda bantered around before another conversation changed over. The LaRusso’s got the client at the end of the night, which was promptly because of Eli helping them out by making it seem like they were far more interesting than they actually were. Eli was more drunk before he had arrived there for the evening. Sam had insisted that her family take him for the evening. Daniel denied that they did and informed his daughter to call his mother.

Sam looked around for her phone in her purse as Daniel started the car. "Do you think he'll drive off without you?" She wouldn’t be surprised is what she told him. She called Mrs. Moskowitz, telling her that her son had a rough date and it didn’t go as planned. Mrs. M had asked Sam if she was her son’s date…

Sam said that she was not but whoever it was might regret it as they really hurt his feelings. Daniel drove off not insisting he stayed with his daughter with a drunken mess. The rain had started up again and it was feeling heavy. Sam stepped back inside to not get her dress or phone wet. She had just hung up the phone with Eli’s mother as she sat down on a bench outside the restaurant.

Eli was standing close to where she was but it was pouting on him. She snapped a couple pictures as she told him he looked like a sad, wet, goopy puppy. He extended his arm to her telling her to get up. She refused as she knew he was going to pull her in the rain. He reached further still insisting she join him.

She winced as she carefully joined hand-in-hand with him. Despite there being no music being played, he started slow dancing with her, carefully hoisting her hip in his hand. "I still need to tell you something.. Samantha." She was surprised to see her full name leave his lips. He told her what he had done in the hospital. She was quick to call bull shit on his ass.

"Samantha... please, believe me I beg of you. I kissed you and... I loved it. The first kiss I ever enjoyed was from you. As wrong as it may seem at the time, it felt right at the same time," he told her as they continued dancing. One of the workers started playing something as she began to cry. She couldn't believe that this was what he had been hiding from her all this time? "After all this time you tell me now?" He told her that he felt like he had to as she was still dating Miguel.

He ensured that neither her or Miguel knew about the kissing. "Does he know about the kiss now? Like I do?" Eli shook his head no, stating Miguel did not. She wanted to slap Eli silly for telling her this now. Why now out of all the time he was given?

She called him an asshole as she rested her head on his shoulder. He apologized for keeping it from her. She sniffed as she wiped her head on his shoulder, groaning. "Eli..you fucking asshole," she told him getting up and slapping his arm. He grabbed her hands saying he knows he is one.

He knew this whole time. She refused to meet his eyes after all this. He made her look anyway. He begged her to remain in the eye contact when she tried pulling away again. "Sammy, please..." She just cried trying to get free.

He held her chin making them look one more time. "Get away from me!"

"I can't..."

"Eli, I swear to god."

"Sammy, please, I can't."

He pulled her in closer to his chest, further deepening their contact. He kept begging for her to look at him. She felt sick in her stomach unsure what to do or say. He licked his lips as a way to reheat them after being cold. She looked at him with her brows furrowed and a sad pout plastered on her face.

"Sammy, please." She didn’t say much of anything before looking up at him finally. He smiled weakly when they met eyes; their hearts were frantically out of rhythm. She hitched her breath in her throat as they just stood there. One in one as their hearts finally found their rhythmically beat.

He knew his ass would be beat if he tried what he wanted to do; he risked it and did it anyway. He playfully teased her one more time before planting a soft delicate kiss on her mouth. She wanted to pull away instead she bit at his tongue. Reminding him of the hospital again. He held her tight, refusing to let her go.

[oddlylivinginshadows]

TORN BETWEEN TWO.

JULY 30TH, 2025 — oddlylivinginshadows - 1,340 words.

part thirteen out of fifteen parts

It started to rain when he got comfortable on her bed. It started to pour in, slamming against the window and lighting danced across the sky. The sound of it was calming when he laid there in the bed holding her just like he had done at the hospital. The sounds of her breathing filled his ears as he crooked his head on her shoulder. His mind raced with endless thoughts; prayers; solutions.

How could he get over this? Will he ever? He wants to tell her, but knows it would be better if he wasn’t sober. How would he even get access to alcohol or an edible in this house? The LaRusso’s do not seem to be the kind of family to have those laying around.

When waking up in the morning, still drizzling from the night before, just a little softer this time, he found that he was missing his shirt. Did he even wear one to bed? Yeah, he did. Now he feels exposed almost like he was nude. He crossed his arms over his chest as he sat up on the bed.

He called out her name to no reply. That was odd. She usually answers when she’s here. Is she not here? Did she leave him alone?

He got up from the bed, then looked around the house for her. Her and her family were gone. He went through his phone, which was nearly dead, for any messages from her. There was one, "Sorry I left, but had to go to the store for food and period related stuff." He reads it again to see if he read it right. He did, so he made himself at home and got himself some more snacks for the room.

It was bizarre being alone in there; she wasn’t kidding when she told him that you could hear a pen drop. Almost every door was unlocked, even Daniel’s office was. He shouldn’t peek, but he did. He thought he would find something in there to use, maybe the computer? He barely touched the space key, lighting the screen in front of him.

There were emails. Not very good ones either. These were criminal to read over. Silver and LaRusso were emailing Sam about how she should be taken out of the tournament due to her "injury". She wasn't hurt, she was just recovering from surgery.

It had almost been a month and they are still on that? Sure, she can blackout due to the stress and pressure but she still wants to be involved. Daniel hasn’t even spoken a word about this to her, and Eli knew better than to do what he did. He forwarded the emails to hers so she could read what her father had been bargaining with. He went through the other emails as he was locked in knowing everything.

He found a pen pad and started writing on it what he found. After writing down what he found interesting, he left the room to wander elsewhere. He checked all the guest rooms, finding an album in one of them. It was mostly of Sam when she was a baby. Curly dirty blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, dimples on her cheeks and chin. She was really adorable.

There were some photos of her in her pre-teen years where she still did have blonde hair, but Eli wasn’t sure if it was really her. Amanda had told everyone Sam started to go dark when she was nine, but they were showing Sam at eleven, maybe twelve with the blonde still there. He took a couple photos of them to show whoever when he leaves the house to do his thing. He did walk in a separate office inside the house that’s where he found a liquor cabinet. Had all kinds of bourbon, whiskey, even tequila. He grabbed a bottle, leaving to go back to her bedroom.

He sat down on the floor as he cracked it open. He finished it in a matter of minutes. He could be plastered and not know; he did sure feel fuzzy. His vision blurred when trying to read the proof on the bottle it was definitely higher than he had intercepted for. He groaned on the floor, regretting his choices when the door opened. Sam was on the phone with a relative, seemingly getting more upset as the call went on.

She was claiming to not know where the woman’s birth certificate was as she gave it back when the woman wanted to be more active in her son’s life. So much drama in a short amount of time. Also Sam had assumed he had gone home for not seeing him laying on the bed. She hung up the phone, leaving to go to the bathroom to shower. Eli just waited until she stepped out drying her hair.

She watched as he got up from the floor onto her bed. She poked him to make sure he was real. "Um, Eli?" He blinked one eye at a time when she poked him again. He took her by the hand, pulling her over to kiss her hand.

She recoiled for a moment in sheer confusion. He held onto her tightly as he jolted her over to the bed. "Um, I'm still in my towel... I need to get dressed for an event, Eli." He refused to let her go even whining when she pulled away to step in her closet. She peaked out from the doorway eyeing him weirdly previously then seeing the bottle on her floor.

She asked him if he had drunk any of that; he didn’t answer which solidified the idea he did. She groaned and told him that he will have to stay here for another night as she doesn’t want to risk upsetting his mother. She got dressed in a deep blue dress that worked beautifully with the curves of her hips; it had a low cut back draping ever so carefully when she walked. "I've never seen that dress before, it's really beautiful on you." She gushed at his kind (and very drunk) words.

She figured he was too drunk to say what he actually wanted to say though she could be the furthest from the truth. Being drunk gave him an advantage to say what he pleased and needed. He wanted to tell her the truth about the hospital. "Is this dinner important or can you risk being a couple minutes late? I'm only asking, because it's an emergency..." She seemed surprised that he would say that but she insisted that it was really important, because Daniel is meeting with a client and wants to impress him.

He didn’t know if he could wait any longer but she had her jewelry and shoes on basically ready to go. He watched her leave the room, slipping from his hands once more. She told him, "Whatever it is, please tell me when I get back, okay? I'll seriously listen to everything you have to say, but I have to go now." He watched from her bedroom window her getting in her father’s car who seemed to be annoyed that she was running a little late. He grinds his teeth in annoyance that she had to apologize for being a minute late.

He couldn’t wait for her to come back. He had placed an app on her phone over a month ago to see where she will be at all times. He used it to find the restaurant they were at, but first he quickly went home getting changed in his best button up before telling his mom that he is going on a date with a girl from school. She asked if the girl was Sam for who it could be. He didn’t necessarily deny or confirm it either.

He just asked the hostess if they could spot the reservation for the LaRusso family and their clientele. She told him to wait a couple minutes as she will need to check her tablet for verification.

[oddlylivinginshadows]

TORN BETWEEN TWO.

JULY 29TH, 2025 — oddlylivinginshadows - 1,314 words.

part twelve out of fifteen parts

She wanted to get Eli off her right now so she could call Miguel. She needs to get to the bottom of this. She looked around for her cell phone on her bedside table, but it wasn’t there when it should be. Eli was confused about what she was looking for and she told him it was her phone. He got off of her to look around as well; he dug his own phone from his pocket.

He handed it over to her so she ring her own. She brought the phone to her ear, hearing the selected ringtone he picked out for her. She turned her head perplexed at him, like why this one out of all he could’ve chosen? Anyway, the phone rang from underneath her bed, which was never there before. She frowned when she got from out there.

She commented how strange that was when she dialed Miguel’s number in. She listened to the rings carefully and he never answered. Eli, out of feeling pity for her, called him. He actually answered when Eli did it. "What's up man?"

Eli churned his teeth around in his mouth. He was not happy when Miguel didn't answer Sam. He told him not so fast for sounding so happy when he answered his phone to him. He asked why he broke it off with Sam over some uncommunicated note that is most likely not even her own. Miguel stammered, unsure what to say to that.

Moving on, he asked Miguel again why he broke it off with Sam? He claimed it was for better; better in a sense for her stress. Eli pinched his nose unbelieving that to be true. They both know that she gets stressed, but that is not an excuse to dump your girlfriend over. He said it was protecting them both so she wouldn’t so much, and it probably wouldn’t kill her to move on.

The mouth that fell open made a popping sound, which made her look over at Eli. She asked what was wrong; he told her that her ex-boyfriend was being a fucking idiot. She groaned unsatisfied. He handed her the phone when Miguel was explaining himself. "I just thought it would be better for us both, especially after she had gotten out of that surgery. She hasn't been the same since and has turned me away honestly."

She plucked her lips in, not wanting to make a sound. She waved her finger, mouthing to him to ask Miguel to elaborate what he meant. "Care to elaborate what that means?" Miguel signed, saying that he was turning away as she was starting to become someone he didn't recognize and didn't know if he would date her anymore. She admitted a low growl emanated from her clenched jaw as she grinds her teeth.

She tried her hardest not to cry again, but the tears were already coming. Eli saw them, grabbing a tissue and dabbed them away. She hitched a faint chatter of her teeth as she handed back Eli his phone. He told Miguel that would be all and he was hanging up. He didn’t know if she was willing to be held. She wasn’t sure what she wanted at the moment.

She went over to sit on the bed to collect her thoughts. He sat next to her, creeping his pinky interlocking it with hers. She turned to him, telling him what she was just told. How Miguel thinks she was acting differently than her usual self. She doesn’t even know what that means anymore.

She can hardly remember what she used to be. Her mother had also said something about her being different as she was nicer to Tory. She sighs, hanging her shoulders low. She picked at the glue that was still on her fingers when she didn’t know what to say. Eli scooted closer to her, taking her by the hand. He held and squeezed it tight.

She rested her head on his shoulder. "Do you want to watch a different movie?" She wanted to watch a show rather than a movie, so they could binge watch it. He was willing to do what she liked. He switched the movie to a show that both of them liked.

She fixed herself underneath her blanket covers again, tucking her knees to her chin. He sat on the foot of the bed again to give her some space to see if she needed it. She pulled him by one of his arms over where she was laying on the bed. She thought he was too far away from her. He asked if she was sure she wanted him to be near after all..that.

She flared her nose as she sighed out. He moved over, snuggling her from the back. He played with her hair as they watched the show. She fell asleep while watching. He kept it on to seem like she was still watching.

He got up to make a quick snack for the both of them. He carefully maneuvered into the kitchen, peeling oranges and cutting apples. He peaked around in the fridge for any caramel dip for the apples. He plated everything up and brought it upstairs, munching on one of the apples. Satisfying crunch as he took a bite.

She just laid there unfazed by the smells of fruit alluring near. He was surprised she didn't wake up to want one of them. He placed one near her nose, then poked it to her lip to see if she would wake. She did not budge. She scowled her lip a bit when he kept poking at her.

She breathed heavily as she turned over, laying on his shoulder. He kept munching on the fruit when scrolling through the shows. Her father knocked on her door thinking she was still awake, asking if he could speak with her. Eli ducked underneath her bed quickly when the door clicked open. The sounds of her faint snoring filled the tension that was creeping in.

Her father seemed to stare for a couple moments before wandering around the room. He saw the bird houses, candy, fruit, everything. He mumbled that she was getting lazy to pick up after herself. He didn’t raise her this way, he says as he leaves the room. "What an ass..." Eli got out from under the bed and laid next to her again.

He brushed her hair to the side of her face as it was shelved. He held her head on his shoulder as she snored harder. He didn’t even see that he took her medicine. He no longer felt tired after hearing Daniel’s comment. He scrolled through Instagram debating if he should make a new account or not.

His old one still had "Hawktheman" on it; he cringed every time he looked at it. He woke her up for a little bit. She whined as she stretched her back out as she laid on him. "Sorry to interrupt your sleep, but I need your help with something.." She blinked a couple times and looked at his phone.

She wanted to know if it involved what he had opened. She sat up, helping him with the new account. She helped him with making it private and customized. He decided to follow her and her brother on the new account. "Can I trust you with the login of the old account?"

She rolled over to her side table getting out a small notebook. She told him to write down the username and password in here and it will be his that she will hold onto for however long he needs it for. He smiled gratefully, kissing the top of her head as a reward. She asked if she could go back to sleep now. He told her that she could as he was going to do the same.

[oddlylivinginshadows]

TORN BETWEEN TWO.

JULY 29TH, 2025 — oddlylivinginshadows - 1,347 words.

part eleven out of fifteen parts

Tory gave her a look in return, "LaRusso, I am poor..." and Sam told her that she give her money for it. She insisted on Tory not paying her back this is a one time thing and that's it. Tory promised that it would be and was surprised she was so chill about helping her. Sam pulled her by the arm. "Wait, I need to return the things he had left here.. Do you mind returning them for me?"

She went to grab the box for Tory to take and the two girls just nod in silence. She watched as Tory left her back yard with the money and box. A wash of feelings had hit her down. Her and Miguel’s was also coming up and..she well didn’t have him anymore. It felt strange. Her chest got all puffy.

She started crying again. She was really embarrassed by it. She sat on the floor numb for about an hour until Eli came around. He spotted her on the floor, brushing the hair out of her face. He told her that pretty girls shouldn’t be crying on their floor.

She gave a weak laugh to that. He asked what was wrong. She told him that Miguel decided to end it as he was going to find out if he had any siblings. Eli was taken aback. Is that what his trip to Mexico is all about?

"What an asshole.." She hit his arm. She reminded him that he was friends with that asshole. Right. He had forgotten about that part.

He got her up from the floor and showed her what he had in his bag. It was a little craft for her to do. There were some candy bars in there as well if she wanted a sweet treat. She smiled a bit, telling him thanks. "You want to start on them now? They're supposed to be bird houses.." She giggled as she dumped the contents out on the floor.

He got her tv remote from the side table to turn on Netflix. "Anything in particular?" She told him to choose. He typed in a movie he had been dying to see. "It better not be horror," she warned as she opened one of the snicker bars.

He shrugged and told her that it might be. She groaned but let it happen. He told her that it wasn’t that scary but if she does get scared, he will protect her. She rolled her eyes for a moment. Anthony came into the room looking all gloomy.

He sat on her bed not saying much. She assumed it was a long day or Kenny. She could never keep up with which. Her and Eli began on the birdhouses trying to be as quiet as possible for Anthony. He snugged one of the pillows so tight she figured he was trying to suffocate it.

"Are you trying to hug or kill it, mister?" He answered with both and held onto it tighter. She sighed worried for him. She wants to ask but knows it isn’t her place. She wants him to hand it like a big boy, but something in her heart wants to protect him from everything.

Eli had told her once that was her maternal instinct kicking in finally. She figured that would come once she was pregnant with her own baby, not for her brother’s safety. It can come out any time it likes to; it’s up to Mother Nature to decide when she’s ready for it. She rolled her eyes once more as the movie played in the background. She got the glue stuck between two figures.

She tried pulling them apart with little to no luck in the process. She sighed annoyed. Eli told her to relax and not stress it. He is the second person to tell her not to stress out. She did want to but also didn’t as it hurts a lot more to do that now not then.

Anthony excused him back to his own bedroom as he was feeling tired. He kissed her forehead; he also told Eli goodnight. The two shared their goodnights with the boy, then went back to the movie. There was a really grimy scene which made her feel disgusted. She almost threw up because of how slimy it looked; it looked too much like boogers.

"Ew..."

"Not ew, it’s cool!"

"You really need to change your definition of that word."

"Nu-uh."

"Yeah-huh.. and ew it keeps going!"

"Yeah that’s the fun of it, princess.."

"I don’t like how you said that.."

He licked his lips to a smile. She was getting freaked out and did not like it. She told him that she would run out of this bedroom right now. He asked if she was going to her daddy on him. She gasped appalled he would even ask such a thing to her.

He wiggled his brows and crawled on over. She quickly ran to get cover from whatever he was planning. She covered herself with the blankets to get away from him but it wasn’t enough. He ripped them right off; he powered over her as he hoisted him and her in the upright position. The two were sitting on her bed both fighting to be free or have control of her hands. He laughed as he had the better grip on her hands.

She demanded he release her this instant. He smiled up her neck sneering in her ear why he would do such a thing. She wraggled an arm free, hooking under his throat to get distance between their faces. She did not wish to feel the warm air leaving his flared nose. He whipped his head around, turning it to look at her in the eyes.

"Please look at me just this one," he begged. She didn't want to, so she refused. She closed her eyes, turning her head away. A hand found her face reeling her forward to look at him. He was enjoying this way too much. She wanted to yell out, but it was the middle of the night and there was school tomorrow.

She tried to get him off, failing at her attempts at doing so. Her eyes darkened as they met his. It seemed like he was breathing every last bit of her. "Are you enjoying yourself, Eli," she asked as she tucked her eyes away for the second time. He said that he was. He laid them to rest on her bed before placing his head in her clavicle.

The clavicle was a sweet spot for her perfume but the thing is..she doesn't have one. "You smell like heaven." She didn't know how to tell him that she appreciated that he thought she smelt good. He stayed there, breathing down her neck, and laying on her. Would this be an appropriate time to ask what happened in the hospital?

Would he still refuse to tell her even when they are like this? She bit the inside of her cheek, wondering what to ask him. "Your heart is racing," he said, trying to soothe her worries. He stroked her hair before gently stroking her nose with his index finger. It was a calming and freezing sensation.

Her eyes followed his finger to her nose, smiling faintly at him. She found it funny that he was trying to make her feel better. "Did you know I got broken up?" she asked, trying to not cry about it again. He looked up at her in surprise, eyes gleaming with a flicker of sadness in his eyes. He frowned and said he had not known only what she had told him about Mexico.

She was sure it was a joke to mess with her. Eli asked who would be messing with her at this time? She suggested that it could be anyone in Kyler’s circle, because apparently Miguel had gotten a note from her saying she never wanted to see him again. It wasn’t even her fucking handwriting! She was getting frustrated about the whole ordeal.

[oddlylivinginshadows]

TORN BETWEEN TWO.

JULY 29TH, 2025 — oddlylivinginshadows — 1,352 words.

part ten out of fifteen parts

She sat there waiting unsure what she should be saying to him. She tapped her fingers to her thighs twitching. Johnny looked up from his notebook, giving her a look. "What are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be at home?" Yes, she should be but claimed that she wanted to see him.

He placed his pen down, looking at her seriously. She went straight for the chase, "Do you know what is up with Miguel?" She pursed her lips as her heart beats frantically almost like it would beat out of her throat if it wanted. He looked at her puzzled. He was certain that she and him weren’t on speaking terms.

"I thought you told him not to see you again, no?" She jolted her neck back, confused. She wanted to ask what he meant but he told her well more like gave her the note she supposedly gave to Miguel. It wasn't in her handwriting. She scoffs, "I guess he doesn't even know or remember my own handwriting."

Johnny looked at her pensively, reaching a hand to hers. He grazed her thumb over her knuckles. She placed her other hand on her face. She longed for a sigh escaping from her mouth. "Does he really believe I don't want to see him?"

Johnny nods, furthering to tell her that he and his mother are going back to Mexico to see if he has any secret siblings from his father. She said that wasn't safe. She moped down on the table telling Johnny that he was a fool. Johnny actually agreed, because he told him it would be safer to get a dna test rather than risking his life for a man he just met once. She looked perplexed at what he could mean. "Are you saying they have met already? Oh sweet god..." She ran her fingers all over her face.

Johnny freed her hand before things went to shit faster than they already were. She tucked the hand away before she slapped herself with it. "He should be okay I hope," Johnny tells her, trying to make her feel better about the circumstances. It worked for a little bit, then she throbbed her head on the table. "Stop that, please."

She groaned as she finally did so. She was so confused about what was happening. He got out his phone, trying to reach Miguel to see how he was doing. Miguel gave a rather short answer when he got to the line. He just informed he made it to his hotel with mom, and they are alright.

"But what about Sam, have you spoken to her?" Miguel informed him that he didn’t want to if she wasn’t willing. He kept going on: telling Johnny how upset he was about it. Johnny tried interjecting that is not what she wants. It’s not even her handwriting on the note.

Miguel just sighs, saying he isn’t sure what he wants but if Johnny could be frank that he delivers a note to her. Johnny knows damn well where this is going..and he doesn’t like it at all. He didn’t necessarily agree to what Miguel would be telling him. "If you could just tell her that I'm really sorry but..." Miguel starts and finishes in a whispered tone. Johnny’s face dropped something she picked up on.

She wanted to know what was being said. Johnny lost all color in his face, frowning as he hung up. He sighs out, "I'm sorry Sammy.." Her face hardened when realizing. She shook her head no as she got up to leave. Johnny pulled her arm down back at the bench.

"Why couldn't he tell me that himself," she cried. Johnny didn't know, but assumed it was for the better. Maybe it could help her focus on better and brighter things. She didn't really think so and thought that was bullshit. She buried her face in her hands not wanting to say another word of this.

She was just really upset; she just needed a break from him which is not the same as a breakup. Miguel took it as it was one..she just sighed long and heavy. Her brain began to spin and splash around in her head. She felt sick in her stomach again. "Don't stress it, hon, something will open up for you."

She gave a dumb wry smile. She cried further in her hands. Johnny moved to the other side of the table to consult her. She began laughing as she was crying. He looked at her confused as to why she would be laughing at this moment.

"Have you gone bat shit crazy on me and I didn't know?" She laughed even further, but shook her head no. She said she wasn’t even crazy, but felt like she was going in that direction. He pets her hair as he starts to hold her tight. Her watch goes because of text from her father insisting to know where she is.

She wrote him back that she is doing errands and he needs to chill. She stayed there with Johnny longer than she thought she stayed. Johnny brought her home with dinner from the diner. Got her a burger, large fry, doctor pepper, and peach cobbler. Her father was quick to notice the bag. "Were those errands hanging out with Johnny and not telling me?"

She told him that they were not, but he did get her dinner as he was feeling nice enough to do so. Daniel crossed his arms over his chest not sure if he believed his daughter. She insisted that was the truth, and asked if she could upstairs to clean herself up. Daniel sighed dismissing her away. She skipped up the stairs and finally saw that her brother was home. He looked stressed as well so she didn't pressure it as that would be a nose dive in something sticky and tacky.

She plopped back down on her bed not satisfied with how her night was ending. She could look out for Eli coming back though. He still hasn't told her what time he will be, but she has a feeling it's soon or that's what she's hoping for at least. Demetri had texted her inquiring the details of the shopping spree Eli is doing. He asked if she knew what he was doing as Eli was refusing to tell him.

God she wished she knew but nada, nothing, not a single clue is coming up in her mind. She instructed Deme to contact Yasmine as she is the one with all the knowledge about these things which is certainly not true, it's more likely to come from her than Yasmine. But who cares, she dug herself in her blankets. Almost snoozing off when her window unlocked with a faint click. There was someone in her room. She didn’t panic at who it could be as she had an idea who.

"Sam..." a voice whispered. Oh that was not Eli. It was Tory - what the actual hell? She pulled her head up and saw her there. Her brows furrowed then eyed her down with the most confused face she could plaster on.

She gets up from resting her head. "What do you want...? Okay, let me restart that, what do you need or want from me?" Tory shrugged her arms in there and said she has no idea what to give to Robby as their anniversary is fast approaching. Sam gave her a look of "why you asking me..." but she didn’t ask it, and Tory answered for her. She reminded Sam they were friends so she would know better than anyone.

This cannot be happening. This is not real. Eli could be here at any given moment. Sam sighs as she gets up from the bed, dragging Tory to the bathroom. "Don’t make this anymore weird than it already is...so Robby..right um, well have you thought about giving him a ring?" Tory said she had already given him a couple of those.

"Any albums..?"

[oddlylivinginshadows]

TORN BETWEEN TWO.

JULY 28TH, 2025 — oddlylivinginshadows — 1,472 words.

part nine out of fifteen parts

He forcibly took the plastic cup from her mouth, nearly chipping her teeth in the process of doing so. She winced and licked the roof of her mouth. She coughed out in surprise when it did not seem like she was slowing down even by a little. He crocked his head over to her, signalling she should cover her mouth. She continued to cough for another minute; she got up to the bathroom and rinsed out her mouth.

Rubbing her throat as she watched herself in the mirror something seemed weird in her reflection. She figured it could be her eye bags, they were looking far more purple than usual. He let out a sigh as he leaned back on her bed as she exited the bathroom. She was seemingly wiping away her face. "I told you to be careful, you ignored my warning, and that was really not nice of you to do, princess."

She darted her eyes over at him before rolling her eyes to the back of her head, unamused. She sat back down on the bed, still rubbing her throat. It was throbbing after he had taken her drink. He placed the cup on the floor, near where he was sitting. She crossed her arms over her chest when he refused to give it when she asked.

"At least I said please!" He smiled and still refused her. She flicked her mouth in a frown and complained softly to his stubborness. "You took my cup and hurt my mouth." He grinds his teeth, still moving away to the floor.

She leaned back on her bed into the mass of pillows, crooking her knees underneath her chin. "You will get it back if you don't chug it like a crazy person who is dying of thirst." She opened her mouth to spat back when he put the cup to his mouth to take a swig. "I would suggest not drinking after me, you know." But he didn't care.

He sniffed at the mouth of the cup to see if she had tampered with it, but nothing seemed to be wrong and found the tea to be quite delicious. It did taste slightly off, that might be due to the tea not properly being mixed all the way or it was a different sugar. He leaned over to his left side to get the drink she had bought him, "You want to try this instead?" She looked at it weird, because she doesn't usually go for coffee at this time of day. "It's the afternoon, not morning, Eli."

He laughs as he smiles through his lips but still insists she try it. She howled a low whistle and told him that dairy doesn't cooperate well with her as much as it should anymore. He found that strange about her, then told her that he doesn't use that kind of milk in his so it should be safe for her consumption. She was still hesitant to believe if that was true or not. She got up from her bed, heading over to her vanity.

She unlocked one of the drawers and pulled out a hidden drawer from the top to get the lactaid. He turned around when hearing the keys jingle. He looked at her puzzled as to why she even has a lock for it. "Why do you have a lock for it? Also, you just casually have that in your room?" She told him it was nothing of a worry, but he did see there was a small black notebook underneath a box of the lactaid.

"Is the lactaid for anything?"

"Um, yeah. Sometimes I stress eat ice cream..."

"You do?"

"I do."

"Hmm interesting...What flavor?"

"Chocolate.. Why do you ask?"

"No reason. I thought you would go for vanilla, you know, what you usually get."

"I dunno about that anymore; it kind of got boring on me. I started to like chocolate after a little while. I don't know when it started, but I find it enjoyable."

He remembers the time when the two of them had chocolate ice cream over at his house. It made him shift around on the bed uncertain on how to feel. He placed his hands on his thighs as his hands trembled with sweat. He sighed as he continued to take swigs at her tea. He might just finish the thing off and not let her get one more sip.

She hesitantly tried his coffee to see if it was any good to her surprise. It was creamy and not too sweet. She licked her lips in surprise, eyes gleaming as she took another sip. "Pretty good, no?" He caught her giggling to herself, a hand reaching to cover herself with her hair.

Since it’s cut, she can’t cover herself up very well anymore. He gently brushed her hair to the side to see her. She swatted his hand away, "No touchy," she told him. They finished each other's drinks as they continued to eat in silence. She asked him what was going to happen after she just saw every last bit of him.

He told her that it was nothing compared to what he had seen before this moment. She raised her head from her knees, wondering who he was talking about. "Um, who..." He held up a hand, dismissing the idea that she was asking him that. He didn't want to tell her; it was way too personal.

"Ah, ah! Personal question," he says. She frowned, further rolling her eyes back. Maybe, just maybe if she could roll them to the back of her head to see if she could remember. She didn’t want to risk it as it was bringing on a headache. She hiccuped feeling nonsense.

"Ugh," she slugged out, holding her head. He looked at her for a moment in a panic. She laid back, further emerging herself with the pillows. She groaned sickly. He took her hand gently as she murmured about not touching her hand.

He just held it ever so gently when she refused to get up. He loosen the grip on her hand to move the food off the mattress. "Are you feeling sick again? Do I need to leave?" he asked and she shot a pillow at his head. So... That's a no.

He moved back on the bed, maneuvering closer to her on the bed. She tried asking again despite how she’s feeling. He rolled his eyes as he folded his lip over the bottom. He moved the pillows from covering her up.Eli told her that he would rather die and roll around in his grave with that memory than share it with her. She groaned as she started to bury herself in her nest of blankets.

"Ah, ah! Where are you going?" She chose to ignore the question and continued going under her nest. He tugged off her blankets, "You’re going to burn up with all that layering on you, so would it kill to remove some?" She covered herself back up with the blankets. “It’s nap time,” she informed him, pulling the covers up and dragging them over her body. She was getting comfortable.

"You could go home now if you like or stay here and make my father wonder why you're still here.." she continues as she sheepishly explains. He scoots off the bed to gather his clothes from the bathroom. He did tell her that he will be back in the middle of the night. She contorts a short laugh when he gathers his things and leaves the room. "Wait!" she shouted, compelling him back into the room.

She asked if he would ever tell her what exactly happened. He frowns and shrugs his shoulders, stating that he might when he’s ready. He knows that she is but he isn’t, it is a little too complicated. She nestled comfortably, but still didn't get any sleep. The thoughts she was having kept her awake.

She wanted to ask but something; someone was holding her back. She got out of bed and changed her clothes into looser fitted ones. She had no idea where she was going, but she knew he had to go, the nap could wait. She forgot to take her phone, which seemed to vibrate as she left; they were messages from her father, asking her what she was doing and how she was feeling. She got in the car to go for a drive.

As she rounded the corner, she had left to go to the park instead. She found Johnny sitting on a bench, writing in a notebook. It sparked her interest for a little bit. She got out of the vehicle to approach him; to talk to him what had been on her mind. She sat down across from him waiting.

[oddlylivinginshadows]

TORN BETWEEN TWO.

JULY 28TH, 2025 — oddlylivinginshadows — 1,402 words.

part eight out of fifteen parts

He scrubbed vigorously every last bit of himself to eliminate the so-called order Sam was supposedly smelling. He didn’t want to doubt the ability of her nose as it is hyper sensitive to smells when she takes her medicine. He grabbed her body wash so now he smells like watermelon. When he finished his shower he sat on the edge of the bath tub. He took a look at the clothes she had picked out for him.

It was not a bad choice but he swore he had seen them before. He decided to not get dressed right away and made himself a bath to soak, because why not? It was not like someone was in the house to stop from doing so. It would be bizarre if someone had barged in to stop him. He had his phone with him in the bath, scrolling on Instagram just doing dumb things.

He thought about making a new account in the midst of his boredom… He decided to text Sam about what he wanted from the café which was: a croissant and espresso with three extra shots. He claims to need the caffeine to distract him from the back pain he’s been experiencing. She texted him back, "Then you should have laid in the bed with me, silly goose." He laughed it off, because there was no way that he would be laying in the same bed with her again.

He wants to but knows he can’t as it’s wrong. She’s still with Miguel despite being on a "break" from him. He turned his phone off and just relaxed, well trying his best when he got a call from his mother. "Are you still over at your princess’s house?" He said that he was.

She asked when he would be coming back home. "Is there something going on? If so, mom, you need to tell me now." She said everything was fine but she would love to see him for a couple hours as he is spending a lot of time with his delicate sweetie. He hasn’t realized that he spent that much time with Sam. He agreed that he’ll come home soon but after breakfast, since he needs to fuel up first.

She said, "Okay son I will see you see you soon! I love you!" He told him that he loved her also before finally turning off his phone. He didn’t get the text from Sam that she was ten minutes away from home. She did make a small stop at the pharmacy for pickup. She waited in line for five minutes which doesn’t seem like an eternity to a normal person but for her it certainly felt that way. When she left, she quickly opened the medicine and took it when she arrived home.

She hoped for an immediate relief, though knowing it’ll take a moment. She put the medicine down on the dining room table with her car keys. "Eli! Eli, are you done with your shower? I’m coming up," she yelled out. He must have not heard her, because he didn’t answer. She placed down their beverages and food on her bedside table.

She knocked on the bathroom door for him. "Um, Eli? You still in here?" Again there was no answer, so she opened the door even knowing there would be a chance she would see him nude. She would most likely prefer for her sake not to see him actually nude and at least clothed. He was covered by bubbles in a nice soak.

She took a moment to register that it was seriously him. She snapped a couple pictures of him as he laid there with a foot dangling out of the tub. She ticked his foot which he dunked back in the tub. He opened his eyes slowly before widening them. "Oh, um, this isn’t what it looks like.. I promise."

She giggled, unbelieving him. She crossed her arms over her chest as she leaned on the wall. He submerged further into the bubbles embarrassed. "Oh eli come on," she cooed, pulling at his leg for fun. He poked his eye to surface level looking at her intensely, displeased.

She slid down the wall and crooked a lean to the tub. "You're messing with me, aren’t you?" She shrugged an arm as she continued smiling at him. He didn’t want to leave the bubbles if she kept staring at him. "You better hurry with this little bath of yours as our food is getting cold."

Sighing with his eyes closed, before opening them again and signaling her to grab the towel. She didn’t want to grab it because she believed he could get it himself. He re- emerged his mouth from the water to ask her, "Can you please grab it?" She shook her head insisting that she will not. He groaned as he stood. She looked up at him from the floor and saw it.

He saw that she did and promptly proceeded to cover himself with his arms. She quickly covered her eyes when he stepped out. "You’re going to act like you didn’t see it?" She told him to not bring it up again. It was accidental and should never be brought up for the third time.

She felt her ears go hot and perk up. She also felt sick with herself seeing everything vulnerable about him. "I’m - I’m gonna leave to go to the bedroom," she told him. He took the towel and wrapped himself in it as she was escorting herself out. He watched her leave and close the door with a slam.

She was more than embarrassed and so was he for one. He raked his fingers through his hair. He smoothed his tongue against his teeth, his lips slightly parted. He fidgeted with his feet, tucking them beneath him. He tried composing himself better when he left the bathroom.

He fixed the shirt she gave him when closing the door behind him. She was already sitting on the bed, but her hands were over her face. It was like she was hiding from embarrassment. She cannot believe that happened. The one thing she did not want to see, she had just seen.

She was breathing fluttering in her chest; her heart was beating like she couldn’t breathe. He immediately went over to her bed and apologized to her. The two sat across each other when seated on the bed. She was still hiding her face away, not really wanting to show herself to him. He could understand the feeling she is currently experiencing. He feels like that every day that ticks on by when she recovers.

She couldn’t even meet his eyes moreover refused to look at them. He was like that for at least eight days when she got released from the hospital. "Are you okay, princess?" She peaked through the gaps of her fingers, shaking her head no. He laughed in relation to her.

His hand found her knee and gave it a soft rub. She wanted to swat his hand away, but just decided to give him his food. "There will be things you don’t tell me and the same applies to me, as there will be things I do not tell you." That’s all she told him. He was also embarrassed by it, but deciding who had it worse was difficult.

She cleared her throat and told him that he needed to eat his croissant before it gets cold. He just nods as he eats it. He did not want to talk about this to anyone. This is another thing on the list to not tell Miguel. Eli swears his ass would be grass if he tells either him or Demetri what happened.

It would be humorous if he did tell them about what just happened, but also at the same time. He thought about it further when he ate, and it would not be funny. She seemed to be out of it after seeing his privates. "You’re acting like it killed you," he says with a mouth full. She flicked her eyes at him; he looked at her intensely; they just stared and watched each other eat their food.

She looked down at her lap, picking at her muffin. She doesn’t even know if she has an appetite anymore. She took her sweet tea, swiftly drinking it quietly. "Hey, be careful, please."

[oddlylivinginshadows]

TORN BETWEEN TWO.

JULY 28TH, 2025 — oddlylivinginshadows — 1,399 words.

part seven out of fifteen parts

"Nice to see you too, Mr. LaRusso," he says curtly. They narrowed their eyes at each other giving passive glances. Daniel had leaned on the doorframe to get a better view of the two of them. He wasn’t expecting to have him in his house still. "I spent a lot of time with her to know that she probably doesn’t want her father to be watching her sleep."

Daniel rolled his eyes, as he stepped inside the room. He sat down at her vanity to get a better look at him. Eli hardly moved an inch when he saw him get closer. Daniel’s eyes were trying to pierce through him, make him uncomfortable, or feel anything at all. He wasn’t bothered; he actually found it hilarious that Daniel would try.

"Are you getting anything from this?"

"I don’t get what you mean, Mr. LaRusso."

"Sure you do. So, what are you getting at here? Are you here to win some prize from a bet?"

"… Okay, I mean this with no offense, but what the fuck is wrong with you?"

Daniel sighed and flared his breath through his nostrils. He shook his head, as he blinked his tired eyes. He just doesn’t understand why his daughter would have someone like him near her. He just wants to understand. "Eli… That’s not a nice way to ask that question."

"Well, you didn’t answer it but still, what is your problem with me?"

"I just don’t get it. Why would she pick you out of everyone?"

"For all I know, I don’t know why. She just feels comfortable with me, I suppose."

"You don’t even know why she chose you.."

"Neither do you."

"Hey!"

"See I’m not even wrong."

"You should be heading home for the night. I’m pretty sure your parents must be worried about you."

"Changing the topic? Heh, that’s funny, but no, they should be fine with me not coming home for the evening. I think I’ll stay right where I’m at."

Daniel eyed him suspiciously as he stood up to leave the room. He didn’t close the door completely when he did. It was kind of annoying, actually. Sam groaned and opened her eyes shyly, blinking. She leaned against her headboard when looking at the door.

Eli turned his head over to look at her. "Your father is unbelievable," he told her. She nods as she knows how he can be. She waved him over to tell him a fact about her father. When she told him, he choked on a laugh.

"That cannot be true!" She shrugged her arms as she crept on a smile. He shook his head not wanting to believe that. He wanted to go back over to the foot of the bed. She insisted that he stay put.

He did not want to as he felt like it was not appropriate. "I keep asking you what happened between us and you won't tell me." He told her that what happened was not ethical to expose. She pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest. He threw his hands up, saying that is all he will say.

She leaned forward toward his face not believing him. "Tell me." He shook his head no. "Go back to sleep, princess." She whines out asking him why he does not want to tell her?

What did they do? She desperately wants to know what the two did. "Did we fight?" He shook his head again. She was getting annoyed with him.

She doesn’t remember it anyway so why even bother telling her. She blinked her eyes at him. He still didn’t tell her what they did. She threw a small fit. He just pats the stop of her head. He went to lay on the floor.

"Get up and tell me, please." He leaned upward and gave her a look. She darkened her gaze on him. She crawled over to the foot of the bed where he was laying down and stared at him with her pleading eyes. "You’re creeping me out with all that staring."

She didn’t say anything, giving him a taste of his very own medicine. He laid back down on the floor, closing his eyes, and getting comfortable. She let out a sigh and struck him with one of her pillows. He snatched it from her grabby hands and placed it under his head for maximum comfort. Eventually, she conceded defeat and fluffed her other pillows.

She grumbled some words to him; he didn’t seem to understand what she was saying, but giggled to himself in satisfaction. The floor proved to be not entirely uncomfortable. Eli was growing worried increasing by the minute that she would discover what the two had done together. He struggled to sleep, finally drifting off around four in the morning. His mouth fell dry as he slept with his mouth open and snored softly.

When it came around ten in the morning, the sun blared through her curtains, Sam had just woken up. She squints her eyes as the sun crept in further. "Hmph," she groans, turning her head away from the sun. She flicked her blanket off and stared at him on the floor. She poked his lip, giggling at the fact it was opened.

She then took out her phone to take a picture of him sleeping. She changed his contact photo to the picture she had just taken of him. She waited until after eleven to wake him. He blinked his eyes as he moved his jaw around. His mouth was so dry.

"What happened?"

"Um, we slept?"

"Oh yeah, I forgot that."

He tried getting off the floor with little effort and fell back down on his ass. He motioned his hands over to her to come help him off the floor. She shook her head as she grasped his hands, which were freezing. She pulled a little too hard making them stand very close together. He hitched his breath when looking down at her.

She smiled up at him and informed him to take a shower. "Are you saying I stink?" She bobbed her head to the side as she shrugged. "Oh, yeah, you definitely are! That is so rude, princess." She pulled him over to the shower, pointing her finger to the shower.

He frowned his lips. "Well, I don’t have a change of clothes to wear." She lifted her finger indicating for him to stay out so she could run downstairs real quickly. She grabbed the clothes she had. She placed them in his hands then told him to go shower, because in her words, he fucking smells.

He wanted to ask where and when she got these clothes. He didn’t have time to ask as she nudged him in the bathroom. "Don’t make me time you although I am thinking about it," she states as she was exiting her bedroom. He opened his mouth to protest, but he closed it when he heard the room door open.

"You’re leaving?" She nods then explains that she’s getting them breakfast from the café. He panicked and asked if she wanted him to come with her. She told him that she’ll be fine and will just ignore Kyler or whoever in his click bothers her. He eyed her worriedly but she insisted on going for them.

"Text me when you’re done and what you’ll like, okay?" He twitched his mouth but said that he will. She smiled when he replied with that, then skipped her way out of her room. He slummed his head on the bathroom door, unhappy she decided to leave so quickly. He postponed his shower and looked around for anything that could or would trigger some memory of her time in the hospital.

He didn’t want any evidence laying around anywhere. He found a box underneath her bed - it had her firsthand documentation, wristband, and photographs. It was the photos he had taken for her as memorabilia. She sent him a text, "You are supposed to be showering, little mister, so get to scrubbing." He looked around as to how she would possibly know that he wasn’t showering.

He seemed spooked that she knows what he’s doing. He sighed when he left the main room for the bathroom. He didn’t think he smelt that bad, honestly. He took a whiff of his pit and still nothing.

[oddlylivinginshadows]

TORN BETWEEN TWO.

JULY 27TH, 2025 — oddlylivinginshadows — 1,354 words.

part six out of fifteen parts

He took her plate and brought it over to the sink. Anthony sighed disappointed and made a comment about this being the reason behind why she doesn’t leave her bedroom. Daniel ignored him and took over on washing the dishes. Eli went upstairs to check on her; he didn’t even knock on the door and saw her poking at her rib cage. It was far more noticeable when he last checked.

"Princess.." She looked up and quickly put back on her shirt. She seemed not surprised that he had seen her like that. He extended his arms in a gesture of a hug for her. She slugged on over and held herself in his arms.

He rakes his fingers through her hair. "How long has he been making comments like that to you?" She murmured a groan in his shoulder. "You know I can’t understand you when you do that, princess." She wiped her face on his shoulder before resting her chin on his shoulder.

She scuffs out, "I said since I left the hospital. He’s always been critical of my time in there and especially you." He raised a brow and cocked his head over to look at her. They lock eyes for a moment. "He’s been critical of me? Really? That fucking old ass bastard." She choked on a short laugh.

She rested her head down on his shoulder. He began a gentle swaying motion to guide the two into a dance. She didn’t question it; she simply allowed him to lead. "You better not make me fall," she instructed as the two continued to dance. He promised that he would do no such thing.

She started to laugh as they gradually moved on over to her bed. He laid her down to get the sleep she needed for tomorrow. "I have a checkup tomorrow and don’t know when I’ll be back," she tells him. He nods his head as he comprehends what she’s telling him. He plants one more kiss to forehead.

He curled up his lip, concealing the smile that was growing on his face. "Do you need me to stay by the windowsill and watch you sleep like I did in the hospital?" She chuckled a bit. She nudged her head for him to go on. He nodded his head as he headed home for the night.

He puckered his lip in his frown as he walked downstairs. He saw that Daniel was now sitting at the table with a beer in hand. It was no place of his to judge, but he definitely was in this case. His daughter was in recovery and he thinks it’s best to drink while she’s in pain? A withered groan left him as he stepped out of the LaRusso house.

He shuddered his shoulders as he remounted his bike. He ticked as he clapped his hand together. His eyes trailed upward to her window; her lights were still on. He dismounted his bike and climbed up to her window. He didn’t see her in her bed so he assumed she was showering.

He wiggled it just a little bit and got back in the room with ease. He looked around before spotting steaming creeping from the bottom of the door of the shared bathroom with Anthony. The steam hit his face as he opened the door. He clicked his tongue in satisfaction that he was right. He sat down on the sink as he awaited for her to get out.

He later remembered that he told her, 'No hot showers, princess, it’s bad for your joints.' He was contemplating if he should reach in the shower and turned the temperature down. Oh fuck it, he grabbed the crank of the shower and turned it down a little. She freaked out at the random hand in her shower. She grabbed it before it pulled away and peered her head out from the curtain.

He gave a small wave with the other hand when she processed it for him. "I told you no hot showers naughty, naughty girl," he stated as he put his hand on his hip. She squints her eyes at him as to why he’s even still here. She didn’t even bother covering herself up when stepping out. He saw it all before when helping her shower the first week out of the hospital. He sat back down on the sink.

She turned off the shower, finally wrapping herself in a towel. "I thought I told you to go home, did I not?" He shrugged his arms in the air. She huffed a deflated sigh, slugging her shoulders. She shook her hair out away from him and near the tub.

"Well, since you’re still here, you are going to help me with this pigsty," she declares plainly. She handed him the detangling spray. He knew what to do, he started close to her scalp then worked it downward. He grabbed one of the combs as well to begin. "Your hair is thicker," he commented as he was sectioning her hair.

"Also, it smells good,” he adds. His fingers gently guide her hair into three parts. He tagged a knot which hooked her backward. "Ow! I said help me, don't hurt me, Eli." He laughs a little.

She looked up at him, scowling her lips in a frown. She thought about taking the comb and beating his ass with it. He went through it again, but more gently this time. He kissed the top of her head as an apology. "Hmph.."

He managed to comb out her hair before blowing drying it. He dried it until it was damp so she could have the chance to air dry it. She asked if he could hand over her pajamas he was sitting on so she could change into them. He does so when he leaves the bathroom. He sat on the end of her bed, waiting for her to finish. She folded her arms to her sides as she groaned out.

He turned his head toward her with a certain look on his face. He lifted off the top layer of blankets and tapped the bed. She walked over sheepishly. She just sighed when getting into the bed. "You know what, can you stay the night actually?" He twinkled his eyes with surprise.

He wants to know if that’s what she really wants. "But what about your dad?" She shrugged and didn’t care. He pulled the blankets over her, tucking her in. "If that’s what you want then I’ll stay," he retorts as he gets up from the mattress. He was about to go over to the windowsill and lay over there when she grabbed his arm.

She shook her head when he tried to leave to go to the other side of the room. "Princess, I cannot lay in the same bed as you. I have to go over there.." She didn’t think that was a reasonable excuse. She wanted him to stay where he was at. The only ever time he laid in her bed was when the two were in the hospital together.

All those memories come back to him and he gets all regretful about it. He sat at the foot of the bed and said he will not be moving further. She curled her lip in a line, further fueling her displeasure. He was insistent that he stays where he’s sat. She didn’t want him over there; she wanted him to be closer.

If he gets closer, the more he remembers what went on between them. He doesn’t want to remember the two of them kissing. He might’ve liked the kissing then, but now that it has almost been a month, he feels terrible. She doesn’t even remember when he saw her naked for the first time. It was just bizarre, but he tried being respectful about it.

It was something to him but it was another inconvenience for her to not remember. He watched her carefully as she slept. Her father had walked upstairs, seeing Eli at the foot of her bed. "Why are you still here?"

[oddlylivinginshadows]

TORN BETWEEN TWO.

JULY 27TH, 2025 — oddlylivinginshadows — 1,023 words.

part five out of fifteen parts

He seemed afraid to move, wanting to move to the other side of the couch but choosing to stay there. He had noted that she had fallen asleep after watching the movie. He wasn’t sure which side she had fallen asleep on… He tried to move to the other side of the couch again when a low groan emerged from the couch or her, he wasn’t sure which. Picking up his phone to check the time, he noted that it was eight fifteen.

Miguel made every effort to contact both Sam and Eli, apologizing for his previous antics. He actually meant something different, but antics, let’s go with that. Eli’s mouth twisted as he read and reread the apology. His hand hovered over the keyboard, wanting to tear another one out of her, but he kept his cool. This wasn’t what Sam wanted them to do.

She wished they were still friends. He ignored a roll of his eyes as he replied, "It’s okay, man, no worries!" But there were worries: Sam was stressing out. Eli watched as she was all curled up neatly in the corner of the couch. She could read those messages herself when she woke up.

He quickly got up from the couch to go home and gave her a little kiss on the forehead as he left. Anthony was getting the carton of orange juice from the refrigerator when he got to the ground floor. "Um, where the fuck are you doing?" He shrugged. He had thought about going home, but now he wasn’t so sure.

Daniel came out of his office with some papers in his hand. "Anthony, who are you… Oh Eli! I didn’t know you were still here. Are you leaving?" He stood there with his hands to his hips, not saying anything. Daniel had offered to order takeout if he was up to it. It was five, maybe six in the afternoon since he’d last eaten.

Daniel had sat him down at the dining room table as they waited for the Chinese food to arrive. He was just worried Sam was going to wake up and see that he left her down there. He tapped his fingers on the table the more impatient he got. She did wake up but she was confused how long she had been asleep for. He panicked, rose up from the table, and made his way over to her.

"How are you feeling? Did you sleep well?" She looked over to him, confused, as to why he’s still here. She figured he had left, but opened her mouth to ask why when her father happily cut her off. He said that the food was here. She yawned and sheepishly walked over to the table.

Daniel seemed surprised to see her emerge from downstairs as he thought she would have left with Eli to go over to the mall or bookstore. She groaned as Daniel flicked on more light to illuminate the area. She wanted them to be off. She slugged on the table as Daniel brought over the food. She scrunched her nose at the smell it smelt strange to her.

"You feeling okay down there, Sam?" She groaned further, dissatisfied with her stomach. It was gurgling in pain. Eli held onto the back of her seat to watch over her as she ate. He advised her to start with chicken or whichever had the most protein.

She sneered her eyes upward at him. She knows that he’s trying to help her but she is still unsatisfied with the food choices. "Oh, come on Sam, you usually like what I order." Daniel nudged over the chicken for Eli to drag over to her. She looked at it weirdly as if it didn’t look like chicken. "That doesn’t look edible," she sighed.

She turned her head away from it. Eli and Daniel shared a look with one another. He pulled in a seat next to her then pulled the chicken in front of her. She curled her lip in dismay. She closed her eyes as she refused to look at it further.

"Do you want me to make something for you again, Sam?"

"Mmm..."

"Hmm?"

"Okay.. if you want to."

Eli curled his lips in a smile and planted a kiss on her forehead. He asked if he could use the kitchen real quick. Daniel allowed him to use it if he was going to feed his daughter. He mumbled about how little she ate when she left the hospital. She snarked back that she did eat when she left.

Daniel reminded her that she went in there at a hundred and forty-five pounds now she's barely over one-ten. She sighed, flaring her nose unapologetically. Eli rubbed her shoulders, telling her that it'll be okay and he will get her fixed up in no time. She formed a faint smile as he walked back in the kitchen. She peered her eyes over to her father when her smile fell.

"Did you seriously have to bring up my weight?"

"Yes, Sam, it's a concern!"

"But did you have to bring it up in front of him? Out of everyone?"

The two fell quiet as they pursed their lips shut. Anthony glanced between them wondering if their tension was going to continue. She breathed heavily through her nose. After some time, Eli had come out with a plated dish. It smelt delicious.

Her mouth watered so she had to catch it with her hand. She wiped it away with a napkin on the table. Eli scooted his seat close to hers to watch over as she ate. He carefully eyed her father after he mentioned her weight. It seemed her eyes fell heavier afterward.

She didn't want to meet anyone's eyes after dinner. She told all three of them that she will be going to bed early for the night. Eli’s eyes landed on Daniel, as he was thinking it could’ve been him that made her go. She pushed her plate away from her before proceeding to go upstairs. She slammed her bedroom door, which just solidified the thought process he had.

[oddlylivinginshadows]

TORN BETWEEN TWO.

JULY 27TH, 2025 — oddlylivinginshadows — 1,355 words.

part four out of fifteen parts

She huffed out a dramatic sigh as she flung off the blanket off her body. "Are you okay over there," he asked with a bewildered expression. She looked at him weird as if he's the one who's really asking that. She just shook her head, not really wanting to say anything at all. Her stomach started to gurgle and hurt.

"Maybe you need to take the medicine yourself, princess," he says with certainty. She turned her head over to him. He crawled on over to her on all fours and squeezed her knee reassuringly. She narrowed her eyes at him as she sharpened her gaze. He gave a weak laugh as he didn't know what else to do.

"Or I could try working something up in your kitchen?" She pursed her lips in a line with uncertainty in his ability to cook. He simply shrugged his shoulders as he lay on the floor. He told her that he took some cooking classes so he should be mediocre at best. It was her turn to groan, but she did it as she was displeased with herself.

He rises from the floor to prepare a quick meal for her. He promised her that he would return shortly. She remains uncertain about this. She gets up from the floor to see what he will be doing with his actions. The smell was promising...

She approached him discreetly, "Smells good," she states. He let out a startled scream, holding the salt in hand. She found it rather amusing in his reaction upon turning around. It wasn't very nice to do but she remained indifferent. She pulled a stool over to observe his cooking.

He repeatedly glanced over his shoulder to see if she was still watching. "Do you think I'm judging you?" she inquired, peering over his shoulder. "To some extent." She let out a small laugh. She assured him that she wasn't and actually found it amusing how he was cooking. He smiled small in satisfaction.

He presented her with her plated meal. "Viola!" he exclaims. He was nervous about the taste of it. He put the salt back in the cabinet when he leaned on the sink. The food actually looked and smelled delicious but the question is, will the taste measure up?

Unbeknownst to her, she took a fork he had used that was on the counter. He crossed his arm as he shimmied closer to watch her. "Oh, I know what you're doing. You're watching me now, right?" she says, as she took her first bite. He nods and watches her intently as she eats. Unlike him she was unbothered when people ate.

It just mattered if they were staring at her teeth. She breathed heavily as she ate. Her blood pressure was going up. She nearly fell off the stool she was sitting on. "You, okay?" She nods uncertainly.

"Princess...?" She put down the plate on the counter and sat down on the floor. He joined her on the floor. He snapped his fingers in her face to get her attention. "How many of my fingers do you see?" he questioned with concern.

She squinted her eyes unsure. "I feel nauseous, Eli, almost like I need to puke." He scooted away so he wouldn't be barfed on. He told her to wait for a moment so he could check her medicine cabinet. She slugged upward much to his dismay; she threw up in the sink.

She didn't think it was his food, she was just stressing from Miguel. Eli walked over cautiously to make sure she was alright. He handed her the Pepto she had previously given him. "I think it might be time for you to take this and have a nap of your own, yeah?" She slurred her eyes over to him, uncertain.

But she said to get it ready for her as she was preparing a glass of water. He gave her a teaspoon of Pepto. She shivered with disgust when she saw it and quickly gulped it down. "You don't even like it yourself," he commented in surprise. "Yeah, because it tastes like bubblegum," she coughed out.

She drank down the water quickly, then refilled her glass. She groaned as she slid down onto the floor. He gave her reassuring pets to her head as he looked down at her. "Do I need to stay the night again? 'Cause I can if you need me too, princess." She sighed.

He rejoined her on the floor. He took the cup from her hands to get a look in her eyes without a distraction. She looked deep in his eyes when he looked at them. "You should be fine for now but if any other symptoms appear, you tell me." She pursed her lip in a frown when he said that but agreed to his conditions.

He smiled as he helped the two of them up off the floor. He told her that he will go back to the dojo if they need anything. She nods her head, as she watches him leave out from the sun room. He wasn't gone long as he came right back ten minutes later. She was falling asleep herself in the kitchen.

He put the plate in the sink as he led her downstairs in the basement. "Nice and cold basement, it's good for lowering the blood pressure," he says freely. She narrowed her eyes once more. "You keep looking at me like I'm annoying you. Am I annoying you?" She shook her head no.

He asked her if she was a hundred percent certain with the answer she's telling him. She shot him a look of seriousness. He threw his hands in the air, swearing he wouldn't ask it again. She snicked a laugh again, as she pulled him over to the couch so he could sit with her.

She had no other plans to do today; she has already completed all her tasks for the day. If there were nothing going on with the dojo and they went over to the café, what else should be doing? She looked over to him to see if he had any idea what else they should do together. He looked at her, all confused why she was staring him down the way she was. "Yes, princess?"

She placed a finger on his lips in order to shush him, and kept looking at his eyes for something or anything at all. He caught his breath in his throat as she traced his lips with the finger she was using to shush him, not wanting to divert her attention from her thoughts. He glanced on over to the movie shelf; he signaled with his eyes about them. She looked on over as well before releasing her finger from touching. He could have easily removed her finger, but he chose not to for his own reasons.

Reminds him of the time in the hospital before they — you get the point. She picked out a movie her family just bought. "We were supposed to watch this as a family together, but.. they're not here so we're gonna watch it together. I could get Anthony down here to join us..," she considered. She took out her phone to text Anthony, asking if he wanted to join the two downstairs. He said he would be busy today and tomorrow due to important appointments and assignments.

She nodded as she turned off the phone. "Is he going to be joining us?" She shook her head, indicating that Anthony will not. So it was just the two of them alone again. His chest tightened as she rejoined him on the couch.

He brought his hand to his mouth, tracing it the way she did. Before they started the movie, he asked her a question, "Why do you trace my lips as often as you do?" She looked over to him as she picked the blanket off the ground... She didn't know what to say to the question. "I just feel like I've done it before. I don't know how else to explain," she answers shortly.

[oddlylivinginshadows]

TORN BETWEEN TWO.

JULY 15TH, 2025 — oddlylivinginshadows — 1,349 words.

part three out of fifteen parts

Eli dismissed her to go back upstairs to do whatever she liked so he could eat alone, as he didn't like it when people watched him eat. She raised a brow at him suspiciously, but turned around to leave the room. She had seen him eat before, but maybe this could be different. It might be, because he was feeling unwell and didn't want to make her sick. Though it didn't work like that, as she wasn't the one throwing up. 

She was certain she wouldn't get sick, but she respected his wishes and walked back upstairs. She turned on her phone, still clearing the notifications from Yasmine, to call Miguel to inquire what he would be doing for his day. She didn't see him at the dojo, which was odd, so she was a tiny bit curious. "Hey Mig, how are you?" she asked, beginning their phone call. He said he was doing good, and asked if her if she thinks she spends too much time with Eli. 

The question threw her off for a moment. She stammered, "I - I personally don't think I do, but do you think I do?" His voice sounded all weird, almost squeaky over the phone. It was hitched up every time he would bring up the fact that she and Eli were having fun. "He's just wanting to make sure I'm having fun during my recovery time, as you seem to be avoiding me like the plague," she told him. 

He quickly grew frustrated, telling her he wasn't avoiding her. She sighed as she didn't know what to believe but to her, it seemed like he was, though he could tell her from his side and maybe she could gain some understanding. He didn't know what to tell her exactly, which made her feel deeply annoyed. She seethed a sigh throw her teeth; she just wanted to know if it was her. Is she the problem? 

If so, he needed to be honest with her. But he never said that it was. He reminded her that she wanted to take a break from their relationship. She knew that, but that didn't mean she couldn't check on him. She didn't know where this conversation was going, as he brought up the fact that she and Eli were hanging out together.

"Miguel, are you jealous of Eli and me?" He went quiet on the line for about five minutes. That made her think that he was, in fact, jealous of the two spending time, but didn't say it aloud. "Miguel? Are you still there?" ...Another three minutes ticked on. 

She became impatient with him, sighed away from the speaker, then placed the phone back on her ear."Yeah, I'm still here," he says, as his voice is still funky. She asked him worriedly if he was feeling unwell himself. She could head over there with medicine for him if he needed it. He quickly told her that he was fine. 

She was uncertain about that answer. "Miguel—" The phone clicked. He hung up on her. She pursed her lip in a curled frown. 

He sent her a lengthy text apologizing and said he had to do something for his mom real quick. She wanted to call him out on his bull shit but gave him the time to collect himself. His temper has been bouncing back a couple of times when they speak to one another. She sighed heavily, as she tucked away her phone in her pocket. Oh well, she went back downstairs to check on Eli.

She flung herself on the floor near him, seeing that he was still eating the meal she made him. She wanted to know how he was still eating that, then realized not everyone eats fast like she does. He looked over on the floor with the spoon barely grazing his top lip. He raised a brow, "What happened? You look pissed, princess," he says muddled. She just groaned sluggish nonsense on the floor. 

He slipped to the floor, patting her on the head while he continued eating. "There, there," he says, applying comfort to her. She smiled small as he gave her pets. "Shouldn't you be worried that I'm in here watching you eat?" He put the bowl down, looked at her right in the eye, and shook his head no.

She pursed her lips in a line, unamused. He asked what happened. "Well, I called Miguel, and got slammed with jealousy," she told him. He raised an eyebrow, as he brought up the bowl to his mouth. "He thinks the two of us hang out too much," she continued. 

He puts the bowl back down as he furrows his brows down. "I'm not sure what is going through his head, because he won't tell me. I want him to tell me, however, it could take a while," she sighs. She took the blanket off the couch and wrapped herself in it, whining. He moved the bowl out of the way to make his way over to her. He moved the blanket off her face.

"Did he really think that or are you overthinking things again?" he asked with an annoyed interrogating voice. She groaned sickly as she rolled her eyes in her lashes.

"Okay, that was mean of me, I apologize, but did he seriously say that?" She nods her head. He sighs as he rolls his eyes too. 

He took out his own phone from his jacket pocket. He told her to wait where she was, as he'll be giving him a piece of his mind. She breathed heavily as she wrapped herself further into the blanket; she needed to feel grounded at least. She heard their commotion from there when he went to the bathroom. "No, that doesn't make any fucking sense! You could have told her that at least instead of making it look like she went insane," he yelled out, leaving the bathroom. 

He hung up on Miguel in return for him hanging up on her. He stopped and turned to look at her weirdly. "Um, princess, what the fuck are you doing?" he laughed. She mumbled about wanting to be comfortable. He shook his head laughing; he walked over and patted her head before going upstairs to put his bowl away. 

She ruffed her head free again, "Make sure to rinse it out, please!" He told her that he will. His phone rang; it was Miguel calling him back. When Eli didn't answer, he left him a text stating, "I just don't want the two of you hanging out as much as you are." He rolled his eyes when reading the message left on his phone. 

If Miguel didn't want them hanging out, then who would be responsible for caring about her well-being? Her younger brother? Well, she doesn't want to be a hassle to him, and felt like it was inappropriate for her younger brother to take care of her. She felt like it would only make sense if it was someone her age or even her parents. Her parents didn't spend much time with her, as they recommended she be in a care unit.

She was getting paranoid in her hospital room, but of course, she doesn't remember that. He came back downstairs to show her the text Miguel had left him. Her eyes narrowed, unamused. He shrugged before slumming down next to her. He laid down next to her, not really saying anything. 

His stomach gurgled a little more as he subdued a low groan. His back aches and wincing . "Still feeling sick?" He shook his head no. "I think it might be back pains, actually." 

She snicked a laugh at him. "Are you getting old on me, Eli?" He stretched out, groaning further, releasing a blasphemous noise. She widened her eyes at the noise. "I - I don't know what the hell that was but I am deeply concerned..."

He contorted a snort. He laid himself out on the floor. He could go back on the couch if he wanted but he stayed put next to her.

[oddlylivinginshadows]

TORN BETWEEN TWO.

JULY 15TH, 2025 — oddlylivinginshadows — 1,370 words.

part two out of fifteen parts

She placed her phone back in her pocket. She continued to mope on his shoulder. The two, Kyler and Moon, were still there. They were shooting glances at Eli, who still wouldn't budge from her side. She didn't see Yasmine come and join them at their table. 

Eli frowned, not because he was surprised, it was due to his suspicion that Yasmine had been helping those two out. Helping them with information on who Sam had been talking to or where she's located. Sam doesn't know how they keep on finding her and she already had about two breakdowns. Her stress was ruining her all over again. He offered to babysit her brother and found her crying in her bathroom tub sobbing one night. 

It was horrible. She was pulling her out for the most part. She asked of him to find scissors and cut it off. He didn't want to. She asked him again or whether she was going to keep pulling it out. He found a pair of fabric scissors and cut it to her collarbone. 

She was satisfied with the length and asked if he could leave the room so she could continue her bath. He stood by the door to see if she would need anything else from him. Anthony wandered up there to ask if everything was okay up there. He saw the hair in Eli's hands and didn't dare to make a comment on it. He went back downstairs to his game rather than know what the hell happened.

Once she left her tub, she grabbed the scissors herself and snipped herself some bangs. Eli panicked when she did that but they actually turned out to be cute. He had Johnny fix up her hair to make it even. She was wrapped in three towels as she sat on a stool outside as Johnny fixed her hair. He dismissed her once he finished up. 

He pulled Eli to the side wanting to know what exactly went down in the bathroom. "She was having a meltdown," Eli told him. Johnny made sure that both Miguel and Eli keep their eyes on her as she seems to be unstable. They can find the exact day she became hyper vigilant about things. Johnny is mostly ruling it out to be from her experimental surgery. 

That experimental surgery had changed a lot of things about her; she used to enjoy doing word searches but now she hates them; she used to enjoy drawing but now her hand gets too twitchy to even pick up a pencil. She's been really hard on herself since she got out of the hospital. It didn't help when she started to  limp shortly after it either. Eli started to notice the difference rather quickly and mandated to know where and what they cut in her brain. The nurses who were on shift didn't want to tell him due to HIPPPA. 

He thought that was a load of bull. He got so upset he punched a hole in the wall of his bedroom. He asked if Sam could put him or at least ask them where they cut her brain. She bit the insides of her cheek when she thought about it. "Do I have to make a decision right away or it could be when I feel like it?" she asked him. 

He told her sooner or later but yes, it could be when she decided. She had little to no recollection of her time in the hospital. Miguel had been growing skeptical of her time away but knew better than to ask due to a possibility of stressing her out. "I want to believe her," he started to tell Eli one night. Eli didn't wish to hear what he had to say about her "trip" or the hospital.

He actually grew distant when people asked. He was also assuring to be there to attend Sam's every need even as simple as brushing her hair. Miguel pleaded with her if she remembers what her trip was like before she injured herself; he felt like she knew deep down what happened. She wasn't sure why he was so insistent that she could remember. She doesn't even remember who "Robby" is but his name lingers in her mind.

 She doesn't know if it was a taunting dream of an old life or if it was this one. No one dares to tell her anything about him. It makes her feel all queasy when thinking about it further. Eli and Miguel both had told her to just focus on her physical and verbal therapy rather than who the other guy is. She opened her eyes to see herself standing there still at the café. 

She didn't remember closing them at all. She checked her phone to see if anyone had wrote back to her text. One person replied saying that they would like a croissant and if they didn't have anything, they would settle for a cookie. Demetri followed suit with the cookie trend, but Anthony changed his mind about wanting one. She told him that she'll get him a muffin. She told them that they can deliver any drinks if people wanted them. 

Mostly everyone passed on getting one. Johnny asked for a black coffee with two sugars. Her father told him, he should pass on the coffee and get something that doesn't have caffeine in it. "I don't even have the right to drink beer, LaRusso, because you won't let me. So I should have to say about how I want my coffee. Anyway, Sammy, please bring me the black one with two sugars, I can't deal with your father's decaf," Johnny wrote in the chat. She giggled reading his message. Eli scanned through the chat on his phone as the buzzing was annoying him. 

Moon started to take pictures of what the two were doing. She was putting them in a folder named "evidence". She was so desperate the two had something going on and weren't telling Miguel. She instructed Kyler to get closer to them to hear what they are saying. They were leaving when he got up from his table. 

Sam noticed that he was creeping up on them as she started to freak out. She started to ruffle her hair between her fingers, which was a sign for Eli to get the fuck out of there. Eli was sure to hook her close before mounting her on his bike. He put a helmet on her first before getting himself settled. She asked, "Where am I going to put everyone's food and drinks?" 

He tucked them in the compartment where he held the helmets. Kyler stumbled on his feet when he stalked them outside. The two of them looked at him before looking at each other and laughing. He didn't like how they were laughing at him. Like last time, he grabbed a towelette and went to throw it.

 Eli quickly noticed and booked them out of there. Sam's gaze hardened when she saw Moon and Yasmine accompanying Kyler outside. They were asking him if he was alright. She was not amused by the sight. "I wonder if Demetri knows that Yasmine might be tangling herself with Kyler again," she says as Eli drives them off a couple blocks away. 

He hurriedly curt his bike in an empty parking spot. "What do you mean again?" he asked. He didn't know the first time it happened. She goes on about how faintly she remembers all three of Kyler, Moon, and Yasmine all had a "cuddle session" in Kyler's car during her freshman year. Eli about threw up in his mouth. 

"Do you mean they fucked each other?"

"Um, yes? I would assume that is what they meant by 'cuddle session', though I'm not necessarily sure what it all means."

"Oh, sweet god, I'm going to throw up.."

"Oh.. Well, do you want me to take over for driving?"

"No, no, I got it. I just need a moment..," he says, getting off the bike. A couple feet away he threw up his lunch. Sam also got off the bike to make sure he was okay. He did not like knowing that information.

[oddlylivinginshadows]

TORN BETWEEN TWO.

JULY 9TH, 2025 — oddlylivinginshadows — 1,324 words.

part one out of fifteen parts

This is the second production of "Through Time, With You" series, and takes places about three weeks after where we left off. Sam’s doctor recommended that she needs to get an experimental brain surgery for her stress. Now that she’s finally home, but there’s a problem, she has a hard time remembering people, places, all sorts of things…

It's been about three weeks since Sam had left the hospital. There are times she forgets that part a lot. Her memory is foggy from what happened previously during her visit there. She asked Eli a handful of times but he didn't want to tell her. He felt like she wasn't ready for that information yet.

He had been going nuts about trying to figure out what was causing the stressing black outs. He's certain that has to relate to Kyler in a way but doesn't have enough concrete evidence to pin him on it. Also, that one worker from the bookstore who tucked her away in the bathroom instead of immediately asking for help from others. He assumed the two were friends in a way, but again, no concrete evidence. Sam's mind had almost been completely wiped from what occurred during her visit in the hospital.

"Eli, can you please tell me what happened!" she begged. He was insisting on not telling her as she suffered a pretty terrific head injury and had to get experimental surgery due to the doctor recommending it. She clung on his arm as he led her to the café again. She seemed to have no recollection of being here, but loving the scenery of it all. The warm atmosphere made her feel at ease despite feeling all paranoid that she'll have another episode of passing out.

Eli held on to her pretty firm so if she did, he would be able to catch and get her help. She asked if she could sit in front of one of the big windows. "In one of the booths?" She shook her head no and pointed at the table with the bar stools. It was toward the middle on the other side from where they were standing.

He pats her hand that's clinging around the cuff of his sleeve with a smile. She rested her head on his shoulder as she seemed to scan the area more thoroughly. Moon and Kyler had entered almost like it was planned. They tried getting closer to her, maybe to ask her where she's been and on cue they asked her. "Where have you been, Sam?" Moon asked her.

She freed herself from Kyler to try and give Sam a hug. Sam didn't want to be hugged. "I think I was in the hospital," she answered, as she went to touch the back of her head. She felt the scar from the surgery. It felt so strange, but she forced a smile on her face. She positioned herself behind Eli slightly as they stepped closer to her.

Eli's eyes watched her carefully as she held onto his shoulder tighter. She looked like she wanted to hide away rather than being in front of them. "Sam, we're not going to hurt you if that's what you're thinking," Moon tells her. Sam looked at her like she didn't believe a word she was saying. "Hawk, do you mind getting out of the way so I could talk to Sam alone?"

"No," he says shortly. He fixed his arm around her waist, holding onto her. Sam didn't move her eyes off the two. She breathed heavily and quietly. "All we want is to catch up with you, Sam, that's all I promise," Moon guaranteed. 

Sam flicked her eyes over to Eli then back to them. Her bangs trickled over her top lashes as she continued doing that for a couple minutes. She pursed her lips in a frown as she was making her decision. "Can we just go order our food, please?" she asked in a hushed whisper. Eli retreated steps back to get away from Kyler and Moon.

Moon called out to ask where the two were going. Upon them leaving to go to the other side of the building, she flared her arms up in the air before smacking them back down to her sides. She prompted a disappointment frown to Kyler, who was equal in her feelings. The two watched the other two very closely. Yasmine finally walked in after watching the whole thing go down. 

"That was really fucking pathetic to watch. I don't even know what I saw. I told you two to get her over here!" she snapped. Moon rolled her eyes telling Yasmine that she tried to but Eli has her hooked around his finger - more like his arm. Eli was smirking when watching them crumble; he also congratulated Sam from preventing a mess that was ready to brew. She didn't know what he meant but said she was happy to help. 

He ran his free hand through her curls, seemingly to calm her down from her paranoia about what the two were planning. She leaned her head to further dig his hand in her hair. The two shared a small laugh about it. "You surely do that a lot," she tells him. He made a face when she said that.

"What I mean is, you surely run your hands through my hair a lot. I'm not complaining as I like it, but it's like you know that it will calm me down," she says adamantly. He just smiles as he continues to pet her hair. He goes on to tell her that he did this while she was in the hospital. She would get tense most of the time and got worried some people were looking at her. Half of those times, she feared someone was going to take her in her sleep. 

yolo She would scream and cry out for help. She would wake up drenched in sweat and tears. She didn't know that, but glad he finally told her something that happened in the hospital. He didn't tell her about what they did in the shower - that a secret he'll keep to the grave. "Was I just in the hospital the entire time or did we do anything before I went?"

"Um, yeah, we went to the bookstore. It was your idea."

"Hmm, did I ever get what I needed or wanted from there?"

"I don't think you did. I think you were trying to get a book for Anthony or yourself..."

"Ah, that makes the most sense. I might have been getting you a book as well!"

"Maybe, but are you ready to start ordering your drink?"

"Mm-hmm!"

"Okay, perfect, and you can go first, princess."

She managed to get herself a tea, preferably a chai tea. He was surprised she didn't get a coffee for herself. She told him that she wanted to shift her choices around also, that it looked yummy with the cinnamon on top. He went back to linking their arms as the two waited for their drinks. "What did you get?" she asked, whispering in his ear. 

He turned his head over to her, whispering in hers, "I got a mango and lime smoothie." She raised her brows in surprise. She didn't know what it was but she told him that it sounded yummy also. He agreed. He has never tried it so he's willing to try something new which is something she was doing. 

She sulked her head down on his shoulder as the two waited. He went back to petting her head. She mumbled a satisfied groan as he did so. He just continued onward instead of freaking out, which he could very easily be doing at the moment. "I think I'm worn out from seeing those two here," she breathed. 

She huffs out a wretched sigh. The warm air trickled on his neck and ear. He stood still as he stiffened and wrapped his arm around her waist again. "Have you texted your brother or Miguel to see if they wanted anything?" She looked up at him when realizing she hadn't. 

She took out her phone from her jacket pocket. She texted the Miyagi-Do group chat, "Hey everyone, Eli and I are at a café, do you want anything?"

[oddlylivinginshadows]

THE AFTER PROM.

JULY 3RD, 2025 (1:42) — oddlylivinginshadows — 1,492 words.

part ten out of ten parts

He spent most of his night texting Miguel pretending to be her this entire time. He tried to make it seem so it could be believed by others. Her brother, however, caught on pretty quickly. Anthony asked what happened to her and why does he have her phone? Eli told him she isn't well right now as she's been taking care of in the hospital though he doesn't want to alarm anybody about it.

Anthony swore to hide this on his behalf but the more questions being thrown around, the more scared and uncomfortable he's going to get. Eli understood that and told him to do whatever means necessary if it meant protecting Sam. Eli didn't want the wrong people to find out she's in there. He turned off her phone around one in the morning. He maneuvered his position to be more comfortable with her.

She groaned ever so gently as she fixated herself back onto his shoulder. He ran his fingers through her hair once more, shushing her as she slept. “It's okay,” he promised. He knew better than to do that but it's the best he could do. He kissed her forehead then headed off to sleep himself.

Around six or seven am came her breakfast and morning shower. He had to get off the bed as two people helped her to the restroom. They told her she could either bathe or shower. It was her choice. They handed her what looked like hotel soap more than anything. “I could go to the store real quick to get you better soap,” he tells her as he unwrinkled his shirt.

She peaked from the door frame as she narrowed her eyes on him. They were luring him to get in there with her. He sat down on her sink as he crossed over his arms. “What is it, princess? Is something wrong?” She stepped up to his face, looking up in his eyes, seemingly like she's saddened.

“You haven't done it yet.”

“Haven't wha— Oh!”

“Yeah, oh, knucklehead!”

“Well, I'm so sorry and come here,” he tells her, bringing her even closer to him. She giggled with excitement before they even made contact with each other. He called her silly before indulging in their kiss. She wanted to curl up in his lap so she could hold her again. She was stepping on her tippy-toes to reach him.

He got down from the sink to sit on the toilet. She didn't really like that option so she dragged them in the shower instead. The water was blaring down their faces as they locked in. Both were growling, maybe moaning when it came to their turn to dominate over the other. She sat on top of him as he was laying down on the tile floor. “You look so...—”

“Beautiful?”

“Yes.”

“I can say the same thing about you, princess.”

She beamed a smile on her face as she wiped away the water off her face. She ripped off his shirt as she went in for more. She was one thirsty woman for this so-called “kiss”. He sat up from the tile to pin her on the wall of the shower. He managed to be gentle enough to not hurt her.

He slid down his mouth to her collarbone, biting and sucking at her skin. He kept biting until there was a faint reddish bruise. He made more behind her ear. “You taste so sweet,” he commented as he kissed. She giggled as it continued to tickle. He managed to get off her hospital gown and throw it to the side.

He was not anticipating she wouldn't have any garments on. His eyes widened as he fixated on her collarbone and rib cage. His fingers traced the ribs like they were a xylophone. It tickled as he continued to caress them gently. She snapped her fingers to get his attention back to what they were doing.

He perked up his head, as he licked his lips to kiss her on the same lips she used to bruise his. She bit even harder than last time by drawing blood from them. She looked like she had just gotten her prize. So this is what she wanted after all, his blood. He was certain it tasted nasty but she didn't mind.

She licked it right off as she bit down on his lower lip. He was thinking she was going to do the same as she did for the top. He felt like she was too far away so he hoisted her closer, having them chest to chest. His body definitely had a reaction to doing that. He was very certain he was hard having her that close.

He laid her down on the tile so they could do it laying down. She pulled him closer when he tried taking breaths of air. “If I don't get to breathe neither do you,” she stated, as she pulled him in. She clawed at his back when he pulled away. He appreciated that she shared his enthusiasm with this, but her nails were causing his back to hurt, maybe even bleed.

They were short nails, but nonetheless they did some things. She dug deeper in his skin as she got more...? What would be the right word to describe what she's feeling? Excited? Aroused?

“You hurt me, princess,” he admits, as he breathes unsteadily. He got to catch his breath after she had gotten tired for a little bit. She had a cheeky smile on her face; she was definitely proud of what she did. He was beaming and hurting all over. She did apologize as she nestled in the gap of his shoulder and neck.

She nibbled at it instead of really biting down. She could do it if she wanted but he thinks she is tiring down too. He just stared at every bit of her when she went to get her new gown off the restroom's door and get back into bed. He had to call his mom to drop off clothes for him. He was all soaked from that little adventure.

It was a wrongful but pleasant one. His mother arrives at Sam's hospital room, confused as to why she's in there. Sam didn't know who the woman was as she was finally getting settled in her bed. "I'm looking for my son, Sam," the woman reassured her. She finally processed what was going on.

The woman was his mother. She told her that he was in the restroom. He had to go piss Sam said. His mother left clothes for both him and Sam. Mrs. Moskowitz asked her why she was even in the hospital.

Sam told her that it might be related to a head injury or her stress again as she tends to black out for some periods. She seemed shocked to hear that from Sam. Sam dismissed it, saying it normally happens. This ain't new with her as it's been a long time since she was diagnosed...

“How long have you had it?”

“About fourteen and a half years? Yeah, fourteen and a half.”

“Oh, uh, wow that's a long time hon...”

“Yeah but my doctor told me that I'm getting better!”

“Well that's great! I'll be sure to leave these by the door when he needs them and I hope to see you soon, okay?”

“Okay..!”

After Sam and his mom spoke he snuck the clothes in there with him. He got dressed himself and found his way back to her bed. He kissed her cheek as a greeting. “She seems nice,” Sam said to him. He nods as he knows his mother.

He told her that she brought clothes for her as well for when she gets out of here. Sam figured that was really nice of her. When it came time to do her medicine the nurse seemed to notice her “bruises” on her neck. She pursed her lips in a line not saying anything. Eli looked away as if he wasn't the one who did them.

“It's okay if you want to have sex just do it carefully and with proper protection,” she says as she hands Sam her pills. The two looked at each other, growing more red the more the woman spoke of sex. The two buried their faces in their hands to hide. She told them it wasn't embarrassing as they were making choices as young adults so that's how she'll be speaking to them as such.The nurse recommended he go to school because little miss Sam here has a lot of testing on her brain.

Sam whined saying she didn't want to. They were necessary and brand new. Sam didn't like the wording of “brand new” to describe these tests. He asked to be notified of the results when he comes back around four. The nurse knew he wasn't asking a question, as it was a rhetorical question.

[oddlylivinginshadows]

THE AFTER PROM.

JULY 2ND, 2025 (1:37) — oddlylivinginshadows — 1,599 words.

part nine out of ten parts

Note - finally putting the cup somewhere; you would get this if you read chapter eight. I was wondering what I was going to do with it, as it was killing me for making it randomly disappear lol

“I - what?”

“I asked, can I please kiss you?”

“No, I heard what you told me, but are you sure you want to kiss me?”

“Anyone who hadn't sure is missing a blessing.”

“You think kissing me is a blessing?”

“Could be if I'm granted to just one. I don't think I've ever gotten one from you before, though you could correct me if I'm wrong. So please, can I kiss you just this once?”

He had to be sure to place the cup somewhere before they even think about doing any of that kissing stuff. She rose herself from the blankets, took the cup and placed it back on the bedside table. Well, that's one less thing to worry about. She waited to hear from him. She beamed her blues at him as she scanned his eyes. He knew that's what she was doing when she waited.

He flared a breath shallowly through his nostrils. He twitched his mouth as his scanned hers; she really wanted this it seems. He granted her first kiss with him but she didn't know that part. He knew it was wrong but his curiosity got the best of him. He wanted to know what it felt like for once in his life.

Miguel, Keene, and Kyler had all felt it. Was it his curiosity or jealousy getting the better of him? She leaned in slowly, as she read his eyes, before leaning. She put her hand on his eyes to not look. She was evidently bashful about it.

The landing of the kiss was soft and very delicate. He gripped his fingers through her hair to get a better feel of her. He leaned his head upward to make her feel more at ease. He knew one thing for certain: it can't end right away. He pulled her closer to him as their kiss deepened.

She pulled herself on top of him as their kiss broke. “I—” She brought her index finger to his mouth, shushing him momentarily. “But—” She shook her head, accompanied with her index finger waving in the same direction, dismissing his words.

“Shush, we aren't done yet, charming.”

“Yes ma'am.”

He grinned like a fool when she went in again like last time their kiss deepened. Although this time she didn't cover his eyes. She even bit down on his upper lip as they got more affectionate with each other. He smiled as it went on. He could feel himself getting bulged up as he held her up right on his lap.

She slipped in a little surprise for tangling with his own tongue. Her pupils dilated; she was high, maybe she was high on arousal. He was certain his were doing the same. She kept biting at him. He was enjoying it a little too much by moaning in her mouth. He returned the biting which crooked a smirk on her face.

Oh, she definitely liked that. She forced one long one before splitting the two each other again. "I thought that was never going to end," he said as he felt his lip. It was getting bruised up already. He wasn't sure what to explain to Demetri or whoever asks about it.

That went better than he had thought but is this how she kissed all her boyfriends? He should not be thinking like that... His eyes seemed to be thinking about something. She leaned forward again, giving him a peck to his mouth again. His eyes gleamed her way, his lip curled in a smile as he kissed her once more.

He didn't really give her the chance to breathe as he was harboring all her breath away. He was the one on top now he scanned every feature of her face to see how she was liking it. She was a soft rose colored in the face. “You have attitude and control, I like that,” she giggled as she licked her lips to rehydrate them. He seemed satisfied with those results.

He got up from almost sitting on her before pulling her up to get her settled back in her position she was in before they even got started. The two didn't say much after that as she spent the whole time being giddy about the kiss. She asked if he would do it again tomorrow. “Tomorrow? You sure you want me to do that tomorrow?” She nods her head as she traced his lip scar once more for good measure.

“You don't even remember my name, princess.”

“You don't seem to remember mine either if you keep calling me that.”

“Oh, I know who you are. You are Samantha Renae LaRusso, aka my sweet princess.” [he booped her nose as he said this to her for your information, because he simply wanted to.]

“Oh, so he does know my name? Oh how wonderful!”

“I know that tone. You're being sarcastic..”

“Uh, no, I'm not. I'm truly surprised that you know my middle name.”

“You have told me what it was during English our freshman year, anyway, what take a guess as to what my name is?”

“Um, wow I probably wouldn’t have remembered that if I thought about it. Now that's a good question... Hmmm... Eli?”

“Eli what?”

She blinked so hard he thought she was going to set off with them. She couldn't recall his last name but had a strong sense it started with an M. He smiled, stating that she was close enough to the real deal. She gave herself a small applause. He gave her one too with snaps of his fingers.

Her stomach gurgled and she was hungry again. He informed that she will need to call for a nurse for her dinner. She said the only thing she can clearly remember without those awful headaches, is that she hates hospital food. It was something about the texture of it. He laughed, agreeing that it was pretty gross.

“How often are you here to know the food is awful?”

“Way too often I think. Maybe every couple months or so, but I’m usually not in this care unit.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m usually in the back with all the older people and who are likely to be ‘crazy’ or whatever the reason may be.”

She was telling him about the psychiatric rooms. He didn’t like how sad her voice got when she was talking about it. She didn’t want to talk about it anymore after her food was being brought in. He didn’t push but he was going to find out details. Usually these things are not his business but they had just gotten intimate so he feels like this is the least he could do.

Her phone buzzed in his pocket; he had forgotten it was in there. A text from Miguel came in, “Is something I did?” He didn’t want to answer right away; he needed to find answers. He had spotted Moon in the waiting room speaking in a hushed voice with Kyler. He didn’t know how long the two had been there. They were talking about what happened at the bookstore.

“I did what you told me to do. I mentioned you then invited him to your party.”

“And how well did she take that?”

“Not well, but as expected with her condition.”

“Do you think she could even be at this hospital? This is where they put her in that weird room…”

“That I’m not sure of, as I was hoping to ask the lady at the front desk…”

He seemed to pop out of nowhere to them. Moon gasped when she noticed him. She portrayed that she was worried about Sam but just moments ago didn’t. She asked if Sam was being treated, which he lied and said that she wasn’t. “They moved her elsewhere for treatment,” he says, still lying through his teeth.

Moon looked pitiful and desperate to know where she’ll be staying at. He shrugged, saying he wasn’t sure as he was just informed she wasn’t here. Kyler eyed him suspiciously as he wasn’t sure if he was telling the truth. “I could ask the lady at the front desk for answers and text you the details sometime?”

“Yeah, that’ll be good. Thank you!”

“Anytime, and be sure to get home safely tonight.”

“I sure will! You have a good night, Hawk.”

He waved her off as Moon left the waiting room arm-in-arm with Kyler. He subdued a growl underneath his breath when the two left. He rolled his eyes making his way to Sam’s room. She was a shade of pink, and not the good kind. She was laying down but shifted uncomfortably, seemingly like she was burning up.

He grabbed the remote to her air conditioning, adjusting it to a nice sixty-six degrees. She turned her over to the conditioning as he turned it down. “My savior,” she says as she acknowledges he’s in there. He told her he would do anything for his princess. She opened her eyes for a moment, leaned in, and gave him one more kiss.

“I’ll be sure to do that tomorrow for you as well,” he says as breaks the two from their last kiss of the evening. She nestled her cheek on his as he decided to stay for the evening. It was going to get cold very soon so he might as well cuddle with the girl. He runs his fingers through her hair as she sleeps soundly. The doctor and psychiatrist who were conducting a sleep test saw she was doing when he was in the room.