The Marvelous Elijah’s Return

What did you just say

The sound of her room door opening made Peach raise her head off the pillow and gazed at her mother, standing in the doorway, smiling at her. “Can I come in?” Miss Grace asked cheerfully, closing the door behind her and stepping inside the room.

Slowly, Peach sat up from the bed, hugging her knees as she rested her head on her kneecaps, feeling a sense of sadness welling up within her as she watched her mother approach her with a warm smile and sit down beside her on the edge of the

mattress.

“James made chicken soup for dinner with rice and vegetables.” Miss Grace told her kindly.

Shaking her head slowly, Peach said with a sad smile, “I‘m too full already, Mama.

You should go ahead and eat without me.”

“Peach, you have been in here all day and have barely put much in your stomach. That‘s not healthy!” Miss Grace chided her, gently squeezing Peach‘s hands. One look at her mother and Peach could see her concern clearly written across her wrinkled brows and pursed lips.

The sight made Peach‘s heart clench painfully in her chest, making her realize what her behavior was doing to her mother, so she smiled saintly and said, “Okay, let‘s go.”

The dining hall was quite peaceful when Miss Grace and Peach walked to the table, sitting between Rookie and Ryan.

Suddenly Matt entered the hall, and when James saw him alone, he frowned, mumbling,” Elijah is not joining us?”

Shaking his head slightly, Matt sighed and then said, “He won‘t even answer the door.”

The room fell silent after Matt‘s words and everyone stared at each other quietly for a moment, feeling a mixture of feelings stirring inside them. “Dish some food in a bowl, and I will take it to him,” Peach said, raising her gaze to meet James‘ concerned

ones.

Silently, Miss Grace darted her eyes towards her daughter with a soft expression on

her face.

motherly instincts told her that there was more going on with Peach‘s feelings towards Elijah than just friendship, and even though she was worried about her daughter and wanted to protect her, she understood that she needed to give them

nod, Peach stood up from the seat and picked up the tray that Elijah set before her, mumbling, “The worst that can happen is that he turns me

drewla silent breath and walked away from the table with the tray tightly in her grips.

track.

knew it was ridiculous to act so scaredly, but the way he was so angry this morning at Melina‘s

deeply to calm herself down, Peach knocked softly on the door and waited patiently before

Peach swallowed softly and said, “I got a tray of chicken soup with rice and veggies if

if that would get you to eat, but I haven‘t

it, so I

her and

rubbed his hand over his tired eyes while he gave a small smile and said, “Come in.” Pursing her lips, Peach walked inside the room,

on his desk, and turned around to

gave him a shaky smile before walking away, but as she was about to step past him, Elijah

eyebrow as he studied her appearance. Peach shrugged, trying to look unaffected by his touch, but she knew she wasn‘t fooling him because his touch sent

A small smile touched Elijah‘s

But Elijah gently grabbed her by her shoulders and

back behind her ear. “Are you not angry?” Peach whispered, unable to hold back her thoughts anymore. Her question caused Elijah to pause for a moment and drew his hand back as he rested against the chair and asked, “Angry? At who?” Shrugging her shoulders helplessly, Peach looked away

and Peach‘s head snapped up at the unexpected answer, watching him curiously. At this point, she didn‘t know what she was expecting to hear. But

Peach blinked owlislıly at

him warily. “We should

had fallen over

smiled when he handed her a spoon and said, “You should also try a bite of it.” Peach nodded her head and took a piece of chicken before bringing it to her mouth and swallowing it quickly. “Umm… If you were a meal, what meal would you be?” Peach

expression appeared on Elijah‘s features, and then he chuckled, mumbling, “What?” “You know… it‘s like a question game people use to get to know each other.” Peach explained as she placed another piece of chicken into her mouth and watched him expectantly. For a few moments, Elijah just stared at her in bewilderment, realizing why it

steak.” Elijah replied, shrugging

I think I will be a dessert, maybe

quietly at Elijah‘s room door, Miss Grace felt a sense of relief wash over her as she listened to the gentle laughter and

getting closer to Elijah is a risk because he seems like a man with so

that he will be good to you… that he won‘t do anything that might hurt

smiling when she heard