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.

with Peach‘s feelings towards Elijah than just friendship, and even though she was worried

up from the seat and picked up the tray that Elijah set before her, mumbling, “The worst that

away from the table with the tray tightly in her grips. Striving to stay optimistic,

track.

ridiculous to act so scaredly, but the way he was so angry this morning at

deeply to calm herself down, Peach knocked softly on the door

he didn‘t answer, Peach swallowed softly and said, “I got a tray of chicken

would lie and say it‘s delicious if that would

I

interrupted her and Peach looked up with

an exhausted sigh, Elijah rubbed his hand over his tired eyes while he gave a small smile and said,

tray down on his desk, and

to step past him, Elijah grabbed onto her wrist and pulled her in front

Elijah asked, arching his eyebrow as he studied her appearance. Peach shrugged, trying to look unaffected by his

smile touched Elijah‘s lips as he released her wrist and said, “Sit and help me finish this,

Elijah gently grabbed her by her shoulders

palm brushed against her skin, causing goosebumps to rise across her entire body. “Your mother said that you weren‘t feeling okay this morning,” Elijah commented softly as he examined her face closely, brushing a stray curl 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

the unexpected answer, watching him curiously. At this point, she

blinked

lower lip as she eyed him warily. “We should

that had fallen over

Melina and his relationship further. But she simply smiled when he handed her a spoon and said, “You should also try a bite of it.” Peach

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

a steak.”

thoughtfully and then said, “Mmhm… I think I will be a

relief wash over her as she listened to the gentle laughter and playful

to Elijah is a risk because he seems

he will be good to

when she heard her