Seven

Elijah pretended he didn't notice Lucas walk into the practice room and kept dancing casually to the song that blasted through his earphones. Lucas, on the other hand, didn't speak a word and leaned against the wall, watching the other. It was amazing how Elijah looked so graceful even when he was just moving his body loosely. Although the only time Lucas saw Elijah really in his element, his moves oozing with emotion, was the first time he ever saw him dance. There was no doubt in his mind Elijah was a great dancer, but after that night, he never really saw him dance in that way before, the way that absolutely blew his mind in the first place.

"You should try relaxing your back a little," Lucas commented, making Elijah turn his head around and glare at him slightly.

"What?" He asked, taking off one of his earphones.

"I said," Lucas walked toward Elijah and put his hands on his shoulders, "You should try relaxing your back. It makes you look kinda stiff."

Elijah chuckled, "Is that a nicer way of saying I look like a rod? I thought we had an agreement."

"I was just giving you a piece of advice," Lucas shrugged, "It'll look a lot better."

"Thanks." Elijah rolled his eyes, stretching his arms over his head, "So, what do we do today? I don't think the choreography needs any more alterations. Unless you have any ideas."

"Not really. Let's just run back through the choreo for the next hour. I wanna make sure everything is on point."

"Alright."

When they were halfway through practice, Mr. Lee walked in and smiled at the boys, "I see you two have been working hard."

“Hey, teach,” Lucas greeted shortly and Eli followed suit.

"I came to see how your routine is going," He said, taking a seat.

"Uh, yeah, sure." Lucas blinked before making his way back to the stereo system to start the song over. They got back into positions and started going through the choreography like second nature now, already having practiced it so many times. By the end of the routine, Mr. Lee looked quite impressed.

"This is quite good." He said, nodding his head appreciatively, "Elijah, I have to say for a new student you are very impressive. And as for you Lucas, I don't even have to elaborate. You're one of the best in my class for a reason. Have you guys choreographed this together or...?"

"Yeah we did it together." Lucas immediately replied, smiling.

"Very good. You know, I always thought no one could ever beat the chemistry you and that kid, Noah had on stage," Mr. Lee smiled, "That was why I was so disappointed when he decided to leave the club. But you proved me wrong. The two of you go together very well. You might even be the new 'it' dance pairing now."

The smile on Lucas's face had long been replaced by a frown once Noah's name was mentioned. And that did not go unnoticed by Eli.

"Thanks Mr. Lee." He said and managed to plaster a fake smile onto his face.

"I guess I'll leave you two to it now. Best of luck," The teacher said before nodding and leaving.

Elijah stared at the elder boy in silence before finally speaking, "One more time?

"No. That's enough for today. I'm tired anyway."

Elijah watched as he began to pick up his book bag, face void of expression. Elijah would have said something but he knew it would probably end up with them fighting and they definitely didn't need that when the showcase was so close. Plus, he already promised Noah he wouldn't talk to Lucas about that. With a sigh, he watched the elder male leave the classroom.

Elijah was going through some biology homework when his phone started ringing. Without looking at the caller ID, he answered.

"Hello?"

"Sup."

He instantly recognized the voice on the other end of the line as Lucas.

"What do you want?"

"Well that's a nice way to greet someone. Anyways, I'm outside your house right now. Come out."

Elijah blinked, "What the hell are you doing outside my house?"

Lucas scoffed, "Have you forgotten that the showcase is in five freakin' days? We need to go get our costumes, what else?"

"Would be nice if you told me beforehand." Elijah mumbled, rolling his eyes as he got up from his bed to get dressed. "I'll be down in five."

"Cool."

Sure enough, Lucas's black Audi was waiting right outside his mansion. Elijah walked over to the passenger's side and climbed into the vehicle.

"You know, I'd never imagined in my entire life that I'd be voluntarily getting into your car," He said as Lucas pulled out of the driveway.

"Life is strange, isn't it?" Lucas said sarcastically.

"It is." Elijah sighed, leaning his head back against the seat, "So we're still going with the whole suit and tie thing?"

"Duh. Although I can't decide if we should go for a black or a white dress shirt."

"'I'd say black."

Lucas blinked at him, "You sure make decisions fast."

"Thank you?"

"Do you know that you are awkward as fuck?" Lucas laughed, "Having a conversation with you is so painful."

"Feeling's mutual." Elijah replied shortly, slightly dabbing his pockets, "Shit, I forgot my phone."

"Who cares? Unless you miss your gay best friend."

"I told you not to talk about him," Elijah said, glaring at Lucas.

"No really, dude. You guys are like joined by the hip these days. Is he forcing you stay with him? Because if he is, then-"

"Why does it matter to you so much?"

"I don't want him going around spreading his disease."

Eli's fists clenched. That was about as much as he could take of Lucas spouting shit about his only friend.

"Stop the car."

"What?"

"I said stop the car."

Lucas pulled up at the side of the road with a rather confused expression on his face as Elijah opened the door and got out.

"Where the fuck are you going?!" Lucas cursed under his breath as he exited the car and followed the other male, "Dude? What the fuck?" He asked as he grabbed Elijah's arm and turned him around. Elijah harshly pulled his arm away and glared at the other.

"Noah is my fucking friend, you hear? And I will not sit here and watch while you talk about him like he's some kind of freak. Unlike someone, Noah is extremely nice and actually has a heart."

Lucas lifted a brow, "Are you really defending him right now?"

"Yes I am."

"Why, do you fucking love him?"

"Maybe I do!" Elijah yelled impulsively, surprising both himself and Lucas. His chest was heaving up and down and the only sounds heard were his deep breathing and the cars rushing past them. Lucas was staring at him, eyes as wide as saucers. "And there's nothing wrong with that. There's nothing wrong with him. Because he is the most amazing, kind, friendly person I've ever met. But you, Lucas Kim..."

"You're just a sad excuse of a human being," He said lowly, "You're the one with the disease."

And then he walked away, leaving a gaping, fuming, shocked Lucas behind. Because at that moment, Elijah's words hit him a lot harder than he expected. And he hated it so, so much.

Elijah had walked all the way home, and he just didn't know what was going on with him anymore. Part of him was satisfied because he finally gave Lucas a piece of his mind. Another part was shocked because he didn't know he had it in him to stay things like that. But he also felt stupid because now... he knew he truly fucked up. He had just confessed his feelings for Noah out loud in front of the wrong person.

His head was a mess and by the time he got home, it really wasn't any better. He stormed into his room and flopped down into his bed, face buried in the mattress.

What have I done? Shit, what have I done?

He didn't know how long he was just lying there, contemplating his life choices but when he finally lifted his head, he saw a light blinking in the dark and realized it was his phone. He grabbed it and unlocked the screen to see that he had a message from Noah.

Noah:

Can you please come over? I need someone to talk to...

"Noah..."

Elijah noticed that the message had been sent about an hour ago, probably a little after he left the house. He quickly grabbed his jacket and ran down the stairs, leaving the house again. He caught the first cab he could find and quickly got in, leading the driver to where Noah lived. Noah hardly ever texted him before so he was sure something must have been wrong. Once he reached the familiar apartment complex, Elijah quickly paid the driver and went out, practically running into the building. He waited for the elevator to reach the 15th floor, hoping it could go faster.

"Come on... Come on..." He mumbled to himself. Finally, he reached the 15th floor and ran out, making his way to Noah's apartment and ringing the doorbell repeatedly. When no one answered for a while, he rang it again. This time, a slightly puffy-eyed Noah opened the door and his face was slightly flushed.

"Noah, I'm so sorry I was late. I-" He cut himself off when he took in the elder's state. "Hey... have you been crying?"

Noah forced a smile and opened the door wider for Elijah to come in.

"What happened?" Elijah asked worriedly once they were inside. Noah was silent for a while, just staring at the floor. Now the younger knew something was really wrong. He had never seen Noah like that before. His apartment was a mess, too.

"Eli I'm... I'm leaving town."

"W-What?" Elijah blinked. No. He must have heard wrong.

"My father h-he... He moved his business to Canada permanently and now I have to move there too. He said he already filed the transfer papers with the school and..." Before he knew it tears were leaving his eyes.

"H-Hey..." Elijah didn't know what to do so he instinctively wrapped his arms around Noah's shaking shoulders and tried to comfort him by lightly patting his back, "Shh... It's okay."

He'd never seen the elder in this vulnerable state before and it hurt his heart. Noah immediately settled into his embrace, crying softly into his shoulder and wrapping his arms around his waist.

"It's j-just that-" Noah hiccuped, "I've been living here a-all my life. I don't know how I'm s-supposed to just let everything go like that..."

Elijah really didn't know what to say. He had always wanted to comfort Noah. But now when he really needed to be comforted, he realized he never wanted to see him upset in the first place. All he could do was hug him and let him cry into his shoulder until he could feel the wetness of Noah's tears on his shirt.

But there was another thing...

Noah was leaving.

Elijah was going to be alone again.

Just as simply as he walked into his life, he was going to leave.

Why...?

Elijah cradled the elder boy in his arms on the couch until he fell asleep. It was getting late and he knew his parents would throw a thousand questions his way. But he couldn't just leave Noah like that, right? Not when he was in this state.

Sighing, he looked down at Noah whose face was buried in his chest, breathing steady. He realized all over again just how beautiful this boy in his arms was. It was cheesy but he really felt like Noah was an angel. An angel that never deserved to cry or be hurt because he would never hurt anyone intentionally, not even a fly. He caressed his face softly and at that moment, Elijah really wished he could just hold him like that forever. But he knew he couldn't.

He stood up from the couch, carrying the elder boy bridal-style and walked towards his bedroom. He lay him down on the bed gently and tucked him in. He took a seat next to him on the bed. Staring at his peaceful form, he lightly caressed his cheek once more and bent down to place a soft kiss on his forehead, letting his lips linger for a few moments.

"Sleep well, Noah," He whispered before leaving the room and lightly closing the door behind him.

Lucas’ mind was completely blank as he entered his house. He couldn't even process what had just happened. Elijah loved Noah? Was it really true? Was his dance partner always gay? Why was it that he had a record with gay dance partners anyway?! And more importantly... were they even partners anymore? Clearly not.

Why is this happening now? Couldn't it wait until after the showcase?

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.

"You're just a sad excuse of a human being."

"You're the one with the disease."

Why were Elijah's words affecting him so much? Why did it feel like it was true? Why was it that he didn't feel the same disgust for Elijah that he felt for Noah?

No... You're being stupid, Lucas. It's all nonsense. Absolute nonsense. He thought to himself.

"Are you okay?"

Lucas snapped out of his reverie when he saw his mother standing in front of him, eyes filled with worry. "Didn't you say you were going costume shopping with your dance partner? Why are you back so soon?"

"W-We postponed it," Lucas quickly lied.

"Don't lie to me Lucas. What happened?"

Lucas sighed, "Mom, I really don't want to talk about this now. I already feel like my head's gonna explode. Can I just go to sleep?"

"Alright," She sighed and cupped his cheek, "But just know if there's anything that mommy's always here for you."

"Thanks mom," He smiled before kissing her good night. There was a lot of thinking he needed to do that night.

Elijah:

Meet me at the rooftop during lunch break.

Lucas sighed. He knew he had to talk to Elijah anyway. The showcase was in just four days, and they'd already worked so hard for it. He decided he'd just have to tough it out and then it'd all be over. No more Elijah.

He saw the blonde sitting on the bench on the school's rooftop and silently took a seat next to him, trying to keep as much distance between them as possible.

"I've decided." Elijah said without sparing Lucas a glance.

"What?"

"I've decided what I want. We had a deal, remember?"

"Deal?" Lucas scrunched up his eyebrows in confusion but then he remembered the deal they made when they first agreed to be partners. It was the last thing he'd expected Elijah to talk about, though. "Oh."

"I said I'd stick to my end of the bargain if you stuck to yours. And I'm a man of my word."

"Then what is it that you want?"

To say the atmosphere was tense would be an understatement. But after everything that happened just the past night, Lucas expected nothing less.

Elijah finally looked at him, "I want you to talk to him."

"Who?"

"You know exactly who."

Lucas scoffed, "No fucking way."

"Then you can forget about the showcase."

"Why the fuck are you poking your nose into this? What happened between us had nothing to do with you so stop playing matchmaker here."

"Noah's leaving town for good, Lucas. You're never gonna see him again," Elijah looked at him, "Just talk to him once. See his end of the story. Or you yourself will regret it someday."

Lucas clenched his fists, "And if I talk to him you'll still be in the showcase?"

"No. I'll make sure you win it. And after that... you won't see my face anymore. You'll go your own way and I'll go mine."

Lucas was silent for a moment, contemplating over whether or not to take him up on his offer. After all the hard work they'd put in for this showcase, he couldn't really give it all up just because of some stupid dispute. He told himself that he was just gonna have to suck it up because all that mattered to him was winning and nothing else.

"Okay," He concluded, standing up, "Fine."