shoot your shot

“I’m just sayin’, it doesn’t make sense that Rachel ended up with the guy who smashed an egg on her head,” Eli replied, shaking his head.

“She will,” she stated with a soft smile, “Kids are a lot more resilient than adults tend to be. You’re her dad, she’ll come to you for things when she needs to. She may not always, she may find other people, but you’ll always be her dad and a safe place for her. Sarah certainly didn’t come to me for everything, even with how close we are. It’ll all work out though.” She nodded at the thank you, offering a small smile. 

“That’s good... you ever stop worrying? You know, I just feel like I’m worryin’ about her all the time, whether she’s even with me or not. These past few years have been tough on her, especially when we were on our own, travelin’ so much. It’s nice bein’ back home though, definitely feels like I took all of it for granted growin’ up.” Eli nodded at her words, a small sigh of relief washing over him.

“Oh, Eli. You know you just have to flash that pretty smile of yours to get people to do what they want.” It definitely worked on her in the past. “Ew, sometimes learnin’ can be fun? You sound like a teacher and that’s so not hot. But fine, I guess you’re right. Never hurts to try first and then hire someone to fix the mistakes. What else am I going to need for all this?” 

“You touch me, Kaleigh Henderson. I’m sure you got boys up and down the streets sayin’ the same damn thing about you too,” he replied, meaning every word he said. You don’t just forget a girl like Kaleig. “Oh, am I supposed to be only sayin’ hot stuff? I’ll make sure to remember that,” Eli joked, letting out a little chuckle. “Alright, well you’re makin’ a bunny hutch right? I’d say you need some wood too, some glue. You know if your dads have a drill? Might make things faster than usin’ a hammer.”

easton: azra? like? azra from high school azra?

easton: you just said that

easton: im just confused

easton: what???

easton: honestly dude good for you, that's probably a tough decision but idk if azra's the best influence around a kid

eli: i must've really been in my own world because i didn't even know she went to our high school

eli: but yeah, that azra

Asia had been quite popular, mostly due to being Eli’s sister but also because she was on the school’s dance team and made up most of the choreography. While she wasn’t an athlete and didn’t hang out with a ‘popular crowd’ per say, she had been known for the guys she dated. A a feminist, this annoyed her but there wasn’t much she could do about it. “Well you need to. You a damn dad, ya need some stability in ya life, Elijah.” Despite being the youngest of the Lowry siblings, everyone always claimed that she took after her mother directly, telling the boys what they should and shouldn’t do. This time was no different. 

It was no secret that Eli was prone to scaring off most of the guy’s that were scared of Asia. He never thought any of them were any good for her, and since he was the protective brother type, he never wanted her hanging around guys like him. Because Eli could admit that he had a bit of a fuckboy reputation. “Liv is my stability, Asia. I don’t need to be goin’ around and findin’ someone to be her stepmom, especially when I’m still dealin’ with her current mother situation. Turns out she’s in town.”

Nicholas’ features softened. No longer the cocky, sly son of a bitch that he normally was, as his brother spoke of his appreciation. No matter what anyone said, his family meant the world to him. He had been a half Lowry for twenty one of his thirty one years of life, having only found out when he was ten, but that didn’t make him love them any less. And he was more than grateful that had chosen to accept him regardless of his entire bloodline. “I hope we are enough for her too,” Nicholas nodded his head, “I’d do anything for the both of you, ya know? Don’t ever forget that.” He clasped his brother on the shoulder, having to reach up a bit, “We stick together, this family, all of us. No matter what.” 

Nick was family. Half, whole, it didn’t matter to him. In Eli’s eyes, Nick would always be a Lowry. He knew there had been some drama about it, probably before he was even born, but none of that had mattered to him. Family was family. “I know it, for sure, man. You know I think about how Liv might grow up without a mom, but it sure as hell makes me feel better knowing that she’d got all of you guys. Mom, dad, Asia, you,” he replied, meaning every word that he said.

“Only two… Elijah Lowry, I expected better from you! You’re practically Frostford royalty and you’ve only ever tried two flavors from Custard’s? We’re changin’ that. –Watermelon Cooler is an acquired taste. You’re better startin’ off with Plantation Praline.”

“I know, I know, it’s a real shame. I never ate it much growin’ up, I was always on some diet. I’m pretty sure it was just vanilla and chocolate... basic, I know. Plantation Praline? ‘M guessing that’s the best one? ...Alright Annie, I’ll take you’re word for it.”

Mariah shrugged slightly, “I mean.” She paused, thinking about her words before speaking, “It gets easier. It was her and I, and the Dyer family for a long time. Wasn’t until she was a little older and she was at school that she started to wonder who her dad was or where he was. I always just tried to be honest with her, with what was age appropriate. When she was young I always told her that when she got older she could know more about him if she wanted but for now it was just her and I.” Running a hand through her hair as she inhaled with a shrug, “She didn’t ask as she got older. I think she realized that Ivan was there, that he was like a dad to her. She had Jolene, she had half this town. She was surrounded with love, just like little Olivia is. It’ll get easier, you just gotta be there for her. Kids are naturally curious, but she’ll grow to learn that you’re all she needs. And when she feels like she needs someone else too, she has your family, she has your friends, hell she has me. You’ve got support and so does she.” 

Eli listened closely to Mariah’s words, nodding his head after she’d spoken. “Yeah... I guess I’m just hopin’ she can move past it. I know havin’ a ma is a big thing for a lot of girls, ‘specially when she becomes a teenager. I know I’ve got my mom and my sisters, but... I just want her to be able to come to me about stuff,” he replied, shooting her a smile. “Thanks though, Mariah, I always appreciate it.”

“Is this a sales tactic? If I diy, I have to buy this stuff, which means you get money. If I hire someone, you don’t get the sale.” She really just wanted him to talk her out of trying to build something herself. But it wasn’t working. “I learn new things all the time. I mean, not like…all the time. But some of the times.” 

“I think you’re pretty strong, Kaleigh, you don’t need me to sell you on it. But lemme know if it’s workin’,” Eli joked, a grin forming on his face. “You never know, you could really like it. Sometimes learnin’ something knew can be fun. Besides, I’m sure you got plenty of friends to help you out if you mess up.”

Asia had a mild case of PTSD from dating after losing her last job over it, so she was taking a backseat on the whole experience but that didn’t mean she couldn’t help her brother out with his game every now and again. Asia looked over at his phone and immediately rolled her eyes with a sigh before looking back to her own phone. “I guess she cute. You know women of color are real cute, too.” She chimed as she shook her head and pushed the gum in her mouth to one side. “Anyway, ain’t Tinder for sex? You need to be findin’ someone who’s fit to be around my niece, that’s what you need to do.”

Before Georgia, Eli was a bit of a player, like most Lowry boys were. He’d always been apart of the popular crowd, and being the star basketball player in both high school and college gave him an ego, whether he admitted it or not. “I swipe right on them too,” he replied, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, Tinder’s for sex. I don’t think I’d be bringin’ any of these girls around Liv. You know I don’t do the whole ‘datin’‘ thing.”

“Sleeping? Pfft. Nah.  I was just, uh, distracted?”  Maisie lied.  She didn’t mean to doze off, but she was a little lacking in the sleep department with her whole situation with her parents.  “Gimme a hand up?”

@frostfordstart​

“Yeah, sometimes I get ‘distracted’ too, no worries,” Eli went along with her lie, knowing that he’d been prone to dozing off at times with how busy he seemed to be. “Sure, no problem,” he nodded, extending out his hand to her.

georgia: it's fine, i'm just confused

georgia: on like how

georgia: now only like how did you end up getting a girl from frostford pregnant at duke, cause that's a crazy coincidence, but also she's so tiny

georgia: and you are not

georgia: i am just.... damn biology is amazing

georgia: anyway

georgia: have you talked to her since the screaming match?

eli: well she was wearing heels i think?

eli: i don't really remember much about that night if i'm being honest

eli: or that she was from frostford when it happened

“Uuuugh!” She groaned, lips soon jutting out into a soft pout but slowly shifted into a smile, “You’re so lame but I guess I’mma just have t’respect your decision. For now. But this ain’t over.” Knowing her, she’d revisit the subject in about a months time or at a point where she knew Elijah would have forgotten this conversation. “I mean…. I could but I ain’t exactly the best at relationships. S’like I loose all my brain cells when it comes to boys and choose horribly. And I’m not really into hook ups so Tinder ain’t an option. But you can live vicariously through me with everythin’ else! As long as you ain’t expectin’ girls gone wild ‘cause that won’t be happenin’.”

Eli had considered it. Not actually dating, but maybe the more... casual version of it. Though, that would take into account him having free time, which he didn’t exactly have much of. “You better not be goin’ on and settin’ me up with anyone,” he joked. “Mari, all you gotta do is smile at them. We ain’t exactly hard to please, they see a pretty girl like you and they’ll just fall at ‘ya feet,” he replied, a grin on his face. “Alright, I won’t get my hopes up.”

“I can understand that,” his heart went out to his brother and he wanted to do anything that he could to help. “You know we are all here to help out in anyway. I love Liv more than anything in the damn world.” Nicholas admitted to him, though he was certain his brother already knew that. “She’s the light in my life I didn’t even know I needed.” While he wasn’t sure he would ever be a father himself, he was certainly happy to be the best uncle there ever was.

Eli was so unbelievably grateful to have a family like this. He knew what it was on the other side, to be alone with Liv two states over, and he promised he’d never take them for granted. “Appreciate you guys, you know that? I couldn’t do it alone, I’m just hoping we can be enough for her,” he replied. “I think she’s got everyone in the family wrapped around her finger.” Eli know it really didn’t seem like it most days, but she really was the best thing to ever happen to him.