This is Gospel

“People seem to write anything these days because of social media. Maybe there will be a couple of tweets or Facebook statuses about the legend in the suit but I’m afraid to say that they won’t come from me. I don’t really use any of that stuff,” she explained. Even though he asked it jokingly, Brooke was still surprised by Elliot’s question. She wasn’t going to tell him the truth because, after all, Brooke was reluctant to admit her feelings even to herself. “He’s not bad,” she replied with a small chuckle. “What about the dress?” Brooke asked as she smoothed down the skirt. “It doesn’t compare to the suit but it’s not half bad, right?” She chuckled and gently nudged him back. “Alright. I’ll think,” Brooke chuckled. As she tapped her fingers on the ledge a small smile crept across her face. “Elliot the smelliot,” she laughed. “Is that creative enough for you? I made up my own word so that should at leave give me extra points." 

Elliot chuckled and shook his head, "Are you sure about that?" he asked, "You're the only one that's seen me in a suit, twice now, so anything that I see I'll have to assume it's from you." People outside of Avira have seen him in nothing but suits, coming here and traveling, he didn't realise he would let more people see him. Once was an accident, second was a deal, and both involved her, it was odd but yet not at the same time, he felt at ease in a suit right now and he hadn't felt like that in a long time. It didn’t have any of the restrictions that came with past experiences. Elliot raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, as a smile took over his lips, "Really now? Not bad huh? Well that's something!" He chuckled. "Dress is great, as is the person," he replied smiling at her, "Definitely beats the suit by a mile, but of course, I'm beat the person by a mile," he said with a cocky shrug. When she spoke, he hung his head and covered his face with one hand, quietly chuckling to himself. "Oh no, no, it feels like I'm back in first grade," he said shaking his head in amusement and slight disappointment, "Elliot the smelliot? Really? Oh god Brookie, creative yes, but for a primary schooler!  No extra points, nope. You can do better than that, can’t you?"

“Well if I’m stuck with you forever that means you’ll be stuck with me forever. Isn’t that a terrifying thought?”

“Ah but see, I don’t mind that at all.”

“I am stuck with this for a long, long time, aren’t I?” she asked, gesturing to him.

“Long, long time, hopefully forever. Aren’t you lucky.”

“It’s never too late to change your ways, Ellie. Become a better man, or a worse man depending on your world outlook.”

“I think it’s way too late. Sorry Brookie.”

“I told you there was something wrong with the milk.”

“Darn. Guess it’s too late now then, huh? You’re have to live with me like this.”

“Who spiked your coffee with romance this morning?”

“I recall you making me a coffee this morning.”

“Yeah she’s a bit of a downer, isn’t she? I feel bad for you. I’ve heard she’s a bit of a dick at times.”

“She can be, but she’s also the best thing in my life, so it works out for the best.”

“Well what holds you back?”

“Oh you know, just a certain someone called Brookie. She keeps me grounded.”

“Don’t you just want to sell everything, buy a van and just get the hell out of here for a while? Well, yeah, of course I do but… I don’t know. It’s just not as simple as that.”

“I do, and some days I get close to doing that, get very close to leaving, but then I dunno, it’s hard to explain but...” he glances at her quickly casting his eyes back downwards, “but something holds me back and I’m glad it does.” 

“Scaring you with the shocking reality of life is entertaining but I am entertaining anyway, thank you very much. You’re the one who’s boring. Quit your job, pack a suitcase and let’s just get out of here.”

“Can’t argue with that, you are very entertaining. But please, I’m not boring at all. That sounds absolutely wonderful in theory, but unfortunately can’t just  quit my job and go on a road trip...also I kinda like this life, and this town, don’t you?”

“Each year feels like it’s it’s been faster than the one preceding it because the fraction of our lives it takes up is smaller until we slowly make our way closer to death… Either that or your life’s just become a little boring, Ellie.”

“That’s a terrifyingly morbid thought...I’m gonna go with my life becoming boring, and you’re to blame for that, Brookie. You should be entertaining me but here you are scaring me instead.”

I need to start my Christmas shopping soon

Sash no, don’t go so early! Other people need to get presents too. You’ll clear all the stores!

“You have street cred? And I don’t? Please, I have way more street cred than you do and that’s basically a fact,” Brooke laughed. She silently raised her eyebrows at him and smiled smugly when he agreed to no longer persue the matter. Laughing, Brooke sat down on their bed and shrugged. “You should laugh because I’m obviously extremely hilarious,” she said sarcastically. “But really El, you’re cool and you could just be temporary but I want you to be around for a bit more… and you’re pretty good to look at too,” Brooke laughed.

"With a name like Brookie, you having street cred is not a fact, " Elliot said with a laugh. Elliot simply shook his head at the smugness of her smile, he would oppose it but it would mean that she would do it too, and he didn't want that happening, his gift to her was something he wanted her to accept without any thought, no but, no if, so in order for that to happen, he had no choice but to keep quiet. "Obviously. You're way too funny, sometimes I can't even laugh," he said. "Well, it's nice to know you just want me around for my looks, not that I'm complaining, I want me around for that fact too." As she sat, he knelt down to the ground, and pulled out an unmistakable light blue box, a Tiffany and Co. box, from the bottom of his bedside table drawer, smiling as he did so. Balancing on one knee, he swiveled around to face her, "Well, this is all I could manage, it's not much really, but thank you, for putting up with me and my handsome face, and I just really am so glad we're together...and uh well... I don't really know what else to say, just open it," he said with a smile of his face, and held out the box for her to take.

"No," Brooke laughed, shaking her head. With a small roll of her eyes, she added, "Fine. Maybe it’s just a little bit better.” Brooke really didn’t mind his answer; to some extent she actually preferred it over him outright saying she was the greatest. It was a very ‘Elliot’ answer and she couldn’t help but laugh. “I do, I really do,” she smiled. Brooke walked closely beside Elliot, not because she was scared of whatever hid in the darkness of the forest but because she simply liked being near him. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a dark shadow move beyond the trees and Brooke quickly grabbed onto Elliot’s hand so that she could stop him from walking. “Did you see that?” she whispered. 

"It's a lot better, you have to admit that, come on, I just said you are my whole world, cheesy but it's true," he said with a casual shrug, but soon the smile broke out on his face, it was true and he couldn't hide that. Elliot shook his head when she replied, "Well make things worse and give me a win win situation please, " he said, walking ahead more. He wasn't sure how far thaey had gone in, but with a quick look back, all he saw was tress and darkness, he sighed and looked ahead, the castle was far far behind them. Feeling Brooke close to him, made him feel a bit safe though, even if they were surrounded by the unknown, it was nice to have her by his side, he was about to say something when she suddenly grabbed his hand, forcing him to stop, and immediately his guard went up when she spoke. Elliot shook his head, "No, I didn't," he whispered, he quickly whipped out his wand and scanned the area. Too dark, he couldn't see anything, light was needed, and if like she had said before, if they do manage to attract something, well at least with light they would know what it could be, in a low voice and whispered 'Lumos' surrounding them with light and blinked rapidly to adjust his eyes. As he did that, the tress around them rustled, "Oh please just be the wind," he said as he directed his illuminated wand in the direction of the sound.