"I didn't say that..."

Elliott was trying to keep his cool, like the bad boy he claimed he was. That was his persona. But, he knew that he couldn't feel Ceri. She knew that he was a fraud, just an innocent boy trying to be bad.

Hell, he couldn't even survive a kiss without feeling like he was going to explode.

He allowed her to help him back onto his feet, his own gloved fingers touching his mouth as he wobbled back to return the ice skates. Eli never thought he'd be so happy to walk normally ever.

"I'm fine. It just hurts a little is all."

Of course, he doesn't shake her hand from his. In fact, he welcomed it. He led her back to the sub, ready to warm up and relax. His feet hurt.

"Hey... we never got to go back to my room after that night in Sootopolis. Do you... do you want to come hang out for a little bit?"

Eli looked over at her expectantly.

Elliott felt her squeeze his hand as she accepted the invitation. She actually wanted to come over? He knew what he had planned in his drunken haze, what they may have both been feeling that night. But now?

Well, fuck, he had no idea.

"I mean we could watch a movie or something?"

Of course, that could have implications in itself. But Eli truly meant watch a movie. He wasn't thinking in any form of inappropriate behavior, unless maybe holding hands and cuddling counted.

"I'm gonna hop in the shower, and you can meet me at my room in like ten minutes."

He only let go so he could disappear into his dormitory, warming himself up under the water and wincing as the water and soap stung the spot on his back he got from falling on the ice.

When he appeared, he had his pants on, drying his hair. Waiting for Ceri to come back to his room as he rummaged in his drawers for a shirt to wear.

It was just more convenient for him to open the door before grabbing a shirt. The timing was impeccable really.

Elliott was used to compliments on his body. After all, he'd trained at the gym for this. However, hearing it from Ceri... it was something different. Maybe it had to do with that feeling he kept feeling. Like he was being stabbed in the chest.

In a good way.

"You just had good timing. It's not like I was gonna go around shirtless," he said with an embarrassed side glance.

He turned his back to her, finally pulling out a shirt he deemed good enough to wear before sitting on his bed. There was a space left for Ceri to sit beside him.

"There's this movie that I kinda wanted to see. It's apparently an older movie, but I haven't seen it. It's a widely debated Christmas classic."

Elliott was talking about Die Hard of course. A fucking fantastic movie, according to me.

Eli stood there, gawking at her. Trying to figure out what exactly to say.

"Because, it's... it's... inappropriate!"

Rich, coming from someone like him. He modeled shirtless, pantless sometimes. But, something about being in front of Ceri without his top on made him feel self-conscious. It was evident on his face how embarrassed he felt around her.

He held his shirt up to his chest like a blanket. Did she... actually want him to stay shirtless?

"They're fine. It's not like it's your fault. Just a little bit of time will heal them."

The bruises obviously didn't bother him. Eli couldn't see them, as indicated by his attempt to look behind his shoulder. Nope, couldn't see them.

When Ceri poked the bruise, Elliott winced from the brief pain it caused. It wasn't like it was intense, but it was definitely uncomfortable. He knew that he'd have to sleep on his sides to avoid the annoyance.

"That's what makeup is for. That's the only way I've been able to do modeling while working in Rocket."

Eli decided against the shirt, perhaps to please Ceri since she said that he looked nice. He bit his lip as he put it back in his drawer, coming back to his bed.

"Enough about my bruises. It'll be fine. Come on, let's watch that movie."

As if to draw her in and bring her attention away from his back, Eli, though a little hesitantly, opened his arms. This allowed Ceri to come and snuggle against him should she desire.

"They do sometimes. But I brush them off a lot. Tell them to mind their business and all that. My team has worked with me for a while at this point that they either expect it or incorporate it into a look."

It typically depended on what the shoot was focused toward.

Ceri's hair, long and periwinkle strands, tickled his skin as she rested her head against his chest. However, it certainly wasn't unwelcome.

It caused him to lean back. Though, them falling back onto his bed wasn't like their falling into the water after their date in Sootopolis or onto the ice.

It was gentler and welcomed.

He managed to pull up the movie he had been talking about, pushing play before running his fingers through her hair. Keeping her close to him seemed to be a comfort Eli didn't know he desired or even felt like he needed.

"It's called Die Hard. It's about some guys breaking into this huge building during a Christmas party, and an ex-cop at that party fights them off. It's supposed to be epic."

"Of course I'm important. I'm a model."

He meant that in jest, not a way that inflated his ego. Elliott snickered, shrugging.

"My agency typically has the same people work with me because they know "how to handle me," as my manager says. But if a project requires a certain makeup team or something, they'll use the group provided."

He often didn't talk about working. Most of the time, he was alone or with CIAN MAHER. It just wasn't something that was brought up. So, it felt kind of strange to explain it.

Eli hardly heard Ceri speak about the movie, too engulfed in the sound of his heart pounding in his ears. He stared down at the top of her head, where it was close to his heart.

Could she feel it or hear it? How it pounded so loudly?

"Huh? Oh. Y-yeah, I do. I think they're cool."

He barely managed to catch her question, having been intoxicated from the smell of her hair and how soft it was. Damn. He was fucking screwed.