Psync by Zile Elliven

Chapter Sixteen

Eli

“Are you sure you’re a college student?” Eli asked as Haruka placed a bag of green onions in the shopping cart. “Because I’m pretty sure there’s a rule somewhere that says it’s against the law for college students to buy anything green that isn’t candy.”

Haruka ducked down an aisle, only to come back a moment later with a bag of apple-flavored gummy bears. “Better?”

“Yes, actually. If you were perfect, I’m not sure I’d be able to stand you.”

“Can’t have that.”

“Um.” Eli pulled his hood up to hide what he was certain were very pink ears. “Are you finished, or is there anything else you need?” He eyeballed the mostly full cart. How much food did this guy need, anyway?

“Nearly done. If you go get your car and pull it to the front, I’ll meet you there.”

They’d taken Eli’s car to the store because Eli wasn’t entirely sure Haruka wouldn’t decide to drive them cross-country just for groceries. Just because he acted friendly didn’t mean Eli trusted him any further than he could throw him.

“You’re not worried that I’ll ditch you?”

Haruka tapped the strap of Eli’s bag currently hanging from his shoulder. “Nope.”

The drive back to the school was filled with an intensive Q&A session—Haruka’s this time.

“What was it like growing up in Massachusetts?”

“Boring.” Which was the biggest lie Eli had ever told, but he wasn’t planning on sharing that story. To divert from a topic most likely to ruin Eli’s day, he brought up his sister. People always grabbed onto that particular tidbit when they learned he was a twin. “My twin sister was far more outgoing than me.”

“Hn. Did you ever live anywhere else?”

“I was born in North Carolina and lived there for a few years until my dad got a job up north.”

“Your dad is where your Cherokee came from, right?”

Eli nodded, not certain why he’d revealed that information earlier. He was a bit sensitive talking about it considering his extreme outwardly white appearance. He was doing a shitty job not oversharing today.

“What was that like?”

“Growing up Cherokee? Uh, it was only for a little while, but I liked it. I mean, I was really little, so all I remember are fragments. Falling asleep by a bonfire at a powwow, using my sister as a pillow. Dancing like a crazy person. The smell of sage. Oh, and the taste of fry bread.” He’d never forget it as long as he lived. As far as Eli was concerned, it was the food of the gods.

“What’s fry bread?”

“Something I’d make you try if it were available up here. It’s so freaking good. But it’s not something you can buy easily. You have to make it and I’m a menace when it comes to hot oil.” Eli did his best to describe the delicious, flaky treat, but when he got to the part where the best kind was fried in bear lard, Haruka began to look decidedly pale.

Eli pulled into his parking spot in the garage next to his building. “Do I get my bag back now?

“Just let me put my groceries away, then I’ll drop you off at your room. You can have it back then.”

“No way, if I show you my room, I’ll come back from class one day to find it full of bran muffins or something. I’m onto you.” Eli pointed at his eyes and then Haruka’s.

“Oh no. You’ve discovered my evil plan,” Haruka said evenly as he got out of the car.

When Eli popped the trunk, the first thing Haruka grabbed was Eli’s bag, then he took everything else minus one bag of groceries. “You can get that one.”

“I’m not your servant.” Eli grumbled as he took it.

When he hefted it, he realized it weighed almost nothing.

He followed Haruka silently all the way to his room—he would get his backpack back without revealing the location of his room by any means necessary.

When Haruka unlocked his door, he said, “Follow me.” And ignored the plastic bag Eli tried to thrust in his face.

“I promise you hell will freeze over before I go into your roo—Oh my god, you have a guqin.” He was across the room and hovering over the instrument without even registering how he got there, noticing only vaguely how Haruka had plastered himself against the wall to avoid being run over. “Can you play it?”

“A bit,” Haruka said as he busied himself putting groceries away.

“I’ve always wanted to learn but could never afford one.” Eli’s fingers twitched as he gazed longingly at the simple, but bold design painted onto the enamel. He’d never even touched one before. “And then there’s the near impossibility of finding someone to teach me.”

“I could teach you.” Haruka reached for the bag Eli had carelessly thrown onto the bed as he’d passed by.

“Really?” Eli stepped away from the instrument and sidled over to where Haruka was stowing the last of his snacks in his small refrigerator.

“If you let me walk you back to your room.”

Eli leaned against the counter in Haruka’s tiny makeshift kitchen. “I could do that, but then I’d give up my right to a muffin-free room.”

“Do you have something against muffins?” Haruka placed a large hand on the counter next to Eli’s hip.

“Nooo, but I like having the option to decide when muffins come to visit me.” Eli pulled his hood down. Would it be weird if he took his hoodie off right now? Because it was getting a bit warm.

“I could give you one lesson so you can see if it’s worth letting muffins into your room.” Haruka leaned in slightly.

“W-we could do that.”

There were little flecks of gold in the brown of Haruka’s eyes.

Haruka pulled away abruptly, walked over to the guqin, took it from its stand, and sat with it on the floor. “You coming?”

Eli did his best not to skip from enthusiasm on the way over and plopped down in front of Haruka.

Haruka’s eyes flicked to the hoodie Eli placed on the floor next to himself.

“Sorry, is there somewhere I can hang it up?”

“No, it’s fine,” Haruka said as he worked on tightening the strings on the back of the instrument.

Eli sat cross-legged as he listened to Haruka explain the components of the guqin, how to tighten and loosen the strings, and why it was important to loosen them after you finished playing. Then he showed him a few simple chords and encouraged Eli to try.

It didn’t go well.

“Why doesn’t it sound the way it does when you do it?” Eli’s eyebrows knitted together, and he bit his lip in frustration.

Haruka blinked.

“What am I doing wrong?” When he tried again, it sounded even worse.

“You’re pressing too hard. You have to be precise when touching the strings in order to make the sound you want.” Haruka reached out and held his hand over Eli’s. “Can I touch you?”

Eli looked at Haruka’s hand, poised over his, noting the contrast of size and skin tone. Something low in his stomach did a slow roll, and the shivery feeling that he’d forgotten all about kicked into overdrive. His eyes went to Haruka’s, and he swallowed hard.

“I . . .” Eli’s voice caught in his throat.

Could he? Technically, the answer was yes, of course he could. The real question was whether or not he should.

He searched the other man’s face, looking for answers. Haruka looked back at him with patient eyes and a soft expression. There was no pressure there.

But . . .

“Maybe next time?” Eli’s eyes went to the floor and landed on his hoodie. His fingers traced one of the strings. He hadn’t meant to say that. He looked up to gauge Haruka’s expression.

Instead of showing irritation as Eli half expected, Haruka lips curved in a slight smile and pulled his hand away. “Next time.”

“I, um, should probably go. I have homework.” On a Friday evening. Could he have come up with a more obvious lie? It was all Eli could do to stop himself from smacking his forehead.

Haruka’s lips quirked, but he nodded and stood. “Do you want me to walk you to your room?” He went over to Eli’s bag and held it out. Eli took it silently and stared at the floor. What was he supposed to do with his body right now? Every time he was around Haruka it was like he completely forgot how to be a person.

“Maybe next time?” Eli repeated, hating how breathy his voice sounded.

Haruka went to the door and opened it. His eyes were warm. “I’ll hold you to that. If you want another lesson, that is.”

Haruka stood half in the doorway, which meant Eli would have to pass by closely. He was small enough to do it without touching the large man, but it would be close.

Haruka cocked an eyebrow, and there was a challenging look in his eyes. Almost as if he were asking Eli if he trusted him enough to let him pass.

He could have scurried by, but something made Eli pause halfway through. He turned toward Haruka, leaned against the doorframe, and forced himself to look up.

After what felt like an eternity, Eli heard himself say, “You have gold flecks in your eyes.”

All traces of gold vanished as Haruka’s eyes went dark. “Do I?”

Eli nodded.

“Is that good?” Haruka placed his hands behind his back. Distantly, Eli was aware of the sound of creaking wood.

He nodded again. “I think so.”

Why was it so hard to walk away? Eli should really be going right now, but something was stopping him. He couldn’t have looked away if his life depended on it. Everything about Haruka invited him in.

Eli tongue darted out, and he licked suddenly dry lips.

The doorframe behind Haruka creaked again.

“I—” Eli began, but was cut off by a loud clatter down the hallway.

They both turned to see Ash kneeling by a pile of books and swearing.

“I have to go, bye!” Eli turned and ran.