[center] [img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190613/00b281daa0301cc6f5e7e85e7ef70714.png[/img] [sub][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E41Wrmew0dk&list=PLvyQCgG0Bb_Sj3OJK_gw9CPE8oSpyXwio&index=11]While You Were Away[/url][/sub] [img]https://i.imgur.com/UYofGku.png[/img] ▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃ Elliot sat on his bed, auburn eyes staring up at the white ceiling as so many thoughts swirled around in his head. His stomach felt like a bunch of knots, he didn't know he felt so nervous. Perhaps it was because the town hall meeting was growing closer and he was afraid as to what the mayor had to say. Part of him hoped that she was perhaps still missing - that meant there was some sliver of hope that she was still alive. Though another part of him knew that it could be much worse, that they had found a body and everyone's worst fear would come to fruition. The boy let out a frustrated sigh as he hoped off the bed, though before he could go far his phone dinged. Once glance told him Liz had responded to his text message. A smile tugged at the edges of his mouth as he grabbed the cellular device and quickly responded back. [color=F08080]"I'll be there."[/color] Short and simple. Not caring much about his appearance Elliot went to his closet and pretty much through on the first few things he saw. A sweater, some jeans and a pair of sneakers. The boy didn't even bother to correctly brush his hair and simply ran his longer fingers through it before going downstairs. Aunt Sabrina was cleaning up after their meal and looked to him curiously. [color=F08080]"Uh....Liz wants me to sit with her at the meeting....if that's okay?"[/color] He said sheepishly. The older woman stared at him for a moment before smiling, walking up to him and ruffling up his already messy hair. [color=fff79a]"Of course, she'll need lots of support.[/color]" Elliot pouted at the hair-ruffling before smiling, his aunt knew his friendship with Liz and Lily was important to him - those two had been with him for as long as he could remember. But now one of them was gone... ▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃ It didn't take him long to reach the community center, upon arriving he saw that there were news vans already prepped and ready to go. He thought it was kind of disgusting how they were so eager to get some sort of information, whether it be simply for coverage or to actually inform the public on what was going on. He didn't even want to bring his own camera for once, this was something that didn't need to be some spectacle. The brunette boy looked up at the building, the knots in his stomach growing ever tighter. "Can I do this?" Elliot wanted to be there for Liz, he wanted to support Lily's family for whatever may come...however he felt like that wasn't something he could do....something that he wasn't good enough for. He was just a shy nobody, a face that blended into the background. How could someone like that provide any support for his friends and their family? ----- [h2] Mountain View Elementary School [/h2] Elliot fell to the ground, he barely reacted fast enough to catch himself. Three boys snickered as they stared down at the smaller boy with looks of satisfaction, their arms crossed over their chests. “Oh look, the nerd fell down.” One of them said in a condescending manner, the other two laughing. The brunette boy didn’t speak as he simply picked himself off the ground quietly, though he didn’t get far as the boys backed him up against the wall. [i]THUNK[/i] An empty soda can smacked one of the boys right in the temple of his head, bouncing off and tumbling to the ground. BULLSEYE! Before any of them could even find where the can came from, a fiery ball of anger sprinted over to put herself between Elliot and the three boys. [color=IndianRed]“Who the hell do you think you are?!”[/color] Her fists clenched, [color=IndianRed]“You have to pick on people just because your daddy don’t love you?!”[/color] She took a step towards them, the boys taking a step back from the short raven haired girl, lost for words in the moment. [color=IndianRed]“HUH?! You miserable pricks!”[/color] As Lillian Turner rained her fury upon three unsuspecting bullies, Elizabeth Baker ran to Elliot’s side, behind their body guard. [color=SteelBlue]“Are you okay?”[/color] She cooed, shooting an icy glare towards the three boys. [color=SteelBlue]“Don’t worry about them…”[/color] Bending down, the red-head grabbed a book that had fallen to the ground when Elliot had been shoved. [color=SteelBlue]“Here you go.”[/color] Elizabeth flashed him a warm smile, handing the book over. She looked back to her best friend, who - like a valiant knight - appeared as if she was ready to fight to the death to protect this boy she barely knew. [color=IndianRed]“Yeah, that’s what I [i]thought[/i].”[/color] Lillian hissed, watching as the three disgruntled boys mumbled curses under their breath and left the area. They were not prepared to fight a girl, especially not this firecracker. Elizabeth laughed as Lillian turned back to face them, “[color=SteelBlue]I can [i]not[/i] believe that soda can actually hit him.”[/color] [color=IndianRed]“I know!! I can never hit a target, and yet… ”[/color] She shrugged, [color=IndianRed]“Karma came through and gifted me, what can I say?”[/color] She giggled along with Elizabeth, both of them delighted with their victory. [color=SteelBlue]“Hey,”[/color] Elizabeth turned her emerald eyes on Elliot once again, [color=SteelBlue]“Do you want to come with us to Butterfield's? We’re going to get some milkshakes. I’ll buy! What’s your favorite?”[/color] [color=IndianRed]“Yeah, join us! It’s sssSSSSOOOOO GOOD!”[/color] [hr] The memory brought a smile to Elliot's face, it was one of of first encounters with the duo and ever since he had followed them around. They both were so bright and fun to be around. The boy sighed as he maned up and walked into the community center. A few people had already arrived but thankfully Liz hadn't yet. He felt nervous as he at the front where Liz would sit, was he really okay sitting up there? [i] "Why does this have to be so hard?[/i] He thought, Auburn eyes staring intently at the hands that were laying in his lap. He could already feel that this meeting was going to be terrible, something that the town wasn't prepared for. [/center]