Where I Belong - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

After Eros left, I sat still in my room, my mind spinning. The conversation had been heavy, his apology lingering in the air like a weight I couldn't shake off. I didn't know how to feel. I didn't know what I was supposed to feel. All I knew was that being alone with my thoughts was becoming too much to handle.
The silence in my room was suffocating. I couldn't stand the thought of lying down and letting the quiet take over. I didn't want to be alone.
Then I remembered Silas.
'If you need anything – anything at all – you can talk to me. I'm basically a pro at offering terrible advice and random jokes to cheer people up.'
The words stuck with me. His words felt safe. No pressure. No expectations. He wasn't like Zane or Elijah – Silas was the one who kept things light, who knew how to make you laugh when everything else felt heavy.
I rubbed my sleeve between my fingers, biting my lip. Maybe I could go to him. Maybe he'd know how to make me forget all the things swirling in my head, if only for a little while.
I stood up slowly, hesitated by the door, my hand hovering over the handle. What if he didn't want to be bothered? What if it was weird?
But then I thought of his voice again, always kind without any judgement.
I pushed the door open and stepped out into the hallway, my footsteps quiet against the hardwood floor. I paused outside his door, but before I could second-guess myself, I knocked lightly.
"Silas?" I called softly, barely louder than a whisper. "It's...Liv."
The door swung open almost immediately, and Silas was standing there with his usual grin, looking completely unfazed. "Well, if it isn't my favorite little sister! What's up, Liv?" He leaned against the doorframe like he'd been waiting for me. "Everything okay?"
I glanced at the floor, feeling awkward. The words didn't come easily. "I...I didn't want to be alone," I murmured, my voice barely there. "I just thought...maybe I could hang out for a bit?"
His smile softened, and he stepped aside to let me in. "Of course! You're never interrupting. This is the Silas zone – open 24/7. Plus, I've got snacks, and you look like someone who needs snacks." He winked, his grin mischievous.
I hesitated for a second, unsure of myself, but his warmth made me feel a little less like an intruder. I stepped inside, trailing behind him. Silas didn't make it weird. He just kept moving, like it was the most natural thing for me to be there.
"Alright, what do you fancy," he said, proudly displaying his snack stash.
"I-I'm not sure...I'm not actually that hungry," I whispered, afraid of disappointing him.
"You know what? I'm craving hot chocolate," Silas said as I followed him out of his room and toward the stairs. "Is that okay with you, Liv?"
"Hot chocolate?" I repeated quietly, my voice small. "I've never had it before."
Silas froze in his tracks. He turned to me, wide-eyed, like I'd just told him I'd never seen the sun. "What?!" he exclaimed, voice exaggerated. "You've never had hot chocolate? What kind of childhood are you living, Liv? You poor thing." He placed a hand dramatically over his heart. "I'm gonna change your life right now."
I couldn't help but let out a small laugh at the over-the-top theatrics. His voice was teasing, light, and it made the tightness in my chest loosen just a little.
"I-I'm not really big on sweet stuff," I mumbled,
Silas put a hand to his forehead like he was fainting. "What kind of nonsense is that? Sweet stuff is the best stuff! Don't worry, I've got this. I'm making the deluxe version – hot chocolate with marshmallows, whipped cream, maybe even a sprinkle of chocolate shavings if I'm feeling fancy."
I smiled, just a little. His playful energy was exactly what I needed right now.
Silas continued, spinning around to grab the cocoa mix from the counter. "The trick is to make it extra creamy," he explained like it was a state secret. "If it's not creamy, it's basically just disappointment in a mug."
He stirred the milk on the stove like he was conducting some serious scientific experiment. "Trust me, Liv. This is next level."
I watched him in silence, a little more at ease now that the focus was off me. Silas wasn't pushing me to talk, wasn't trying to fix anything. He was just being...Silas.
When the milk was warm and ready, he turned to me with an exaggerated flourish, holding out a mug. "Here it is. Your first cup of hot chocolate. Behold the magic."
I took the mug carefully, feeling the warmth of it seep through my hands. I didn't know what to expect, but the smell of the cocoa, rich and sweet, was enough to make me curious. I took a cautious sip.
The warmth hit me first. The sweetness followed, rich and comforting, in a way I hadn't imagined. "Oh...wow," I said, surprised by how good it was. It wasn't what I expected – better, even. It was smooth, creamy, and warm in all the right ways.
Silas leaned back against the counter, arms folded, watching me with a smirk. "Told you," he said smugly. "I'm basically a hot chocolate God."
I took another sip, feeling the tightness in my chest loosen just a little more. "This is really good," I said, quieter this time.
"Of course it is," Silas said, grinning like it was the least surprising thing in the world. "I've got mad skills." He grabbed his own mug, taking a sip, clearly pleased with himself.
We both fell into a comfortable silence for a moment. Silas kept his usual playful grin, but he didn't push me to say anything. I could feel the warmth of the drink spreading through me, and for the first time this evening, I felt a little less lost.
"So," Silas said after a beat, his voice casual. "We should probably do a snack raid after this. My snack stash is legendary. Crisps, cookies, gummy bears. Honestly, I should charge you for this, but since you're my favourite sister, I'll throw in a free bag of gummy worms," he grinned. "Deal?"
"Deal," I said with a big smile.
After our late-night hot chocolate adventure, Silas led the way back to his room.
"Alright, Liv, you're about to experience a true Silas-approved movie night," he said, already heading to his bed and flopping down. "Gummy worms, comfort movie, and zero serious conversation. Sound good?"
I stayed standing near the door for a moment, glancing around his room – everything was scattered, lived-in, like he didn't mind if things weren't perfect. A stack of books here, a couple of dumbbells there, pictures on the wall.
"Sure," I said quietly, not really knowing what to expect.
Silas didn't wait for another word. He tossed me a bag of gummy worms from his nightstand, the bright colors of the candy catching my eye. "Snack time. You'll thank me later."
I caught the bag, my fingers brushing against the smooth plastic. I opened the bag and let a few gummies tumble into my hand, unsure of what to do with them.
Silas clicked the remote, and the TV screen lit up with the opening credits of The Princess Bride. "Trust me," he said, settling back against his pillows with a grin. "This movie? Classic."
I didn't really know what to say. The title sounded familiar, but I had no clue what it was about. But Silas seemed genuinely excited, so I nodded, sitting at the edge of the bed.
The first few minutes of the movie were filled with lighthearted dialogue, and Silas immediately started cracking jokes about the characters. I didn't always understand the humor, but I smiled at his enthusiasm. It was easy to get lost in the sound of his voice, making fun of the movie, pointing out things I never would've noticed on my own.
I wasn't sure when I started reaching for more gummy worms, but I found myself eating them without thinking, the sweetness helping to fill the quiet spaces in my mind. I didn't feel pressured to say anything or act a certain way. It felt simple.
Silas noticed, of course, and shot me a look. "I told you. You're gonna be hooked by the end of this," he teased, tossing another handful of gummies into his mouth.
I didn't reply. My mouth was full, and I was still trying to adjust to the feeling of being here, of just sitting in his room and doing...nothing.
The movie carried on, and I was barely aware of the time slipping by. It wasn't like I was actively trying to fall asleep, but somewhere between Silas's running commentary and the warmth of the blanket around me, my body just began to relax.
At some point, I curled up more, adjusting my position, my legs tucked beneath me, trying to find a comfortable spot. My eyes felt heavy. The sound of Silas laughing at the TV mixed with the gentle background noise of the movie, and soon enough, it all blurred together.
I didn't notice how quickly it happened. One second, I was watching the movie, and the next, I was asleep.
The house was quiet, a stillness in the air that felt too thick, too heavy. Elijah had just finished putting away the last of the dishes from dinner when his eyes flicked toward Olivia's room. It had been hours since he'd last checked in on her. He hadn't heard her move around, and that nagging feeling in his gut was starting to grow.
It was getting late. She'd been through a lot, and though she'd seemed a little more relaxed today, there were still those moments where he worried. Where she would shut down or retreat.
"Olivia, sweetheart?" he called out softly as he knocked on her door. "Everything okay in there?"
No answer.
He tried the handle. The door creaked open. The room was empty.
His stomach clenched. She wasn't there.
He quickly moved into the hallway, his pulse picking up. He didn't like this. Where had she gone?
He knocked on Theo's door next. There was no response at first, then the door opened, and Theo appeared, rubbing his eyes.
"What's up, man?" Theo mumbled, looking half asleep.
"Olivia," Elijah said, trying to keep his tone casual, but there was a thread of worry in his voice. "She's not in her room. Have you seen her?"
Theo blinked, shaking off the drowsiness as he stood up straighter. "What? No. Not recently. She wasn't with you?"
Elijah shook his head. "I checked everywhere. She's gone."
Theo's brow furrowed. "She's probably just in the kitchen or something."
But Elijah wasn't convinced. He glanced down the hall and then back at Theo. "She's not there. It's late. She hasn't been down here at all?"
Theo crossed his arms, clearly trying to keep it together, but his jaw was tight. "She could've gone to Silas's room, I guess. I mean, he's usually the one who–"
Elijah turned to him, catching the slight hesitation in Theo's voice. "Silas?"
Theo quickly shrugged, his expression shifting to something more guarded. "Yeah, she's probably with him. He's, like, the easiest guy to talk to, right? I wouldn't be surprised."
Elijah narrowed his eyes, sensing the edge in Theo's tone. He wasn't stupid. Theo was trying to play it off, but he could tell something was bugging him. Maybe it was jealousy.
"Let's check Silas's room," Elijah said, deciding not to press it for now. "If she's not there, we'll have to keep looking."
They moved down the hallway toward the back of the house, and as they reached Silas's door, Elijah noticed Theo's pace had slowed. His shoulders were a little tighter, and his jaw was clenched just slightly.
"You alright?" Elijah asked, glancing at him.
"Yeah, fine," Theo said quickly, his voice a little sharper than usual. "Just...let's go."
Elijah didn't say anything. He just knocked on the door. "Silas? You in there?"
There was no answer.
The two of them exchanged a quick look before Elijah pushed the door open. It was dim inside, the only light coming from the hallway. At first, he didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Then his eyes adjusted.
There, in the bed, was Olivia. Her head was resting against Silas's shoulder, her body curled up in a relaxed, peaceful way that made her look so much younger than her sixteen years. Silas was sprawled across the mattress, one arm casually thrown around her, his face relaxed and peaceful as he slept soundly beside her.
Elijah stopped in his tracks. For a moment, he stood there, watching them sleep, and a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. It was such a simple thing, but it was nice. Olivia, so wary and quiet only a couple of days ago, now at ease. Sleeping, of all things, next to Silas.
Elijah turned to Theo, who was standing a few feet behind him. Theo's face was unreadable, but his jaw was tight, his eyes narrowed at the scene in front of him. There was something in his posture that told Elijah everything he needed to know.
Theo wasn't happy about this.
"You okay?" Elijah asked, his voice a little softer now. He could tell something was up.
Theo blinked, his gaze flicking to Elijah for a brief second before quickly looking back at the sleeping pair. He shrugged, trying to mask his feelings behind a stiff expression. "Yeah, I'm good. Just didn't think she'd go to him. That's all."
Elijah's eyebrows shot up. "You're jealous?"
Theo's face immediately flushed, but he tried to cover it up with a scoff. "I'm not jealous. I just don't get it, okay? She barely knows him, and she goes and falls asleep in his room like it's no big deal." He said it like he was trying to convince himself more than anything else. "I mean, come on. It's just–"
Elijah chuckled lightly. "You're kinda pissed, huh?"
"I'm not pissed," Theo grumbled, his arms crossed even tighter now. He took a step back, hands shoving deeper into his pockets. "It's just...weird."
Elijah couldn't help but laugh under his breath, glancing at the two of them again. "You know, it's kinda cute. She's comfortable with him. That's gotta be a good thing."
Theo muttered something under his breath that was more along the lines of "whatever," but it was clear his feelings were a little more complicated than he was letting on.
"She's safe," Elijah said, his tone warm but matter-of-fact. "She's just trying to figure things out. Silas is a good guy. Maybe she needed someone who didn't ask her questions, you know? He's easy to talk to."
"I guess," Theo muttered, but the jealousy in his voice was still there, buried deep beneath the surface. He shoved his hands into his pockets again, clearly trying to push down the discomfort. "I just didn't think she'd go to him first. That's all."
Elijah stepped closer, clapping a hand on Theo's shoulder, giving it a little squeeze. "Hey, man. It's not a competition. She'll figure things out. Let her go to whoever makes her feel safe, okay? We're all here for her."
Theo didn't say anything, but Elijah could feel the tension in him ease just a little.
"Alright, let's go," Elijah said, pulling back. "We'll leave them be."
As they turned to leave, Theo hesitated for a moment, casting one last glance at Olivia and Silas. There was something soft in his eyes now, like he was allowing himself to let go of whatever had been bugging him.
"I'm happy she's comfortable, too," he muttered, more to himself than to Elijah.
Elijah shot him a knowing smile as they headed down the hall. "Yeah, I know you are."