"Let's calm down in the car. It's not safe out here."
He says with a whisper, not wanting to let go of her.
"Harley, you're driving"
He says turning his head to her. He was just going to sit in the back seat with Penelope to hold her, just calm her down and make sure she's alright.
"Got it"
She says quickly hopping in the driver's seat as she started the car, waiting for them to get in.
Penelope stayed engulfed in Eli's arms as they went to the back seat together. After getting inside the car, she leaned her head on his shoulder, arms still wrapped around him. "I'm… I'm so s-sorry…"
"Don't be at all. It wasn't your fault. If anything I should be the one saying sorry"
He says turning to her ever so slightly, letting her head rest on his chest as his rather big arms (compared to her anyway) wrapped around her.
Penelope shook her head but stayed quiet. She really enjoyed being this close to Eli, it felt like they were supposed to be this close like they were made for each other. It did make sense because they are soulmates, but Penelope wasn't thinking about that which was probably for the best at that point.
Eli had felt this intense sense of protectiveness over her ever since she had fallen off of the now-empty slate of stone in the middle of the town square. And ever since then, it's only grown and grew for her. He assumed that was just him feeling bad for her for a few minutes, but he began to realize that it was probably more than that the more he thought about it.
He closed his eyes as he held her, the road became less and less rough and the ride had begun to feel allot smoother as they got onto the normal road.
By then, Penelope had calmed down completely. Her breathing matched Elijah's and she was listening to his chest. She was very close to falling asleep, it would be just a matter of seconds before she actually did.
Harley had looked back at the two, noticing the fact that she was tired, she decided to drive around town and maybe looking for a place to eat lunch at as Eli stroked Penelope's soft hair as she was held in his arms.
Penelope shifted ever so slightly, now fully asleep. Her arms were loose around Eli, but they were there nonetheless. Her breath was soft and calm moving a strand of hair every breath out.
Pulling up to a fancy restaurant about five minutes later, Elijah couldn't fall asleep so he just held her as they drove.
"We're here. Hope you don't mind I decided that we should go out to eat maybe."
She says unbuckling and reaching to open the door.
"Wake your girlfriend up too."
She says turning around to look at them, but only for a second before getting out.
"Hey…..Penelope."
He says in a honey-sweet, gentle and soft voice as he ran his fingers through his soft hair.
Penelope, hearing his voice, slowly opened her eyes. It took a while before she could actually hold open her eyes. She smiled, seeing Elijah's face. Sluggishly, she sat up all the way kind of keeping her arms around him. "Good morning." She said quietly with a sleepy smile.
Laughing a bit, he couldn't hold in the smile. She was just so adorable and he couldn't take it.
"Goodmorning"
He says kissing her forehead, again not able to help it. He hoped she didn't mind.
"We're at a restaurant, do you wanna come in?"
He says with one arm tangled in her hair and one on the small of her back, rubbing it slowly. He was doing that ever since she had been crying to calm her down, he just never stopped.
Penelope nodded a little, a smile still on her face. "Yeah… do I look okay?" She was worried about the tear stains and anything else that appeared from earlier. She felt so comfortable with Eli like that, she almost didn't want to leave, even for food.
Smiling, he wiped a small tear stain off of her cheek and fixing her hair slightly.
"Perfect"
He says as he moves a strand of hair out if her face and tucking it behind her ear.
"Thanks… again," Penelope said while putting her hand on Eli's that was coming down from tucking her hair. "Let's go inside, I'm starved." She said with a little smile
His face turning a little red when she put her hand on his.
"Well you need to get up off of me first"
He says teasingly with a smile, his hand on her cheek for a few seconds.
Penelope's face warmed up, turning a little pink. Trying not to make it awkward, she smiled and slid over to the door opening it. After stepping out, she took a deep breath of the fresh ocean air.
Stepping out of the car as a breeze swept over the two, he immediately regretted getting out. He just wanted to stay in there with her in his arms forever giving her unconditional love and protection. He wanted her to be happy. And even in the short time that he's known her, he was already in love.
Smiling, Penelope reached her hand out to Eli with a little shiver from the change in temperature. If she couldn't be in his arms, at least her hand could be in his. It was the best feeling to be this close to someone, especially this close to Elijah.
Smiling and taking her hand, Elijah led her inside, opening the glass door for her as she went in, followed by Harley who was quiet. Though only because she was starving. She got quiet when she was hungry.
They went over to a booth and sat down. Penelope sat by the corner, still holding Eli's hand, she had no intention of letting go of it. A small rumble came from Penelope's stomach as a tray of food went past them. She hadn't realized how hungry she actually was until then.
Their hands we're only clasped together, so Elijah decided to lace his fingers in hers very smoothly. Picking up the menu with his free hand, it seemed like an Italian restaurant(olive garden maybe? XD) Which Elijah knew Harley loved. No wonder she pulled up to this place. He just hoped Penelope liked it.
(Why not? XD)
Penelope smiled as Eli laced his fingers with her's. Looking over his shoulder at the menu, she glanced over to Harley who was looking at the menu as well.
Harley set the menu down and started looking at her phone once she was done.
She got the same thing every time she came here. The only reason she ever even picked the menu up and looked at it to check if it was still on the menu. Which it always was, and had been for a while now. Though every now and then they randomly take an item off of the menu and it never returns. It was weird and Harley was always paranoid about it happening to her favoirte dish.
Elijah looked over at Penelope with a smile, then scooted the menu towards her a little bit.
"I think I'm gonna get the lasagna. What about you?"
"Ummm… I think I'm going to have… chicken parmigiana? It looks really good." Penelope smiled looking over to Harley. "What are you having, Har?" She closed the menu with her free hand and set it down in front of her and Eli.
Her hand tensed up at the ugly nickname and she tried not to laugh as she looked up from her phone.
"the uh…Pasta e Fagioli. I get it every time"
She says with a light smile, then looking over at Elijah who was covering his mouth with one hand, obviously laughing.