tylerknott:

Banishment
to bed
with me
and
enjoy
our simplicity

-Tyler Knott Gregson-

Katie makes an impromptu date to Elijah’s house for a sleepover.

• Eli: You don't have to explain, I know, but you don't have to think like that either. I know that there's a lot more to you than just aiming to be the best at everything you do. No one's waiting for you mess up, and if someone is? Who cares? They don't deserve to see you at your best. I know. Be careful. I'll see you soon, belle.
• Katie: You know me too well. We'll talk more when I see you. P.S I'm outside and in my sweats, don't laugh or I'm going home to Professor Johnson's open arms. See you.

• Eli: I suppose, but perfection shouldn't be the only number that you're shooting for. You don't have to get me anything, Katie. Agendas are meaningless if you don't put any effort into it, and I don't plan on intercepting the spontaneous. Of course it's okay. Honestly, I'm surprised that you haven't earned your own side of the closet yet with all of your recent stays at Hotel Eli. You don't have to sneak around for the sake of my parents, believe me. What your parents don't know won't hurt anyone.
• Katie: With my reputation, it's difficult shooting for anything else, trust me. I just feel like people are waiting for me to mess up. That's something I always admired about you, you know; how you're so open to such spontaneity. I'm trying to be a lot less rigid, but I'm still a work in progress. I have a good amount of things at your place, I think. Fair enough, I'm leaving the house now.

• Eli: You worry too much. The majority of the year has been smooth enough to bear, so why spread yourself so thin over an ideal vision of the future? If it was meant to be effortless, then it will be. If I forget, I'll simply accept that it's my own fault and move on. It's actually a pretty simple thought process when you consider it, you know. Well, I have a semester's worth of drafts of horrible poetry to rest your eyes upon and crappy music to listen to, but other than that, I just want to harass you in person.
• Katie: Doesn't hurt to aim at perfection, but I suppose stressing myself over what's been fine so far is ludicrous. Always making things so simple, har har. Do I need to get you another agenda? Or will this one be swallowed by your room as well? I'd probably have to sleep over because I doubt it'd be a short stay. Is that okay? I'll leave before anyone wakes up; if anything, I'll just say Marisol and I went on an impromptu girls night if my parents find out.

• Eli: I wouldn't try to deceive you. You sound skeptical. I happen to be a pretty great person, in case you haven't noticed by now, and it would be a crime to take the fact lightly. Technically, you can't say that it's lost if it's still in my possession, just out of sight and mind. I'm so jealous that you should ditch Prof. to keep me company instead. This is early for us, correct?
• Katie: Not so much as skeptical as I am just simply concerned for you. It's our senior year; I want it to run as smoothly as possible. Same difference, you're not using it--what if you have a meeting or something and you fail to go because you simply don't remember? Oh yeah? Professor Johnson keeps me warm and he doesn't argue as much. What do you have to offer? Pretty much, it might as well be early evening for us.

• Eli: I hope you mean that, because I'm taking that to the grave with me. It's the first step to getting legitimate recognition from you for all of the wonderful things that I do. If you want to resort to Blink for company tonight, go ahead. It could be a disaster if we're not careful.
• Katie: As long as you really are getting things done. Wonderful things you do, right. Does that include losing the agenda I gave you? Not only Blink, I have Professor Johnson to keep the big bads away. Jealous?

• Eli: You say that like it's a bad thing. I'm productive when it comes to things that matter. If it's worth anything in retrospect, I regret a lot of my life decisions, but mostly the ones that involve "Leslie." I lost interest in my own perfection a long time ago, so I'll save you the trouble. It becomes such a trivial thing after seventeen years of living with such glory.
• Katie: Can't say I'm a supporter of being lazy in the tiniest of instances, but as long as you're getting things done, no harm, no foul. Noted. Should I change your name in my address book to Leslie? So much glory, I don't think I could live up to it. This could be a problem.

• Eli: Yeah, you're right. I don't. Remind me why I told you my first name in the first place? And what was I under the influence of at the time? Also, almost? I don't think you've prepared yourself mentally for what I'm about to tell you.
• Katie: Look, it's laziness in it's most natural form. Pretty sure we were both super sober. Took a while to get it out of you, but if it's any consolation, you know mine. Almost, somewhat, kind of. It's all the same to me. I'm losing interest as we speak, Lijah.

• Eli: Believe me, I have my struggles. No need to bring out ugly middle names - I know that you're on the edge of your seat right now, but patience is a virtue. Are you sure that you're ready to hear this?
• Katie: ?? You don't even take notes in class. Quite the opposite, I adore your middle name almost as much as I adore you. Now you're just doing this on purpose.

• Eli: I'm more of a visual learner rather than the pen-and-paper type, I think. Plus, I don't trust myself to be competent outside of school hours, so I might as well not psych myself out by pretending to be a productive person. More than once, I assure you. Do you really want to know?
• Katie: At least you don't have to deal with your hand cramping up due to the notes we're expected to take. Why can't we just use our laptops? Ugh. Of course, that's why I asked. How does one achieve the flawlessness that is Elijah Leslie Goldsworthy? Do tell.

• Eli: I'm almost positive I did, without notes and all. You adore me. I'm glad you appreciate my efforts, I always love to get feedback from the fans. I was running late this morning like always, no surprise there, but I did manage to sneak in right on the minute bell. I think it's becoming a talent of mine, really. It comes naturally, what can I say?
• Katie: I'll never understand how you manage to pass without notes, but I'll keep that in mind next time I get a 100 and you get a 98. That happened once, I think. A natural talent, really. Could you tell an adoring fan the secret to your perfection? Please?

• Eli: I wasn't trying to be funny. What is a man without his fire? A writer without his muse? An artist without his brush? Useless and empty inside - just like me without that adrenaline rush of being completely and utterly unprepared. I'm too upset to even think about academics. Unprofessional.
• Katie: You got the questions right, did you not? Way to thank your girlfriend. I'm not surprised you didn't make it ten minutes early to homeroom--did you make it on time? Oh hush, you're being dramatic. You were better prepared.

• Eli: I've decided that your notes for Gov totally ruined the pop quiz vibes for me today. I blame you for how mundane I feel.
• Katie: Very funny. The first four questions were highlighted on the notes I gave you. What did you get for #5? Oops, I'm sorry I care about you. My fault.