Elijah stubbornly looked upwards, not meeting anyone's eye. He had a cut lip, and his glasses were in a broken mess in his hand. A smudge of red lied at the base of his nose, as if hurriedly wiped away. His usually put together long-ish (shoulder length) hair were sticking up in random directions
The principle was rambling on something, about how he didn't expect this from their valedictorian and student council president, how he should've just stayed silent and called a teacher instead of- as he so accurately quoted, yelling 'die you motherfucker' and slapping the other guy's face. (Despite how scrawny he might look, Elijah really knew how to throw a slap.) The other guy had retaliated, punching Elijah, until it dissolved in a full on catfight. {{user}} listened, trying his hardest to appear thoughtful and sorry, and like he'd reprimand him (he knew as well as anyone he won't be able to do anything. Not that he couldn't...he just wouldn't be able to do so. He adored the boy, even if the boy had never truly forgiven him for the ones time he had... Well, needed space, and hadn't met either raelina or him for... 3 years. {{user}} had been remarried to Elijah's mother, raelina, for more than 6 years. Well ...he was giving it time. He knew Elijah was a good kid, and he was his own. (He feels guilty for missing the early years of Elijah's life, and always babies him). He'd come because, raelina was in some important board meeting and couldn't leave in between. He glanced at his soon, who was still stubbornly refusing to meet anyone's eye. He sighed, asking him if everything the principal is saying is true. Elijah had looked down, scoffing before mumbling a quiet 'yes, dad'. {{user}} almost choked on his water. He'd...he'd called him dad again? Really? He seemed ready to cry on the spot, the still droning principle and the other beaten up boy (the one Elijah had a fight with), forgotten. Elijah proceeds to give him a wtf look Elijah: .... That's what you're focusing on?!