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OLIVER FLETCHER
PAST
AUGUST 2019
After my conversation with my father a couple of weeks ago, things seemed somewhat clearer. He had rung and text a lot more than he used to, checking in and making sure that I was okay. He invited me to stay at their house but I politely declined.
They already had a lot on their plate between them and Kerry's teenage children, I didn't really need to move in for a month or two to move out again.
I could cope with being on campus by myself for an extra couple of weeks, even when Max popped by and we would go out every so often.
Things could be worse. At least Max and I were willing to push past what happened and get on with our lives. He was clearly beating himself up about it but I just wanted to focus on the future, both of us actively trying to make an effort for the better.
It was a bright sunny day and I decided to take myself on a walk around the grounds of campus. Even though we were in the middle of London, the scenery was still beautiful.
I contemplate grabbing a coffee at the SU bar but it was still surprisingly busy, not wanting to look like a loner and sit by myself, I walk on by. Taking a leisurely walk through campus and out the back, through the trees onto a gravelly path.
Perching down on a bench and looking up at the blissful sun, I wanted to take advantage of days like today. Especially with the glorious weather and when it's warm in England in the summer, you have to make the most of it.
"Oli?"
A voice from beside me calls out, I look up and turn my head. My eyes widen when I spot Jamie strolling towards the bench.
My lips curve at the sight of him. "Hey Jamie," I say humbly.
"Can I sit?" He asks as he approaches the bench.
I nod a little too fast and scoot to the other end. "Of course, of course." I nod.
"Thanks." He smiles before perching down beside me, looking at his blonde hair that was pulled back into a tight top knot. "On your daily walk, huh?"
A deep sigh leaves my lips before I hesitantly laugh. "Yeah, you?"
"Not much else to do," he says as he extends out his legs in front of us, the sun hitting his shins perfectly.
"Agreed."
"How have you been?" He questions as he rotates his head towards me.
I take him in for a moment and purse my lips. "If you mean since that situation with Max and you. I've been okay, we've been working things out. I'm still so sorry he did that to you, you have no idea how embarrassed I am."
Jamie shakes his head almost instantly. "Don't worry about it," he exhales before cupping his elbows. "You can tell that he clearly cares a lot about you, he just lost it seeing us together."
"He hasn't really seen me hang out with other guys alone," I mumble out as I close my eyes for a brief moment.
"Well, as long as you guys are working things out. That's what matters, right?" He turns to me with a warming smile.
"Right," I nod. "He's never normally like that and I said that if it happens again, I can't deal with it. It's not fair on me, or you, or whoever else it might be."
Jamie hums in approval. "Well I'm glad you sorted things through, I just wanted you to have a good night."
"I did have a good night, such a good night. It took my mind off everything which is exactly what I needed." I exhale slowly.
"Well I'm glad that I could help," he grins back at me.
I clench my hands together in my lap for a few moments, anticipating what I was going to say next. "Do," I start before clearing my throat. "Do you wanna go grab a coffee?"
Jamie's eyes light up and he nods. "Sure," he smiles. "Maybe it's my turn to discuss my tragic love life."
A small chuckle rumbles from my chest. "I'm sure it's not tragic but yes I'm more than happy to listen. Especially after everything you did for me."
"Let's go then," Jamie nods as he pushes himself up from the bench and I follow him.
We take a slow stroll back towards the SU bar, soaking up the beautiful rays. Jamie and I talk about what we have been up to since we seem like the last people to be staying on campus, but neither of us had much to report.
I order my iced latte and Jamie orders after me, soon we take our drinks to a table outside amongst other students who were currently drinking Strongbow Dark Fruits instead.
"So, I say as I take a sip of my coffee. "What's going on in your love life?"
Jamie releases a deep grunt before leaning back into the chair. "Girls just seem to get bored after we talk and go on a few dates," he begins to rub his eyes. "I don't know what the fuck is wrong with me."
I frown and shake my head. "It's most probably not you, but them. Aren't girls meant to be seriously fussy and get the 'ick' over stupid things when it comes to guys?"
He looks up at me and laughs. "I guess," he nods.
"I mean I really wouldn't have a fucking clue, I'm about as straight as a roundabout." I exhale which increases Jamie's laughter.
"No you're right, some girls are very fussy. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong place." He sighs as he reaches for his drink.
"Are you using those shitty dating apps?" I flex an eyebrow at him.
He peeks his eyes up at me and gives me an awkward grin. "Is it really obvious?"
"Fuck off the dating apps and meet them in real life, even in the library or the studio's when lectures and classes start again." I tell him as I lean forward in the chair.
Jamie nods. "Yeah you're right, it's just that campus is so dead at the moment. Loneliness sure is a killer."
"Tell me about it," I mutter under my breath.
"Do you know where you are living next year?" He questions.
I ponder for a moment and shrug. "I should have really looked into it more but I think they might have me back in halls. I haven't really looked off campus. Have you?"
He nods and begins to dig out his phone. "I've been looking at this two bedroom flat, one of my halls mates was meant to move in with me but they dropped out a few months before the end of term."
"Oh," I say as he scrolls through his phone. "That's annoying."
"So I'm looking for someone else to share with me but because it's so late, most people have already found accommodation and I need to put down the first deposit so that I know it's mine." He says as he hands me pictures of the flat.
I take his phone in my hands and scroll through the pictures, the bedrooms looked big and the kitchen and living space seemed comfy.
"Are you asking if I want to share the flat with you?" I peek my eyes up at him with a smile.
Jamie breathes out through his nose and takes back his phone. "I mean if you want to, or if you want to stay in halls, that's cool too."
I stare back at him for a few moments before I pull my chair closer to the table. "You know what, yeah." I say catching him by surprise. "Yeah, I'd like to move off campus with you. It'll be fun, especially if it'll be anything like our spontaneous night out the other day."
He grins back at me in shock. "You're not messing with me?"
"Nope," I shake my head instantly. "When I first met Max, he told me that I should say yes to things more. I'll have a better time than worrying and pondering for an answer."
"Wise words." Jamie says confidently. "I can get you in contact with the landlord and the contract, then you can make an indefinite decision with all the information."
I nod in agreement. "Sounds like a plan."
PRESENT
AUGUST 2021
"Are we too old to be going to parties now?" I question Max.
He turns to me with a confused look, our hands perfectly entwined between each other as we stroll down the street. "No way," he shakes his head. "We're still young. If anything I'm the one who is too old for parties, you're still technically a student."
I laugh quietly. "True, you're fully an adult now. Got to work for the rest of your life to continue living." My arm nudges his gently.
Max's eyes look at me playfully. "I'm not going to be working in a bar for the rest of my life, I can tell you that."
"Of course not," I say instantly. "You're too talented to work at a bar. You'll be your own graphic designer one day, I can see it already."
"Oh yeah?" He turns to me with a big smile.
"Yep, I've already predicted it." I say with a subtle wink.
"I forgot that you're a psychic."
"Always have been." I chuckle quietly.
After a short walk from Max's flat, we arrive at the block of apartments. Noise coming from the third floor. I look up and take a loud inhale as Max turns to me. "We don't have to stay long," he gives my hand a squeeze. "Can just show our faces. It'll be nice to see some familiar faces."
"Yeah," I agree.
"Let's go," he says before leading me up the stairs to the ground floor and through the halls.
The front door of the party was slightly ajar so we let ourselves in, people had cluttered the corridors and were listening to some Dua Lipa song whilst a group of boys played beer pong in the kitchen.
"Some things don't change," I lean up into Max's ear.
He grins down at me. "They don't. It's literally like being back at University."
We greet the host, I hadn't seen him since first year. He was more of Max's friend than mine but it was still nice to be invited. I wasn't sure who most of these people were but some looked familiar, I guess I hadn't been on campus for a year.
"Let's get a drink," Max tells me as we approach the kitchen.
The loud cheering of boys playing beer pong startles me for a moment but Max presses his hand to my back, guiding us over to the drinks table. I grab two cups and Max cracks the lid of the vodka we brought along ourselves.
Mixing the spirit with lemonade, Max pulls me out of the kitchen so that we weren't swarmed with noise. Slipping into the living room where Max says hello to people here and there, I add in the odd 'hi' when they look at me.
Max chats away to some girl that used to be on his course, I stand and listen politely. Flicking my eyes between them slowly as I drink in their conversation, it wasn't anything overly interesting but I knew Max had a lot of catching up to do with people.
A hand wraps itself around my wrist and I whip my head over my shoulder suddenly. My heart skips a thousand beats when I look Logan directly in the face, attempting to pull back my wrist but he tightens his grip.
His eyes were bloodshot and his skin a little sweaty, he was clearly wasted but I didn't want to converse with him now.
"I heard about you guys," he slurs as he uses his other hand to point at Max.
With my free hand I extend it backwards and grab onto Max's leg, his head rises and he looks over at me. Glancing down at Logan before stepping into our conversation, my expression clearly alarming him.
"What did you say?" Max's voice was calm but clearly not in the mood to be challenged.
Logan laughs as he looks up at him, finally releasing my wrist. "I said that I heard about you guys. He ditches you..." He points to Max before looking back at me. "...and you go crawling back."
Max steps in the way of us, blocking my view completely. "Mind your own fucking business."
He scoffs and steps closer to Max, I manoeuvre my body to get a better angle of their conversation. "Mind my business?" His body begins to sway from his intoxication. "What about when he was fucking the whole of London including me in the mean time?"
My blood runs cold, feeling my skin pale by the second. People's conversations stop to a halt and turn to watch the drama unfold in front of them.
Max's hands raise to push Logan's shoulders, he stumbles back into the wall causing a few people to gasp. "What did you fucking say?!" His voice roars in fury.
Logan chuckles, pleased that he had agitated Max. "Oh you don't know?" He challenges him.
"Logan," his friend whose name I could not remember, approaches his side. "That's enough, you're making a scene."
His hand raises to swat her away, her face pulls into a frown and she steps away, mumbling under her breath amongst another group of people.
"He's a slut, he took my dick s--"
Logan doesn't get the chance to finish his sentence before Max grabs the collar of his shirt, slamming him into the wall. His body collides harshly as the sound echoes around the room, my eyes blinking back in shock at his sudden explosion.
"Say another fucking word about him and I'll shove my hand down your throat and pull out your intestines," Max threatens as he spits his words angrily.
My shaky hands raise up to grab onto Max's jacket. He turns back to look at me, his expression softening as he finds my eyes. "Please can we go," I whisper, unable to hack the pure embarrassment anymore.
Not even being able to look up between everyone who was getting in their fix of gossip and drama, my stomach flipping with nausea. Feeling like I was seconds away from having a panic attack.
Max's hands release Logan with a push, he laces his fingers through mine and attempts to pull me away from the audience that had gathered around us.
"Guess you're fine with dating the local bike," Logan shouts loudly, amusement clear in his voice.
I clench my eyes shut, tears forming in the crevice of my ducts. Desperately wanting the floor to swallow me whole, wishing we never fucking came to this stupid party.
Just as I open my eyes Max turns back around, raising his fist and slamming it into Logan's face. His ring cutting through his cheek and piercing his nose. Everything moves in slow motion, the gasps of everyone watching, the splatter of Logan's blood against the wall.
He crashes into the floor beneath him and clutches his face, crying out in pain.
I grip onto Max's arm, my eyes not knowing where to look but I wanted to get the fuck out of here.
For a second he looks back at me before leading me through the crowd. "Move!" He yells angrily at those who were in our way.
They part like the sea and by the expressions on their faces, Max probably looked like he wanted to finish Logan off and the rest of the party who had decided to stick their noses in.
I just wished that we never came at all.
. . .
Read up to chapter 38 on Patreon
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Link is also in bio!
Hello my loves, what did you think of this chapter??
Super protective Max turns me the hell on, damnnnnn
Everyone can finally see Logan's true colours, he might have been hurt but he went about it in the wrong way
Also who loves seeing Oli and Jamie in the past and how their friendship blossomed. I love it!
Hope everyone is okay, I still have this God awful chest infection and I am barely getting by lol - praying for better health for the rest of the year
See you all on the next one, love Sav x
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