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OLIVER FLETCHER
PAST
SEPTEMBER 2019
Max decided to take Jamie and I to a restaurant not too far from our new apartment, a small little Italian place that I had never heard of. But we both needed to venture around the area to see what there is including bars and places to go out. We'd be living here now until we finish university.
That's if Jamie doesn't get bored of me by then.
"So Jamie," Max clears his throat to catch his attention. "What do you study?"
Jamie glances up from the menu in front of him, resting his elbows down onto the table. "I study game art," he says after a few moments. "What about you?"
"I graduated a few months ago but I studied illustrations," he nods. "But game art, that's cool. I don't know anyone who's studied that."
"Well now you do," Jamie forces out a smile before reading the menu again.
My eyes float over to Max who gives me a look, then he silently sighs. He definitely had to be patient with Jamie, especially after what happened. I get that Jamie doesn't want to jump into being friendly after he threatened him.
"Max has actually been offered a job to create an illustrated comic strip for an online company," I say as I turn my attention back to Jamie.
Jamie looks at me and then to Max. "Oh yeah?" He sounded interested. "What company?"
"They're called The Virtual World," Max leans forward onto the table. "You've probably heard of them."
"Yeah," Jamie nods instantly. "They're really successful. Congrats, that's a sick job to get straight after graduating."
A genuine smile stretches across Max's face. "Thank you," he says gratefully.
"If you see his work then you'd understand how he bagged such an amazing job," I say proudly as they both turn their attention towards me.
Max's hand moves under the table to cup my knee and give me a gentle squeeze. "Well I haven't even started yet," he dismisses himself.
"When do you start?" Jamie questions.
"Next week," Max responds. "I'm kinda nervous."
My eyes widen at his words. "You? Nervous?" I say in shock.
Max rolls his eyes and moves his hand from my leg. "Of course I'm nervous, this is such a big deal. What if they hate my work or they don't like me?"
"You're overthinking," I say instantly. "Stop overthinking, they're going to love you."
"It's normal to be nervous," Jamie shrugs simply. "Use it to your benefit, obviously you care a lot about this role and being nervous shows how much you care. Use it to do well, to show them what you can do. Trust me, Virtual World wouldn't just hire anybody."
Max takes in Jamie's words as he nods at him. "I guess you're right," he says after a few moments. "I just need to relax and try and enjoy it."
"Exactly," I nod with a smile.
The waitress stops by at our table to take our order, the three of us agreeing to share a bottle of wine to celebrate Jame and I's new flat.
"Is this your second year Jamie?" Max questions as he pours the white wine into our glasses.
"Yeah," he nods. "It is."
"Looking forward to it?"
"Well it actually counts this year, so I know it's going to be a lot more serious. Definitely have to put the work in because I'm not wasting forty grand on nothing." Jamie breathes out quickly.
"You can still have fun," Max says as he places the bottle back into the wine holder. "You just have to prioritise work, deadlines and exams. No harm in still going out and getting drunk. There has to be a balance between work and fun."
I hum in agreement. "Definitely," I say. "We can still go out when we deserve it."
"Oh I am not ready to give up the partying just yet," Jamie clarifies before picking up his wine glass and taking a sip.
A small laugh passes my lips. "Me either," I smile. "I've only just been introduced to it. So I'm not stopping it any time soon."
"How did you guys meet?" Jamie questions as he flicks his little flinger between us, his hand still holding his glass.
"Well..." I roll my head with a wide smile. "Max pretty much stalked me."
"Stalked you?" Max recoils from my words.
"I'm joking," I chuckle softly. "We just saw each other around campus a couple times, I went to a party and Max told me that I should start saying 'yes' to things more. So next time I saw him, I took him up on his offer to go out. The rest was history."
Max smiles back at me as he rests his elbows down onto the table. "I guess it went something like that," his eyebrow quirks at me.
"You fancied me," I narrow my eyes towards him. "And wanted to pursue me."
He holds up his hands in defence and leans back in the chair. "You're not wrong." He says with a cheeky smile.
"How long have you been together?" Jamie questions, his voice sounding genuinely interested.
"Nine or so months," I nod as Max agrees with me. "It's gone super quick."
"The start of a relationship always goes by in a flash, probably still in that honeymoon phase." Jamie smiles as he places his glass down.
"Na think realisation has it," I joke as I smile at Max.
"Do you have a partner, Jamie?" Max questions.
Jamie looks down to the table and shakes his head, knowing full well this was still a touchy subject for him. "No, I don't have a girlfriend." He tells Max. "No big deal though, life isn't just about being in a relationship."
"No of course," Max shakes his head. "It's about being happy in yourself and enjoying life, however that may be. With someone or without someone. People thrive differently."
My eyes flick between the pair, a soft smile making its way onto my face. This was going a lot better than expected. They were giving each other advice and listening to one another.
Jamie continues to talk and Max retains his eye contact, nodding and speaking when he felt necessary. The pair of them were getting along and I couldn't contain the happiness that was erupting inside my body.
Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all.
PRESENT
SEPTEMBER 2021
I had the most productive day in the private studio opposite my block of flats. My third and final year of university was coming up and I wanted to be prepared, making sure all my paintbrushes and notebooks were clean and ready to use.
The thought of going back to university had me shaking with excitement, some slight nerves but I couldn't wait to get stuck in with the lectures and the classes. It felt like it had been far too long since I sat down amongst other students and worked on a project.
This year mattered more than anything and I felt ready.
One more week and I'd be back on campus, doing what I love best.
After packing away my things and taking the short walk back to my apartment, I dig out my phone and instantly ring Max. I hadn't heard from him all day, not that I had a second to even look at my phone but I desperately wanted to hear his voice.
"Hey," he breathes through the phone.
"Hi," I smile. "Are you at work?"
"I've just taken a break outside for a moment," he tells me. "Have an hour and a half left."
"Do you want to come over after?" I suggest as I rummage through my pocket to retrieve my keys as I walk up to my flat building.
"Sure thing," he says. "Have anything in mind that you want to do?"
I hum for a second. "Let's get pizza," I grin as I take the stairs up to the second floor.
"You read my mind," Max laughs quietly. "You want to order in or go out?"
"Let's go out," I nod. "Make an evening of it."
"Sure. Will Jamie be around?"
"Not sure," I say as I squeeze my phone between my ear and my shoulder. Pressing the keys into my door and walking into my flat. "Jamie?" I call out.
Silence swarms me as I shut the door. "He's not in, probably at work."
"Let's invite him," Max says confidently. "I think I'm on round two of grovelling with him."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Is pizza your love language in forgiveness?" I question.
"Of course it is," he scoffs and I smile.
"Well it's nice of you to invite him, I'll drop him a message now and see when he will be home. Or if he's busy." I say as I dump my backpack onto the floor.
"Sounds like a plan," Max responds. "Okay, I need to go back to work now. I'll see you in a bit?"
"Sure, love you."
"Love you too," he says before cutting the call.
I release a breath and quickly drop Jamie a text before placing my phone down onto the coffee table. My feet rotate towards the kitchen and I look directly at the fridge, my stomach growling. I had barely eaten all day, knowing we were going out later, I deserved a snack at least.
My hand pulls at the handle as I take one glance inside, who was I kidding? When did we ever have snacks. I sigh and reach for the pot of houmous, making sure that it wasn't out of date because I could vouch for it being off.
The sound of something falling to the floor outside the apartment door alerts me, I turn to the sound and stay silent. The deep voices of a few men filter through the flat, my lips part as I attempt to listen. But the sound doesn't go anywhere, they weren't passing by. They were directly outside the flat.
Slowly, I take steps towards the door. Something didn't sound right and it was making me feel slightly uncomfortable. Trying to ignore how my skin raises in goosebumps.
As I reach the peephole, I raise my eyes to take one glance outside the door.
My feet stumble back instantly, my heart racing inside my chest at what I just saw. Panting out desperately, begging my body not to break out into a sudden panic attack.
Three men wearing black balaclavas, dressed in dark hoodies and trousers. Their hands were occupied with crowbars and baseball bats. They were tall and they looked fucking terrifying. Were they trying to break in?
A loud knock at the door shakes the room, my head spinning completely as I rush to my phone, not realising how much my palms were sweating. The plastic case sliding between my hands, attempting to unlock the screen.
I fumble with my phone as the knocking becomes louder, tears swelling in my eyes. Nausea rising in my throat as my phone struggles to accept my face recognition. "Come on," I heave out frantically, my teeth gritting painfully. "Come on."
The next loud and aggressive knock makes me jump, causing my phone to fall from my fingers and slip under the sofa. "No," I cry out, diving to my knees to try and retrieve my phone with my arm, merely touching it with my fingers. "Please, please. Don't do this to me right now."
By the time I grab my phone and sit up, I look towards the door momentarily. Watching as the door almost flies off the hinges as it's kicked in with force, I scurry backwards into the sofa as the three men enter my apartment.
Their eyes scanning the space for me. They turn to each other and chuckle, attempting to close the broken door behind them. One plays with the baseball bat in his hand, raising it and slamming it down into his palm.
The other drags the crowbar across our wooden floor to get closer to me as I cry silently, unsure of what the fuck to do. Pure fear taking over every inch of my body, feeling frozen to the spot and unable to do anything.
"Hello Oliver," the guy with the crowbar says.
His voice made me shudder, it wasn't welcoming or friendly. He wanted me to be scared of him and I was. Completely and utterly scared.
"I think we should have a little chat."
. . .
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Link is also in bio
Holy shittttttt
OMG did anyone see this coming? The drama was right around the corner
What do you think is going to happen?
My poor bby Oli, I actually want to cry for him. I can only imagine how terrifying this situation is, fuckkk
Hope everyone is okay, see you all on the next one! Love, Sav x
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