Cold, soft, miniscule snowflakes fell into my out stretched palm as I sat on the bench right outside of the bar. Arden was supposed to be on break now ten minutes ago. A freezing gust of air sent my hair flying everywhere, one strand somehow ending in my mouth. I pushed it away, crossing my arms over my chest as another bust of air sent shivers through me.
For a moment I debated on just going back in there and dragging Arden out myself, but I couldn't do that. Arden was really angry with me. I didn't want to make him more upset. A cloud of moisture formed when I let out a sigh, pulling my knees up to my chest. I stared bleakly at the streetlight, watching the flurries of snow fall through the light, resembling the bugs that swarmed it during the summer.
My phone buzzed on the bench next to me and I snatched it up quickly, hoping it was Arden. Disappointment washed through me when the sender was from my phone company, probably trying to bribe me into buying one of their new deals. I snapped my phone shut again, tossing it on the bench. The least Arden could do was reply to my texts... But I could understand why he didn't.
My head fell onto my knees as new tears sprung to my eyes. Why hadn't I just told him the truth from the beginning? My uncle would have never known. Arden wouldn't tell anyone. I could have avoided all this. And if not from the beginning, I should have told him when I promised not to lie to him.
The sudden sound of crunching snow made me snap my head up. For a moment all I could see was darkness. I held my breath, looking around more carefully. Finally my eyes landed on a figure coming around from the back of the bar. My heartbeat sped up as I watched the silhouette come closer. Was it Arden...?
"Harley!"
My eyes grew round. I recognized that voice and it definitely wasn't Arden— unless Arden had taught himself how to do a believable English accent in the past half hour. As Oliver grew closer, I could make him out more. His cheeks were rosy from the cold and there were snowflakes in his hair, making it look like he had really bad dandruff.
I blinked rapidly, trying to dry my eyes. "What are you doing here?" I inquired as he grew closer.
He gave me an irritated expression. "My dad told me you ran away."
"Ran away?"
"Yeah."
My eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "Why would he say that?"
"He said that your car was here and that you were nowhere to be seen," Oliver informed me, plopping down on the bench next to me. "He told me you had a fight with Arden and that you left seeming pretty upset."
My face flushed in embarrassment and I ducked my head. "What else did he say?"
"Nothing much."
"Oh..."
Oliver glanced at me, frowning. "What were you guys arguing about?"
"Anthony spilled the beans about my age."
"So?"
"So what?"
"Why were you two fighting about that?"
I pursed my lips at Oliver, giving him a dispirited look. "Arden trusted me, Oliver. I lied to him."
"I repeat, so? It's not a big deal."
"You don't understand," I told him with a sigh.
"Then explain to me," he responded in a duh voice.
I readjusted my knees, dropping my chin onto them again. For a few moments I stayed silent, focusing on the snow dusting the ground. "Arden repeated many times how much he trusted me. We promised not to lie to each other. I knew I was lying to him at that time. I should have told him then and there! But I decided not to because my uncle told me I couldn't tell anyone else."
Oliver didn't say anything, his focus on the lamppost I had been watching earlier. Finally he let out a short snort. "I don't see what he's so upset about. It's not a big deal. Arden should deal with it."
"I knew you wouldn't understand," I snapped, getting offended for some reason. "He trusted me Oliver. He trusted me more than anyone else in the world. I could have lied about not having any gum while I actually had some and it'd still be bad. I should have just told him. How could I be such a horrible person? I told him my cat died when I don't even own a cat! Arden probably hates me now." My eyes grew wet again and I tried to discreetly wipe them.
"I'm sure he doesn't hate you," Oliver responded, adjusting his coat so it was closer to his body.
"He told me he hated girls younger than him," I sniffed, clenching my hands into fists. "Now he knows I'm younger than him and I lied to him there's no way he doesn't hate me."
"You're so pessimistic."
"And you're not?"
Oliver turned to give me a complacent smile. "But I'm always like that. You, on the other hand, aren't. It's unlike you to be so depressed."
"I have a reason."
"A stupid one."
"It's not stupid, Oliver!" I cried, narrowing my eyes at him. "Don't you get it? I lied to Arden! He probably hates me! He's my friend— I need him. I don't want him to hate me!" I dropped my head back into my lap, fresh tears leaking out of my eyes. A few choked sobs emitted from my lips. "What am I going to do? I hate myself, Oliver."
Without any warning, two cold hands cupped my face, forcing me to look back up. Through my blurry vision I could make out Oliver squatting down in front of me. He gave me a serious look; his mouth is a straight line. "There's no reason for you to hate yourself, Harley."
I shook my head, reaching up my hands to pull his away from my face. He tightened his grasp on my face, making my lips pucker. My face grew warmer now, as likely as not looking like a pufferfish. "Yes there is."
"It's a lie, Harley. Everyone lies."
"I made a promise—"
"It's not your fault you needed to keep your true age a secret," Oliver cut me off in a hard voice. "If Arden can't understand that then he's not your true friend."
"He is my true friend!"
"Then he'll get over it."
I shook my head, lowering my gaze. "No he won't."
"Stop. Being. Such. A. Pessimist," Oliver ordered, squeezing my cheeks harder with each word. "Really now."
My eyes tearing up again as I returned my attention to him. He gave me an exasperated look, dropping his hands. "Now what?" he demanded in a huff.
I shook my head quickly. "N-nothing! Just why are you being so nice to me?"
The question threw Oliver off guard. His eyes widened and gave me a nonplussed look. "What do you mean?"
"Why don't you just tell me to suck it up and get over it? Why are you trying to make me feel better?"
He rolled his eyes. "I may be a jerk, but I'm not an insensitive jerk. And besides, I owe you."
"For what?"
A small smirk slipped across Oliver's face. "It's a secret."
I narrowed my eyes at him in confusion. What had I done for Oliver? Nothing came to mind right away.
"Come on," Oliver started, holding his hand out to me. "It's freezing out here. Let's go."
"Where?"
"For a drive," Oliver responded, pulling me from the bench. He kept a tight hold on my hand as he began walking towards the front of the bar.
I trailed behind him, staring at our entwined hands with a warm face. Was Oliver just trying to make me feel better, or did his gestures have deeper meanings? Wait. Did I want his actions to have other meanings? This was Oliver— the snotty, childish, jerk. The handsome, surprisingly sweet, troubled, strong, brave, young man who put others over himself...
My thoughts were abruptly cut off when Oliver suddenly yanked me roughly to the side. My back hit the brick wall of the bar and my eyes shot open in surprise and pain. Oliver put a finger to his lips, taking a step closer to me. My heart thudded loudly in my chest as I took in our proximity. I quickly adverted my gaze, my eyes landing on something in the distance.
Arden.
"Oliver, it's Arden—"
Oliver moved a hand to my mouth, smothering it, and efficiently cutting me off. "Shh..."
I struggled to pull his hand away from my mouth. What was he thinking? I needed to talk to Arden! However Oliver wasn't releasing his grip. After a few more moments of fruitless attempts to remove his hand I gave up, letting my arms fall limply to my side. Arden slowly disappeared from my view, leaving Oliver and I alone again. When Oliver finally took his hand away I glared at him.
"What the heck?" I demanded.
"What?"
"Why didn't you let me talk to Arden?"
Oliver pushed a stray lock of hair out of his face, taking a step away from me. "He's angry with you, isn't he?"
"That's why I need to talk to him!"
"Wouldn't it be better if you gave him the night to cool down?" Oliver asked me, cocking an eyebrow. "If not you both might say things you'll end up regretting."
I stayed silent, knowing Oliver was right. But it didn't make me feel any better. I crossed my arms, letting out an angry huff of breath. "I just want to apologize to him again..."
"Do you like Arden?"
"Of course I do!"
The corners of Oliver's lips twitched into a half-smile. "No, I meant like more than a friend."
My mouth went dry at his question. For a moment my mind was blank as I tried to process what he was asking. Oliver stared at me intently, waiting for my answer.
"Why are you asking that?" I finally blurted out.
"I'm merely curious," Oliver responded with a shrug. "You're really upset about breaking a promise. You guys act like you're dating sometimes—"
"We do?"
"Often."
I tried to recall any time that Arden and I did something together that someone might have thought we were dating because of it. Surprise swept over me when I realized there were multiple times like that.
"You're also wearing his necklace," Oliver pointed out, touching the pendant on my chest. "It matches your eyes."
My hand went up to the emerald and I clutched it. "Arden and I are just friends..."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Why are you avoiding answering the question?"
"Why do you care that I'm avoiding the question?"
Oliver shrugged. "I was just thinking how much it would suck if the person you like likes someone else."
"Why does that matter?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows. "No one likes..." I trailed off realizing what Oliver meant. A startled gasp left my lips and I quickly placed a hand over my mouth.
"Don't give me that look Harley," Oliver responded, rolling his eyes. "I am capable of feelings."
"But you— I mean I..." I struggled to form a coherent sentence. "How can you like me?"
Oliver raised an eyebrow. "I never said I liked you."
My face burned instantly and I dropped my head, staring at the ground in embarrassment. "Um, right..."
"But if I did like you, it would be because you're you."
"What do you mean?"
"What do I mean?" he responded in a casual manner. "Good question."
"Oliver."
"You can't help whom you like," Oliver told me, a serious tone returning to his voice. "I would have never guessed I'd ever like you even as a friend when I met you."
I gave him a flat look. "Thanks, Oliver."
"But even though I have feelings for you, I'm not going to act on them."
"What?" I said quickly, my eyes widening again. "You have feelings for me?"
Oliver glared at me, looking embarrassed. "You don't need to repeat it."
"Sorry!" I apologized quickly, my eyes still as wide as saucers. Oliver liked me? I surveyed him intently, trying to figure out if he was joking with me or not. He returned my look with a completely solemn one. "I—I don't know what to say," I admitted, feeling my face heat up again.
"Don't say anything," Oliver told me. "The only reason I'm telling you this is because Arden now knows your real age."
"What does that have to do with anything...?"
"Harley, you'd have to be blind to not realize he likes you."
"He doesn't like me," I responded without missing a beat. "Even if he did before, he won't anymore. He doesn't like younger girls, remember?"
Oliver shook his head. "Age won't matter, Harley. Once he gets over it, he'll realize he still likes you for you."
"But I don't... I don't like them like that," I protested, furrowing my eyebrows.
Oliver shut his eyes for a moment, sucking in a deep breath of air. He let out it slowly, letting his shoulders relax. "It'd be selfish of me to want you to myself, Harley. Especially while you're unsure of your true feelings."
"But Oliver, if there's anyone that I like it's you—"
Oliver's hand was at my mouth again before I could blink. "No, Harley."
I pulled his hand away easily this time. "Yes, Oliver."
"No."
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Why don't you want me to like you back?" I demanded, a little hurt.
Oliver scowled at me. The sight gave me a feeling of nostalgia. That's when it hit me. When was the last time Oliver had scowled at me like that? He used to glare at me all the time. When had he stopped doing that? When had his smirks turned from taunting ones to teasing ones? When had his hard comments changed from being from malice to being said due to embarrassment?
"I do want you to like me back," Oliver told me, an edge to his voice. "But not when you might have feelings for Arden."
"I—"
"Don't lie, Harley. Can you honestly tell me right now you don't have any feelings for Arden?"
Don't lie. The words echoed in my head. Lies never brought anything good to me. But I honestly didn't know whether I had feelings for Arden. Did I like him more than a friend? And if so, how much more? More than I liked Oliver? My heart clenched uncomfortably in my chest.
"I don't know how I feel about Arden," I finally admitted. "I don't know whether I like him more than a friend or not. But I like you, Oliver—"
"I don't want to hear you say you like me until you are positive of your feelings for Arden," Oliver interjected, putting a finger to my lips. "If you find you have more feelings for him, he's the one who deserves you."
"Why?" I murmured through his finger.
"I like you, so I want you to be happy," Oliver responded, turning his head away from me. "Even if that means you're not with me."
"What if I like you more?"
Oliver smiled slightly. "Well, we'll see what happens if it comes to that later."
"But—"
"Since Arden's gone, let's go get something warm to drink from inside," Oliver continued, ignoring my protests. "And if you ever speak of what happened just now to anyone, I'll hurt you."
I couldn't help a grin from crossing my face. "Aren't used to spilling your guts, are you?"
"It's a once in a life time thing," Oliver told me, looking embarrassed once more. "Don't expect this to happen again."
"Alright," I responded with a chuckle.
A few moments of silence passed between us as we headed towards the main entrance to the bar. Just before we entered I tugged on Oliver's jacket lightly. He stopped, making me run into him. I stepped away, rubbing my nose. I wasn't expecting him to feel my tug.
"What?" he questioned with an amused expression, obviously taking entertainment out of me walking into him.
"Um, I know I probably shouldn't bring this up now, but I just want to know... Do you think Arden will have calmed down by tomorrow?"
Oliver stared at me for a moment with a blank expression. When he finally nodded his head, I relaxed. "Arden is forgiving, isn't he? He was just upset today."
I grinned up at Oliver. "Okay."
Oliver let out a low chuckle, ruffling his hair with my hand. "Everything will turn out okay, Harley."
"You think so?"
"That's why I said it, stupid."
I rolled my eyes at him, but bit back my retort. Oliver could get away with that just for today. Heck, Oliver could murder someone and I'd still let him get away with it after how much he helped me today. "Thank you, Oliver."
He turned his back on me, waving a hand over his shoulder. "Don't worry about it. Friends always help friends."
_____________________________________
I hate what I'm about to do to Arden, but he has serious trust issues so what's going to happen has to happen. We'll see what I can do it about it in a few chapters... Dx To all you Arden lovers, believe in him! Until tomorrow!
[Today's Song: Don't Go by Bring Me the Horizon] I don't generally listen to BMTH because I hate pure sreamo, but I love Oliver's voice in this. And Lights is awesome too. Her voice is nice and she sings in it (: Although the ending of the song sounds like In Her Tomb by the Sounding Sea by Alesana.
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