Chapter Two.
Oliver
“Oliver! You’ve gotta get to the principal’s office!” Devon yelled, bursting into the gym.
I looked up and glared; I was busy. I patted Bryony on the ass, and she coyly smiled.
“Fuck off, Devon,” I said as I leaned on one arm on the wall and crowded into Bryony.
Devon had the cheek to offer a disgusted look. “Seriously, get to Edwards’ office.”
Annoyed that Devon was disturbing my game with Bryony, I turned and grabbed his tee and hauled him close. “Dude, I’ll say this again. Piss off, I’m busy.”
Devon sent me the dirtiest stare in his arsenal, which didn’t bother me in the slightest. I needed my cock sucked, and Bryony was one of the best.
He yanked free and stepped away. “Fuck knows what Alicia ever saw in you,” Devon hissed and walked away. Happy, I grinned and turned back to Bryony.
I was getting to second base when the doors banged open, and voices disturbed me. What the hell was this gym today? A revolving door?
“Mrs Jems said that Alicia’s scream was horrifying,” Jacob stated.
“The cops escorted Alicia out. Do we know what she’s done?” Mattie replied.
“Carmelle and Samantha apparently outed Oliver for cheating, and Alicia’s devastated,” Lucas interjected.
“Whatever it was she was arrested for, it has to be bad. Devon saw everything go down but won’t say anything,” Jacob added.
“What the fuck is going on? Can’t you tell I’m busy?” I snapped as I turned around. Why were they discussing Liss?
“Seriously? You’re getting a blow job while your girlfriend’s been carted off by the cops?” Josh demanded.
“What?” I straightened up. What was Josh talking about?
“God, I looked up to you, man. Thought you were something,” Lucas sneered in disgust.
Fists clenched, I took offence and stepped towards him. Lucas held his ground.
“What the fuck are you saying?” I said, as grudging respect rose for Lucas.
“Carmelle and Samantha outed you for cheating with Bryony. Mr Edwards escorted Alicia to the principal’s office before there was a fight. Then Devon overheard Alicia screaming, and two cops walked her out,” Mattie blurted.
Shocked, I stiffened. What the hell? “You sure? That’s overkill for a fight that didn’t happen.”
The door opened, and Devon entered. I marched over, needing answers.
“What’s this shit you’re spreading?” I yelled, pushing Devon hard. Devon surprised the hell out of me when he shoved back angrily.
“Don’t touch me. I came to fetch you, but you were too busy screwing around with that slut,” Devon sneered.
Hate welled. I drew my fist back.
Devon stepped forward, shocking me even more. “Got something to say, Oliver?”
The dislike and revulsion couldn’t be disguised; I was seeing what Devon really thought of me—and that was unsettling.
“Why are you spreading the news that Liss was arrested for a fight that never happened?”
“That’s the rumour going around, not one I spread,” Devon replied.
“Rumours are saying you heard Alicia screaming because Carmelle told her about Bryony,” I yelled.
Devon stepped up and got in my face.
“I can’t imagine what it’s like being you, Oliver.
Cocky and confident. Here are some facts.
One, you’re an asshole who never deserved Alicia.
She’s too good for you. Two, I really did want to date Alicia a year ago; I wasn’t out to get laid.
Unlike you, I recognised quality and wanted Alicia.
Three, today, Carmelle and Samantha were gloating about you screwing Bryony behind Alicia’s back. Alicia heard.”
I ground my teeth, feeling the urge to smash Devon’s face in.
“Alicia wasn’t screaming because Carmelle had outed you,” Devon sneered. “She was devastated because her mom and dad were just killed in a car accident.” Everyone around me drew a deep breath, and I flinched.
“What?” “Yeah, asshole. While you’re getting a blow job from the school slut, Alicia was learning that her parents had died. What a fucking legend you are!” Devon scoffed, and with that strike, he walked away.
Alicia – A year later.
“Did you get accepted into the college you wanted?” Devon asked as we stood in line to receive our graduation scrolls.
“Yes. I leave in a week. The house has been sold, and the paperwork’s signed. I’m good to go,” I replied.
“Damn, Alicia, you really don’t mean to come back?”
“No. Too many bad memories here. A fresh start is what I want.” We shuffled forward as the line moved.
“Alicia, I’ll be sorry to see you go.”
“You were a good friend—in the end, Devon,” I said with a smile.
Devon grinned. He’d been my rock, funnily enough, when Mom and Dad died.
I’d refused to see Oliver, not after learning he’d been cheating.
Devon had arrived at my home the day after and wouldn’t move off the porch.
That stubbornness had led us to becoming good friends. He even sat with me at the funeral.
Oliver had become something of a man-slut since we broke up.
Although in the last three months he’d apparently not dated.
Honestly, I wouldn’t know; I was uninterested in anything related to Oliver.
While I was learning my parents had died, Oliver was being sucked off in the gym by Bryony. What a total whore—both of them.
“Gonna miss you, Alicia,” Devon said.
“Same, but I deserve a fresh start. Somewhere that nobody knows that while I received the most devastating news of my life, my boyfriend was getting a blow job. That stigma is old now.” We moved forward again.
“Planning to still study fashion?”
“Yes, I’ve got a talent for design,” I replied. I loved designing clothes, and maybe that would become my career. I wasn’t sure yet. At eighteen, I had the world at my feet.
“Did you hear about Oliver?” Devon asked.
“Should I have?”
“Luck of the Irish, his lot. Turns out that they’re distantly related to some rich dude who owned a clothing chain, he’s died and left everything to them. Poor fucker had no other family, apparently,” Devon said.
Typical. Devon wasn’t wrong. Oliver’s parents must have made a deal with the devil. I shook my head.
“Not my problem or concern. But I’ll make sure I stay away. What’s the name of the chain?”
“Eliganz, you heard of it?” Devon asked.
“No.”
“Guess they’re not a big chain?”
“Not that I know of. You didn’t look them up?” I teased Devon, who shrugged.
“Not really. I’m not interested in anything Oliver does. We played ball together, and that was it. We ceased becoming friends when Oliver guessed I wanted to date you.”
I laughed, a genuine laugh. Devon had told me everything, being brutally honest. After a few months, he admitted we were better off as friends.
There wasn’t a spark, but he’d been a fantastic friend.
He’d stood between me and the bitches who’d have loved to have torn me down.
Oliver remained king but wasn’t as popular as he’d once been.
What Oliver had done made him a legend amongst the jerks who thought similarly.
However, a good sixty per cent of the school thought he was an asshole.
They weren’t wrong.
“Coming to the cookout tonight?” Devon asked, changing the subject.
“Probably not. I’ll be packing. The furniture sold with the house,” I replied.
“Still can’t believe the courts let you live alone,” Devon muttered, shaking his head.
“Me neither, but they did. Hey, you’re up,” I said, poking Devon. He grinned and moved to take his scroll as his family cheered.
I was dreading receiving mine, and as my name was called, there was polite applause.
Nobody celebrated me until a sharp whistle cut through the air.
I glanced in its direction and saw Oliver standing there, cheering.
For a split moment, I hesitated, and then Mr Edwards handed me my diploma, and I headed to my seat.
“What was that about?” Devon whispered as I sat down.
“No idea.”
“Suspicious,” Devon stated.
I couldn’t disagree.
I carried the bag of rubbish to the trash can and stopped as a car pulled onto the driveway. As Oliver climbed out, I squinted and then stepped back.
“Oliver, I’m too tired tonight for whatever game you want to play.”
“Just here to celebrate, Liss.”
“Why? What are you playing at, Oliver? Is this a dare or something?”
Oliver shook his head and presented a bunch of flowers. They were my favourites: lilies and tulips. An odd mix, I know. In the other hand, Oliver held a gift bag.
“These are for you. Congrats on making the honour roll.”
“Oliver…” I tried not to soften. “Thanks.”
“Come on, Liss, let’s order takeout and watch a movie, like old times,” Oliver said softly.
“What? Nobody to suck your cock tonight?” I snapped and regretted it when he winced. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologise. I deserve that. I was a randy idiot, and I realise that, Alicia. You deserved better, and I failed you.”
“Yeah, you did, horrifically so. Oliver, I suffered what was the worst thing in my life alone. You didn’t even fight when we broke up,” I said, and Oliver appeared shamefaced.
“I didn’t, and I regret that, Liss. I left you alone, and that’s unforgivable. Tonight you should be celebrating, not doing—what are you doing?”
“Packing and getting rid of stuff I can’t take with me. I sold the house and am heading to college in a week.”
Oliver looked shifty, and I wondered why.
“What aren’t you saying?” I demanded, folding my arms over my breasts. Oliver’s eyes darted there before focusing on my face again.
“Nothing.”
“Oliver, don’t lie.”
“Damn it. You always knew when I did that.” Oliver chuckled. “Can I come in, Liss? And talk over food?”
“Don’t call me Liss. That girl died a year ago, and I don’t like the nickname anymore.” I sighed. “But fine, come in. You’ll probably leave soon for the cookout. Try anything, and I’ll mace you,” I warned.
“You got feisty, Li—Alicia. It’s funny.”
“Yeah, if you say so.” I knew I was being antagonistic, but I couldn’t help it.
The day I learned about Oliver’s cheating and lying, and my parents’ dying, was the worst of my life.
When I buried my parents, I’d buried Liss with them.
Overnight, I’d been forced to grow up, and I’d managed.
Luckily, Mom and Dad had been well insured and hadn’t caused the accident.
A truck had smashed into their car. The responsible party had paid quite the compensation. But that didn’t bring my family back.
Oliver followed me into the lounge and paused. “Wow, this is different.”
“I’ve been getting rid of stuff for a while.” The room was nearly bare, with only minimal furniture.
“The house has sold? I’m a bit shocked, Alicia.”
“Why? Did you think I’d stay here?”
“Yes.” Oliver glanced away, and I guessed he was hiding something.
“Oliver, just spit it out.”
“Alicia, I applied to the same college as you and got accepted,” he admitted.
I was halfway to sitting down but straightened. “What?”
“I messed up a year ago. Then I made shit even worse with how I behaved. I was being self-destructive and kept digging a hole. Alicia, I loved you so much and couldn’t handle how I let you down.”
“Seriously, you screwed girls to get over me? Wow, I really don’t know how to respond to that.”
“Alicia. All I wanted was you. Nobody else. It’s backwards, but every time I slept with them, it was a kick in the gut because they weren’t you.
I started drinking, getting out of control and basically messing life up.
” Oliver looked genuine, but how the hell was someone sincere when they’d been banging anything that moved?
“Yeah, not convinced here,” I said, finally sitting down. Oliver sat opposite and held my gaze.
“Ain’t nothing that’s going to erase what I did to you that day and afterwards. Won’t ever be able to wipe it from my memory either. But I can damn well ensure you’re safe at college.”
“Oliver, I don’t need protecting.”
Oliver shook his head. “You never understood how beautiful you were, Alicia. You definitely do need safeguarding. Those college boys will make a beeline for you.”
“And you’ll do what? Beat them off? Maybe I want to be chased. Can’t I act like a cheap whore too?” I demanded.
“No! Because that’s the one thing you’re not. You’re no Carmelle or Bryony.”
I curled my legs up. “Oliver, state what you want. I’m tired and hungry.”
“To be friends again.” “Just that?”
“If you ever forgive me, then I’d hope for more, but right now I need to ensure you’re safe.”
“That’s not your responsibility, Oliver; you didn’t want the same college as me.”
He leaned forward and held my gaze. “No. I didn’t. But I applied because you shouldn’t be alone there.”
“You’re sacrificing what you wanted. Your friends aren’t attending that college.”
Oliver grinned. “Honey, I won’t know anyone there apart from you! And keeping you protected is no sacrifice.”
Damn him. That warmed my insides. “No hanky-panky, Oliver. Friends only!”
“Whatever you give me, I’ll accept. Now, let’s order some food.”
“Aren’t you going to the cookout?” I asked, surprised. It was the final big blowout. Oliver missing it wasn’t something I ever imagined.
“Nope. Where you go, I go.”
Blast, I needed to cement my walls in place.