9.29: Stay Out of It

Thank you all so much for your patience with this insanely inconsistent schedule! I appreciate it so much ❤

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“I’m doing it.” Oliver muttered under his breath, more to himself than to the girl sitting across from him. “I’m saying something. I have to.”

Lily shook her head. “Alright, keeping in mind that this is coming from me, of all people… I really think you should stay out of it.” She explained with the hint an apologetic tone.

Ollie let out a sigh. Across the cafeteria, the boy he loved stared down at the food on the tray in front of him. He looked so miserable. And seeing Asher like that hurt. A lot. Ollie couldn’t stand it.

“Then what the hell am I supposed to do? Just sit here and watch him be miserable?” He asked his friend with a heavy sigh. “Let him push me away again? And why is he being like this anyway?” Oliver felt his anger beginning to rise. 

One of the silver linings about his breakup with Penny had been having Asher back in his life again. It was strange how naturally it had happened — They’d somehow found an unspoken forgiveness for each other, after trying and failing several times over the past few months. And as awkward and sometimes even painful it felt to be so close to Asher again, it had been worth it. Ollie needed his best friend back in his life.

But everything had changed last week, when Landon broke up with Asher. It was like someone had flipped a switch, leaving their friendship in the dark yet again. Asher wouldn’t talk to Ollie anymore — Hell, he’d barely even look at him now.

And Trigonometry had suddenly become the most miserable class ever, and not even for the reason Ollie had expected. Asher had skipped the last six classes. Oliver had no idea where his friend was hiding during first block, but for over a week, the chair between him and Landon had been empty. And even without Asher there, things just felt so tense and uncomfortable. 

Ollie could swear he’d seen Landon shooting him dirty looks in the middle of class, and he had no clue why. If one of them had a right to be angry at the other, wasn’t it him? Landon was the one at fault here. He was the one who’d broken Asher’s heart and ruined everything.

Lily’s loud voice broke through Oliver’s thoughts and called him back to the present. “He won’t talk to me either… So I have no idea what’s going on.” She admitted with a shrug. “But I’m telling you, Ollie — you getting involved is gonna be bad news. And besides, Landon already made up his mind! He’s going to Ohio! There’s not really much you can do to fix that…”

“I just don’t get it. You heard Asher, right? He was so sure they were gonna try long distance. Why did he change his mind?”

Lily simply shrugged. “Ollie, seriously. Why does it matter? It totally sucks for poor Asher, but I’m sure Landon had his reasons. And honestly? I kinda thought you’d be… happier about this whole thing.”

Oliver rolled his eyes at her. “Right. Because seeing my best friend miserable and having him push everyone away is just great, Lil.”

His friend let out a small sigh, but said nothing. 

Oliver spent the rest of their lunch period pondering Lily’s words. Was she right? Should he be happy about this? After all, if he got brave enough, this could mean he might finally have a chance with Asher. He could lay it all out there and finally be honest — to everyone — about how he felt.

Yeah, but what about how ASHER feels? He reminded himself. He loves Landon… And now he’s heartbroken… 

And with that, Oliver’s mind was made up. He had to say something. Maybe it wouldn’t make a difference, but he needed to try.

Ollie felt so much calmer and more relaxed than he thought he would as he approached Landon that afternoon. His tall, muscular form was easy to spot among the other students who lingered in the courtyard after dismissal. 

Oliver took a slow, deep breath as he approached. There was a little less than  a half an hour window before drama rehearsal began and, despite how awkward and uncomfortable those rehearsals had become since breaking up with Penny, he was grateful for the excuse to not let this conversation linger on too long. I’ve just gotta say what I need to say, he reminded himself.

Of course, Ollie still wasn’t entirely sure exactly what that would be… but he was always great at improv. He could totally wing it.

“Hey, Landon?” Oliver called out as he drew closer. 

The older boy stared at him in confusion for a beat or two before finally replying. “Ollie?”

Oliver forced a smile, hoping to lay on the charm a bit. Couldn’t scare him away yet, right? “Sorry to bug you. I just wanted to talk to you for a minute, if that’s okay?” It was surprisingly easy to keep things sounding light and casual. “Oh! And congrats, by the way! I heard you’re heading to Ohio State next year. That’s really cool.”

Unfortunately Landon didn’t seem to be falling for it. “Uh-huh. Thanks.” His voice was devoid of any genuine gratitude. In fact, it was curt and cold. “And I have no clue what you wanna talk to me for… Pretty sure this is the first time you’ve said more than two words to me. Ever.” 

“Sounds like a ‘no’, then.” Ollie allowed his false smile to fade.

“Did I say that?!” Landon replied with much more force than Oliver had been anticipating. “You wanna talk? Fine. But not here.”

“Let’s go out back or something then.” Ollie gave a shrug, then led the way around the side of the building, past the groups of their classmates who filled the courtyard. 

As soon as they were alone, Landon rounded on him, still as snippy and aggressive as he was before. “So what is it? I already know it’s gonna be about Asher. So just spit it out.” 

Oliver had never seen Landon like this before. Was he this pissy all the time? Jesus, what the hell does Ash see in him?! “Look, I’m sure you had your reasons for doing what you did.” Ollie began, deciding to get straight to the point. “But Asher is miserable right now. He loves you…” It hurt so much to admit it aloud, but it was true. “And you let him think you guys were gonna work things out and do long distance. He was totally banking on it. And then you just blindsided him. That was super fucking shitty of you, Landon.” Ollie’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve seriously gotta reconsider this whole ‘breakup’ thing. It was a huge mistake, and I think you know it.”

To his surprise, Landon did not look angered or upset by Ollie’s words… Just confused. “Wait.” He muttered. “That’s what you wanted to say to me? Seriously?”

“Well, yeah.” It was Oliver’s turn for confusion. “What did you think it was gonna be?”

Landon shook his head slowly. “Holy shit… You really don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?”

Landon swore under his breath, then said nothing. Ollie stared at him curiously for a few moments. Landon was brooding and mean and totally pissing him off, but he had to admit, the guy was gorgeous. That ass and those pretty green eyes… THAT’S what Asher sees in him. But other than that? This guy’s a jerk.

“Are you just gonna stand there, or are you gonna tell me what you’re talking about?” Oliver broke the silence as his patience began to wear thin.

Landon continued to hesitate for another moment or two before finally speaking. “Look, the last thing I want is to be the person who gets to tell you this, okay?”

“Will you just spit it out?!” 

“Fine!” Landon sighed in exasperation, reaching in his pocket for his phone. “A couple weeks ago, somebody sent me these. I don’t know who it was… They made a fake account to send them with.” He touched the screen a few times, then handed his phone to Oliver.

Ollie stared down curiously at what appeared to be a screenshot of a text document. When he swiped the screen, he saw that there were several more that followed. His eyes scanned the words in front of him, trying to figure out what it all meant.

“They’re from his diary or something.” Landon explained. “At first I didn’t wanna think it was real, but he says some shit in there about us that nobody else would know… And he says a lot about you too.”

As his eyes continued to scan the words in front of him, Ollie’s mind finally began absorbing some of what it all meant.

Why the hell can’t I get Ollie out of my head?

I feel something when the two of us are together. Something different than what I feel with Landon, but… It’s still something that feels right, you know?

Landon’s the one I’m with now… But I feel like it could’ve easily been the other way around…Ollie would be my boyfriend. He’d be the one I wouldn’t wanna let go…

Never in his life had Ollie ever felt so elated, confused, and terrified all at once. Did this really mean what he thought it meant? All this time, had Asher really…?

“At first I thought maybe you sent it, or his sister.” Landon continued. Oliver just barely registered his words. “But I guess it wasn’t you.”

Ollie’s throat was so dry that it almost hurt. “Landon, I… I had no idea. Seriously.” His hands shook slightly as he handed the phone back.

“Yeah, well, I did… I just didn’t wanna believe it.” The other boy admitted. 

His heart was pounding now as he continued trying to process what he’d just read. “There’s gotta be some mistake.” Oliver still couldn’t allow himself to believe it could be true. “Asher loves you.”

Landon shrugged. “Guess we have something in common then.” He replied bitterly. “But I can’t waste my time loving someone who’s in love with someone else.” A small sigh passed his lips. “Anyway, now you know, so I guess you can do whatever you want about it.” 

Oliver remained silent. What was he going to do about it? He still had absolutely no idea.

“I’ll be honest…” Landon continued. “It’s taking every ounce of willpower I have not to punch you in the fucking face right now, so… I should go. Just promise you’ll take care of him, okay?” 

He didn’t even wait for a reply before turning on his heel and disappearing out of sight around the corner of the building.

And Ollie was left standing on his own, still reeling from what he’d just learned and realizing that Lily was right after all…

He really should have stayed out of it.