Just Making Things Harder

Days passed without talking to Oli. It was beginning to rub me the wrong way.

I long realized I messed up, and I tried to apologize, but every time I came near him, he either ignored me or got away.

He stopped coming to school two days ago. Either that or he just didn’t feel like it. I didn’t know that staying away from me was that important.

I couldn’t stand having no one to talk to. It was all school, work, and home for me. I didn’t talk to anyone, apart from a few words spared for customers.

After a week, I just couldn’t take it. I was on the verge of going crawling back to Cameron.

No, Kyle. You can’t do that. I told myself.

I had attempted to text Oli a few more times, but eventually just gave up. I wasn’t going to continuously bother him.

That next Monday he was at school again, but ignored me as usual. I didn’t sit with them at lunch, as usual.

I went to work, a little piece of me hoping he’d come in and let me apologize. But he didn’t.

After work, I decided to take a chance.

I struggled to remember his address or how to get there, but eventually stopped my car in front of the house beside his. I didn’t want it to look suspicious.

It was like eight, but that didn’t matter to me. I walked quietly to the door and rang the doorbell, just hoping that his mother didn’t answer.

I sighed in relief when Tom opened the door, looking suspicious for a second and then glaring at me.

“What do you want?” He hissed at me quietly.

“I just want to talk to Oli” I said, looking at my feet.

He was quiet for a second before saying, “He’s not ‘ere” and attempting to close the door.

My head snapped up and I braced my hand on the door. “Please, Tom” I begged.

He looked at me for a minute before sighing.

“He really isn’ ‘ere. But ‘e should be soon” He told me. I nodded and went to sit on the steps.

I heard the door close a few seconds later. I just hoped he wouldn’t be too long.



I had been staring at my feet for about half an hour when I heard a door slam shut. I snapped my head up, looking to the driveway.

He was locking his car and heading towards me, looking down so he hadn’t noticed me yet.

I stood up silently, but he finally noticed my presence and looked up, his eyes immediately narrowing and looking away as he attempted to go around me.

I smoothly got in his way, not wanting him to just bypass me again.

He attempted to go the other way, but I moved over. He paused and sighed angrily.

“Why are yeh ‘ere?” He growled. I flinched at the hostile tone.

“I needed to talk to you,” I said quietly, “And you keep avoiding me.”

He groaned and tried to go around again, but I stay in the way.

“Please” I begged, looking up at him.

He looked off to the side for a moment, then back to my face.

“Yeh have two minutes” He said, settling onto his feet.

I stayed quiet for a second, no exactly sure what to say now that I have the chance.

I could have told him about the post and why I was drinking, but I didn’t think he would actually care.

There wasn’t really anything I could say to make this better.

“You are worth my time” I told him, a little louder than before as I tried to sound sure of myself.

He stared at me judgingly. “Is tha’ it?”

I shook my head roughly. “You aren’t a bother to me. You never were. I know it was my fault that I was drinking and passed out. I didn’t even remember about the date until I saw your note, but you have to understand” I rushed out in one breath. I just hoped he understood.

“Understand wha’, Kyle? That yeh fergot about meh and decided to get pissed instead?” He growled, almost yelling at me.

I stepped back, bracing myself for more, but he stopped at that.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself before replying.

“It wasn’t just that, Oliver. It was something I saw, something involving Cam and that slut, Olivia. I just wasn’t ready to see that he had just left me in the dust completely. He was my best friend when I didn’t have any other friends. And then you and all the other guys left me, and I’m left with nothing. I don’t have friends, Oli. He was the only one. And it’s not easy to just be okay with him forgetting me for some whore” I said, hardly stopping to breathe. I was crying now, I couldn’t stay calm.

I dropped my eyes to the ground and kept them there until I could dry my eyes. Oli said nothing, he kept completely quiet the entire time. For a second I had thought he had left, and then I felt arms wrap around me and pull me into him.

Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around his neck, crying into his shoulder. I was leaving tear stains all over it.

When I had finally stopped, he pulled away and just looked at me. “I forgive yeh” He told me, “But yeh still owe me a date.”

I smiled and rolled my eyes. He pulled me back into another hug before letting me go.

“So, I’ll pick yeh up fer school tomorrow?” He told me, and I smiled and nodded. I told him bye before heading out to my car and driving home.

I had Oli back, and maybe that meant I had the guys back too. I sure hoped so.

At home, my mom was there again. She didn’t talk to me at all as I got something to eat and headed to my room. I wasn’t in the mood to talk to her anyway.

I texted Oli that night as I tried to fall asleep. When I finally did, it seemed like just a few minutes before my alarm went off and I was rushing around getting ready again.

There was a knock on my door and I pulled it open, happy to see Oli. He gave me a hug and we headed to his car. Maybe now I won’t be so lonely.