Take Control

Oli went two days without seeing Malorie. Two days without hearing her laugh, holding her hand, meeting at the coffee shop. It was starting to get to him, mess with his head which he had swore he wouldn't allow to happen. He had been cooped up in a studio for the past two days to finish writing for the new record that they would need to start recording in a few days. That and because he thought time away from the blonde girl would do him good, let him get his head back into the game. He couldn't have been more wrong. It made things worse. He tugged on his hair with a sigh. No telling what was going through her head. He probably seemed like an asshole. Not that he cared, because he wasn't with her or anything, but still...

"Almost done mate?" Matty asked falling into the seat beside him.

"Yeah, fank so." Oli said happily welcoming the distraction.

"Good. We're all goin' ta eat. Yeh comin'?"

He sighed, "Yeah. Sure." He threw the notebook to the floor and quickly got up. He needed time to clear his head and being around everyone would do that for him.

Oli rode with Matt to the diner they always go to and he already felt a bit more relief as Matty chatted him up on the way in. Of course that all came crashing down when his eyes came in contact with Malorie who was seated next to Sam.

Although she wasn't the type to get nervous she began to fidget with her fingers. She knew she could put on a fake smile by the time he sat down, but right now she was trying to hold it together. Sam slid his hand into hers without thought and she stared down at their linked fingers. She had no problem with Sam. He was sweet and cute, but he wasn't Oli and she couldn't help but compare them. Oli was now consuming all her thoughts. He took the seat across from her and she plastered a smile on her lips that he immediately knew was forced. He had hung around her long enough to know the faces she made. He clinched his hands at his side as he bit his lip to keep from shouting at Sam to take his hand off her. He had no say, and yet all he wanted to do was kiss her and hold her close. He brushed his hair from his eyes and let out a sigh. He needed to accept that he liked her, but if he did, everything he worked so hard to control would be thrown away because he knew she would come first and that scared him. He barely knew the girl! Well, not things you usually know about people like for instance, her parents names, birthday, where she grew up. Yeah he may not have known the simple things, but he did know a lot. Like the way her green eyes sparkled, how she had several laughs, the way she liked her coffee. He knew things! Just not things he thought that counted...

She ignored the boy across from her and no one picked up on it because she kept up conversation with everyone. Laughing and saying witty things. He on the other hand couldn't help but stay in his solemn mood.

"Look, I gotta go back and finish that shit." Oli said sliding back his chair and Malorie's eyes landed on him which he brushed off.

"Yeah we gotta go back." Tom said referring to him and Sam. Oli nodded not caring and headed for the door as everyone began to get up. Right as he reached the sidewalk Malorie grabbed his arm and he turned around immediately a bit shocked to see her. Then again, he should have expected it from her.

"Hi." He said calmly and she rolled her eyes, "Hi. Um, is something wrong between us?"

"Huh?" He asked as if she would believe his fake confusion.

"Well I haven't spoken to you in days."

He instantly felt himself relax in her presence as her hand still rested on his forearm. "I've been held up writin' love. Sorrah." He said softly which was partly true.

A part of him though felt a bit happy that she clearly missed him, or maybe that's just what he thought...

"Ok..." She mumbled not sure whether she believed him or not. He reached out and grabbed her hand dangling at her side. No words were exchanged he simply laced his fingers with hers. He couldn't help it. He had been without her touch for far too long.

"Did yeh miss meh?" He questioned softly as his eyes landed on hers. Her heart now beat in her chest as she tried to find words to say. She finally nodded which he gratefully accepted.

"I missed yeh." He boldly responded as his eyes roamed to their hands.

"Hang out wif meh." He added and she finally found her voice, "I can't right now. I need to go help Vanessa close shop."

"What time will yeh be done?"

"I don't know..."

"Well call me. I'll come pick yeh up."

She nodded in response and he quickly dropped her hand as everyone began to walk out of the door. He gave her a weak grin before leaving her and heading to the car to wait on Matty.

Malorie sighed in frustration and anxiety. She was anxious to spend time with him and yet frustrated that he assumed it was that easy, although it clearly was.

"Ready?" Sam asked dragging her back to reality. She nodded with a smile and followed him to the car as Vanessa gave her a weird look like she simply knew it all.

Once back at the store Vanessa began the interrogation.

"Well?" She began and Malorie groaned, "What?"

"You and Oli??"

"Nothing. He's picking me up once I'm done though."

"Well did you ask why he has been an asshole and not talking to anyone?"

"He just said he's been busy writing."

Vanessa nodded, "Or he's avoiding you because of the incident."

"Probably..." she responded with a shrug. Of course she had told Vanessa what had happened. She had to tell someone!

They quickly finished closing up and Malorie texted Oli to let her know she was done. Tom had already walked into the shop waiting on Vanessa. Of course she couldn't help but smile at that. She had learned quickly how Tom was and she couldn't have picked anyone better for her best friend.

"So meh brotha is pickin' yeh up?" Tom asked throwing his arm over Malorie's shoulders.

"Yes..."

"Mhm..."

"What?" She asked giving him a look and he shrugged with a grin, "Nuffin..."

She rolled her eyes right as Oli walked into the door. A beanie now thrown over his amazing hair and his hands shoved in his pockets.

"Ready?" He asked eyeing Tom who snickered and removed his arm from the girl. Malorie nodded, grabbing her things before saying bye and following him out.

Oli took the inititive to open her door for her and she thanked him as she got in. The nerves were now filling her stomach from being alone with him. Little did she know he was feeling the same way. Once he got in he started the car as the silence took over. He wanted badly to reach over and hold her hand like he did before what happened, but instead he clinched the steering wheel tighter.

"So, why are we hanging out?" She asked boldly and he shot her a look, "Because I don't want yeh ta fink I'm avoidin' yeh. And plus, like I said, I miss yeh..." He mumbled embarrassed by his own confession once more.

She simply nodded and looked back out the window. He let out a sigh and drove the way to his house. Once there she waited for him to unlock the door and as he did so e couldn't help but wonder what was really going on with him. Once he opened the door he grabbed her hand and pulled her inside. She instantly remembered the last time they were here and almost blushed at the thought, but she quickly pushed it aside and sat down uncomfortably. He watched her from the door in thought. He didn't want it to be like this, and yet he didn't know how to fix it. He sat his keys down and slowly walked over taking the seat beside her. Her green eyes came in contact with his and he reached over without thought and brushed her hair behind her ear.

"I'm sorrah." He whispered.

"What for?"

"For not seein' yeh in days. I reallah juss, well ta beh honest, I was writin' but also, I didn't know how fings would be between us..."

"What do you mean? I thought we are fine..."

"Well, we are. I was just worried..."

She nodded as he brushed the back of his hand against her cheek.

"But if yeh ok then I am ok."

"I am." She lied and he nodded before pulling her to him. He pressed his lips to her forehead as his arms went around her. He missed the way she felt against him more than he had anticipated.

"So, um, are yeh and Sam..." He managed to ask as she relaxed against his chest, shutting her eyes as she took in his smell.

"No. I mean, we did go out the other night, but I mean, I don't know." She mumbled.

"Do yeh like him?"

"Not like that."

"Oh..." He whispered as he wondered why that sentence made his heart race. Probably because he secretly hoped it as because she liked him in some form or fashion.

He laid back on the couch pulling her with him. He didn't really want to talk. He just wanted to lie here with her.

"Oli?" She asked raising up so her eyes would meet his.

"Mhm?" He mumbled bringing his hand to her hair. She stared at him unsure how she would ask him this.

"Do you like me?" She asked boldly and he stared at her as his fingers tangled in her long hair.

"What do yeh mean, love?"

"Do you like me?" She repeated and he debated on which road to take. The truth or the something close to it.

He breathed in, "Course I do. We're friends, right?" He asked knowing it was a low blow. He just couldn't tell the truth. Not now anyways.

She nodded even though that wasn't what she wanted to hear. He stared at her unsure what was going through her head.

"Yeah, friends..." She repeated before he unexpectedly crashed his lips to hers.

This was becoming a vicious cycle. Sadly, they both knew it wasn't going to end well, but neither of them seemed to care or have control of the situation anymore and frankly Oliver wasn't sure he wanted to give it up just yet.