The Fear of Falling Apart

"I love you too."

Oli couldn't form a response, instead, he looked away. Letting her leave, he couldn't help but curse himself for not responding back to her. The door shut as he sighed loudly, resting his head on the pillows that lay behind him as the machines beeped - letting him know that it was reality and he wasn't dreaming.

Sighing once more, he shut his eyes. Letting himself remember every little thing about the girl he had been in love with for as long as he could remember, until finally, he fell asleep.

-


Oli had dreaded this years Christmas day for as long as he could remember, he had hated the fact it seemed to be the only day of the year when his entire family would get together and sadly, this year it was at his parents house.

Tugging his jumper over his hands, he sighed, making sure he looked 'decent', he would this year, be the only person without a date. His cousin Louise was bringing her annoying boyfriend, Trevor, his other cousin Sam was with his partner Jenna and even Tom was bringing a date. A girl called Robin, so he heard. He recognized the name when his mother had warned him 'not to scare off Tom's date', but he didn't care, much.

Shuffling out of the room, he headed downstairs, where Carol was putting the finishing touches onto the table decorations, red and green napkins on their wooden oak dining table, with crackers for at least one person to pull with a chosen partner. Wine glasses set up for everywhere apart from two places. James and Louise - both of whom were still underage at seventeen years old.

"Oh there he is! Oliver, can you help me finish this please?" Carol smiled as he looked at her with a sigh, nodding. Pacing over to the kitchen counter top where she was now cutting vegetables and making sure everything was prepared. He took the knife off her, cutting the carrots into smaller pieces.

"So, this girl Tom's bringing.." Oli trailed as Carol threw her head back and laughed at her son.

"She's called Robin, as far as I know she's lovely. Haven't met her properly." Carol smirked as Oli nodded. "Why jealous?"

Shaking his head rapidly, Oli was interrupted by the door shutting, Carol wiping her hands on the dishcloth next to her as she hummed some old Christmas song, heading towards the door. Oli hearing as she loudly greeted whoever had just entered, laughing and cheer being echoed as Oli continued to cook. When a person cleared their throat behind him, he turned, seeing his brother stood there with a large grin on his face. Next to him, stood a petite female with blonde hair, a dark green dress on her frame as he studied her for a second; her eyes being a luring shade of blue, slightly darker than his brothers.

"Robin, this is my brother Oli, Oli this is my girlfriend, Robin." Tom introduced as the girl removed her hand from Tom's and held it out for Oli, who took it gently and shook it, giving her a small smile as she nodded at him.

"Nice to meet you." Her accent wasn't British, European definitely, but it could be any country that was in the Continent. If he'd guess, he'd say Spanish or French, but he wasn't too sure.

"Likewise." Oli licked his lips before turning round to continue cutting the carrots as Tom smirked at his brother, laughing silently that he hadn't a date this year.

But as Oli cut the carrot, he couldn't help but think how Tom was punching above his weight.

-

Robin paced the front room as she attempted to sooth Mae, the six month old whining as she suffered with yet another cold. Her mind clouded with thoughts as Mae's cries echoed through the house, Tom still being away. It'd been two days since she had confessed anything for her future brother in law. She hadn't spoken or seen him, according to Carol he was home and well. But she didn't want to talk to him, as Mae continued to whine, she sat on the couch sighing.

Her head and heart stuck in a predicament that she could never battle.