Page 19 of The Other Half

She remains silent for a few minutes, sitting on my bed and looking down at her clasped hands. I wonder if I’ve just fucked everything up, including our friendship. “Look, it’s okay if you don’t want to change what we have. I’m thankful for our friendship, Oakley.”

I wish I had thought this through a little more thoroughly. Maybe taking a shot, or several shots rather, of my dad’s bourbon before leaving to meet her was a mistake. Sober Oliver wouldn’t have been so cavalier about it.

“I just can’t believe you could ever see me in that way. Especially when you’ve been with someone like Amber,” she finally chokes out.

“What do you mean?”

She shrugs. “I mean, I’m just…so plain. And Amber is so pretty and popular. I’ve never been to a party, I’ve never been drunk, I’ve never even kissed anyone,” she mutters while still staring down at her lap, clearly embarrassed.

She’s never kissed anyone? So she is a virgin, which I already suspected, but I didn’t know she was quite that inexperienced. The possessive side of me loves it, I don’t want to share her.

I slide a few inches closer to her. “You’re literally the furthest thing from plain,” I say quietly as I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear, trying to coax her to look up at me. “And I don’t care about any of that. That’s what I like about you, we can just talk, we have fun together without having to be drunk. That’s what I want. I could never have that with Amber.”

She looks up at me with an expression I haven’t seen before on her face, something in between confusion and disapproval.

“You’ve been drinking,” it’s not so much a question, but an observation, and I can tell from her tone that she isn’t pleased about it.

I move away from her and lift my hand to cover my mouth. “Yeah, sorry, my brother and I decided to take a shot earlier. I didn’t think you’d notice the smell,” I say as I glance at the wall next to us to hide my guilty expression.

“Why? What’s the reason?” She asks incredulously without breaking her stare aimed at me.

“It’s Friday? It was just one shot, Oakley. It’s not a big deal, I’m not even drunk.”

“You’re not even old enough to legally drink!” She says as she pushes herself off of my bed. “Maybe it isn’t a big deal to you, but I get sick of feeling like everyone has to get drunk just to tolerate my presence.” I can hear the hurt in her cracking voice. That couldn’t be further from the truth, I just told her the exact opposite.

“That’s not it at all, I just–I had a long week. I wanted to relax.” She continues glaring at me in disbelief. “Not everyone that drinks is like your dad, Oakley. Not everyone acts like a dick when they’re drunk.”

She presses her fingertips against her temple, as if she has a headache. She does that a lot, I guess it’s a nervous habit. “Whatever. I think I’m gonna head home,” she says as she slings her bag over her shoulder and starts walking toward my open window.

“Don’t leave,” I plead as I start toward her. “I’m sorry if I pissed you off.”

“It’s fine. I mean, you didn’t.” She trips over her words nervously, avoiding my eyes. “I just…” She pauses, I watch as she twirls a strand of her hair around her finger mindlessly. “I like you so much because you’re different from anyone I’ve ever known. You’re not interested in looks or money…and I feel like I can be myself around you.”

I can’t help but smile at that. “You can, you can always be yourself around me,” I say, stepping closer to her.

“But I can’t be with someone who drinks, Oliver.” I look into her pleading green eyes, and I know this isn’t something that’s easy for her to say. I know that she deserves a guy ten times better than me, one that’s never touched alcohol or drugs in his life. But I also know I don’t want her to be with that guy, I want her to be with me.

“Okay, so no drinking,” I reply, closing the distance between us and taking both of her hands in mine. If the options are Oakley or being able to drink, of course I’ll choose Oakley.

She smiles a little bit and leans into me, allowing me to breathe in the smell of her hair. I don’t know if this means she’ll be my girlfriend, but it’s a start, and for now I’m happy with it.

* * *

The next morning I wake up with a dull headache. The memory of Oakley and I embracing rushes back to me and it brings a smile to my face. Then I suddenly recall the rest of the night, the questions about Amber, Oakley telling me she won’t be with someone that drinks, and me promising not to.

I fall back onto my bed defeatedly and rub the sleep from my eyes. Can I keep that promise? I already want to take another shot to quiet the thoughts in my head. God, I’m such a dick. I grab the phone from my side table and type out a text to her.

Oliver: Hey, sorry again about last night. Can I see you today?

I press send and get out of bed to begin my morning routine. I look in the mirror at my bloodshot eyes, I look like shit. I check my phone to see if she’s replied.

Oakley: Okay.

Chapter 19

Oakley

When Oliver started flirting with me last night I knew it had to be too good to be true. Everything I’ve ever wished for him to say suddenly came out of his mouth, and I sat there thinking that I must be dreaming. So when I discovered he was inebriated, it abruptly shattered my fairytale.

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