Chapter Text
As Oliver looked into Sara’s eyes that were still sporting his glasses, he felt something swelling inside him.
"Y-you are the girl I like, Sara Lin" he admitted in a breathy voice. He then slid his hands into hers softly and squeezed them; they were soft and small in his hands. His face grew to a darker shade of red as he looked away and spoke again, "and I know I shouldn't like you because you're with Joe, but I can't stop thinking about you." There was a long pause and when it looked like Sara was going to say something, he cut her off, "You don't need to say anything I just couldn't keep it in any longer. You should probably be heading back to Joe anyways." With that off his chest he dropped her hands.
"I-uh yeah– right. I should get back to Joe." Sara whispered breathlessly, "I'm sure he's wondering where I've been." She gingerly took off his glasses and placed them on his desk, leaving the classroom without another word.
Oliver let out a sigh and dropped his head into his hands. He felt like his thoughts were coming at him hard and fast. Why did I say that? Now she knows and everything is going to be awkward. That’s not even considering what would happen if she tells Joe. Oh god, she is going to tell Joe isn’t she. Oliver had to stop himself from spiraling. It’s okay she might not tell Joe and maybe we can still be friends like her and Patrick. Yeah that’s what I’ll tell myself.
Oliver finally raised his head out of his hands and looked back at the lunch that she had made. A small laugh escaped him.The angry pig reminded him of Sara Lin and the sticker on what had now become his favorite pencil. He picked one up and gave it a smile before quietly finishing half his lunch before the bell went off. As Oliver closed the tupperware he found a small note between the container and its lid.
It read: “You're the Pig, not me!!” With a small drawing of Oliver as a pig shouting, “Oink!!”. Oliver laughed again. This lunch was, in his opinion, better than the first lunch he opened. The lunch for Joe he reminded himself. It was very Sara Lin. Oliver couldn’t dwell on it too long as class began.
Before he knew it the day was done and he found himself doing homework alone in his room with the tupperware sitting beside him. He had just finished what he hadn’t been able to at lunch and the note Sara made was left on top .Oliver stole a glance at it and held back a laugh as he tried to imagine Joe’s reaction to reading the note.
”Oh,Sara Lin you clutz!” he said to no one before he finally broke out laughing and took his glasses off to wipe the tears from his eyes. “Oh my gosh…!” But his brain stayed on the subject of Sara Lin for just a little too long and he found himself remembering how she looked in his classroom today. Oliver tried to snap himself out of it and get back to work. Unfortunately to do that he had to pick up his glasses but they only further reminded him of today's events.
Just as Oliver was thinking how did I get myself stuck in this situation the bedroom door opened. Oliver hurriedly put his glasses back on.
“Hey! I’m Back,” rang out Joe’s voice.
“H-Hey!” Oliver managed to say trying to not let his voice convey anything.
“Doing Homework?”
“Yep!” Oliver stated as he leaned closer to the desk and away from Joe.
“Nice!”
“How was work?” Oliver asked like he did every night.
“It was pretty good! Finally made enough to get a new phone.”
“Oh nice! That’s Good!”
“Heh-yeah! It’s funny…You know Vickie? She wanted to celebrate about it. I thought it was pretty funny. She even remembered my favorite drink and got it for me.” Joe laughed, “It’s crazy she remembers that random detail I shared a long time ago… It surprised me.” Something about the way Joe was talking gave Oliver pause.
“So now that you got your phone, you’re quitting right?”
“Um…no not yet…”
“Why not? You got the job to pay for the phone. So you don’t need to work there anymore, right?”
“Well, Oliver, we need the money.”
“I already have a job! That’s why I’m tutoring!” Oliver said, his voice beginning to increase in volume.
“No, I don’t want you to overwork yourself! You should focus on school! Besides, you’re saving for your guitar.”
Oliver couldn’t believe what he was hearing and he snapped, “I don’t care about a stupid guitar!! Just quit!! I can make enough for the both of us, ok?!” And then something else slipped out, “I live terrified of turning out like mom every single day!! Shouldn’t you be more careful too?!” Oliver realized what he just said and was implying. He recoiled quickly, acting as if he hadn't just said that. “I’m going out for a walk!!” He said quickly, slamming the door before Joe could get another word out.
Oliver stomped down the hall fuming. He couldn’t stop thinking about his conversation with Sara last night as he hit the elevator button. That her feeling like something was off had to do with Joe and Vicky. Still he couldn’t believe he yelled at Joe about not being careful enough to become their mom. I feel like an idiot. Getting mad about something I’m not even sure about…Even if Joe doesn’t realize what he’s doing…It still hurts Sara Lin…Does he even care about her? With all of these thoughts flying around Oliver’s brain he let out a deep sigh and a scream as he kicked the wall by the elevator. “Why am I so upset about this?!!” he shouted as he kicked the wall again. Just then the elevator opened and inside was the last person he wanted to see, Sara Lin. She immediately looked concerned and stuttered out his name. “What’re you doing here?!” he unintentionally yelled at the girl.
This clearly startled her, “What’s wrong? What’re you upset about? W-hy are you…banging stuff?” She asked, as if she weren’t the source of the problem!
“You- you better be kidding me!!” Oliver grumbled to himself.
“Hey, what’s wrong? What happened” she asked again.
“Nothing!! Never mind! Just go home, Sara Lin” he shouted as he practically pushed past her and into the elevator. He really needed some air.
“Hey! B-but-” she managed.
“Just go home! This doesn’t concern you!” he snapped as the door began to close. Suddenly, Sara threw out her hand, stopping the door and thwarting Oliver's escape plan.
“What are you doing?! Get out!!!” he shouted at her.
“Sorry, I-I forgot something!” she retorted.
“Yeah, right!!” he spit.
“I’m just gonna go get it.” she said nonchalantly as she hit the close door button.
“Get out!!” he yelled again but she continued to click it. “Stop doing that!! You know the stupid elevator breaks down easily when you do that!” he tried to remind her.“Stop!” he yelled as he reached for her hand. The last thing he wants is to be trapped in an elevator with her. “Get out! Stop!!” he screamed but she continued pressing the button while dodging his hands. He let out one more, “Stop it” before the doors closed. Oliver couldn’t hide the anger on his face. “What are you doing?!! Why do you want to follow me into the elevator?” he questioned.
“I-I just…” the ginger stuttered out.
“Can’t you see I’m trying to stay away from you right now?! You want to talk to me?! Even after today? Is that what you want?! Fine!!” he spit out as he slammed his hand into the wall above Sara’s head. “You got my attention now Sara Lin!! He began to rant,“What do you want from me?! You need some help with your stupid math homework?? You want some help writing a love song about yourself that’s going nowhere??” Sara gasped at that but he kept going, “You want to talk to me about your boy problems with my brother? Your boyfriend?! Or how about my confession to you not even 12 hours ago? Or what?!! What do you need this time?!!”
“I-I’m sorry… I-’I’m not sure what I did to upset you but……I-I really didn’t mean to…The last thing I want to do is…hurt you, Oliver! I’m sorry! She said in a voice so small it made him wince. “I just…wanted to know why you were upset…,”she continued. Oliver tightened his fist, he felt like such a jerk but she continued talking “I’m sorry if it was something I did…I’m sorry…I-.” Oliver dropped his head next to her’s earning him a gasp from Sara.
“Stop. Stop it…It’s not your fault…” he finally managed. “It’s mine..I’m the one who did this..when I promised myself…I wasn’t going to…” he blurted out.
“...To what? What weren’t you going to do?”
Oliver looked deep into her eyes and ran a thumb across her lips. He whispered,"This and everything that goes with it.” But before Sara could question him his chapped lips were on her’s. He cursed himself for worrying at his lips all day and tearing them up, he probably tasted like iron. He barely pulled away and said “I like you Sara and it’s making everything so complicated.” He brushed his thumb back over her lips, his eyes not leaving them.
“Well maybe it doesn't need to be?” She whispered back. This caused him to laugh,
“Yeah cause nothing says simple like kissing your brother's girlfriend.”
“What if I wasn't?” She asked with stars in her eyes.
Oliver hesitated at this, “You would break up with Joe?”