**OLIVER**
I haven't seen him since that morning. Not even during lunch break. I couldn't have been more relieved.
I sat beside William during our final class. Chemistry wasn't really my thing. No matter how hard I paid attention during lessons, I could never manage to come up with anything more than a "C."
I zoned out completely as Mr. Norris kept going on and on. My mind kept drifting back to him.
Some days I just find myself wishing we could go back to how we used to be. But I knew it was a far-fetched dream. Each day his behavior made me think that perhaps I had never really known him, even though I thought I did.
I know he never forgave me. He still blames me for everything that happened.
What he didn't know was that I never forgave myself either. Most nights I still get nightmares of that terrible day.
He was easily the most influential person in the whole school. It could be said that he was the king of Riverside. As the head of the basketball team, practically everyone wanted to be associated with him. Not to mention that his parents were filthy wealthy.
But he's always so cold. Always wore a blank expression and always ignored everyone's presence totally. Like the whole world was centered on him and he couldn't care less if anyone's feelings got hurt.
I guess I'm the only exception, because he never ignores me…
His usually blank gaze would be filled with hatred. His words always sharp like a knife.
Sometimes I feel like I'm the center of his world. But all for the wrong reasons.
Everything he has ever done to me sometimes makes me think that those few years of friendship with him was all a mere illusion.
-----
**EIGHT YEARS AGO**
"Let go of me!" I struggled against the much bigger boys in my class who were trying to snatch away my drawing book.
Mom gave it to me only yesterday to mark my eighth birthday. I couldn't let them take it, not when I had a present inside for him. My best friend Keiran. We shared the same birth date.
A harsh shove and I fell on the hard ground. I told myself not to cry. They would only laugh and call me all sorts of mean names.
I straightened to my feet only to be shoved back to the floor. More laughter from the kids this time.
Then all of their laughter suddenly stopped. I looked up to see Keiran dragging the biggest and meanest of the boys by the collar. A relieved smile appeared on my face.
I had the coolest friend in the whole school. It was something to be proud of.
"Apologize to him, all of you!" Keiran's voice was cold and dangerous. When they hesitated, his fist connected with Kyle's face so hard that Kyle stumbled backward. Blood gushed from his nose as he cried out.
I felt a wave of sympathy, but I knew he deserved it for shoving me around not just once but twice.
The others quickly apologized while staring at Keiran in terror. They were probably thinking they would be the next to suffer his anger.
"Anyone who touches him will answer to me!" he warned, his voice low and threatening. He shoved Kyle to the floor with such force that Kyle scrambled away on his hands and knees. The rest scurried away fearfully, leaving me alone with Keiran.
I hurried over to him, but tears were still streaming down my face from the fear and humiliation.
"You are so awesome, K!" I said, using the nickname I had given him. I couldn't keep the excitement out of my voice despite my tears.
"Look, I got a gift for you. Those bad boys tried to take it away."
But instead of his usual smile, Keiran looked down at me with a mix of concern and exasperation.
"You're such a crybaby, Ollie," he said, but his voice was gentle, not mean. "And look how short you are. I can barely see you behind those bullies."
My cheeks burned with embarrassment, but before I could protest, he reached out and carefully adjusted my glasses that had gotten crooked during the scuffle. His touch was so gentle it made my heart skip.
"No one deserves your tears," he said softly, his thumb brushing away a tear from my cheek. "Stop crying, okay? I'm here now."
The way he looked at me in that moment, with such fierce protectiveness and tenderness, made me feel like I was the most important person in his world.
"I'll never allow anyone to hurt you. Ever. That's a promise, Ollie."
He was the only one who called me Ollie. Others just called me Oliver or Oli. I couldn't help but feel special each time he said it.
I returned his smile and waited as he accepted the drawing book from me and flipped it open.
A scowl settled on his face and my excitement died a little. I wanted him to like my gift.
"But hey, this doesn't look like me at all! I think I look way more handsome than this… did you make me this ugly on purpose?" he spoke, and I huffed aloud. I tried to snatch it from him, but he held it above his head, far above my reach. He had always been tall for his age and never failed to use it to his advantage.
"You gave it to me. Are you seriously going to take it back? No matter how ugly it is, it's still mine."
He dipped his hand into his shirt pocket slowly.
"I also have a gift for you, but you're being such a bad friend…"
I couldn't hold back my curiosity. I fought him for it until I finally got hold of the small red box. I stared at it in awe, then looked up only to be met with his retreating back.
"I'll definitely improve on my drawing, then I'll give you the best picture in the world, K!" I called out.
He waved, indicating he heard, but didn't turn around to face me.
-----
The sound of the bell snapped me back to the present. I didn't even realize that I had been crying. Thankfully no one in class had noticed, not even William. It would have been so embarrassing. I wiped my eyes with the corners of my sleeves.
He had promised not to allow anyone to hurt me. But no one has ever hurt me deeper than him.
He was no longer that little boy who would beat up everyone that even spoke a mean word to me.
Now I think the only thing that gave him pleasure was seeing me in pain.
Seeing me cry and regret the fact that I didn't die that day in place of her.