Friday

Everybody liked Fridays. Oliver did too. He would finally take a break from school for the weekend and if he was lucky and no one was at home, he would enjoy the weekend quietly. Or maybe not. A frown formed on his face when he remembered it was truly Friday today. Both Simon and Amanda would be coming to force him to attend a party with them. How much he hated parties! 

After getting ready for school, he walked stealthily to the living room. He was hoping to escape before the housekeeper would compel him to have breakfast, but he hadn't expected to see the man of the house at home. 

They bumped into each other at the bottom of the stairs. Oliver had just gotten to the living room while Mr. Walker was heading upstairs. 

Oliver stared at him awkwardly, not knowing what to say or do. Mr. Walker also returned his stare. 

"Uhm... hello?" Oliver almost cringed at how weird he sounded. 

Mr. Walker nodded once to acknowledge him before he continued his way upstairs. 

Oliver hadn't expected anything less, but still, he was heartbroken. Can't he acknowledge him once?

He reminded himself one more time that he had only a few months left. 

Just a few months. 

Unfortunately for him, the housekeeper was in. She asked him to have breakfast first and reminded him to have his lunch when he returned from school. 

On his way to school, he saw Liam riding his sports bicycle and rode past him.

Liam Adley. 

He couldn't understand why the boy was suddenly showing concern for him. They weren't friends and he wasn't even thinking about being friends with him. He knew Liam's type and had vowed to stay away from him. He was going to do just that. 

His thought lasted until he was close to the school's gate. At the same time, his phone began to ring. He suddenly remembered he hadn't silenced his phone. It would have been a big problem had a teacher caught him in school with a ringing phone. But something else caught his attention and made him step on the break of his bike. The ringtone was different. It was for a specific person. 

He had a frown on his face as he took out his phone and looked at the screen. Just as he had expected, it was the person. Why was he reaching him now? 

Out of curiosity, he took off his helmet and answered the call and waited for the other person to speak first. 

"Olly..." A masculine voice greeted him.

"I told you not to call me that." Oliver spat out.

"Hey! Don't be so fierce. That's not a nice way to say hello to a friend you haven't seen or heard from in months."

"I didn't think we were friends." 

"Come on, I know you are pissed and I am sorry. I just didn't call earlier because I wanted you to settle down."

"You seriously think that is the reason I am pissed with you? I don't want to have anything to do with you, Damian. Things would have been messier than they already were because of you!" 

"Olly..."

"I SAID DO NOT CALL ME THAT!" He snapped at him. "Do not call me at all. I am living okay and happy and I do not want you ruining my life."

"We both know that's a lie. Look... I am sure you are still short on cash. You'll be graduating soon, so you need to move and go to college, right? I have the right– "

Oliver hung up immediately. He almost heaved his phone against the nearest fence, but he had to keep himself under control. He blocked Damian's number immediately before sighing deeply. 

"Who does he think he is?" He muttered to himself while running a hand through his hair, roughing it up. 

His hairband fell from his bun to the ground, making him sigh in frustration when his hair fell flat all over. Just great! He was about to step down from the bike to look for it when he saw a small hand offering him his hairband.

He looked at the person's face and saw Rachel grinning at him. "Hello!" She beamed. 

"I guess I just saved you, didn't I?" 

"Yea." He replied dryly before taking it from her to pack his hair in a bun. 

He expected her to leave, but she still stood there with a suggestive glint in her eyes. He wondered what she was waiting for and saw how her eyes fell on his seat. 

"My car broke down this morning, so I used a bus in a hurry. I didn't realize how far it is from the bus station to the school's gate until I had to walk down here." She breathed heavily. 

"You could have taken a taxi." He pointed out reasonably. Besides, the bus station wasn't far from the school.

"Well..." She giggled nervously. "We are getting late." 

'What have I gotten myself into?' Oliver wondered before giving her the go-ahead to get on his bike.

"Try not to touch—" before he could say "me", she had already wrapped her hands around his waist and had a big smile plastered on her face.