Regretful apology

Terence McKenna said, 'The problem isn't finding the answer, it's facing it'.

What Oliver had witnessed the previous night was something he felt could be his ultimate game-changing access to the final truth about the werewolf, but he didn't know which means to approach Jasper with, in order for the truth to surface.

Today at lunchtime, Oliver arrived early at the cafeteria. He sat at their regular table; the one at the far end of the hall which most people deliberately avoided, as it was referred to as the rejected table, a place for those who were deemed unable to fit into the normal stereotypical proclivity or habitude that was normally expected to every other regular tween/teen of the 23rd century.

Oliver, however, was an exact prototype of people whose behavioral attitude couldn't conform to the renowned standards. All his life, he had never found a place where he fit in, a place where he was regarded as normal, just like others his age. Everywhere he went, every school he had attended, he was easily identified as the odd one out, even amongst so-called weirdos, he was queerly odd in the most mystifying manner, most likely qualified as the strange one.

Oliver's mind was made up now. He was going to confront Jasper about his recent findings last night; the unidentified wanderer, the hologram projectors in the room, and of course, him and his roommate's absence in bed.

In about a minute, Xavier arrived at the table with his tray. Oliver knew so well that there was a high chance he would bring up a talk about their meeting last night, and he was starting to feel uneasy about that. He decided not to mention any word to him or even look at him, and he hoped he wouldn't do so as well. He was earnestly waiting for Jasper's arrival and that was the only thing he cared about at this point in time.

While he was still maintaining the silence and hoping it would remain that was, Xavier just abruptly started talking, but even at that he neither looked nor listened to him.

"Oliver… Oliver… Oliver…" Xavier started calling as he noticed Oliver haven't been listening to him.

"What?!" Oliver answered curtly, finally shifting his gaze to him, as he shot a disgusted glance.

"Looks like you were totally zoned out for a moment there," Xavier said laughingly, "What were you thinking about?"

"Zoned out?" Oliver scuffed. "Don't be such a dimwit, I was clearly making sure you knew I wasn't paying any attention to you," he said.

"Wait… are you for real?" Xavier's brows cocked in surprise, "You mean you weren't listening to anything I said?"

"No offense, but not everyone is interested in hearing one of your silly jokes. I have a lot on my mind right now, this is obviously not a good time, except you're able to somehow pull up some sort of miracle and come up with something that is actually serious," Oliver replied meaningly.

"Ouch," Xavier muttered, his brows knitted thoughtfully.

"Actually, I do have something serious to say," he added.

On hearing this, Oliver's eyes squinted as he wondered what it was Xavier was about to say. His mind could already sense it was something related to their encounter the previous night.

Oliver looked away from him.

"I hear with my ears and not my eyes," he said, "Go on."

"I heard Doctor Lacy left for a break yesterday evening," Xavier said.

Oliver's brows immediately wrinkled in feigned puzzlement.

"What does that have to do with me?" he asked.

"Doctor Lacy always locks up the infirmary quarters whenever she's about to go on her weekly break," Xavier explained.

"So?" Oliver scoffed.

"So you lied," Xavier said.

"Last night you claimed you were coming from the infirmary, whereas it had already been locked. What really were you doing outside at that time?" he asked.

Oliver was totally speechless at this point, he couldn't come up with an idea to deny it.

"Alright, you figured that out, but what I was doing isn't your concern," Oliver told him.

"It's about the werewolf, isn't it?" Xavier asked, "You can tell me."

"What's the point? You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Oliver said.

"Try me, then," replied Xavier, "I do believe there's a werewolf."

Oliver's brows wrinkled thoughtfully.

"Why the sudden change of heart?" he asked, "last time I checked, you were among those that had a good laugh about my warnings."

"Well it just happens you're not the only one that has seen werewolf's prints around here," Xavier said.

There was a brief moment of silence now. Oliver gazed emptily at the table with a thoughtful stare in his eyes.

"I believe you, Oliver," Xavier said, "I want to help you."

"I appreciate the offer, but I play solo," replied Oliver, "and besides, I think I'm already close to the truth."

"Why do you care anyway?"

"Because I want to stop this werewolf as badly as you do," Xavier said.

"Jasper says you think he's the werewolf," he continued, "Why do you think so?"

"Because somehow every single piece of evidence I've had so far points his way, and not in a coincidental way," Oliver said, "As a matter of fact, last night was when I finally found out that I was right about him."

"What happened last night?" Xavier asked, with seriousness written all over his face.

"I heard a sound while I was in bed so I went to check out what it was through the window. Surprisingly, I spotted someone wandering along the lawn, whom I immediately suspected to be Jasper, so I decided to go out and check out myself, but when I came out you saw me, so I had no choice but to go back inside. It was on my way back that I came across Jasper's room and found out the door was open. I decided to go in and confirm if it was him I had seen outside, and entering inside, I did see him there, or so I thought, but then eventually I discovered that the figure I saw sleeping on the bed was just a hologram, and Jasper wasn't there," Oliver explained.

"Whoa…" Xavier exclaimed in disbelief.

"So what are you gonna do now?" he asked Oliver.

"Wait and see," Oliver answered.

"Hold on a second," Xavier said worriedly, "Don't tell me you're planning an interrogation."

"And what is wrong with that if may ask?" Oliver asked casually.

"Come on, you're Oliver Logan," Xavier said, "You're way smarter than that."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Oliver muttered.

"The fact that he wasn't in bed last night doesn't guarantee he's the werewolf. This is not yet the time for confrontations or open accusations, Oliver, you need to slow down a bit

Oliver raised a suspicious brow at him.

"What are you proposing?" he asked.

"Jasper would easily come up with any other reason as to why he wasn't in bed last night and you'd end up starting all over again. He isn't meant to know that you know about it, I say you keep it to yourself for now and focus on gaining his trust because that's your only means of finding out what he's actually hiding," Xavier said.

"And how the hell am I supposed to do that?" Oliver asked, "I already told him he's the suspect."

"First thing first, tell him you made a mistake and that you're sorry for…"

Oliver quickly cut in before he could finish.

"Hold on a second," he said, "you want me to apologize to Jasper?"

"Sure, I mean… it's not that big of a deal," Xavier shrugged.

"Well that's not going to happen," Oliver said, "I'm sticking to my own idea."

"I'm telling you now Oliver, this is the only way. Just put away your ego and apologize, it's as simple as that," Xavier persuaded.

"I'd rather stick a rusty needle in my eye than mention the words; I'm sorry, to someone who I've clearly done nothing wrong to. I can't feel sorry for my right deeds 'cause if I did, then I'm no different from a perjurious hypocrite, and my conscience can't allow that," Oliver insisted, "I'm afraid it's an epic no for me."

While they were both still talking, Felicity approached the table and joined them there.

"Hay…" Oliver muttered as he saw her, scratching his hair blushingly.

"Hay," she responded shortly with a slight smile

"I uh…  just asked Jasper if you guys had resolved your disputes," she told him.

Oliver slowly deviated his gaze from her face.

"He said it became worst, that… you think he was the one that attacked Alex," she explained.

Oliver didn't make any comment on what she said, he just remained silent.

"Oliver you can't continue to create enmity with the very few friends you have," she said.

"You don't understand," Oliver said, "Jasper is not who you think he is, he's…" 

"A werewolf?" Felicity cut in. "Come on, stop all this, Jasper didn't do any of that," she added.

Oliver knew that if he told her all the proofs he had, especially the one he had the previous night about the hologram and empty bed, she would definitely start saying the direct opposite of all she had said, but he decided to keep it to himself.

"Apologies to Jasper," she told him.

Oliver was surprised at what she just requested him to do. He looked and saw Xavier trying to suppress a smile.

"I never offended Jasper, I'm only trying to seek out the truth," he said.

"And hurt the feelings of others in the process?" she asked.

"I don't care a less about how anyone feels, especially Jasper, 'cause the truth I'm after, that's the most important thing," Oliver said, still in his expressionless tone.

Felicity scoffed in astonishment.

"Oliver, can you literally hear yourself right now?" she said.

"If you're so hardened to care about a friend's feelings, or so righteous to say you're sorry, then I don't think we should still be on speaking terms," she added.

Oliver was completely short of words now. It felt so ironically surprising how it now seemed like he was the bad person, and the actual bad person, he was being asked to apologize to. He felt like explaining everything to her now, so badly, but he managed to keep his composure in check.

"I told you, Oliver, just tell him you're sorry, there's no big deal," Xavier said.

Xavier's words felt like a thousand stingers to the ears when Oliver heard him. Oliver knew he was trying to take advantage of Felicity's presence to get him to succumb to his will, but he just ignored him.

"Just apologize to him, and we'll all be good," Felicity said.

"Speak of the devil…" Xavier muttered as he saw Jasper approaching the table. 

Jasper came and joined them at the table without mentioning any word to any of them. There was an awkward silence among them immediately after Jasper's arrival, making seem suspicious that they were talking about him before he came. 

"So I was going to ask; did Drake actually use his telekinesis on you?" Felicity suddenly asked Oliver, breaking the silence, and also making it look less suspicious.

"Yes," Oliver answered, "and I promise I'm gonna make him pay handsomely."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Jasper said, "You know how destructive telekinesis can be."

Oliver didn't say anything to him, he just responded with a cold mystifying stare that could only be interpreted as; at least it's (telekinesis) not as destructive as a werewolf.'

"Yo," Jasper said to him, "we still best mates?"

Felicity immediately tapped Oliver on his arm.

"Tell him now," she whispered forcefully, with wide persuading eyes.

Oliver turned to her, and slightly shook his head in disagreement while saying a silent emphatic 'no'.

"Just tell him," Felicity insisted.

"Tell me what?" Jasper inquired. He had heard her this time.

"Um… actually, Oliver has a word," Felicity told him.