Tutoring the Bad Boy [REWRITTEN]

20. oliver and moments

I FELT LIKE my heart was going to drop out of my ass as he walked towards me with an easy smile. As if he wasn't the one who had ruined me in the first place. I had to remember that the person standing in front of me was a horrible person. The boy pulled me into a hug and all of the memories started to flood back in my mind.

For a moment, I felt disgusted. Repulsed. Yet after that moment ended, there was comfort. I felt safety in his arms. How could I not? These were the same arms that held me when I was so close to giving up. There was no way I could just forget that, no matter how much I wanted to in the back of my mind. It was only until I hugged back that he let go.

     "You here by yourself?" he questioned. Just small talk.

"No, I'm here with a friend," I replied, "who I should probably go back to now."

"Oh, no worries, darling," a voice from behind me answered, startling me. A pair of arms wrapped around my neck and he held me close. I felt instant relief as he whispered in my ear, "Who is this?"

      "Archer, this is Oliver," I introduced to the boy, causing him to tense up for a moment before easing up and detaching himself from me.

     He put space between Oliver and I, taking hold of my hand and silently directing me to get behind him. I complied after seeing the deathly gaze he was giving Oliver. And if looks could kill, I just knew that my ex would be dead by now. As would I despite it not even being directed at me, but that's besides the point. I knew I was safe with Archer. He's proven it multiple times; I trusted him with my everything even though we haven't known each other for long. I knew he trusted me as well. He just couldn't be like Oliver.

     "Nice to meet you," Archer told the boy without any hospitality in his voice. "I'm Irene's boyfriend."

I didn't mind him lying about it anymore, especially because it was Oliver we were talking to. If anything, I was grateful. Maybe it would drive him away, and I wouldn't have to talk to him again. Doubtful, but I still could dream about it. Though I did want to see how he was doing. Pure curiosity.

"Is that so?" he responded, crooking his head in confusion. "Irene told me she was with a friend."

"Yeah, she's a little stupid," the boy beside me replied with a humorless laugh. I was going to rock his shit later for that.

"She's actually quite smart," he retorted with a smile before looking at me. "I'd know."

It made my skin crawl. Everything about the situation seemed so hopeless— if Archer wasn't here, I'd have a panic attack. Even though I was so susceptible to his charm and wouldn't ever be able to tell if it was real or not, I didn't need him anymore. I wasn't his and he didn't have me wrapped around his finger anymore, but that didn't mean that there was a deep fear of him deep inside of my mind still.

"Yeah, well," Archer replied, "I think we're both smart enough to know that our movie is starting soon. Let's go, darling."

His voice softened when he talked to me.

"You're going to leave just like that, Irene?" Oliver asked, disappointment in his voice. "I thought we'd be able to catch up. You know, be friends again. What I did was wrong, I'll admit that, but I want to make things better."

My head was swirling with thoughts and emotions from his words. Was he really sorry? Did he want to be friends? I couldn't just turn him down. That was a lie, I knew I could, but part of me still wanted to have him around. He was the one who saved me two years ago; I couldn't just let that go. Was it really okay for me to turn him down?