Diamondback

13: Familiar Fingers

When we stepped onto the Roseorn sidewalk, the city was still as busy as ever.

Surprise, surprise.

Guessing from the way the sun was threatening to collapse out of the sky, it was maybe around 5pm-ish, so the crowd of citizens rushing home was expected. I knew none of the people passing by would pay me any mind, but they didn't even take a second glance at Oliver either. If someone glanced up at him, they would immediately tear their gaze away or would look at him sympathetically. I can't really gauge if that second part is a good thing or not.

My natural reaction was to sidle away from the crowd, but Oliver took hold of my hand. The look on my face must've given away my internal panic because his body seemed to shrink with guilt.

"Sorry, I don't want to lose you in the crowd, Dia..." Olly glanced at the people around us and immediately shut his mouth. "Um, I just can't afford to take my eyes off of you."

"Dude, what the hell? I can take care of myself."

His face flushed red yet his iron grip never faltered. "I know, but what if I get lost in the crowd?"

My attempts to wiggle out of his grasp came to a reluctant halt. "Fine. Let's just get this over with, a'ight?"

He gave me a thumbs up accompanied by a sunny grin and picked up his fast pace. I kept my eyes glued to the concrete sidewalk as we maneuvered through the crowd. Part of me was hoping that some sorry soul would try and start something with me so I could have a snack for the road, but my other half convinced me that focusing on Oliver was probably the most effective way to keep myself from losing control in the middle of the whole city. Focus on Oliver. Right...

That'd be a whole lot easier if my fingers didn't feel like they'd melt from the buzzing feeling of Olly's careful touch. His hands were warm and soft and gentle and familiar against mine. If he let go, it felt like I'd die. As we bumped shoulders with a briskly walking woman, Olly's fingers intertwined with mine defensively. Everything in me wished he would hold onto me forever.

Shut up, brain. Shut up, shut up, shut up.

Not to my surprise, Oliver was a master at weaving through crowds. He barely reacted to any of his surroundings nor did he show any mercy to the idle citizens. Of course, people gave us disapproving looks and shouted out sentences containing colorful vocabulary, but unlike the other times that I've been out here alone, we were making quick work of the streets.

"So, where are you taking me exactly?" I asked, trying to break the serious silence between us.

"You'll see."

"You'll see? Jeez, lil bit. I need specifics."

"I said it was a surprise, didn't I?"

"Yeah, but-"

He stopped walking.

I bumped into him yet he barely budged. "Ow! What's the matter?" Even when I waved my hand in front of him, his large eyes never faltered. "Oliver! Hey!" Following his eyeline, I got a look at what he was gaping at.

It was a large billboard of some broad dude with a thick, dark brown caterpillar mustache. He had his arms crossed like a smug businessman as he stood in front of a small picture of the city. It read in big, bright bold letters: "WELCOME TO MY CITY OF ROSEORN!"

"How charming," I sneered. "They must've finally put up a picture for the new mayor, huh? He looks like a total prick."

Oliver finally blinked out of his contemplative trance. "Um...we better go."