1.1 | daunting medleys

twenty-nine | bathed in sunlight

Tabitha was nervous.

It was finally lunchtime, and Tabitha's heart felt like it would burst out of her chest. Oliver'd had seen her in between classes and said that they would have lunch in the rose garden that she usually hung out. Ariana had gone out with friends in her earth club for lunch, coincidentally - yet - perfectly giving her time to meet Oliver for lunch. She walked into the garden, and there he was, bathed in sunlight. Tabitha walked up to him, her knees almost buckling from the intensity in his eyes. He had a mat set out, and his bag played the role of the picnic basket.

"Hey." She said, pushing what she hoped was a smile on her face.

Oliver didn't answer her immediately, he looked saddened, something was bothering him, and she knew. "Hi." He'd eventually replied her, slipping his phone into his bag before bringing out two plastic containers. He handed one to Tabitha, then giving her a fork, before settling with his own food.

She took it from him and opened it, the scent of the spices overtaking her olfactory senses and making her salivate. Tabitha waited for Oliver to open his, before she started eating. It didn't seem right for her to start whilst he was still fiddling with his fork. They didn't say anything, surrounded by roses and the hazy sun. The taste of the food was delicious, and the atmosphere made it even more surreal that Oliver would be here with her, at that moment.

Tabitha had been eating for a while, the cheesy goodness that sat in her bowl much larger than Oliver's. They sat side by side, their arms brushing each other's softly. The hands of Tabitha's inner shirt was short, so she required a jacket as the weather was getting colder as the seasons passed, but as the sun shone down on them, Tabitha realized that it was a little hot, so she took off her jacket, and placed it on her legs, unaware of Oliver's eyes following her move.

Oliver finished his food before Tabitha, and settled for watching her. Her cheeks burned when she saw how unwavering he was when he looked at her. A tiny smile crept up his lips, and she looked away from him.

"Would you please give me your mum's number so I can thank her for the food? It's amazing." Tabitha said, rubbing the back of her neck, her shoulder giving a little pinch when she did. He nodded, and held out his hand for her phone, then he added the  number.

"You can call later this evening. She'll be free then." Tabitha nodded, plastering a smile on her face. The same smile she'd practiced all day, because she didn't want anyone to perceive her as weak. The smile convinced her, she thought it was believable, and no one had a problem with it. But, Oliver had then suprised her by moving close to her, and holding her hand, the warmth from his hands regenerated and spread all over her body.

Oliver smiled sadly, "Are you okay, Tabitha?" She froze, not because he smelt wonderful, and looked even better up close, but because of the tenderness that encompassed his eyes. Tabitha began shaking, and almost let him see how much she wanted to burrow into his arms and cry, but she didn't want him to see her as weak. She would hate herself.

"I-" She was about to say she was fine, about to lie, but something in his eyes pressed on her until she couldn't lie. "No." Then a tear slid past her cheek, then many others in rapid succession. Tabitha had let the pain ferment in her, she didn't know what to do or who to talk to. She cried softly, afraid to let out any noise that was too loud. Tabitha hiccuped, her chest hurt. Hurt gripped her heart until everything hurt. Everything always hurt.

"God," He murmured, his eyes transparent with sheer pain. "Tabitha, look at me. I'm here." Then he hugged her with one arm. The position was awkward, as they were sitting beside each other. She shook with sobs in his arms, and he let her cry. Tabitha wanted to swallow, but all she could do was choke on her tears. He shifted slightly, so she would relax even more on him.