Love, On Read (MxM)

Chapter 19: Mom?

A/N: a bit of filler before we move back to Haruto moments and I figured I should introduce their mothers soon. :)

Ollie's POV

The sun's rays through my window woke me up none too gently the morning after the Winter formal. I hadn't closed the blinds or curtains, and it just so happened to be the only window on this side of the house that got morning rays. With sinus pressure and the pain throughout my body, I wondered if someone had managed to spike the punch, given how shitty I felt. Not that I had had a hangover, but witnessing the team and other popular kids after those parties, I could only imagine this was what it felt like.

And like most cliched-hangover-mornings, the events of last night, the emotions, and the fact that I was still in that rain-soaked suit—which was mostly dry now—only made it worse.

My eyes were crusted, my face raw and blotched from the crying. I didn't know when I had stopped crying and knocked out, but my face probably looked like I had gotten stung by a swarm of bees.

As much as I wanted to lay here the entire weekend, I needed to get out of these clothes, maybe even burn them, so it didn't remind me of what happened. I there the covers back, forcing myself to a sitting position before groaning again. I'd have to wash the beddings and probably take some supplements to prevent catching a cold from sleeping in wet clothes, but that seemed like a problem for another day.

Rubbing my eyes, I glanced around the room. My things were still on the floor; my phone on the nightstand, most likely dead. I didn't remember closing my bedroom door, but I guess I had during my stumbling mess to the bedroom. I grabbed a simple black shirt and pants before heading to the shower. With the water set to just shy of scalding, I let it pound against my back, wondering how the fuck I was supposed to go to school on Monday after that incident. I'd have to avoid both Mason and Benji; I guess sitting at the theatre or student council table wasn't all that bad, or better yet, in one of my classes.

Even though I was now fully dressed, starving, and in need of some studying for the upcoming finals week, going back to sleep sounded splendid—even though I did have way more than eight hours of sleep.

That was until I heard the microwave beep from downstairs. My heart raced; panic set in. Mom was most likely still on her business trip, and even if she was back in town, she was probably working on some case anyways. Then there was, of course, dad, but we had a restraining order in place. He wasn't even allowed in this city; he couldn't possibly have the house key or dare to come near here.

The only person who knew where our house key was hidden was Benji, but he couldn't possibly be here. And Mason would be a fool to enter my house if he managed to find the key hidden under the rock near our driveway.

I gulped before tiptoeing my way down the hall. The person downstairs moved rather quietly on the kitchen tiles, gently setting one of our bowls on the counter.

Before I made it to the final steps, I sucked in a breath, seeing the back of who it was.

"Mom?"

"Hey, kiddo." Her head whipped to the stairs, almost spilling the coffee in her mug. Her lips pursed in that poker face I never could decipher—the face of an attorney, she had called it. "You're up?"

"What are you doing here?" I shook my head. "Don't you have work?"

The corners of her lip raised in the faintest of smiles. "I managed to get the weekend off, surprisingly. I see you didn't have a great night; I figured I'd make you some breakfast."

"Thanks," I said before pulling out the seat. Mom had prepared oatmeal, toast, eggs, and bacon; a feast, really.

"Did you," she said against her mug before pausing. "Want to talk about it?"