1.1 | daunting medleys

forty-five | fight for you

Tabitha was sitted beside Oliver, watching a video about cats on her phone in the basketball court before Talia's game. The court was bare, with just her and Oliver. He chuckled lowly, and her fingers tightened against the phone. The video ended, and she didn't know what had happened in it, because she was entranced by the way his lashes fluttered as he laughed.

"I've always wanted a cat, but i'm allergic and Emily's deathly afraid of animals." A smile crept up her lips at the thought of the little girl. She put it in her mind to ask Oliver if she could visit her anytime soon.

Turning off her phone, she drew her feet so they weren't spread on the seats before them, the way Oliver's feet were. "I'm very afraid of animals as well, perhaps a fish, or multiple fishes in a little tank."

Oliver chuckled lowly, for the second time, and she found herself smiling along with him. The court was slowly filling up with people, as they spoke about anything and everything they could. Tabitha took everything he gave, every bit about his life and in turn told him every happy memory she could think of, needless to say it was very short. They didn't know when they'd leaned towards each other, Oliver resting on his elbows as he flicked Tabitha's forehead. She glared at him, and flinched when the coach's whistle rung throughout the hall.

They pulled apart, Tabitha's heart racing. She frowned when her stomach grumbled, remembering that she hadn't eaten lunch and it was well over 5pm. It protested again, in grumbles that were louder than anything she'd ever had. Nice going, Tabitha. With crossed fingers, and a quick prayer under her breath, she turned to Oliver to gauge if he had heard her stomach's angry protests.

Oliver noticed her look, and his eyes filled with concerned as he asked her. "Are you okay?"

Tabitha was about to nod, when she remembered their conversation. His eyes bored into her, as if he knew what she was about to do. "I'm just hungry." She murmured, embarrassed. She could feel every inch of her body tingle when his eyes softened, her fingers became more interesting as she played with her nails.

He nodded, patting her head. "Good girl." Then walked out. Tabitha looked at his retreating figure with a smile on her face. She could feel someone take Oliver's seat and then looked at the person that she sat beside her. She stared at him, nothing but hatred for him. Her hands balled into fists, and she didn't say a word. Aiden was smart, and nothing could've hidden the anger, and heartbreak in her eyes.

"If Oliver didn't enter your life, would I still have a chance?" He asked, with sorrowful blue eyes. Tabitha stilled, and looked down. Her hands were shaking, she was sure of it. She didn't want to look at him, not answer him, because she was tired. Tabitha was tired of arguing with Aiden. "I guess that answers my question. I'm sorry, Tabitha."

Tabitha nodded, and stared down at her feet.

"I'm sorry for hurting you. I'm sorry for cheating on you, and I'm sorry for kissing you without your permission. But I'm here, because I love you. I want to try again, I'll give you everything I have to give. I just want you to please let me have a second chance." He said, stumbling over his words. His eyes were reddened, and his knuckles were red.

She turned to him, hoping the sting in her eyes weren't tears. "No. I can't. The time where I wanted more, you said you had none to give. That I should appreciate what I had before it was gone. Now I don't want anything to do with you. I'm done with being satisfied with the bare minimum. I'm sorry." Tabitha's voice was nothing like how she felt. It was calm, and yet her hands trembled and she could feel the cold biting at her exposed skin.

"What have I done that's so unforgivable? I've tried apologising, and I'm tired of apologising. All I did was cheat, and I'm sorry that it ruined our relationship but you are hurting both of us by not taking me back. You are taking revenge on me by playing hard to get, right?" The privileged expression he carried fueled her anger, and she could tell she was losing her grip on calmness.

Tabitha laughed ruefully, and the sound deflated Aiden. "I'm not playing hard to get. I'm not yours to get anyway. I'm protecting myself from you. I won't take you back, not now, not ever."

A tear slipped out from his reddened eyes, and when the multiple clusters of people that had gathered close to them saw it, they turned to Tabitha with angry expressions, like they knew what they was going on. It didn't bother her, they knew nothing and would allow Aiden to manipulate them.

He cleaned the tear, and said to her with gripping conviction. "I'll work hard to get you to take me back. I'll fight for you Tabitha." Then he left, bumping shoulders with Oliver at the door.

He turned to Tabitha, who shrugged. Then he handed her a bag, and when she opened it, saw a burger and chicken nuggets. Her heart melted into a puddle, and turned to the door where Aiden was glaring at them. His eyes were sad, and hardened when he saw the bag in her hands.

Tabitha knew her lips had curled up in Aiden's direction, but she couldn't tell if he would translate it as a mocking smile or if it was a sweet smile. He never bought her lunch, or never bothered to ask her how she felt. Communication lacked between them, and it was draining, then when she heard he'd cheated, she ended things.

She knew why she never compared Ollie and Aiden. They were different people, and had different impacts on her. Aiden made her want to fit with the crowd of popular people, made her want to fit in. Oliver made her feel special, like no one was like her. He knew of her scars, and hammered it into her head that she was strong, like her pain empowered her and it meant the world to her, perhaps more than he would ever know.

"Thank you, Ollie."

He shrugged, his grey eyes light. "It's no problem." Then leaned back on the seat, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms. The cold was absent in the hall, as the heaters were turned on. Winter was coming, and the cold was more present than it had been, so Tabitha always carried a jacket that laid on her lap, where Oliver's hands had just brushed.

She looked away from him with hot cheeks, and checked the time. The game was set to begin at 5:00pm, and it was 4:59. The court was buzzing with chatter, and cheers for when their school's team walked in. Tabitha stood up, and yelled when her twin sister's slender figure walked into the court. A tuft of blonde hair entered her eyes, and she turned to Ariana, linking hands as they cheered for Talia who rolled her eyes at them.