Games

17

Both of us were completely silent when we stepped back into the house. By now the rain was coming down as hard as it possibly could, surrounding the house and hitting the windows with little pitter-patters echoing throughout the rooms. Water dropped off our of bodies and wet the floor as we walked through the house, myself leading Oliver upstairs. It was odd having the tables turned - usually it'd be Oliver consoling me - but I wasn't complaining. Oliver needed me and I was going to be there for him.

We both walked upstairs and into our room. I let go of Oliver's hand, figuring that he'd maybe move and grab clothes himself, but he didn't. He just watched me leave the room and come back with two towels, barely moving when I placed one in his arms. Sighing, I dried myself off and changed in front of him, not caring or bothering with the fact that he was still in the room; nothing he hadn't seen before, right?

When I was fully changed into a different pair of grey sweats and a new pullover, I walked to where Oliver stood and took his towel from his hands, unfolding it and throwing it over his head. I chuckled at the fact that he still didn't do anything, just let me dry his wet locks and take care of him for the moment.

"Are you going to change yourself or do I have to do it?" I whispered, towel gliding down his arms and wiping away water droplets.

"I can do it," he choked out, voice hoarse from crying. It killed me to see the distressed expression on his face; I'd never though I'd see Oliver like this, and part of it scared me, but another part made me glad to see his walls come down. It reminded me that he was human and still had feelings; sometimes he didn't act like that.

"Okay," I told him, unsure of what else to do other than place a comforting kiss on his cheek and walk to the door.

When I reached it, however, he let out a quick, "Wait," and I turned to face him.

"Stay?" He asked quietly, and I nodded, instead crossing my arms and leaning on the door, trying to keep my eyes off his perfect figure as he changed into new boxers, sweatpants, and another one of his famous oversized sweatshirts. Looking at him now I realized how much of a little kid he looked like dressed in the baggy clothing, despite the tattoos showing on his hands and neck.

When he was done dressing himself, he stood in place, eyes on the floor. It wasn't until I had stepped in front of him and took his hands in mine that he finally moved, allowing me to lead him back into the hallway, downstairs, and into the living room. I brought him to the large leather couch and sat him down on it, the sliding glass door behind the couch giving us the perfect view of the dark clouds and rain streaked windows. Oliver sat down willingly and brought his knees to his chest right away, hugging his legs. All this time and he still hadn't made full eye contact with me; I didn't take it personally, however. What he was about to do was going to be hard for him and I understood that.

Crouching in front of him, I placed both hands on his feet and whispered, "I'm going to make us some tea, and when I come back you're going to let this all out, alright?"

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, nodding his head in confirmation, still looking nervous.

"You can trust me, Oliver," I said, running my hand up his calf before standing up and leaving for the kitchen, where I turned the stove back on and began boiling the kettle of water I had started before. From where I stood I could still see Oliver, shivering on the couch yet refusing to get a blanket. Figuring that the saying about water not boiling when you watch it was true, I left the kitchen and began rummaging through the house for a blanket, finally finding one in a closet under the staircase. I brought it back to Oliver and covered his body with it, the tall boy mumbling out a "Thank you," in reply.

I nodded, returning to the kettled water, which was now in fact hot and boiling. Taking it by the handle, I brought it to the counter, setting it down to rummage through the cupboards until I found two coffee cups and a box of unlabeled tea.