1.1 | daunting medleys

sixty | the greatest thing

Tabitha was tired, and she did mean it literally. After various attempts to teach her how to skate and failing miserably each time. Her feet had started to hurt so Oliver suggested taking a break. He pulled her out of the skating rink, saying he was taking her out for icecream.

She'd found out in the most wonderful way that Oliver's love language was most definitely physical touch, he liked touching her and she definitely didn't mind. He'd find a way to touch, by flicking her nose and her forehead, kissing her, or sometimes he'd intertwine their hands and if she wasn't already hopelessly in love with him, she would've fallen at that moment.

They had settled on the seats by the icecream truck that they had just patronized, the umbrella casting a nice shade on Oliver's grey eyes making them seem darker than usual. He twirled the spoon as he turned to her, talking about Emily and his mom. She chimed in occasionally, mesmerized by the slight curl of his lips. She shovelled her icecream in her mouth and winced when her teeth made contact with the cold dessert. He laughed, and she pouted.

Tabitha shoved him with her shoulders since they'd been sitting side by side, and he chuckled.

"Wanna go back?" He asked quietly but poor Tabitha was just looking at the way his tongue darted out to clean the chocolate on his lower lip. Her face flamed, and she looked away. She pushed herself to get her act together. Tabitha was acting like a child who'd seen her crush, and she really didn't want to embarrass herself.

"Jesus, Tabitha." He muttered before kissing her deeply. His cold tongue probed her mouth, and the melted sugar on her tongue, and the scent that clung to him was making her heady. Oliver pinched her chin and brushed her clothed collarbone with his finger. His hands slid into her hair slowly, and she melted against him. She knew she was falling deeper and deeper, into the mess that was Oliver but she didn't mind, couldn't mind, not when he was kissing her the way he was. When they pulled apart, Oliver laughed lowly. "What? You can't look at me like that and not expect me to do anything." Her cheeks were hot and she was evidently flustered. Somehow, the thought of how her 18th would go wasn't making out with Oliver or even going out on a date with him but like she said before, she didn't mind at all.

Tabitha shoved him in response, and not because she couldn't say anything but because she was still trying to get her brain to work after being kissed senseless.

"Are you ready to leave now?" He asked again, and she nodded. Picking up her wallet, they walked back into the skating rink, her hand firmly engulfed in his, giddiness in the way she almost tripped over her two feet.

************

Oliver often wondered if Tabitha knew how effortlessly gorgeous she looked when she spoke of something she was passionate about. Her eyes would light up, an adorable smile would curl her lips and Oliver would fall deeper in love. Usually in that order too, but he wasn't complaining, not at all.

She was currently talking about how much she wanted to meet Pierce, and it'd been a tad shocking that they hadn't met. Then the shock wore off and he knew that he'd forgotten. The moment of peace that he had overshadowing every other thing she'd inadvertently been through, and him by her side. The fading sunlight cast a warm golden glow in her face and the smile on his face didn't fade. Everything was hazy and seemed dreamlike, and Oliver had been praying, with everything in him that it wasn't a dream.

"Are your mum and Emily coming to the concert tomorrow?" Tabitha asked, dark brown eyes flitting over his face for the umpteenth time. The look in her eyes made his entire face burn, he looked away to the road, hoping he wouldn't crash the car as she tempted him to do everything he'd written about.

He nodded as he entered their town. "Yeah, I gave them the tickets today's. Mum doesn't know who Pierce is though, she's just excited that he's singing one of my songs." Oliver chuckled. At the mention of the song, she turned to him excitedly.

"Ah yes, the mysterious song you refuse to let me hear." She giggled, leaning back in her seat.

Oliver shook his head, his hair flopping on his forehead. "It isn't mysterious. I'm just waiting for you to hear it tomorrow. It's a surprise." He stopped at the red lights, turned to her and flicked her forehead. "Patience, Tabitha." She narrowed her eyes playfully, and leaned in, cupping her chin with her palm. His heart stuttered painfully, and he almost stopped breathing. She was so fucking gorgeous. The sunset cast a reddish glow on her face, her chubby cheeks and her pretty eyes adding to the delirious beauty she possessed.

"The light's red." Tabitha moved, a tiny mischievous smile on her lips. Oliver shifted in his seat.

His heart almost sank when he'd started recognising the roads to his house. "Is your dad coming?" He asked, to continue their discussion.

"Yeah, he bought his tickets online." Oliver nodded, and raised an eyebrow when he saw the multitudes of black cars parked on his driveway. Expensive cars that didn't belong on his mother's property. Cars that he had an inkling of who they belonged to. Tabitha was silent and as they parked, Oliver gripped the wheel, bracing himself for what was about to happen.

"Ollie?" She started hesitantly, and his eyes snapped to hers. Worry dimmed her eyes until they turned a murky brown. He didn't want that. Tabitha deserved the purest joy in her eyes, and a smile always.

"Yes?"

"I'm coming in with you."

He nodded, knowing he couldn't stop her from doing whatever she wanted. He jumped down, and opened her door for her, a smile tugged on her lips. He tried to smile, but he couldn't. Not when the impending conversation played in his mind, everything was going wrong. Seeing the heartbreak in his eyes, she kissed his jaw.

"You'll be fine. I'm here." He nodded again, and pulled her into a hug. Tabitha was his strength, and everything that made life bearable. He kissed her forehead, and stared into her eyes.

He knew that his eyes were red, and he didn't want their date to end up with his tears but he had to say what he needed to first. "Walking into that library was the greatest thing to ever happen to me." He whispered into her hair. She sniffled quietly, and let him hug her.

Oliver walked in slowly, as a bodyguard opened the door for him. His eyes darted everywhere but to the one man whose face he had. His mother sat on the couch, her boyfriend trying to give her support. Bodyguards were everywhere he could see, the kitchen and the living room. Then he finally looked at the man that had allowed him to be discarded like he meant nothing.

"Son." The older man breathed, and Tabitha squeezed his hand.

"Governor Jackson."