Lost in the Space Between

Chapter 6

Jackson's POV;

Oliver's eyes are wide, and it's making my palms sweat. I don't like having sweaty palms because it lets me know that I'm nervous and scared. I do not like being nervous or scared.

"I'm sorry, you what?" He says it with such a tone, it scares me for a second.

"I know, it's bizarre but please hear me out." I'm practically begging for his full attention because I know that inside his mind, he's coming up with a great argument against me. Lawyer mode. I make a dumb move and reach for Oliver's hand, but he pulls away. I'm surprised by this, but I understand where he's coming from.

"You agreed to date my sister?!" Oliver is whisper yelling this, but it feels like the whole world can hear.

"Yes I know, but I just need you to listen to me, please," I beg him once more, hoping that this time he'll stay quiet. Oliver stares at me and he stays silent, finally. I let out a sigh of relief. "The thing is, your mum contacted my mum because apparently Olivia told your mum about the supposed 'date'-" I use my fingers as so called quotes. "-and now my mum thinks that me and Olivia are, you know, going out.." Oliver just blinks and stares at me, not saying a word. He looks down at his hands and I begin to panic. "Oliver please don't make that face, you know that I don't really like her," I whisper, my knuckles white from the amount of time that I had them clenched in my lap. Oliver doesn't look up at me and he just says,

"But do you really not like her?" He sneers this at me, like if I'm making all of this up.

"I really don't, Olive, I don't want to be anything more with her than just friends," I say softly, reaching for Oliver's hand again. He takes it willingly and squeezes it, filling my body with a certain warmth I'm familiar with now when I'm with him. Like in the bathroom, when I had my hand under the hem of his sweater. The moment was sweet, and the taste of him is still lingering on my lips as we speak. "I just need to keep this act up until I can tell my mum the truth.." Oliver gives me a puzzled look.

"The truth?" He's looking me in the eyes now. "What do you mean by that?" It means that I love you, idiot. Now, I obviously didn't tell him this. What would he even say? I mean yes, we've snogged in the school washroom but what if it's all for fun? What if it means nothing at all to him and he's just looking for someone to kiss in between classes?

"Ah, well, I can't really tell you at the moment," I reply, looking away from him, trying to dodge his gaze. I feel like a criminal who has committed some sort of felony. Oliver narrows his eyes at me, he knows I'm hiding something. I'm just not ready to tell him. I can't tell him, it's too soon.

"Fine, whatever, it's not like I wanted to know either way," he responds with a rather harsh tone. I wince at the sound of his voice. It sounds hurt, maybe he thinks that I don't trust him. But I do trust him, I think, still trying to avoid Oliver's eyes. "Can I leave now?" Oliver has stopped looking at me now, I can feel his gaze turned away from me. My chest is aching, and I'm beginning to blame some sort of heart failure that I don't know that I have. I keep thinking back to when Olivia told me she wanted to become my girlfriend. It was after school and I was about to head to the park to meet with Oliver. I didn't think that my maybe not-so fake relationship with Olivia would be the main topic. She had pulled me aside while I was walking behind the school; the direction of the park.

"Hey," she had told me, her voice quiet. I raised a brow at her, confused at what she wanted.

"Hello Olivia, good to see you again." I began politely. "Do you need something?" She nodded slowly as if trying to remember what exactly she needed.

"I.. I want to be your girlfriend." I only give her a blank stare. Then I finally realized.

"Pardon?" Is all I say. I mentally slap myself. Jackson, when a girl asks you to date them, you normally say yes or no, I chide myself. Olivia pouted, most likely disappointed in the fact that I didn't provide her with the immediate answer that she wanted.