...And I Am Going Home

Oliver 30

Oliver, of course, had to mention seeing both of their exes on the same night to Cody for their weekly Saturday phone call, Cody seeing the amusement and the awkwardness from the situation, but glad there was no drama or conflict; meanwhile, Zeke was not.

The topic of Christmas came up, as they discussed their plans, neither realising how much time had passed since they last saw each other in person. Had it been that long? Cody was enthusing about the Christmas markets in his home town that he loves visiting yearly.

"Sounds like fun," Oliver said, attempting to put some sense of liveliness into his usual flat voice. "Might have to check it out." He didn't know why he had said this, but it sparked an idea in his mind. "We could go together."

Going to visit Cody in person, instead of just listening to his voice, was something Oliver had on his mind for a long time. However, part of him was waiting for Cody to invite him over or come up north again, even if he wasn't moving back, but to visit. Darren and Sasha had mentioned they had seen Cody recently since Darren was getting a tattoo in the city near Cody's town.

However, Oliver was met with a long silence.

"Sorry, what did you say?" Cody's voice finally said through the other side.

Oliver swallowed, his throat going dry. "I should have some holiday days saved by then, and I can come and see you."

Has he crossed a line? This is what long-distance friends did, right? Visit each other when they can.

"Unfortunately, I'll be busy during that time," said Cody, his voice a bit shaky.

Oliver frowned. Didn't he say that the Christmas markets started in early November? "You're busy for all of that period?"

"Yeah, sorry."

But surely they could time it for when Cody had a day off? Or a short shift? So long as Oliver got to see Cody briefly, it would be worth this visit, even if it was just half an hour. He could find a hotel, and Oliver never had any trouble spending time alone; he preferred it. So why was Cody...

"Besides, I'm sure you'd want to save your holiday days to see your mum in Wales, yeah?" said Cody.

"Why do you not want me to see you?"

There was a pause.

Oliver couldn't believe he said that out loud. But he didn't regret it. He gripped tight onto his phone.

"I said I was going to be busy for the Christmas period; I do work in hospitality; that's unfortunately what happens," Cody attempted to joke. "We can maybe organise something in the New Year-"

"You never want to do video calls; it's only voice."

Cody remained silent.

"Darren says you and him video call," Oliver continued. "So why do you not ever want to video call me?"

Again, just silence.

"I know we haven't known each other for that long, but I thought we were friends."

"We are friends," said Cody.

"So why do you not want me to see you?"

A long, strangled sigh was on the other side of the call. "I just... I'm not ready yet."

What did that mean? Ready for what?

Oliver heard the shaking in Cody's voice, the strained whisper. He decided not to press on the matter. All he could muster, not knowing how to salvage the situation, was saying, "okay."

There was a long moment where neither Oliver nor Cody knew what to say.

"I'll, uh, talk to you next week," Cody finally spoke up.

"Yeah, okay," Oliver mumbled.

The call ended.

Oliver regretted not saying sorry. He wanted an explanation, but Cody was clearly going through something still. But Oliver had thought they would tell each other things since they were both dealing with surviving the Snickelway kidnappings. Still, Oliver supposed that Cody had other people to talk to about that, like the members of the Snickelway server who had been there as long as Cody had. Or maybe there was something else going on in Cody's life.

Oliver spent the rest of the night drafting an apology message for what to say next week on the following Saturday phone call.