IN HER SHADOW (Oli Sykes Fan Fiction) COMPLETE

12. Geeks.

Oli and I ended up talking on messenger every couple of days. Sometimes he would say hello and sometimes I'd initiate things by asking how he was, or telling him something annoying that my manager at work had done. We usually didn't chat for long, but I think he appreciated having his mind taken off his personal life for a while. I guess that was kind of weird seeing as my sister was his ex; the person who broke his heart. You would think he'd want nothing to do with me since they broke up, but luckily for me, he didn't hate me like some kind of collateral damage.

About two weeks after I'd seen Oli at Subway, Hannah posted this awful thing on her socials about being depressed. She was sad and moping around, sure, but she wasn't depressed... to even make that claim was so disrespectful to people who truly were. Also, Oli started copping so much shit in the comments that he truly didn't deserve... He had never called her out publicly for cheating on him, and now she was twisting it in a way that made it sound like he made the decision to end their relationship, writing in plain black and white for everyone to see that "Oli wanted a divorce". Well yes, he did, but you very conveniently failed to mention why he wanted one, completely hiding your infidelity as the reason for it. The whole thing was absolutely horrible and ridiculous, not to mention selfish. It was like she was trying to use him for attention and exposure even now, after she destroyed him. It was a new low for my sister and infuriated me. I wanted to comment on her post and straighten things out, but I also didn't want to get involved and have her fans attacking me, so I didn't say anything. As soon as I read it, I wanted to go to Hannah's room and tell her off for it too, but she'd gone to the movies with our Mum while I was at work, so my opinion on her attention seeking would have to wait. I could see that Oli was online though, so my support for him wouldn't have to be delayed.

"Hey Oli. I just saw the post. Are you OK?" I messaged.
"Yeah... I'm pretty pissed off though. I was trying to keep everything private, but I feel like I'm going to have to say something now." he replied.
"I'm sorry. I don't know why she's doing this." I sent back.
"For pity and attention." he replied. He was right, but I didn't tell him that I thought so, instead I just changed the subject to get his mind off it.
"Do you want to hear something hilarious about my manager?" I asked to lighten the mood.
"Always." he replied. I proceeded to tell Oli about my manager coming into work that afternoon and declaring that he had a girlfriend, that she was a model and then showing my co-worker and I a photo of his apparent girlfriend.
"I'm 99% sure he just found a picture of a pretty girl on google." I typed. Oli replied with a bunch of laughing emojis.
"I really think he's into you. He's probably trying to make you jealous." he said.
"Eww... that's so gross." I replied with an emoji signifying vomiting. Oli replied with laughing emojis again. "So how come you've never had a boyfriend anyway? How come you don't date?" he asked. God, how awkward. I was all for helping him think about something other than his own drama, but surely this did not have to be the topic of discussion. 
"I don't know... guys are boring and immature. I'm not exactly being chased down the street either." I said as I shrugged to myself.
"Hey! We're not all boring and immature." he protested.
"I didn't say YOU were, but guys my age are. They're idiots." I replied.
"I remember being eighteen, I was an idiot." he chuckled.
"My point exactly." I said.
"Well you just need to date someone older then. Someone whose outgrown it." he said.
"What, like Matt?" I questioned.
"Point taken, lol." he sent back.

Not going to lie, I didn't really want to talk about my non-existent dating life, so I completely changed the topic. They had announced information that morning about the upcoming London Comicon and even though I probably wouldn't go, I could dream. "So I was totally geeking out today because they announced the guests for Comicon! The line up is soooo good! Have you ever been?" I asked.
"I went to one in America when we were on tour once but we didn't stay long." he replied.
"You're missing out." I wrote. "I went last year and it was so cool. I got Jason Momoa's autograph! He's so hot." I sent as I chuckled to myself. I didn't mention that my Mum took me because I was seventeen so she wouldn't let me go alone and none of my friends wanted to go with me...
"Wait... are The Walking Dead cast going?" he asked suddenly.
"Yes! They're doing a Q&A and photo sessions. I sooooo wanna meet them!" I wrote.
"Oh that would be sick." Oli replied.
"They're doing the first preview of the new season on day 1 too!" I typed, showing way too much excitement.
"No way. Now I wanna go." he wrote.
"Me too." I replied. I fucking loved that we were both geeking out about Comicon. None of my friends were interested in it, so other than online 'friends', I never got to talk to anyone about that nerdy stuff. I mean, my Mum listened, but she clearly didn't really give a shit.
"Maybe we could go together?" Oli suddenly wrote to me. "Would that be really weird?" he then asked. My stomach flipped. I wanted to go SO badly and really didn't think I would get to.
"Well I don't know if my sister would be thrilled about it, but I'm allowed to hang out with whoever I want. And I guess I can just tell her I'm going with a friend. She doesn't care enough to ask who." I replied.
"Well if you want to go, I'll get us tickets and drive us down." he wrote.
"What? No way, it's expensive!" I replied.
"So? I want to go." he replied.
"I don't want you to pay for me..." I sent back.
"Hails, I paid for EVERYTHING for your sister... and half of that shit wasn't even stuff I wanted to go to or do. Trust me, I absolutely don't mind. In fact, I insist." he sent. I hated the way that felt. It made me feel uneasy. "Look, if it makes you feel any better, let's say I'm hiring you to be my bodyguard for the day... that's why I have to take you; to make sure no crazy fans attack me." he sent with a laughing emoji. I felt kind of weird but I said OK and agreed to that. I wouldn't turn down the chance to go to Comicon no matter who were inviting me, or how many fangirls I'd have to pull off Oli. "Kiiiiiinda freaked out that you think I could take down a ravenous Oli Sykes fan girl, but OK." I replied. He replied with laughter.

We decided to go on Saturday, on day 1, and Oli bought two tickets as soon as the pre-sale opened the next morning. I felt bad that he'd done that, but I appreciated it a lot since I didn't exactly have a lot of money. I also felt bad that I was going to hang out with him and lie to my sister about it if she asked, but Oli had never done anything bad to me. He hadn't even done anything bad to Hannah if you really wanted to get into it. Oli and I were friends and I desperately wanted to go to Comicon, so why would I not go with him? I didn't really think there was anything wrong with it.