𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐜𝐞

Olive

Olive

Music blares through my old fashioned CD player, old Christian rock bands to be specific. I set my canvas on my easel. I grab a variety of reds, pinks, and black. I'm painting a darkened heart trying to break through into the light. Basically the epitome of the light always overcoming the darkness.

I hear loud, obnoxious voices downstairs, I immediately know who it is. My brothers whole hockey team, that comes and ruins my night, just to eat all our food and make a mess.

I hate men. Nah they're not even men. They're little boys who can't even feed themselves without their moms feeding them with the palm of her hand. Screw that.

"Olive!" I hear Kane knock loudly on my door in different patterns to annoy me. He gives one final shout and bang on the door when I swing it open.

"What?" I ask annoyed and roll my eyes. I continue to mix paint colors as I reach over one hand to turn down the music.

"You hungry?" He asks holding out a cheese burger waving it in the air tauntingly. He's taller so he keeps it out of my reach on purpose.

"You stupid. Give it to me right now." I say grumpily and try to reach it. He laughs at me and hands it over.

"You're so short." He says and I smack his head. His hand rubs the spot as he feigns grumpiness. He's making fun of me.

I give a sarcastic laugh and slam the door on him. He laughs at me...again. He says I'm too grumpy. And respectfully I don't care.

"Little Landry!" Asher and Alex bust through my door wrapping me in a large bear hug. I immediately push them off.

"What have I told you about hugging me?" I say coldly and glare at the both of them. They make me want to smack them when they open their stupid mouths.

I've known them for a year because of Kane. When we came here last year after our dad died in a car crash, the first day of school he met them. They clicked instantly. Kane is so good with people I don't understand it. I've never been a people person, just never clicked, and the bullying didn't make it any better.

Three years ago:

It was a school dance and I was dressed in a pretty baby doll dress. My hair was curled and brown. I actually had a date with a boy. His name was Slater Baskings, the popular boy. He was blond, blue eyes, and really cute. When he asked me I ran home and squealed. My mom was so happy for me until I got back from the dance.

"Stand in the middle of the floor." Slater told me.
I stood there waiting patiently when I turned my head and my heart dropped. There he was dancing with another girl and he kissed her.

On the wall with a projector there were words that read...

"You really thought I'd go out with a fat loser like you?"

Then there was my picture that was digitally altered to make me look huge. Tears sprang from my eyes and I ran. Faster and faster until I made it all the way home.

Kane handled the guy, he beat him up in the locker room. He said if he ever did something like that again he'd be dead.

I wasn't even a fat seventh grader. Just a little thicker. My mom told me I was the right size for my age but it got worse.

                                      ~ ~ ~

I groggily sit up in bed. I went to sleep finishing my painting at three in the morning. When I start something...I have to finish. I can't handle unfinished projects. Thank God it's Saturday and I don't have to face idiots.

I stare deadpanned when I see Kane has Asher and Alex over...again. My mom made pancakes and is handing them out.

"Here boys your pancakes!" My mom says with a big smile. It's good to see her smile, she was devastated when she found out. Two of us left and only one came back. I hate driving now. My dad was the one person who actually understood me.

"Hey, little Landry. Still grumpy?" Asher asks stuffing his mouth with a pancake. Alex almost spills the syrup on his shirt.

"Grumpy? My middle name." I say mutter sarcastically. I roll my eyes when I hear his snicker from the table.

"Morning, sweetie." My mom says kissing my head. I hate when people touch me but she's an exception. I couldn't bear to tell her no.

"Morning." I grab a pancake and slice into it with my fork. I look up at Kane who created a tower with his pancakes. He stacked about twenty.

"You better clean that up if it falls idiot," I grumble and look at it. He looks so concentrated, his tongue sticking out the side of his mouth. "You look stupid. Put your tongue back in your mouth."

"Never," He ruffles my cherry hair. It's still in two messy braids I just put in. "At least I don't look twelve with pigtail braids."

"Screw off my braids you stupid." I smack his arm and push his pancake tower down. He groans loudly and rebuilds it.

Asher and Alex are busted out laughing. The ironic thing is we have two sets of twins here. Asher and Alex, and me and Kane. Yeah the dude is my twin.

"How are you both the same age? You're sixteen and he's acts like he's ten!" Asher says toppling off his seat as the pancakes fall again.

I get up and go back to my room. I look over my painting from last night. I add some finishing touches and think about what I want to call it.

The idea was a heart, a dark heart, trying to break through and into the light. The light always wins. And then it hits me. That's the name.

The light always wins.

I paint it in the lower right corner in cursive letters, white paint, sliver outlining. This has to be one of my best works yet. I hang it up on my wall along with the others, snap a picture, and don't smile. It could be better. It can always be better than what it is.

The light always wins. I don't know if I believe that all the time. Sometimes I do then others I just don't. Maybe it's because of the bullying and my dad's passing but. Does the light always win? Or lose?

Authors note:
NOT EDITED KEEP RUDE COMMENTS TO YOURSELF, please."

Guys, I love her so much it's insane 🫡 she's my platonic soulmate and I wrote her 🤭