opulent whispers

chapter 5

Chris

Chris did not care about what was taught in class that day– which he doubted anything was taught. What he kept thinking about was studying with Oliver. It was an amusing thought for him to play around with. Oliver was stand-offish and rude, characteristics that happened to lure him in. Perhaps it was in his self-destructing habits or his inflated ego that added the appeal. Though Chris could admit that Oliver was interesting in his own right, he wasn't your average rich-kid snob. He was less rich and that gave him all the more right to be a snob. At least that's how Oliver played it off. Chris wanted to understand his logic. How someone so lame in every sense of the word was able to justify all his pretension.

Oliver was boring at face value, someone that Chris wouldn't really find himself engaging with if it wasn't in passing. Oliver wasn't even cool in the mysterious and lonely way, he was just quiet and not even that alone. He had friends (some may consider Chris his friend— many would.) He consistently hung out with a group, never left out or made fun of. It was odd when he thought about it, he just didn't really speak, and Chris learned that when he did it wasn't very friendly. At least not when he spoke to Chris.

That bothered him.

He was nice to Ethan, and John, and Elijah, he even started making conversations with Julian. What two quiet people made conversation over was beyond Chris, but nonetheless Oliver was much more willing. What was different about him? Was he really that horrible, did Oliver genuinely not like him that much. Whatever the case was Chris had decided that he was going to become Oliver's favorite person. Why? Because there was only one thing more validating than becoming friends with a quiet person, it was befriending a quiet person that hated you, and Chris was never one to pass on an opportunity.

The first step was to show up early to their tutoring. They agreed on meeting at the library an hour before dinner was served– this was Chris's suggestion so he wasn't stuck in front of a book for too long. His plan was to get there before Oliver and impress him by showing how committed he was to their arrangement. This would have worked out well if only Oliver wasn't already seated at a table, at the edge of the library, by the time Chris had arrived. This agitated him, his whole plan to get his daily dose of validation had failed due to Oliver's insistent habit of being a loser.

"How long have you been waiting for me?" Chris knew his tone was not exactly friendly, but he couldn't help it. Looking down at Oliver as the boy's gaze shot up, away from the book open in front of him. His face was one of shock, almost like he had forgotten he was waiting for someone to begin with. The thought that he could easily fall to the back of someone's mind made Chris grumpy, this was not how he had wanted to start off his first play-date with Oliver. How was he supposed to channel his irresistible charm when he just wanted to sulk in the growing pity he had for himself.

"Not long, don't worry," Oliver said, slipping his book back into his bag. Chris wasn't sure if the 'Don't worry' was an insult, and he wanted to react like it was but today was not about picking fights, this was about making a good friend. Someone that could see Chris for the wonderfully fulfilling person he was.

"Alright, this shouldn't take too long," Chris said, sliding into the seat across Oliver. His words weren't meant to hurt Oliver's feelings but they could be perceived as an insult to Oliver's only hobby, so it was understandable when he watched the other boy's body stiffen and his lips form into a thin line. Oliver's switch in demeanor made Chris realize he should have chosen a better phrase of words, how he need to work on being more mindful to those that matter.

"This was your idea to begin with, so if you don't want to be here you can just say leave," Oliver said harshly in a whisper that Chris couldn't help but chuckle at. He hadn't been in a library in so long he had forgotten the limited way in which you had to argue with someone, "And now you're not even taking me seriously."