Oli and I

Chapter 7

Rachel's POV

I pretended to not be a little bit bummed to find out that Oli had a girlfriend. But I could always use a new friend.
I guess I thought Oli and I had this chemistry. Conversation flowed so easy between us and even when it was quiet, it was a sort of a comfortable quiet. Very different than anything I ever experienced with Mark.
The more time I spent with Oli the more I got over him. I had a much better time with Oli, who isn't even interested in me, than I ever had with Mark.
"So is Oli short for something like Oleander?" I asked just to make conversation. He was now walking my back to my apartment.
"Oleander? Is that a name? No. Oli is just short for Oliver." He laughed a little. I liked his smile a lot. I didn't know how to describe it but it was like you also couldn't help but smile when he did. Something infectious about it.
"What about Rachel? Is it short for something like, Rachelania?" He laughed at his own joke.
"Rachelania? Is that the best you could come up with?" We were both still in a fit of laughter when we reached my door.
"I had a good time. Thank you for showing me the city." I said.
"Anytime." He responded.
He pulled me in for a hug which probably lasted two seconds longer than a friend hug. As I walked up the steps to my door I looked back at him and smiled.
I was getting myself in some deep shit.

For one of the first times we since we had been here, Arden was at the apartment.
"Hey!" She said as I walked in the door. Will wasn't around.
"Hey what's going on?" I asked.
"I'm gonna grab dinner in about an hour with Will and his mom." She responded while mindlessly picking at a bowl of grapes.
"Ooo his mom?" I nudged her.
"Yah I'm pretty excited/nervous."
"Don't be I know she will love you."
"So what's been going on with you?" She asked as she put the bowl down on the counter. She went to sit on the couch and patted the spot next to her. I sat down and got ready to give her the low down.
"Ok so good news: I'm realizing that Mark was kind of a shitty boyfriend. Joe and I went on a date but we didn't have anything really but we sort of agreed to have this friends with benefits thing going on while I was here which I was considering ending when I hung out with Oli yesterday but it turns out he has a girlfriend." I took a huge breath after finishing my story.
Arden looked at me with wide eyes "dang girl you have done a lot with 3 days. Ok so what is the main issue now?"
"Well I think I like Oli but he has a girlfriend." I sighed and slouched down in the couch.
"Well if you have this thing going on with Joe then maybe use it to your advantage. Friends with benefits are a lot of times used to forget about someone else right? Well nothing says you can't use it for more than one guy." She leaned back a little in the couch, content with her lesson.
"Yah I guess you're right. I just need to have fun right now. I don't need another relationship." I got excited just to pump myself up.
"Yah!" Arden enthusiastically agreed.
"I'm gonna enjoy my time in England and I'm gonna hook up with Joe Sugg!"
"Yah!"
"And I'm gonna forget how good Oli makes me feel about myself and how I want to be around him all the time!"
"Rachel stick to the positives." Arden steered me back to my point.
"Yah okay."
We both burst out into laughter, realizing that we were just yelling to ourselves.
"You're gonna be alright kiddo." Arden patted my leg.