On the Other Side [Len x Oliver Fanfiction]

Chapter 8 - Shimmering Feelings of Skepticism

~Oliver's POV~

"Eh...?" I blinked my eyes a few times, my mind going blank.

Did he just...say that he likes me...?

Len nodded. "So, I was saying...." He had begun to talk again, but I just wasn't listening. All the things that were on my mind before we're now replaced with one simple question: What just happened?!

"Oliver? Oliver, are you listening?" I flinched at the sound of my name. I didn't ask how he knew, but probably when I introduced myself to Gumi.

It was a bit awkward for me when I hadn't even told him my name before and he had gone and asked me to talk to him. I wonder what's going through his head....

"Oliver!"

"Y-yes?!" I say up straight at that. I had gone and drowned myself in thought again.

"Did you even hear anything I said?" Len cocked his head to the side slightly, giving me a somewhat concerned look. "You okay?"

I was now utterly confused. We had literally just met and he's acting as if we've been friends forever? What's with this guy?

"Y-yeah...." I pursed my lips slightly and averted my eyes to the side.

Len hummed softly in reply. Even if he wasn't convinced, he didn't pry. "You know, I think you'd like this water park that just opened a while ago. It's near my house. You know that one coffee shop by the movie theater?"

I nodded slowly, a bit confused. He already wanted to meet again? This guy's confusing.... Is this really the same guy from the video and anime...?

"Okay, good. Meet me down there in four days at noon. Sound good?" He smiled, and as he said that, I nodded.

After a while of talking, our food finally made it.

"Sorry for the wait, guys. It's a bit packed tonight...." Gumi stuck her tongue out a bit as she apologized.

Len waved her off. "It's fine, Gumi. Thanks for the food."

I nodded, mumbling a, "Thank you," as well before Gumi smiled and left.

We talked some more as we ate, and I still couldn't make sense to any of Len's actions. He was just so...over-the-top, maybe...?

I took another bite of my food and stuffed it in my mouth as I listened to Len. His voice held a strange warmhearted feeling to it, and it made me feel...safe...? I don't know.... Now that I think about it, ever since this guy came in asked to meet with me, I haven't really known what any of my feelings were. Ugh....

After we both finished up our food, Len got out his wallet.

"Ah." I flinched, quickly saying, "I'll pay for my own food."

"No," Len waved me off, "it's fine. I'll pay for it."

"But—" I started to object to his decision, but he cut me off before I could say anything.

"Nope. I'm paying, and that's final." He nodded his head proudly, calling Gumi over so he could pay for the food.

I sat there kind of awkwardly for a moment as he paid for our food. Gumi saw how awkward I was, and thought it would help to wink flirtatiously at me. I blushed, but it didn't really help much.

"Alright. You done and ready?" Len stood up and walked over to my side, holding his hand out for me to stand up.

I hesitantly took his hand and stood up. "T-thank you...." I blushed a bit more, and let go of his hand.

But Len didn't let go of mine.

"Your hand's soft...." Len murmured to himself, maybe a bit too loud....

"E-eh?" I flinched and instinctively pulled my hand away.

"Ah." Len shook his head and blushed lightly. "S-sorry about that...." He moved his hand up and scratched awkwardly at the back of his head. "A-anyway, let's go then."

I nodded slowly, following him as he headed out. He stopped in front of the restaurant and turned toward me.

"Do you live nearby, or do you need a ride?" Len raised an eyebrow at me as he pulled out his phone.

"U-um, I-I actually do need a r-ride...." I poked my index fingers together out of embarrassment and pursed my lips as Len dialed a number in his phone.

"Hey, Meiko? Could you come back and get me?" Len slipped his hand in his pocket as he glanced back at me. I flinched slightly. "Yeah, in front of that Italian restaurant that Gumi works at. Got it." He pressed a button on his phone and slipped it into his pocket.

"S-so...?" I asked quietly, rocking back and forth on my heels.

"It'll be a while, so might as well go sit down." Len motioned toward a bench that was a few feet away from the restaurant, and I nodded as we both headed to sit down.

After we talked for a while as we waited for whoever Len called to come pick us up, a car pulled up to us and the window rolled down.

"Hey, get in before I leave you to walk home." Meiko clicked her tongue softly in irritation as she rolled the window back up.

Len nudged me slightly and stood up, getting in the car. I quickly followed, taking my seat next to him.

"Hmm? This little kid is who you went on a date with?" Meiko glanced back at me through the car mirror.

"It wasn't a date," Len retorted. "It was a friendly hangout."

"Right, 'cause friends take each other out on one-on-one dinner outings." Meiko chuckled full heartedly and began to drive. "Where do you live kid?"

"B-by the park...." I trembled slightly just at her talking to me. "T-the first house on the right...."

"Mmn." Meiko nodded and drove on.

Once we reached my house, Meiko leaned back and grinned at me. "Have a nice day, kid. Hope to see ya again."

I only nodded slowly and confusedly. "B-bye...?"

Len waved his hand at me as he smiled, to which I waved back as I unlocked the front door of my house.

When I got inside, and they had left, I walked silently up to my room. I flopped down on my bed and held a pillow against my face as I drifted into my thoughts.

Was that...really a date...?