II. Gods and Monsters

5.Better Days

Oli tossed his keys on the worktop and leant against it. If this were a movie or some crappy story he would have said something along the lines of "Can things get any shittier", but he knew better than that. Instead, he just let out a long sigh. The house was eerily quiet when no-one else was around. He'd sent his loved ones away, which had been step one, but now he had no way of tracking those hunting him, which was supposed to be step two. And what would he do if he found them? Ask them nicely to leave him alone? He hated feeling helpless. If he had a chance, he didn't care. All he needed was a chance. He suddenly found himself wishing Charlotte was here. She had a rather useful talent of snapping him out of these things.

He shook his head quickly, trying to dislodge the thoughts, and headed upstairs. He'd lived here for as long as he could remember, made many fond memories here, but the place was almost unrecognisable now that it was just him. Yeah, he had been home alone countless times, especially since he had dropped out, but this was different. This wasn't the temporary silence he was used to, this was a silence that threatened to become permanent. He eased open the door to his brother's room and found a little note on his desk. Oli raised an eyebrow and walked over to it. Realising it was addressed to him, he picked up the note and opened it.

"Oli," it read, "I know that what I said earlier will have hurt and I just wanted to apologise. Yes, I am upset, yes, I am confused, but I should not have been so cruel about it. I hope you understand. You are an amazing brother and have always had my best interests at heart. Know that you are still my brother and when this is all over, I will be happy to sit down with you (yes, I did see the irony in that) and get things straightened out again.
Sincerely, Gabe"

Oli smiled, relief washing over him. In a situation like his, the small things meant so much more. And the fact that Gabe had found a dark humoured joke to make about his legs meant he was acting like his old self. He looked around the rest of the room and took it all in. No matter whether Gabe was sleeping upstairs or downstairs he had insisted that all his stuff remained up here.

"I don't want Oli turning it into a second garage," he had jokingly told their uncle.

Oli's attention was drawn to the shelves. Rows upon rows of trophies lined them. Incredibly, they were all for soccer. Oli still remembered the first of Gabe's matches he attended. He remembered the speed with which he could run, Oli cheering him on all the way. In fact, Oli had probably been more invested in the game than he was (which was saying something). He remembered each goal Gabe scored and yelling like an idiot just so he knew how proud Oli was of him. He'd cheered when something happened in favour of Gabe's team and booed when it didn't. As soon as Gabe had come off the pitch Oli had run up to him and given him one of the biggest bear hugs known to man. Gabe had told him he was the most embarrassing brother ever, but Oli knew he had appreciated it really. He'd taken him out that night, made sure he ate like a king. The memory still brought a massive grin to his face. Oli had promised Gabe they'd do the same thing every match he won. He'd kept that promise right up to the night of the attack.

That last thought brought Oli crashing back into reality. He turned from the room, switching the light off and shutting the door. He then wandered straight into his uncle's room. This was a tactic Oli often adopted when he was stuck; he'd roam around the house, hoping to find something that would inspire him, an item or a memory, something. He made his way to the window and looked out, seeing the sleek, black Charger parked there. He remembered first asking his uncle about that car when he was what... five years old? He was starting to develop the stereotypical, boyish obsession with cars and his uncle had been more than happy to nurture that, being a serious grease monkey himself. Oliver would spend countless nights watching his uncle work on the vehicle, lending a helping hand when he was old enough, until one day, when he was much older, Joseph turned around to him and threw a set of keys at him. Oli had stared at him in disbelief as he clicked the fob and seen the Dodge's lights flash.

"You and I have spent years looking after her. It's time I passed her on to someone who can look after her better than this old clown." He gestured to himself. "Just promise me that the girl you eventually bring home in that thing is someone who's good for you. This car is not for driving random such-and-suches around."

Oli had laughed at that comment, thinking his uncle was getting a bit too ahead of himself. Oli still laughed at the comment now, but for a very different reason. This time he laughed as the girl he eventually ended up bringing home was very different to what his uncle had warned him about. Damn Joseph and Charlotte got on like a house on fire. She'd grown on him immediately and Charlotte being Charlotte just loved Oli's entire family. It was weird knowing that neither of them was gonna come knocking on the door tonight. Maybe ever again even.

Finally, he made his way into his own room. He looked at the clock and was surprised to see it was early morning. He hadn't realised how tired he was, the constant adrenaline had kept him energised while current events had left little time for sleep. He looked over at the small side-table next to his bed. On it sat a lone picture of Charlotte. She was wearing a white strappy top and had her left hand up over her shoulder. She was pulling a daft face with her tongue sticking out and a stupid filter left two bubbles floating around her. Oli shook his head, a smile growing on his face as he remembered the time she took it.

It was the first time Uncle Joseph had allowed her to stay the night and they had been lying together when she suddenly raised her her phone above her head and snapped a quick photo. Oli had literally just got up to make sure his boss wasn't going to ask him to do anything, so hadn't seen her take it. He whirled around, thinking she had sneak-attacked him again. This was followed by a text alert on Oli's phone.

"That better not be of me..." he jokingly warned her, smiling as he did so.

"Ew, who would want a photo of you?" she asked, laughing at her own joke.

He checked, just to make sure it wasn't of him.

"You're sat right next to me, why was that the way which you decided to get my attention?" he asked, holding up his phone.

She shrugged, "Because I felt like it. Since when has a picture of my beautiful face ever bothered you?"

"Point to you." he chuckled. "You know I'm keeping this, right?"

"Wait, what? Nooooooooo," she whined playfully.

"Nonono, I have it now. In fact, I'm gonna print it, frame it and put it right there." he pointed to his little side-table.

"That is not the best photo of me, that's mean."

"Oh shush, you look amazing, and I'd fight anyone who said otherwise."

"Oh really? You want to come and say that to my face?" she asked playfully, cocking her head to one side and raising one eyebrow.

Oli jumped onto the bed next to her, his lips inches away from hers.

"You are the most beautiful person it has ever been my pleasure to lay eyes upon, and I will engage in combat with anyone foolish enough to disagree."

"Ok, stop trying to sound clever and just kiss me already," she had laughed.

It was this memory Oli fell asleep to, his mind finally released from the madness of his life, even if it was only for a few blissful hours.