Oliver Loves Carson | ✔️

chapter twelve

If you don't read chapter eleven, then this will probably be a bit confusing. I've had people say that they didn't get the update for chapter eleven, so just make sure you've read that before you read this :)

It was raining.

It was still early, but the sun wasn't visible, instead being hidden away by the clouds. The sky was a cool grey color, the puffy clouds looking dark and threatening. Rain pattered down onto the roof of his house. When Oliver blinked, he was tempted to close his eyes from the soothing sound. It was one after the other, delicate drops of water, harmless and small. He could imagine them touching his skin, leaving a soft prickle in their wake. Oliver looked out the window as the drops slid down the window slowly, almost tantalizingly.

Oliver found it depressing when it rained during the day, but somehow, he found it peaceful when it rained at night. Then again, Oliver was weird that way. The fact that it was still five o'clock soured his mood. The day shouldn't be ruined by a little rain.

The night, however, was already ruined, but this time, for a different reason. Today was the 'Friend Feast' or the "Buddy Banquet' or whatever the hell they had decided to call it.

Oliver had always dreamt of meeting Carson's parents, though certainly not like this. Not on a day that celebrated friends and nothing more than friends.

Carson said the dinner was 'casual dressy' or whatever that meant--Oliver never had to dress up to eat before, so he didn't really know what the attire was for something like this. Nonetheless, he wore khakis, paired with one of the only non-black items he owned--a light blue dress shirt--and a pair of nice dress shoes. A tie was slung around his collar, tightened to the point of suffocation. Oliver barely restrained himself from rolling his eyes.

He walked down the stairs when he heard a sharp laugh directed towards him.

"Where are you going with all that, a Bar Mitzvah?" his mom said.

Oliver cursed. "I need to go change," he said, making a move towards the stairs.

His mom grabbed the back of his shirt. "Nope! You can't be late, remember?" She gave Oliver a saccharine smile, a smile that showed how much she was enjoying this.

"Stop laughing at me."

"You crashed my car. I can laugh at you as much as I want." She threw Oliver his keys and a jacket, promptly shoving him out the door. "Good luck! Greet the little Jewish boy for me, will you?"

"Mom, it's raining!" Oliver protested when he was left out on the porch, ignoring her comment.

An umbrella being thrown in his direction was her only response, right before the door slammed shut.

***

The Katsaros family was not rich by any means, but very well off.

Their home was moderately sized, with pale grey walls and a dark roof. Many windows brightened up the front of the home and a balcony protruded from the side of the house. Truthfully though, no matter how impressive and modern the architecture was, Oliver couldn't bring himself to give a shit. He was sweating bullets.

Oliver tugged at the collar of his shirt. He took a deep breath, feeling his lungs expand and reach his diaphragm before breathing out, feeling all of it rush back out quickly. Before he lost his nerve and decided to run away, he forced himself to walk towards the front door.

Carson and he were friends again. He couldn't just leave.

He rapped against the door, forcing his breathing to slow down.