A Lesson Never Learned [✔]

t e n

I sat against the wall in Tom's room feeling more and more claustrophobic as the seconds ticked by. Oliver. What was going on with him? He was acting all crazy, all different...it terrified me.

I gave up screaming at him three hours ago. I wondered if Vic was okay, but I heard Eric quietly talking to Josh about Vic and Mike, so something told me Vic was fine, now that Mike was in the gang.

I pulled my knees up to under chin and hugged my legs, letting my tears fall onto my jeans.

"Lily?" asked Oli's voice. I stiffened and curled up even more, terrified of my own brother. "Lily, I know you're in there."

I willed my voice to steady as I fought the tears away. "Go away, Oliver. I don't wanna talk to you!"

Oliver sighed from behind the door and I heard the door knob turn. I hissed in a breath and scrambled to Tom's bed, remembering how I used to hide under his bed during my father's fights.

I pulled myself to slide under the bed and scramble to the head of the bed. I curled up on my side and pressed my back to the wall, my eyes seeing the door open and Oliver's Vans covered feet walk into the room. He sighed loudly.

"Lily, can we talk?" He asked, crouching down by the bed, his knees coming into my view.

"No," I whined, "I don't want to."

"Don't be selfish-" Oli started, but I let out a muffled sob.

"You scared me. You're still scaring me." I admitted, tears streaming down my cheeks.

I saw Oliver's hands go limp and he lowered the rest of his body to make his eyes meet mine. "Lily, I'm so, so, so fucking sorry-"

"You just can't say 'Sorry' and expect everything to be okay, Oliver!" I snapped, wiping the tears away and curling up even more. "You can't say that and think that everything's okay. What you did to Vic...that wasn't okay. You scared me when you did that. You can't do that."

Oliver's eyes darkened slightly before he sat up, leaving my field of view.

"Please, Lily, come out from under there so we can talk."

"Give me one good reason why I should do that." I demanded.

Oliver sighed deeply before he shuffled away from the bed. I heard the creaking of the bed as he sat on it and I saw his feet lift up so I assumed he was lying on the bed. "You don't have to do it if you don't want to, Day-Lily. But it would be much, much easier."

I winced at my nickname. I was silent as I pondered on what to do. I finally slid from under the bed and placed myself on the bed next to my brother.

His long legs were stretched out and his hands were folded on his stomach. His eyes were closed, but his face was too scrunched up for him to be sleeping.

"What?" I asked coldly. Oliver opened one eye, squinting at me.

"Lay down," Oli whispered. I did as he asked, lying next to him. I couldn't help but flinch when he pushed his arm under me, bringing me closer so my head was resting on his chest and I was pressed against his body.

"What?" I asked more softly. Oliver sighed loudly as I blinked carefully.

"Lily, I'm sorry that I scared you. I'm sorry that I hurt Vic, I'm sorry that I lost my mind." Oliver's arm stiffened and I looked over at him out of the corner of my eyes. "I know it was low of me. I know it must've been terrifying for you. I'm so sorry, Lily. You didn't deserve that. Victor didn't deserve that." Oli coughed a little with his gritty voice and he pulled me closer, planting a kiss on my forehead making my breathing hitch in my throat. "I was scared of losing you. And I swear, what I just did, it won't happen again."