Odd Squad: Otis Substitute

Chapter 20: Not Your Fault

Otis thought that the message could mean someone was about to burn his house. Everyone picked up their things and got out. They had no place to go. 

Otis, Olympia, Oliver and Ohany ran aimlessly, until they get on the woods. It wasn't so dark because it was morning, but they needed to find a place to hide before the sun goes down.

"Oh no, oh no..." - Oliver's hand was shaking. He couldn't process everything that was happening.

"Oliver, tell me, what's happening?" - Ohany got close to him and tried a hug. - "It seems like you're anxious, are you okay?"

"Ohany, I don't think is okay to talk about it."

"You can tell us everything, Oliver. You can trust us." - Otis went by his side.

"Yeah" - Olympia agreed.

"I'm not okay with it. But it's necessary. Guys, you need to understand me, this is not something I chose, this is not something I can deal with easily" - Oliver took a deep breathe and sat on the leaves on the forest floor - "I have anxiety, but I am trying to deal with it."

"Oliver, why didn't you tell us that? We'd be okay" - Ohany started to look the leaves on the floor.

"Okay, but I'M not okay! Do you know how hard it is, to deal with this moments when you don't know what to do, and your mind is in a lot of different places at the same time?"

"Hey, Oliver, I know we weren't friends. We both liked Olympia. I'm a Slytherin and you're a Ravenclaw. I'm 15 and you're 14. I'm ambicious and you're just...so amazing, smart and unique. Why can't you see that? In this journey, we're all together. With our differences and similarities. Everyone here is different. But we need to stick together!" - Otis kicked the leaves, and at this time, he saw a paper sheet on the ground, with a Odd Squad picture.

"Thank you. I really needed that. I'll try to be okay with this situation. But wait, are you a Slytherin? I almost got Hufflepuff! But my creativity made me end up in Ravenclaw!"

"Guys! Let's stop talking about Hogwarts houses and focus on what the hell is this on the ground?" - Ohany pointed to the paper sheet.

"Wow what a Gryffindor you are, good that I'm Hufflepuff" - Olympia laughed.

"A picture of the Odd Squad, why is it here?" - Oliver took the paper and looked around - "Wait, July 14th, when was it?"

"The day before we saw the burning..." - Ohany looked down.

"And if, everyone that was right there in the Odd Squad...has...passed away?" - Otis looked at Ohany with a sad face.

"Don't ever think of that! We don't know where they are, and the police didn't confirm anything. I don't even know if the police is doing something!" - She replied, worried.

"Hum, guys, this picture is actually a planning paper for the burning, look, all these doodles, and July 14th, maybe the day someone was going to burn that up. We were at the concert. The question is if the person who burned that knew that we were not at the Odd Squad at the time" - After saying this, Oliver went to Otis's side and spoke discreetly to him - "And if everything that's happening here is because of me?"

"Don't blame yourself like that. We will figure this out. I promise." - Otis whispered to him. - "You just need to trust me, at least one time."

"Why all these whispers? Are you two hiding something?" - Ohany asked them, with a unglazed look.

"No, no, we were just talking about another thing!" - Oliver said putting his arm around Otis.

"Is it weird that I don't think you're telling me the truth?"

"Guys, we need to figure this out faster!" - Olympia pushed Ohany - "Come on, we're better than this"

"No, Olympia! Otis and Oliver know something and they're not telling us, aren't you curious?" - Ohany shouted, she was getting angrier and angrier.

"If they don't wanna tell us, there's a reason, calm down" - Olympia tried to hug her.

"Yeah, it's not important" - Oliver tried to change the subject.

"Calm down, Ohany, it's our problem and we'll deal with it" - Otis said in a calm voice.

"No, Otis, Oliver, you are hiding something. You are going to tell me or not? You said we should stick together, so, prove it"

"I think we should tell her..." - Otis suggested.

"Ohany, Olympia, well..." - Oliver started talking, and...