Oscar (bxb)

7.

Did she really just kick him out? Maxie was somewhat proud of her for being independent but she was kind of harsh. He heard Olivia go up the stairs and he peaked out of the window to see Oscar sitting outside their house on the steps to their door, lighting a cigarette. Well, what looked like a cigarette. Not that he could tell the difference.

Sympathy grew within him. He was probably fine but he couldn't help but feel bad for the guy.

Especially since he'd gone out of his way to help him... oh wow. Three times now.

He couldn't really not do anything now, could he?

He went to the front door, slowly opening it not to startle Oscar. This earned him an mere glance before the German boy's eyes searched elsewhere.

"You okay?"

Oscar blew smoke. No definitely not smoke. He was no expert but he knew what it didn't smell like. "No cars available," he grunted, lazily.

Made sense, they'd all be closer to town and probably occupied. That sucked.

Maxie placed himself on the step next to Oscar.

Oscar offered the joint. Maxie shook his head.

"Do you want me to stop?" Oscar offered.

"Its fine," he replied, flatly.

Oscar seemed to stop anyway.

"Why did you go home?"

Maxie shrugged. "Wanted to do some work tonight. I have quite a bit to catch up on."

"Oh," Oscar replied, his brows furrowed. "You didn't have to come tonight then."

"No," Maxie shook his head. "I'm glad I did. It was really good, actually. You guys were great."

Oscar's expression turned lighter, almost shy. Maybe it was the way the light of the moon hit him.

"Is everything okay with you and Olivia?"

"You heard that, yes?"

Maxie nodded.

"Yeah well... it is what it is."

"Doesn't sound like you're happy with that," Maxie commented. He immediately regretted the observation as it wasn't his place to say and his heart thumped a little too hard for the next few seconds.

Oscar shrugged. "I mean, I like her. When you like someone you have to put up with their good and bad. I mean... even when she complains..." he trailed off. It was either because he was extremely drunk or maybe he was trying to figure out how to put it in English words. Maybe both. "Its like... she's doing it because she cares. And she complains a lot so she must care a lot too."

They exchanged a soft laughter together, their arms brushing against each other as their shoulder's lightly shook.

Oscar continued. "Not many people have given me the same amount of attention she has. Its nice having someone that at least cares that much about me, you know?"

He wasn't sure he could believe that Oscar didn't get a lot of attention. Maybe he was just oblivious to it all.

"Okay, fair enough," Maxie eventually said. "Just... don't mistake complaints for care. You should go for someone who makes you feel happy about yourself, not someone who makes constantly makes you feel inadequate."

Oscar's eyes seemed to spark, as if they conveyed a glimmer of a thought.

"Are you talking about your ex there?"

Maxie's eyes widened and his mouth gaped very slightly. "Um..."

"You don't remember our conversation when I walked you home, do you?"

A small, embarrassed smile crept up onto his face and he turned his face away. "Shut up. Anyway, check your phone. An Uber might be available."

Oscar's attention perked from its lazy drunken state and he seemed to remember he was currently sitting on a doorstep. Not the most comfortable sleeping arrangement.

"Okay, I found one," he said, confirming the booking. "Anyway, I've been talking to her for a month. We're not anything right now and I can't really figure out what she wants. If she wants to be or not."

"Do you want to be?"

Oscar sighed. "Its not as simple as that."

"What do you mean?" Maxie asked, although he found himself saying, "you don't have to tell me but I'm here to talk if you want to."

Oscar nodded and took another drag. It was longer this time, a far deeper inhale and a dragged out release.

"I'm not sure that she will want me."

"Well if she cares about you then she will."

Oscar's expression turned darker. "Would you keep something from someone if you thought they might not still want you afterward?"

Was he talking about what he happened to come across the other day? Oh shit. What if he was involved in something dangerous? Whatever it was, he had a bad feeling about it.

"I'm not exactly the best person to ask that question too."

"I think you are," Oscar said.

That was a tough one.

"I mean... I guess I think you should. I know it sounds cliche but if someone isn't willing to deal with the stuff you have going on it doesn't make them a bad person but it isn't on you either. They aren't worth your time and care if they can't accept all of you."

There was a moment of silence.

"I don't know if that helps or... but..."

Moments went by.

"I'm bisexual. Or at least... I think I am."

Well that wasn't quite what he had in mind. Unless bisexual meant dodgy, drug-lord, gang-leader.

"Okay... I mean... great."

Oscar thankfully had adjusted to skirting around his awkward outbursts. "I'm not conflicted about it, I'm fine with it. Its just other people. I haven't told Olivia. I know that she's not homophobic or anything but... I don't know what she'll think. I've been with girls before and they don't like that about me. They either get angry or insecure or upset..."

And suddenly it all made sense. A boy who looked like that... Maxie questioned why he sounded so insecure right now, why he felt so dependent on Olivia's 'care.' He would have thought Oscar's romantic history would have been a very long list and his confidence would be through the roof but now...

"I don't know why I told you that," Oscar eventually admitted.

Maxie hesitated. "Wait, no, listen..."

A car pulled over outside of the house and rolled down its window, addressing them. Oscar didn't turn around or say goodbye. He just headed straight for the car and got in.