Oscar (bxb)

11.

"So I know we haven't known each other for that long but... Okay so I was book shopping and I remembered you liked A Discovery of Witches so..." Gwen pulled out a chunky hardback book which happened to be the spin-off. Maxie's eyes widened suddenly and he threw his arms around Gwen. He didn't even care if the book got in the way of the hug, he needed to do that.

"Are you serious?" He asked her.

Gwen smiled warmly and shrugged her shoulders. "Yeah. Of course."

"But I haven't got anything for you," Maxie admitted. He hadn't bought anyone a present and he wasn't expecting any to be bought for him either.

"I know, I just saw it and impulsively bought it. Anyway, you can always buy me lunch when we get back in January," Gwen said with a playful grin.

Over the course of the month they'd been meeting and studying and they'd developed a humble friendship. He appreciated her presence. She was an escape from everything else and she genuinely made him feel good.

"I'll call you over Christmas," Gwen told him with a 'goodbye' hug. He squeezed her back and she gave him a kiss on the side of his head before parting him with a wave.

He was reluctant to let her go but he knew it wouldn't be long before he saw her again.

When he arrived at the house, Bailey's hot chocolate was being exchanged with a little more Bailey's than was supposed to be added.

"Where's Olivia?" Maxie asked, curiously.

"Oh, I think she's with Oscar or something," Daisy said with a shrug. "She goes on holiday during Christmas so I'm guessing she's fitting in as much time as she can with him."

Maxie wondered if their relationship had progressed at all. Despite everything that had happened, he wished them the best overall. As long as he wasn't involved.

"Max," Daisy said.

"Mhm?"

"Since and Olivia and Emmett can't come, I was thinking maybe you could come over to mine over break? Chloe's coming over so I thought you two could travel together or something. Could be cute to make plans. You don't have to come, though, if you're busy."

Daisy clearly wasn't aware that Chloe and Maxie no longer lived close to each other, but he didn't think to comment.

Maxie smiled from behind his mug of hot chocolate. He took his final sip and nodded his head. "That would be fun. Thanks."

"Yay," Daisy quietly cheered.

The moment was interrupted by a harsh slam. Daisy and Maxie's heads turned towards the living room door. Chloe and Emmett peaked curiously out of the kitchen.

"Guys, we need to talk," Olivia said, dropping her bag and coming over to the couch. Immediately everyone came over to huddle around her.

"What's going on, Liv? You okay?" Emmett asked out of concern.

"Not really, no," Olivia replied. You could tell she was holding in a lot of emotions and the slight shake of her hand was giving it all away. "Okay, so... I went to meet Oscar. He's obviously been acting all shady and whatever but I went over to make sure he was okay, obviously and he told me everything that's been going on with him."

"What?" Emmett asked, eagerly. He was giving in to the dramatic display.

Maxie's stomach turned. Oh no, he had a feeling he knew where this was going.

"He told me he wants to get with boys."

"What?" The group said collectively, except for Maxie.

"He was like, I think I like boys now and I was like, what the fuck? He's lied to me this whole time and lead me on to just drop me like that? We've been getting in for like... months? He just played me."

"Wait, he dumped you?" Maxie asked.

Olivia's eyes went stone cold. "Well, it was more complicated than that."

"Its okay, Liv. You can tell us," Emmett said.

"So he's like bi or whatever. He should have told me at the start. If I knew he wanted to fuck guys then I wouldn't have started anything with him, you know?"

The group nodded along and it hurt Maxie to see that from people he liked.

Something wasn't right about this. Oscar was about his least favourite person right now but this was a matter of principle.

"So he said he doesn't want to be with you anymore?" Daisy asked.

"Well- no. But he's interested in guys."

Maxie leaned back, no longer hanging at the edge of his seat with concern. "So he came out to you?"

Annoyance flashed on Olivia's expression. "I mean... yeah, sort of."

"He came out to you as bi and you reacted how?"

"How the hell am I supposed to react when the boy I like has been lying to me when he really just wants to fuck guys."

"Maybe a little less selfishly."

Maxie couldn't help it. It was his gut reaction. Immediately he began trying to think of something to mend what he just said. Chloe and Emmett's faces looked shocked and offended and suddenly the pit in his stomach grew.

"What the fuck? You think I'm selfish? He fucking likes boys and you're going to tell me I'm selfish for being upset?"

And suddenly any regret dissolved. No. She was being selfish.

"Listen, what I'm saying is that he probably told you because he trusts you. If he's bisexual then he likes men and women. He's attracted to you like any other straight boy. The fact he even told you shows he cares about you," Maxie tried to explain.

"Wow, are you really sticking up for him? He lied to me."

"Its not an easy thing to tell. He probably didn't tell you because he thought you'd react like this. I get if you're hurt he lied to you but the very reason you're acting like this is probably why he didn't tell you in the first place. You're acting as if he's cheated on you or if the fact he likes boys means he doesn't care for you."

Olivia got up from the couch. "You know what, Maxie. Fuck off. You don't know anything about my fucking relationship with him."

"I don't mean to upset you but-"

"Stop," Chloe interrupted, with a warning look.

"If he's getting in with girls he's probably getting in with guys too," Emmett comforted Olivia, putting his arms around her.

The morals on that boy were way off.

Olivia and Emmett walked out of the living room, leaving Daisy and Chloe.

"Why would you do that?" Chloe asked Maxie, her voice raising.

"What do you mean?" Maxie asked with a twisted expression, confused and hurt.

"She's upset. She just ended things with Oscar, you don't talk to her like that."

Maxie scoffed. "Are you kidding me? She can't talk about someone like that. She's in the wrong."

"And who are you to tell someone's irrational feelings are wrong, huh?"

Maxie was stunned by that. He had no response and Chloe wasn't going to wait around for one. She left the room and went upstairs after Olivia and Emmett.

Daisy offered a sympathetic look. "Just give it a little bit of time before everyone calms down, yeah?"

Maxie nodded.

Daisy appeared reluctant but she made her way out of her room and upstairs to go tend to her friend.

Maxie sighed and lay back on the couch. He'd really fucked things now. This was his own doing. He couldn't even say Chloe was wrong. He'd let his own feelings cloud his own sensitivity and now he's fucked his position in the house. Turns out speaking your truth wasn't always the best option. No matter how he felt about Olivia, he should have shut the fuck up.