Him & I

- CHAPTER 18 -

- C H I L D H O O D -
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Olivia
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I trudged into school, leaving a worried Jason behind in his car. I hadn't slept at all; new nightmares springing up and old recurring ones getting even more intense...it's a wonder I even went to school.

We were slightly early so I decided to sit under the tree, waiting for Bobby to get there with Jimmy. I closed my eyes, leaning back against the tree, thinking about the past day's events.

I was enveloped in shadow and I fluttered my eyes open to find an old face standing in front of me.

"Lonely?" Bella taunted.

"Please, Bella, I'm really not in the mood." I mumbled, too exhausted to get into anything.

She scoffed, sitting down next to me.

"Why do you hang around with that loser? It's so much better to hang around with actual girls before you turn into a boy!" She argued, flicking her hair around.

I rolled my eyes, ready to fire shots at her about how horrible she was as a 'friend'.

"Get lost, Bella." Bobby deadpanned, standing over her.

"Pfft, you can't make me." She protested.

Bobby rolled his eyes, leaning down to reach for my hand and he then gently pulled me round to the sports pitches which were empty. When we were completely out of sight, he pulled me into a bone crushing hug.

"What happened, Ollie?" He worried, his fingers gripping at my jumper.

"I'll tell you at lunch." I whispered, not trusting myself to hold back the tears.

Bobby drew back, searching my eyes in desperation before finally nodding and taking my hand to lead me to science.

I didn't pay any attention in science, neither in any of my other lessons up till lunch time. Bobby pretty much dragged me all the way to our tree before tugging me to the ground.

"Speak." He demanded, staring me down with intensity.

I took a deep breath in and began to tell him everything about my traumatic weekend. Bobby's eyes didn't leave mine for the whole story and about half way through, he reached out and grabbed my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

When I'd finished my story, he didn't say anything, he just shuffled over next to me and pulled my head onto his shoulder.

"It will all be okay, Ollie - I just know it." He sighed, "I do have a question, but I hope it's not too personal." He hesitantly spoke up.

"Go for it." I mumbled.

"Why did you think Hamish would ever hit you?"

I choked on my breath and righted myself immediately, heavily coughing. Bobby looked shocked and started shooting out apologies straight away.

"It's okay, Bobby, I probably should tell you - we've been best friends for ages." I muttered, preparing myself to tell him about my parents.

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My parents have never been good people; even at a young age they were 'problem children'. Hamish was born when our mother, Gina, was sixteen and our father, Callum, was eighteen. They were both drunk and high when it happened, meaning that Hamish was completely unexpected and also very unwanted. I came along, again by mistake, when Hamish was sixteen. Hamish has always told me that, even before I arrived, they used to beat him. It only started when he was about seven. He told me it stopped for a couple of years when I was born. Apparently, my parents were actually good ones. They'd read me stories, play with me and they even started to get more involved in my brother's life. Then they started drinking and doing drugs again. I still have nightmares to this day about the first night they turned on us; I was thrown against a wall and watched as my father beat my helpless brother into a pulp. It went on until Hamish was twenty-one and I was five. Hamish had been building up the money and courage to gain full custody of me. He took my case to the police and I was immediately placed into care as Hamish proved he'd be the best guardian out there for me. He of course won, bought a house for us, became a policeman and has basically been my father for my whole life. Gina and Hamish are locked up where they belong - Hamish managed to pull some strings and extend their sentence from ten to twelve years.

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"I owe everything I am to him." I mumbled, a tear sliding down my face as I realised I'd lost my brother, who'd been my rock. "I've lost everything, Bobby."

"No. You haven't Ollie." He sighed.

I watched as he shook his head, looking down at his hands.

"My parents were the greatest people I've ever met. We did everything together. When I was five, they died in a boating accident. I nearly drowned myself, but the lifeguards managed to save my life." He explained.

I couldn't believe it. I just stared at Bobby in shock, wordless, as he told me his story.

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I spent a day at Jagged Blossom before I was fostered by Mark and Sue. I don't think I could ever find the words to describe how much pain I went through in those five years for which they fostered me. Mark and Sue only took me on for the money, and they made sure I remembered that. Every morning I'd have to make breakfast ready for seven o'clock on the dot. If it was late, or even early, that would bring an immediate punishment. Saturdays were the worst. I didn't have school that day or the day after and so they'd take it as an opportunity to use me as their personal punchbag. I ended up in hospital so many times, but no one ever seemed to take notice of the little boy. I was lost and desperate; I felt like I was drowning all over again. I couldn't handle it anymore. They treated me like I was nothing so I did the only thing I could do : I ran away. Mark and Sue lived in the town over and I didn't stop running until I collapsed on JB's door step, where Jimmy found me. They never found Mark and Sue. I guess they stopped looking - it has been 6 months after all. It took time to get back to my real self. It's hard knowing that they're still out there but...

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"I think everything will work out in the end." He finished, his gaze returning to his hands in his lap.

I didn't say anything; I couldn't. I couldn't believe that Bobby, my best friend, had experienced something so terrible. I knew how awful my situation had felt...but Bobby's? His loving parents died and then he had to go through all the abuse alone, without anyone to hold his hand. At least I had Hamish by my side.

"Bobby, I - I don't know what to say." I admitted, slightly ashamed that I couldn't offer more comfort.

I gingerly reached for his fidgeting hands, making him look up at me.

"You've got me now. And I'm not going anywhere."

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The end of the day arrived and Bobby and I slowly made our way out front, where Jason was patiently waiting for us.

"Hey guys - how was your day?" He carefully asked, wrapping an arm around each of us, leading us to his car.

"Fine." I smiled. Bobby nodded in agreement.

Bobby hopped out when we stopped off at Jagged Blossom and gave me a quick hug before shutting the door behind him, leaving me alone in the car with Jason.

"How was your day really, Ollie?" He asked, looking at me through the rear view mirror.

"I promise you, it was fine. Honestly." I grinned from my seat, "Bobby and I talked a lot at lunch and we played dodgeball this afternoon in sport." I blabbed on, not realising that we'd already pulled up at his and Drew's house.

"Let's go, Ollie." He paused my rant, and I grabbed my bag, following Jason to the front door.

"You can watch a bit of television, if you want..." he said, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.

I slowly nodded, heading towards the sitting room. My stomach dropped and I stopped dead in my tracks as soon as I saw who was sitting on the sofa.

"Hey, Sweetpea."

▸ ◂  END OF CHAPTER 18 ▸ ◂

Thank you so much for reading! Sorry it took a while to get this out...I've been busy! Please comment and vote! Toodles! - 🐝