Bloom [Completed]

Chapter Twentythree

I lay in bed that night completely mentally tired from overthinking about Oliver. I was so worried about whether he was eating enough and how his Mum was doing. I'd not had any communication from him since the elevator this morning.

Sure he was already asleep, I sent him a nervous text.

I hope you had a better day

There was no reply for a while so I turned out my light and huddled under my cosy, warm blankets.

I was just thinking about what I might wear tomorrow when my phone began to vibrate aggressively next to me. It startled me before I shot my hand out to grab it.

Oliver Daley was written across the screen. He was calling me!

I answered, probably too quickly but I didn't care.

"Hello," I breathed down the receiver, barely a whisper.

"Billie," He replied, "It's so good to hear your voice. I've had a pretty crap day, to be honest."

"Oh no!" I said quietly. "What about it was so bad?"

"A couple of deals fell through," He sighed. "That's about it,"

"And your Mum?"

"She's doing well, they've moved her to a long stay ward to monitor her further, but she should be home in 2 weeks."

"That's great news!" I added extra enthusiasm into my voice hoping he would catch some of it.

There was a pause. "I guess, yeah."

I hesitated a moment before responding. "I, I'm not sure of all the details of your day... But you are you, and you are alive, your Mum is alive. You have a roof over your head and -hopefully- food in your belly. You gotta take a moment to appreciate what you do have..."

I wasn't sure how he would respond. I just wanted to help make him feel more positive about things.

"Yeah," He said sounding more confident. "I did have dinner I swear! You can even ask Mum,"

I thought I could hear a hint of laughter in his tone.

"Okay, I'll be sure to ask her next time, Ollie." I smiled evilly to myself.

"Hey!" He exclaimed. "Don't you start," his tone was light though.

"Okay, sorry" I laughed, "Just too tempting. Like this morning in the elevator..."

"Oh yes, I remember that."

"I'm not in too much trouble am I?" I asked innocently.

"Well," He considered this for a moment. "I don't know how I feel about people knowing I'm dating you yet."

My heart soared and my stomach flipped. We're dating?!

"I can see how it would look bad for you..." I conceded.

"I wish I could Billie," He sounded sincere. "I just don't want the media messing with anything. I'm the same with my Mum, protective like that."

He's being protective of me, I thought with glee.

"Oh, I see..." Another factor of his life I was yet to encounter. "We haven't been seeing each other that long, don't worry about it, Oliver."

"Yeah," he sighed. "The hazards of dating someone like me."

"Someone caring?" I smiled. "So hazardous!"

I could hear a low chuckle escape his lips.

"Not what I meant,"

"I meant it. I don't care who you might be. You are Oliver. And I really really like Oliver."

"I really really like you too," I could hear him smiling through the phone.

Oh, how I wished he was here with me now saying that to my face! It somehow was easier to admit these things in the dark through the phone.

"Oliver?" I asked after a moment silence.

"Yes?" He replied

"What if I want people to know about us?"

There was another pause.

"I'm not sure... maybe," he said finally.

"Can I tell one friend at least?" I compromised for now.

"Of course," he said. "You can tell your close friends. I would never stop you from sharing with them."

I let out a sigh of relief. "Okay," What had I been worried about?

"What about your friends? Do they know about me yet?" I asked.

"Well," he started. "Yes. Technically."

"What do you mean, 'technically'?"

"Technically... my Mum is my only close friend I guess."

"Oliver, come on," I said in shock.

"I'm not kidding. I just could never keep friends. I think I might be a little too weird for 'bffs'." He chucked despite himself.

"Well you're my kind of weird then," I stated matter of factly.

He really laughed at that. It was such a joyful sound my cheeks began to hurt from smiling too wide.

I remembered how late it was getting and lowered my voice to a whisper, so as not to disturb Avi in the next room.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" I whispered.

He caught on and whispered back, "I hope so."

"Lunch? In your office? I could go out a pick something up and bring it to you?"

"Sounds like you're asking me on a date..." he teased.

"You're the one who admitted we're dating a few minutes ago!"

"You're right," I could hear his smile in his voice again.

"So lunch?" I rolled my eyes.

"I would love nothing more," he replied.

There was a long pause. I could almost hear him breathing down the receiver. It was soothing.

"I know we should probably hang up now, but it's quite hard to say goodbye to you, Billie."

I felt like a teenager again at those words.

"No you hang up first!" I laughed putting on a silly voice. Oliver laughed as well and I was relieved he got my joke.

"No," I sighed. "I know what you mean... I feel the same."

"Should I let you sleep?" He asked, concern in his voice.

"No," I said too loud and too fast. "Not yet. Let's talk a little longer."

"These late night phone calls are giving me flashbacks to my teenage years." He chuckled.

"I bet you had phone pillow talk with all the girls." I teased him.

He took the bait. "I did not!"

"Oliver, please I'm kidding."

"Mr. No mates over here, remember?"

"Oh, right." I giggled. This was fun. I was being a lot more bolder over the phone, being a lot more my goofy self.

"Tell me what you were like when you were younger then? What was teenage Ollie into?" I was eager to learn everything there was to know about him all of a sudden.

"Computer games," he laughed and I joined him. Of course, he was just the type.