playdead

Chapter Twenty-One

Oliver shook hard. He shook almost violently in his aunts car.

Why did they invite him? Why did he have to go? Why did they want him back again? Why?

Simon had called Oliver's uncle, an hour earlier. He scolded Oliver for not telling him he'd be hanging out with friends. Oliver didn't answer him. He was too busy hating himself.

Now he was looking out the window, staring at his reflection, with miserable eyes. He didn't want to go with these kids. He just wanted to be by himself.

"Oh, come on mijo. You're going to be just fine with them!" Oliver's aunt told him.

Oliver nodded.

La Puerta Negra played on the radio. Oliver hated that song. He hated all Latin music. Possibly because he had to deal with it all his stupid life, Latin music being blared everywhere he went.

They arrived at the parking lot for the park. Oliver's aunt lowered the music's volume.

"Promise me you'll try new things, Oliver," Oliver's aunt asked. "No quiero que seas como tu papá."

"I won't." Oliver replied.

"It's going to be hard, mi vida. But just be brave. Be strong. Okay?" Oliver's aunt said.

Oliver sat in silence and opened the door to his aunts car and stepped out.

"Sure. Bye, auntie." Oliver said.

She waved goodbye with a sympathetic smile. Oliver closed the door and watched as his only means of escape drove away.

Oliver looked at himself. Paint stained hand-me-down denim jeans, baggy and unzipped sweater with a rainbow tie dye shirt. He smelled like nothing. He didn't have a scent somehow, which was probably off putting to most.

Oliver looked at the playground in the park. There were kids that were way too old to be there. But it didn't matter. Thats where he was supposed to go.

Oliver walked up the pavement and down the dirt way which lead to the playground. He could pick out a few details but he didn't know any names.

"Then it's settled. We're the Deviants." Simon, Oliver assumed that was his name, said.

"What?! That's horse shit!" Henry called.

"Hey, Ollie! Welcome to our..." Chase said. He looked around and shrugged. "This isn't really ours but ah, welcome."

Oliver smiled.

"Oliver, right? Yeah. We all voted on a group name, and uh...you weren't here so." Simon shrugged.

Oliver hated every single word of that sentence.

"Our group name is The Deviants." Teddy said.

"Belle made it! She's smart like that so," Chase said, swinging on his...swing. "She knows BIG words."

...Belle?

Sure enough, he looked over to Belle. Standing next to a rock climbing wall.

Oliver froze. She was...beautiful.

Her almond colored hair flowed down to her shoulders, shining, and glimmering like diamonds. Her semi-pale skin looked so soft. She wore glasses which made her look so cute, so...something. Something Oliver couldn't explain or didn't want to explain.

Oliver looked away. His face went red a bit. She was so beautiful there.

Of course came the realization that, she'd never love him.