Mercy, Love, and Other Useless Things

Twitterpated

Oliver and Alex had their first real fight in the winter of eighth grade.

It really wasn't something that should've grated against Oliver as much as it did. It was just that soulmates was a sensitive topic with Oliver (Alex being his and him not being Alex's and all that) so it was hard to listen whenever the topic came up. But there was just this one sentence that crept out of the boy's mouth that set Oliver off.

They were sitting down for lunch, out in the school's courtyard. It was still early in the school year, September, so it was still warm and just getting breezy. Oliver loved the transition between summer and fall. Felt freeing, like there was some kind of cleanse going on.

Alex was ranting and raving, as always, and Noah was just quietly listening. Noah was truly a saint with his patience. Nothing was wrong with Alex's words until the name of some foreign exchange student left his lips. Oliver had taken a keen interest.

"Lord- Caitlynn is so gorgeous, it should be illegal!"

"Oh?" Noah hummed.

"Don't 'oh' me- you know it's true! She's literally the definition of beauty- she's fucking french for star's sake!" Alex's hands were practically flailing around in the air as he spoke. He wore a bright grin on his face as he talked. Something jabbed at Oliver's chest. "Should I shoot my shot with her?" Noah opened his mouth, ready to respond but Oliver beat him to it.

He leaned forward on his arms, putting his chin in his palms as he spoke, "that's funny. You'd have no chance with her." Alex's happy grin fell and Oliver had only a sliver of remorse compared to the well in his chest.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"What do you mean by that?!" Alex was getting defensive, probably more than a little offended.

Oliver exhaled, "she's way out of your league." Oliver knew it was mean, he knew, but there was just a weight on his chest and he needed Alex to just stop talking about her! He didn't know if he would be able to handle it.

"Excuse me-"

"Oliver," Noah warned. It was stern and made something in Oliver tick. It wasn't enough to stop him though.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Oliver?" Alex was fuming and the way he said Oliver's name was laced with a thick layer of venom. His face was contorted into the frown he usually only used when he was frustrated with a biology problem. Oliver was pushing it.

"God- do I need to say it again?! Or are you too stupid to understand?!"

Oliver regretted it the second it left his mouth. But there was no taking it back. He couldn't. Not anymore.

Alex's expression fell flat, Noah was in complete shock and Oliver couldn't blame him, Oliver was shocked too. He knew he'd crossed a line. He'd crossed the line that completely attacked Alex's insecurities and basically confirmed (though Oliver didn't really think it was true) one of his worst fears. Alex choked and got up from the table.

"Fine." And then he was walking away and Oliver knew he had to apologise but he was glued to the bench and he could only watch as Alex walked away from him. Noah got up, too.

"I'll go after him— calm him down. Maybe you can calm down too while we're gone," is all he says before he's chasing after his other friend. Damnit. He knew he'd fucked up. Bad. Monumentally, even. It was almost a full minute later before Oliver snapped back into reality and ditched the table in favour of hunting down his soulmate.