The Fog of Fame (Len x Oliver)

Chapter 12 - Won't You Come Back to Me?

It was the evening of his arrival. Precisely six twenty-three. As I laid there watching the clock tick in its agonising pace. The sound of three light knocks could faintly be heard. I perked up in the darkness of my room and the thought of him came to my mind. Maybe he's here to talk about that?

Then her voice appeared, my hopes crashed back down to none, "Len?" She asked... nicely?

"Yeah?" I replied, unmoving.

"It's dinner-time!"

"Right."

Then, as I watched the quartet of shadows, dancing beneath the door, I could hear the clackity footsteps, slowly fading as they walked away—but never quite gone.

Rin had never been gentle with me. Not since we were three. It was a nice change, but I knew it would not last. Once Oliver would have gotten used to living here, I was in no doubt she would return to her habits of barging in and shouting by my ear.

I flipped over side. Watched the door with my arms limped down my sides. What would become of him? Of me?

The long-hand ticked thirty, and by then I had finally gotten up. I stretched myself and yawned, stood there still again, thought back once more to those moments, mere translucent memories.

With a deep breath out, I finally readied myself to face them, to face him.

I walked myself to the dining hall, in a deep state of thought. I kept pondering – I couldn't stop! – does he still like me back? What if he hates me now too?

I felt each of my hands forming into a grip, and I hammered the invisible desk in front of me as I stood there before the entrance. Get yourself together! Thinking about it compulsively won't fix anything!

Then I took another deep breath in, and another deep breath out. Then I pushed the door open, the view of the Vocaloids in their usual spots... except for Oliver. He had taken my spot!

I closed the door behind me and looked to Rin. She simply pointed to the chair next to Meiko, who gave me a pissed off kind of scowl only I could see. I stared at her, then mentally shrugged, sat on my new spot, and stole a few glances at the oh-so-cute boy three seats away from me.

"So, Oliver," Miku started, smiled a grin, "what made you come here?"

He stuttered his first few words incomprehensibly, shifted in his chair before he finally spoke, "I-I like to sing... and well, I've always liked Vocaloid's songs."

She nodded, then Rin pat him from behind, to which he lightly jounced in nervous surprise, "Who's your favourite?"

I felt my breaths deepening, my heart quickening when I heard those words. Oliver made a split second glance to my direction, then returned to her... But his answer wasn't what I had expected, much less what I had wanted... "R-Rin."

I felt my heart drop, but my hand continued to feed me as I continued to seemingly blankly stare at the plate before me. Maybe... he's just being nice... or maybe... he just doesn't like you any more...

The next question piqued me, "When will your first recording be?"

"Tomorrow," he answered, then bit his lip.

"Tomorrow?" Rin frowned, "But we need someone to go with you... Me, Miku, and Luka are recording tomorrow too... with a different producer."

"Hey, Meiko-"

"Can't." She curtly replied, "Kaito and I are going for a special day."

Rin sighed,

Could it be?

"Well, I guess Len'll have to do then."

I felt my heart flutter for another chance to be with Him alone. But then I saw Oliver frowning... does he not want it after all?

"I-I can go alone."

"No, you must not." Rin replied, "This will be your first recording. Len will help you," she shot a warning glare, "won't you, Len?"

"O-of course." I replied.

The rest of dinner went by at an agonising pace. Listening to all those questions, then listening to all those answers. None of them had any mention of me. Well, except for the single question, "Which Vocaloid do you like least?"

They had a chuckle at that.

I was pretty upset, but I had to keep quiet, keep calm. Maybe Oliver was planning something? Or maybe you're just delusional.

By the end of dinner, I had subconsciously slammed my fork on the table, earning a good few 'ah's of surprise from the others... and Oliver. I had stayed mostly quiet before then. Great, he'll probably hate you even more now.

Everyone else had already finished their food so, "I'll just... go back to my room now."

Oliver stared at me and nodded while everyone else stayed still. I pushed my chair back with my legs and stood up, leaving without a word...

＊＊＊

I sat there, silent once more. My legs curled up as I kept the thought present in my mind. It was obviously unhealthy, especially when he was going to start living there too, but I just couldn't stop! It hurts to stop!

but it also hurts to think about it

Just then I heard a knock from the wall to Rin's room... then came a note of nervous laughter... then the dementing music of one of Rin's girly games.

I buried my head under my pillow—then the blanket—but it merely dampened the dreadful noise. I shifted in my bed—manically threw myself around purely on the impulse... but nothing helped... I stayed there, quiet, tears wetting the sheets below—

Oliver...

Oh, Oliver...

Won't you come back to me?

...

Please...