Not That Hard

4. Midnight Strolls and Making Plans

4: Midnight Strolls and Making plans

Both of the young adults walked down the hallway in silence to the elevator that took them down four floors. They walked side by side until they reached the front door where Oliver opened the door for Stevie.

"How chivalrous of you, thanks," Stevie said quietly looking up at him.

The weather wasn't too bad, but Stevie should've thought to bring a jacket with it being the end of August. 'Then again, I didn't expect to be taking a walk at 2 a.m with a handsome stranger either' she thought to herself. 'Gross, how do I erase that from my head' she thought again.

The little bit of confidence and comfort she had inside was now a little lower due to them being alone. Sure, the other three were passed out, but at least she could have woken RJ up if she felt the need to. This boy opposed no threat so she didn't understand why she was so nervous.

She looked up as he walked beside her, hand brushing hers every so often. She was quiet for a moment as she took in his height compared to hers. Being 5'2" made just about everyone tall in comparison. Oliver being no different, probably around 5'8". She had a thing for taller guys, taller people in all honesty. They helped her get things from the top shelf, which she adored for some reason.

"So, how'd you meet Henry," Oliver asks, looking down at the girl. There it is again, that unsettling feeling that made her stomach drop.

"How did he say we met?," she answered with a question.

Oliver chuckled slightly, "he mentioned something about lunch at the mall," he trailed off before continuing, "and a broken 'gay-dar'". For a split second Stevie really thought that a beautiful friendship was beginning to bloom between her and the other intoxicated brother that slept back at Caro's. Now, she would rather bury him.

"I would try to make something up, but all I can think about is throwing your brother into a dumpster right now," Stevie says, each of her hands on either side of her face.

"Yeah, he does that to people," he laughs in response.

A few moments passed before Stevie spoke again. "So, does Henry often set you up with girls who hit on him?"

Oliver hummed in concentration, trying to figure out a way to word his next sentence. The truth was, this is the first time Henry has done this. The reason being he had a serious relationship since his freshman year of high school up until a month ago. He had baggage, but didn't want to throw it at the new cute girl just yet.

"I can't say he does, this is kind of a first time. Maybe you're just too special for him to pass this opportunity up," Oliver said with a hint of exaggeration. Stevie couldn't help but to slightly blush at the fact that he said that, jokingly or not. It was something simple, but the last time she felt this comfortable and confident around a guy was five years prior.

"I'm definitely something," Stevie replied. After speaking those last words, the couple fell into a silence. The wind picked up a little, allowing a nice breeze to push back the hair that hung in front of her face. She closed her eyes to live in the moment, silently thanking Rory for forcing her to stay. She wouldn't say that she was 'catching feelings' for the boy, since she literally just met him, but she did enjoy his company.

Although she may seem timid and closed off, which she can be, she gets attached to people fairly quickly. She's the type of person who will decide whether or not to keep a person in her life within the first hour or two. This boy standing before her, falling into the keeper category, his brother included. She liked how comfortable she was able to be around him, even with the fact that he was unbelievably attractive. Usually, she brain turned into a potato whenever anyone remotely attractive acknowledges her, too afraid to say something stupid, but also feeling stupid for not saying anything. When that happens, she tends to push that person away and pretend like the conversation or encounter never happened in the first place.

She didn't get that feeling while being around Oliver; there was no sense of regret over anything she had said or done throughout the party like there usually is, eye contact and conversations were easy to hold, and there were no uncomfortable silences. If she were a fool, Stevie could have easily mistaken this for love at first sight. Because of this, she decided she wanted to keep this boy around for a while, if he so chose.

☽ ☾

The two continued to finish their lap while holding light conversation. Stevie found out that Oliver and his twin were the only children and grew up in California. Stevie nonchalantly asked for him to show her around one day, with no interior motives, due to the fact that she had recently moved and still gets lost around town. He also told her that he attends FIDM as well for Digital Cinema. They compared schedules and found overlapping breaks; 45 minutes before his first morning class and after Stevie's first, and a two hour gap around lunch time.

They made their way inside as they started planning their Monday. To avoid disturbing the sleeping trio, they stood outside the apartment door and talked.

"How would you feel about going to Little Fluffy Head Café? They have the best milk teas in my opinion and it's only a ten minute walk," Oliver suggested, "unless you rather go to one of the dozen Starbucks surrounding campus."

"You had me at milk tea," Stevie said with a smile. "I get out of class at 9:45, what time is your first class?"

"10:30, but with some sweet talking, I can show up at 11 with no tardy," Oliver joked with a wink.

"Meet me at the library at 9:50? I'll save you the obviously inappropriate flirting, I have a 10:30 class too," Stevie laughed, rolling her eyes. Oliver didn't even get a chance to laugh back a response before hearing a ruckus on the other side of the door. Swinging the door open, the two witness the others clumsily trying to back away from the door.

"Wow would you look at the time! It's nearly 3am, Oliver. You should really be getting me to bed, brother," Henry giggled with a fake yawn and hiccup. He grabbed his jacket before shoving the keys into Olivers chest and dragging him out of the apartment.

"I guess I will see you Monday, Stevie. Have a good night. Oh, and you too girls," Oliver spoke as he tried to avoid tripping over his fumbling brother. Stevie waved a goodnight before being forced to turn around.

"We want to hear everything!," both Rory and Caro exclaimed at the same time.

"There's not much to tell. We're just getting milk tea Monday between classes," Stevie replied. A slight blush crept on her face. She hid it too late as both of her friends giggled and teased her about the pink that ran across her cheeks.

"So no goodnight kiss?," Caro asked as she lazily began cleaning up the few cups that got left behind.

"No, no good night kiss, mayb— ugh, and no number either," Stevie grumbled as she helped pick up some trash as well. "Eh, I guess I can just get it from Henry later."

☽ ☾

Rory and Stevie helped their host finish cleaning the small mess before they two decided to call it a night. Usually, the two would crash in either of their beds together, but after tonight, Stevie just decided to go home. She was a little over loaded from meeting and talking to too many people tonight and needed to be alone.

Ridding her face of makeup and body of her party clothing, Stevie checked her phone before finally going to bed. She noticed a text from an unknown number. Through her nighttime glasses, she read, "Sweet dreams, Stevie. I'll be dreaming of you." She laughed at the excessive amounts of hearts that followed. Seconds later, she got an error filled text from Henry, telling her that Oliver would be texting soon.

She laughed it off, sending a quick thanks and goodnight to Henry. She replied to Oliver with, "Good night, Oliver" with an orange heart and saved his number, calling it a night. 

Bee's Note: I have never had a busier semester! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, it was nice to find time to write again.