Chapter 5 - Too personal, Too early

“I have a question.” Jameson says for the 100^th time tonight. I give Kelly the side eye because she rolls her eyes every time he says that. She’s had enough of his endless questions for one day. She pokes her tongue out at me and she looks at Jameson visibly annoyed.

 Its day one of us working together and I’m already over the Kelly and Jameson dynamic. They argue about everything, the one always thinks the other is wrong. I want to tell them to zip it but I don’t want them to turn on me. They’ve turned on Oliver a few times over the past hour.

He’s also over their bickering and he wants silence but it doesn’t seem like we’re going to get the peace we desperately need until we go home.

“I have a question for you before you ask yours.” She says looking at me weird because I just kicked her under the table. Why won’t she let the man be? He likes asking questions and she can ignore him and not answer them if she feels they are unnecessary. “Do you ever think about asking the question of the beat? You do know you don’t have to announce it every time you have a question right?” She says and Jameson looks at her considering what she just said.

“I do it because it’s polite not to talk over people.” Jameson says looking so proud of himself.

“Yeah, it’s polite when there’s someone talking but we’re working quietly now, so... You could’ve gone right to the question and saved us a tedious conversation.” She says looking at him like there’s something wrong with him.   

“Like this one.” Oliver whispers under his breath and I look at him laughing. He’s asking for it, he wants them to tear his head off. Jameson and Kelly didn’t hear his comment because they’re busy having a star down match.

“I didn’t want to disturb your beautiful thoughts; I wanted I would give you heads up. You know like a trigger warning or something. I was being considerate.” Jameson says sure he’s in the right.

“Well it doesn’t come across that way. Next time, just ask the damn question.” Kelly says very sure he’s wrong and she’s right.

 I look at Kelly not really sure if that whole rant was necessary. He’s arguing with Jameson about something so insignificant. She won’t remember this whole argument by the time she gets home. There’s no reason for or them to waste energy talking about a habit Jameson will never change.

“Are you single?” He asks looking from me to Kelly. She looks at him with so much disappointment written all over her face.

“Is that it? Is that the question?” She asks shocked. “That’s the question we wasted a good 40 seconds on?” she says and Jameson nods, oblivious to Kelly’s irritation with him. She’s looking at him like she’s ready to stick gag tape over his mouth. She’s not here for it.

“Yes, are you going to answer.” He asks looking at me again. Kelly sucks her teeth at him. Her head is reeling right now. She wants him to keep quiet and he won’t. He has some amazing insights when it comes to assignments but he sucks when it comes to making casual conversation.

“I’m single.” I say ready for the conversation to be over, I want them to stop talking now. I want to be done with today’s session and go home. And we won’t go home if they keep going at it like this.

“Really, why?” He asks looking at me with so much curiosity and excitement that I realize I made a grave mistake. I thought I was ending the conversation by answering his question. But now I realize I just baited him, he wants more conversation.

“Why do you want to know?” I ask and he smiles at me leaning forward on the table.

“Well I have a friend and he…”

“No thanks.” I say stopping him before he says anything further. I don’t want to hear any else. This is a study session not a match making meet up.

“You didn’t even let me finish.” He says looking at me sad.

“I don’t need to hear the rest. I think we should finish this and get home, I have a curfew.” I say and he waves that away looking at Kelly.

“How about you, are you single? Please says you’re single and ready to mingle.” He says batting his eyelashes at her. I smile because he looks so silly. He doesn’t care that Kelly is over his crap.

“I’m in a committed relationship.” Kelly says and Jameson flops over on the table disappointed. “Who in the hell are you on a mission to find a girlfriend? Is it you?” Kelly says asking Oliver.  I look at him my heart beating so fast. I swallow hard terrified to hear the answer even though I know he’s dating Marlene. The whole school knows they are together. She makes sure everyone knows he belongs to her.

“I’m not looking for a hook up.” Oliver says and I let out a held breath, it’s easier for me knowing he’s in a relationship than when he’s single. The latter creates a lot of false hope for me and I don’t like that. “I’m single and very happy.” He says and my heart drops into my stomach.

“Really? I thought you were with someone.” Kelly says kicking me under the table. I kick her back wishing she would let this go. She’s creating so many complexes for me right now. What am I supposed to do with this information?

“No, I’ve been single for over a year now.” He says and Kelly bulges her eyes at him while simultaneously kicking me over and over under the table.

“That’s news to us right Ryo? We thought Marlene is your girl. I mean that’s what she tells ever girl in school.” Kelly says looking at Oliver with the same look Jameson was staring at me a minute ago. She looks like she discovered the Tomb of Genghis Khan.

“Marlene just made that shit up. She and I were never a thing.” He says his voice getting a little deeper. He’s getting annoyed with the Marlene thing. “I wish she would stop telling people that.” He says angry now.

“Maybe you should do a PSA. She’s literally cock-blocking like crazy. She tells every girl that looks at you, you’re hers.”  Kelly says using her business voice, why does she care what Oliver and Marlene do with their lives? “If she keeps this up you’re going to be single forever.” Kelly adds looking at him like a concerned mother talking to her son.

“I don’t care about being in a relationship. I just want her to stop telling people we’re together. If we were I was going to claim her in public.” Oliver says looking at Kelly closely, I assume it’s because he want us to hear him and commit that fact to memory.

“I told you to do something about this and you didn’t want to listen.” Jameson says chiming in. I start packing my stuff. There’s no way these people are going to finish of the work. The relationship conversation has taken over and no work is ever done when that happens.

“What am I supposed to do about this? I’ve talked to her multiple times and...”

“That will never work.” Jameson says cutting Oliver off.

“Exactly so what am I supposed to do? Put out tweet that says; I AM SINGLE. MAELENE AND I ARE NOT DATING!!! In bold letters.” Oliver says looking at Kelly and Jameson like they’re crazy.

“Yes!” They scream out at the same time. I look at them shocked they would advise anyone to do that. How messed up is that?  Doing that would be so cruel and unnecessary.

“The two of you are crazy. I would never embarrass her like that.” He say disgusted at the suggestion. I sigh thankful he has the maturity t know that, that’s messed up. These two are just too childish to see it. Who does that? There’s no reason to put your business out there for the world to see. Marlene is a pain for spreading lies about him but she doesn’t deserve that.

“Oh okay, so it’s okay for her to give someone else permanent fear and hurt. What she did to that poor girl was terrible.” Jameson says bringing up the science class incident and I see Oliver get annoyed all over again.

“That wasn’t my fault.” He says sighing in frustration.

“I didn’t say it was but she did it in your name. How do you think that translates to the world?” Jameson asks not letting it go.

“I was sure you’re an ass after what happened with that girl. But now that I’ve spent an hour and forty five minutes I’m still one the fence.” Kelly says and Oliver shakes his head laughing a little. “For what it’s worth I was very far from the fence before today.” She adds and he looks at me his brows raised. I shrug and he laughs.

“I apologized to that girl, Sarah that’s her name. I explained to her what happened, I did my part.” He says putting away his stuff.

“And I was very proud of you for doing that.” Jameson says smiling at him. “But the world thinks you’re an ass.” He says and Kelly nods in agreement.

“You’re being over dramatic.” Oliver says and they shake their heads at him. “Do you think I’m an ass?”He asks me the one question I was hoping I wouldn’t have to answer. I’m not part of this discussion. That’s why I kept quiet and I have my shit ready so I can go as soon as they are done.

“No.” I say smiling shyly; he’s looking right into my eyes.

“If he was only person on the street, would you ask help from him? Before today that is.” Jameson asks putting me in an awkward position. I want to be on Oliver’s side but I can’t. I can barely talk to him right now and even if I wasn’t completely tongue tied around him. I wouldn’t talk to him because of Marlene.

“No.” I say and Oliver groans so loudly the table vibrates.

“You see what we’re saying? You’re an ass; you need to fix your image my friend.” Jameson says and Oliver frowns at him.

“I have to add though, I typically don’t talk to strangers on the street. So…” I say and Kelly shakes her head at me.

“He’s not a stranger. You have over five classes with him at school.” She says and it’s Oliver’s turn to flop over on the table.

“Well; technically he is a stranger because we’ve never talked to each other until now.” I say trying to save the situation.

“That’s even more telling about my man over here than anything you’ll ever say.” Jameson says and I quit. I’m not helping; I’m hurting the situation even more.

“I never cared before, why should I care now?” Oliver says deflated.

“Because it’s not cool.” Jameson says offended that Oliver asked him that. “This girl is doing too much and she’s doing it in your name. You have to care. She’s terrorizing other people in your name.” Jameson says moving into Oliver’s face making him uncomfortable.

“Okay I hear you.” Oliver says pushing him away a little. “I should care. I will care, just not tonight. Let’s go home.” Oliver says getting up from the table.  

“Yes, I like that idea very much.” I say getting up too. I don’t want to get home late. My mother is probably wondering where I am.

And besides I’m done with today as a whole. I can’t believe I spent a whole hour sitting across from Oliver. Oliver, the guy I’ve had a massive crush on for two whole years. I

I talked to him today. My mind is blown.