Love Me Always (I Hate You...I Think) (11 page)

"I was watching over Oliver last night," I
shrugged.
She knew better. "You look like you haven't
slept in days," she frowned.
"I'm fine," I muttered. A yawn escaped me.
"Traitor freakin body,"
I thought to myself.
"Taylor."

I looked up to find Oliver at the doorway he
was motioning for her to give us a moment. Taylor
squeezed me in a hug then left.

"She's right, you know," he told me softly
leaning against the counter. He had dark bags
under his eyes much like I knew I did. However,
mine wasn't from a drug binge. Mine was from
refusing to shut my eyes. I had tried last night but
the nightmares. The images of that boy haunted
me.

"I didn't want to say anything but you look
exhausted."

Gentle he brushed a stray hair from my
face. Blushing I resisted the urge to lean into his
hand.

"I'm fine," I repeated not looking at him.
"You’re having nightmares aren't you?"

I froze and looked up at him. I didn't even
tell Leon about the nightmares. Did I? Had I told
him?

"It's obvious, Ever. I might have been
screwed up yesterday. I might still be kind of
fucked up right now but I know you, baby girl."

My heart did a flip. He called me baby girl.
He held my gaze with a look of adoration that
made me want to just melt into his arms.

"Is breakfast ready?" Logan whined from
the doorway completely shattering the moment.
Oliver grumbled and cursed under his breath about
never getting any privacy.

"Yeah," I told Logan and stepped out of the
way as he grabbed a plate and began filling it up
with everything in sight. The others filtered in and
Leon knocked Logan upside the head for not
sharing.

Stepping back one more step I bumped into
Oliver. His arms coiled around me.
"You need sleep, Baby."
I shook my head. "Jet said we were putting
up the Christmas tree."

"We can do that after breakfast," Alex
chimed in offering Kimmy a plate. She waved it
off.

After everyone had ate, the plastic
Christmas tree was dug out of storage. It was
amusing watching the boys try to figure out how to
put it together. The girls and I just sat there making
fun and poking jokes at them.

Alex was sitting with ornaments in his lap
handing them up to the others. Oliver was glaring
at a bundle of lights that were so twisted up I doubt
he was getting them untangled anytime soon. Leon
was throwing objects Tyler handed him at Logan
who eating the popcorn string Jet kept handing him
and Jake was bent over fixing the bottom of the
tree with his butt sticking straight up in the air.

"Nice view," Taylor chuckled shooting a
nerf dart at his butt. It hit him and he jumped up
almost taking the tree over. The tree tipped and
landed on Tyler's head. Tyler more or less caught it
before Oliver righted it glaring at Jake.

"Don't look at me. She shot me!" Jake cried
pointing accusingly at Taylor.

Taylor who had hid the nerf gun looked
wide-eyed and innocently at Oliver shaking her
head. I bit my lip and looked away trying not to
laugh.

"She's always like this. It's nice that she
found someone to play with and they don't get
angry," Angie told me quietly, "She use to get in a
lot of trouble back home. Ask her about senior
prank. She almost didn't get to walk across the
stage."

I raised my eyebrow at that and looked at
Taylor. She looked so sweet she didn't look
capable of getting into any kind of trouble.

Jake gave Taylor a look, "It's on now, Tater
Tot," he smirked. Oliver wacked him over the head
with a large plastic candy cane.

"HEY!"
"Back to work."

Jake flared out his nostrils and flipped
Oliver off. The look Oliver gave him caused Jake's
eyes to go wide and he turned back to the tree.

"That's what I thought," Oliver muttered
with a smirk and winked at me.
Chuckling I turned to Taylor, "So Tater
Tot?"
Taylor got a look quite similar to one a cat
makes when you rub there fur the wrong way.
"I'm watchin you, missy," she told me
pointing her finger in my face.
"Why did he suddenly start calling you
Tater Tot?"
Her cheeks went red and she refused to
look at me.
"I was telling Ever about senior prank,"
Angie laughed changing the subject.
Taylor gave a small smile that didn't reach
her eyes.
"Yeah, it was pretty funny."

"Angie just told me you caused a lot of
trouble not anything about it. What did you do?
You don't seem capable of causing havoc."

Taylor laughed out right at that. With a
grin, I saw a mischievous look in her eye.
"Well, it was great I had planned it out for a
long time."
~~~
~Taylor – Senior prank~
“Hurry up,” I whispered to Angie. Angie
was emptying the rest of her syrup on the floor.
“Kyle should be coming soon. Hopefully he
had found the central air duct to the school.”

As I thought about that Kyle came sliding
around the corner his converse sliding on the
sticky mess.

“Shit,” he chuckled and tiptoed to the
doorway Angie and I were hiding in.
“Ready?” I questioned.
“People should start running soon,” he
nodded.
“Tell me why we are doing this again?
We’re like so getting expelled for this.”
“Shh...look,” I pointed up at the vents
overhead.

Gallons and gallons of glitter mixed with
tiny feathers began spraying out. Seconds later
screams echoed through the school and classroom
doors flew open and mostly girls came flying out
only to lose their footing and go slamming into
walls.

Slipping and sliding students were covered
head to toe in glitter, feathers, and sticky syrup.
The three of us were laughing so hard at the sight.
Doubling over I held my stomach.

“This is awesome babe,” Kyle laughed
hugging me from behind.
“You three!” Mrs. Melton yelled. Her
usually perfect hair was a matted mess.
“Oh shit! Run!”
We took off attempting to run through the
mass of angry students trying to get off the floor.

Tripping I slid across the floor. Looking up
at Kyle, he had stopped and glanced back at me
then at Mrs. Melton. Turning on his heels, he took
off. I sat in shock looking after my boyfriend as he
disappeared down the hall. He ditched me! My
boyfriend ditched me!

“
Miss Sullivan,” Mrs. Melton spoke from
behind me. She had her arms crossed and a sour
look on her face.

“Why am I not surprised.”
~~~

"Really! He just ditched you?" I exclaimed.
The boys glanced up. I clamped my hand over my
mouth. "Sorry, kind of yelled that."

Taylor looked as if she was far off. Her
eyes glazed over as she lost in thought.

"I think it's time for some music. Ever
didn't you make Christmas cookies?" Kimmy
asking standing up and heading for the radio.

Logan jumped up knocking the Christmas
tree over again. This time it landed on Oliver.
"COOKIES!" Logan exclaimed running for
the kitchen.
Oliver pushed the tree off his shoulders
sitting it upright again.

"We're never going to get this thing done,"
he grumbled dropping the bundle of lights he had
into the box Alex had in his lap. Alex made a face
at the lights.

Oliver slumped into his chair dropping his
arm over his eyes. A song blared into the room. It
was "Glad you came".

"Aww you and Oliver should dance!"
Angie yelled shoving me off the couch.
"What?" Oliver asked moving his arm.
"Go on," Taylor encouraged shoving me to
him. I tripped landing in his lap.
"Geez thanks guys!"

Oliver's chest rumbled under my hands with
laughter. Straightening up I grabbed his hand and
tugged him off the chair.

He went with me.
"Aww," Kimmy cooed cuddling with Alex.

Oliver took my hand as if we were going to
waltz. I gave him a questioning look and he began
spinning us in circle and pretending to skip around.

The room filled with laughter, I found
myself giggling too. I jumped around with him. He
spun me out then back in and I collided with his
chest where he picked me up and began spinning
us around.

I was laughing so hard by then. I hadn't felt
so happy in a long time. As the song ended Oliver
slowed his spin to a sway. We had forgotten
completely about the others in the room. All that
existed was just us.

"The sun goes down, the stars come out,
and all that counts is here and now. My universe
will never be the same, I'm glad you came," Oliver
whispered.

He looked at my lips longingly as I stared at
his the same. I wanted to kiss him. There was this
undying need to kiss him, to be close to him in
every way possible. We leaned closer our lips
inches from each other.

Then suddenly Oliver pulled back at the last
second. He looked so sad at what he had done. My
heart cracked not only at that look but also at the
fact he didn't kiss me. Perhaps he was respecting
my unspoken words earlier, that I wanted to kiss
him after I remembered him. However, I wanted
him now more than I have ever wanted someone in
my life.

Oliver sat me on my feet. I felt the moisture
pressing at my eyes. Looking away from Oliver I
quickly hurried upstairs so no one would see me
crying. It was too embarrassing. This is want I
wanted right? I wanted to wait. So why was I so
heartbroken?

~Let Me Love You~

I sat in Oliver's bathroom not really having
anywhere else to go. I knew he would be up here
soon but I wasn't ready to face him just yet. My
cell phone vibrated in my pocket, Kimmy most
likely.

Pulling it out I found it wasn’t Kimmy at
all. There were three unread texts.
Hey Ever. I know you probably don't
want to talk to me but please call me. -Harper

It's me again. I really want to talk to you
and apologize for the way I behaved the other
night. Call me. -Harper

Ever, I truly am sorry. I wasn't thinking
clearly. - Harper

Sighing I rubbed my eyes annoyed. I was
too tired to deal with him or anyone else right now.
I just want to sleep. I'm so tired. I quickly text him
back telling him everything was fine and I'd talk to
him tomorrow.

"Ever?" Oliver knocked on the bathroom
door.
I opened the door and looked up at him
giving him a smile but it was weak.

"You sleepy baby girl?" he asked cupping
my cheek in his hand. He wasn't going to bring up
the almost kiss, that I was grateful for. I nodded
sinking into his arms. He was so warm and soft.

"Well, if you want to change into a shirt of
mine you can. I'm going to tell everyone to leave
us alone. I'm pretty tired to...if you don't mind
me...umm…laying with you," he muttered
scratching the back of his head.

I hugged him around the waist burying my
face into his shirt and inhaling his smell.
"I want you to stay with me," I told him.

Maybe with him by my side I wouldn't have
the nightmares, but I couldn't fight the sleep any
longer.

He headed down stairs and I changed into
one of his shirts and a pair of his boxers throwing
my shirt and pants from the other night into his
laundry basket.

Pulling his covers back, I crawled under
and snuggled into his pillows. Everything smelled
of him. It made me smile. I loved his smell. I want
so desperately to have my memories back. I want
him back. I can't deny the feelings I have for him.

One more date with Harper. I just needed
one more date. If I don't get any more memories
back after being near him then I'll ditch him but If I
do get memories...I have to keep it up. No matter
how much I don’t like him. It's for Oliver...for us.

~Oliver~

I walked back into my bedroom to find
Ever sound asleep. She was curled in a little ball
with her back facing me. Changing into some
shorts and pulling off my shirt I crawled under the
covers with her scooting as close to her as possible.
In her sleep, she mumbled and reached back
grabbing my arm. She pulled it to her chest and
cuddled it. Chuckling I brushed her hair off her
cheek and neck placing a kiss along her jaw under
her ear.

Her skin was so soft and smooth under my
lips. I couldn't resist running my lips over her skin
along her jaw to her throat. It was like velvet.

Sliding my other arm under her head, I
pulled her tight against my body. She fit perfectly
against me thus proving further that she belonged
with me. She was mine and I was hers. I would
always be hers even after the day I died my soul
would still belong to her. Always.

I was such a dumb ass to turn to drugs
when she rejected me. It just hurt so badly. I mean
I know she doesn't remember me but that doesn't
make any of this easier. I want so bad to kiss her,
to touch her, to love her the way I use to but right
now-.

Looking down at her pale cheeks and the
dark circles under her eyes made my heartache.
She was so fragile, emotionally and physically
right now. She needs me more than ever. Instead of
taking it, slow and trying to take her on dates like
those that I used to, I just cut all ties.

Yeah it's been a week since I last saw her,
but before that it was a month. This is the hardest
experience I have ever had to deal with.

Ever cringed in
her sleep and started
murmuring. Kissing her cheek she calmed and the
crease between her eyes brows smoothed out.
Sighing I laid my head down on a pillow shutting
my eyes. We would take it one-step at a time. I will
help her know me. I know she already loves me.
Why would she be here if she didn't? Memories or
not love doesn't go away.

I was jolted awake by a blood-curdling
scream. Ever was thrashing frantically in my arms.
Her nails clawed into my arm.

"Ever!" I tightened my arms around her
trying to calm her. She continued to scream and
kick.

"Don't hurt me! Please!" She cried clawing
at my arms.
"Ever, wake up!" I ordered as calmly as
possible. She was having a nightmare.
"Please let me go, Eien," she begged. I
froze.