Ten Waves

                        The light gale below the late autumn leaves through the busy Winterville High school's streets. Seniors and juniors parked away their shiny cars in the respective lots while I sat here Devlin's red 1996 Toyota Camry. He had out of kind courtesy decided to drop me off today claiming that I wouldn't be able to find my way from his apartment complex to school- a bland lie- his apartment was on the same street as my high school.

            "Thank you," I spoke up, clutching my backpack close to my chest.

"It's alright," He smiled, warmly. A bright, clean pair of scrubs clung to his slender body.

            I quickly opened the front pocket of my backpack, pulling out a white envelope. It had about hundred dollars in it. I had saved them from my lunch money. I was going to buy myself a new kit of paints and brushes from the money but now I don't think I could afford such a luxury.

            With a heavy heart, I handed the envelope to Devlin. To conceal my emotions, I stretched my lips into a thin smile.

            He gave me a questioning look. After hesitating for a moment he took it from my outstretched fingers. "What is this?" He asked, his gaunt fingers lifting the pale flap.

            "It's not much," I bit down on my lips, a red blush settling on my cheeks out of embarrassment. "But I figured I needed to give you this. I promise once I'll pay the rest later,"

            A frown made its way to his face. He shook his head. "No, you keep this," He grabbed my hand, the warmth from his skin sunk into mine, and placed the envelope into my palm. "I can't keep this. You need the money,"

            "Devlin, please." I held his hand, forcing the money back into his hands. "For my sake just keep the money, please,"

            He stared at me. Tensed lines ran across his jaw "I can't,"

"For me, please. You've done so much for me. This is the least I can do,"

            "I get it," He smiled, almost bitterly. "You feel burdened by all that I did. But you don't understand. I didn't do this because I pitied you,"

            "Then why are you helping me?" I nearly yelled, gripping my backpack tightly.

"I have my reasons," He looked away, not meeting my eyes.

            "And I have mine," I whispered. "So please respect that,"

            Grudgingly, he tucked the enveloped into his pocket. "Happy?"

"Very,"

~*~*~

            To my surprise, I found Liza standing outside Mrs. Oswald's class. Oliver patted her back. It looked as if he was trying to comfort my sister. My heart warmed at gesture. Bless thy swimming beast for being a kind soul.

            I approached them, feeling strangely anxious. My chest felt heavy like someone had placed a huge boulder on it. The instant Liza's watery green eyes found mine, she rushed into my arms, nearly knocking me off my feet.

            "Sis, thank god you're alright," She cried, burring her head on my shoulder, her blonde hair falling over my face. Oliver looked at me. His stormy eyes watched me with caution as if he expected me to burst into tears as well. He didn't give me his usual teasing smirk instead his mouth was turned downwards in way that my heart fall to the pit of my stomach.  The concern on his face was almost palpable. I averted my eyes, focusing them on Liza.

            "Liza, stop crying. I'm perfectly fine," I pulled away from her, gripping her shoulders. Just for her sake, I smiled. "Look, not a scratch,"

            She sniffed- with the back of her hand she quickly wiped the stray tears. "Come back home, Sis. Dad is sorry for everything. I know he misses you even though he won't admit it. It's killing him,"

My entire body stiffened. I couldn't hurt her. "I will" I lied. Each passing breath was becoming harder and harder. "After I clear the exams, I promise I will come back,"

            "You won't," Fresh tears fell down her angel like face. The way her voice broke pained my heart. This was for the best. I did this for their happiness. She'll be alright...eventually. "I know you. You're just like dad- stubborn. You won't turn back. I know you won't,"

            "I will Liza. Trust me. Once I get into a good college, I will come back. I want to show Dad that I'm still the old Alice. Anyways," I quickly changed the topic, hoping to get Liza's mind off my problems. "Aren't you supposed to be at cheer practice? And how did you find me?"

            Liza shrugged her shoulders. "I'm skipping on practice,"

I feigned a gasp. "Liza Brown skipping cheer practice. Impossible!"

            She laughed at my expression. "And the dude from target helped me find you,"

"I have a name," Oliver snickered from the door of Mrs. Oswald's class. I had completely forgotten that he was still here.

            I gave him a thankful smile which he didn't return.

"Liza meet Oliver aka the swimming beast," I grinned, motioning towards Oliver.

            "Nice to meet you Oliver" Liza smiled, winking at him. He gave her a baffled stare before pulling out his quirky smirk.

            "Pleasure is mine,"

But as you see my sister is not easily distracted, her focus was back on my problems. "Sis, where are you staying? How's your diabetes? I hope you're taking your meds,"

"Chocolate Fudge, Easy with the questions girl," I laughed easily, feeling flustered by her sudden attack.

            She looked at me expectantly.

             "I'm living with a friend," I stared out. A friend? Devlin? Lord of Chocolate forgive me for lying all the time. Hopefully I won't end up in hell for doing that.

            Oliver gave me a dubious look. Something was off. The way he was staring at me it seemed like he didn't believe me one bit. "Friend? Which one?" He asked.

Triple Chocolate Fudge!

            "She doesn't go to this school actually. So you wouldn't know about her," I replied calmly. "Actually she has her own apartment so I'm sharing with her," Why was I lying about this?

            Liza breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. I was worried that you wouldn't have a place to go,"

            She was so right. If it weren't for Devlin, I wouldn't probably be a dead body flowing with the river's current.

            Oliver didn't look convinced. He made an odd face. Whatever was on his mind, I'm sure it wasn't good. Literally, this was the first time I felt so scared. More than that I began questioning my decision- why was I scared of telling Liza about Devlin? Am I doing something wrong by staying with an unknown man?

~*~*~

            Sandy and I sat on our lunch table. Sandy munched away on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as her red pigtails jumped around her shoulders.

            . During our communication application class, I told her that I was living with Devlin because I needed someone to tell me that I did the right thing.

            She was quick to give her consent saying that she would exchange SpongeBob for him any day.

I couldn't help but laugh at her silly crush on the chocolate-eyed boy.

            "I bet his apartment is better than a pineapple,"

I rolled my eyes "He isn't SpongeBob, you know?"

            "No duh?" She stuck out her tongue causing the freckles on her cheeks to stretch out. "He's so much better,"

            I stuffed another spoonful of plain yogurt.

"Sandy, you're bonkers,"

            "Tell me something I don't know,"

"You're-"

            Our conservation was rudely interrupted by a rough tug on my hand.  I turned around to find Oliver standing behind me, holding my wrist. 

            I jerked my hand away from him, angrily. "What are you doing?"  

"I want to talk to you," He spoke through gritted teeth. His hair was damp and he reeked of chlorine- obviously he had rushed here from his swim class.

            "Okay?" I shrugged my shoulders. "Speak up,"

"No, not here," He gave Sandy a pointed look. I stole a quick glimpse of her.

 Sandy chewed the insides of her cheeks- her face red and guilt-ridden. "I'm sorry Alice,"

            "Oh, no!" I gasped, clasping a tight hand across my mouth, quickly understanding what she meant. She told him about Devlin. "But why would you tell him? Out of all the people? Why?"

            "I-I.." She stuttered. "He gave me a good reason,"

"What was the reason?" I narrowed my eyes at her.

            She didn't meet my eyes. "It's best if Oliver says it himself,"

"Come on, Oliver," I got up from my seat. Mustering all my anger, I scowled at him. "You better start talking,"

~*~*~

            We stood outside by the dirty bleacher with the football team giving us wacked up stares. For whatever reason Oliver had gotten Sandy to spill the beans it must be fudging good.

            I wasn't liking this the least bit. I wasn't like the way Oliver was watching me like I had committed some sort of horrendous crime.

            "Don't even think of blackmailing with this info," I spit out, pulling out a nasty glare.

His eyes widened. "What the heck? I'm not going to blackmail you,"

            "Then? What do you want?"

He groaned. "Alice," His face became bloodshot red. "You really don't get this, do you?"

            "Get what?"

"How can you live with that freak? I mean come on. Seriously,"

            The nerve! How could he call Devlin freak? He was such a good guy with a heart of gold. He's the only person on this earth who cared for me when no-one dared to.

            "Shut up! He's not a freak. Don't you dare call him that or else"

"Or what? Huh?" Oliver grabbed my arms, his eyes burning a hole through me. He was scaring me. "He does one bloody thing for you and you-you go all defensive for him,"

            "You have no idea what he has done for me," I breathed out, my pulse racing away. I could feel my hands get clammy.

            "He gave you a place to live, Right?  So what? I could have done that,"

I furrowed my eyebrows together- nausea tightening its reigns over me. "Where are you heading with this?"

            He ignored my words. "Stay away from him. You don't know the kind of guy he is. He uses girls and throws them away like pieces of garbage,"

            I felt something twist instead me, blinking a couple of times, I stared at Oliver horrified.

"Ho-how do you know this?" I stammered- not noticing how Oliver kept on removing the space between us.

            Droplets of water from his hair slid down my cheek. I bit down on my lip to stop them from trembling.

            "He's the guy who ruined my sister," He finished in a low voice- pain was etched deeply into his features.

I could feel my lungs burst with the news. Breaths were leaving me faster than before. "No, you're lying," I gasped. No, Delvin he can't be the bad guy. I pushed myself away from Oliver.

'           He was lying. I don't why would Oliver was lying. Devlin was just trying to help me, right?

"Maybe I did this for myself,"   His words from earlier came back in a rush, slapping me in the face.

            "I would never lie to you," Oliver's voice cut through the webs I had been trapped in.

 My eyes shifted to his meet his. The waves of emotions in his eyes rendered me speechless. Suddenly I dreaded the words that lay on the tip of his tongue. My mouth felt dry-words were trapped inside my throat.

            "I like you way too much Alice,"

And I really hoped he meant that in a friendly way but who was I kidding?

          Author's Note: So let me bombard you guys with some lame excuses. I've recently been in an accident on my new scooter (I'm fine) and I've had zero inspiration for this story because I feel that this book need a ton of editing. So I'm going to be heading to edit this book thoroughly (don't worry updates won't be affected). Yesterday some idiots decided it would be funny to lounge a football in my directions so I've ended up with a swollen finger and man was it hard to type with a huge finger. (no pun intended)

             Okay so my sob story is over. I really hope you guys like this chapter :)). I love you all and I'm really sorry for the delay but now my inspiration is back up there won't be more delays. (hopefully)

            Please comment, it would really make me smile!

Oh! How do you guys like Oliver and Alice action? (no pun intended again) ;)