Freddie's POV

Shit.

She's noticed.

"Nothing, I just—" I start.

"You can trust me," she interrupts, then brushes her lips against mine, her intense eyes piercing mine with a softness that kills me inside.

I didn’t want to do this tonight, especially with Mason around. I don’t know how she’ll take it. We’ve only known each other for such a short time; what would she think?

"Freddie, please tell me." Olivia’s voice reaches me from what feels like a continental distance, and I’m forced to focus on it to distract myself. "And don’t reply with, ‘Nothing, I’m fine,’ because I know really well that you’re not. I just want to help you because I hate seeing you upse—"

"He doesn’t deserve you!"

Fuck.

I half shout in frustration so much that Mason looks up at me, his face full of terror.

I walk over to him and wrap him in my arms for comfort. "Don’t worry, Mase. Me and Livvy are just going to talk in the kitchen. You sit here and watch Peppa, okay?"

Luckily, he smiles wildly, as if the last minute never even happened. I signal for Olivia to join me in the kitchen, her expression completely unreadable.

"Do you want me to make you another drink?" I offer, but she responds with the most difficult question she could ask.

"What do you mean?"

I sigh, knowing I should never have brought it up. "It doesn’t matter, Olivia. Let’s just—"

"What do you mean?" she interrupts with a calmness that shocks me. "Who doesn’t deserve me?"

I didn’t want to start this. I never wanted to start this because I care about Olivia too much to mess up her life, especially after all she’s been through. But as she looks at me with pleading eyes, I know I have to tell her the truth.

"Tom."

She looks at me incredulously. "What do you mean, Tom?"

"I mean he doesn’t deserve someone as kind, as caring, and as amazingly stunning, inside and out as you." I say in defeat, hoping it’s enough to deflect her from the rest of the truth.

It’s not.

"Freddie, you’re not making any sense." I see a look of confusion and hurt register on her face. "One minute, you’re practically screaming at me about Tom not being good enough for me, and now you’re telling me how amazing I am. Just tell me what you actually mean. Please."

The sadness I feel at having to say what I’m suspicious of is hollow. I can’t tell you what’s worse: sometimes, my hollowness is a shell, holding in a thousand emotions.

Sometimes, though, it holds a thousand pieces of glass that wedge themselves between my conscience, between my head and my heart, between what I don’t want to say and what I have to say. It’s a constant battle. It’s tearing me apart bit by bit.

Ultimately, I decide to keep the conversation I overheard quiet for the sake of Olivia’s friendship with that twat who I know is up to something and try a different tactic.

"I don’t know what I mean. In all honesty, Olivia, I guess I... I feel threatened that you might like someone like Tom instead of someone like me. I’m not saying you can’t like someone like him, because I kind of get why you would, but I just want to treat you like the amazing person you are. But when McKenzie does stuff like that... I feel out of my depth for the first time in my life, I guess." I shrug lifelessly, knowing full well Olivia is probably about to throw me out of her house any minute.

Shit. I forgot I was in her house.

"Freddie Hutchinson," she says. Her face shows no emotion whatsoever, and I feel like it never will until a small smile touches the corners of her mouth. She closes the gap that’s been void for so long.

"You are the most complicated person I have ever met. One minute, you’re a big-headed, egotistical douchebag. The next, you’re the kindest, most gorgeous human with a personality that’s so amazing, but so... insecure."

I’m about to interrupt when she continues.

"Don’t feel threatened by Tom, okay? We’re just friends. I know it’s probably strange for you, knowing a girl whose best friend is a boy but that’s all it is, I promise you."

Olivia loops her arms around my waist, resting her head on my chest. My hands stroke through her thick curls. We stand, unmoving in the kitchen, frozen in time, and I wish we could stay here forever.

***

"Was that a good film, Mase?" I ask my little brother, who has made himself comfy between me and Olivia.

The three of us are huddled on one sofa in the living room. After the conversation Olivia and I had, we all sat down and watched Toy Story, just as she suggested when we first arrived.

As weird as it sounds, it’s almost like we’re a little family. It’s something neither Olivia nor I have really had, and it’s actually quite endearing to have that kind of feeling.

"What time is it, Freddie?" Olivia yawns slightly as she speaks, and I’m completely relaxed until I realize the time.

"Oh no, it’s 5 o’clock! I need to be at Alicia’s in half an hour to finish fixing the car. God, I haven’t even asked the neighbors to take care of Mason, and—"

"Hey, don’t worry about it! He can stay here with me if you like. I do have Gabby coming over, though, so as long as you don’t mind her being here as well?"

Relief floods through me. "Oh my God, you don’t mind, do you?"

"I’ll never mind, you know that." She squeezes my hand tightly, and I’m reluctant to let go. "You’ll be okay eating toast and watching the piggies, won’t you, Mason?"

"I like the pigs, Livvy!" Mason throws himself at Olivia, hugging her like he’s known her his whole life, which confirms to me that she’s something special.

I hug Mason and say goodbye. He’s already engrossed in another episode of riveting children’s TV, and Olivia walks me to the door.

"I shouldn’t be long, an hour and a half at the most. I’ll text you when I’m on my way back, okay? And you can tell Gabby about Mason. She seems trustworthy enough."

"Okay, as long as you’re sure. Are you free tomorrow to carry on with our art project? I brought it home yesterday."

I nod and pull her into my arms. "Wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’ll miss you, Princess."

I can’t resist calling her by the nickname I once patronized her with, and she just laughs at me in return.

Life could not be better.

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Author's Note: Longer chapter because I’ve been so bad at updating lately! Make sure to vote, comment, and follow for more!