23: I Told Her

Thanksgiving is such a stupid holiday. Food.

"I'm thankful for Hazel, she's the best sister."

"I'm thankful for Hazel, she rocks."

I smile at the twins. I told them they have to say what they're thankful for before they could start eating. I don't really know why I did it. We never really celebrate Thanksgiving except for the fact that we eat way too much food. But this Thanksgiving was different for two reasons. Today was the anniversary of my father's goodbye and Oliver Grey was sitting at the table with us.

Our Thanksgiving must be so different from the one he usually has. His father, Mr. Grey, throws a Thanksgiving banquet every year to raise money for some charity he probably doesn't even know the name of. It's some big thing and everyone who's anyone is invited to dress up and eat turkey. We used to be invited when our family was actually a family, but not anymore. Not since my dad disappeared.

"I'm thankful for my brothers, who light up my life and make me laugh," I smile at them and then turn to Oliver, "I'm also thankful for Oliver."

He smiles at me and before he can speak up, Braden does, "Oh, I'm also thankful for Oliver! He made the shadow monsters go away!"

I laugh at Braden's outburst and ruffle his hair. I turn my attention back to Oliver so he can speak up and say his thanks.

"I'm thankful for you two boys," He smiles at him and then his eyes turn to me, "And I'm thankful for Haze, who's been nothing but kind."

I blush at his comment and look away from his intense stare.

After our little spat the other night, we've gone back to normal. We never brought it up again, neither of us wanting to relive the hurtful things we said. We just grumbled a sorry to each other the next morning and moved it. It was for the best though. We were both tired that night and weren't thinking straight, there was no reason to hold a grudge. Oliver had proven himself again to me and the twins by being the gentleman he had been before. He saved them from the shadow monsters several times and actually did the chemistry experiments with me. Now, two weeks later, here we were celebrating Thanksgiving like some dysfunctional family. But that's how I like it.

Funnily enough, Grace, the girl I had talked to that day, came up to me the day before school was let out for Thanksgiving.

-*-

"I told her."

I gasp in surprise, "And? What'd she say?"

"We're dating now!"

"Grace, that's awesome!"

"Her and Oliver?" I don't finish my sentence, but Grave gets the point.

"He told her to walk out after her, but when she did, he was nowhere to be found."

I nod my head at her response, keeping a happy smile on because of her news. She looks at me and decides to speak up again.

"I have to thank you, Hazel. I told her my feelings and apparently she'd had them too, but was afraid to accept it. After some talking, I was able to help her out."

I give Grace a quick side hug. Who knew two Oliver groupies would fall in love? What a plot twist for Oliver Grey fans everywhere. We've been pranked.

"So," I dare to ask, "Why were you fawning over Oliver?"

"Hazel, have you seen him? I don't have to be straight to know that he's fine as fuck. I'd let him take me even if I am gay."

I laugh at her response and look through the hall to catch his blue eyes already staring at me, "He is."

-*-

"So, Haze," Oliver brings me back to reality, "Can we eat now?"

"Oh, yeah," I smile, "Dig in."

And that they do. I'm always surprised at how much boys can eat. They go for seconds, twice. I thought we'd have leftovers for a couple days, but with an extra mouth and two growing kids, I don't think it's last for more than one meal. I laugh at them stuffing their faces with pie as we watch a christmas movie in the living room. It was a tradition to start the holiday season with dessert. My mom used to say it was never too early for Christmas.

"You have something on your face."

Oliver looks up to me and slaps a hand on his cheek, "Did I get it?"

"Not even close," I laugh.

He wipes his hand on his face, trying to get rid of the piece of whipped cream that was stuck to it. I roll my eyes and stand up from the couch I was sitting in and walk up to him, who was sitting in the other couch.

I laugh a little at him, "Let me get it."

I stand in front of him, leaning forward against his legs. I reach my hand out towards his cheek. Our eyes are locked and he's staring at me with his intense blue. When my hand reaches his cheek, the warmth of my hand contrasts with his cool face. I like the feeling and my stomach turns. With my hand cupping his cheek I brush my thumb across it to wipe it off. I'm pulling my hand away when Oliver grabs my wrist and stops me.

His eyes are still on mine when he brings my thumb to his mouth. I gasp lightly when he starts sucking on my thumb, his tongue moving around. I keep staring into his eyes even though I feel the hear rising in my cheeks.

Thankfully, the boys had fallen asleep on the floor a while ago. Probably suffering from a food coma.

"Sweet."

I blush even harder at his husky voice. He keeps a hold of my wrist as he stares at me. My eyes flit down to his lips where his tongue darts out and licks the remaining whipped

cream off them. I subconsciously do the same and bite my bottom lip. His hold on my wrist tightens slightly and a shock runs up my arm.

Suddenly, there's a crash that comes from the tv and the both of us jump. His hand letting go of my wrist. Looking back at Oliver, feeling a surge of confidence, I sit beside him. I grab a blanket and curl up, the winter winds were starting to make themselves known.

Oliver sees me shivering and wraps an arm around my shoulders. I scoot closer to him so that his arm isn't hanging oddly and rest my head in the little nook of his neck. His smell of vanilla and teakwood is prominent even though it smells like pumpkin and turkey everywhere else in the house. I smile as I take in another whiff.

His body relaxes when I stop moving and his arm that's around my shoulder settles with his hand drawing circles on my arm. The feeling is comforting and I let my eyes close as I his warmth is shared with me.

"Haze, wake up!" Oliver sounds scared as he shakes me lightly.

I jolt awake, feeling sticky. I blink a couple of times to get the tiredness out of my eyes before looking up to Oliver. He was crouching down in front of me with a worried expression. I touch my forehead and realize I'm all sweaty. Oh, that's the sticky feeling.

"What time is it?"

"1am. I took the boys to bed and was about to carry you when you started yelling and crying in your sleep."

I frown at him and sit up on the couch. I slept for five hours? I wasn't one to take naps so I was surprised at myself for doing such a thing. But then I remembered Oliver's comforting warmth and soothing circles. I looked up at him, he still had concern written all over his face.

"The boys are okay?"

"Yes, Haze," He sighs slightly, "But what about you? I've been trying to wake you up for ten minutes."

I look down at my hands and the reach to my silver chain. I mess with it a little, trying to think of an excuse to tell Oliver. I'd never told anyone about my father. Levi knew he'd left, but he didn't know all the terrible details that went along with his disappearance.

"Just a bad dream."

"Haze, I know you're lying."

"I'm not," I try to sound confident, but it comes out like a small whisper.

"You touch your necklace when you're uncomfortable."

I look up at him and lock eyes with him. Sighing, I wrap my arms around my legs and rest my head on my knees. He did live with me, I guess it wouldn't be the worst thing that he knew who he was living with.

So, with a shaky breath, I tell him what today is.

"My dad left us today, well, four years ago today."

Oliver sits down beside me but says nothing.

I continue talking, "He stole money from my mom and left to go marry this younger woman he was having an affair with. It'd been going on since the twins were born and my mom didn't even know."

I look up at him to see his cold face taking over his features. He sighs but still doesn't say anything. All he does is open his arms for me so that I can crash into his chest and let out the few tears I have left. Most of them were already dried on my cheeks from when I was asleep.

He doesn't say any words of pity or give me a sad look like he feels bad for me. I was so glad he didn't. I hated when people felt bad for me, I didn't need their fake empathy. I'd done fine without the help of any pitiful glances.

Oliver pulls me away from him slightly and cups my face with his big hands. His thumb wipes away the few tears I have on cheeks. He's pulling his hand away when I grab his wrist, like he did me.

"No pity."

"Do I look like the type to give pity?"

I shake my head and smile. He then stands up and pulls me up with him. I look around to see that the kitchen and dinner table were all clean. The house looked kind of spotless.

I look to Oliver who was in front of me, pulling me along to my room, and smile at the back of his head. I want to say something but I was still regaining myself from all the crying.

"You should shower, stinky pants."

I give him a glare, but go to the bathroom anyway to shower. The hot water feels warm on my skin. I stand under the water for a while, letting myself relax. I wash away all the dried tears and sticky sweat. I wash away the pain my father left on me and I wash away some of the loneliness this day always caused.

When I come out, I see Oliver putting his shoes on. His leather jacket already on.

"I'm going out," He grumbles to me, trying to tie his shoelace.

"Can I go with you?"

Oliver looks up from his shoe and stares at me. He looks hesitant to give me an answer. I'm prepared for him to tell me no. I don't even know where he goes every night and yet I'm asking him to bring along extra weight. For all I know I'm getting myself involved in a threesome.

When he stays silent I speak up again, "Please," and then I whisper the rest, "I don't want to be alone."

He sighs and extends his hand out, "Come on, but you do as I say."

I nod and skip up to him, grabbing his hand and pulling him out the door.