31: It Gets Better

The clock struck 6. Ding.

I showered just to put Oliver's hoodie right back on. It's comfy and soft and still has the slight smell of vanilla and teakwood. I will not be judged for my choices.

In the bathroom, I look at myself in the mirror for a little bit. My tear-free cheeks were rosy again and my eyes had their glimmer I had seen before.

The weight of keeping my emotions a secret had been lifted off me after so many years. The feeling was odd, to know that someone else knew what I'd been through, what I'd done. It was even crazier to think that the person I'd confided in was Oliver Grey. But it felt so right to tell him. His few actions and even fewer words were enough for me. He'd been enough for me.

I walk out of my bathroom to see Oliver chilling on my bed, typing away on his phone. When he hears me walk out he turns to face me and quickly jumps off the bed. He puts his phone up and walks to the couch, grabbing his shoes.

"I'm going out."

My face falls and my heart sinks a little when I hear the words Ive heard so many times before escape his mouth. I don't know what I was expecting from him. It was winter break, I'm sure he has a lot of things to do and people to see.

"I want you to come."

My eyes shoot up to his. A small smirk plays on his lips. He knew he was being a dick, so I roll my eyes at him.

"Where?" I dare ask.

"Grayson is having a thing at his place, I want you to come."

"By thing, you mean party?"

"Did I say party?"

He's so vague sometimes I feel like I need a degree in Oliver to understand him. But I give in anyway and nod my head.

"Let me change."

Oliver nods and makes his way out the door of my room. He turns around before leaving and gives me a wink.

"Keep the hoodie on."

I roll my eyes at him once again as he leaves me alone to change, but the blush still creeps onto my cheeks. I go to grab a pair of jeans but then decide otherwise and grab a pair of Christmas leggings. It just seems like the appropriate choice with Christmas being two days away and all.

When I walk out, I catch a glimpse of the sweater Oliver has on before he zips up his jacket to hide it. I swear I saw a snowman.

"Ready?" He asks without looking at me.

"Yeah."

He turns around when he hears my voice and he looks shocked for a moment. He clears his throat a little before speaking up again.

"You look," He looks at me more intently before finishing his sentence, "Beautiful."

He whispers the last word so I barely hear it, but when it reaches my ears the heat rises in my cheeks. Every inch of my body feels giddy with joy at his comment and I can't help but smile. I skip up to him and grab his hand as I continue skipping to the front door, pulling him with me.

"Off we go."

When we arrive at Grayson's house, Oliver parks in the large driveway. He gets out and opens the door for me. I give him a short smile and then look behind him at the huge house. It wasn't as big as Oliver's, but the amount of money pouring out of the house was still insane.

We walk to the front door and Oliver rings the doorbell. I can hear the jingle of the doorbell from the outside. My nerves start to get the better of me so I look to him with concern, but then just drop my head and close my eyes.

"What am I doing?" I whisper mainly to myself.

There's a silence before Oliver responds, "Kissing me."

I lift my head up to look at Oliver, confused by his response. He looks up and points to the mistletoe that's hanging. I'm still staring at the bit of green when Oliver's arms wrap around me. I gasp at his warm touch. The striking heat sending a shock through me. I look back down at Oliver and catch him already staring at me intently.

Oliver speaks up, making my eyes go down to look at his lips, "Where's your Christmas spirit?"

I wrap my arms around his neck and curl my fingers in his hair. I lean in closer to him and when we're meare centimeters away, I stop.

"Right here," I whisper to him and then place my lips on his.

He reacts instantly and our lips start moving in unison. But the kiss is cut short when the front door opens. Oliver and I separate and look to the door. My blush brightens when I see Grayson Adams staring at us with a goofy smile on his face.

"Ooo, cock blocked again," Grayson laughs, "Sorry, bro."

Wait, again?

Oliver huffs and walks in, hitting Grayson on the back of the head has he does so. I smile sheepishly and walk in after Oliver.

The inside of the house is much more impressive than the outside. I look around in awe at the marble floor and huge chandelier. The furniture is all the same shade of wood and it smells like Christmas.

"Wow."

"It gets better," Grayson smiles and drapes an arm around my shoulder, guiding me around the house.

He was right, it does get better. There, standing in the living room, is the biggest Christmas tree I've ever seen. We had big trees in our elite days when I was young but this was a whole new level. The tree looks professionally decorated, each ornament and light perfectly placed and coordinated.

"Fuck, it's huge."

"That's what she said," Oliver says, now standing beside me.

I roll my eyes at his dirty mind.

"You, are a child."

"Come, come, let me introduce you," Grayson interrupts and continues leading me with his arm around my shoulders.

We keep walking to a second living room that's more private than the other. It's still huge but looks smaller because of the amount of couches and the pool table.

"Guys, this is Hazel. Hazel, this is guys."

Everyone that was sitting on the couches stop and turn to stare at me. I hate attention but I didn't want to look like a scaredy-cat in front of Oliver's friends. I smile instead and give them a little wave. All of them smile back and start introducing themselves.

"I'm Ryder and this is my girlfriend Maddy."

Maddy waves at me when Ryder introduces her. She's sitting in Ryder's lap with one hand holding a beer and the other in her boyfriend's hair. I recognize the two of them from school. Ryder was on the football team and Maddy was a cheerleader. They really fit the cliché.

"Chad," Says a boy I also recognize from the football team.

His blonde hair was hidden under a backwards facing hat. The beer in his hand was empty.

"Tyler."

My eyes open slightly when I look to Tyler. Oliver had punched him in the face several times not too long ago. Boys really don't hold any grudges. He doesn't smile at me, just give me a head nod.

"And I'm Grayson, the best one," Grayson says, bringing my attention back to him, "Best looking that is," he says to me, still with his goofy smile.

I look to him and roll my eyes with a small smile, "Sure you are, dimwit."

Grayson's eyes leave me and he looks at something behind me. He feigns a hurt expression and brings his hand up to his chest.

"She's too much like you, take her away."

Grayson drops his arm and lightly pushes me backwards so that I hit something hard. I look up to catch Oliver smirking down at me before he looks back to Grayson.

"She's just calling you out on your shit," Oliver says, "It's your fault you have so much of it."

"And I'll fling it at you like a monkey if I have to.

I roll my eyes and pull myself away from Oliver who I was still leaning slightly on. I start walking to the rest of them. They're all invested in the little spat Oliver and Grayson are having.

"Where are you going?" Oliver asks.

I turn around quickly and raise my eyebrows, "Away from all this," I point between the two of them, "Immaturity."

I turn back around and sit in a couch that no one else is on. I hear some claps come from Maddy, Ryder, Chad, and Tyler. I look at them confused.

"We can never get them to shut up once they start," Ryder speaks up, "Kudos to you."

I smile at them and that's when I notice what they're all wearing. Ugly sweater after ugly sweater. They're all in ugly sweaters except me. I turn to face Oliver who had come sit beside me. His jacket was off and he too had an ugly sweater on. He told me to wear his 'smile' hoodie, and now I stuck out like a sore thumb.

I slap Oliver's arm, "Why didn't you tell me I was supposed to wear an ugly sweater?"

He looks at me and then turns away just to turn back around with two beers in his hands that he grabbed from the mini fridge.

"Beer?"