38: Just Go Shower

Happy New Year's eve. Eve.

"Go shower you nasty."

I have to stop myself from saying 'bitch'. The twins are right by me. We're in an intense game of Chutes and Ladders right now and I am kicking butt, which is besides the point. The twins are listening intently to the conversation Oliver and I are having about his body odor. It's not really Oliver's fault. He is the only one that consistently works out in this house. We prefer the couch potato lifestyle.

"Nah," He says, then looks to the twins, "It'll scare the shadow monsters away, don't you think?"

The twins nod excitedly. They always agree with Oliver no matter what he says. Or maybe they just like disagreeing with me. And they're always excited at a new opportunity to get rid of the shadow monsters under their bed. Whatever the case, I glare at Oliver.

"Do not use my brothers for your benefit."

Oliver smirks at me, obviously proud at his attempt to push my buttons. I roll my eyes at him and turn back to the board game. I can feel Oliver's eyes still on me. His shadow slowly covers me as he moves closer. His smell of sweat filling my senses, and somehow the vanilla and teakwood still lingers slightly.

"Woah, did you see that?"

I look around, confused as to what Oliver just saw. A bit of panic rushes through me as the worst possible scenarios run through my mind. I felt comfort in Oliver shadow right then. At least he knew how to kick butt.

"Yeah, over there!" Ben yells.

I look around again, still trying to find what they see. They must be going crazy and I must be the last sane person standing. I see nothing out of the ordinary in this house.

"Shadow monster!" Braden yells.

Oliver points at me and yells, "Get it!"

My mind has less than a second to process what the hell is going on. My eyes go wide and I jump out of the chair and run off. I go to the living room and run around the couch. Oliver is too fast though and he tackles me to the couch. Stupid football training.

I try to push him off me but the boys jump on us as well, adding more weight. Oliver's sweat gets all over me as his wet hair drips onto my face. It hits my lips and the salty taste makes my nose scrunch. The boys don't seem to care at all that they're laying on top of a pile of sweat and keep laughing and screaming. Oliver has a smirk on his face and he shakes his head on purpose to make more sweat drip off him.

"Sweat! My weakness!" I yell in fake agony.

The twins are still laughing, "No more shadow monster!"

I struggle underneath Oliver and the twins for a while longer. I keep my hands on Oliver's shoulders to try and push him away but his body weight is all on me. Not to mention the twins on top of him. It was not going to be pretty if I didn't get some air soon.

"It's gonna be no more Hazel if you guys don't get off," I squirm a little more.

Oliver must realize I'm serious even if my tone is still playful. He manages to get the twins off of him. He then slides off of me. The three of them stare at me as I sit up and regain myself. Mainly it's just me breathing in air that doesn't have sweat particles floating around.

"I think we got it," Oliver mentions, looking to the twins.

The twins nod and start laughing again. I glare at him. I can't imagine how crazy and disheveled I look. After being tackled and trampled by three people one can only look so good. And I definitely smell like Oliver's sweat.

I roll my eyes and stand up with my arms crossed. I look to Oliver first and then let my eyes fall down to the twins.

"Just go shower."

The twins run off to their rooms, racing each other as always. The first person to get to the bathroom gets dibs on the first shower. Everybody knows the first shower is the best shower. I turn my attention back to Oliver after I watch the twins run off.

"Really?"

He shrugs with a smirk, "Now you stink too."

I huff and roll my eyes as I walk away and head to my room. Oliver follows closely behind. So now he wants to shower, of course. Well, he's not getting first shower, I promise. I start running towards my room, trying to get there first. But Oliver catches on and uses those wide receiver skills of his to race me. I'm about to win when he grabs my waist and pulls me back. Our momentum makes him stumble backwards.

"Let me shower!"

Oliver sets me down on the floor, but keeps his tight hold around my waist. He flips me around so that I'm facing him. He's got a serious look on his face, that stone cold facade he puts up.

"Only if you say yes."

"Yes to what?" I look into his eyes.

His hold around my waist loosens enough that I could run away and shower. I decide to stay though, Oliver's words spiking the curious cat that never seems to die within me. He lets one hand go from around my waist and brushes it through his sweaty hair so that it's not sticking against his forehead.

"My father is having one of his New Year's galas tomorrow. I have to go."

"So, why am I saying yes?"

The mention of his father sends a chill through my spine. I can't help but remember that night we snuck in to Oliver's own house. That's not normal. But then again, my life isn't that normal either. I take care of my twin brothers and the most popular guy in school sleeps on my couch. Well, second most popular, Grayson Adams still wins.

"Come with me."

I raise my eyebrows in surprise. I haven't been to a Grey Family extravaganza since my dad left. I don't even know how to act at them anymore, especially now that I won't be at the kids table. The twins would be alone for New Year's. Not that they even stay up until midnight anyway. They always fall asleep.

"I need you there, Haze."

His tone sounds broken even though his face is still stone cold. I can't say no. I slowly nod my head and give him a small smile. When he catches my response a little smile appears, breaking his stone cold appearance. He visibly relaxed his tense shoulders.

I let out a small laugh, "What am I supposed to wear?"

"Grayson's house tomorrow."

I just raise my eyebrows at him but say nothing. I've gotten to the point where I don't question Oliver's vagueness. I bring my hands up to his forearms and give them a squeeze. It shocks me how strong his arms are but I cover it up with a smile.

"Grayson knows fashion?"

Oliver chuckles, his head falling back a little, "He can barely dress himself."

"So, no."

Oliver shakes his head, some sweat hitting my face. I close my eyes and my hands just tighten around his arms. By this point a little more sweat wasn't going to change much. We both smelled like we ran a marathon even though only one of us actually did.

"His sister left stuff when she went to college."

I nod my head silently.

Grayson Adams had an older sister. Just as popular as Grayson. Just as pretty as Grayson. Maybe not as goofy as him, but she was nice. She'd always been kind to me at those parties. Now she was off to England. She was living her dream of sleeping with every guy with a British accent, oh, and getting a degree at Oxford. Priorities though.

"Can I go shower now?"

"No."

Oliver picks me up and does a 180 before setting me down. He then let go and just walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. I'm left there alone, staring at the closed door. Great, second shower sucks. I roll my eyes at the closed door.

"Fuck you, Oliver Grey," I say in a yelled whisper.

"Any day, Haze, any day."