Hero
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It was a little bit dark and very quiet. He knew he would always remember it that way.
She was still crying; her weak sniffling noises were the only thing he heard. Silently, he held out his hand and she took it, moving closer and sobbing on his shoulder.
"I loved him," she kept whispering. "So, so much…"
"He's an ass," he repeated for what felt like the millionth time. "You're better off without him."
"But I miss him, Oliver… I can't stop thinking about him. How could he throw this all away?" A frail sob shook her shoulders, before she continued brokenly. "I thought we were so in love… I even slept with him, and in a second, he was willing to forget…"
She let out another strangled moan, the tears cascading in a swift sequence.
"It's okay, it's okay," he mumbled quietly, again and again, though he knew it was anything but.
There was nothing he wanted more than to be her hero. The one to wipe her tears away, to hold her in his arms and make her happy, to make her forget about that stupid Jake Ryan.
"Oliver…"
He wanted to give her the world.
"What the hell am I gonna do, Oliver?"
It was his turn to say something. Something that would erase all her pain and give her everything she'd always wanted.
But he couldn't.
"You're going to move on," he assured her weakly, making an extra effort to keep his voice strong. "You're going to be fine. Forget him… he's not worth it."
Her voice was pained when she spoke again. "It's so hard."
"It's his loss… because you're…" His voice cracked slightly. "Because you're wonderful."
She feebly attempted a smile. "Thanks, Oliver. You're the best friend I've ever had and you always will be." She leaned closer and pecked him on the cheek.
He wanted to be her hero, but he never would be.
He was only the best friend.
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A/N: Comment, please. Criticism and feedback are welcomed with open arms.