closer to you

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act II | "romance begins with the first encounter. Our first encounter, involved him and her."

Oliver Davis had always had a difficult time conceptualizing his feeling; often he misinterpreted them for another. The day their birth mother abandoned the twins and their father, he had believed that it had no effect on his daily routine. It hadn't caused grievance or misery; she had, after all been negligent. And for that, he felt nothing.

Their birth mother had disappeared without a word when the boys turned five. He didn't understand nor did he care too. Gene, however, had needed to cope through the new adjustment. Gene had always been in touch with his feelings.

Awhile after her departure, their father remarried an eccentrically loving women, Luella. She became everything their birth mother wasn't – often to an irking degree. It perplexed him. How different he had felt, almost as if the feelings had poured out of him, emanating from his pours, covering him in an unperceivable warmth.

He initially didn't care for the romantic bearings of his birth father – as long as he was content with his choices. As the opposing twins often do, Gene felt differently. He was utterly distressed when their father proposed the introduction.

"What if she doesn't like us? What if she's means? Or what if she thinks we'll steal dad from her?" he had lamented while sitting near the edge of his bottom bunk.

"Don't be stupid."

It had effectively calmed his twin, who had interpreted the phrase in a much more welcoming way than he had said it. Or perhaps, being twins allowed Gene to mentally tap into Oliver's nonchalant emotions. Because honestly, he couldn't care less if the women didn't like them, so long as their father enjoyed his time with her.

That mentality evaporated along with Gene's worries.

Luella's character sparkled with adoration and kindness. The twins likened her to an angel (of course, they'd hold this comparison to the grave), and with her tender, golden mane straightened to her shoulders and the pair of obtuse, bright blue eyes – along with an affinity for beige and ivory toned attire – she certainly looked the part.

Of course, she had always been more than looks.

And he couldn't help but emphasize with her warmth.

But love was an unknown, unidentified emotion. It wasn't a tangible object one could evade; it was as stealthy as a bowling ball in a china shop. It was hidden between various, indistinguishable layers.

Despite various opposing assumptions, Oliver was capable of love – in any tense. After all, he held love for their father and Gene. Being and holding affection for other, newly introduced people was, however, another story altogether. Luella had evaded all those exceptions.

Luella Davis was his mother – proudly. He loved her unconditionally, perpetually.

However, at the moment, she was considered a nuisance to him. "How are you doing, sweetie? Are you eating well – of course, Lin must feed you well? What of your studies? You've always been incredibly intelligent, but Japan is very different from London, and – "

He rolled his eyes at the usual worried ramblings of his mother. Along with her smothering love, joined with the excessive concerns.

Cutting of her emotional fueled tirade, he gave an exhausted sigh. "Mother, I'm fine. Japan is good, and Lin feeds me well."

Lin Koujô was his father's understudy. He had agreed to accompany Oliver to Japan – despite his proclaimed hatred of the country – until his schooling was over. Lin's abrasive character was exempt when the two twins were involved. Perhaps their half Japanese, half English nationality discombobulated his hate?

"That's wonderful, Noll. I was merely calling to make sure you're doing alright. I miss having you around the house, reading those silly novels, and writing your musings…" She sounded wistful. After Gene's passing, Luella hadn't been the same; leaving Oliver to suffer the brunt of her love.

Gene had been the approachable twin; he and Luella had a close bond that could rival the bond the two twins shared. Learning of Gene's passing had greatly affected her, and although she denied it, he was certain Gene had been her favorite.

It wasn't surprising. Oliver was difficult to interact with, moody; he supposed, he took after their birth mother.

The "bubbly twin" and the "moody twin". Often likened to light and dark.

At times, he wondered if Luella would pretend, if he was Gene. If, in her mind, she'd humor herself with the illusion that Eugene had never been murdered, that he was merely traveling abroad – as he had envisioned in his future. Or – this thought invaded his mind during depressive episodes – perhaps, she wished Oliver had been murdered in Gene's place.

He wouldn't fault her for it, of course. After all, Eugene Davis was the better twin.

And so, like various other times, he relented, "… I am interested in- "

The enthralled squeal pounded his eardrums confirmed his mistake.

"Oh, my baby boy interested in someone! How adorably exciting! Who is the person; is it possibly a girl?" Cue another ear-shattering squeal. "Oh, my goodness, Noll, love, please tell me if I'm to plan a wedding soon! Ah, the thought brings tears to my eyes! Noll, please tell me who she is!"

Through his mother's ramblings, a soft flush spread on his pale complexion. He shock the thought of a certain wild-haired brunette and marriage out of his mind. Scowling in annoyance at the uncontrollability of his mind; why the hell did she have to pop-up when his mother mentioned marriage?

Coughing, "The school seven wonders."

There was no possible way in hell Oliver would willingly gossip to his mother about his attraction (or what have you) to Taniyama Mai, much less so when he couldn't muster up the courage to speak to her!

A shiver spiraled down his neck as he remembered the instance when Gene had let slip of his current – at the time – girlfriend. Catalogue after catalogue of wedding planners littered the kitchen table for weeks. He had, of course, found it amusing; it was all fun and games, until her "matchmaking" intent was directed at him.

A little less ecstatic, "… right, the school seven wonders!" her mumbling pickled his ear but before he could make out her rambling, she squealed, once more, shattering his eardrums. "You should invite Yasuhara to join in the investigation! How adorable! The two of you will be liked to Sherlock Homes and Dr. Watson!"

At the time, this suggestion appealed to him, if only slightly. Yasuhara Osamu, although obnoxious, was well acquainted with Oliver and they shared a similar interest in the paranormal. Disregarding his questionable quirks and vibrant innuendos, Oliver likened his company to Gene.

Being the student council President, Yasuhara had an apt talent for research – a certain quality he "lacked" (he found researching to be rather boring as opposed to face-to-face investigations). Although the pair haven't yet to participate in an active investigation, inviting Yasuhara to his expedition didn't seem like an unpleasant time.

However, that assumption would ultimately lead Oliver to this moment; her curly tresses spiraling in the wind, her bright doe eyes gleaming with wonder – directly standing before him, a respectable distance, she turned her head in question.

Prior to this, Oliver has stated his interest on The School Wonders and had nonchalantly suggested the two of them hold an investigation. Yasuhara had expressed his exaggerated excitement and agreed. His concern, however, maxed when the president of the student council posed in an ominous grin, the tips of his rectangular glasses gleaming mischievously.

Remembering the scene brough a shiver down his spine.

"Hello Taniyama-san!" Came Yasuhara Osamu's shrill, beckoning her over with his arm. Oliver felt the unease effects settle within him. This was not happening; his palms began to sweat as she bounded over to the two.

The feel of her chestnut eyes paralyzed him, his ears overheating comically, as he avoided her twinkling gaze.

This was pathetic. Gene would have enjoyed observing his flustered state, as he so desperately avoided her searching orbs, his throat beginning to dry and the nerves in his body malfunctioning.

"Ah, Yasuhara-sempai! Hello, how are you?" along with her patented dimpled smile, Oliver wasn't sure if his heart had escaped the confidence of his ribcage and this was merely an illusion, or if he had died instead of his brother and this was his own personalized hell, either one would effectively condone his heart to stop beating.

Yasuhara graced him with a juvenile grin, solidifying a gruesome fate, "I'm great, excellent, if I dare say." To this, her head turned cutely in question while his maniacal snorts attained stared from students nearby the office. "Oh, have I introduced you to my good friend?"

He suppressed a chill as Yasuhara made a show of introducing them, "Taniyama-san, this is Davis Oliver, he's a third year, and vice president to the student council! He's a fan of ghosts and he's uber smart!" Why was Yasuhara auctioning him off?

Taniyama Mai gave a polite bow, opening her delicate, flushed lips to say something, but the rectangular spectacle-wearing-idiot beat her to it. "Anyway, Oliver suggested investigating the Seven School Wonders and since you're President of the Ghost Telling club, he was wondering if you'd like to research the Schools Seven Wonders with us?"

A glare grimed Oliver's pale complexion as Yasuhara Osamu pulled him down by his shoulders, wiggling his eyebrows towards the giggling petite brunette. What was he doing!? "What do you think, Taniyama-san?"

She grinned, "I'd love to!" He was absolutely livid but her smiling expression placated him. "Ah, but since Oliver-senpai suggested it, should we meet at his home?" Mentioning his name, she gave him a shy smile, curling her fingers into her pleated skirt. Oliver was well aware of her shy attitude around strangers; he knew she didn't mean to cause his chest to spiral into ears and his pale complexion to flare up.

But why the hell did she have to look at him like that?

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