Otis paced the length of the classroom. He was supposed to have a project meeting with Ruby and Ola. Ruby had already texted him saying she was going to be late and Otis was dreading being alone with Ola. Things between them had been awkward since his party. Sure they'd say everything was fine and that they were 'friends' but there was always a lack of closure between them and they knew it. Otis thought of delaying the meeting or bailing but decided against it at the last minute.
"Hey, you alright?" Ola asked, walking into the classroom and putting her bag on the nearest chair.
"Hey, yeah, how you doing?" Otis asked, awkwardly.
"I'm okay, where's Ruby?" Ola asked, looking around the room.
"She just texted saying she's running late." Otis said.
"What else is new?" Ola asked with a small laugh.
Otis smiled back, relieved at how this wasn't the most awkward conversation he had ever had. Which to be fair, is a hard record to beat given the fact that he's Otis Milburn but he was still doing alright. However, his sense of relief didn't last long because the silence in the room was fast becoming deafening as the minutes began to pass. It was painful how they could sense the other's tiniest movements, hoping and praying that Ruby would show up soon.
Otis couldn't help run an internal monologue of all the things he wished he could say to Ola, all the things he knew he would've said if things had ended differently between them. The silence in the room and the noise in his mind were beginning to drive Otis crazy. He felt like he was going to explode.
"I'm really proud of you!" Otis almost screamed as he suddenly stopped his pacing.
"What?" Ola asked, clearly startled.
"I'm really proud of you for being yourself so beautiful and truly and for being with Lily. The two of you are so perfect together, it's crazy to think there was ever a time you weren't together." Otis said.
"That's really sweet, Otis. A little shocking but I appreciate it." Ola said.
"I've been meaning to say this for a very long time. I've also wanted to apologise for the party. I know you said we're okay and maybe we are but I wanted us to have a better ending than we did. You were my first girlfriend; Ola and you're always going to be very special to me. It sucks that I was a complete douche and I'm very sorry to have put you through that. I kind of wish I was there for you and I could've been there when you and Lily found each other. I know it sounds weird because we used to date and she's your girlfriend but I think once I got distance from what we had I realised we were never meant to be together romantically. You and I got along so well and we always had so much fun together. You and I, we're supposed to a beautiful friendship and I guess what I'm saying through this very incoherent and unsolicited rant is that I hope I haven't ruined our chance at that." Otis said.
"You haven't. I agree with you, you and I are supposed to be great friends and maybe that's why we didn't work out. But for what it's worth, I have no hard feelings for how things ended. I see you and Maeve and it just makes sense to me. The two of you fit together, in a way you and I never did." Ola said.
"Thanks. It means a lot to me to know that you and I are okay." Otis said, with a smile.
"We're more than okay. Come here." Ola said, opening her arms out for Otis to hug her.
Otis shrugged his shoulders in a way that was a mixture of cute and awkward and went onto to hug Ola as tight as he possibly could. It almost felt cathartic to let go of their past together and the baggage of having hurt Ola, something that had been weighing quite heavily on Otis' mind.
"I did not sign up for whatever this is." Ruby said, walking into the room.
"You're here." Ola said, pulling away from Otis.
"Yes I am and already regretting showing up." Ruby said.
"Ruby.." Otis began, silently asking her to knock it off.
"Why are you always such a bitch?" Ola asked.
"I have no idea who you are and why you think you can talk to me like that." Ruby said, charging towards Ola.
"Hey! Okay! Let's take a bit of a time out. Ruby come with me." Otis said, standing between the girls.
Ruby didn't budge from her position. She looked like she was just about ready to kill Ola.
"Ruby.. Come on." Otis said, holding Ruby's arm.
Ruby decided to go with Otis but continued to give Ola a death stare as she walked out.
"Why do you always have to be like that?" Otis asked, as they walked into the hall.
"Like what?" Ruby asked.
"You know what. Why do you have to constantly push people away?" Otis asked.
"I don't push people away, they just don't understand me." Ruby said, crossing her arms across her chest.
"It's not like you even try to get them to understand you, you always have like five walls up, completely closing you in." Otis said.
Ruby just rolled her eyes. She wasn't really in the mood to explain herself.
"Is everything okay?" Otis asked.
Ruby looked at Otis for a moment, contemplating whether she wanted to tell him what was going on. "Yeah. I tried talking to my dad about school today and he completely blew me off. He was on his phone the entire time. I know he's super stressed all the time but sometimes I just need my dad, you know?"
"Yeah, I do. I'm the poster child for kids with absentee parents. I know how much it hurts. I'm sorry that happened." Otis said.
"I'm sorry I took it out on Olly." Ruby said.
"Ola." Otis said.
"Yeah, Ola. That's what I meant." Ruby said.
"What is with you and calling people by incorrect names?" Otis asked.
"I forget sometimes, okay?" Ruby asked.
"Speaking of calling people by their correct names, I need you to stop screwing with Maeve." Otis said.
"I can't be nice to Cockbitter, it's just not in my blood." Ruby said with a shrug.
"Well you're gonna have to try. Also her name is Maeve." Otis said, clearly getting annoyed.
"Why? It's not like she's nice to me." Ruby said, sounding like a child being scolded.
"You have to try because she's my girlfriend and you're my friend and if we want this friendship to continue, the two of you have to get along." Otis said.
"Ugh, fine. I can't believe you like her this much." Ruby said.
"I can't believe you're surprised." Otis said.
Ruby just rolled her eyes and began walking towards the classroom.
"I'm not in the mood to fight." Ola said, when she saw Ruby and Otis walk into the room.
"I don't want to fight. I'm sorry." Ruby said.
"You're what?" Ola asked, the disbelief etched on her face.
"Don't act like you didn't hear me. Ruby said, the irritation evident in her voice.
"I did but I just can't believe it." Ola said, with a huge grin.
"You know what? Forget it." Ruby said, beginning to walk out again.
"No no, stop. I'm sorry too." Ola said, with a smile.
Ruby nodded awkwardly, not knowing what else to say. She was pretty glad that she and Ola had worked things out though, not that she would ever admit it.
The rest of the meeting went off without a hitch and they actually ended up making a lot of progress. Once the session was over, all of them left the school together. They found Maeve waiting for Otis at the entrance.
"Hey." Maeve said with a smile as she gave Otis a quick kiss.
"Hey." Otis said, returning her smile.
"Hey Maeve, how's it going?" Ola asked.
"Alright, what are you up to now?" Maeve asked.
"Going to over to Lily's, I'll see you guys later." Ola said, walking away.
Ruby thought about leaving without saying a word to Maeve but stopped herself.
"Hey Maeve." Ruby said, awkwardly.
"Wait, did you just call me Maeve?" Maeve asked, her mouth hanging open from the shock.
"Isn't that your name?" Ruby asked.
"It is but I've never heard you using it." Maeve said.
"It's been brought to my attention that I can be.. difficult." Ruby said, shooting a look at Otis. "And I'm trying to work on it." She continued.
"That's actually quite nice and surprising, thank you." Maeve said.
"I'll see you two around." Ruby said, with a small smile as she walked away.
"Well that's something I never thought I'd see." Maeve said.
"She's not that bad once you get to know her." Otis said, holding Maeve's hand. The action had become second nature to him at this point.
"I guess I will get to know her. What did you say to her?" Maeve asked.
"I told her that you're my girlfriend and she's my friend and if we're going to continue being friends, she's going to have to nice to you." Otis said.
"You know you don't have to defend me, right?" Maeve asked, still smiling.
"I know but you're my girlfriend and I can't stand anyone being anything less than nice to you." Otis said.
"I can understand that. That was pretty sweet. But don't go become one of those hyper protective boyfriends who think they need to "protect" me from the world. " Maeve said, suddenly coming to a stop on the sidewalk.
"I promise." Otis said.
Maeve smiled and pulled Otis in for a kiss. The fact that Otis was making such an effort to make sure she was comfortable around Ruby, meant more to Maeve than she would ever admit. She still had her doubts and things she needed to discuss with Otis but they had all the time in the world to get to that. Right now, all Maeve wanted was to take a walk in the afternoon sun with the love of her life.
