I Hate You...I Think (19 page)

             
"I'm being ridiculous?" I asked pissed off. "You’re the one who was a complete ass. You don't know how to be respectful of me at all and just let things go."

             
"Ever, stop being dramatic," Oliver shut his eye holding his head.

             
"Just leave," I ordered. He's being stupid. If he's going to be an idiot he can go be an idiot at his own house.

             
"I hate this," Oliver sighed in frustration.

             
"Well, if you hate me so much then why are you still standing here?" I demanded. Oliver stepped forward suddenly taking my face in his hands. I gasp.

             
"There are things I do hate when it comes to you," he said softly. I scowled and tried to get away. He wouldn't release me. Wrapping his arm around my waist he pulled me closer.

             
"I hate it when you’re hurt," he started. I stopped fighting and looked up at him.

             
"I hate it when you're not smiling. I hate to see you cry," he continued rubbing his thumb over my cheek. I stared at him shocked.

             
"But most of all," he sighed releasing me. "I hate the fact that you hate me because I am an insensitive jerk," he lowered his head.

The complete look of sadness marked his handsome features. This is a side of him I had never seen. He was always so arrogant and full of himself. For
once he looked lost and sad, and this. This side I loved. Loved? Did I love him? Looking over his soft face I thought it over. It's too soon to think I love him...isn't it....

             
"Then your stupider than I thought," I gave wry smile. His head snapped up.

             
Glaring at me, he sucked in a breath his face turning slightly red.

             
"What's that supposed to mean?" He demanded. "I just basically told you I love you and you call me stupid?"

             
I continued smiling at him. "I mean I love you too, stupid."

             
Oliver's mouth dropped open staring at me. "What?" He asked bewildered.

             
"Don't make me repeat myself," I told him punching him in the arm. He touched the spot on his arm that I had punched him still staring at me in awe, then suddenly reached out gathering me up in his arms.

He leaned his head toward mine. I shut my eyes feeling his hot breath tickle my lips.
His lips pressed gently to mine they were warm and soft. Gripping the back of his head I pulled my face closer. Inhaling his scent and enjoying the warmth of his arms around me.

After what seemed an eternity we pulled apart. Oliver laid his forehead to mine our nosed touching.

              "I love you too, Ever," he told me kissing me once more.

Chapter Eleven

              "Are you uncomfortable with me sleeping in here?" Oliver asked with a smirk.

             
"No," I muttered a shutter running through my body. Oliver wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his chest and wrapped the blankets around us. If I didn't feel so awful I would be blushing.

             
"You shouldn't have been running around in the rain. Now you got a fever," he teased.

             
"Shut up," I told him my voice muffled against his shirt.

             
We were silent a moment, I was just listening to his heartbeat.

             
"I'm sorry about how I acted the other day," he whispered.

             
"I was just worried when I didn't hear from you. You were right when you said you’re not part of my gang. I can't boss you around."

             
I lifted my head to look up at him. I can't believe he apologized.

             
"If I had said something sooner then you wouldn't be sick right now," he frowned.

             
"And, I wouldn't have been chased through the park either," I grimaced.

             
He sighed and scowled at the wall behind me.

             
"I promised myself I wasn't going to let Jason's gang get anywhere near you. I'm not very good at protecting you I guess."

             
"Those guys were part of Jason's gang?" I asked shocked.

             
He pulled his eye brows together and nodded. "What were you thinking walking in their territory anyways, Ever? Jason's place was right on the other side of the junkyard. You’re lucky we heard you scream or we wouldn't have found you."

             
Another shutter ran through me and it wasn't from the fever either.

             
"I...I have been walking there at the park for a week. I didn't really think about it I guess."             

             
Oliver cupped my face and made me look at him.

             
"You need to think about things now," he said gently. "I told you those guys are creeps, and Jason knows you’re with me. He'll go out of his way to hurt you because he hates me. I wouldn't be surprised if this starts a war now."

             
Oliver frowned and rolled onto his back pulling my head onto his chest.

             
"I'm sorry."

             
I felt guilty now. I have probably caused a huge mess just cause I had to walk through the freakin park.

             
"It's okay. It's not something for you to worry about," he smiled.

             
"Though I wish you would have told me about your mom, Ever. I wanted to be there for you."

             
I shrugged. "I don't know why I didn't tell you. If Alex hadn't have been there when my Aunt called he would have never known either. I just...I wanted to deal with it on my own. It's not like she was really in my life. I mean she is my mom but..." I shrugged again.

             
"I understand," Oliver told me. "My dad is the same way. If he died tomorrow it wouldn't really bother me."

             
I watched Oliver's face closely he didn't seem bothered by telling me this. He rolled on his side facing me again.

             
"He's been in prison since I was seventeen for drugs," Oliver shrugged.

             
"What about your mom?"

             
"She died when I was three. Drug over dose."

             
Oliver took a strand of my hair and pushed it behind my ear.

             
"Like I told you I grew up in this kind of stuff. I guess you can say it runs in my blood," he admitted with that lopsided grin I have come to adore.

             
"You enjoy fighting and racing and doing illegal stuff?" I grinned. It was hard not to with that look on his face.

             
"Yeah, it's kind of exciting," he shrugged.

             
"Then why do you work at the college? I mean you said you didn't care if you lost your job," I frowned.

             
"I keep my job to see my sister...or I did at least," he told me rubbing the back of his head frowning.

             
"What do you mean?" I replied confused.

             
"Well Angie, Lily's mom doesn't think I'm a good influence on her."

             
"Well you’re not a very good influence on me," I teased.

             
He twisted his mouth into a half smirk-half grin.

             
"She can't keep you away from her can she? She is your sister," I argued.

             
"Afraid she can. See Angie use to be a crack whore, literally. Before my dad went to prison she was with him. After he got busted though she found out she was pregnant and "turned her life around"." Oliver rolled his eyes.

             
"Now she is with some religious nut and they think I'm in to drugs and gangs."

             
"Well you are the latter one," I laughed.

             
He grinned, his eyes having that mischievous glint to them.

             
"They don't know that. Though if I bring you around then they'll see I'm not a bad influence."

             
"Pshh...me?" I scoffed. "The longer I'm around you the more you corrupt me."

             
"Is that so?" he purred leaning down over me. My breath caught in my throat. Placing his hands on either side of my head he climbed over me and sat on my hips. His face inches from mine.

             
"I can corrupt you more if you want?" he smirked, his lips brushing mine gently. He was making it hard to think. I opened my mouth but nothing came out.

He took that
opportunity to kiss me sliding his tongue in my mouth. I grabbed his face and deepened the kiss. His lips were so soft, I didn't want to stop, but I quickly pushed him away as a sneeze came out. I turned my head quickly to not sneeze on him.

He burst out laughing. I smacked him lightly in the stomach.

              "I had to sneeze, jerk face."

             
"Jerk face?" he questioned grinning. I just stuck my tongue at him.

             
"I'm not laughing cause you had to sneeze. I'm laughing at it."

             
"Iiichhhooo," he mocked in a squeaky voice. I smacked him again.

             
"I do not sound like that," I protested. He snatched my hands pinning them to the bed.

             
"Yes, you do."

             
I opened my mouth to tell him I didn't but he kissed me again making me forget what I about to say. He pulled away a moment later.

             
"You’re just too cute when you’re mad."

             
My face began to burn. I was not cute...

             
"Don't make that face," he laughed.

             
"What face?" I asked confused.

             
"The pouty one, when I give you compliments. You are cute, and beautiful and amusing."

             
As he said each word he kissed me.

             
"And, you’re bipolar," I laughed.

             
"How is that?" he questioned falling on to the bed next to me and pulling me into his side.

             
"Cause one minute you’re trying to seduce me then the next you’re being all sweet. You’re confusing."

             
"I always keep you guessing, huh?" he smirked. I nodded. Suddenly another sneeze came and I coughed as it someone tickled my nose.

             
"I do believe it's time for bed now," he told me. I didn't argue my eyes were starting to feel heavy.

             
"If you don't feel good in the morning you’re not going to school," he told me his face against my hair.

             
"Aww," I whined. "But, I have been missing so much class as it is."

             
"I said if. We'll see how you are in the morning. If you don't feel good then I'll stay here and take care of you."

             
"But, Oliver you have class," I shook my head.

             
He laughed softly. "You really are stubborn. No arguing. Sleep now," he told me pushing my head into his chest so I couldn't talk. I wiggled closer to him. My body was really cold and he was keeping me warm. After a moment I fell deep in sleep.

              The next morning I woke with Oliver's arms and legs tangled around me. If I didn't need to go to the bathroom so bad I would have buried my face back into his arm. Slowly I removed his arms and legs and crawled out of bed. He rolled over and rubbed his eyes and looked after me as I finally got off the bed and headed into the bathroom. When I came out he was sitting up on the bed his face in his hands.