DANGEROUS ELYSIUM

PART NINE

OLIVER

When I finally made it back to the dorm after Sharna dropped me off I decided. It was a decision based purely on me and what I needed. "Hey Uncle Curtis. I was just wondering if it's okay with you if I come to yours earlier?" I asked, shoving clothes into my backpack. Hoping he'd say yeah. But then again I'd probably just go anyway.

"What's wrong, son?"

"Nothing. I just need a break…."

"What about school?"

"I can study online, it's okay. So is it okay to come early?"

"Sure son. When will you get here?" Thank god he didn't refuse. Because it's money wasted.

"Well I'm just packing up some bits and I'll leave. I'll get the train shortly so I won't be with you until late tonight."

"Alright. I'll wait for you. I'll cook you some food too."

"Thank you."

"Just get here my boy." He added, his voice growing thick with emotion. Life in that small town was supposed to breed any softness out of its men, but it hadn't ever done that for my Uncle Curtis. That hadn't meant that Uncle Curtis was weak, or that he made decisions based solely on emotion, but he still felt and he hadn't ever seemed to be afraid of what people might think of that. It was one of the things I admired most about him and had always wished I could emulate. It was also one of the reasons he went back. City life has never been for him, he'd moan at my mother constantly for taking me to a city and in the words of my mother 'my son will not be some cowboy' that always made me laugh because she never meant it in a horrible way. She just wanted me to see bigger, better things and hopefully have a good strong life in the city. How wrong she was. The city is full of monsters and I was stupid to stay when my uncle decided to go back home.

"Aright, I'll call you when I'm almost there."

"Okay son, be safe."

I pressed the end call and quickly shoved my laptop in my bag and not to forget my phone charger. "Done." I whispered, then realized I needed to navigate my way through campus unscathed. Yet no one knew I was with Sharna so I should be relatively safe. With that thought in mind I shoved my wallet in my pocket and snatched up my bag and left a quick note to my roommate who wasn't actually all that bad, saying I won't be back so use the whole room. I wouldn't even care if he chucked the rest of my shit out. I had what I needed, what was important and everything else was just rubbish. Anything of real sentimental value was with my Uncle Curtis at his home, on his ranch.

Taking a deep breath I looked around. The halls seemed too quiet, but then again I should be in class now, math and I love math. But sometimes I had to give up the things I love if I was to live my best life. Sharna being one of them. I couldn't live here in this city, not anymore and this place was his home. It's not been mine for a very long but I tried, I tried so hard and giving up doesn't mean you're weak. It just means I'm leaving behind the bad and headed towards the good. I'm finally doing something for me, leaving this shit hole and its even shittier people. People who live behind fake smiles and ugly lies. Tainting everything they touch until there's nothing left.

Finally making it outside and happy that the rain had let up to nothing more than a light drizzle. I noticed someone near the entrance and as I got closer I saw it was Molly. She looked….uneasy, scared. "Molly?"

Her eyes snapped to mine. "Oh my god!" She rushed towards me. "Oh god! Are...are you okay?"

"Erm….yeah, I guess…."

"Thank goodness," she breathed, clutching my arms. "I was so worried. God I was so damn worried."

"Why?"

"Oliver," she chirped. "I need to tell you something."

"Oh, well I'm actually on my way to the station."

"Oh….I'll walk with you. I need to tell you something."

"Alright, lets go."

She smiled and relief seemed to wash over her and she relaxed enough and took my hand in hers. "I know we work with each other and I've not really bothered getting to know you…"

"Honestly it's fine Molly…."

"No, it's not. I should have but I'm always so preoccupied with my own crap. But….I've always watched you and my brother," the mere mention of Raine made feel like I wanted to vomit. "It's just, you two seemed like such good friends…."

"Seemed?"

"Right….erm, well I just….oh god I should have said something sooner….god only knows how many times that Morgan tries chatting me up…."

"Wait, what?"

I tried to stop but Molly pulled me along. "We can't stop. It's best that you're leaving…."

"How do you know I'm leaving?"

"It's a guess, with you going to the station and all. I remember you saying about your uncle….I've never told anyone though, honestly I haven't ...."

"It's okay Molly. Even if you did it wouldn't matter. But what I'm more interested in is what you were talking about before."

"Oh right. Well….your friends with Raine…."

"Not anymore." I thought I'd make that clear, although I wasn't going to tell Molly why.

"Oh….I thought as much."

"I'm seriously getting confused Molly."

"He's friends with Morgan," I gasped as sudden realization set in. "More than friends….no, definitely more than friends. I saw them….together and I got really scared. I thought for a while that maybe they were friends, but not like that. Like kissing and stuff…."

"Kissing?"

"Yes. I saw them yesterday morning after I served Morgan his coffee. Then I went out back to put some rubbish out and I glimpsed them. So I snuck around and hid by the trash bin and that's when I saw them."

"Kissing?"

"Yes. Kissing, groping each other….I freaked out you know because I didn't know my brother was like that and obviously with you and Morgan and Sharna I freaked out more and just had to tell you. I'm so sorry Oliver for leaving things…."

"Molly….I understand. He's your brother, a shitty brother but your brother nonetheless. I just want to get away from here. I was going to call and say I was sick actually but now you're here…."

"You won't ever be coming back, right?"

"No Molly. I'm never coming back."

"Did Raine hurt you?"

"Yeah Molly, he hurt me. Anyway, get back home. I'll keep in touch, just please don't say anything to anyone, please."

"I promise. I just want you to be happy Oliver and if getting away from here is the only way, then good. It won't be long before I'm doing the same, just please let me know how you're doing."

"I will."

"I'm going to miss you." Molly pulled me to a stop and I was in her arms before I could even find the words to respond. Of course, I wanted to pretend I'd moved that quickly, but the fact was that I was just as emotional, if not more so, than her. Then I closed my eyes at the warm comforting sensation then hugged her back tightly.

"I need to get going."

"Oh right," she said, pulling away. "You best go then. Be safe Oliver."

I nodded and turned away from her. I took another one of those long deep breaths. Now I get it. I get why Raine was so persistent in being my friend, why he kept me at his side for so long. All the things I've told him, things I've never told anyone else. He's obviously been relaying every bit of information back to Morgan. I'm hurt, really hurt that I was used and I felt stupid for letting myself be used. Then a deeper part of me wanted to turn back and tell Sharna, but I'm not sure if it would make any kind of difference. I'd still leave. Leaving is the best decision. Best for me, best for Sharna. I couldn't ignore my feelings, that much is true but I also knew I could never act upon them, not in the way we want anyway. He'd eventually move on with me gone and I'd move on being away from here. Then I heard myself chuckling because I almost felt like I’d lost something in that moment… maybe because there was a secret part of me that hadn't wanted to believe it was all a lie. That I'd never move on from Sharna, no matter how far I run. I'll always, always be his. He owned my heart the moment we met and he'll own it for the rest of my life.