DANGEROUS ELYSIUM

PART EIGHTEEN

ETHAN

That guy from last night...Sharna. That's what Curtis called him. He told me a little about the guy, that he and Oliver had known each other since they were small. Then Curtis said that Sharna pushed Oliver away, like badly hurt him. Why? Why would someone hurt another for no reason and keep on doing it? Especially to Oliver, he is the sweetest guy I've ever met. I'd never known him to do anything wrong. I still remember one summer a couple years ago, we didn't even really know each other that much, just the odd hello and stuff, but he was so sweet to me. Even though I almost ran him over with my truck, he like, popped out of nowhere and I had to swerve my truck straight into a bush. I would have usually stepped out of my truck and pummeled whoever got in my way, but just one look at his sweet but mortified face had me almost melting on the spot. Apparently he was way too absorbed in a book and didn't notice he'd walked out into the road. Who reads while walking? I thought at the time and it mesmerised me. "Look Ethan!" Oliver called out. "I'm absolutely riding a horse!"

I laughed as the little mare Oliver was sitting on actually turned her head as if to look at him. She was the smallest horse on the property, and one of the oldest. She also couldn't be convinced to do much more than a languid walk even if the wolves of hell were nipping at her heels. If the old mare moved any slower, she'd be dead. I’d told all this to Oliver this morning, but it hadn’t made him feel any better. Now look at him. "You have to use a little bit more oomph," I said with a smile. "You got this." At least he wasn't scared anymore. Oliver gave Daisy a few more kicks, and then finally one big one to get her moving. As soon as she took a step, he grabbed onto the saddle horn and began begging the horse to slow down, though she was barely moving. I leaned back against the rail of the small corral we were in and enjoyed the sight of Oliver, then I clocked my friend Thomas coming up the dirt track in his truck. "You keep at it cutie! I'll be right back."

Oliver blushed, then waved his hand like he'd been riding horses his whole life. "Hey buddy," Thomas called out, stopping up next to me. "Got the feed in the back."

"Oh yeah," I mumbled and quickly looked back to make sure Oliver was still on the horse. "Forgot, sorry."

"Well you look happy."

"I am," I turned back to Thomas who was grinning so widely I thought his jaw might just drop off. "Need to ask you a favor now that you're here."

"Oh yeah? Such as?"

"A guy came here last night, looking for Oliver."

"And?"

"I don't like him. Me and Curtis told him to leave but you bet your ass he's still hanging around town."

"Right? Who is he?"

I turned back around and stared at Oliver. Watched his smile. "Someone who's caused a lot of pain."

"Okay."

"You can't miss the guy. Think rich smug snob driving around in a very flashy silver Mercedes."

"I'll keep a lookout. Gotta go back into town anyway to the supply store. If I see him, what do you want me to do?"

"Make him leave," I paused for a moment. I know how awful it sounds, but I just can't have that guy uprooting Oliver. "I don't want Oliver to cry. I couldn't handle it."

"It's been a long time Ethan, having a thing for Oliver. You sure you know what you're doing?"

"Yeah," I breathed out and faced Thomas. "I'm not letting him go. He's one of a kind, perfect."

"Alright. I'll let you know if I see the guy."

"Thanks, let me grab that feed and get back to Oliver before he breaks any bones."

Thomas chuckled and stepped out of the truck. "Yeah, wouldn't want your Mr perfect breaking any of those perfect bones, right?"

"You got that right." I muttered and grabbed the bag of feed from Thomas.

"See ya buddy, have fun." He said and got back in his truck and left me standing in his dust. I shook myself and flung the bag over my shoulder and made my way back to Oliver.

He had already gotten himself down, and rounded the corral and neared me, I saw him start to relax and a smile ghosted over his lips. He took one hand off the horn of the saddle and patted Daisy’s neck. I heard him telling her what an amazing horse she was, and then he thanked her for not tossing him on his ass and ruining his jeans. I couldn't help but laugh. "That….was pretty awesome." Oliver's smile just grew and grew, along with my heart.

"You did well. Want a drink?"

"Definitely," he paused and pursed his pretty pink lips. "Lemonade?"

"Sure," I leaned in and placed a quick kiss on those pretty pink lips and he….squeaked. "Now that was cute."

"Don't mock me. Anyway, who was that?"

"Thomas, an old friend. He brought some feed. But at this moment you look like you need feeding."

"A famous sandwich?"

"I have many famous sandwiches."

"Oh do you? Do the others contain sugar too?"

"No, but I can add sugar if you want that?" I was eager to do more than just make him famous sandwiches, which I more than loved doing. But I wanted to give Oliver the things that no one had ever thought to. Today's riding lesson was the one that should've happened years earlier but that had been thwarted by events beyond either of our control. His mother dying was one one of them. He lost himself and then he was just gone altogether. And then only seeing him when he'd visit, but that bubbly Oliver was no longer bubbly. He was reserved and quiet and avoided all human interaction, well as much as he could. I always missed him and I hated missing him. I always asked Curtis about him. Was he okay? When was he coming back for a visit? I was even tempted to go to the city and see him. Wasn't sure what excuse I was going to use when I got there, but I didn't go in the end. My father was sick, my mother couldn't cope and everything was put on me. I shouldered looking after my father and working the ranch until he died and then my mother up and left. So I waited and he finally came home.

"You look lost suddenly."

"I'm fine…." But I stopped abruptly when Oliver slapped my ass. I turned my head to look at his bright face and big eyes and cheeks tinted pink from the sun. "What was that for?"

"Dunno really. Maybe like a reality smack."

"On my ass?"

"Yeah. You're too tall to be smacked up the side of your head, so your butt was second best."

I chuckled. God he's just…."Let me put this feed down and I'll make us some food."

"I feel all dusty and gross, I can't eat feeling dusty and gross."

"Well you can quickly wash up if you want?" He again pursed his lips as I dropped the bag of feed down on my porch. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing." He chirped happily.

"Yes you are, it's very cute by the way."

"I am, right? But my clothes are dusty too. Can't eat in dusty clothes."

I squinted as I looked down at the beautiful angel hinting on something. "Well….you could take a shower and wear something of mine."

"Your clothes are too big."

"A t-shirt? That will do."

"Fine, then I'll wear one of your t-shirts," he stopped to twiddle a piece of wayward hair that has my mind and heart racing. "But I'm not trying….well, you know….like trying to get to you." He added.

He was the worst liar ever. So I leaned in and kissed him. He was just starting to kiss me back when I broke the contact. "I like it Oliver, it makes waiting for when you're ready all the more worth it."

"Worth it?" He said and stared off, his eyes emptied and the happiness he did have there seemed to evaporate in seconds.

"Oliver, will you come somewhere with me."

"Where?"

"It's a surprise."

"I don't like surprises."

I smiled and brushed my knuckles over his cheek. "You'll love this one."

"When?"

"Right now."

"Right now?"

I nodded. The sun was hot, the air sticky, so the timing was perfect. "Come on." I snatched up his hand and rushed to my truck. I bundled Oliver in and quickly followed suit. I revved up the truck and sped away down the dirt road, but before coming to the end of it I quickly made a sharpe right and through the field until we hit the woods. It was bumpy and Oliver held on for dear life, but he didn't say anything. Which was good, I just wanted to get there. I wanted to see his face of wonderment and his eyes sparkle. Then we reached our destination. I pulled the truck to a stop. I turned to Oliver and then said, "We're here."

He looked around him as if noticing for the first time that we’d even left the ranch. I knew he wasn't saying much because the place I'd taken him didn't look impressive from where we were. "Oh," he said as he looked around the barren landscape. "It's nice."

We're not actually there yet, we need to walk a little now."

"O...okay." He stuttered.

"I promise you'll be okay."

He nodded and took my hand and followed me along a narrow trail. The sound of the roaring water started to grow louder and louder and I could hear Oliver asking me where we were. But this time I didn't answer him. Instead, when I broke through the trees, I turned to look at him so I could take in his expression. His eyes went wide at the sight of the waterfall and the small body of water it fell into. The water was beautifully clear and crisp, and the area was surrounded by lush trees, brush, and wildflowers. "Oh my God." He said, as he dropped my hand and stepped forward to take in the sight.

"It's beautiful, right?"

"Yeah." I nudged him a little and squeaked again as he wobbled. "I could have fallen."

"Straight into the water. You would be fine," I took his hand again. "Come on."

"We have more walking to do?"

"Just a few seconds. Then I want to tell you something."

"Okay." He piped up and smiled. It almost stopped my damn heart. But I held on and walked us through the bush until we came up to a huge boulder. "This it?"

"Yeah. But look around Oliver, tell me what you see and hear."

His brows furrowed for a second and then he was turning away from me. I watched him take in everything, I mean everything. I didn't talk, I didn't need to. Then he was back looking at me. "I see perfection, a place so untouched by hands one could lose themselves, but in a good way. I can hear the birds, the trees moving in the wind and the steady rush of water. Everything one would expect from nature," he paused for a second, letting his arms fall to his sides. "....It's beautiful."

"This is your place now Oliver. So when you're feeling sad or angry you can come here." He seemed so overcome and didn't actually answer with words. Instead he walked right into my arms and put his face against my chest. I held him for the longest time, doing nothing more than rubbing his back and giving him a place where he could collect his thoughts, with or without me. After everything, it's what he needed most.