Chapter Text
The two of us walked along our familiar leaf-covered path. The sunset threw a golden glow everywhere, making the world seem on fire. The light caught his hair; it burned like an amber flame. I wish I could have suspended this moment in space for all of time and held it forever and ever.
We continued along the trail, and my heart was pounding behind the cage of my ribs. I had asked him here for a reason, I was going to tell him how I felt. Years and years of friendship, long walks in the park, sunsets and midnight talks under the moon had done what i thought nothing ever could.
It had made me fall in love.
I loved him. I knew that much. And I thought he loved me too. It was so hard for me to believe it, for how could anyone love me? But he poured so much into me without the guarantee of anything in return. That had to be love. Right?
I took a breath and began.
“Oliver?”
He looked at me with eyes so much like the honey he loved to put in his tea.
“What is it, Ari?”
His nose scrunched up as he stared at me. Taking in my flushed appearance he laughed slightly. And then he said four words that upended my life.
“Is this about Elizabeth?”
I stumbled for a second, utterly confused.
“What about Elizabeth?”
He laughed, a childlike glow on his face. Then he looked at my bewildered face and he flushed.
“Surely you’ve noticed?”
I took a shaking breath and looked away, looked anywhere but his face.
“Noticed what?” I said, quiet as death.
He laughed again, the sound cutting through me.
“I’ve damn near made a fool of myself around her, you must be ashamed to be friends with me.”
He nudged me, trying to get me to laugh with him.
How had I misjudged this situation so badly? Had I been so blind to anything but my feelings that I had completely missed my best friend falling in love?
Looking back, yes the signs were there. He was so nervous around her, but who wasn’t? She was powerful and loved by all. I took it as the boyish shyness that often accompanied his manners, but I guess it was more than that.
I took yet another breath, more steady now and looked at his face. It was so full of hope, I couldn’t do this to him. He didn’t deserve to feel like I did, crushed by what he couldn’t control.
So I put a smile on my face and nudged him back as we walked further on the path.
“No, not too big of a fool. You still have a chance.”
He grinned and ran ahead, spinning around in rays of light. My heart ached so badly I thought I might die. But how could I not smile as he ran back to me and grasped my hands. I laughed, the sound jagged, torn from my chest.
“You really think so though? That I have a chance with her?”
I smile and nod.
“How could you not?”