My chest aches for him. How could a mother abandon her nine-year-old? I mean, I’m not a parent and have no plans to become one, but that’s just heartbreaking.
“Anyway,” Oliver continues, clearly uncomfortable with my silence. “Moving to Specter was probably one of the best things that happened to me, not only because of Ashley and the girls, but also because I met Theo, Harrison, and Elise. We’ve all been friends ever since.”
I smile. “That’s awesome. Now, who is Elise? I don’t remember you mentioning that name before.”
Oliver exhales a light chuckle. “She’s something else, man. She’s still in Specter, commuting to a local technical college. She and Harrison were a couple for several years, but even after they broke up, they stayed friends. Thank God, too, because picking sides would have sucked.”
“And where does your other nonbinary friend fit into all of this?”
“Oh, Wren came with Caleb, Theo’s boyfriend,” Oliver says. “Our little friend group doubled when Theo and Caleb got together junior year.”
“Wait, you had an eight-person friend group?” I exclaim. “I can’t even imagine. All the same grade?”
Oliver tosses me a bemused expression. “Yeah?”
“I spent all four years of high school with only two friends, Celeste and Max. And Max has always been a grade behind us,” I explain. “Max would pick up other friend groups from time to time, but they were more acquaintances than friends. Or fuck buddies.”
Oliver snorts. “Nice.”
I take a moment to reposition myself and stretch my legs. “So,” I press. “You told me the other day that you’re asexual.”
Oliver’s eyes narrow slightly. “I told you I was pretty sure that’s what I am, yes.”
“So, have you dated anyone before?”
He gives me a knowing smirk. “I have.”
Oh, fascinating. “And I take it those didn’t go anywhere?”
“Pretty much.”
I worry I might be asking too many questions, but I trust Oliver will tell me if I cross a line. Until then, I can’t contain my curiosity. “Did you date girls or guys? Or—” I gasp. “Or did you date Wren?”
Oliver lets out a dry laugh. “Wren and I did not date, but I dated one girl and one guy, years apart.”
I lean in closer, dying to know everything. “So, what happened?”
Oliver takes a deep breath, ready to indulge, but is interrupted by the loudest microphone feedback I’ve ever heard in my life.
“Good evening, students,” a bubbly, feminine voice blasts through the speakers, followed by more ear-piercing feedback. The crowd on the lawn groans, and I have to clap my hands over my ears. “Welcome to Movie Night On The Green, presented by the EU Film Society! We apologize for the delay this evening. We’ve had a few technical difficulties, but I’ve been told we are now ready to get started! Just a few quick announcements before we begin…”
As the disembodied voice drones on, I uncover my ears and glance back at Oliver, only to find that he’s taking the opportunity to take our trash to a garbage can a few yards away. Well, shit. I have half a mind to ask Oliver if we can leave and come back so he can finish his story. I couldn’t care less about this movie.
When he returns, Oliver sits beside me, extending his lanky legs and easing into the pillows. “Oooh, this is nice,” he remarks.
“And now, without further ado, please enjoy Wes Anderson’sThe Phoenician Scheme.”
“Psst.”
Jude’s whisper jolts me awake, and I gasp. “What happened?”
“Shit, sorry, I didn’t realize you were asleep,” they say softly, obviously trying not to laugh.
Remembering where we are and what we’re doing, I recover from the scare and let out a yawn. “I wasn’t asleep,” I say through the yawn. “Just resting my eyes.”
“Are you enjoying this?” Jude asks, gesturing up at the screen.
Glancing up, it doesn’t take long to realize that I have no idea what’s going on in this movie. Even worse, I’m not even sure how much time has passed, either. “I’m notnotenjoying it,” I answer.
