CHAPTER 107: THE DATE II

Chapter ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN

**OLIVER WEST**

I was halfway through my dinner when Kieran went to get movie tickets, because I’d changed my mind about the movies we were supposed to watch. He’d chosen an action thriller earlier, but I didn’t want that anymore, I wanted some fluff and romance.

From behind me, I heard footsteps approaching and looked up, expecting to see him back already.

Instead, Xander dropped into the seat across from me with a small smile.

"Oliver, what a pleasant surprise."

I stared at him as though he had just dropped from heaven, what was he doing here? My question must have shown in my eyes because he said.

"I spotted you when you walked in, I just thought I’d say hi while your boyfriend’s away."

I looked around, half expecting Kieran to jump out at any moment. It was an occurrence I didn’t want

"We don’t get many chances to talk at school." He added.

I eyed him for a few seconds while taking a sip of my juice.

"What exactly do you want? I know you requested Mrs. Osborne to assign you as my tutor, why do you keep trying to get close to me?"

Xander stared at me as though he was surprised by my bluntness.

"I just want to be your friend..."

"But my boyfriend doesn’t really like you. You know that, right?"

I didn’t want to talk about the tutoring, I could move past the fact that he had asked the teacher, it was something that would at least benefit my grade, Kieran had also been surprisingly welcoming. To avoid any problems, I needed to make it clear to Xander.

Xander leaned forward slightly, his gaze growing serious. "Oliver, can I ask you something? Are you sure you’re making the right choice here?"

"What do you mean?"

"I’m just concerned about your relationship. His... possessiveness towards you, it’s not normal, the way he watches you. Controls where you go, who you talk to." Xander’s voice dropped lower. "I heard he used to be your bully too, is he forcing this on you?"

My shoulders squared defensively, Kieran might be protective and possessive, but hearing it from Xander’s mouth, he was making it sound like I was in an abusive relationship with some creep !

"I also heard about what happened to your house. The break-in that forced you to move in with him. Don’t you think the timing is a little convenient?"

My blood ran cold with suspicion, how did he know all of these? Unless he’d been asking about me? It was weird. Too weird.

"What are you trying to say? Are you suggesting that Kieran had something to do with my house being vandalized? How do you even know about it, have you been following me?" My voice rose with panic and Xander leaned backwards as though to give me space, but he was too late.

I was near hyperventilating now, my heart pumping too hard.

"I was just walking past your house that day, I’m just concerned—"

"Well, don’t be," I snapped, my voice loud enough that several nearby tables turned to look.

Did he say just concerned? He simply walked past my house? As if!

"I’m fine. Kieran would never hurt me or my family. The fact that you’d even suggest something so horrible tells me everything I need to know about you."

Xander’s expression flickered with frustration. "I understand you care about him. But sometimes the people closest to us are the ones we should be most careful of."

"You don’t know anything about us," I said, standing up from the booth. My hands were shaking with anger. "You don’t know Kieran, and you don’t know me. So keep your concerns to yourself."

"Oliver..."

He started, but another voice sliced through, interrupting him. Us.

"Get. Out. Of. My. Seat." Kieran’s voice was deadly calm, which somehow made it more terrifying.

I slumped back to my seat just as Xander held up his hands in mock surrender. He gave me one last long look, and then he walked away.

I gulped, staring at Kieran and wondering how much he’d heard.

He was glaring at me but something told me he had no clue what Xander had told me, his next words proved me right.

"You let him take my space?" Kieran bit out, sliding into his seat with barely controlled violence.

"He was just talking to me about our tutoring session..."

"Tutoring?" Kieran’s voice went up a notch. "He was flirting with you! Right in front of me!"

"He was not!"

Maybe I should tell him about what Xander said? But knowing Kieran, he would probably go after him right now. The last thing I wanted was violence, so, for now, I would hold back on telling Kieran that Xander might be a stalker.

"If he was not flirting, what was he telling you?"

Not knowing how to respond, I stuffed the rest of my dessert in my mouth, which was a cake.

I probably looked ridiculous, a bright light blinded me for a second. My gaze flew to Kieran’s.

He did not just take a picture of me!

"Look how cute you are! I’m definitely making this my wallpaper," he chuckled, tucking his phone away.

"You wouldn’t dare!" I tried to say, but it came out muffled around my enormous bite of food.

"Give it!" I extended my hand toward him.

"Nope. I’ll look at it every night before bed. Though it might give me nightmares," Kieran teased, patting his breast pocket where he’d stowed his phone.

He seemed to have forgotten about Xander, but I ended up being his victim.

"Delete it!" I cried out, gaining some stares from other diners.

"No can do, Ollie."

He stood up, looking down at my pleading expression. "Are you done eating? The movie starts in ten minutes."

"I’m not going anywhere with you if you don’t delete that horrible picture!"

I marched outside, the cool night breeze hitting my flushed face.

Kieran caught up quickly. "It’s not horrible. Didn’t I say you looked cute?"

I scoffed, crossing my arms stubbornly.

He pulled out his phone, and for a moment I thought he was going to delete it. Then he smiled wickedly.

"Now, if you don’t come with me to this movie, I’ll have to post this on my story. The caption should be... ’My boyfriend can fit an entire cake in his mouth.’"

"No!" I lunged for him, trying to grab his phone, but he danced backwards, laughing at my pathetic attempt.

I HATE HIM!!!