The worksheet has been defeated.

And in record time too! With my help, Olly was getting a whole lot better with the concepts of equations. I would say that helping him raise his grades was my prime reason of motivation, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that seeing his sunny smile is what I was really after.

Oliver sat on the far edge of the tattered remains of my couch, doodling on an empty page of his notebook. I sat on the other end with Chewy perched on my lap, reading Shriveled Hearts, one of the rom-com books Oliver got me. The plot was a little all over the place, but when the main characters were deliciously adorable elderly people, how was I supposed to put it down?

Flipping to the next page, a small (very unsticky) sticky note slipped out onto my lap. The handwriting was faded and so fancy to the point where it was nearly hard to read. Definitely not Olly's handwriting. Must be one of his parents'. Squinting down at the paper, it read: "BD II...Call Dr..."

Huh.

"Diamond...DB?"

"Yes?" I slipped the paper back in the book.

Oliver's cheeks became even rosier. "Thanks for helping me with my homework. I don't like bothering Toni about it 'cause he's always busy, so I'm glad that you agreed to help."

"That's what I'm here for, bud." My eyes fell back to the book.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him messing with the holes in the couch (thanks a lot, diamond spikes). He gulped as his gaze shifted to the box in the middle of the room. "About that notebook."

I slammed the book shut. "What...What about it?"

"I didn't mean to -- well -- I did mean to show you, but I didn't want to make you mad or-"

"Olly, I'm not mad. Just be direct. What do you want from me?"

He hesitated for a moment, tracing the scars on his wrists. "Those...words are all the things that they say to me everyday. Y'know, the, uh, the people at school? It helps to write it down somewhere, so I won't forget. I-I like to tally how many times they say it. That way, I can predict what they're gonna say later on in the day. It doesn't hurt as much when I already see it coming." Since he was shaking like a leaf, he probably thought I would yell at him for it. Must be what he's used to, I guess.

"If it helps you, I won't judge you for it. Just as long as you don't let those petty little sayings get into your head, a'ight? I want you to remember that those are empty words that people use to tear you down. They mean nothing. Like, at all. So if you say this helps, it helps."

My eyes stayed fixed on his scars, expecting him to continue to talk about those, but he still said nothing. I figured that wasn't for me to know yet, then.

"Alrighty," I snapped my fingers and the notebook poofed into my hands. "So what're these assholes sayin' to my Oliver?"

Olly giggled and scooted closer to me, resting his sharp chin on my shoulder to read too.

"'Faggot?' Oh, that one's my favorite. Heard it all before. 'Gaaaaaaay.' With specifically that amount of a's? Damn, Olls. We got some future literature majors here," I flipped the notebook over and saw that the back was vandalized too. One word in the middle had the most tallies next to it. "'Psychopath?'"

"That one's a long story. I don't even know what they mean by it when they say it sometimes. It's just a bunch of made up stories that blended into one big misunderstanding anyway."

Right underneath "psychopath" was "whore." Goddamn. Nobody in that school knows boundaries. To listlessly call someone a whore? There can't be any reason for that, can there?

Oliver's sweet presence cuddled up to my side was almost overwhelming.

A whole school plus his own father to be against him? What the hell is going on here...

The forest and the setting sun reflected off of Olly's eyes. Setting sun...setting sun...setting...! Shit!

"Jeez, it's been fun hangin' with 'ya, Olly, but you gotta go, don't you?"

"That was the other thing I wanted to talk to you about," His nervous smile had me preparing for the worst. "I was thinking that maybe -- oh, I dunno -- I could, um, stay...here for tonight?"

"Oh hell nah. Uh-uh. No way. That is a terrible idea. Worst idea I've ever heard in my life."

"It could work, couldn't it? Look, I'll just tell Toni that I'm at a friend's house."

"No offense, lil bit, but what friends?"

"Exactly my point, Dibs. Toni doesn't know what's going on with me, my parents don't give a shit, and what do you have to lose?"

"Everything! If someone finds out you're here, they'll kill me or lock me up o-or worse, take you away from me! Oliver, you gotta think ahead about this kinda stuff, bud."

Oliver ruffled his fingers through his hair, his attention obviously elsewhere. "It's worth a shot. DB, you're much too cautious, you know that? Besides, if anything goes wrong, I already have my plan of escape."

"Oh yeah? PJs?"

"Check."

"Toothbrush?"

"Check."

"Toiletries?"

"Checkity check check."

"What the hell?! Dude, did you plan this already?!"

"You underestimate me, Dibs." His eyes shifted over to the box in front of us. Sneaky bastard. Do I ever get a say in anything nowadays?

"You gotta be kidding me..."

"Not in the slightest." He dug in his pocket and pulled out a very expensive looking...screen...thingy.

"Woah, woah, woah! What is that thing?!"

"Um," The room went silent as he examined it, then raised a questioning eyebrow at me. "My phone? C'mon, you couldn't have been outta touch with the world that long, DB."

"Y-You're right. I just..." That stupid throbbing pain in my temples returned. "A-Ah...it's nothing. So many upgrades in so little time, y'know? Now, uh, what does it do?" I clenched my fangs hard and attempted to smile, just to make sure he wouldn't notice the first stage of my many outbursts. I shot Chewy a look for help, but he only stared back blankly.

Oliver slid down to the ground and patted the floor next to him. Again, he's lucky I actually felt like complying. "You really are forgetful, huh?"

"M-Mmm hmm." I squinted at the bright screen to focus my energy on something else. There were sunflowers behind the time and date.

"Well, you can call people or send them messages. For instance, I'm gonna call Toni right now." He tapped away at the screen, making various other screens pop up in its place. The flashes of bright colors one after another were doing nothing for my increasing migraine. He clicked on "Contacts" and the name "Marky-Mark and The Funky Bunch" with a hilarious photo of Toni dressed up as 90s era Mark Wahlberg were the only things to pop up. After a few more taps, this "touch screen" phone began ringing. He set it down in front of both of us and clicked the speaker button.

Booop.

"You really think this is gonna work, Olly?"

Booop.

"Probably. All Toni wants is for me to make friends."

Booop.

"Jesus, Olls. You really gotta be more careful."

Booop.

"What, like you?"

Boo-

"...Olly, hey," a detached, out of breath voice answered. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, don't worry about me. I should be asking you the same thing, though. You sound like you just ran ten miles."

"Make that running. I've got two more laps to go and there's no way in hell I'm letting Daniel Chase smoke me this time. That bastard's gonna pay for beating my PR in the 200 meter dash. You hear me, Olly? Pay."

Poor Daniel Chase. He doesn't even know what's coming for him. Toni's always been one to lose himself in competitive spirit. When he says he's gonna make someone pay, oh boy, he means it.

Oliver's soft giggle tickled my ears. "Alright, well, I'm not gonna take much of your time, then, Usain Bolt."

"Nah, nah, it's fine. I lapped him twice already, so I'm just shooting for a third. Whaddya need, though?"

Oliver glanced up at me with his usual, indecisive look. "Um, I'd like to stay over at a friend's house tonight. J-Just for a day, if that's okay with you."

Toni choked on something on the other line. "A friend? Are you serious?! That's great, man!" When he squealed, I felt my headache grow a smidge more. "You made a friend! I told you not all people were pieces of shit! What're they like?"

"He's..." Olly looked me up and down. "different."

"Different is good. Exciting, even! I-"

A muffled, far-off voice on Toni's end of the call interrupted him. "Who you talkin' to, Antoine? Your girlfriend?"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP, DIPSHIT, MY BROTHER MADE A FRIEND! OH WAIT, YOU WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT A FRIEND WAS EVEN IF IT BIT YOU ON YOUR GODDAMN ASS, YOU-"

Olly clicked on a "mute" button and leaned over to me. "Mom says Toni's got the 'Two Big A's': Anger and Anxiety. I think it'll kill him one day if he doesn't take it easy, but he's hardheaded, so he doesn't believe me. Running is the only thing that keeps his mind calm, though."

"You're tellin' me. I'd hate to be on his bad side."

Toni took a few deep breaths and returned to the phone with his typical even tone. Shit. And I thought I had mood swings. "Sorry about that, Olly. Is your friend with you? I'd love to say hi."

Oh, I would not love to say hi. Sure, in this form, I literally can't die, but with the vengeful vibes I'm pickin' up from Toni? I dunno, man. That guy could send me to my second grave using only a paper clip and his little finger.

Olly was practically frozen in panic.

Dear God, I know we haven't talked in a while, but please don't let Antoine kill me. Amen.

I slid the phone closer to myself. "Heyyyyy, um...Antoine, is it?"

"Yeah, Antoine, Toni, whatever fits your fancy. You are?"

"Oh, that's a good question. I'm...Z..." No other syllables could come to mind. Oliver and I exchanged alarmed looks.

"Zane!" He finished for me. "Y'know, we, um, met in..."

"...Math class?"

"Y'know, the one I take with Mr. Davis?"

"Right, right," The sound of Toni's smile was clear from the other end of the phone. "Well, 'Zane,' are your parents home?"

And my oh-so-favorite headache increased. "Not right now, but they will be! They're just-"

"Out grocery shopping," Olly quickly lied. "We wanted to help, but they insisted on taking the trip themselves."

"Good, good. Tell them I said thanks for having you. Do you want me to pick you up tomorrow?"

"No need!...U-Um, no need to do that for me, Toni. Zane could just take me to school tomorrow and I'll see you from there." Oliver eyed me the whole time while speaking. That second half was definitely directed towards me.

"Sounds like a plan. Well, I should focus on these last few meters before someone starts feelin' brave enough to pass me up. See 'ya tomorrow, Olly....Love you."

Oliver only scratched at his scars again. I nudged him, nodding towards his phone. His eyes were full of dreadful nerves and obvious reluctance. "L-Love you too." The saying sounded so empty and forced. I'm sure Toni noticed too.

"Kay. Um, thanks, Zane, for opening up your home. And Oliver, take care of yourself, okay?"

"I will."

Toni sighed and the sound of a smaller boop ended the call.

"Welp, you're good to go, lil bit."

Oliver's distracted hands fumbled with his phone. "Good to go..."

I opened my mouth to speak again, but that migraine from before closed in on what remained of my head. I've gotta do something about this before things get bad.

"Alright," I breathed out. "I don't know about you, but I've gotta take a power nap, man." I struggled to my feet and hoo boy, lemme tell you. Standing up with an utterly painful headache is a helluva lot harder than it seems. I held my hands out to him and when his fingertips just barely brushed against my claws, my increasing pain disappeared within seconds.

Oliver whined and let me yank him up like a sack of potatoes. "Now? Dude, are you kidding me? I just got here and all you wanna do is sleep?"

"Yep. No arguin', bud. Besides, I don't sleep long anyway. Just give me ten minutes to do my thing and I'll play with you later, 'kay?"

"I'm not a baby..."

God, the lengths I'd go to for Olly to let me call him that...um! I, uh...ignore me, please.

"Ten minutes is all I ask, Olly. Here's your job: If I scream, cry, hyperventilate, growl, or start scratching off my skin, for the love of all things holy, wake me up, a'ight?"

"Wh-What'll happen if I don't?"

I threw myself on the couch and snuggled up into the blood-soaked corner. "I can't promise you that you'll come out alive. But if I don't do any of that, feel free to roam around, lil bit. I ain't stoppin' 'ya."

"Fine, fine. Go take your nap, DB. 'I ain't stoppin' 'ya.'" The uncharacteristic teasing draw of his voice had my head spinning.

"Tch...Oh, and try your best not to touch me."

"Why not?"

I grinned from ear-to-ear -- well -- horn-to-horn. "I might just eat you right up."

Olly flushed an impossible color of red. "I-I — um, I-I-I'll take note of that."

And I might just have to take note of how cute he looked delirious in shock like that.

~~~

A/N: Marky-Mark and The Funky Bunch lives rent free in my mind. It was the most ICONIC Mark Wahlberg era, period-point-blank. One vote = One more time Toni laps Daniel Chase