For Sarcastic_smitch

Olives are a great source of... well nutritional things in general. I remember Mr. Green once saying how they were rich in vitamin E and served as great antioxidants. They could save one from the cunning grasp of cancer. When I look at an olive, all I see is my dad. Round and smooth on the outside and complete hollow in the inside.

Dad once took me to Old Treasure Lake. We sat down for a picnic for Clementine's sixth birthday and there he had said something I never forgot. He looked at the towering olive tree, plucked an olive and left it on my tiny palms. Then he said, "Olives, like humans have a hole so that people like you can fill it in with peppers, spices and memories." I still wonder to this day if he knew about my powers. I always thought they came to me after he died but what if it was indeed all my fault? Why didn't I save him?

There were only two olive trees in the whole of St. Vincent. One at home and one by Old Treasure Lake which was why I was most definitely sure that Mr. Grey-eyed was there.

I peddled harder as apprehension gnawed at my bones, I wish I knew how long he had. Was it selfish that I wanted to save him so that I could look into his eyes again?

Dad, help me save him. Tell him to hang on.

The muscles in my feet and legs began to ache uncontrollably. They were heating up and becoming heavier as though they were dead. Instantaneously, I lost my footing as I swerved right onto Aberfield Street. My head fell first but it was saved by my helmet unlike my cheek which kissed the gravel forcefully. It stung like acid and felt damp to my touch which to my speculation was blood. I found it slightly hard to breathe since the air had been knocked out of my lungs but I coerced my limbs to push themselves.

Two soft hands pulled me up to my surprise as I sent a silent prayer.

"Felvan? Are you OK? Your foot looks swollen." I knew the concerned voice instantly. It was Nicholas Steward, the notorious nerd with looks. I saved him two years ago and ever since then, he's been my guardian angel, popping out whenever I needed him.

"Ahh great, Nick!" I perked to his sight. "Can you drive me to Old Treasure Lake, right now?"

"Now?"

"Yes." I tried not to blink and hold his gaze but I failed miserably.

He scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepishly. "Yeah sure, hop on."

I could scream loud enough to explode the world but I held back and instead let him lead me to his car like a human crutch.

His car smelled like fake lavenders that a fool would mistake for wild ones. Comfortably snuggled in the front seat, I strapped myself in as Nick closed my door like a gentleman. He joined me after a good minute.

"I placed your bike in the boot of the car." He informed me.

I hummed a grateful thank you as he drove off. Weary, I realised I had wasted twenty six minutes and the journey left was fifteen minute by bike but by car, seven minutes should suffice. I knew I could do it, I had hope that his heart was still beating and that he was still breathing.

Nick pulled out a daisy printed handkerchief and offered it to me. "For your cheek." I accepted it gratefully with my clammy hands.

"What takes you to Old Treasure Lake so early on Saturday?" Nick interrupted my muddled thoughts.

I racked my empty brain for an excuse and came up with a lousy one. "I'm meeting a friend."

"Oh."

Oh? I was slightly disappointed, a little voice in me was looking forward to a conversation but I guess I knew by now how to find comfort in the silence.

The path along my right was spectacular. If it had been a different day where it was just me going on a drive with Nick, I'd probably admire the intertwined, wild, green foliage that was tattooed on both our sides. Miles of endless green usually made me feel at home but I couldn't help but feel agitated, the faster Nick drove the longer the path seemed, like a maze without exits and a ticking bomb.

"Stop!" I shot him an abrupt command as I knew it would be futile to drive any further.

Nick wore a perplexed mask and asked, "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, no, you were nothing but kind." My words came tumbling as I quickly opened the car door. "Could you wait for me here for a few minutes whilst I go get my friend? He might need a ride home. Thank you." I didn't wait for his reply and I knew I'd regret it later but only one thing seemed important right now and that was Mr. Grey-eyed.

I yelped as soon as my foot came in contact with the ground, there was probably a fractured bone in there somewhere, mingling around with the unbroken ones. Slamming the door shut too loudly, I limped into the opening of the forest with the desire to run. With irregular steps, I forced myself to pick up speed.

Run, Felvan, run. Run because his life depends on it.

Pushing through branches and thorns, I came to the lake. Memories came flooding back and I suddenly remembered why I stopped coming here. This was it, this land holds my dad's last smile. I blew out all the resent in my heart and pushed on faster.

A few more steps, I affirmed myself as the pain became unbearable.

A few more. I could see his tall stature wavering to the adrenaline that pumped him into jumping.

Don't jump. I begged but my throat was too dry for me to scream. There was an earthquake in my body, breaking me down.

He was in my reach so I leapt to my instinct, engulfed him in my long arms and pushed backwards on my heels. The impact on my arm was grunt worthy and I felt my body shake as his weight pinned me down, but I wasn't going to let go.

When you save someone suddenly, their first instinct is to fight you and push you so you mustn't let go, you should hold them with your warrior-like might and let your arms tell them that they can count on you.

I'm not going anywhere.

I was a mother embracing her child, I felt proud knowing he held onto me, I felt a tear drop knowing he was safe. My chest hurt from his weight but the pain was bliss, it's the kind of pain we wish to feel.

"Ahh this is comfortable." I heard his hoarse but sweet voice flow like melted chocolate. I couldn't help but be flustered, I've heard people say all sorts of strange things but no one ever said it was comfortable. The strangest thing was that I agreed with him. A moment past but it felt like centuries of calm nights under starry skies on green fields. I felt myself smile.

Often, I wished I had a daydreamers head, that way I wouldn't always run around searching for reality's door. I cleared my throat and asked. "Umm... do you think you could get up, please?"

Reluctantly, he rolled onto one arm and lifted himself ever so slightly. Our bodies were still adjoined but this time I could feel his breath on my neck and see his eyes again. We were dangerously close with no sense of personal space. The heat was fast to rise to my cheeks and regardless the wind's attempt to cool me down, I was boiling up.

"Felvan?" His eyes asked questioningly.

Oh blasphemous Mother Nature.

He knew me and to my greatest dismay, I did too. I just didn't remember him with such deep grey eyes but the rest was still the same. His nose was lean and smooth, his cheek bones were out of a men's magazine, his lips were pale and chapped, he still had the wide forehead that resembled an open page and lastly, he still had his shaggy, soft mahogany hair that curtained his face.

"M-M-M-Marcus?"

—❤︎—

I don't know what I feel right now XD

What do you feel, dear reader?

When you see this, comment #thisiscomfortable