15 - Rings

"Flashback to my mistakes My rebounds, my earthquakes

Even in my worst lies, you saw the truth of me."

― Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff

. . .

OLIVIA WOODS

I didn't have a gift for them. I didn't know if we were at a stage in our friendship where we exchanged gifts and more importantly, they did not seem like the people who exchanged gifts with friends.

I was in Xerxes' office with him. The scary guy who had been guarding my door had dropped me here, instructing me to go up without asking anyone. Ashton and Zavier were finishing up a meeting. Xerxes' office was dark

with dark velvet curtains guarding the transparent wall. The large desk had too many files arranged on it neatly with his computer and a wall that was filled with more photographs, like the ones in Zavier's living room and bedroom.

I looked down at the large velvet box.

"I know you like rings, you always wear them," Xerxes said to me. "We picked some out, we got some custom made."

"Which ones?"

He smiled, looking proud of himself. He pointed at three of them. The first one was a simple black ring with a small gold butterfly was pressed on it. Small threads of what looked to be gold, too, were attached to the ring with a diamond at their end. I could tell just by looking that it was expensive.

There was another completely white with swirls of silver in it. There were thin black rings above and below which were attached to it with silver bars, creating a beautiful gilded cage-like appearance. This ring was a little narrow than the first one.

The next one was black, completely black with small diamonds pressed to the surface and very small roses made of gold pressed on them. This ring was a little narrower than the other two.

I pointed at the first one. "You." Then the second one. "Ashton." The third one. "Zavier."

He looked surprised. "What gave it away?" I shrugged. "I don't know."

He watched me closely and then a smile broke on his face, his dimples showing. "Damn it, little love. I was going to make your guess." He opened the case. Inside were like fifteen rings. He took his ring out and took my

hand in his. He slid the ring on my thumb and kissed my knuckles. I bit my lip.

He smiled at me. "Looks beautiful."

"Thank you," I whispered. "It's really pretty." I traced the butterfly on it. It was tiny and beautiful. "Why a butterfly?"

He took my hand in his again, holding it with both of his large hands. He brushed his thumb on the ring. "As a child I loved butterflies. The garden behind our mansion had them, many of them. My..." He sighed, shaking his head. "My father hated it. One day I entered his room and there the butterflies were, in a large display, on his wall."

"Xerxes..." I whispered.

He shook his head again as if to get the memoirs out and looked at me, smiling softly. "You kind of give me the feeling I got when I played with the butterflies in the garden, Olivia. I've chased that feeling for so long."

My heartfelt full and my eyes burned with tears. "Th-That...that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me," I admitted.

He gave me a rare grin and then his eyes fell on my boots. I looked down. One lace was undone.

I bent down to tie it but he picked me up and sat me down on his desk. My eyes widened as he crouched down in front of me to tie my lace.

Just then there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Xerxes said, his fingers working with the lace.

The door opens and the mean lady from the tour day entered inside, dressed in a striking black dress with her blond hair up in a professional bun.

I was wearing a maroon skirt with a black t-shirt and my large brown coat was on the couch.

She looked at me and then at Xerxes who was finally done with the lace. He stood up and turned to look at the woman. "Yes, Ariel?"

Ariel looked at him in disbelief but then composed herself. "You asked for Mr. Jeffers' file."

He took it from her. "Leave."

She left, closing the door behind her.

Xerxes kept the file down on the desk and looked at me, still sitting on his desk. His eyes fell on my legs which were covered in black stockings and then ring on my thumb.

"I didn't bring you anything," I mumbled, embarrassed. "I-I didn't know that-"

He smiled, stepping closer. "Ite okay, butterfly." He pressed a kiss to my cheek which heated under his lips. "You decided to stay friends with us after yesterday, that's the best gift of all."

I smiled. He was so nice.

I got off the desk, accidentally knocking the pen stand on the ground. I bent down to picked up the pens and the stand. I collected them and put them on the desk.

Xerxes slammed his hands on the desk, caging me in. I looked up at him with wide eyes.

His jaw was clenched, dark eyes watching me. My eyes fell on the strand of his black hair coming over his forehead. I tucked it behind his ear before I could stop myself. His jaw loosened and he sighed. "Don't bend in front of anyone wearing this skirt, baby." He advised. "Yes?"

I bit my lip. "Did you see..."

"Yes," he nodded. "Little pink panties," he muttered.

I blushed. "Oh."

He rolled his eyes. "Let's go grab Ashton and Zavier. I'm hungry."

. . .

Zavier slid his ring on my pinky and Ashton slid his on my middle finger. The rings did not match but somehow, they looked good on my hand.

We ate pizzas. Xerxes had asked me what I wanted to eat. Every time anyone asked me what I wanted to eat I said 'pizza'. It was a reflex.

"I want to pay."

"No." Zavier kissed my cheek.

"It can be my little Christmas gift," I insisted, trying to give my card to the waitress. Xerxes took it from my hand.

"No," He said sternly. "But-"

"No," Ashton kissed my temple and handed his card to the waitress who quickly grabbed it and walked away.

I folded my arms against my chest, leaning back in my best, glaring at them.

They seemed unaffected by my furious glaring. How?

We walked out of my favorite pizzeria while I texted Georgia.

I ate pizza. Did u eat anything yet? George Washington - I ate a burger. Good. I'll see you tonight.

George Washington - Alright bb

"Who are you texting?" Ashton who was sitting across me with Xerxes asked.

"Friend," I said, putting my phone in the pocket of my skirt. "George?" Zavier asked softly, raising an eyebrow at him.

I shrugged. "Kind of."

He looked away from me. They didn't speak to me till we reached my apartment. Ashton helped me out and pressed a kiss to my forehead, not saying anything. Zavier and Xerxes kissed my cheek and they got back into the car.

I knocked on the tainted window. It slid down. Zavier raised his eyebrows at me. "You forgot something?"

"George is Georgia, my best friend. I saved her name as George Washington and I call her that because she gets mad when I do, " I told him

He smiled. "Alright, baby." He kissed the corner of my mouth. The breath got knocked out of me. "Go up, now."

I robotically turned around and walked inside the apartment. I heard the limousine drive away after I closed the apartment door.

I looked down at the rings. A smile crept up my lips.

. . .