68 - I will

"Watch carefully

the magic that occurs when you give a person enough comfort

to just be themselves."

― Atticus Poetry, Love Her Wild

. . .

OLIVIA WOODS

"You should leave him alone for a bit," Ashton advised gently, closing the door.

"But..."

Xerxes shook his head. "No buts, baby." I nodded.

We had dinner with the Valentinos. It was tense. I couldn't stop my hands from shaking so I didn't eat much. I had found Zavier. His whole room had smelled of blood and he was there, laying on the bed, with blood all over the sheets.

I couldn't bear seeing him like that.

After dinner, I went to my room, soon followed by Xerxes and Ashton who fed me. They must have noticed that I didn't eat.

"He'll be okay," Ashton said as he and Xerxes left. That was strange, too. They always slept with me. I didn't like sleeping alone. They always kept the nightmares at bay.

I sneaked out of my room as soon as it hit midnight and sat on the bench in the garden.

The night was cold.

After a few moments, I felt someone sit down beside me.

I looked up at Giovanni. I barely remembered my conversation with him when I was drunk. All I knew was that I had said something about cowboy bar.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, leaning back into the bench. I noticed that there was more space between us than necessary.

"I couldn't sleep," I said to him, returning my eyes to the sky. "You?" "Same." He sighed. We sat in silence for a while.

"Do you like them?" He asked. "All three of them?"

I frowned. "Yes." I looked up at him. "Why are you asking me this?"

He shrugged, not looking at me. "Life has been shit for them for a long while, Olivia. They need you." He sighed. "Go to Zavier."

He walked away.

Go to Zavier.

I wanted to go to him.

I stood up and walked back inside the house. I climbed the staircase and walked to Zavier's room.

I opened the door softly.

He was sleeping, the moonlight falling over him through the window. I didn't have a window! He was under the covers but his bandaged hand was over them.

I closed the door softly.

I walked to the bed and took my bunny slippers off. Biting my lip with nervousness, I laid down beside him. I shifted a little closer till I was curled beside him but not touching him. I could feel his warmth which calmed me down and eased my worries a little.

Took his hand in mine, putting it on my cheek and closed my eyes, feeling safe.

I fell asleep soon, barely feeling him pull me closer.

ZAVIER CREED

I knew she was there as soon as she laid there. When she laid my hand on her cheek, my heart melted. When I was sure she had fallen asleep, I pulled her to my side.

I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, looking at her face.

"I love you," I whispered to her, realizing just how fucking real these words were. I loved her.

I tucked her closer to me, pulling the covers on us. She was safe in my arms. She'd always be safe in my arms.

"I'll take care of you, Kitten." I kissed her forehead.

She came here for me. She cares. I kissed her forehead again. She cared.

. . .

XERXES CREED

I rarely thought of my brothers as someone younger. They had been through the same shit as me.

But sometimes, I felt like the responsible big brother mom wanted me to be.

Take care of your brothers, Xerxes. I had tried to take care of them.

And I had failed.

I looked out of the window of my room. We had a window and Olivia didn't. It was for her safety yet it felt unfair.

I took a sip of my whisky.

"You can't keep your brothers safe," a voice hissed in my head. "You couldn't keep your mother safe. You can't keep Olivia safe."

I could keep her safe.

You can't.

The glass cracked on my hand, its shards digging into my skin. I didn't let go of it till it was completely crushed. Blood mixed with whisky dripped down my hand.

I sighed. Fucking great. Now Olivia would be more worried.

I laid on the bed after wrapping my hand in a bandage. Maybe I needed stitches. I couldn't care at the moment.

. . .

OLIVIA WOODS

I woke up feeling a hand being run through my hair. My eyes opened and I looked up at Zavier.

He smiled at me. "I love you." My breath hitched. "W-What?"

He sat up with me in his arms. I was straddling him.

"I love you," he whispered. "And I know you don't feel the same thing. You may never feel the same thing, Olivia. But...I love you." His expression was so gentle that it made my heart melt. "I love you...so much..." His knuckles

brushed on my cheekbone. "I'm not sure of many things in life, Baby, But this is one thing I'm sure of." He sat his forehead against mine. "I'd die for you," he whispered. "And I live for you."

My arms wrapped around him, my heart thundering in my chest. He loved me. "I-I..."

He smiled. "Don't force it out." His thumb brushed on my bottom lip. "I want you to say it when you can't keep it inside of you. I want it to slip out like truth, Kitten. For now, I love you with the hope that you'll love me back."

"I will," I whispered. "I...I am sure of it." He smiled. "I love you."

I pressed myself closer to him. "Say it again, please." "I love you." He whispered to me over and over again.

. . .

Finally, a good love confession written by me.