Love Me Always (I Hate You...I Think)

by Davis, Anna

  “So you left?” “But, I left Harper behind,” Oliver frowned, “Worse thing I have ever done in my entire life.” Oliver shook his head, “The guilt was eating me alive about leaving Harper so a year later when I had a home and a way to take care of him I asked him to come join my gang. I told him I would take care of him. He was my little brother. I still love the kid.”

  “He turned you down though,” I said. I remembered the conversation from my apartment the night I got my memories back.

  “Yeah, he said it was too late. So…after that any abused, lonely, messed up kid I seen I took in. I guess I’ve been trying to make up for leaving him. That’s why I took in Eien. I saw a lot of Harper in him. Scared, beaten, just looking for anyone to save him.”

  “You have a good heart Oliver,” I whispered with a smile. Bending down I kissed him gently.

  “Ever, please don’t keep things from me. Please tell me you weren’t going to do what you did last time and hide from me because you thought that it would protect me?”

  “I thought about it,” I told hi m honestly, “But, I’ve come to learn we are stronger together than we are apart.”

  We were silent with him just holding me.

  “Whatever happened with that boy Zane?” Oliver groaned, “ Yeah he was just some fucking asshole trying to start trouble. He didn’t even know Harper. Apparently, though he saw you and Roxanne fight and you with Harper so he wanted to start some shit. Where do these people keep coming from?” Oliver groaned.

  “I don’t think we’re ever going to have some peace and quiet around here.”

  “Hey that ain’t my fault, you’re the one who’s attracting all the crazy people,” I teased.

  “Yeah but you always seem to wiggle your way into the trouble don’t you?” Oliver shook his head looking at me. “I can’t help how awesome I am,” Oliver chuckled wrapping his arms around me he laid me back on the couch.

  “One day you’re going to be Mrs. Wolfe. How does that sound?” he asked softly.

  “Everlyn Wolfe,” I smiled, “That has a nice ring to it.”

  ~I Knew You Were Trouble~

  ~Oliver~ I woke to Ever no longer in my arms. With my eyes still shut, I reached out feeling for her. Grasping at nothing but air, I opened my eyes slowly.

  The room was brightly lit by the noon sun and I was able to see that the bed next to me was empty. Sitting straight up I glanced toward my bathroom to find that the door was open and the light was off. Glancing back at Ever's side I made sure I hadn't missed her somehow in the blankets.

  She wasn't there. Throwing the blankets back, I exited my bedroom. Down stairs, I could hear talking and laughing.

  "Oh hey there. We were wondering if you two would "sleep" all day," Jake grinned.

  "Where is Ever?" I questioned.

  Jake's grin slid off quickly, "What do you mean?"

  Looking over everyone in the room, I noticed one in particle who looked uncomfortable.

  "Lauren?" I frowned. Her head snapped up and she looked nervous.

  "Babe?" Leon questioned looking down at her confused.

  "I told her not to," Lauren muttered. "What?" I demanded. "This morning Ever was coming out of your room. I couldn't sleep so I was going to the living room. She asked me to take her to her up to a clinic. I told her that I should ask one of you guys if it was ok to take the car but she told me not to. When we got to the clinic, she told me to wait outside. When she came out she was freaking out and..." Lauren paused looking uncertain.

  "She took off before I could stop her."

  I growled, "Why didn't you wake me? Why didn’t you tell me what had happened?"

  "She made me promise," Lauren said softly. Turning on my heels, I ran out the front door with many protests being yelled from behind me. Getting in my car, I took off out of the driveway. I didn't know where Ever would go. She had let her apartment go over a week ago. We sold her furniture. She had nowhere to go. For the next few hours, I searched the streets looking for her trying to call her phone.

  After the seventh try, she finally answered. "Oliver," she told me her voice breaking. Pulling my car quickly into a parking lot I sighed in relief.

  "Ever, where are you? What's going on? Why did you just take off?"

  “I’m…well I’m with Harper,” she muttered.

  “Where are you? Has he hurt you?” I demanded. “No, it’s nothing like that. I just needed…I needed air and well he’s been following me and stopped.”

  “Where are you?” I pressed.

  “We’re at the beach over by the rocks. You remember right?”

  “Three minutes,” I told her putting my car in drive.

  ~Ever~ I cried uncontrollably ignoring Harper sitting next to me. He said nothing keeping his eyes on the water emotionlessly.

  "It's ok, Ever," Harper said softly. He lifted his hand slowly looking unsure but then started rubbing my back. Jerking away from him, I pulled my knees to my chest looking away from him.

  "I know you don't trust me but I'm glad you called me. I don't know what changed your mind but I'm glad you did."

  "I didn’t change my mind, Oliver is on his way," I managed to sat.

  "You need to stay away from him. I’m serious-," he told me. "Why are you doing this?" I whispered looking at him. "Don't tell me it's to apologize either."

  Harper sighed and looked over at me. "Because...I love Oliver like my brother. I mean I've been so pissed at him for just leaving but he did offer me to come with him. I just...I just want to make up for all the hate I've had for him for so long. He's not the one I hate."

  "It's your father," I replied.

  Harper nodded throwing a rock into the ocean.

  “Oliver feels guilty about leaving you. He has never gotten over it.”

  Harper let his arms drop to his lap and he just stared blankly into the water. Looking down at my stomach, I placed my hand over it gently. I had been shot, stabbed, kidnapped, I had been drinking, and rough with my body then with all the stress I had put her through. Her. Maybe it's a girl. My little girl. What if it's a boy? I just can’t believe I hadn’t lost her yet.

  "You alright?" Harper asked looking down at me.

  I dropped my hand. "Nausea," I lied softly. He nodded. I hadn't told him about the baby. Hell I haven't told Oliver. No one knows. The doctors at the hospital had been wrong. I hadn't lost the baby at all. She was very much alive, and I was nine weeks along. The doctor I seen at the clinic told me that she was healthy, even after everything.

  I had ran out before they snapped the sonogram picture, I was too freaked out to think. “Everlyn,” Oliver called. We turned to see Oliver storming up the beach. I stood to stop him I could tell he was going straight for Harpers head.

  “Oliver stop,” I ordered grabbing him as he started to lung at Harper.

  “Why have you been following her?” Oliver demanded. “Because I have been worried about her,” Harper told him in a tone that I knew Oliver wouldn’t like.

  I clutched Oliver’s arms tight.

  “Oliver please,” I pleaded. Oliver glared at Harper but looked down at me, “Why did you run off? And you didn’t answer your phone. Dammit Ever I thought the worse.”

  “I didn’t mean to run off. I didn’t want to wake you but I went to the clinic and I just…I had to find out.”

  Oliver stared at me frowning, “Baby girl,” he muttered, “I’m sorry,” he started to hug me but I stopped him.

  I shook my head, “That’s why I ran off Oliver. I was…freaked out.”

  “Freaked out why woul-” he paused then stared at me silently for a moment.

  “No,” he breathed shaking his head.

  I was silently staring up at him then nodded, “Yes.”

  “Ok, umm…what’s with this cryptic talk? What are you two talking about?” Harper scowled.

  “How?” Oliver questioned swallowing sharply.

  “I don’t know,” I shook my head, “But it’s nine weeks.”

  Ol
iver wrapped his arms around me pulling me to his chest and buried his face in my hair.

  “Umm…hello I’m still here,” Harper grunted annoyed. “Shut up Harper. I just found out my girlfriends pregnant and you’re ruining the moment.”

  Harper went silent; I think he even stopped breathing. Oliver reached out grabbing the front of Harper’s shirt and pulled him into the hug.

  Harper grunted and tried to pull away, “What happened to wanting to kill me?”

  I pulled away from them. Harper scrambled backwards happy to be released.

  “We need to talk about what’s all going on,” I told them both.

  “I’m going to just get it done and over with,” Oliver shook his head.

  “I’m just going to go to him and tell him to go to hell.”

  “What!” Harper yelled.

  “Oliver,” I scowled.

  “Are you out of your mind?” Harper raved, “He’ll murder you!”

  “Oliver, you can’t be serious,” I gaped at him.

  “I just told you I’m pregnant and you want to go knock on Weasley’s door?” “ I want this over and done with so we can get back to our family, and our new family,” Oliver smiled touching my stomach.

  “You are not thinking straight!” I yelled. Why would he just go straight to Weasley? Does he want to get himself killed? That is a death sentence. He’ll never come back.

  “This is the reason I didn’t want to tell you!” I shoved Oliver angrily, “I knew you’d run off and get yourself killed!”

  Oliver grabbed my arms, “I’m not running off to get myself killed.” “Yes, you are. This is why I told her to stay away from you because I know you. If Weasley finds out she’s pregnant it’s over with Oliver. You can’t just march up to his front door,” Harper raked his hand through his hair in frustration.

  “I’m not standing around for him to show up. Sooner or later he will and I’m not letting him get that close to my family.”

  “Oliver, you are better off fighting him from here. Like you just said, you have family here. You have the gang. We can fight him off together”

  “No, I’m not getting the gang involved again. We got a bunch killed last time Ever. This is my problem. I’m not dragging anyone else through it.”

  Harper suddenly attacked Oliver punching him square in the jaw. The surprise attack caught Oliver of guard and knocked him off his feet. If it had been anyone else that punch would have knocked him out.

  Harper turned to me grabbing me and picking me up.

  “Harper! What the hell are you doing?” I screamed as he ran up the beach.

  Over Harper’s shoulder, I saw Oliver pull himself up off the ground. “This is the only way he won’t run off and get himself killed,” Harper told me opening his car door and pushing me inside. I reached for the door handle but Harper locked the doors.

  Oliver was at the top of the hill now charging for the car when Harper threw it in reverse. He threw his arm across me so I wouldn’t slam into the dashboard. Spinning the car around, he hauled ass away from the beach.

  “Are you out of your fucking mind?” I yelled at Harper, “Your brilliant plan is kidnapping me! You think he won’t follow us?”

  “Everlyn, Oliver is going to get himself killed if he goes to my father.”

  “So what you are taking ME to your father?” I demanded. “No, I’m keeping you away from him and Oliver. Like I said before if you aren’t in the picture then Oliver is safer.”

  “What logic is that? He’s going to hunt you down and kill you. You do realize that, don’t you?” Turning in my seat, I looked behind us and sure enough, Oliver was following. My phone started going off in my pocket. Pulling it out I started to answer it but Harper snatched it and answered himself putting it on speaker.

  “Oliver, I’m doing this for your own good. Stay away from my father you’ll only get yourself killed.”

  “So help me Harper if you don’t pull over and let her out I’ll beat the living shit out of you.” “I’m keeping her safe. Once you go to my father and he locks your stupid ass up where do you think he’ll go next? He’ll go right after her once he finds out she’s pregnant.”

  “If you stay away from him then I’ll let her go” “There is no letting me go Harper. You think just because I’m pregnant I won’t punch you in the throat or try to run away? Really?”

  Harper shut off my phone disconnecting with Oliver.

  “Everlyn, do you want him to die?”

  “Of course I don’t. But doing this is irrational and stupid.”

  “You don’t honestly think he would have listened to you and not gone? Once Oliver gets something in his head he does it.” I shook my head, “Maybe that’s how it was before but Oliver would listen to me.” “I know he will but not if you are right next to him. Only if you are away from him will he be safe.”

  “That’s not true at all! We are stronger together, you idiot!”

  My phone started buzzing again I reached for it but Harper snatched it away again. “Ever if you tell him you won’t come back until he grows a damn brain then he’ll listen and he won’t go.”

  “Or he’ll get pissed off and go anyways. Now give me my phone.” “No, this is for both of you,” Harper shook his head he put my phone in his pocket and faced the road.

  “He’ll keep following you. He won’t give up,” I scowled looking over my shoulder. Oliver was still behind us.

  “He’ll run out of gas eventually.”

  “What makes you think that?” I scoffed. “I siphoned his gas this morning. I saw you leave with that girl I thought it was the perfect chance.”

  “You’ve been planning to kidnap me all along, haven’t you?” I pursed my lips.

  “Yes, and it would appear Oliver has finally ran out of gas,” Harper smirked.

  Spinning around I saw Oliver was way behind pulling his car off the side of the road.

  “Harper stop, please,” I told him, “I won’t hesitate to punch you if I have to.” “If you punch me then we’ll wreck and you could get hurt. Do you want your baby to get hurt?”

  I stared at him shocked. This couldn’t be happening. “You need to settle with the fact that you couldn’t fight off Jason or that boy Eien. You really can’t fight me off. I’m stronger than both of them,” he laughed, “I promise you that.”

  He pulled my out phone, which was still going off. This had to be the tenth time.

  “Tell him to leave you alone.”

  “No,” I shook my head. “He still believes I’m taking you to my father. If you don’t tell him to leave you alone and give you space then he’ll go there.”

  “You’re an asshole Harper Jackson.”

  ~Here We Go Again~

  The curtains were flung open. Groaning, I rolled over annoyed.

  "Ever, you have been in bed for a week now. You need to get up."

  "How about fuck you, how's that?" I snarled hiding under my blankets.

  "If you don't answer your phone I will," I Harper told me.

  "What?" I muttered confused. My phone isn't ringing. About that time it started. "It's Oliver...again. If I answer it, he'll yell at me. You need to tell him I’m not holding you hostage."

  Sitting straight up in bed, I snatched the phone from Harper's hand glaring at him, “But you are.”

  "Hello?" I answered the phone. "Ever," Oliver spoke. My eyes burned instantly. Harper frowned but didn’t leave the room. I turned away from him.

  "Please come home," Oliver told me softly. I had been crying for days. I thought I had finally cried myself out but tearing up again, I knew that I hadn't. I was breaking Oliver’s heart again. This time it was worse.

  "I can't Oliver," I breathed.

  "Is he threatening you? Please just tell me where you are. I will be there. I’ll knock his fucking ass out.” “He’s not threatening me. He has a poi nt. If I’m away from you, then you won’t run off and do something stupid,” I lied.

  I didn’t want to be here. I want
ed to be with Oliver but I didn’t have a choice. I glared at Harper as he sat at the end of the bed.

  “I might if you don’t come home soon. I’m serious Ever.”

  I was silently crying.

  “Please promise me you won’t do that. Please tell me you won’t go do something stupid.”

  "Can we meet? Just at the coffee shop or something?" “I don’t know,” I told him honestly glancing at Harper again. He had his arms crossed and was watching me intently.

  The truth was Harper wasn’t threatening me but I couldn’t get passed him either. Punching and biting did nothing. He was like made of steel. I couldn’t sneak out or out run him. He always brought me back to my room.

  “What do you mean you don’t know? He is holding you there, isn’t he? He won’t let you go.”

  “Yes,” I told him.

  “Just tell me where you are?” I glanced outside and shifted nervously. Harper had made one threat. He told me he wouldn’t let me talk to Oliver again if I told him where we were.

  Harper must have seen my unease and snatched the phone from my hand. I grasp for it but he stood up.

  “Nice try Oliver,” Harper muttered shutting the phone. He looked over at me for a moment and started to leave.

  “Please let me see him.”

  Harper paused but said nothing and slipped back out the door. I heard a chair get shoved under the door handle trapping in the room again. We were in a hotel in Nework. At first Harper hadn’t been blocking my door but I kept trying to escape so he decided to lock me in. To be honest, I hadn’t fought him as much as I could have. Now knowing I was pregnant, I was afraid of hurting the baby. I knew Harper wouldn’t hurt me but he could by accident and my little girl had already been through so much.

  I rubbed my hands over my stomach. It was just a small bump barely noticeable. Occasionally I think I could feel her move but it’s probably just me because I’m hoping to feel her. I know it’s too soon for that though.

  Laying down I shut my eyes hoping that this was all a dream and I would wake up with Oliver soon.

  When I opened my eyes, next I was still in the hotel, still far away from him. Standing up I stretched and headed for the window. We were on the top floor in a private suite. My room was huge and had a king sized bed.