Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 150

“Now that we’re all cleaned up,” Clarisse said as she wrapped her wet hair up in a towel, her skin glistening.

Oliver felt wrong being in the same room with her like this.

She had a boyfriend, he reminded himself constantly.

‘She has a boyfriend,’ he reminded himself once more.

He couldn’t be thinking of her any other way than as his friend.

A friend. That was all he was to her.

“Romance, adventure, science-fiction, teen,” Clarisse read from the screen.

“Do you have to ask?” Oliver asked, raising his brow in curiosity.

Clarisse stared at her options before she and Oliver said in unison, “Adventure.”

She clicked on the adventure genre before they settled on a TV series to watch together.

Sitting a safe distance away from Oliver, Clarisse settled in her spot, knowing she’d be staying here for quite a while. Blaine wouldn’t return from work till later that evening, so they had hours to themselves.

Occasionally, during the show, Oliver and Clarisse’s eyes met. He averted her gaze, knowing looking at her wouldn’t do him any good at all. Especially when they were this close – not that they weren’t as close during their previous meal which had led to a food fight.

Certain Sophia would hear of this – and Louis as well, Clarisse braced herself, knowing she’d get grilled for answers as to why she’d partake in something like… a food fight. It was most irresponsible of her, and by now the whole palace would be alerted of this.

Meanwhile she was enjoying watching a TV series with Oliver.

Clarisse furrowed her brows, ‘Strange.’

Indeed, it was strange how she felt at ease whenever she was with him, like she could be herself around him since he seemed to understand her so well.

Out of everyone – Louis, Sophia, Nicholas etc, she’d known Oliver the least amount of time, and yet he’d made the biggest impact.

Oliver moved the bag of popcorn he held in his hand to Clarisse’s direction.

“Popcorn?” He offered.

Without saying anything, Clarisse took a few pieces and popped them into her mouth. They sat in silence, and Clarisse was paranoid that Blaine would’ve barged in during the show.

But… why?

Why would she feel so paranoid when she wasn’t doing anything wrong?

Watching a movie with a friend was completely normal, how could it be wrong?

And yet she felt this gnawing pit in her stomach.

This gnawing, painful pit that became bigger, and bigger, and bigger as time had passed. To think she’d never noticed it before.

Her eyes were glued to the screen as she watched the two characters barely inches away from each other, seconds away from a kiss.

She heard her heart beating in her ears. Her heart raced.

How quickly it beated – she felt like it’d explode!

‘Why’s my heart beating so fast suddenly?’ Clarisse wondered to herself.

Referring to the almost onscreen kiss, she reasoned, ‘Must be because of the kiss.’

Looking over at Clarisse, Oliver sensed something wrong.

“Is the show not up to your tastes?” He inquired.

Clarisse shook her head.

“No, it’s nothing.”

“Oh, okay,” Oliver said, still sceptical but choosing not to say anything about it.

The first episode ended.

“Up for another one?” Oliver offered.

Clarisse considered the offer before she glanced at the time. It was nearing the evening. Blaine would be home soon.

Then she thought to herself… Was she going to pass this up merely because she wanted to wait for Blaine to get home from work?

On second thought, Clarisse decided to stay.

She nodded, “Of course.”

Oliver clicked on the second episode.

“Drinks?”

Clarisse agreed, “Definitely.”

Oliver went over to the mini wine fridge in his quarters, taking a champagne bottle out of it.

A pop sound was heard after Oliver popped the champagne bottle.

He took two champagne glasses for him and Clarisse, walking over to his bed.

Taken out of context, things looked bad. But they were merely watching a show – like two friends were.

Nicholas would have disapproved of Oliver and Clarisse doing something like this, but he wasn’t here to judge. And besides, his brother knew he and Clarisse weren’t up to anything. Right?

Oliver poured Clarisse some champagne. Clarisse watched as the fizz slowly evaporated before taking a generous sip from her glass.

“Thanks,” she said to him with a smile on her face.

Oliver’s heart melted. Seeing Clarisse smile?

It could be compared to the night sky being lit up by firework.

Trying not to smile in return, Oliver poured himself some champagne and made his way back on his bed.

He and Clarisse sat on opposite sides of the bed – things weren’t awkward so much as they were… new.

They just felt strange. And Clarisse had a boyfriend, so sitting too close to her would pose a problem – at least, to Oliver.

His feelings for her…

They never wavered. Not once.

He’d tried staying away from her, but his feelings remained intact.

Giving himself reasons to stop loving her never helped matters, they only helped things.

All her flaws made him love her more, and that terrified him.

She was in love with someone else.

And perhaps that was why he could’ve gotten so close to her without doing anything incredibly rash.

He refused to be the person that allowed his selfish needs to get the best of him and ruin Clarisse’s entire relationship because of it.

Clarisse thought of him as nothing more than a friend. She hadn’t done anything wrong in this, it was all him, he knew.

Despite all his efforts to stop or put an end to his feelings, it was all to no avail. The heart wants what the heart wants after all, there was no stopping it no matter how hard you tried or the lengths you went – Oliver learnt that now.

He’d fallen asleep had it not been for the soft knock coming from the door.

Clarisse got off the bed – she noticed Oliver had nearly fallen asleep.

“I’ll get it,” she said assuringly before tip-toeing over to the door.

Opening the door, Clarisse was startled to find Louis waiting.

“Louis!” She exclaimed, her eyes going round.

Louis looked even more astonished to see her here.

“What are you doing here?” He asked in astonishment.

“I should be the one asking you that, what are you doing in my quarters?” Clarisse questioned.

Louis blinked, “Err, Claire, this is Oliver’s quarters.”

Clarisse blinked, realizing her mistake.

“Oh right, I meant Oliver’s quarters,” she corrected.

She’d gone there too much times, she’d mistaken his place as hers.

Never had she done that before – even with Blaine – and that was saying something.

Considering she stayed there, it was shocking she never did.

“So, what are you doing here?” Clarisse inquired curiously.

“I’m here to talk to Oliver.”

“Well, I was before I found you.”

“Care to step outside a bit and talk?” Louis questioned.

Clarisse gave in to his request.

“Oh, alright,” she sighed, clutching her head.

Not bothering to wonder what Louis had to say to her.

She wished Oliver goodbye before Louis brought her someplace else.

“So… why bring me here?” Clarisse asked once she and Louis were far from Oliver’s quarters.

Louis stared at her incredulously – like she hadn’t any idea why he wanted to talk to Oliver – and her.

“Seriously? You don’t know why I want to talk to you, Claire?”

“Like, nothing comes to mind?”

“At all?”

Louis scoffed, “Claire, you really don’t know do you?”

Clarisse nodded. Nothing came to mind.

Louis facepalmed – something his sister did too whenever she was frustrated.

“Claire,” Louis placed his hands on her shoulders.

“You trashed one of the palace dining halls, and from what my sources tell me, it was all because you decided to partake in a food fight,” Louis crossed his arms.

Clarisse blinked.

“Oh right, the food fight,” she realized.

“Sorry about that,” she apologized, scratching the back of her neck.

“You know that’s not why I came here to talk, Claire.”

“What were you doing with him?” Louis asked.

“And what made you continue a food fight? That’s unlike you,” he added.

Indeed, it was highly unlike her. You’d think Sophia would be the one to start food fights, or partake in them, but during the last year, it was like they’d switched personalities or something, or at least Sophia became less spontaneous and Clarisse became wilder than usual.

Why would she do such a thing?

Food fights?

Never would she have done this with Blaine, it was impossible. Blaine wasn’t the type of person to partake in such foolish activities.

Hell, he was likely still at work.

“I don’t know,” Clarisse admitted.

“It was spontaneous, I guess,” she shrugged.

Something in her didn’t add up. Spontaneous?

She wasn’t spontaneous. Not usually.

So… when did she start becoming spontaneous?

And yet she didn’t feel the slightest bit regretful of what she did.

Truthfully, she had lots of fun.

Specifically, whenever she was with Oliver.

She furrowed her brow.

When did she-?