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Chapter 3: Matchmaking

Finn's POV

After that little ice cream shop trip that Oliver invited me to. I stayed up that night to think about whether or not I should just ghost him or help him. I didn't owe him anything, quite frankly, he has never done anything for me, so why should I? But whenever I'd think about blocking his number, I'd remember his excitement back at the shop, that sheer happiness. So I just decided to help him all together. But I didn't... expect him to start the next day.

"What are you doing here?" Heather asked.

Oliver was eating with us at lunch. He just came up and sat beside me and started eating like there wasn't anything wrong with it.

"I'm eating here. I can't do that now?" Oliver asked with an amused smirk.

Heather looked at Oliver, all confused. "Doing it out of nowhere? If you're just gonna mess with Finn, I swear-"

"No! I would never!" Oliver defended himself before leaning in close, dropping his voice into a low, raspy whisper. "Listen, my friends have done so much questionable things. I don't agree with them and it's up to you if you believe me or not but I'm not like any of them."

Heather scoffed and this was one of the few times I've seen her be irritated. "So don't hang out with them, simple."

"It's not that simple. It's... hard to explain but trust me, I really don't agree with what they've done to you two." 

Heather looked at me, questioning if I was witnessing what she was seeing before sighing. "I'm gonna be right back." She said before standing up and approaching the lunch line.

"Finn, you think she's mad at me?" He asked.

I laughed bitterly. "Yeah, this is one of the rare times I've seen her annoyed." 

"Damn." He hissed quietly to himself, after a few seconds, he then turned to me again. "Finn. What does Heather like and not like?" 

I snickered. "Well, I know now she definitely doesn't like you." I joked which caused Oliver to chuckle and push me playfully. "Fine, fine. Heather likes really simple things and she's a big romantic. You don't need to compliment her or flirt with her like what you're used to doing, just have a genuine conversation with her where you're present. And don't lie about things just to impress her, she will know and she won't like it. She also doesn't like when people get violent or aggressive for no reason and, well, people who pick on me."

He nodded and he was about to speak when Heather came back. She eyed Oliver warily as she sat back down.

"Alright. I just want a peaceful lunch, you two." I joked. Oliver just laughed while Heather shook her head.

. . .

After the bell rang signaling the end of the last period, I went to the bathroom for a quick bathroom break. As I was washing my hand, I looked up at the mirror and at my reflection. Just as I finished, I was shoved back roughly which caused me to stumble and hit my back on the corner of the sink, making me wince in pain.

"What the hell." I muttered in pain and once I was able, I looked at the person who caused me to be in this position. 

Oh, what a surprise, it was Chad.

"What the hell, indeed. What did you do to Oliver? Did you put a love spell on him or something? You probably did, huh? I knew you were gay."

"What are you talking about-"

"Don't play dumb with me!" I flinched harder than I should when he shouted at my face. "Why else would Oliver go up to you and your loser friend?"

I was breathing hard, I was scared to say anything in fear of being beaten up by him. I couldn't move.

"You're gay, aren't you?" 

At the time, I was just in too much shock to process what he said and so I didn't say anything which angered him more. He suddenly grabbed the collar of my shirt and pulled me towards him.

"You like being this close to me, huh? You're a fucking f-g. You probably want to fuck me, huh?"

I didn't speak. I couldn't speak. I was too petrified to even do anything, I was so scared of him finding out about my sexuality because I know, he will out me to everyone and it will be over. 

As expected, my silence triggered him again. He wound back and punched me right on cheek, I hissed in pain as he dropped me to the floor. I hit my head on the cold floor and I thought it was over when I felt a sharp kick on my stomach and then footsteps fading. 

I felt like a useless garbage there, defenseless and writhing in pain. Because I am, I am a useless garbage. Disposable and replaceable. I writhed in pain, I couldn't move or anything, I couldn't even defend myself.

After some time of struggling, I boosted myself up using the sink to look in the mirror. There was a bruise forming on my cheek but good thing there wasn't a bump. I can easily cover it with makeup. Just as I thought that everything would be fine I suddenly tasted the familiar and metallic taste of blood in my mouth and that's when the pain on my stomach intensified. 

Tears started to form in my eyes but I refused to cry, someone might come in here and probably beat me up for crying. I shook my head violently, composing myself as much as I can when the door opened. A guy with black hair and green eyes entered which caused me to hurriedly wipe the moist forming in my eyes.

"Sorry, sorry. I'll get out of here." I said, grabbing my bag and things that fell to the floor but before I could get past him, he grabbed my arm. "Please, don't hit me!" I yelped in fear, trying to shield my face with my arm.

"Dude, I'm not gonna hit you. Are you- Oh my God, you have a bruise on your cheek. Are you okay?" He asked as he grabbed my shoulder, getting a more closer look on my face.

I eyed him warily, trying to sense any form of violent reaction from him but his innocent green eyes just continued to search my face.

"Y-Yeah... I'm fine." I lied. I mean, why would he ask that if he saw my face?

"No, no. You're not fine. I'm gonna take you to the nurse. Come on." He didn't even wait for my response, instead, he swung my arm around his shoulder.

At the time, I should've protested against it because he could've just brought me to Chad again so he could beat me up, but I was just in pain a little too much for me to do that. I wasn't used to that kind of treatment, especially from the students here. It was scary but also refreshing.  

We left the bathroom. I was confused and also blushing, maybe because of this mysterious guy that was carrying me. But that blushing must not have been enough to cover the bruise on my cheek because the moment I was in line of Heather's sight, she came rushing to me.

"Finn, oh my God. What the heck happened to your face?!" She asked in concern as the guy continued to take me to wherever.

"This your friend?" The mysterious guy asked.

I nodded before looking at Heather. "I slipped in the bathroom and hit my face on the sink." I said nonchalantly with a chuckle because I knew she wasn't gonna like it when she finds out it was caused by someone and judging by the look on her face, she wasn't gonna buy my bullshit. 

"Was it Chad?" A guy's voice asked and I looked behind Heather to see Oliver approaching us, a worried look on his face. I noticed the shock on his face when he saw the guy beside me.

I smiled sheepishly. I didn't want Oliver to see me in this state but here he was. "No, like I said, it's my fault. You know I'm a big klutz, Heather."

She nodded with a sarcastic smile. "You're also a big liar, who did it?" 

I gave up with trying to convince them with a lie, crossing my arms like a petulant child. "Not telling you." I said with a pout. 

"Frederick Augustine Vasco. I swear to the stars, if you don't tell me who it was, I'm adding another bruise to your face." 

I sighed, letting an arm fall to the side while the other absentmindedly covered my stomach. Heather's eyebrows shot up, it was like the wheels were turning in her brain. She removed my arm from my stomach and raised my shirt carefully and there it was, a cute little bruise forming.

"Heather, there's so many people!" I said, tugging my shirt down again as I continued to dodge the students walking to the exits.

Heather took a deep breath, closing her eyes in the process as a thin smile formed on her lips... before advancing towards Chad who was with his fellow jocks, laughing around. 

I tried to stop her but a sudden, sharp pain struck my head, I became incredibly dizzy. Oliver was about to follow her when I weakly gripped his arm. He turned to me just as I stumbled towards him. 

Then everything was dark.

. . .

I woke up feeling very drained and tired. I looked around but the back of my eyes were throbbing as well as the rest of my head. I grunted very loudly which seemed to cause something beside me to stir. I looked around the room and recognized the lilac walls as the school clinic. A place where I've been in many many times and all those times weren't fun ones and this time was certainly not any different. 

"Finn?" 

I looked beside me and saw Oliver, looking at me with worry etched on his handsome face.

"What happened?" I asked tiredly as I tried to rub my eyes but eventually wincing once the hurt became unbearable.

"You fainted. The nurse found a big bump on your head, a bruise on your face and your stomach." He touched the side of my head where I only realized was emanating pain.

I chuckled slightly, my fingers fiddling with each other on my lap absentmindedly. "I guess Chad did more damage to me than I thought."

Oliver frowned slightly, taking my hands in his. "I'm so sorry Chad did this to you. I don't understand why he does these kind of things... I swear, this is the last time he'll do this or else..." He clenched his jaw. I could practically feel the tension off of his hands.

I squeezed his hands in an attempt to calm him down and surprisingly, it did something. "I don't understand too. But I'm used to it, don't worry. I've been in this room more than five times already and--"

"That's not something to be proud of, Finn." He said with a glare but I knew it wasn't directed towards me. 

I shrugged helplessly. "Well what am I supposed to do? I can't avoid him forever-"

"You have me now."

I stared at him, my eyebrows raised in curiosity. "What do you mean?"

"I don't care about what people think, I'll protect you, Finn." I might have not believed in what he said... but his eyes told it genuinely, and it made my chest warm.

"I..." 

I was speechless. I didn't know what to answer to that. It's not everyday somebody says they would be your little bodyguard. What do you say to that?

I felt heat crawl up my neck and my face. Damn, this boy was the only person in the world that will always make me blush.

"That was so cheesy." I blurted out without thinking.

He threw his head back to laugh. "Your blush says otherwise." He joked which caused the heat on my neck to further spread to my whole face and ears.

"Stop." I said with a smile. To avoid making myself more of a fool, I looked around to occupy my eyes with other things, only then, I noticed Heather's absence. "Where's Heather?" 

Oliver's smile suddenly fell as he stood up. "She's home now but... she was in the Principal's office with Chad earlier." 

My eyes widened all of a sudden. "Did he hurt her?" 

He laughed with a shake of his head. "More like she hurt him."

The fear and worry slowly drained out of me as I laughed along with Oliver. "That does sound like her. And rightfully so." 

"Anyway. Heather went home already, she tried to wait for you to wake up but her aunt was already here."

I raised an eyebrow in confusion as I grabbed my phone from my backpack that was on the floor only to find out it was already 4 in the afternoon. 

"How long have I been out?" 

He shrugged, running a hand through his blond hair. "Like, an hour or two."

"And you waited for me that long?" 

He shook his head at me. "Finn, you really need to start getting used to people being nice to you. Not everyone in this school are monsters."

"I beg to differ." I snickered under my breath and Oliver seemed to have heard it judging by the smirk that have formed on his lips. 

He leaned closer, his hazel eyes leveling with mine. "My point is... you have me now." 

I raised an eyebrow at him in disbelief, he kept his innocent look even under my stare. I sighed, shaking my head at him. 

"You're stupid. You do realize people are gonna think differently of you when they see you hanging out with someone like me?" 

He shook his head. "I don't care and besides, you're still a human, no one's above you or under you. That's just a pathetic thing society and this school came up with."

I didn't realize how wise he was and I was a huge sucker for smart people, that's why I was slowly falling more for him... but I knew I needed to bottle my feelings or else, I'll lose him and I will probably be bullied more. And besides, Oliver liked Heather, I can't get in the way of their 'romance' or whatever is between them. 

"Oh, I almost forgot. Here, take this." He reached at the table to get a pill of some sort and a glass of water. "It's for your headache."

"You almost forgot?" I teased him causing his cheeks to turn peach as he smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry, sorry. I was too engaged in our conversation." 

I swallowed the pill with the help of water. After that, I looked at Oliver's back as he arranged the stuff that have been messed up by an invisible force. His back flexed inside his jersey jacket he always wore as he picked up the stuff that fell on the floor.

"Hey Oliver." I called to which he turned around.

"Yeah? You need anything?"

"Just to let you know. Heather doesn't like that... what you're wearing." I pointed at his jacket.

His eyes followed where I was pointing, he then looked up at me innocently, cutely pointing at his jacket for clarification.

I nodded slowly as a response to his question. I knew he liked that jacket, I mean, he had been wearing it for a full year now, almost everyday ever since last year and he looked contented with it.

"Oh..." He trailed off with a hint of sadness.

"But it's okay though, you don't need to change your style-"

"Nah, it's okay. I wanted to change up my style for a while now anyway... The only problem was that I know nothing about fashion." He admitted, fiddling with the zipper of his jacket shyly.

Damn, why did he have to be so cute?

After a few seconds of silence, I sighed. "You know you have me now too, right?" I said with a knowing smile.

"What do you mean?"

"I'll help you discover a new style. I'll help you shop for new clothes."

He looked at me in disbelief but I could tell he was over the roof. "You'd really help me?" 

I rolled my eyes at him playfully. "Like you said. 'Finn, you really need to start getting used to people being nice to you. Not everyone in the school are monsters'." I quoted in a deep voice as an attempt to exaggeratedly reiterate what he said earlier.

Oliver laughed loudly, ruffling my hair. "You joke but I needed that. Now let's go so we go home before dark."

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