You Have Me

Chapter 26.

*Mason's POV*

The first day of school with Olivia and I doing what we're doing, and no one finding out, success.

But, now we have a problem.

Now, I have a right to be concerned about Saunders. And it's not a feeling that I'm used to. I've never had to actually worry about a girl talking to another guy, because normally, I'm talking to other girls. But now everything is different. I'm actually going to try. And it just had to be with my bestfriends little sister.

So with that being said, here we are, Ryan, Ben, Connor and I, sitting in the Pate livingroom, dad, Jason, and Jake out in the backyard, and Oaken, well, you can probably assume by now that Oaken is with Amber. And Olivia is upstairs waiting for Saunders to get here.

"I'm kind of over having a little sister." Connor shook his head.

"I'm over you having a little sister too." Ryan nodded.

"Like honestly, first Will is on her in the hall, and now Saunders is on his way here." Connor rolled his eyes.

"Excuse me?" I looked over at him. "What?"

"Yeah. They were talking about running through their duet this morning. And honestly, I just walked away. I'm not stepping to that kid." He pursed his lips.

"Abby and Josh don't help." Ryan shook his head.

"When did guys start lining up for Ol anyway?" Ben pursed his lips. "Like, before the summer, she was off the radar."

"I left." Connor looked over at him. "And apparently that meant it was open season on Olivia Pate."

And then the doorbell went off.

"DO I have to answer it?" Connor looked around at us.

We all nodded. "Unless she's failing." Ben shrugged.

He sighed. "Someone go tell her king tool bag is here." He rolled his eyes.

"I got it." I nodded.

I walked up and just opened her door.

"Cause I'm not changing or anything?" She turned around.

She was changing in to legginds and a loose cropped tee.

"Don't you think that's a little too much skin?" I pursed my lips.

"I wear this alot. Now you have a problem with it?" She laughed.

"We weren't f*****g until now, so, kind of." I nodded.

"Oh so that's what this is, fucking." She nodded.

I sighed. "Not what I meant." I shook my head. "Kind of wish people knew that so people would leave you alone."

"Mason Hollow, again, are you jealous?" She gave me a look.

"If I say yes will you never ask again." I rolled my eyes.

"Maybe." She shrugged.

"Then yes, I am jealous, of the ex boyfriend who just rung the doorbell, and the other tool-bag." I nodded.

"Huh?" She scrunched her face.

"Nothing." I shook my head.

"I just really want to pass, that is the only reason he's here, alright?" She pursed her lips.

I sighed. "Go get your A." I motioned out her door.

She gave me a small smiled and started to walk out her door.

"Wait." I grabbed her hand and pulled her back.

I gave her a small kiss. "Remember, broken in half." I smirked and nodded.

"Oh jesus christ." She smiled and shook her head.

We both went downstairs.

*Olivia's POV*

Am I looking forward to spending time with Cameron? No.

Do I need an A? Yes.

Mason and I walked down the stairs to see him standing in the livingroom, looking as irritated as possible.

Mason plopped down on the couch.

"Ready to go up?" Cameron looked over at me.

"The only place we are going, is in to my kitchen." I crossed my arms.

He sighed. "Alright." He nodded.

We both walked in to the kitchen, he sat down and I walked out the back door.

"Jacob." I yelled.

"What Ol?" He turned around.

"Cameron is here to work on our english assignment. Do not pull out your body guard act like you did last weekend telling Robbie and Marcus to keep an eye on us. Be a human, not a neanderthol." I pointed at him.

"What in the hell did that boy do!" My dad yelled.

"Nothing." I shook my head. "Just, mind your p's and q's." I walked back inside and sat down.

I pulled all my stuff out of my bag and opened my computer.

"How's Oaken?" He asked doing the same thing.

I sighed. "Ok, here's how this is going to go. You don't ask about my family, or me. There is nothing to talk about with you and I. Because there is no more you and I, ok? That ended the minute you called me a trophy and made an impulsive decision because of my brother. We're not talking about this. We're talking about poems. Now what do you have?" I raised my eyebrows.

He pursed his lips with wide eyes. "I was thinking Jack Frost."

I rolled my eyes. "And you're clearly useless." I shook my head. "How about this? It's a poem by Rudy Franscisco." I turned my laptop toward him and played the video of him performing it.

It was a poetry slam that he did.

Scars / To the New Boyfriend by Rudy Francisco

One

If I could, I would nail these hands to the edges of stars. I would sacrifice this body to the sky, hoping to resurrected someone spiteful enough to not care about you anymore.

Two

Staple me to a cross. Pierce my side with a broken promise, and I will bleed

all the crippled reasons why you deserve one more chance.

Three

Loving you is the last thing that I felt really good at.

Four

You wanna know how I got these scars? See I ripped every last piece of you out of my smile.

Five

I whispered you stardust.

Six

I spoke you into sunflowers.

Seven

I dipped my hands in forever. I touched you infinity. Treated you as if you were the last molecule of oxygen inside of a gas chamber. I was good to you.

Eight

You wanna know how I got these scars? See I swallowed my pride, and then it clawed its way out of my mouth.

Nine

I realized that I was never really your boyfriend. I was just your f*****g hype-man.

Ten

I hope your next boyfriend gets smallpox.

Ten

Yes I said smallpox.

Ten

I hate you.

Ten

But I still miss you.

Ten

And a part of me still loves you.

Ten

It's hard for me to count when I get emotional.

Ten

I heard that over ninety percent of human interaction is non-verbal so

[Pause]

Ten

If I could, I would tie your arms to a daydream and then auction you off to my fondest memories.

To the random dude who started dating my ex-girlfriend two days after we broke up -

yes, I saw that s**t on f*******:. Now when I realized that you were in a relationship with the girl that I thought I would someday spend the rest of my life with, I walked outside, I said to myself--"There is no way Ashton Kutcher is gonna catch me off guard." I waited 45 minutes. And then I realized that there hasn't been a new episode of Punk'd in damn near four years. So I guess I'm the only practical joke in this entire situation.

One

The first time I saw you and her in a picture I wanted to take my entire arm, shove it inside of the computer and snatch the happiness right off of your face.

Two

If I ever see you in the street, I'm probably gonna punch you in the throat.

Three

I apologize in advance. And I know, I know that it makes no sense to have this much anger towards a man that I've never actually met face-to-face. But, my definition of love is being robbed in an alley eight times in a row and hoping there is something about today that makes all of this different. There is nothing logical about cutting off the most important parts of yourself and then putting them inside of hands that shake, that tremble, that crack like a Haitian sidewalk.

Four

There is nothing rational about love. Your love stutters when it gets nervous, your love trips over its own shoelaces. Love is clumsy, and my heart refuses to wear a helmet.

Five

Cupid is f*****g irresponsible and I'm tired of him using me for target practice.

Six

I was told that time would heal all wounds. But what exactly do you do on days when it feels like the hands on your clock have arthritis?

Seven

She always wore her heart on her sleeve. So tell me then, why the hell do you look so familiar?

Eight

I think I've seen you somewhere in her smile, like I've heard your voice in her laughter, like I've smelled your cologne her thighs. I bet if we dusted her heart for fingerprints we would only find yours.

Nine

I have this envelope, it's full of all the butterflies I felt the first time she relaxed the Velcro on her lips and smiled in my direction. I think most of them are still alive. I guess these belong to you too.

He pursed his lips and shook his head. "Jesus."

"I found it during 6th, thought we could work with it." I nodded.

"Well, think it's safe to say she was a bitch." He nodded.

"Yeah, the evaluation, can not say she was a bitch." I shook my head.

"Well I know that Olivia. What are you thinking?"

"In all honesty, it was powerful. I could feel the hurt, and the anger he was feeling as I read it. It says how little she appreciated him while he held her on the highest pedistal that he could reach. It shows that he wasnt necessarily angry or hurt about the new boyfriend, but about what she had put him through and she still went to another man. So, I think it's about him letting go of the denial that she had moved on."

"Have you moved on?" He looked over at me.

"Oh, so you didn't understand me the first time." I nodded. "Or do you want to go home?"

"No. I got it." He nodded.

"Alright then. Start writing, and we'll compare." I rolled my eyes and looked down at my paper.

A few minutes later, my dad and Jake came walking in.

"Mr. Pate." Cameron waved.

"Cameron." He shook his head and walked in to the living room.

"Jake." Cam nodded as Jake got in the fridge.

He turned around. "Kid, the only reason I didn't walk in here and smack you straight out of that chair, is because I'd have to deal with her later. So it'd be smart for you, to keep your mouth shut." Jake nodded.

"Yes sir." Cam looked down at his paper.

Jake started cooking and we continued working.

And then the fantastic 4 walked in the kitchen with their hands behind their back and huddled around the table.

"What's up Saunders." Ben smiled.

He rolled his eyes and looked up. "Can I help you guys."

"Oh no, we just want to show you something." Ryan nodded.

He sighed. "Lets see it then." He sat back and crossed his arms.

And then all of them slammed trophies down on the table.

"We just wanted to show you some of our trophies." Connor smiled.

I pursed my lips.

"Is there a point behind this?" Cam shook his head.

"There is." Mason nodded and bent down in front of him. "Here's our trophies, where exactly is yours again." He smirked.

Jake choked back a laugh.

"Guys, A, please, go." I pointed out to the living room.

They all let out some small laughs and walked in to the living room.

Cam pursed his lips and nodded. "OK. I deserved that one."

"You think?" I looked over at him and continued working.

We talked, discussed, Jake left the kitchen Ryan and Ben left, and about 30 minutes later, the doorbell went off.

"What the hell?" I looked toward the living room.

"Olivia!" My dad yelled.

"I'm still in the kitchen." I yelled.

"What in the hell are you doing here?" I heard Connor yell.

"For Olivia." I heard a familiar voice.

"Oh my god no." I closed my eyes.

"Who is that?" Cam looked at me.

"Saunders?" Will asked as he walked in to my kitchen.

"Grayson?" Cameron gave him a look.

"Olivia what the hell is he doing here?" Connor walked in to the kitchen with Mason.

"Oh my god, please don't Olivia me right now." I shookmy head.

"Then explain?" Mason gave me a look.

"I completely forgot he was coming over, because trig gave me a migraine, and Cam and I are working on an english assignment. We're going downstairs." I nodded.

"Oh, that's all this is for?" Connor gave me a look.

"Yes."

"100%?" Mason pursed his lips.

"Yes Hollow." Will gave him a look.

"Alright then." They both nodded and walked out.

Which was easier than I expected.

"I am so sorry." I shook my head and looked at Will.

"It's ok." He smiled. "I can wait." He nodded and sat down.

"You're hanging out with Will?" Cam looked at me, with an irritated look might I add.

"Why exactly do you care? Didn't you break up with her?" Will smirked.

"Was I talking to you?" He raised his eyebrows.

"No, but you can stop looking at her like she's your property." Will nodded.

"He can stay!" Connor yelled.

I sighed. "We have a duet for the competition this weekend. We're running through dances."

"You never told me that?" Cam shook his head.

"Because you broke up with me a week after." I nodded.

"Olivia, I-"

"She doesn't owe you anything." Will shook his head. "She probably didn't tell you, because you're a clingy over jealous tool who probably wouldn't be comfortable with us doing a racey dance about a teacher-student relationship."

"Excuse me?" He looked over at me.

"Put on your big boy pants Saunders, accept the fact that you screwed up, and she doesn't want you back. Quit chasing her." Will let out a small laugh.

"And what are you going to do?" He shook his head.

"I don't have to do anything, but I'm sure the two in the living room would be glad to handle you. I mean, they already did." Will nodded. "And we both know I could squish you like a bug, and the only reason I haven't is because of Grant."

He rolled his eyes and stood up. "I'm just going to go Olivia." He shook his head. "We'll work tomorrow." He leaned down. "I thought you had better taste."

"It's a dance!" I yelled.

"And besides, she dated you, just about anything is a step up." Will shrugged.

I saw Cam's jaw clench, and he just left.

I sighed and put my face in my hands. "I'm over today." I shook my head.

"Are you alright?" Will asked.

"Yes." I nodded. "Just had a long weekend, not to fond of having to work with him, and the boys don't help."

"What are the trophies for?" He gave me a look.

"The boys. Cameron called me a trophy, like, an I win trophy. So they brought all of those in here, showed him their trophies, and then asked where his was." I pursed my lips.

He choked back a laugh.

"Now, I'm just ready to go dance and relieve the stress." I nodded.

"I can help with that." He smiled and stood up. "Lead the way."

I put all my stuff in my bag, and walked through the living room to see that Oaken was home.

"How was Ambers?" I asked.

"It's was ok." He nodded and looked up at Will, then over to Mason and Connor. "Dude, is that Captain America?"

Will pursed his lips and held his hand out. "Will." He smiled.

"Oaken." He shook his hand.

"We are going down to run through our dance a few times." I nodded.

He looked wide eyed over at them again. "Really?"

"He just told Saunders where to shove it." Mason shrugged.

"He gets a pass." Connor nodded.

"Yeah, I bet that's what it is." Will shook his head.

They both just glared.

"Will." My dad nodded as he walked in the living room. "Remember what we talked about." He pointed at him.

"No gripping, no squeezing, closed hand until competition day." Will nodded.

"Oh my god." I closed my eyes.

"They get it from him!" Oaken yelled and pointed at my dad.

"We're leaving." I nodded and showed will down the stairs to the studio.

"You weren't kidding." He shook his head and looked around the room.

"Nope. Been here for 3 years now." I let out a small smile.

"Any rules?" He looked over at me.

"Pants stay on." I pointed at him.

"I can't make any promises." He laughed. "So, it's alright if this comes off then?" He pulled on his shirt.

I pursed my lips and cleared my throat. "Sure." I nodded.

"Sorry, just, I want to run through it a few times, maybe get your opinion on my solo. Gets a little warm." He nodded and took his shirt off.

"I get it." I laughed. "Want to run through your solo first? We'll do our duet last?"

"Sure." He smiled.

"Speakers over there." I smiled and leaned against the barre. "Just tell me when."

He walked over, plugged his phone in, and got in to position.

"Ready." He nodded.

I pushed play on my remote, and Changes by XXXTENTACION came on.

Honestly, Will Grayson is one of those people you'd look at and assume he had no rythem at all. But this is not the case. He's actually really light on his feet, and he moves so eliquently and effortlessly, which isn't shocking to me, because the man spends a majority of his time on ice skates. But, with his size, and his demenor, it's shocking that he dances the way he does.

He finished his dance.

"Wow." I nodded.

"Now I know you have some type of correction for me. You're Olivia Pate." He laughed.

"Uh. The only thing I really have for you is to point your toes more in your Grand jete." I pursed my lips.

"Oh thank god, I thought there was going to be a list." He took a deep breath.

"Will that was amazing." I nodded.

"I was so nervouse when Jane showed me the chorepgraphy. Which, brings me to, can I please, PLEASE, see your student choreo piece." He pouted.

"And you want to talk about nervous." I laughed.

"Come on. Wont another set of eyes be helpful."

"Ok." I nodded.

I handed him the remote, and plugged my phone in.

I walked to the center of my matt and got in position.

"Ready." I took a deep breath.

He pushed play, and Gasoline started playing.

I ran through it, and when I was done, he was just standing there jaw dropped and wide eyed.

"What the fuck." He shook his head.

"Oh my god it sucks." I pursed my lips.

"No!" He yelled. "Oh my god no! But, you, choreographed that?" He pointed at me.

I nodded. "With some help from Connor."

"Connor Pate?" He raised his eyebrows and pointed at the ceiling.

I nodded. "I had the same look when he spewed that bullshit too. Then, he ran through it with me, and it kind of worked. The first part of the chorus, that was his idea up to the grandjete."

"Olivia that was insane. If you don't take first on Saturday with that, the whole competition is rigged." He nodded.

"The half is supposed to be a full, but I'm terrified to do the full on floor." I scrunched my face.

"You know you get more height and torqued twist if you lead with your weaker leg?" He pursed his lips.

"Really?" I gave him a look.

He nodded. "Your lead leg, when you twist with that side first gives you more power and turns you faster."

I pursed my lips.

"I'm 6'2. If I can land a full on floor, you definitely can." He smiled. "Try it. Run start, lead with your right leg."

I took a deep breath as he went and leaned against my barre.

And after about 4 times, I actually landed it.

"Holy s**t!" I yelled.

"Atta girl." He smiled and clapped. "See!"

"I can't believe I did it." I slightly smiled and shook my head.

"Whole lot of faith is all you need to do anything Olivia." He nodded.

"And now, we have to have faith that we can nail our duet. You up to it? Or too tired?"

"Are you kidding me? I live for this shit." He laughed.

We ran through it a few times, but we were having a bit of a rough time twisting from my back to my stomach.

"We've got to find a way for you to be able to help me flip you over." Will nodded.

"You open to suggestions?" I gave him a look.

"Anything." He shrugged.

I took a deep breath. "Connor!" I yelled.

"Really?" Will gave me a look.

I nodded.

"What happened?" Connor yelled as he and Mason ran down the stairs.

"Nothing." I shook my head. "We need your help though."

"With?" Mason crossed his arms as they leaned against my barre.

"There's this part where I lay her backwards with her legs crossed, and we have to transition it with me like, uncrossing her legs to twist her to her stomach, but we're not getting it fast enough." Will pursed his lips.

"And since you seem to come up with idea's that work, we need an idea." I nodded.

Connor sighed. "Lets see it." He nodded.

We showed him how it was supposed to look.

"I am so uncomfortable right now." He shook his head. "Are you allowed to tweak this?"

We both nodded.

"What if you crossed at your knees instead of your ankles. It'll give you more room to grab." He pointed at Will. "And it'll give you enough power to help turn yourself over."

"And what if instead of kicking in to your back bend, what if you twisted in to it, then did your back walk over. It just looked like a lot of jumbled up kick overs. It'll be easier on you, and it'll fit better with the timing of the music." Mason nodded.

Will and I just looked at eachother.

"It's worth a try." Will shrugged.

We ran through it, and it actually some what worked, but we'll keep working on it.

"Why don't you just pull her hair and mount her while you're at it." Mason rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Or you can keep doing the closed hand contact until the competition." Connor looked over at Mason, then to Will. "And never touch my little sister again after that." He nodded.

Will looked over at me. "Are they always like this?"

I nodded and pursed my lips.

"I am so sorry." He shook his head.

"Thank you, I will be up in a bit." I waved at Mason and Connor.

"Yeah whatever." Connor shook his head.

"You're welcome." Mason also shook his head and they both walked up stairs and slammed the door.

"Ok." Will nodded. "So they're alot smarter than I thought."

"They've been around dance for just as long as I have." I shrugged. "They've never missed a recital or competition. They're actually really supportive of it. They've stayed up countless nights to help me run through dances. Same with Ben and Ryan. They even take Abby and I to broadway every year for our birthday." I nodded.

"You know, it's actually really amazing that they're not alway total tools. They don't even want me around you, but they helped." He sat down on my matt.

I sat down with him. "They just know how important it is to me."

"I'm just happy I got a partner just as dedicated to dance as I am." Will took a drink.

"I actually have a question about that." I nodded.

"Ask it." He smiled.

"Wrestling, Dance, and Hockey. Two of those make sense." I pursed my lips.

"But dance doesn't." He shook his head. "How long have you been dancing?"

"12 years." I took a drink.

"That's how long I've been wrestling and playing hockey. And I started dancing 10 years ago."

"Why?" I shook my head.

"Why do you dance?"

"It's calming. It's like a way of expression for me, and honestly, I just enjoy it." I nodded.

"Exactly. Playing 2 contact sports, you have to find something to balance out the anger and agression you get. Dance, it calms me, helps me with my balance, teaches me patience. And it just makes me really happy. There's 3 things that make me feel really proud of myself." He nodded. "When I get a high speed on a shot reader, when I hear a smack on a mat, and when I land something I never have before, like a jump, or a turn."

"It's amazing hearing someone feel the same way about it as I do." I smiled.

"That, is why I was happy when Jane told us we had a duet. And I hope we do get another one." He smiled. "And honestly, you're great to work with. You actually listen to constructive critisim, and give great pointers. All of the partners I've had haven't. So I'm happy I do have some type of say in who my parter is in duets." He let out a small laugh.

"Wait, you chose me for this?" I gave him a look.

He shook his head. "Not this time, Jane, she said with what the dance was about, she wanted a more advanced dancer to do it with me, and you're the most advanced dancer in the entire studio. She knew you'd take it seriously. But usually, I do have some sort of opinion on it."

"And how come you've never chose me before?" I laughed.

"Because you're Olivia Pate, you're the most intimidating person in that studio. You're the best, and I, was scared that I would end up making you look bad and would get alot of back lash. But now that I know you'll acually work with me, and help me, I'm gonna ask for you more." He smile.

"Thanks Will." I smiled. "And I'm happy I'm you're partner too." I nodded. "And that Jane trusted me enough to put me in a co-ed duet."

"Yeah, something tells me your brother and the other 3 aren't too happy about that." He shook his head.

"They'll live." I shrugged.

And then his phone started going off.

"Oh, shit." He leaned and grabbed his phone out of his bag. "Hey mom. ---- Yeah, we just finished up. --- No, I didn't make an ass out of myself. ---- Mom, she's sitting right here! ---- I will be home in 20, ok. ---- Do not say that! Goodbye mom!" He shook his head and hung up the phone.

"Everything good?" I pursed my lips.

He nodded. "My mom is a piece of work." He laughed. "But, I have to get going."

"I'll walk you out." I nodded.

He stood up and pulled me up, and I walked him to the front door.

"I'll see you at school." He smiled. "Thank you."

"You will. And anytime." I smiled.

He walked to his car and I walked back in to the living room to see Connor, Mason, and Oaken just staring at me.

"What?" I shook my head.

"You worked on your duet for that long." Oaken laughed.

"No. We ran through our solo's first, gave constructive critisism." I nodded.

"He critisised your dancing?" Mason raised his eyebrows.

"No." I rolled my eyes. "Just gave me pointers. I gave him some. His solo is actually amazing."

"So that kid can actually dance?" Connor gave me a look.

"Yes, very well actually. Just needs to point his toes more when he grandjete's. And thanks to him, I will be throwing the full in my dance." I smiled.

"Really!" His face lit up.

I nodded. "He actually helped me alot. Turns out if I take of with my weaker leg, I get more height and it gives me more of a twist by throwing my lead leg. A few try's, and I landed it."

"And how did he figure that out?" Oaken gave me a look.

"Because that's how he lands his fulls." I pursed my lips.

"That kid is 6'2." Masons eyes got wide.

"Exactly." I shrugged. "But, I am going to shower, because I'm sweaty, tired, and sore."

"Sionara." Mason waved.

"Arivaderchi." Oaken nodded.

"Arivoir." Connor pointed up the stairs.

I went and got in the shower, and finally, around 10:30, I was laying down half asleep when my phone went off.

It was a text from Mason.

M; Goodnight my Ollie.

O; Goodnight Mason.

I drifted to sleep.