Surprise Visit. With chloeas.

[dl_greenarrow]

He hadn't intended to return to Kansas so soon after his last visit, but after the way their phone conversation had gone, Oliver hadn't wanted to leave things between them so strained. Although it seemed like most of the conversations they had the last couple of months were strained, he hated it.

He hated it because he loved her

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[dl_greenarrow]

He narrowed his eyes and looked back at her. "I sent the flowers because I was thinking of you and I wanted you to know it. It wasn't because I was planning to end things between us. That's not what I want."

[chloeas]

"Stop talking in circles," she demanded, she had already heard that bullshit last time, "what do you want?"

[dl_greenarrow]

"You," he said quietly.

[chloeas]

Chloe stilled, then blinked then laughed, although there was no humor in her laughter, "sure you do." She would almost have let herself believe that if it hadn't been for that exchange earlier that week, her heart would have skipped a beat and she would almost open herself to getting hurt.

But she knew better. She didn't know why he was doing this, but she knew he had feelings for someone else.

[dl_greenarrow]

He stared at her for a moment, then moved closer to her, lifting a hand to her cheek. "I'm not kidding," he said quietly, his thumb moving lightly over her skin. "I wouldn't mess with your head like that, Chloe."

[chloeas]

Chloe couldn't move, her heart was beating fast and she was staring at him, "then why the hell are you doing this?" She wanted to pull away, but her legs wouldn't obey her, "you told me about her," her voice was still angry but not as firm.

[dl_greenarrow]

He closed his eyes, leaning his forehead against hers for a moment. "Chloe. Don't you get it?" he whispered. "You are her."

[chloeas]

She pulled her head away from his because he was making it hard to breath, "what are you talking about?" He was lying. He had to be. He had missed April's fool by a whole day, this wasn't funny.

[dl_greenarrow]

He opened his eyes to gaze at her. "You know what I'm talking about," he said softly. "I didn't mean for it to happen, but it did, Chloe. I fell for you. And I tried to ignore it and I tried to deny it, because I know you don't feel the same way about me. But I can't help it." He shook his head. "You're in my heart, Sidekick." Oliver looked down for a moment.

[chloeas]

All she could do was stare at him, even though her vision was blurry now, despite her best effort to stop herself from tearing up.

Why was he telling her that? Why was he doing that? She didn't understand, he knew it wouldn't work, he knew that wasn't what they agreed on and he was breaking his unspoken promise.

And she should tell him that, all of it. But she couldn't seem to talk, her chest was aching and she wanted to yell at him, but her anger was turning into something else and she was having a hard time controlling herself.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be.

[dl_greenarrow]

He was quiet for a long moment, and frankly, he was scared to look up at her. But he forced himself to do it, his stomach clenching at the tears in her eyes.

"Chloe." He swallowed hard. "Listen. I don't expect anything from you, okay?" He reached out hesitantly and touched her cheek again.

[chloeas]

"Stop," she demanded then pulled away, wiping her cheek angrily, "this isn't how it's supposed to be. You don't have feelings for me, you can have anyone you want, go find someone else." She tried her best to keep her voice firm, but it cracked more times than she could count. It was his fault.

[dl_greenarrow]

He winced, dropping his hand away from her. "Except I do have feelings for you. And I don't want anyone else." His voice was quiet. "Look, I get it. You don't feel the same way. I accept that, all right? It's why I hadn't said anything. But you asked for the truth. I'm sorry if it's the last thing you wanted to hear."

[chloeas]

Chloe swallowed hard and stared at him, he had opened a can of worms and that was the problem. She was hurting and that is exactly what this whole thing with Oliver was supposed to avoid. No relationships, no feelings, no broken hearts. But he had ruined it.

It almost would have been easier if he was ending things.

"It is the last thing I wanted to hear." She told him tightly, "why are you ruining everything?"

[dl_greenarrow]

Oliver felt his chest tighten at her words. "You asked for the truth. I just gave it to you, Chloe." His voice dropped and he stepped away from her.

[chloeas]

She dropped her purse to the floor and turned around, heels clicking loudly against the floor as she made her way back to the bedroom. She didn't feel like driving, but she had to get away from him.