Page 30 of You've Found Oliver

I wake up with an ache on my neck and shoulder.

It often happens when I sleep on the sofa at the apartment.

I texted Mom last night, letting her know I was staying over.

It was still fall when I returned from Seattle.

The timeline usually changes when I wake up in the morning.

I don’t exactly understand the way it works.

Especially after yesterday. But I wasn’t planning to go back to my old dorm with Connor.

I open my eyes slowly and the room comes into focus.

So…update

I haven’t gone back yet

Not really sure what’s different this time

Thankfully, he’s already awake.

What do you mean?

I usually wake up in my own timeline

But it’s still the fall for me

Huh that’s really weird

Maybe it’s just taking longer than usual

Yeah, I’m sure you’re right

I just have to give it some more time. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.

I can pretend none of my assignments are due.

I get up and take a look around the apartment.

Mom must have left for work already. What am I supposed to do with the day though?

I guess I could watch some television to kill the time.

Then I remember something. Julie should still be in town. That means I can spend some time with her. I try to pull up her location, but my phone is being weird today. The screen keeps blacking out when I open an app. It probably just needs another restart. At least I can still text her.

Hi! What are you up to?

Julie doesn’t respond right away. So I text her again.

Julieeeeeeee

Answer meeeeeee

Hey, having breakfast

WHERE?

Dining hall

She doesn’t have to tell me twice. I throw on some clothes and head there immediately.

I breathe in the morning chill as I make my way to campus.

It feels like ages since we’ve sat down for a meal together.

I’ve been mostly eating by myself these past few weeks.

I head through the doors and spot her right away.

She’s sitting near the soda fountain, reading a book. I run up and squeeze her from behind.

“Julie…Ugh, I missed you.”

She groans. “Not this again.”

“It’s like a gift from the universe.” I hold on to her for a few more seconds. Then I pull out the seat next to her, smiling uncontrollably.

“Why are you acting like we don’t hang out every day,” she says.

“Can’t I just be happy to see you?”

“If you need to copy off of my assignment, just say so.”

I should probably tone it down a little, but I can’t help myself. “I just want to hang out with my best friend. Is that a crime ?”

Julie rolls her eyes. “If you can’t tell, I’m studying right now.”

I take her book and set it down. “You can take a break, okay? Let’s do something fun instead. You know, for old times’ sake.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know, anything you want.” What are some activities we could do together? It’s probably too late for apple picking. “We could take a walk through the bird sanctuary. Or visit the Historical Museum.”

“You hate that museum,” she says.

“But I know you love it.”

She narrows her eyes. “Do you need to borrow my car or something?”

“ No , I don’t need anything! I just want to spend time together.”

“Alright, fine. I’ll go.”

“Good. Because I wasn’t taking no for an answer.”

I could honestly just sit here and watch her read, but when is the next time we’ll get to have an Oliver-and-Julie day?

We should make the most of this. I help Julie finish her food by eating the rest of it.

We can grab coffee at Sun and Moon first. Then stop by Mr.Lee’s bookstore for a visit.

As we’re heading into town, I remember something else. My favorite bakery is still open.

“Wait,” I gasp. “We need to stop for a chocolate croissant. I haven’t had one in ages .”

“Oliver. You had one yesterday. I was with you.”

I ignore this and pull her down the street. The sugary-sweet scent fills the air as we come inside. I didn’t buy anything the last time I was here with Ben. I get a box of my favorite things, which includes a dozen macarons. Julie and I take a bite of each flavor and split the chocolate croissant.

I’ve missed having her around. It reminds me how hard the quarter has been without her.

She eventually embraces my clinginess, attributing it to the holiday season.

We walk through the Christmas market that’s decorated with lights.

We spend the afternoon there, drinking hot apple cider and looking at all of the handmade jewelry.

Then we grab a late lunch at Sweet Juice.

I offer to stop by the museum afterward, but Julie has to head home to help her mom prep for dinner.

She says we can meet up again later tonight.

I walk her home and then head back to campus.

I’m so happy to get another day in this timeline.

There’s no schoolwork to stress about. And I get to see my best friend again.

Wouldn’t it be nice if I got to stay longer?

I walk through the quad, enjoying the brisk weather. Though I wish I had a warmer jacket. Maybe I could stop by my old dorm for a second and grab something from my closet. Let’s hope my old roommate won’t be there. There’s a good chance he’s at the Student Union around this time of day.

I check my phone. There’s a text message from Mom.

See you in an hour

Can’t wait for the class

What is she talking about? I’m about to text back when it hits me.

Oh my god, it’s December 2. Mom’s birthday is today!

I can’t believe I forgot about it. That means our pottery class is tonight.

Mom said it was the best present she’d received in her four decades of life.

She uses the dish we made together every day.

It would be nice to get to experience that with her again.

And then I remember something else—it’s also the night of Nolan’s party.

The same night someone saw him leave with his hand wrapped around Connor.

All this happened while I was celebrating Mom’s birthday.

I’ve tried hard to separate those two memories.

As the emotions flood back, something else occurs to me.

Doesn’t this mean it hasn’t happened yet?

I check my last messages. Nolan’s party should already have started. They always start drinking early on Sundays. I stare at the ground, knots in my stomach. This is something I’ve been trying so hard to forget. Now here it is about to happen all over again.

I’ve replayed this night in my head a thousand times. What would have happened if I had gone to the party instead? Maybe I could have prevented it somehow…Is that even a possibility? It’s not that I want Nolan back, but I could save myself from so much pain…

There’s another text from Mom.

Do you want me to pick you up?

I consider the options. I can’t abandon Mom on her birthday.

Because of her work schedule, I signed us up for the evening class, but it doesn’t start for another hour.

Maybe I could stay at the party until then?

Hopefully she won’t be too upset if I’m a little late.

But how often do you get the chance to fix the past?

I send Mom a quick text.

I’ll meet you at the ceramics place!

Have something I need to do first

I hesitate on the sidewalk, unsure of this. Then I turn around and head to the party.

Nolan and his friends always host their parties in the basement of someone’s dorm building.

They can get out of hand sometimes. But Sundays are usually more chill, so I’m not surprised to see it half filled at the moment.

It’s strange walking in here after all these months.

A few of his friends are setting up a game of beer pong.

They’re playing some Kendrick song I don’t recognize.

Then someone comes up behind me, covering my eyes with their hands.

But I recognize the scent of Acqua di Giò.

I turn around to face him. Nolan is wearing his usual white muscle shirt that always looks great on him. His blond waves are particularly lustrous tonight.

“Hey there, cutie,” he says. “Thought you couldn’t come tonight.”

I’m not sure how to respond. “Just thought I’d stop by for a minute.”

He smiles and kisses me on the cheek. “So what you’re saying is, you can’t stop thinking about me. Want something to drink? We have your favorite strawberry seltzer.”

I hate how sweet he treated me. I shake the thought out of my head and say, “I’m not thirsty.”

“Come on. Just one drink.”

Nolan puts a hand on my shoulder, walking me over to the bar. His friends appear to greet us. It’s weird being surrounded by them again. I’m not really listening to what they say. I keep scanning the room to see if Connor is here yet.

“Who are you looking for?” Nolan asks.

“Nobody,” I say, somewhat tensely. “Just seeing who else is here.”

“Want some pretzels? Zach stole some from the dining hall.”

“Not really.”

“You probably haven’t eaten yet. I’ll grab some for you anyway.”

I let out a breath and he walks off. Then I glance around the room again.

More people come down the stairs, but I don’t see Connor anywhere.

The minutes are ticking away. Maybe that traitor of a roommate plans to arrive when he knows I’ll be at the ceramics class.

I’ll have to leave soon for that. As I’m keeping an eye out, an idea comes to me.

I send Julie a message, asking here to come here.

What for?

Just do it for me

Nolan returns with some pretzels before his attention is pulled to the door as more people arrive. I set the plastic plate on the speaker and wait for Julie, but I really can’t stay much longer. I check the time again—the class started a few minutes ago. I need to get going already.

Someone taps on my shoulder.

“ Julie. There you are!”

“Why isn’t your location working—”

“I don’t know. My phone’s being weird. But that’s not important right now.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be with your mom?”

“Yes,” I say, pulling her to the side. “Which is why I asked you to come here. I really need you to do me a favor.”

“What is it?”

“I need you to keep an eye on Nolan.”

She gives me a look. “Why?”

“It’s hard to explain, but I have reasons not to trust him tonight.”

“Is there something you’re not telling me?”

I let out a breath. “ Please just do it. I really have to go.”

“Alright. I’ll stay but—”

“Thank you.”

I give her a hug before heading out the door.

I can always count on Julie, even when I’m keeping things from her.

I really should have left sooner. Especially since I don’t have a car.

I’m sprinting through campus, sending Mom more texts.

There’s no time to wait for the next bus to come—I have to run the entire way there.

It takes much longer to get to the pottery place than I expected.

The class is just ending when I walk in.

People are putting on jackets and packing up their things, but I don’t see my mom.

Did she leave already? I look out the window.

Her car isn’t parked outside. I can’t believe I actually missed it.

I ruined her special birthday. I linger outside, in case she still around.

Eventually, someone turns the lights off and locks the door. So I head to the bus stop.

It’s late when I get back to her apartment.

I’m hoping Mom is sitting at the table, expecting an apology.

But she’s not waiting for me, and the door to her room is closed.

I didn’t even get a chance to wish her a happy birthday.

She’d been looking forward to this for weeks.

She must be so disappointed in me. I consider knocking on her door, but I don’t want to wake her.

Especially if she’s upset with me right now.

The memory we once made is gone now. I should have never gone to that dumb party.