OFF-SIDE

𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖗𝖙𝖞-𝖘𝖎𝖝

Octavia
My phone ring startles me awake, I groan as I sit up trying to make out where the fuck I am, I grab the phone and press the accept button when I see who's calling, "how long have you been sleeping?" A British accent Meets my ears, "what? What time is it-hold up I'll check--Oh." I say when I notice that I've been sleeping over 12 hours, not that bad right?

"Uh-anyway are you going anywhere today?" He asks and I frown "yeah actually Nash said he wanted to meet today." I say and he sighs "okay." He says quietly, "Adrian, what's wrong?" I ask as hundreds of scenarios roam through my mind, "nothing you need to worry about," he says then adds "I'm fine Octavia, go and enjoy your date." He says and I sigh knowing that he already closed the doors of telling me anything.

I sigh then speak "okay Adrian, I know something is wrong, and you probably won't tell me right now, whenever you feel like it, you can talk." I say softly trying to reassure him although I'm sure he won't talk, he's not the type to tell people his problems, he's the type who thinks it's a burden to do so, and that you're pressuring them, and I'll live my whole life trying to prove him wrong.

"I know that Octavia, love you." He says and I smile "love you too." I reply and he sighs "if you need anything, call me I need to go now." He says and mumbles something that I don't make but it didn't seem like he was directing it to me in the first place so I drop it off, we end the call and I close my eyes for a moment.

It's been a week since Chris sent me that letter, and all my thoughts are currently wandering in hundred directions, it never seems to end, there are always those thoughts at the back of your mind, whispering things that you'd rather keep forgotten, whispering things that ruin everything you've overcame, or at least you thought that you did.

***

I take a final look at myself in the mirror, Nash said that we'd meet at 5, and here I'm getting ready for two fucking hours, "you look beautiful." Cole smiles at me and I can't help but smile back, "come here." He says and I do as he said, he wraps his arms around my shoulders and pulls me closer, and I hug him back for a moment, drowning into his warmth.

Eventually, he pulls away and plants a kiss on my cheeks "I'm going out for a while if you need anything, call me-and take a guard with you Octavia." He orders and I sigh, he shoots me a glare "oh come on I can't just move around people with a guard." I say frowning.

"Yes you can, and I couldn't care less about what people think, as long as you're safe, people's opinions will be thrown in the nearest trash." He speaks calmly his lips twitching and I groan just as a smile spreads on his face, I roll my eye but my traitorous lips start smiling, he raises a brow and then walks towards xan's room "the fucker is going to be dead soon." He mutters and I roll my eyes again.

My eyes travel down my body in the mirror, I wore my hair down, curls laying on my shoulder, I didn't put on a full face of makeup but I made a kind of those hot smoky eyes, I like it, and-I wore a black dress, it reaches my knees and stops there, it's not very-appropriate if we're being realistic, but I felt like wearing it cause it matched the restaurant themes, so here we go, I smile a little at my reflection silently praying that the night goes well, but something inside me feels that the exact opposite is going to happen, well it's about time we find out.

***

"Woah." Nash's eyes widen the moment he steps out of the car, I smile and try to contain the excitement floating around my belly, I take him in, and he looks...so fucking beautiful it hurts to stare, "you look gorgeous, my love." He whispers and plants a kiss on my temple as he extends a hand in my direction, I take it and we walk towards his car.

When we get in, I greet the driver and then turn to look at the guy beside me, his eyes travel down my body then up again "so fucking beautiful." He mouthes and I smile, "you look good too." I say and his lips twitch, then he winks "oh love we both know that I look more than good." He says and I roll my eyes "so modest." I mutter and he laughs.

***

Wow.
That's the only word that can describe the restaurant Nash promised he'd take me to, it didn't take me a while to remember it, it's the restaurant we first talked at, about how he'd try to convince me about the whole fake dating thing, come on now who would have thought?

"Come on." He leans down and whispers in my ears, putting a hand on my lower back as he guides me towards the private section, the paintings on our way there still catch my eyes just like the other time, they're so beautiful it's hard to describe them, it's just...art.

But not all the paintings are here, some changed, some stayed but the one I liked so much the last time isn't here, I sigh and direct my attention to the waitress, she's been babbling for a whole ten minutes about how she's one of Nash's greatest fans, how she watched every single match he played in and I can't help the urge of slapping her across the face, he isn't paying her attention though yet she doesn't seem to take the hint and stop talking.

We finally reach our table and sit down, it's a fancy table with two chairs across each other, they look..expensive, and filthy, "would you like to order now?" she asks batting her eyelashes at him, he continues flipping through the menu, "give us a minute." He says not bothering to look up, she nods and leaves, then he looks up his eyes carrying something new, something...pure.

I sigh and smile tightly "so, what are we gonna talk about?" I ask my legs bouncing up and down and anxiety creeping through my veins, he inhaled a deep breath and leans back on his chair, "every single thing, since we're...in a real relationship?" He answers shrugging off his shoulders.

"You go first." I say nervously, he nods and extends a hand that grabs mine and squeezes "it's okay, love I got you." He says and I silently pray that he's really doing so, "so they're like Rules?" I ask trying to understand, he takes a moment then nods "yeah something like that." He says smiling, I can't help but smile back and take a deep breath before thinking about anything, he stares at me for a beat then speaks "when someone is mad at the other, we sit down and talk, not just leave." He says I know this one is gonna be hard because I love to run away from my problems.

I eventually nod and think about something since it's my turn, "if one of us says something that you disagree with in public, don't disagree with me in front of people, take my side and then correct me when we're alone." I say and he nods, "I like that one." He says smiling and I relax, "don't bring up
Any of your exes." He says then adds "I know this sounds stupid but it'll really make lots of problems if every argument or just if we're talking you bring them up, it'll feel like we're comparing each other you know?" He says and I'm surprised that I really agree with him, I nod them sigh.

I know this one is gonna make him mad but we have to be clear with each other, "there are a lot of things in my life that I'd like to not share, and just keep them to myself." I say and he swallows and taps his finger on the table, "depends on the things, Octavia." He says and my brows furrow, "what do you mean?" I ask confused, "I mean that...I'll give you your space always, and I respect your privacy but...there will be things that you have to share, I'll be a part of your life." He says and stares at me.

He just..doesn't understand how hard that is for me, when I stay silent He sighs and rubs a hand through his hair, "sir?" The waitress interrupts and my eyes flicker up to hers, "yes." Nash replies still staring at me, what happens next surprises me, she leans down like she's whispering in his ear, "as I told you I love you so much and I'd really like to take a pic with you." He turns away from her and she embarrassingly stands up, he slowly turns around to face her, glaring "well, If you're really one of my greatest fans as you fucking mentioned, then you'd know that I have a girlfriend and that she's sitting right in front you, have some self-respect will you."
He says, his tone harsh and unapproachable.

Her cheeks turn red and she clears her throat "if you want to order you can tell him." She points at another waiter before leaving, he sighs and turns to look at me "now, can we go back to what we're discussing." He says and I nod, not trusting myself to speak.

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