Chapter 29
Now…
“So, Marcus was more than a friend, I take it?” His therapist asked.
Oliver shrugged and hesitated. “Not…at first. Marcus wasn’t as complicated as Charlie but there were definitely…challenges.”
His therapist raised an eyebrow at him, “How so?”
Oliver sighed, “That’s another long story.”
Then…
Marcus shrugged, “I like you Oliver, you’ve been a great friend, I think you’re cute, and now I know there’s a chance.”
Oliver wasn’t sure what to say. Sure, he might like Marcus…like that. But, he knew he liked Charlie that way for sure.
Marcus seemed to sense his hesitation. “Look, I know what I want Oliver. If I have to wait for it, I can, I’m fine with that. I’m fine with being your friend until maybe one day you realize I could be more than that.”
“I can’t ask you to do that!” Oliver protested.
“I wasn’t asking for your permission,” Marcus said with a smirk.
Oliver rolled his eyes exasperated. “Look, I can’t give you a real answer right now, and I don’t know when I can give you an answer in general.”
Marcus nodded, “I know that Wood, and I told you that’s okay. Friends still, right?”
Oliver smiled at him, relieved that the subject was shifting away from relationships.
He knew he would have to deal with all of this at some point, but for now, he was content to stress and study for exams…and the Quidditch final against Ravenclaw.
~~~//~~~
“We did it!” Charlie’s voice said excitedly outside the locker rooms.
Oliver grinned, still buzzing from the excitement of winning the Quidditch Cup. Hopefully the first of many. Maybe tonight at the party he and Charlie could talk things out. Oliver couldn’t remember the last time they had had a conversation that didn’t end with an argument. Maybe things would be looking up.
“I just have one announcement, before we head up to the party,” Charlie said, and his tone quieted down Oliver and his teammates.
They all turned their full attention on Charlie, with worried expressions.
“This is going to be my last year as your captain. Next year, it will be my O.W.L year and I need to put all my focus into my studies. I’m no Bill,” Charlie paused to chuckle ruefully. “So, I have decided to step down. But, I know you will all continue to win and achieve great things, under the new captaincy of Oliver Wood.”
Oliver’s ears were ringing. What the hell was Charlie talking about? Why would he stop playing Quidditch? Really because of school? Charlie wasn’t a bad student by any means, hell, he was a fantastic Seeker, he could probably go pro. “What?” Oliver managed to say.
“Congratulations Oliver!” Katie said excitedly, coming over to squeeze his arm.
Angelina and Alicia ran over and hugged him, nearly knocking Oliver to the ground.
“You picked Oliver over your own brothers?!” Fred said with mock indignation.
George laughed, “Oliver is a way better choice than you or me and we all know it.”
“I believe Oliver will continue to do great things, and he will be a great captain,” Charlie said, smiling at all of them. “It’s been a pleasure being your captain, and I thank you all, now let’s go party!”
The others cheered and followed Charlie up to the common room and Oliver trailed behind them, numb, confused, and angry.
~~~//~~~
Oliver sat on the windowsill in the common room, chewing on some candy that Fred and George had managed to sneak up from the kitchens and quite possibly HoneyDukes. The common room was loud, music playing, students cheering, eating and drinking.
Oliver wanted to join in but it was easier to sit and sulk and panic. Why out of all the people did Charlie pick him? Sure Oliver was dedicated, hardworking, took Quidditch more seriously than the others…and okay, maybe he could see why.
But there was the other side of the coin to consider. Oliver was anxious about being in charge of the whole team, could he really do that? Did he have the skill and ability to lead everyone to victory?
“Hey, how’s it going there, Captain?” Charlie greeted him, barely squeezing onto the windowsill next to Oliver.
“Don’t call me that,” Oliver said grumpily.
Charlie sighed, “I couldn’t think of anyone better to lead them than you. You’re going to be a great captain.”
“You didn’t even ask me,” Oliver said stubbornly. “You just…said it, in front of everyone, leaving me no choice but to accept? What was that?!”
Charlie huffed, looking at him in annoyance. “Please Oliver, like you wouldn’t want to be captain. You’re a natural leader especially when it comes to Quidditch.”
“You weren’t supposed to stop being captain yet! I wasn’t supposed to be captain for a few more years! What was that stunt you pulled? Focusing on school? How is that more important?!” Oliver was nearly shouting now, but it was already so loud in the common room that it made it hard not to shout.
“Believe it or not Oliver, I want to do something with my life once I’m out of school. Specifically, I want to work with magical creatures. Do you even know how hard that is to do?”
Oliver opened his mouth to respond but Charlie was on a roll.
“No! You don’t! Because you haven’t had a conversation with me in weeks. You were too busy with your friend Flint, and worrying about Quidditch, because that’s all there is for you. Quidditch, Quidditch, Quidditch, nothing else matters to Oliver Wood. Well guess what? There are other things in life than Quidditch Oliver.”
Oliver glared back at him. “Oh yes I forgot about that. Things like school and your girlfriend, you really have your priorities straight.”
Charlie sat forward a little bit. “If you must know, Rosalie is no longer with me. We broke up. I meant things like friends, family, school that I need to do well in for a good job in a field I’m passionate about. What other things do you even care about Oliver? Or has your mother finally managed to wipe out any semblance of humanity in you?” Charlie’s eyes widened at the end, and he clamped his mouth shut once he realized what he had said. “I didn’t…”
Oliver looked away from him, and hopped off of the windowsill wordlessly. He barely heard Charlie call after him as he headed up the stairs to his dormitory.