Dave & Oakley #2 (Dave’s POV)
This is the second part of a two-part story. It’s not mandatory to read the first part, but I recommend it for a deeper understanding and enjoyment of Dave and Oakley’ story. Click here to read it.
20 YEARS AGO
His father and mother were yelling at each other again that night, and it made him sad, so he closed his room door and climbed onto his bed. Dave wondered why his parents never got along. It had been that way for as long as he could remember, and he was only five years old.
They would pick fights over the smallest things, his mom usually being the one to start it, and they would argue back and forth till one of them, usually his dad, got tired and dropped it. One time, he asked them why they hated each other so much, and neither of them could respond or even look him in the eye.
As he lay on his bed, the doorbell rang and their loud shouts got quiet. He heard the door open, followed by unfamiliar voices, so he left his room and crept slowly down to stairs to see who the visitors were. Downstairs, he saw his parents holding hands as they talked to whoever came into the house, both of them smiling pleasantly. He wondered why they always liked to pretend to like each other whenever a stranger was around.
“It’s such a pleasure,” his mom said, her voice calm and sweet. You’d never know that she was just yelling some moments ago. “Let me introduce you to my son. Dave!”
She turned to call for him again, but she smiled when she saw him walking towards them. Her young son stood in front of her and her husband, his cheeks pink and his hair ruffled, and she placed her hands on his shoulders.
“This is our son, Dave,” her husband said. “Dave, these are our new neighbours. Say hi.”
The neighbour was an old woman, not too old, but Dave guessed that she was older than his parents. Her hair was slightly grey in some areas and she had the widest smile he had ever seen. She reached down to him and rubbed his cheeks.
“What a cute little boy you are,” she said. “My name is Raina, and we just came to welcome you to the neighbourhood.”
Dave didn’t know why this stranger lady was so happy to see him, so he didn’t say anything in response. He just studied the grey streaks in her hair and wondered if he could count them all. That was when he noticed the tiny figure hiding behind her.
“Oh, and this is Oakley, my goddaughter. She’s a little shy,” Raina said, laughing and pulling the figure hiding behind her slowly to her front.
Dave looked at the girl, Oakley, and his eyes slightly lit up. He was happy to finally see someone his age.
“Hi, I’m Oakley,” she said, her voice tiny and hesitant. “I brought this for you.”
She handed him a bowl of cookies and he collected it. He looked at the girl standing in front of him. She had two ponytails dangling from her head, and she had a gap in the middle of her upper teeth and her eyes were bluer than anything he had ever seen. Dave thought to himself that he had seen her on TV before.
“Thank you so much, Oakley,” his mother said, collecting the bowl from him. “And what do you say, David?”
“Thank you,” he finally spoke, looking up at Raina.
“I’m sorry, he doesn’t talk much.” his mother spoke again, offering her sympathetic smile. “Why don’t you guys come in?”
Dave stepped aside as his parents led Oakley and Raina in, and he closed the door behind them. He followed the adults as they went into the living room and sat down. His dad joined his mom on the sofa and they wrapped their arms around each other, as they talked with Raina. Dave wished they would be like this all the time, and not just when someone else was in the house.
“Dave, why don’t you show Oakley your rock collection?”
It was his dad, and his tone meant that it wasn’t a negotiable request.
“Yes dad,” he said and turned to Oakley who was sitting with her godmother, a tentative smile playing on her lips. “Come with me.”
They both walked up the stairs as he led her to his room. When they entered, she looked around curiously, intrigued by the multiple toys and comics strewn across the room and on the bed. She turned to see him staring at her and she immediately felt shy again. She wanted to avoid his gaze, but she remembered the lessons Raina taught her about being brave.
“So, where are the rocks?” she asked, pulling on her ponytails nervously.
“I don’t have any,” Dave admitted, looking embarrassed. “I don’t play with rocks anymore.”
“Oh.”
They stood in silence, glancing at each other unsurely, and when she gave him another shy smile, he decided she could keep a secret.
“Want to see something cool?” he asked and her eyes lit up immediately.
“Yes,” she said.
He gave her a small smile, took her hand in his and led her out of his room. He gestured for her to be silent and she giggled in anticipation as they both crept down the hallway. Dave opened a small door and they both crawled across a small passageway. When they got out they were standing on the roof of the house and the wind was blowing at their faces.
“Woah,” Oakley said in awe, looking around. She was afraid, being so far off the ground, but she was determined not to show it.
“I found this place the night we moved here,” Dave said, a hint of pride in his voice.
Oakley balanced her steps gingerly as they climbed across the roof.
“There,” she pointed. “That’s my house.”
“It looks so small from here,” he replied.
She giggled in response. “Wait till you get inside, it’s even smaller.”
They both laughed and sat down on the roof, their legs dangling below. The wind was whistling in the night air and the breeze whipped at their faces. The stars were also on full display.
“Your parents are nice,” she said.
“Sometimes.” He wondered if she’d think the same if she saw them when they weren’t pretending.
“I never met my parents,” she said, her voice sad.
Dave looked at her and he could see the sadness on her face. He didn’t know what to say so he just looked away, staring down at the street.
“Rai Rai takes care of me though,” Oakley added, her smile returning. “She’s really funny and she bakes the best cookies. She’s my best friend.”
“I don’t have a best friend,” Dave said, his own voice mirroring the sadness in her. He had left all his friends behind when his parents decided to start afresh in a new town, and he felt all alone.
“I’ll be your friend,” Oakley said, giving him a toothy grin.
“You will?”
“Yes,” she laughed and held out her pinky finger. “Promise.”
He smiled and linked her finger with his. She smiled at him again, and he wondered if she ever stopped smiling. They sat in silence, watching the stars until Raina’s loud call for Oakley sounded from inside the house.
They giggled mischievously as they crept back inside the house and ran downstairs.
“Glad you two are getting along, but it’s time to go. There’s school in the morning.” She held Oakley’s hand in hers and they both walked towards the door.
“Bye,” Oakley said to him as she stepped out, she was shy again.
“Bye Dave,” Raina said, pulling his cheeks again. “We’ll see you in school tomorrow.”
She waved at his parents and closed the door behind her as they left.
“Okay champ,” Dave’s dad said, ruffling his hair. “Off to bed you go.”
He hugged both his parents and ran up the stairs to his room. Then he pushed all his toys and comics to the floor and plopped unto the bed. He turned off his light and tried to sleep, but a few minutes later, he could hear his parents arguing again. He tried his best to block them out, and eventually, he drifted to see with one thought on his mind.
My new friend, Oakley.
PRESENT DAY
I hit the punching bag as hard as I could.
Then again. And again.
Harder and harder.
Drops of sweat pour down my face and my arms and my muscles are aching sorely, but I ignore them all, focused only on the lifeless outlet for my frustration that’s in front of me. I punch it again and again, changing my rhythm as the impulse guides me. Faster, slower, then faster again. The adrenaline energizes me and distracts me from the ache in my chest.
I stop punching, exhausted and breathing heavily, but I feel good. I pull off my gloves and toss them on the floor, then I open a can of energy drink and chug it all in one go. I open another can and finish it immediately, my body welcoming the cold and refreshing sensation.
I am about to continue my sparring session, but my phone rings. I sigh and turn off the alarm. I pack my gloves in my bag and exit the gym. I climb up the stairs at the side of the hotel lobby, heading back to my suite. I have to shower and get my bags ready because my flight to Italy leaves in a few hours. I initially planned to leave in two days but after yesterday’s events at lunch, I see no reason to stay any further.
I don’t blame Oakley for refusing to come with me. I was a fool to think she would leave her entire life behind to come with me across the world. And I was a bigger fool for expecting her to still have the same feelings she did at eighteen. Those three months with her were the best moments of my young life, right before my dad died and everything went to shit.
I’ll forever be grateful to her for staying with me while I was grieving, despite all I did to push her away. I was so angry and so bitter and many days I went to bed hoping I wouldn’t wake up in the morning. All through this, she stayed with me, took care of me, and even skipped school for a year just to help me get my life back together. And how did I repay her? By pretending the moments we shared never mattered to me and leaving her in town as soon as we graduated.
I still feel guilty about it today, and what makes it worse is the fact that Oakley doesn’t hate me for it. She played along with me and I can’t imagine how it must have been for her. When she started dating Jason, a part of me was relieved. I thought her being with someone else would help me get over her and she would finally be happy with someone who would love her the way she deserved. But I was wrong. He didn’t treat her right and I’ll never understand why she endured it.
She never wanted my opinions on her relationship, always adamant that she knew what she was doing. I guess a part of her was still resentful of me for treating ours the way I did, and I never faulted her for it. I couldn’t bear to see her so unhappy, so I tried to stay as far away as possible, busying myself with work and pretending everything was fine.
When I got the job offer in Italy, I was so happy. Everything was finally falling into place for me and all my work was paying off. It wasn’t until it hit me that I would have to leave; leave my country, leave my friends, and leave her, that I realised how much of a coward I had been. I felt shame for treating her so badly while she was trying to be present for me, and I felt guilt that she remained patient with me all through that period and after.
My mother left my dad after the divorce and that was the last time I ever saw her. Some nights, I would cry in my bed, wondering why she didn’t ever come back to see me. I knew that she and Dad never got along, but she always said she loved me, till she left and never came back. Oakley is the only one who has ever said it, showed it, and stood by it.
I’m standing in front of my car, about to unlock it, when it hits me.
I have to see her.
I refuse to leave with the way things ended yesterday. I told Oakley I loved all those years ago but my actions never matched my words. I won’t make the same mistake again. I’ll talk to her, apologise for the hurt I caused her all those years ago, and let her know how much I love her. That’s all I want to do, to make sure that she doesn’t have any doubts about it. It’s what I should have done a long time ago.
I’ll tell her that she doesn’t have to come with me anymore, but the space is always going to be open for her because I don’t want anyone else. I’ve never been a desperate guy, but for Oak, I’m willing to do more than try. She didn’t give up on me, so I won’t do the same to her.
In a few minutes, I’m speeding down the expressway, trying to stay under the speed limit. My flight leaves in less than three hours, but that’s the least of my worries at the moment. I wind my windows all the way down, allowing the wind to blow at my face and block out all my thoughts. I don’t know what I will say to her, but I swear to be honest with her, and myself. Like I should have been all these years.
I turn onto Freeway Intersection and I’m about thirty minutes from Raina’s place when my phone starts to ring. I leave one hand on the steering wheel and check my phone with the other. It’s Oakley that’s calling me. I want to pick up the call immediately, but I decide against it and toss my phone on the passenger seat. I’m almost at her house, we’ll talk then. Plus, I don’t even know what to say to her yet. The phone rings one more time, then it stops. I let out a deep breath.
Why is she calling me so late? Did she change her mind? The thought sends a jolt of excitement through my bones. Yesterday, she sounded so sure of her response, so what could have possibly made her change her mind today already? She probably just wants to apologise for hurting my feelings. But she has nothing to be sorry for, and I hope she knows it.
So many questions race through my head and I hope when I get to her house in about, twenty minutes, I’ll get some answers.
I stop my car at a traffic light, irritated by the delay. My phone chimes again and I pick it up. It’s Oakley and this time she sent me a voicemail. I consider ignoring it too but if she’s trying to reach me so urgently, it probably means something is up. The traffic light turns green as I click play on the voice note and drop my phone back on the passenger seat. I drive my car to cross the intersection.
“Dave,” the voicemail begins and her voice warms my heart. “It’s Oakley, I’ve-”
Something heavy slams into my left side and all of a sudden the world is upside down, and I’m spinning and spinning. A sharp pain pierces into my abdomen and I scream. Suddenly, the spinning stops, and I’m upside down. I groan in pain. My head is pounding and I’m gasping for breath. My brain feels clouded and I can’t form a single thought. My vision is blurry and smoke from the car engine fills my lungs, making me cough violently.
The long glass that pierced through my stomach was from my windshield and blood gushes out from me without remorse. I move my hand to try to stop the bleeding, but the seatbelt keeps me locked in place. I’m weak and I’m dizzy. My eyes threaten to close shut but I fight to stay awake. A thought flashes across my mind weakly.
I have to see her.
But see who? My mind is in a haze and the pain sends a chilling sensation through. I try to shout for help, but no words come out. My phone is on the ground beside me, I try to reach it, but it’s too far away. Sounds are coming from it, but I can’t make them out. My ears are ringing, and I’m half asleep, but I force myself to try and focus. To try to listen. The voice is familiar and I can only make out a few words.
“I’m so scared… I don’t care anymore…figure it out together… call me…”
Oakley! That’s Oakley’s voice. Panic rises in my chest and I feel a very tiny burst of energy. I have to get to her. I try to unhook the seatbelt again, but I can’t. I’m weak and all my strength is gone. The glass shard is still pierced deep in my insides and I am losing too much blood. My eyes close again, but I force them open. The darkness is inviting. It’s telling me to come, but I don’t want to go. It offers me comfort. There’s no pain in the darkness.
I can’t leave her.
I hear someone trying to help, trying to force my door open. I want to scream at them to hurry, but I can’t. I think it’s too late. The darkness is enveloping me and I can’t fight it anymore.
I’m sorry, Oak.
I remember everything as the darkness covers me. I remember the day Mom left. I remember the day Dad was buried. I remember myself, locked in my room, holding a bottle of pills, wanting to end the pain forever. I remember myself, happy and smiling, dressed in my graduation gown. And I remember her, beautiful and smiling, present in every moment of my life. Her face forms in my mind.
Oakley.
I want to reach out to her. To call her name. But she’s not here. And I’m not here. There’s darkness all around me, and I don’t resist anymore, I just fall deeper inside.
And deeper.
And deeper.
The end. I hope you enjoyed it.
Click here to read part one.
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