Chapter 28: 26 ♢ The Legend

Oliver tapped his foot nervously and poured himself another glass of water as he waited nervously for her to show up. The last time he had spoken to her was when he cursed her out at his engagement party. It seemed like years ago when it reality it had only been a bit over eight months.

He had thought about this moment a lot, even in the past. He had thought about the two of them sitting together and hashing out their differences. However, in the past, he had naïvely and stupidly believed he would be the one that would be doing the forgiving. Now, as he rubbed his hands anxiously, he wanted nothing more than her forgiveness.

It was funny how after all those years and all the horrid things he had said about her, he had never actually deleted her number from his phone. When he texted her the previous night, asking to meet for lunch, she had replied with a simple and slightly ominous 'okay' followed by details of the where and when. Even though they were all now adults, she seemed to still like to be in control just like when they were in high school, choosing where they would meet and at what time but Oliver really didn't mind.

He didn't know why he had looked at the door that specific moment. She used to say he knew her better than he knew himself. It was almost like he could sense her presence before seeing her. His eyes landed on her just as she was coming through the doors of the café she had chosen. Her arms were filled with Chanel shopping bags and Oliver couldn't stop himself from laughing.

Madeline Lockhart met his eyes and slowly smiled as well, walking towards him. Her very large baby bump had become visible as she came closer to him, barely concealed under her bright, floral dress.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the man. The myth. The legend. Oliver Scott."

Oliver rolled his eyes jokingly before walking over to her and helping her up the steps to their table. He took her bags from her, putting them down under the table and held her hand as she planted herself on the cosy, cushioned chair.

An awkward silence settled between them.

"So..."

"So..."

"There's a lot of things I have to say today," Oliver began. "First of all, congratulations are in order."

"For?"

"The baby?"

"Oh!" Madeline laughed. "Of course, obviously. Sorry, I've got pregnancy brains. Plus most people congratulated me months ago so it's been a while since I've heard a congratulations!"

"You... you're glowing."

She grinned. "Side effect of getting knocked up. Not that I'm complaining. I only get to look like this for another month. I'm due at the end of May."

"I only recently found out. I would have congratulated you sooner but..."

"It's okay. We should have told you."

Silence.

"How have you been, Oliver?" Her voice sounded genuine and caring. For a second it actually felt like she was his friend.

"I've been better. A lot has happened since I last saw you. But before I get into all that I need to say sorry."

Madeline raised her eyebrow slightly. "You're saying sorry?"

"Yes. For being an asshole to you ever since what happened in high school. I let you take all the blame and that was wrong."

"Where is this coming from?"

"Therapy," Oliver admitted bluntly. "I've been going to therapy for a while. And I realised how toxic I was to everyone around me."

"Oliver, all of that feels like a century ago. I've gotten over it."

"I know. But... I haven't. I can't believe how horrible I was to you. I loved you and yet I just discarded you when everything went haywire."

Madeline sighed. "I'm not saying what you did wasn't shitty. But I'm over it. I just... I don't care about that life anymore. I hope you're not just apologising to feel good about yourself."

"No, no. I swear I'm genuinely sorry."

"Okay. Good. Well then I forgive you."

"Really?"

Madeline shrugged. "I told you I'm over it. I'm sorry too. I never really made much of an effort to try and fix our relationship which sucks because I love you so damn much. I miss you. I miss having you as a friend."

"I don't blame you for wanting nothing to do with me."

She shook her head gently. "I'm glad I'm here now." She made eye contact with a waiter behind Oliver and clicked her manicured fingers to beckon him over. "Sorry but I need to order some food before we talk anymore! This baby makes me hungry all the time!"

Oliver watched as she hooked the waiter simply by ordering her food. As he jotted down her order nervously, Oliver could see just how enthralled he was. She had a gift.

When it came to his turn, he quickly ordered a coffee and salad and dismissed the lingering garçon.

"How is therapy?

Dr Rami's head popped up in Oliver's mind. Oliver wouldn't see him for another five days and he was strangely excited to go back and tell him that Madeline had forgiven him.

"Um, good. After my divorce with Nora, I just fell into this dark hole..."

"I heard rumours," Madeline admitted. "But they were all nonsensical. Some people claimed you were in jail. Some people swore they saw you at some party, bleeding after being stabbed. There was one rumour that you moved to Mexico. My favourite one was the rumour that you had given up everything and moved to a monastery. Oliver Scott and religion are antonyms so obviously I was very confused."

Oliver chuckled. "The reality is much more boring. I was in rehab."

Madeline paused. Her eyes momentarily widened in shock. "Oh."

"Then, after rehab, I started therapy because I was in a really bad place."

She paused and took a moment to digest what he said. "How are you now?"

"Good. I have my good days and bad days but it's mostly good days. I've been sober for nearly six months," Oliver announced, taking out his five-month sobriety chip.

Madeline smiled and picked up her petite, Hermès handbag. Rummaging through it, she pulled out a golden coin with the roman numerals 'VI' on it. "I'm on six years."

"Madeline! That's amazing! Congratulations!"

She shook her head and reached across the table, picking up Oliver's chip. She twisted it in her fingers and sighed. "Oliver, your sobriety is a huge achievement. I know you and I can only imagine how hard it has been for you."

"I didn't really have another choice. I hated who I was. I was like a twister destroying everything in my path. I needed to change."

Madeline reached out and placed her hands on top of his. "I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you Maddie. The reason I texted you was..." Oliver took a deep breath in and out. He didn't know why he was so nervous. "I wanted to ask if you would be my sponsor."

"Of course," She replied instantly, clapping her hands together. "I'd be honoured. I'm always here for you."

Oliver smiled. He didn't even need to thank her. From the glint in her eyes he could tell she knew how grateful he was.

Madeline gave him back his chip and put her coin back in her bag. She flapped her hands as if to shoo away all the dark energy of addictions.

"Apart from all that. How are you?"

"I'm good. Slowly getting my life back but nothing else significant has happened in my life..." He pointed his finger at her stomach. "You probably can't say the same though, Mads," He joked.

Madeline grinned and rested her hand on her belly. "My whole life has changed with this baby! Oh, and Spence and I finally bought a house! We realised his bachelor pad was just not suitable for family life."

"Spencer," The name felt strange on his tongue. ".... How is he?"

Madeline's smile faltered a bit. "I know he misses you. But he's really hurt. He never really explained to me what happened between you two. I don't know who started it but you guys are brothers. It's a shame to see you both throw it all away."

"Trust me, I really want to see him again. But he hates me and I don't think he wants anything to do with me again."

"You'll never know if you never reach out."

"Maybe I will," Oliver said unconvincingly. "Um... what about his brother? Charlie. How is he?"

Oliver wanted to ask her if Charlie ever asked about him. Or if he ever talked about him. Or if he was still seeing Dustin.

Was he subtle enough? What is Madeline suspected something from the strain in his voice? Oliver studied her but thankfully her face showed no indication that she knew anything about their relationship.

Oh no. What if she told Charlie that Oliver was asking about him? Would Charlie think he was snooping? That would ruin any chances Oliver ever had with him.

"He's good. He's a ghostwriter now which is crazy because I never knew his writing was so good!"

Oliver sighed and put his worries away by being rational. Rami's advice worked and he was able to regain his composure.

He needed to ask about one more person yet he was nervous simply uttering her name.

"And... Nora. H-how is she?"

Madeline's face straightened and her smile completely disappeared. "She's good too. But..."

"But?"

"It... it took her a while to recover. You really hurt her," She stated sternly. "I know you want to make amends but please leave Nora alone. At least for now. She's been through a lot. She had to rebuild her life. And the last thing she needs is you back in her life."

She was right. And Oliver knew that. But a small part of him was hurt that she expected he would only cause Nora pain. However, he also understood that, with his history with Nora, Madeline's expectation was very much justified.

"Okay."

Madeline's nodded and her smile slowly returned to her face as the waiter came with her food.

"Good. Now, let's feast!"

♢ ♢ ♢

They spent hours at the café talking about anything and everything. Her baby, Spencer's parenting skills, Oliver's job, Notre Dame Memories. It was shocking how quickly they were able to revert back to their adolescent selves, talking and laughing as if the pain of the past never happened.

"Do you want to feel the baby's kicks?" She asked as they left the café.

Oliver smiled and nodded. Madeline took his hand and placed it on the side of her stomach. Nothing happened for the first few seconds until suddenly he felt a gentle tap under his hand.

"Woah," He exclaimed. "I felt that! Did you feel that?!"

Madeline laughed and suddenly wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tighter than she had ever hugged him in her life.

"I've missed you, Ollie."

"I missed you too, Maddie."

"I love you. And Spencer loves you. And I know he wants you back in his life. Please make an effort to reconnect with him. I want you there for our big moments."

Oliver squeezed her hands and nodded. "Okay."

He didn't know how easy it would be but he found himself wanting to be there for their big moments too.

They said their goodbyes as Oliver hailed Madeline a cab. She hugged him one final time before getting in.

As the yellow car drove into the distance, Oliver smiled. It was a good day.

He walked to his father's house with a jolly jump in his step and as he opened the front door, he could smell the divine smell of their dinner. A good day.

"Dad! I'm here! I..."

He spotted a Louis Vuitton chest thrown haphazardly beside the front door. It wasn't his father's. He became aware of people talking and curiously followed the voices to the living room.

"Dad?"

He spotted his father's face beaming first before noticing the girl beside him. His umbrella fell out of his hands before he ran up to her and pulled her into his arms.

"Oh my God! You're back from Paris?!"

"Hi Ollie!" Mai squeaked into her step brother's ear as he twirled her around.

Ed let out a jolly laugh and stood up. "She surprised me too. I'll go set the table. You two get caught up."

Mai excitedly pulled him down to the sofa.

"What are you doing here?!"

"Well, you know my friend Kathy? Well, Kathy heard from Dina who heard from Summer who heard from her cousin Angel that you got a divorce! I didn't even know you were married! So obviously I had to come here as quick as I could! But your dad told me you and Nora got a divorce months ago! I'm so angry you didn't tell me!"

"Mai-"

"I had to find out about my own brother's marriage and divorce from Kathy?!"

"I'm sorry! Look, a lot happened that I don't really want to get into but I went to rehab and I'm better now."

"What about Nora? Did you guys ever get back together?"

Oliver shook his head. "No..."

"What?! Why?! You were so in love with her!"

"I wasn't good for her. And I'm glad I see that now. Plus, I'm kind of in love with someone else at the moment."

Mai shook his arm excitedly and leaned closer to him, her voice rising three octaves. "Who?!

He trusted Mai more than anyone in the world. He could tell her.

"Charlie..."

"Charlie? I don't know a Charlie. Did she go to Notre Dame?"

Oliver chuckled. Innocent mistake. "Kingsley. Charlie Kingsley."

He laughed again after seeing her expression as she slowly realised who he was.

"Oh. My. God."

"Guys, dinner is ready!" His father called from the kitchen.

Oliver got ready to stand up but Mai pushed him back down again. "No. Wait. What?!"

"We can talk about this later, Mai!"

"No, wait just... oh my god okay are you two together?"

Oliver shook his head. "We kind of had a thing but that's over now. I don't deserve him. He probably hates me after what everything I did. Plus, I think he's with someone else now."

"You think? Did he tell you?"

"No, but-"

"So you gave up on him because you think he hates you and because he's with someone else."

"Well, yes but-"

"Oliver! Have you even tried to reconcile with him?"

"Guys," Ed's face popped up behind the door. "The food will get cold. Come eat."

Oliver nodded and stood up, stretching his hand towards Mai to help her up. She got up and dusted off her blue dress.

"Can we drop the subject?"

Mai smirked. "As if."

"Mai-"

"Ollie, you love him. Just go apologise. Maybe he loves you back."

"What if he doesn't? I will have embarrassed myself for nothing."

"But if he does wouldn't it be so wonderful?"

Oliver eyed the front door. Would it be crazy if he went to see him? To apologise and maybe try and reconcile? He would even settle for a friendship with him as long as they were on good terms.

"Mai-"

"I'll cover for you at dinner. Just go."

♢ ♢ ♢

Three chapters left and an epilogue to END THE ENTIRE SERIES!!! Ngl the epilogue is amazing!

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Love,

-hexed

xoxo