Plus One S2 - Chapter 1: Stubborn asses

[deedee_sims]

Warnings: Copious amount of fluff, some drinking, not explicit sexual activities, gradual undressing, uncomfortable conversations



When I wake up in the morning the first thing I see is the golden summer light, creeping through the blinds.



The second thing I see is Olls.
His glorious red hair sprawled on the pillow, his lips are slightly parted, as he's still deep in the land of dreams.
He's so fucking beautiful like this.



I nuzzle closer to him, which makes him stir.
"Mmmm, five more minutes," he begs sleepily.
I place a kiss on his cheek. "Good morning sleepyhead!"
"What time is it?"
"Half past six."



"Uhh, five more hours then." He rolls on top of me, eyes still shut. He's not wearing anything (just like me), and now I pretty much feel every inch of him on my skin. Mmm delicious.
I start combing his hair away from his face. "Yeah, I wish I'd have that much time."



His eyes snap open. "Shit, today's your final?"
"Yeah."
"Don't worry! You'll be awesome, you studied, you're going to charm all the teachers-"



I kiss him to shut his mouth. I know he only says these things to encourage me, but maybe he's a bit biased. At least the charming part might work after all.



I turn him under me and kiss him deeper, morning breath be damned. He answers it hungrily, his hands tracing my sides. I could fuck him right here and now, but I force myself to stop.



I just shoot him a confident smile. "I bet I will!"

***



I take a deep breath when I leave the classroom. I have no idea how I passed. I mean, yeah, I know, I bullshitted through the whole thing, but surprisingly enough it worked. Not that I want to complain about it.



I quickly text Olls, because I know he was nervous about it (probably even more than me, although he tried to encourage me instead). He instantly replies saying congratulations, accompanied with hearts.
I send him an eggplant.
He sends me an eyeroll.



I can't stop smiling.



When I get home, he basically tackles me.
"Hey!" I laugh into his neck.



"I knew you would pass!" he says, beaming at me.
"I hardly did."
"Who cares!? I'm proud of you!"



"Because I hardly passed a shitty exam?" I ask in disbelief.
He shrugs. "Yeah!"



And fuck if it doesn't do something weird to my insides. I pull him close and kiss him eagerly. I like the way he perfectly fits into my arms. He smells... spicy?



"I actually have something for you." He smiles at me shyly, and starts pulling me away.
Unfortunately, he doesn't lead me into any of the bedrooms, but the kitchen.



The table is set beautifully (where did he find a tablecloth?), and there's some kind of chicken dish on it, that smells amazing.
"I wanted to surprise-"



I don't let him finish the sentence as I let the sudden urge to kiss him again manifest in action.



"It's perfect."
He blushes a bit at that.
"Alright, I take it back, I have to taste it before I declare such things!"



I had no doubt, but yeah, it's fucking tasty, just a right amount of spicy.
"What do I need to do to make you cook dinner every day?" I say, my mouth full of chicken.



He raises his eyebrow. "Pay fifty. But no, you can't make me, it's a, um, lot of work."



"Shame." I pout dramatically. "This is the best fucking food I've eaten in a while."
"T-thanks."
"You want wine?"



Olls is wonderful when he gets drunk. Last time we were among a lot of strangers and loud music which modified the experience, but now I see it plainly. He's bolder, talking more (which at this point turns into a complaining session about Lainey's dress try-ons - she apparently still hasn't decided on her wedding dress yet.), his face getting flushed.



He giggles when I crouch down to kiss him.



We can wash the dishes later.

***



"What are you doing?" I peek out from above Olls’ shoulder.
"Working."
"What are you working?"



"Anything I can get," he says, turning in his chair. "Mostly small assignments on Fiverr, some coding, making webpages, stuff like that. It's not that much money, but with my savings, I hope it'll be enough to pay my rent these two months, until I get a scholarship again."



I take a seat and look at him confused. "You don't have to pay rent."
He looks back, just as confused. "I have a contract, remember? I either pay rent, or move home for the summer."



"You're not moving anywhere," I state, shaking my head. "Look, I'll talk to dad-"
"No, it's okay."
"But your savings-"



"I said it's okay," he huffs. "It's good for gaining experience anyway."



"Okay," I surrender seemingly. I'm going to talk to dad anyway. It's like we're living together, it feels weird that he pays for it. Especially that he spends most of his scholarship on that. He earned that money with his cleverness and hardworking, he deserves to do whatever he wants with it. I know we can figure out a way to do this. I want to do this right.

***



I barely enter the changing room when my phone starts ringing, and I see my father's name popping up. I already have a half-assed plan.



"How did your final exam go?" he asks, and I can picture the curious arch of his brow perfectly.
"I passed."
"Great! I was hoping you'd do well!"
Oh right, he was hoping, not quite believing my abilities. Fine then.



"Um, there's something I want to ask," I start cautiously. "You know Oliver who lives in the apartment?"
He hums, and I feel the knot growing in my stomach.
"Well, we kinda got together."
"You did?"
"Yeah. And I think it's weird that he pays rent now."
"Is it?" Fuck, he's not making it easy for me.



"I'm just saying that there's no scholarship in the summer, and it's harder for him to pay it now. He helps a lot around the apartment, he doesn't let me starve for example. It's just these two months, really. I cover for it if you want, just subtract it from my inheritance or whatever." I shrug, before I realize he can't see it.
"That's not how business works." That's what he manages to say, and it makes me want to punch something.



"That's not business," I grunt, trying hard to control my sudden burst of anger. "He's my boyfriend."
He sighs. "Alright, we can talk about it. Will you bring him to your graduation dinner?"



"My what?"
"We're going to have dinner, after the ceremony." He says is like it's so fucking obvious. "Just the four of us. Or five, I guess. Your mother would be thrilled to meet him."



Watcher, I'm not ready to dump my family on Olls, but I don't think I have a choice here.
"Alright, I'll talk to him about it," I say in a similar manner as he did before.
That's when Max arrives, and I quickly say goodbye to my old man.



"Hey!" I greet Max with a handshake.
"Hey man! How’s it going?" He smiles, and drops his bag. "I’ve heard you graduated? How?"



"I bought the teachers with my pretty face." I add a wink as an emphasis.
"I bet! Your parents must be thrilled."



I sigh dramatically while I start to undress. "Don’t even mention it. If I continue like this, they will actually think I’m good for anything else than fucking."
Max knows I’m sarcastic, the self-deprecating jokes are allowed between us. He grins at me.
"Your boyfriend must think that too."



I stop abruptly, halfway into my shirt, just to look at him in disbelief. "How the hell do you know I have-"
"You stopped being mopey."
"I wasn’t mopey!"



"You know you were," he says matter-of-factly. And uh, yeah, maybe I was, the fucker knows me all too well. "I also happen to follow you on Simstagram."
"I hate you."
"And how is this new committed life treating you?" he asks, ignoring my response altogether.



"It’s uh… weird?" I really don’t know how to put my feelings into words. I want to be around Olls all the time. It’s a bit scary. But also nice. More nice than scary, actually.



"Can you confidently say now that he’s good in bed?" he smirks. I still hate him.
"It’s not just about fucking!"
"But it is also about fucking."



"Also." I sit down on the bench and let out a dreamy sigh. "Damn, he’s really good, Max. You wouldn’t even think when you look at him. That thing he does-"
"I don’t need the details!"
But it’s too late; my mind is now full with images of pretty blue eyes looking blazingly at me from between my legs. Ugh, I need to chill before I end up with a boner.



"I’d like to meet him!" Max announces suddenly.
I make an exaggerated grimace. "So you can seduce him? No way!"



"I wish I could seduce him." He answers with a sad smile.
Oh shit. I can’t help but feel sorry for him. His parents are super rich, and super careful about appearances, so he has to stay in the closet. They even threatened to kick him out once. I don’t think he got many hookups besides me, and we were lucky to hide it under the disguise of playing tennis. That our parents issued for us when we were teens. What a sweet irony.
He sighs. "I actually have to go on a date with some girl in a few weeks."



"What the fuck?"
"Familial connections."
"Fuck," I repeat angrily.
"That pretty much sums it up," he muses, but his eyes are sad.
I really wish I could help him somehow. This shit is getting out of hand. Forcing someone to date someone, who he’s clearly not interested in, is not okay. No matter how much family fortune and reputation, and other fuckeries are on the table.



"Can’t you just… leave?" I ask warily, but I already know the answer.
"I have no choice, you know."
"Yes, but, you have some savings! Just grab the money, and run!"
He laughs bitterly.
"We can take you in for a while if you need. I mean-"



"S’fine, don’t worry about me." He pats my arm. "Just be glad, your parents are fine with you."
"Yeah, at least they gave up on me when I was like, ten. I’m just the weird son who can’t even sit straight, not to talk about other straight things."
"Maybe if I had a brother-"



"I would gladly pass on mine," I offer, to which he makes a face. "But, seriously… if you decide to run, and you need a place to crash-"
"I’m not sure your boyfriend would like it."
"Why?"



"We have a history, you know," he points out.
"Oh, c’mon, it doesn’t matter. It was just some fucking without feelings thing. Bros with benefits."
"For you, yeah."



I freeze for a moment, trying to process what he just said.
"I knew if I told you, you wouldn’t do it, so it was better that way." He sighs. "I’m over you, anyway. You’re not even my type."



I’m trying to drag back my thoughts from the weird path, they wandered. "I thought I’m everyone’s type!"
"I like intellectuals."



I gasp dramatically. "Rude! I have a degree now, you know! Top notch intellectual here!"
"Except, you’re a dummy," he says, and jumps up from the bench to start warming up. I follow him and stretch my legs.



"I’ll talk to Oliver," I go back to the previous topic that doesn’t stop bugging me.
"Could you stop talking about it?"
"But-"



"It’s not gonna happen, whatsoever." He lets out an annoyed grunt. "Yeah, maybe it’s nice to daydream about it, but that’s not the reality. Grow the fuck up, man."



He waves at me dismissively, grabs his racket, and leaves the changing room.
I’ve never seen him that annoyed, and it makes me both fucking angry at this whole situation and sad for him. I want to save him.



Is this a bad thing?

***



When I get home, I still can't get Max out of my head, and that whole conversation we had. I find Olls in his room, laptop on his lap, still busy with work. Did he even take a break since I left for practice?
I spend no time hesitating but climb on his bed and nuzzle up to him.



"I need to finish this, okay?" he says, not looking away from his screen. "Shouldn't take long."



I let out a dramatic sigh, and push my cheek into his shoulder. I'm aware that I'm kinda blocking his whole left arm, but I don't care.
After a couple minutes, he gives up, and puts his laptop away.



"What's the matter, honey?"
I try to ignore the weird tingly feeling that this word makes in my stomach.
"Nothing. It's stupid." I don't know why I say this instinctively, as I know I could tell him.
"It's obviously not nothing nor stupid if it’s bothering you."



"Okay," I start warily. "You know the guy who I go to tennis with, Max?"
He hums.



"Well, his parents are not letting him out of the closet, and he hates it, and I hate it, and I told him to leave, but he said he can't, and then got all angry at me for saying this. I know I can't make him do anything, and it fucking sucks, but... uh." I look pointedly at our interlaced hands.



"Oh."
"Told you it's stupid."
He squeezes my hand. "It's definitely not stupid. He's your friend and you care about him."
I never really thought about him as a close friend. We don't really talk outside of tennis practice, but I do care about him, that's true.



"I just want him out. In every meaning. But I know it's not easy, I'm not saying that."
"Yeah, I have my fair share of shitty parents, so I know how it is," he contemplates, and my blood starts to boil even at this slight mention of his father. "But it needs to be his decision."
"You know patience is a virtue I don't have."
"He'll get there eventually." He says it with such sureness, I end up believing him.



"Why are you so clever?" I ask, my voice muffled, as I bury my face into his neck.
He lets out a shy laugh. "I'm not."
"Liar."



I look up at his slightly blushing, freckled face, and I'm in awe. He's so cute and amazing.
Then I suddenly remember...



"Uh, don't kill me, but I kinda told Max that if he decides to run, he can crash at our place for a while?"
He shrugs. "Sure, it's your place anyway-"
"No. You live here too. So if it bothers you-"
"It doesn't."
"You sure?"



"Yeah. I mean, if you start flirting with him, it will, but-"
"I won't!" I interrupt quickly, but I see a faint smile playing on his lips.
"I was hoping you'd say that."



I hum. I'm not sure if I want to tell him what Max thought about the whole situation, because then I would have to tell him that we... well. Had a thing. And even if Olls assumes something, he doesn’t push the topic.
My gaze falls on his abandoned laptop, and I feel a churn in my stomach.



"Uh, you should finish your work, I'm sorry."
"It's fine, I can finish it later."
"No, just finish it now," I demand. "I can... make dinner! Wanna eat?"



"Only if you don't cook."
"Hey! You don't believe in my culinary knowledge?"
"Um, no?" he teases with a small smile. "You don't even know how to boil water."



Well, I'm offended. "I'm completely capable of boiling water, thank you very much!"
He starts laughing, and I just want to kiss that stupid laugh off his mouth.



So I do.



"I thought about ordering takeout, actually," I admit when we part.
"Sounds nice."
"You won't get any until you finish your work."



"Yes mom," he answers, rolling his eyes, and I stick out my tongue.
Somehow that's the point when my brain decides to remind me of my father's phone call. I reluctantly untangle myself from him.



"There's something I want to ask you."
"Hm?"
"I talked to dad," I start.



"Rhett-"
"And he said that they want you to come with me to dinner after my graduation. To meet you." I see him going a bit nervous to my words. "I promise they won't eat you alive. Or I'll fight them if they will."
"Alright. You've already met my mom, so it's fair."



"Does she want to send us more of those cupcakes by any chance?" I inquire as I remember that meeting a few months ago. Fuck, those cupcakes were lit. I almost start drooling just from thinking about them.



He laughs, because probably it's written on my face too. "I can ask her."
"Awesome! And oh, by the way, you can meet Miss Fluffy too!"
"Well, that sounds appealing."



"She will love you! Especially if you give her treats and belly rubs" I explain. "She's easy to win over. Just like me!"
"Like you?"
"Yeah!" I beam at him. "Just feed me and rub me in the right place and I'm all yours!"



I guess we're thinking about the same things because his cheeks turn a bit pink. It's adorable.



"Actually, there's another thing," I say cautiously. "I asked dad about the rent thing-"
"I told you it's fine," he interrupts me.
"-and he said we can talk about it."



"There is nothing to talk about," he states matter-of-factly. "I told you to not talk to him about it, but you still did."
His voice is calm, but his eyes are angry. Fuck. "But-"



"I get that you don't understand. You never had to count money, or hope that your father doesn't forget to pay child care, so you can get your broken phone replaced. I'm finally not dependent on anyone, and just... Do you know how embarrassing it is to ask others favors like this?"
My stomach churns painfully
"So I would be happy if you wouldn't do stuff like this behind my back."



I fucked up.

---
Here we go! The long awaited first chapter, with some pretty deep conversations, and of course, the obligatory voting on the continuation, HERE! Please vote about what should Rhett do in this situation! I will close the voting in 2 weeks, on the 3rd of July!

Season 2 will be about 11 chapters, and I have quite a few written already. But I don't want to tire myself out as much as I did with season 1, so the updates won't be that frequent. Sorry about that. Also I have a bunch of sets to build (bleh).

Anyway! Thank you everyone for reading! I hope the chapter lived up to the expectations and hype! I tried my best here! Please don't be afraid to share your thoughts in the comment section, on dumblr, or wherever. :)

Comments

Daiana

[(Anonymous)]

What a big surprise! Now Rhett is speaking in first person, that means knowing more about him. In the previous chapters I was always curious about Rhett's family, so it's very exciting to see more in the future. The experience of reading the story is a roller coaster of emotions. I laughed, I feel sad for Max and I said "shit!" when things didn't go the way Rhett expected. I voted "leave it" but it was a difficult decision to make. I think, I don't know, it's not Rhett's usual way of thinking, and at the same time, maybe it is. The confusion is because I notice, in the distance, like big breaks for Rhett in the future to grow as a person. In this case, "insists", it seems that Rhett cares about Ollie and it is true that he wants the best for him, but it is really a selfish choice. "Leave it" is a different way of being a loving boyfriend, be supportive and stand for Ollie's wishes. Thank you for your hard work! Im very happy for the new season! ♥ :D

Re: Daiana

[deedee_sims]

We'll meet Rhett's family very soon! So... be prepared XD
Rhett definitely has some learning and growing to do, but he'll try! He means well, but he doesn't know the best way yet.
I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter, and thanks for sharing your thoughts! I hope you'll like the next chapters too! :)

[thesterina]

It was a great read! I'm really enjoying seeing things happen through Rhett's eyes. I always wondered what he was up to when he would leave Ollie behind at home, haha. And I am sooo happy that they are finally together - I had been hoping for this to happen for the longest time!!! I wish them the best and all the happiness :)

[deedee_sims]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! Well, I can't promise everything will be smooth and nice (it wouldn't make a very interesting story XD), but they will try to overcome the difficulties together!

[nerlika]

Oh Rhett… It’s a sort of a talent to upset two people important to him on the same day in a very similar way :,D Fingers crossed he won’t go that way the third time (or at least not in a row :D ).
I really enjoyed reading this chapter, can’t wait to see what happens next!

[deedee_sims]

Rhett just wants to do good, but... that's not the right way XD
I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! I'll try to work on the next when I have time!

[keoni]

I read this a while back, but I didn't comment. How odd. Let's right that terrible wrong. I'm so happy you continued this story with a new season! I'm very excited to see Rhett's side this time around. He was/is my favorite character, so I look forward to getting to know him even better.

One question though. Wasn't Ollie's ex-boyfriend named Max? Or am I totally remembering that wrong?

[deedee_sims]

Ah, I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far! :) Rhett is definitely an interesting and colorful character! :D
Haha, no, Ollie's ex is Harry! (um, we might hear about him... at some point 🤫)