Oliver was an autistic, sheltered boy. His whole life he had been constantly fussed over by his parents because they couldn’t stop worrying about him. Oliver was 16, but his mind was no where near that age yet. He had terrible sensory issues, and no one was able to calm him down whenever his anxiety attacks broke loose.

The autistic boy was very sensitive, and was particular about the things that he did and didn’t like—he hated loud noises, certain fabrics, meat, most smells, and any blanket that wasn’t his special blankie.

No one could control Oliver. No one until Collin came along.

Collin was two years older than Oliver. He was tall, muscular, and always wore a scowl upon his facial features. Collin didn’t like other people—he preferred to be alone.

The only times he wasn’t alone was when he was hooking up with girls or smoking with some other kids in his grade. Otherwise, he hated everyone.

Everyone but Oliver.

The first time Collin met Oliver, in the beginning to Oliver’s sophomore year and Collin’s senior year, the older boy immediately became infatuated. Oliver was so shy and sweet, and Collin wanted everything the boy had to offer.

Oliver was extremely sensitive and innocent, so Collin knew he had to take his time with the younger boy—befriend him, take care of him.

Collin quickly became Oliver’s favorite person. The senior boy was the autistic boy’s comfort place. He liked going over to Collin’s house with his special blankie and taking naps in his bed while Collin watched over him.

The older boy had changed his bed sheets, bought new laundry detergent, and got new pillow cases just so that Oliver was comfortable in his bed—he had freaked out the first time he had been in Collin’s bed, crying over the fabric of the sheets and the way his laundry detergent smelled masculine instead of smelling like lemons.

Collin had changed it all. Just for Oliver—he changed himself, too.

Collin quit smoking and stopped hooking up with girls just so that he could spend time with Oliver. He wanted to watch over the autistic boy and keep him safe in his arms.

‎•ﻌ•

One day after school while Oliver was walking out of the school—on his way to Collin’s car—he caught the attention of a few junior boys. They knew the autistic boy got spoiled by his parents, so they tried to shake him for cash.

Oliver was crying and on the verge of a panic attack as the older boy’s took his money and threw the rest of the contents in his bag onto the ground.

The junior boys pushed Oliver into the lockers before backing away.

Collin was making his way out of the school, freezing when he saw Oliver on the ground. All of his other thoughts vanished.

“J—Just you wait; I’ll tell my momma on you! You—you meanies!” Oliver whimpered and cried as his knees buckled and he dropped to the ground. The boys only snickered, calling out slurs as they fled the scene.

Oliver whimpered and cried as he tried to keep back his panic attack. His hands were uncontrollably shaking as he tried to pick up all of his belongings that the junior boys had dumped on the concrete.