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"You could've been hurt," Anna whispered, her mind automatically thinking about Oliver's wellbeing before hers, no matter how scared she was. "You could've been hurt…" Even as she panicked, his touch was comforting.
Ollie started to cry, knowing what that type of thinking could do to a person…
"No, Anna. Please, stop saying that." He cried, squeezing her gently. "Please don't"
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Anna did as he said, finally lifting her head and looking deep into his eyes. Her shining dark brown eyes met his worriedly. "But if you had been hurt, it would've been my fault," she whispered, cupping his face with her hands. "I would have never forgiven myself. You wanted to get out, and I wouldn't let you."
Ollie stared at her in shock, tears running down his face in steady streams. Why was she thinking like this??
He shook his head again, huffing for a moment while he pieced together his reply.
"If I left… I-I… I wouldn't have been here for you. And-And you're hrt and it's my fault and I need to stop doing stupid things and that was a poor choice and I never should have-" His sobs cut off his words as he closed his eyes and cried
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"I'm not hurt," Anna insisted. "I'm fine, I swear it." Her promise was cut short by Oliver's continued talking. Her eyes widened. "It's neither of our faults, alright?" she compromised quickly, unable to see him crying. "Oliver, neither of us are at fault."
Oliver gasped for air, rubbing his eyes with one hand while he listened to her soothing tone. He nodded along, then out of impulse, hugger her tightly. ''i'm so glad you're okay.'' he whispered
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Anna gasped and smiled weakly. She wrapped her own arms around him and held him closely. "And I can say the same about you… are you entirely sure you're unharmed?"
Ollie flushed, pursing his lips and nodding before he rasped out an answer. "I'm fine. I promise." There was a sharp pain that increasingly got worse in his upper back, snaking up his neck and across his left shoulder, but he didn't want to worry her. "I promise." He said again, then looked out the back window in an attempt to survey the damage without leaving her.
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"Alright… I couldn't bear it if you were hurt…" Anna's fingers trembled as she reached down to unbuckle her seatbelt. She was shaking so badly she missed the button the first couple of times she tried. "Oh God, come on," she whispered.
Ollie helped, smoothing his hands along her hips, but he didn't care in the moment. Once she was freed, he carried her out of the car door while he rocked her gently against his chest. "I'm so sorry."
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Anna curled into him, but she whispered, "Put me down please," very softly in his ear. She was still shaking badly, but when she slipped her legs out of his grip, and they touched the ground, she found her footing despite wearing heels.
Ollie quickly complied, carefully setting her on her feet while he brushed himself off, wincing while he moved his head. "S-sorry." He mumbled quickly, then looked toward the father and daughter frantically trying to figure out paperwork while the undeniable sound of sirens wailed in the distance.
Oliver froze, the sounds bringing back memories he thought he had repressed, and suddenly felt the urge to run. His breath quickened and his posture grew sharp, but he managed to stay put. They won't hurt me. They can't…. I didn't do anything
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"You don't need to apologize," Anna murmured, still leaning on him heavily to stand. She could feel him stiffen as the sirens drew closer, and she tilted her head up to gently kiss his cheek. "It's alright," she whispered, resting her head against his shoulder. "They're going to help. There's no need to worry, we're not going to be in trouble," she assured him, slightly misreading his stiffness. "We just have to answer a few questions."
Ollie held her up, making sure she was comfortable, then turned red once her lips met the side of his face. He smiled, knowing he would be alright while he smoothed her hair. "I… I g-guess you're right." He agreed, but still couldn't keep the subtle anxiety out of the back of his mind.
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Anna closed her eyes and stifled a gasp as he touched her hair. Her hair was her vice, and when people touched it, she automatically weakened. Very few people knew that about her — and Harry was one of them. She cursed herself for thinking of him again, and she focused on Ollie. “Just relax. I hate phrasing it like this, but we’re the victims, not the perpetrators. We did nothing wrong.”
Ollie nodded, continuing his gently touch, unaware of what it did to her. "Will they… ID us?" He asked timidly, showing the same fear he had in his eyes back at the mall
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Anna looked up, her eyes soft and worried. “You don’t have an ID, do you?” she breathed. As an attorney, she frowned, but she cared more for Ollie than her job at the moment. “I don’t think so. They might need my ID, if anything, since it’s my car that was hit.”
Ollie felt himself start to tear a bit, knowing it wouldn't quite help his case that he wasn't a registered citizen either. He shook his head, gently stroking Anna's hair as more of a soothing gesture for himself. "I-I-I hope so."
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Finally, Anna let out a soft whimper at his touches. “Oliver, my hair,” she whispered, closing her eyes and flushing as she said it. She trembled as the scene began to flash with blue and red as the ambulance and a police car pulled up.
Oliver pulled his fingers back, pursing his lips while he stepped backwards slightly. "i-I'm sorry." He said again, only becoming more on edge at the sight of the vehicles. His heart pounded and his breathing shallowed while he stared at the wreckage, and then at the approaching officer
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“Don’t be,” Anna murmured. “It’s just… not here, okay?”
“Anna Clayton?” the cop asked as he approached.
Anna whirled around and blinked quickly. “I’m sorry?”
“That’s your name, right? Anna? You’re Harry’s wife?”
Anna ducked her head slightly. “Ex-wife,” she corrected. “But yes.”
“You and Harry well-known around the precinct.”
Anna shook her head and flushed. “I’m afraid I don’t know your name. Officer?”
“Lease. Officer Camden Lease.”
Ollie stepped back, ashamed while he let them talk. He folded his arms, shaking slightly while he listened to his conversation. Anna seemed to have connections all over….
He simply stayed silent, pursing his lips
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Anna subtly stepped in front of Ollie, and Officer Lease didn't seem to notice. He was more occupied with the woman before him. "Is it true about your divorce?"
"Officer, I'm afraid this is terribly inappropriate conversation given the circumstances," Anna cut in. "Could you tend to the father and daughter over there?" She inclined her head to them, and Officer Lease nodded.
"Right…" He was gone quickly after that, and Anna turned her head toward Ollie.
"Dear God," she muttered once the officer was out of earshot, rolling her eyes discreetly.
Ollie was still nervous and embarrassed, his arms crossed in defense while he kept his eyes to the ground. "I'm sorry." He muttered again, watching the officer while he growled again
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"Don't be," Anna whispered. "What could you ever be sorry for now?" Her soft eyes scanned his face, and she slipped her hand into his comfortingly.
Ollei shrugged. "Your hair. A-and the officer, and… everything." He mumbled. "I just… I feel so bad."
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Anna laughed quietly. "I don't mind you touching my hair. In fact, I quite like it… but I only stopped you because I didn't want to do that here. And don't worry about that dolt," she muttered quieter. "Don't worry what anyone ever says to me. I'm not interested."
Ollie smiled gently, keeping his arms tightly folded while he cautiously observed the officer, keeping his attention on Anna's words. He chuckled nervously, nodding. "y-yeah… I- I hope everything turns out okay"
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Anna nodded slowly. “I hope so too… and I’m not going to press charges anyway. She’s just a girl. She didn’t mean it.”
Oliver looked over at the damaged car, the scared woman, his brow furrowing slightly. "But… don't you want compensation? She ruined your car!"
