Disclaimer: I don't own them, they simply aid me in procrastinating.
Distractions: Chapter One
Whiskey and overdue movie rentals. Those were the only two things Olivia Dunham had lying around her house to distract her from the tedious, frustrating mess that had become her life. She had long ago lost track of the plot of whatever movie she had found wedged between her couch cushions, but the lighted faces were something to stare at. It was nice to see the smiling couple get their happy ending. Nice for that moment at least; though, when the credits rolled, she was left emptier than she'd started. Life didn't work like movies. Anymore, life just didn't work. She let out a watery, alcohol-induced laugh as it dawned on her that she and her closest friend had been universes apart all along. Another humorless laugh escaped her lips, but midway through it turned to a sob. With a quick intake of breath and another sip, her emotions were once again in check as she fixed her stare on the now blank television screen. Olivia had two weeks of these nights behind her, and a lifetime of these nights ahead of her. The worst part was that it was all her fault. If she'd stuck by the morals that always guided her, just been honest with her best friend, she wouldn't be here. Well, maybe she would, but she would at least have a reason to be angry at Peter, and a reason to forgo the self-loathing.
Her trance was interrupted by a barely audible knock at her door. She turned her head slowly, and would have turned back, were it not for the second, more insistent series of knocks that followed. She got up abruptly, a little too abruptly, she noted. The alcohol was affecting her more than she had realized. Thoughts of her possible visitor flitted through her mind as she fiddled with the locks absently, too tired to be on alert anymore. She blinked, dumbfounded, as the door swung open.
"Peter?" she asked incredulously, and with a bit more desperation than she would have liked. He stared at her, looking almost as shocked as she was, which was a bit odd considering he had shown up on her doorstep.
"God. Hi, Liv..." He ran a hand through his hair as they stared at each other. His mouth was moving, but he couldn't will any of his thoughts to join their stunted conversation.
"Come in," she muttered suddenly. She offered a weak smile, her first in almost two weeks, which he immediately returned as he followed her inside.