A/N: My first Fringe story that isn't a one-shot :D Enjoy! Story name inspired by Ashley Tisdale's song. It's really good! Has nothing to do with romance... but I thought its kind of fitting here because Livy doesn't really know how to love.
Don't own Fringe. If I did, we wouldn't be waiting a 2-month hiatus. No copyright inFRINGEment intended ;)
Olivia was sitting under a pink-flowered tree. A stream flowed by and she was soaking her feet in the rushing water. She was wearing a long, silky, light-blue dress with little stripes the color of pine needles. Her soft blonde hair was down and straight, a flower clip holding it out of her face.
I, of course, was stunned.
She looked like something out of a magazine or a gallery, and here I was, standing by the brick building in a casual tuxedo, just watching her. Not sitting beside her, talking to her and making her laugh like I should be. Nope, I was just leaning against the wall, observing what I would never have.
Ever since she figured out the whole "this is the building that is going to the other universe" thing, she had been very distant from me. Whenever I would say something that would usually get at least a smile, she would look at me, starting to smile, but once she saw me she would turn pale and turn in the other direction. She had been avoiding me, too, but its kind of hard to escape someone when you're both at someone's wedding.
After the whole Greg-divorce thing was settled, Rachel had started going out with her best friend, some guy named Natt. He asked her to marry him about five months ago, and now here we are.
Olivia was supposed to be the maid of honor. Olivia, however, had her feet in a stream.
"Peter!"
I turned around, putting on a smile for Rachel in her beautiful white dress. She grinned back, the excitement for her wedding sparkling in her eyes. "What's up with Liv?"
"No clue," I replied, looking over my shoulder at Olivia. "I just got here."
She nodded slowly. "Right… Well, Natt wants you and her inside, ASAP! And when he says ASAP, he means now." She laughed and walked away, getting ready for no one to know where she was. I waved her off and set across the little field of the vineyard towards Olivia. She looked up when I was a good ten feet away and then quickly turned her attention back to the water. Trying not to feel rejected by that, I sat down next to her.
"Hey, Liv."
"Hi, Peter…"
"I just talked to Rach… She said John wants us inside right about now." She nodded curtly, pulling her feet out of the water and dabbing them dry on the beach towel beside her before pulling on her strappy shoes. She stood up and started walking away with fast footsteps. "Hey, wait up!" I jumped up and ran so I was walking beside her. I caught her arm and made her look at me. "Olivia… what's wrong? You've been so… quiet lately."
"Still coping with seeing a building from the other side and then almost dying thing, Peter. Sorry if I don't get a monologue every time I say something."
"That was three weeks ago. I've almost died on multiple occasions and got over the next day." I put my hand against her cheek, just as I had that night so long ago… "You're hiding something."
----
"You may kiss the bride." I smiled as Natt dipped my sister and kissed her. But I was distracted, as I had been the whole ceremony… by Peter's glimmer.
Things (and people) from the other side have an energy, and I'm the only person we know of in this universe who can see it. It looks like a glimmer, a mirage almost. Kind of like being underwater and seeing something above the surface – it's refracted. And very, very distracting.
I clapped as they strolled up the aisle before everyone followed. As maid of honor, I was forced to walk with the best man who hadn't shown up – and Peter was the last minute substitution. Why? I have no idea. Last week, Natt told me himself that he found Peter to be quite annoying. I had to stop myself from saying "Yeah? You have no idea how annoying he looks." I wish I could turn this ability on and off, so I could actually try to let myself feel something for him. But I can't…
With a hurt smile, he walked up and offered me his arm. After accusing me of hiding something, I said that I was, but I would never tell him what. Then I had kind of stormed off and took my place in the line up.
But I couldn't escape him now. I slipped my arm through his, very formal, as stiff as humanly possible. And the second we were outside the building, I pulled my arm back to me. Everyone was going to the back for the reception, but I veered off so I could walk through back to my tree. I just wanted to be alone. That fact, though, didn't mask the hurt and accusation in Peter's eyes. I hated that I had to hide this huge secret from him.
As I sat back down in the grass and leaned back against the tree, I felt the tears threaten to spill over. The worst part? I swore that I had never cried over someone I didn't love. So – did I love Peter? That was a simple answer. Yes, I did. But did I love him in a relationship way or in an I-tolerate-your-obnoxiousness-because-I-need-you-here-to-keep-my-job way?
I closed my eyes and breathed the fresh air. Music started playing gently, followed by a lot of awww-ing. First dance. They're going through all the motions, even they really just wanted to be at home as a family with Ella. Who was probably dancing with Peter at this moment. That's when the first tear fell over, and then several followed.
"Liv?"
I stiffened and turned. When he saw me, he immediately kneeled down beside me and gave me the hug I've been needing. "'Livia… What's wrong?"
I shook my head, trying to keep anymore tears back. "I can't do this, Peter. I can't keep this secret from you any longer."
"Then tell me what it is."
"I can't! I promised I wouldn't!"
"Promised who?"
I bit my lip. "…I can't say."
"Olivia. Tell me. Please…"