A/N : I know what you're all thinking; what am I thinking here and writing that of a new story, but really this is one that needs to be done; because it falls into the others in the now established verse of the 'Runnin' Back Home To You' story, where Mikki returned to South Carolina because she knew she was only ever going to love Sebastian.
So this story, it's the story of Rod and Olivia; who if you have read 'Irrencociable Differences' and 'Here Comes Forever', would have seen mentioned as being that of Rod's girlfriend, and this story is exploring that of how they came to know one another, and ultimately come to be a couple that I will confess are in this verse, my end game couple here.
As always, all characters you don't recognize belong to me and they cannot be used without my permission - and all the characters mentioned from Glee, are ones that I am merely playing with for my own writing pleasure and your reading pleasure.
Thanks for reading and you all know what to do at the end; drop a review, fave or follow!
Love always,
KJ xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Growing up with three older sisters, and also two female cousins' close by, meant that he was always surrounded by that of predominantly female role models; and meant that from a young age he obtained quite a good understanding of the correct and incorrect ways to treat women.
Having returned to live in South Carolina, once he graduated from University of Southern California; where he had studied Architecture, with some of the connections his father Eric had, in the industry, being that he was structural engineer; obtained a job at a firm in Greenville; and rented for himself a small two bedroom apartment.
Being in his home state, and close to his family; only a half hour drive from his parents, and about a two hour one depending on traffic, from two of his oldest sisters, Kitty who had only recently moved back to live in South Carolina also, and become engaged to Artie, and Mikki; who was now married and had just had her and Sebastian's first daughter, a month prior, making him that of one very proud and doting uncle to little Amelia. Which was also something for he was secretly so glad for, with his sister being back with Sebastian, having been there in California when Mikki had for a brief time also lived there when she and Sebastian temporarily broke up, and her working on a morning breakfast show there; and for a short time date another guy, who to him was the complete opposite of the man he now got to call his brother in law; and instead be one to treat women like they were to be used and thrown away like that of common rubbish, and something growing up with his older sisters, knew he could never do and treat another human, let alone that of female; that way.
Heading to Smiley's Acoustic Cafe; after hearing that they had an Open Mic night, and something that he had in California also participated in as well, went along on the Monday night to try his luck and see if he was able to maybe get into the final round of the competition which was to be held in a few months time, in September. Waiting for his name to be called, when he heard his name; he got up on stage; along with the guitar that he had for quite a few years now and had learnt to play when he was about ten years old, after Mikki had let him have a go at hers to begin with; and played the song 'Valerie' to which he was met with a rousing round of applause once done.
Sticking around after his performance to see if he'd made it through to the finals, he sat listening and watching the other acts to follow; as was impressed by one of the performers, a blonde girl who sang also with a guitar an acoustic version of the classic song 'Top of the World' , and thought to himself that she would definitely have a chance of getting through to the finals and that maybe his shot at getting into the top three on this particular evening would be that of a stroke of pure luck.
Continuing to watch, and drink the glass of beer, that he'd bought after his performance, he was intently watching the next performer on the stage, and didn't see that the blonde girl who had just sung had approached where he was, until her glass was on the table also, and hearing that of her speak.
"Mind if I sit?" she asked, and turning from the person performing now on stage; Roderick looked to her with a small nod.
"Yeah, sure no that's fine" he replied, with a small smile to her also. "Please sit"
"Thank you" she replied, as she took a seat on the spare stool at the table, and also too giving Roderick a smile. "Open Mic night always draws the crowd, so seats are hard to come by"
"Yeah, it's quite a turn out that's for sure" said Roderick, giving her a smile also. "And you certainly had them all entranced by your performance as well, it was really great"
"So did you" replied the blonde with a smile. "And it was a really amazing cover of Valerie that you did as well" she continued, with a nod; as Roderick looked to her with the slightest blush on his face. "I don't think I've ever heard such a better cover of it, and definitely not one sung by a male either"
"Thank you, that's kind of you to say" her replied, regaining some of his composure and being complimented by the attractive blonde sitting before him. "I'm Rod, by the way"
"Olivia, hi" she replied, with a smile. "But most people call me Liv"
"Well it's lovely to meet you Liv" said Roderick, also giving her a smile. "And if I am to be honest here, my name is actually Roderick" he continued, with a small laugh. "But the only time I ever really got called that was when I was in trouble when I was younger"
"I don't believe that be true for a second" said Olivia, with a laugh also. "You don't strike me as the one who would have gotten in trouble much"
"Well no not often" replied Roderick with a laugh. "But when it came to sticking up for my older sisters" he continued, with a smile. "Let's just say I often copped blame for things that they did, especially that of the second of my sisters; she had a real knack for getting me in trouble"
"Hmm, it was quite the opposite for me" said Olivia with a smile. "One girl out of three boys, two older and one younger" she laughed. "So if I did something, they'd always be the one to cop the blame on that, and never me; and the best part was they never told our parents otherwise either"
"Yeah, Kits always use to rat me out to my parents" said Roderick, with a laugh and shaking his head. "Even if I weren't the one responsible for it"
"Oh I'm sure your parents knew though, that it wasn't you" said Olivia, with a smile to him. "They can often tell when they're being lied to" she continued, with a nod. "It's just like this in built parent thing that they have" she said, as Roderick have a laugh and also nodded.
With the performer on stage, finishing up their song; they both momentarily looked to the stage, as the guy who was in charge of the Open Mic night, walked up to the microphone, and picked it up off the stand it was currently attached to.
"Well that's all the performers we have tonight" he said, looking out to the crowd. "Now if you want to come up here and cast your vote for the three you liked the most tonight, then they will then have a chance at maybe winning the five hundred dollar prize and also paid gig here, come this September"
"So we don't vote right?" asked Roderick, looking to Olivia. "Because that would be kind of biased of us, after having performed"
"Are you saying you'd vote for yourself Roderick?" asked Olivia, with a smile to him; and he gave a laugh.
"Are you saying you wouldn't vote for you Olivia?" he replied, back with a smile as Olivia gave a laugh and nodded.
"Of course I would" she replied, with a smile to him. "And if we were allowed to vote, which we aren't" she continued. "Well I'd also vote for you"
"Umm yeah thanks" replied Roderick, with a small laugh, feeling his cheeks slightly go red at the compliment. "I'd you too"
"Well thank you" she Olivia, with a laugh. "Although I should tell you that, if you come any other night you don't perform" she continued, with a nod. "Then you are allowed to vote"
"Umm, yeah I'll keep that in mind" said Roderick, looking to her with a small smile. "This is actually my first time here tonight"
"Ohhh so you're a Smiley's virgin then" she laughed, as Roderick gave a laugh also and nodded.
"Indeed I am" he replied, looking to her with a smile. "I did some open mic nights in California when I was over there for college" he continued as Olivia nodded. "And this is my first one since moving back home to South Carolina"
"So you went to college in California?" asked Olivia, as Roderick looked to her with a nod; and she could see now that the one in charge of the open mic night was tallying up the scores. "What did you study over there?"
"Umm Architecture" replied Roderick, with a smile to her; and Olivia nodded her head in return. "What about you?"
"I studied Sociology at Clemson" she replied, with a smile. "So I really wasn't all that far from home, since I live here in Greenville"
"I almost went there, Clemson" said Roderick, with a nod and small laugh. "But when I got accepted to Southern California, well it was kind of my dream school and I couldn't pass it up"
"To think we could have met long before now" replied Olivia, with a smile; and Roderick gave a laugh; thinking too of the irony of it that he could have met this amazing girl before him many years ago.
"Well maybe it was fate" he replied, with a smile. "And us meeting now, it's just all a part of life's plan"
"Do you believe in things like that?" asked Olivia, looking to him and Roderick gave a nod.
"I do, I really do" he said with a laugh, thinking as to how Mikki returned home to be with Sebastian after they ended things for a while, and also how Kitty now had found love with Artie; and in turn moved back to South Carolina and was now engaged to him and they would soon be married.
"Okay, ladies and gentleman" said the organizer of the open mic; and stopping talking between that of themselves for a moment both looked up to him on stage. "Thank you firstly, to all our wonderful performers tonight" he continued. "But as you all know there are only three out of all that performed tonight, that will be going through to the finals round coming up at the start of September"
"Good luck" said Olivia, looking to Roderick and giving him a small smile; as he in turn looked to her and replied, "You too", as they both once again looked to the stage, to hear the three winners for the night.
"So going through to September and our finals are" he said, as a drum roll sounded over the public address system. "Michael Manning, Olivia Sinclair and Roderick Kapowski" he continued, as everyone in the bar clapped as the names were read out. "Congratulations to our three winners, and to those who missed out; you can always try again"
"So Roderick Kapowski, huh" said Olivia, looking to him with a smile. "Looks like we'll be going up against one another in the finals now"
"Seems that way Olivia Sinclair" he replied with a laugh. "Hopefully you will bring your best song out for that"
"Oh I will" she replied, with a laugh also. "As I hope you will as well"
"I most certainly will" said Roderick, with a smile to her; and the two of them continued to talk, before he left for his apartment; but not before telling Olivia that he would most definitely see her, same place and time next week, for the next open mic night, where they would be that of just merely patrons of it, yet also that this of critiques as well.
End Note : Thoughts so far on this chapter and the character of Olivia?! I wanted someone who really would bring Roderick out of his shell a little, who even though whilst I do see as being confident, and is use to being around many females; isn't all that confident when it really comes to the whole dating thing. Which I do think I might have kind of touched upon in 'Runnin' Back Home', when he thanked Sebastian, who he really does see as an older brother, for the advice he game him about a girl, once he and Mikki were back together.
Anyway, I shall be back soon with a new chapter on this; as well as many other stories within this verse; which I am in the process of finishing new chapters for also and updating!
Thanks all for reading, and I will catch you all again soon!
Love always,
KJ xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo