A/N: So this idea has been swimming around in my head and since I received some encouragement from my first one-shot. I'm going to attempt to write a full story. It's an alternate universe because I have so much fun thinking of other storylines for these two. So here's the introduction to this AU world. Hope you enjoy!
Prologue
Music moves its way through the bar, the sound of young adults enjoying themselves feels Olivia's ears as she sits at her table with her textbook open. She tries to figure out why she thought it was a good idea to attempt studying in a bar. Olivia takes a sip of the champagne on the table, her eyes flowing through the crowd until they come into contact with Mellie lounging in the corner. She's surrounded by the other law students who are present.
Mellie was the one who had invited her out because in Mells words 'she needed to relax a little'. She knows her friend is involved in some type of drinking competition at the moment and if Olivia hadn't known Mellie or the fact that she could handle her liquor, she would be worried about her. But from the looks of things, she seems to be winning. So as she observes the woman before her slam her cup on the table admitting victory, Liv can't help but to smile at her. Even though this was a terrible place for her to be studying, she was always excited when she got to see Mellie having fun.
Olivia had just met Mellie a year ago but they had become fast friends. Both were smart and driven in everything they did, and above all else loyal. It was no wonder they were friends they were almost the same person. Liv loved to talk to Mellie because when she was feeling down she would find things to cheer her up. Whether she suggested going to the gun range or things Liv didn't mind, like going horseback riding. She was wild and fun and free when it came to her personal life. And Olivia loved that about her, because when it was time to get back to work, Mellie would wake up with her coffee in hand and get her head back in the books.
Glancing back down, she finds her place again and continues reading when someone comes over and shuts her book. She's ready to be angry until she sees who the culprit is. "Jake!"
"Livvie this is a bar. Not the library or study hall. Put away the books and drink." He pulls up a bar stool and takes a seat next to her.
"We have a very important test coming up on Monday. You should be studying for that test too." He waves off the comment and gives her a reason why he shouldn't be worried.
"Well firstly, it's Friday night so that's a hell no to the studying. Second of all, I know that if Mells is letting loose right now the test can't be that bad." While his eyes move to the brunette currently chatting with fellow students, hers move to him. It seemed to be a motto for him lately. He barely studied and fell asleep in class. She had talked to his girlfriend Ashley about it, and the blonde had said that he was doing okay. His grades were well and he did his mock trials. So Liv had left it alone. But there were moments like these where her gut was telling her something was wrong. That he wasn't happy here.
"You may think that but come Sunday she'll have her head in the books until the wee hours of the morning." He sighs as he listens to Liv and shakes his head. The woman didn't know when to stop working. He knew it was important to her but she had to have some rest or she'd stress herself out.
"Okay that's fair but why did you come to the bar if you weren't going to drink?" It doesn't take her long to answer him.
"I came to keep an eye on Mellie. To make sure she gets home safe." Her attention has now been focused completely on their conversation.
"Well if you really want to study. I'll be her designated driver and you can go home and study." She wants to hug him for being so nice and she would have probably taken him up on that offer had she not seen him drinking earlier.
"You can't drive her home. I saw you over there drinking with Ashley and your friends." She had wondered where his girlfriend had gone and looking around she couldn't find her, which meant that she would be his ride as well. "Since Ashley's not here I'm going to assume I'm your ride home."
"No. Kevin's my ride." Her eyes quickly moved to Kevin who she knew had been here before she and Mellie had arrived. The man was dedicated but when it came to alcohol he wasn't smart about it.
"Yeah, I don't know how long he's been here. The man is reckless so that still means I'm driving you home. And I know you are going to argue this case but you're not going to win." Jake knows she's probably right; therefore he doesn't even bother with a rebuttal. He just nods in agreement.
Olivia had worried about him all the time. Even if Jake knew he could make it home by his self, she would still insist on taking him. It was so she would know for sure he'd be safe. She couldn't help how compassionate she was when it came to the people she cared about. He was about to point out her soft heart when he sees Mellie coming up. "Liv I invited you tonight to drink with me not be cooped up in the corner with Jakey."
"You know I don't like it when you call me that." He drinks the beer that has just been delivered to the table.
"And you know that I don't care." She says giving him her best unimpressed smile.
"See Mells that's why I like you, never afraid to bring out the pointy tail and horns when you speak to me." Liv knew this was coming. The two had sort of a frenemy thing going on. She knew they cared about each other but they couldn't help making the other person feel a little shitty about themselves from time to time. It was a relationship that played on sibling rivalry and friendly banter. It never went over the line and was enjoyed by both parties.
"Okay guys. Look Jake just came to check on me. He offered to give you a ride but I already saw him drinking. Now I'm both of your rides." She's still holding on tight to her book ready to dive back in just as soon as they leave.
Mellie snickers as she points to the law student, "Jakey over here is a featherweight in drinking. I'd feel safer driving myself after five drinks then I would if he had one."
"It's hard to compete with someone who has been drinking since she was probably twelve." Olivia can see the claws coming out between her friends. Which meant this argument was going to end in some type of bet.
"I'm southern what'd you expect."
"She's right though. You can't hold your liquor. After two beers you start pushing them away." Jake's eyes move to hers and she can see the faux hurt on his face, as she high five's Mellie.
"You're just going to betray me like that Liv."
"Better to hurt you with the truth then comfort you with a lie." The southern brunette crosses her arms glad her friend agrees with her on this.
"I can hold my liquor. I just choose not to drink so much." He comes off cocky and both women pick up on that, so Mellie decides to up the ante.
"How about you put your money where your mouth is then Ballard?"
"See what you've done, Liv? Now I have to prove I can drink to someone who drowns herself in alcohol on a daily basis."
"All I hear is you talking? Take some action." Jake doesn't back down from Mellie, his pride wouldn't let him, especially after she had put him on blast in front of the whole bar.
"You can back out if you are too scared? I won't love you any less." Olivia teases her friend. He takes his jacket off. Shaking his body he tries to get ready for the fight before him. The bartender has placed the drinks on the table and Liv has put her book back into the bag to stop it from becoming a coaster. She can see some of her fellow law students gather around to witness the travesty that is about to happen. Placing a hand on his shoulder she smiles, "Alright just in case you don't make it through this. I want you to know you lived a good life."
"See Livvie always with the jokes." Jake's sleeves are rolled up, ready to begin.
"Only for you." he grins as, Mellie rolls her eyes across from him.
"Okay I feel like I'm going to vomit now." Olivia laughs.
"Okay Jakey let's see if you can handle your liquor." As Mellie yells go Jake picks up the pitcher and downs it with Olivia cheering him on.
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When Olivia found out he was leaving, she had been so angry at him. He had upped and decided to leave everything behind, their friends, his education, and her. Though a part of her should have seen it coming, all those times her gut was telling her something about him. She never would have expected that it was telling her that Jake didn't want to be here. That he wasn't doing his best not because he couldn't but because he didn't want to. She felt like she had betrayed him in a sense as his best friend. She should've known that this place just wasn't for him.
Thinking back to the conversation she felt like a terrible friend. He had come to her to tell her his plans. "I'm dropping out of law school. I want to join the Navy." She hadn't even engaged in a conversation she had just left him their without a response. Not even a, I'm happy for you came from her lips. And for the past three weeks those words played over and over in her head. Not ringing true because she didn't want it to be. Because in her mind that meant he was just going to leave and forget all about her.
He had been her best friend for so long that he had become an everyday part of her life for the last six years. He was there for her when she felt heartbreak or when she didn't feel like being bothered with the world. It would be weird to have a problem and not have him there to support her and help her. But he had said this was what he wanted to do and so she didn't have a choice but to eventually accept it. And that's how she and Mellie ended up throwing his going away party.
Now here she stands in the corner of this party, watching him interact with these people that had become his friends. After the things that happened in her life she was scared to lose him. She didn't have any other family. She barely spoke to her father. Her mother died when she was young. She didn't know any other family members. It had just been her. That was until she met Jake and eventually Mellie. They had become her family in her times of need.
She gazes as he stands in the corner with his girlfriend. She can see how sad the woman next to him is. She hasn't left his side the entire night and every time Ashley looks at him Liv can see the water in her eyes, trying not to simmer over.
It only makes Liv even sadder to see it. She liked Ashley because she was good to Jake. Turning away before her feelings show she opens the fridge to grab a platter of fruit, placing it on the table. She knows he is watching her and when she sees him moving towards her she busies herself long enough for someone else to approach him with their goodbyes. She's being very obvious with her avoidance but she can't do this now.
Before she can disappear back in the kitchen Mellie catches her. "I didn't know Jakey had this many friends. He's not really a loser then."
"You know you are friends with Jake too. Wouldn't that make us losers by association?"
"No, it just makes Jake look better if he is seen with the smartest people at this school." Shaking her head, her friend's behavior never ceases to amaze her.
"I forget how conceited you can be sometimes."
"You still love me." Mellie kisses Liv on the cheek. The two continue talking about the party guest. "Did you see Ashley leave?"
Stopping midway through straightening up, she looks concerned. "No. Is she okay?"
"Yeah Jake bought her back but she keeps crying." The brunette halts before speaking again. "I really feel sad for her."
"I think everybody does just a little bit." Liv is now wiping up the mess that has been made in the kitchen. She looks up at the green eyed man in her view and immediately looks away. Mellie spots her friend's dilemma.
"You've been steering clear of him. Every time he walks over to you, you walk away." Mellie is sipping on the cranberry juice, she has recently poured.
"I'm not avoiding him. He just has a lot of people to say good bye to." Shrugging her shoulders, she tries to blow off the conversation but Mellie isn't giving up that easy. She knows how much Jake and Olivia mean to each other and she would lock them in a room together, until they said their goodbyes, if she had to.
"Really because he told me that when he told you, you didn't say anything to him. You still haven't spoken to him since he said he would be leaving. Even I'm going to miss his ass. Don't wait until it's too late to say anything."
"I can't Mellie. I just can't. I'll just throw the party and stay away from him. Because..." She pauses not wanting to say it a loud.
"Because if you don't say goodbye then you won't feel like he's really leaving." Liv stares at her friend as she has hit it right on the nose. "You have to say something to him or you'll regret it when he's gone." Knowing that Mellie is right, she still doesn't want to do it. Her heart can't take another person in her life leaving her. "This is the last night you can talk to him. He leaves tomorrow morning. And that may be the last time you ever see him." Mellie goes to converse with others, leaving Liv to her thoughts
Olivia has been contemplating on what to do, for the last twenty minutes and it's when she sees
Ashley say her last goodbye before leaving that, she knows she has to do it now. Looking for him in the crowd of people she sees him laughing with his friends in the corner. Briskly walking through the few people left at the party she politely interrupts the conversation."Do you guys mind if I steal him away for a minute?" His smile begins to fade and he excuses himself from his group of friends.
"Yeah. Sure." She hears one of them say. She leads the way to the back and he follows until they get to her room, closing the door behind them to drown out the noise.
Neither makes a sound, waiting for someone to speak first. "I didn't think you'd talk to me. I told Mellie I felt like you were avoiding me."
"I was." She feels ashamed to say it and she can see the confusion on his face.
"Why?" He sits on the bed but Liv starts to pace in front of him. Trying to piece together exactly what she wants so say.
"Because I didn't want to do this, I don't want to say good bye because what if this is the last time I see you or talk to. I don't want to lose you." The tears she has been holding back for almost a month have now surfaced and Jake comes to her side wrapping his arms around her.
"You're never going to lose me. Why would you even think that?"
"Because that's what happens to the people I care about. They leave me or abandon me."
"I'm always going to be there for you Liv; even when you get on my nerves, which you do sometimes." She laughs wiping the tears from her face. "I'll come back and tell you that you work too hard. And you'll tell me I'm an ass. At the end of the day, you're always going to be my best friend. You'll be the first person I talk to, when I come back to town. I'll be in your life for as long as you let me."
"I would like that." The dread she has been feeling starts to fade away. She knows it'll never leave completely because she will always fear for him while he is away. Making sure that he is safe where ever he may be, will be her main concern anytime she thinks of him.
"Besides you'll never find another friend as amazing as me. I'm hard to replace." Thankful for his humor, she responds.
"I'm sure I could find one better by the end of tomorrow." They share a laugh and though it hurts, she knows it'll be okay. He had always protected her so it only made sense he should be protecting all those who couldn't do it for themselves. She couldn't be selfish with him.
"I'm going to miss you so much Jake."Olivia leans her head on his shoulders and he keeps his arm around her.
"I'll miss you too, Liv." The two sit there for another few minutes enjoying their final alone time.