R&R Appreciated!
Chap 2
Later…
Charlotte Charles grated the apple vehemently. Olive noticed as she came up beside her, setting down a stack of empty plates she had just bussed. Watching Chuck hack at the apple, she realized she hadn't been herself all day. She had hardly said hello to Olive when she arrived, nodding her head simply and cracking an insincere smile. Olive had forgotten about it until now.
"Chuck," she started, hoping to get an answer from Chuck regarding her uncharacteristic mood. "Is everything okay?"
Chuck continued grating the apple, not realizing she was down to the core on that side. She nodded simply, the grater slipping from her control and scraping into her finger. With a grunt, she brought her bloodied finger to her lips, a new frown covering her face.
"I'll just…" Olive started, backing away from Chuck. "I'll get you a Band-Aid."
Olive searched through the cupboards for the first-aid kit, wondering what it was that was bothering Chuck. Abruptly her mind flashed back to earlier that morning. But Chuck couldn't possibly have witnessed that? Could she? Shaking her head, Olive dismissed the possibility. Her hands found the first-aid box at the back of a cupboard, and she dug through to find a Band-Aid. But when she returned to Chuck, she found her gone.
The kitchen door squeaked, and an curious Ned entered. "Olive, where is that apple cup pie for Emerson?"
Olive's eyes grew wide. "Oh!" She set down the Band-aids and moved to the oven. Smoke curled out as she opened it, and the stench of burned pie-crust filled the kitchen. Olive put on a pair of oven mitts and eased the small pie out. Ned looked at the pathetically charred pie, then at Olive, who wore the disappointed pout of a five-year-old.
"What happened?" Ned asked. Olive was behaving most unlike herself.
"Uhh," Olive hesitated, setting the pie on the counter and taking off her mitts. "Nothing, it was just Chuck was acting so strange, and I just lost track of the time… and-"
"Chuck?!" Ned's eyes grew large. "Where is she? I haven't seen her all day, I was worried."
Olive nodded, "She has been acting so strange today! I was getting her a Band-aid for her finger and she vanished."
Ned shook his head. "It's not like her. Chuck always tells me when something is wrong."
Olive shrugged.
The squeaking door drew their attention, and Emerson peeked through. "Any chance of getting that pie sometime today??"
Olive put her head in her hands and Ned threw his arms down in frustration and began to open windows.
Emerson stood a moment and sniffed the air, his nose turning up. "Smells like I'm too late."
"Emerson, I'll make you another," Ned said, waving the smoke out with a towel. "Olive's mind is obviously somewhere else today."
Olive sighed as Emerson looked at her. Deciding she had had enough for one day, she untied her apron and rinsed her hands.
"Where are you going?" Ned asked as Olive put on her jacket and started towards the door.
"To find Chuck," Olive said simply, knowing Ned would accept that answer. "She's more likely to talk to a girl about something personal."
Ned shrugged, but then nodded. "Right. See you tomorrow Olive."
"Bye Ned," Olive smiled. Then, as Emerson left the kitchen, she snuck over to Ned and pecked him on the cheek.
"Oh, yes," Ned whispered, remembering. "I forgot about that…"
Olive put her finger to his lips. "Shh," she said. "Tomorrow?"
Ned, lost in her bright eyes, simply nodded. Love-struck and in lust, he watched her go, still smelling her perfume even after the door had closed.
Suddenly a thought struck Ned. He realized then why Chuck was angry and avoiding both of them: it must have been because she knew they were sleeping together! Cursing himself and panicking, Ned hurried across the kitchen to try and catch Olive. He tripped and stumbled, almost falling on an unsuspecting Digby, who barked in alarm and jumped out of the way as Ned hit the floor. Clutching his elbow, which he had landed on, Ned apologized to his dog and lifted himself up.
He opened the door quickly and looked down the alley for Olive. Calling, he hoped he had caught her. No voice answered, and Olive was long gone.
TBC
