Another night, another show complete and a party was in full swing at in the big mess tent. The room was buzzing with excitement yet Olive could not put on finger on what they were celebrating. Miss Peregrine was in an uncharacteristically jovial mood and had treated them all not only to cake but to mulled wine, pastries, and other goodies purchased from the local bakery. She had even let them put a dusty record or two on that she had pulled out from her old collection. There was much speculation floating around the tent as to what their sudden indulgence was for - Hugh joked that Miss Peregrine had finally found a man, Emma was of the opinion that they had taken in more ticket sales that usual, and Horace was no help at all claiming that the only thing he had seen in his dreams was Miss Peregrine talking to an empty room.

Maybe it was the festive atmosphere, or possibly the mulled wine which made Olive not think about her hopefully soon-to-be friend but the moment she heard his name mentioned in passing while conversing with Hugh and Fiona (well, Hugh mostly), her eyes began searching the tent for him. It was ample opportunity to get a real conversation with him, surely he'd a least had a sip of the wine and had loosen up enough to not insult her every sentence? Olive would have expected him to be stood in the corner, looking uncomfortable and quietly enjoying the rare food that was on offer to him but he was no where to be seen.

Enoch had never been one for parties but there was no more people than usual, it was just a little bit merrier than normal. She thought it wasn't a good enough explanation for his non-attendance and her mind had begun to wander the real reason behind it. Was he ill? Was he upset about something? Had Hugh's teasing gone too far?

Abruptly, she was removed from her thoughts by Hugh laughing at one of his own jokes and unexpectedly expelling a swarm of bees around their heads. Swatting a few of the flying creatures away from her, she spotted Emma across the tent and made an excuse for herself and quickly made her escape from Hugh's bad puns.

Emma was hovering around the buffet table, looking as airy as ever, lost deep in thought presumably about what she would eat next. Finally deciding on taking one of the danishes laid out in a decadent pattern on a tray, Emma reached forward a little too enthusiastically towards the food, catching Olive's eyes as she approached her. A cheeky grin spread across her face before she took a bite of the item, savouring every taste.

"Where's Enoch?" Olive asked when she reached the girl's side. Perhaps she should have been a little more discreet about asking questions directly about Enoch but something about the blondes glowing features and cheerful demeanour suggested to Olive that she would avoid Emma's suspicions that night.

Bobbing her head to the music, Emma's eyebrows shot up in surprise - no one asked after Enoch, ever. "Outside sulking somewhere probably, why?"

Chewing on her lip, Olive glanced around the room out of awkwardness. Horace was tucked away in the corner of the room, exquisitely dressed in a full three-piece suit, and chatting away to a bored looking Victor about the accuracy of horoscopes. The whole image would have entertained her greatly if it wasn't for the feeling of possibly being interrogated by Emma for her shady behaviour.

"He's missing everything..."

"Well you know him well enough by now, this is a party - he hates them. They are too alive for him," Emma beamed at her for a moment, giving Olive an opportunity to laugh at her joke however, a lack of a reaction from Olive made her eyes roll. "Oh come on, that was funny!"

While trying to avoid holding eye contact with Emma, Olive's eyes lingered on the Victoria Sponge cake in front of her with only a few pieces left giving her an idea.

"I'm sure he'd at least like some cake. Do you have any idea where he might be?"

"Why do you even try so hard with him, Olive? He's not going to change - once a pessimist, always a pessimist." Emma retorted with a mouthful of pastry. "You sure it's got nothing to do with the fact you lust after his sultry dark looks?"

Olive's eyes went wide in horror but was relieved of her worry when Emma knocked her shoulder into her's with a giggle. Clearly she had meant nothing from it and suspected nothing.

Olive had never really thought of Enoch like that before. She always thought he was handsome, there was no doubt about that, but lusting after him? Surely not. All she wanted was to be his friend, not to kiss him or anything of the sort... Although, the thought of that was not off putting in the slightest. However, the smallest thought about Enoch in that way made all the blood in her body rushed to her face and Olive was certain if Emma wasn't already suspicious, she would be the moment she looked at her face.

"He's lonely-"

"-by choice." Emma interrupted before putting the poor girl out of her misery and finally answered her question. "I think Hugh mentioned something about him going to mope in his place."

The cold air tried to bite at her warm skin as she glided across the grass, cake in hand, towards Enoch's trailer. No one that she knew of had been inside of his trailer except for Miss Peregrine so she was apprehensive of what she would find there. She expected there to be hearts - lots of them, and more or less the same layout of hers but there must have been some personal items in there, things he doesn't want to display in public, things he would rather keep to himself. Maybe his trailer would help Olive to unravel some of the mystery that was Enoch O'Connor.

The trailer was slightly out of the way of the others, he always made sure it was every time they moved, and Olive presumed it must be rather isolating for him to be so far away. She understood, as Emma had said, that this was his own doing but the thought of someone hating company that much was rather sad.

When she reached the door to his solemn trailer, Olive stopped for a moment and considered just leaving the cake there and going away without speaking to him. Quickly, she dispelled that notion from her head, reminding herself that if she wanted to be friends with she'd actually have to talk to him.

After taking a deep breath, she raised a rubber covered hand and gave the door a firm knock.

It was a few seconds before she heard any acknowledgement of a presence at the door. Then, just as she was thinking of leaving, a chair was scraped across the floor and there were footsteps coming slowly closer to the door that grew louder every step.

Sensing his trepidation, Olive called out to him. "Enoch, it's just me."

"Again?" He groaned from behind the door, not seeming interested in opening it to anyone let alone her.

"Yes." She started rocking on her feet to distract her from the hostility he was showing and tried to sound as positive as she could. "I've brought cake."

"Erm okay...I don't really like cake."

"Everyone likes cake."

Olive heard him sigh from behind the door and was surprised to hear the locks to his door being turned. The door was cracked open slightly to reveal a confused looking Enoch peering out at her with great apprehension. His hair was dishevelled, sticking out at odd ends like he had been running his hands through it out of frustration, and the bags under his eyes were darker than usual. Something was wrong, she could tell.

"Yeah... alright, you got me. Now hand it here so you can leave."

Stepping out of his trailer slightly, he reached a hand out to hers, waiting to receive the cake she had brought but all Olive could do was stare at his hand like it was a foreign object. It was a small enough gesture, reaching out to someone but coming from him it just seemed...odd.

Olive, realising that she was staring, quickly handed over the food to him, careful not to let her fingers linger too long against his hand.

"Why aren't you at the party? Miss Peregrine is letting the older ones have some wine you know?"

Noticing Olive's eyes dart cautiously behind him to peak a look at his space, Enoch hastily drew the door close behind him before replying. "I don't like parties. Too many people."

"There's just as many people as usual, just a bit more jolly I suppose...Well it must be better than cooped up here all alone."

"It isn't - hence why I chose to coop up here all alone."

Enoch was undoubtedly mocking her, he didn't want her company, and it was clear now to Olive would have gone so far as to say he didn't like her at all. She didn't know what convinced her to continue the conversation but somehow, she wanted to.

"Is it the music? Do you not like loud noises or something?"

"If I didn't like music do you think I'd live in a bloody carnival?" He groaned. Somehow managing to convey his displeasure at her through hardly changing his facial expression.

"Maybe you didn't have a choice." Olive softly suggested - that was her reality, it was very possible that it was his too.

"I'm nearly 18, even if didn't have one, I certainly have now."

"Why not just leave?"

"You ask way too many questions." Enoch muttered, taking hold of the door handle behind him and hoping Olive got the message that he wished for her to leave him be. However, the red-head stood resilient.

"I'm just trying to be friendly." Olive retorted softly. There was a timidness about her which radiated through her words despite the confidence she was displaying.

"Yeah well, maybe I don't want a friend."

"Well that's a very cynical thing to say."

"I'm a cynical person... And you're annoying so please leave." His voice was raised slightly now, his cold disposition lost as he began snapping at her.

"You know being nice every now and then, it won't kill you." She tried to sound jokingly, attempting to lighten the mood a little, however it came out very half-heartedly. She knew it was a stab in the dark but she was willing to try it.

The jovial mood was lost on Enoch as he glared at her like she was vermin. "Debatable. I hope I never get to find out."

Olive was beginning to lose her temper with him now. He was being insufferable, an absolute swine, and all of it because she was trying to be nice to him. "How do you live being so negative?"

"Bye, now." He forced a sarcastic smile which antagonised her more than she would like to admit.

She hoped he'd choke on that cake.

Angrily, Olive let out a unexpected squeak and stormed off into the cold night air without giving him a goodbye.

"Hey, Olive."

Throwing her arms down to her sides in protest, she spun around to face him again. "Enoch, if you're just going to insult me again I swear-"

"-thank you. For the cake, I mean."

He nodded and raised his hand in gesture of the cake before turning to open the door and disappeared into his reclusive trailer.

Olive was left staring at the empty space he had just occupied, confused at what had just occurred. Enoch O'Connor had thanked her. As in he actually thought to use his manners - he was being nice. A smile appeared on her face and a feeling of promise grew inside her as she congratulated herself on making progresses on getting through to him even if it was something as menial as using some manners.

Maybe there was still hope for their friendship.