-Chapter 4-
Olivia sat at the far corner of the bar nursing her third dirty martini of the evening. This was where she always came when she needed to do some thinking, as well as some drinking. The lighting was low, the music was relaxing, and the patrons were respectful. While the bartender played DJ via Pandora, going back and forth between Sia and Sade and Lykke Li and Sinatra, not even one man or woman came up to Olivia to interrupt her obvious brooding. This was definitely the classy kind of place she needed on a night like this.
Valentine's Day again. Theoretically, this should all have been so easy. They would sneak around during school hours, have alone time at Olivia's place, and take trips out of town on the weekends. That was Alex's brilliant plan for 'winging it.' But Olivia knew it wouldn't be that easy. She had worked so hard to get where she was. She knew Alex would never say a word, but Arizona knew about their relationship, too. She was pretty sure that the bubbly blonde could be trusted, but… what if she slipped?
Olivia made excellent grades in high school, studying making a perfect distraction for dealing with her alcoholic mother. She made it into Siena College on a full academic scholarship, rather than relying on the volleyball scholarship she was also offered, choosing to play only because she enjoyed it so much. She aced all of her classes, graduated with honors and in the top ten percent of her class, and received another scholarship for grad school at NYU. She had done it all on her own, bartending to pay for rent and textbooks, often sharing a bed with Callie because they couldn't afford to buy two while Callie was in med school, sharing showers to save on the water bill, and eating ramen noodles for weeks in a row. It had been rough, but it paid off. She was now a respected educator and coach employed by one of the finest schools in New England. And if she ever wanted a shot at becoming a college professor? There was no way in hell she could fuck this up.
It was easier for Alex. Sure, she could get suspended, even expelled, lose her volleyball scholarships, lose any hope of any scholarships for that matter. But her family was loaded. Alex's parents would have no problem buying her way into, at the very least, one of the most prestigious public universities that would fall at their knees to have a student like Alexandra Cabot. U of Michigan, Berkeley, U of Virginia, Penn State… they should all be so lucky.
So, naturally, being a creature of habit, Olivia decided to avoid Alex after their most recent romantic tryst two weeks ago. It had been explosive, so intimate, so surreal. Olivia knew that she was in love. She saw that same love looking back at her in Alex's sapphire orbs. And she knew that this love, this fucking love, would turn her into a complete idiot. She would be less careful, more irresponsible, and more likely to lose everything. So she detached. It was one of the things she was best at.
xx
Alex didn't know what the hell to do. Two weeks. Two fucking weeks. She couldn't get a hold of the brunette. Olivia wasn't answering her phone, returning her texts, and her car was never at the apartment. Alex almost wanted to chalk this up to simple stress, or maybe a family issue. But the kicker was how distant she was being in class. Absolutely no eye contact, no witty remarks, no beautiful grins and no sparkle in those mahogany eyes. She couldn't very well bring up this sudden change during class, and volleyball season was over, so the only way to resolve anything would be to talk outside of school. But damnit, Olivia wouldn't answer her fucking phone. What the hell as going on?
Alex took her charcoal grey BMW to the open road. She didn't know where she was driving, she just wanted to go anywhere. Anywhere but here. She couldn't stand being in the same city as the brunette, on Valentine's Day, and not holding the older woman in her arms. Kissing her. Touching her. Making love until the wee hours of the morning.
So she drove and drove and drove. Eventually, around 9pm, after driving for five hours, she ended up at the Four Seasons Philadelphia. A city she had never been to, a bar she had never drank at, a bed she had never slept in. The perfect place to brood and feel pathetic. This is exactly what she deserved, after all. Getting involved with a teacher? A woman who was now 26 years old? How the hell could she be so stupid? This relationship had 'red flag' written all over it from the very beginning.
But instead of dwelling on the reasons they shouldn't be together, all Alex could think about while sipping her Macallan 18-year at the hotel bar were the perfect reasons they belonged together, why they fit, like two pieces of the same puzzle who were looking for their missing half. She knew Olivia loved her, she felt it in her bones. She saw it in the brunette's beautiful eyes. They were made for each other. This was so fucking stupid. She had to fix this. It was one of the things she was best at.
xx
Alex decided to give Olivia her space for the time being. She was graduating early, one of the perks she had earned with a full transcript of straight A's and more than the necessary amount of AP classes. Hoping against hope that Olivia was just scared, of the repercussions, of the consequences of her actions, she wanted to give the older woman a chance to breathe, a chance to realize how much she missed the blonde. So she read, she ran, she shopped, she drank, she looked over her college acceptance letters and still couldn't make up her mind. Anything to pass the time until that very last day of school, the day her plan would come to fruition.
She had called her sister-in-law, Katherine, who had more connections that anyone in Boston. Not only did Kate own one of the most upscale, highly-renowned restaurants in New England, but she was married to a prominent civil rights attorney and was the daughter of a former state senator. If anyone could get shit done, while maintaining discretion for her favorite young family member, it was definitely Kate.
Alex got to school on Friday, March 27th, and held her breathe. She could feel the beginning of a headache, probably because she hadn't eaten in the past twenty-four hours. Not one to make a habit of skipping meals, she wasn't used to the empty feeling in the pit of her stomach and the slight pounding in her head. But since Kate had called her yesterday afternoon and relayed that everything was in order and would go according to plan, she just couldn't keep anything down.
She made it through first and second period in a sort of fog, not really paying attention and not hearing anything that anyone was saying. Not that it really mattered; this was officially the last day of her high school career. Walking through the tiled halls toward third period Creative Writing II, swimming through an endless sea of students, Alex wanted to vomit. She almost felt the bile and stomach acid making its way up through her esophagus. She had never been more nervous in her life.
But as soon as Alex turned to her left and ventured into E-Wing, she saw a crowd of students gathered outside of room E-415. They were all whispering, girls with their hands cupped to one another's ear, boys fist bumping and giving mad props to whatever genius made the hottest teacher in the school the happiest woman on Earth.
Alex slowly crept closer to the classroom, almost scared to see her plan in all of its glory. But when she finally pushed her way through the underclassmen and peeked into the room, she couldn't have been more in awe. It was even better than she had imagined.
There were 189 long stemmed red roses, 189 white calla lilies, and 189 sunflowers all scattered on the floor. One flower for each day that the blonde had known, and loved, the brunette. All 567 days. And there were at least two hundred tealight candles on top of the desks, casting a dreamy, ethereal glow on the otherwise standard classroom. Such Great Heights by the Postal Service started playing over the speakers, blaring the melodic tune to every classroom in the entire school, a little afterthought that Alex had paid the head of the A/V club to hook up, and paid even more to keep quiet about.
All Alex could see was Olivia, sitting at her desk, hands covering her delicate mouth, and tears streaming down her cheeks. She looked at the blonde standing under the doorframe, the candlelight casting a sort of halo over Alex's head, and she simply nodded at her girl. Her perfect girl. The only person she was ever supposed to be with.
xx
Alex and Olivia made love that night, finally, after so long. It was slow. It was generous. It was the most amazing thing they had ever felt, physically and emotionally. Discovering ever surface, every freckle, every scar. It was a promise of a future. A promise of a life together, one they would soon be able to make a reality.
They wouldn't be able to be together after that night. It was still too risky, and Olivia still had too much to lose. So when the clock struck 12am on June 4th, Alex knew it would be the best day of her life. She woke up at six the next morning, showered, brushed her teeth, and blew her hair straight. She slipped on her black knee-length Roland Mouret dress, Manolo Blahnik peep toe heels, and added just a swipe of cherry red lip gloss and mascara. Arizona was waiting in the Audi to drive to the Portsmouth Convention Center and they each took a swig of Patron Silver on the way. Just a little liquid courage to get through this very important day.
The ceremony was pretty standard. The principal gave a speech, the Valedictorian gave a speech, the Salutatorian gave a speech. The vice principal listed off all of the universities that the graduates would be attending, Alex and Arizona telling administration that they chose Berkeley. The actual university they chose would be saved for Olivia, in private. Their individual accomplishments were listed off, one by one, and thank god their graduating class only had 75 students.
By the time all of the blah-blah-blah was finished, all of the graduates had walked and received their diplomas, Alex looked up into the crowd and spotted Olivia. She moved her tassle to the other side of her cap, signaling her accomplishment, and threw her cap into the air along with 74 other ecstatic 18 year olds. She immediately ran to find Arizona near the back of the group, and the shorter blonde jumped up into her taller friend's arms and wrapped her strong legs around Alex's waist, planting a huge wet kiss on Alex's cheek.
"We fucking did it, AZ," Alex whispered into Arizona's ear. "We're out of here."
"We're so fucking out of here, Al. Le fin!" Arizona shouted to the ceiling, raising her arms to the heavens and smiling down at Alex.
"I hate to break up this party," Olivia shouted over the roar of graduates, "but I really think I need to congratulate my girl." She was speaking to Arizona, but only looking at Alex.
"I'm so glad you came, Liv," the blonde said, her eyes welling up. She walked closer to the brunette, not sure exactly how close she would be allowed to get with so many people around. But Olivia had other plans. She grabbed Alex by the lapels of her long black robe and pulled the blonde in close enough to smell lingering perfume, wrapping her arms around Alex's neck, tangling long fingers in silky strands.
"Kiss me, blondie." And they did. They kissed fervently, passionately, Olivia wanting to leave no doubt in anyone's mind who left her those beautiful flowers, who she belonged to.
When they finally broke apart, Alex didn't even notice Arizona snapping a photo of the lovebirds on her iPhone. She just looked at Olivia, awestruck. "How could- can we- did you really… just kiss me in front of the whole school, Liv?"
"I don't work at Portsmouth Abbey anymore, Alexandra," Olivia smirked at the blonde, placing another kiss on soft pink lips. "I can't get fired."
"Did you quit?" Alex asked as she grabbed Olivia's tan, manicured hand and led the brunette out of the auditorium and into the beautiful June morning.
"Well, kind of. I accepted a position elsewhere."
"Oh yeah? Where's that?" Alex was not looking forward to being separated from this perfect woman.
"I spoke to some of the professors and administration at my alma mater, and they all agreed that giving me a job would be in everyone's best interests. Especially considering I was able to publish more papers than any other grad student they ever had," she laughed softly.
"But, Liv… you went to grad school at NYU…"
"That is correct, my dear. And when your closest friend at school is also the college advisor, it doesn't take much to find out where you actually decided to go. It sure will be fun, ya know? You and Arizona at Columbia, me teaching at NYU. All of us living in the same city, plus Callie. It'll be like the lesbian version of Sex and the City."
Alex just giggled and smiled lovingly at the brunette. "I really, really love you Olivia Benson. Did you know that?"
"Hmm... I had a sneaking suspicion. I love you too, Alexandra Ann." Another kiss. "You up for a road trip?"
Alex's parents were sitting on a bench to the right, watching the two women embrace, tears falling down their cheeks, placing soft kisses on full lips. Elizabeth had her signature pursed lips, clearly not approving of her daughter's choice in companionship. But James just sat, legs crossed, navy blue blazer crisp and perfect, with a small smirk on his handsome features. Finally, his daughter had found what she had been looking for.
The girls made their way from the lawn of the convention center to the vast parking lot, the smell of summer tar and asphalt assaulting their senses. Hand in hand, they hopped in Olivia's vintage Mustang, ready to get the hell out of Rhode Island and take on whatever NYC, and life, had to offer. Together.
Perhaps a sequel... ;)
