Chapter Ten: New Beginnings

"Hi."

"Hey."

Olivia switched her book bag from one shoulder to the other. She had been trying to talk to Alex for days now and, every time she came close to it, the blonde would do everything in her power to avoid her. But now she had nowhere to run. The brunette moved closer to her. "I've been looking for you."

Alex swallowed the lump in her throat. "I know. I'm sorry. I've been busy lately."

"Bullshit, Alex. You've been avoiding me. Just admit it."

"I haven't been avoiding. I just see no reason in talking to you."

Olivia felt a pang of hurt by Alex's words. She knew the blonde didn't mean it; it was just her way of dealing with situations. "Alex, we have to talk about what happened."

"No, we don't. It happened, it's over. Can we just move on please?" Alex went to walk around Olivia but Olivia stepped in front of her.

"Please, Alex, can we talk? Just give me five minutes that's all I ask."

The blonde sighed; knowing there was no way she could escape this. She couldn't really come up with a good excuse as to why the two of them shouldn't talk. She just didn't want to relive that night, reliving it would mean she would have to admit that it really happened. She wasn't sure if she was ready for all that. Alex looked up to see soulful brown eyes staring at her. Once her eyes made contact with Olivia's she knew she was a goner.

"Fine. Let's talk."

Olivia smiled, "Come on, we can get some lunch while we talk," she started to walk down the hallway. Alex looked the other way, thinking about making a dash to class while Olivia's back was turned. "You coming, Alex?" The blonde sighed and followed her down the hall and out the door.

OAOAOAOAOAOAOAOAOAOAOAOAOAOA

The pair ended up at a small diner right by their school. Alex ordered a salad with water while Olivia ordered a hamburger, fries, and strawberry milkshake. Alex couldn't help but smile when Olivia ordered. The brunette smiled back at her.

"What's so funny?"

Alex looked down at her hands and blushed lightly, "I'm not surprised by what you ordered."

"Oh, really? And why is that?"

"You just don't seem like the kind of girl that orders salads on dates."

Olivia chuckled. "You would correct in that assumption. My thing is, if you can't handle how I eat, we really shouldn't date. I mean, I eat A LOT."

"I can't do that," Alex mumbled. She realized what she said and tried to backtrack, "Because of dance. I can't eat too much for dance. I can't get too heavy."

The brunette knew that was a lie but chose to ignore it, for now. They had more pressing things to discuss anyways. "Oh okay." A silence fell over them for a few minutes, neither one knowing how to start the talk they knew they had to have. Olivia took a deep breath. "Listen, Alex, I don't want this to be awkward."

"Why would it be awkward?" asked Alex as she drew shapes into the condensation her glass of water made.

"Alex," the blonde stopped messing around when she heard the serious tone in Olivia's voice, "are you okay? You haven't been the same since that night."

She sighed, "I don't know."

"Alex, please-"Olivia started but Alex cut her off.

"This isn't me trying to avoid talking to you, Olivia. I honestly don't know how I feel. That night kind of changed everything for me. I don't feel like I'm the same person. I mean, before I had to watch what I did and what I said at all times but now I have to be extra careful."

"Why do you need to watch yourself, Alex?"

Alex sighed as she ran her hand through her hair. "It's complicated."

Olivia leaned over the table and placed her hand over Alex's, "Then uncomplicate it for me."

The blonde squeezed her eyes shut to stop the tears from coming. She didn't know why she wanted to cry. Maybe it's because this was the first time she felt like someone genuinely cared about her. That someone wanted her best interest and wasn't around her for her money and was new feeling but it was one that Alex didn't want to give up anytime soon.

"It's just how I was raised. Watch your tongue, back as straight, walk with confidence. Don't let anyone see you being weak. This has been my whole life; I don't know how to change it."

Olivia stared at the blonde across the table from her. Could be possible that the same girl that tortured her for years was now sitting looking vulnerable and lost? She never thought she would ever feel anything but hate for Alexandra Cabot but it's funny how life works. "It's okay, Alex. I completely understand, as hard as it may be for you to believe that."

Alex sniffled lightly, "What are you talking about? You don't have to hide who you are."

"You may think that but I have to. My mother isn't exactly the most accepting person on the planet."

"Why wouldn't she accept you? You're basically perfect," Olivia blushed deeply. That compliment meant a lot coming from the queen of perfection herself.

"Not really, but thanks," they looked at each other and blushed again. Their waitress came over and put their food in front of them. She was a pretty girl who looked about nineteen years old, with blonde highlighted brown hair and green eyes. Her nametag read Liana.

"Can I get you anything else?" She said, in a heavy Southern accent.

Alex and Olivia shook their heads. Liana moved closer to Olivia, putting her hand on her shoulder. Alex narrowed her eyes and stuck a forkful of lettuce inside of her mouth. She knew she shouldn't be jealous seeing as she and Olivia weren't together, but, she still couldn't help but want to rip that girl's hand off Olivia's shoulder. Liana leaned down and whispered something into Olivia's ear and the brunette threw her head back in laughter. In a frustrated stupor, Alex shot up from the table and walked quickly into the bathroom.

Liana laughed lightly, "I think I may have upset your blonde friend."

"You just don't know when to quit do you, Li?" Olivia smiled at her friend. She had met Liana during a tap class in when Olivia was in the third grade and Liana was in the fifth. They had been close right till Liana graduated. Then Liana went to college two hours away but she worked at the diner whenever she was off from school.

"You know you love me, Livvikins. Anyways, go make sure blondie isn't plotting my murder. I'll be at the counter if you need me," Liana winked at her and walked away. Olivia took a deep breath and headed for the bathroom.

Alex was bent over the sink slightly shaking. "What is wrong with me? I'm not her girlfriend, we're not together. Why do I care so much?" Alex sighed, "We would never work anyways. What would she see in me? A bitchy, stupid, I'll-do-anything-to-stay-on-top girl who can't even show her crush that she cares. I'm pathetic." The blonde stood in silence for a few seconds until a voice broke through her pity party.

"I don't think you're pathetic," Alex turned around to see Olivia standing a few feet away from her.

"Olivia," she wiped her face, "How much of that do you hear?"

"I heard enough," Olivia walked closer to her, "Did you mean what you said? You have a crush on me?" Alex shrugged. Olivia got closer and closer until she was a few inches away from the blonde. "Can you give me a straight answer, please?" Blue eyes met brown. "Do you like me?"

Alex took a deep breath and swallowed. "Yes."

Olivia smiled and stepped closer to Alex, putting her hands on either side of her face. "Well, that's a good thing."

"W….w…..why?" Alex stuttered.

Olivia leaned in to whisper in the blonde's ear, "I like you too."

For the first time in either girl's lives they felt free, like the weight of the world was no longer on their shoulders. Alex smiled so big her dimpled popped out. Olivia traces her dimpled and looked at the blonde's lips. Slowly, they moved in until they were a hair's breath away from each other.

"Last chance to back out," Olivia whispered.

Alex shook her head, "Not a chance." The brunette smirked and leaned in to press her lips against the blonde's.

Their first kiss was in a dirty diner bathroom with bad lighting and the smell of artificial strawberries in the air. And they wouldn't change it for the world.

College life has inspired me and I will be updating more often. I love you guys and I hope you like this chapter. Please R&R. xoxo.