Disclaimer: I do not own Pushing Daisies…
Disclaimer: I do not own Pushing Daisies…
Let Me Fall-
-Chapter Ten: Olive's Day Off
There are many things in this world that Olive Snook enjoys to do. This list is long and includes things such as horse racing, watching romantic comedies, running in the rain, and being a pie-baking waitress.
While Olive enjoys working at The Pie Hole and the life it has brought her, Olive enjoys her days off more; for they are her own personal days. She catches up on her reading and convinces herself that someday in the future she will learn how to knit. Other times she drinks too much tea and snacks on blueberries. On some occasions she will shop, spending countless hours trying on clothes; only to buy a few select items. And still on others, she will sit on her couch and eat ice cream, having a mini-movie-marathon.
But at this current time, on her most recent day off, Olive Snook was doing one thing she hardly ever did: rest. She lay, curled up on her couch, a warm fleece blanket covering her small frame. Her arm rested over her eyes, blocking out any light that tried to disturb her. Digby was lying on the opposite end of the couch, his head awkwardly placed atop Olive's knees.
Olive sighed, contentedly, letting the silence of the room engulf her. She often found silence to be a funny thing, as it was never the same thing twice. It could be awkward and tense or calming and reassuring. It could be haunting and disturbing or happy and satisfying. It was like lighting, never striking in the same way or place twice; quick to appear but with ever lasting affects.
From his spot on the couch Digby twitched as a dream began to engulf him.
Yes, it was days like these that Olive enjoyed above all others. After all, how often did a person get to be lazy and do absolutely nothing?
A quiet knock broke the silence of Olive's apartment. Since the noise was so subtle and Olive was more than relaxed, she wasn't sure if there had been any knock at all; until the noise sounded again, slightly stronger but still as timid as before.
Olive frowned and kicked her feet, "Wake up Digby," she said. Digby, lifted his head lazily, letting Olive sit up, before he relaxed again; instantly falling back asleep in a way that only a dog could. Olive stretched and wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. As she stood, she stumbled slightly, feeling the blood rush back to her legs, the circulation having been cut of by Digby's weight. Olive quickly walked to the door, jumping and shaking her legs out in the process to rid the beginnings of the pins-and-needles feeling.
She got to the door just as her visitor knocked again. She stretched up onto her toes, peeking through the peephole to see who had decided to pay her a visit. Olive froze when her single peeping eye saw who was on the other side of the door; her mind immediately beginning to reel. How was it possible? How was he here? She had never told him? How could he have possibly known? It made no sense. And yet, as her mind panicked, Olive smiled.
"Fredo," she said, upon opening the door just as Alfredo Aldarisio was turning to leave, having decided that Olive Snook was not in her apartment.
Alfredo stopped and turned. "Oh good, you're home," he said, "Are you sick?" he asked, tilting his head to the side as Olive adjusted the blanket around her shoulders.
Olive smiled and shook her head. "No, just cold."
"Oh good, I'm glad you're not—sick," Alfredo replied, before the two lapsed into a silence.
"Um, Alfredo what are you doing here?" Olive asked after a moment's silence.
"Oh," Alfredo said with a slight jump. "Surprising you," he said with a smile, holding out a small bouquet of seven daisies that Olive had not noticed he was holding.
Olive blushed and took the proffered flowers. "Thank you," she said, sniffing the flowers. "Surprising me?" she asked, raising her brow.
"Yes, I'm taking you out for the day," Alfredo replied triumphantly.
"Where?" Olive tired to hide the smile that was slowly beginning to form on her face. She failed. Carefully she placed the daisies on the table by her door.
"Well, that's the surprise," Alfredo explained. "So, if I told you now then I'd have to kill you. Which would defeat the purpose of surprising you in the first place."
"I see," Olive replied, looking over her shoulder at Digby whose head was up and staring at the two humans in the doorway. She pondered the sudden turn her once calm and relaxing day had taken, though she supposed that Alfredo would not be leading her on some wild adventure. "Let me just go put some shoes on," she said, looking back to Alfredo who smiled and nodded. Neither made to move. "Um, you could, come inside…while you wait…?" Olive said, opening the door wider.
"Oh I, thanks," Alfredo stammered with a smile, stepping into the apartment.
"Be right back," Olive said, hurrying into her bedroom. Once the door was closed, Olive threw the blanket off her shoulders and frantically began looking for a comfortable dress to wear; she didn't need Alfredo to know that she had stayed in her pajamas until one o'clock in the afternoon. She decided on a light pink dress that would be warm, yet cool enough for the weather that was slowly giving way to Spring. She grabbed a pair of comfortable, flat white shoes that would be appropriate for anything; as she had no idea where they were going. Olive ran back to her bedroom door and opened it; by the time she stepped through she was as composed and calm as she had been before.
"This is okay, right?" Alfredo asked, standing from his kneeling position, where he had been petting Digby. "That I'm surprising you like this?"
"Of course," Olive replied, picking up a light weight coat that was strewn across a chair. "I put my shoes on didn't I?"
Alfredo smiled. "Yes, I just suppose I should have asked you before. Instead of just telling you, you know? I mean…I don't know if you have any plans. But Chuck told me it was your day off today so I just thought—not that I assumed that you wouldn't be doing anything, I just wanted to--,"
Olive stepped forward, cutting Alfredo off by placing a hand over his mouth. "Fredo, I put my shoes on," she said smiling and punctuating each word with a nod.
Alfredo smiled as Olive removed her hand from his mouth. "Okay."
"But do you mind if we stop by The Pie Hole first to drop Digby off?" Olive asked, patting her thigh as she grabbed Digby's leash. "I'd rather him be with everyone down there then up here alone."
"Of course," Alfredo responded. "Shall we?" He asked, motioning with his arm for Olive to lead the way out of her apartment.
"We shall. You know I--," Olive paused just outside her door, turning to Alfredo just as the door closed behind him with a click. "Did you say Chuck?" She asked, reaching around Alfredo to lock the door before turning to him fully.
"Yes?" Alfredo half asked half said, quirking his head.
"Did she tell you where I live too?" Olive asked, realization dawning on her. She had, after all, never told Alfredo where she lived.
"Yes, she gave me your address when she told me today was your day off. I—is that okay? I wanted to surprise you."
Olive smiled and grabbed hold of Alfredo's arm beginning to walk down the hall; Digby trotting along beside them. "No, it's not a problem," she said with a small smile. Not this time, her mind added.
Charlotte Charles stood in the kitchen of The Pie Hole, cutting strawberries. The Pie Maker stood across the counter from her, rolling out a large lump of pie crust dough.
"I'm just saying, it doesn't make any sense," Chuck said, picking up a strawberry and looking at it. "I mean, there's blueberries and blackberries. So why wasn't the strawberry named the Redberry? Or raspberries. What about raspberries? They're red too."
The Pie Maker laughed. "But if they were both named redberries then there would be two different kinds of redberries."
The bell of above the front door rang.
"I didn't mean that they both had to be called Redberries, just that one--."
"Hiya y'all," Olive's voice called from the dining room cutting.
"Hey Olive," Chuck and Ned replied at the same time. Chuck peered through the open window to look at the blonde.
"I decided I'm going to go out today." Chuck secretly smiled, as she knew exactly who Olive would be spending her day with. "So I'm just dropping Digby off."
"Thanks Olive," Ned replied, never once breaking from his task of dough rolling.
"Have fun Olive," Chuck called, watching as Olive left.
Olive walked to the door, pausing just as she got the barriers and turned back around. "Oh! And Chuck!" She called, smiling sweetly.
"Yes?"
"I'm watching you," Olive said, dropping her voice an octave while she fixed Chuck with a pointed look before she left the building.
Had they been in any previous stage of their friendship, Charlotte Charles would have been slightly scared of the warning Olive had just given her. But it was the small, secret smile that broke across Olive's face that let Chuck know that giving Alfredo Aldarisio her address was very much appreciated.
"Are we there yet?" Olive asked, bouncing her legs. She idly played with the edge of her seatbelt.
"You do realize we've been in the car for a total of thirty seconds, right?" Alfredo asked with a smile.
"Well, you haven't told me where we're going. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do to get some answers."
"Let's play a game."
"You're changing the subject."
"Yes."
"So you don't have to tell me where we're going."
"Yes."
"That's just mean."
"I think the Chain Game sounds good."
"What are we ten?"
"It's therapeutic to get in touch with your inner child."
"As therapeutic as herbal mood enhancers?" Olive asked, raising one brow.
Alfredo chuckled. "Almost."
"Top," Olive replied jumping right into the game and giving in to the temptation of her inner child.
"Pencil."
"Lips."
"Sin."
"Next."
"Tune."
"Enigma."
"Antidisestablishmentarianism"
"Mygodthatwasaridiculouslylongwordnowtellmewherewearegoing." Olive said in one long breath, earning her a look of amusement from her companion. Olive rolled her eyes. "See," she said, dryly. "I can do it too."
Alfredo chuckled. Olive smiled. Carefully, Alfredo parallel parked along the side of the street. Olive looked out the passengers side window, "Some random road?" she asked, quirking her head. "That's the surprise? Bringing me to some random road?"
Alfredo smiled and shook his head. Without a word, he unbuckled his seat belt and got out of the car. Olive quickly followed suit, stumbling with her seat belt and exiting the car.
"It's not exactly 'some random road'," Alfredo said, offering Olive his arm.
Olive tentatively took the proffered arm, allowing Alfredo her to lead her as they walked. She took in her surroundings. They had parked along a road Olive wasn't familiar with. It was small, but not the smallest of streets. On the larger side of small. Across the street sat a large ice cream parlor: Softy McSwirly's Ice Cream Parlor. She cast a backwards glance towards Alfredo's car and saw that just beyond their parking spot was the edge of what appeared to be a park.
Olive suddenly felt the feeling of seclusion; or the after effects of seclusion. She had lived in the city for six years, going on seven, and yet she had no idea this part of the city existed. Had she really been so devoted to her life at The Pie Hole and its surroundings that she had neglected to explore the city thoroughly? It wasn't that she hadn't gone out before, but Olive was beginning to realize that, perhaps, she hadn't gone out far enough.
"This way," Alfredo chuckled, pulling Olive from her thoughts, making her realize she was trying to go straight when Alfredo was pulling her to the right.
And suddenly Olive's surroundings became familiar. The thrill of excitement ran through her, along with a surge of emotion for the man whose arm she held. She looked ahead, twenty more feet and they would turn right down a small hidden alley way. After another fifteen feet they would turn left, where a small string of independent boutiques would meet them. Though she had only seen them in the dark, Olive knew that the boutiques were of different shapes and sizes, selling everything from books to antiques and everything in between. At the end of the long, narrow alley would be a diner where the food was always good and the atmosphere was always warm.
And it was then, on this particular day off, as Alfredo guided Olive through the narrow alley way that Olive realized she would be spending her day off in one of her favorite ways: shopping.
"So where do you want to go first?" Alfredo asked, stopping Olive when they turned onto the alley that held all the shops.
Olive looked around taking in her surroundings for the first time. The outside of each shop was painted with bright colors differing shades and hues. The shops seemed to topple upon each other, overlapping, trying to take up as much space as their small spaces would allow. The road that ran down the street was narrow, and one way, not allowing for more than a large car to pass through. Above their heads, atop the far wall was a street sign that read "Boutique Boutique Way"
"I don't know," Olive said, having never realized the small magnitude of this street in the few times that she had driven through it. "I don't even know where to look," she said, noticing that items from each store spilled out into the streets. "It looks so different than it does at night."
"The moon never really does this place justice," Alfredo explained, grabbing hold of Olive's arm and beginning to walk her down the street. Olive, on her part, didn't help at all, allowing Alfredo to guide her as she took in the seemingly magical street around her.
"I think the antique shop is as good a place as any to start," Alfredo said with a smile. Olive merely nodded.
Olive would quickly learn that Chic Antique Boutique was one of the smaller shops on Boutique Boutique Way; even though it held and sold the largest amount of items and trinkets on the Way. The shop was overly crowded, with people and trinkets. Each person had to skillfully worm their way through the shelves and matter that covered the floor. Olive clutched tightly of Alfredo's arm as they wound through the shop.
"How is anyone supposed to find anything in here?" Olive asked, as Alfredo practically picked her up to help her over a stack of books that blocked the narrow walking way.
"By spending hours looking through everything." Alfredo explained, guiding Olive to the center of the shop. "All of the best stuff is hidden," he said with his shy smile.
"No their not," Olive said in awe, as her eyes widened at the sight of a wall across from them. Alfredo watched in amusement as Olive nearly ran to the wall, almost tripping over a large cedar chest in the process.
"Do you like horses?" Alfredo asked.
Olive nodded enthusiastically, taking in a wall that was nearly completely covered in horse related trinkets of all shapes and sizes. Alfredo watched with intrigue as Olive took in the wall, looking like a small child in a candy shop.
"Look!" Olive exclaimed excitedly, grabbing at a plaque that looked like a large license plate. She held it out for Alfredo to read.
"My Other Mustang is a Car," Alfredo read the plaque out loud, chuckling.
Olive smiled. "I'm going to buy it," she said with a triumphant smile. Olive looked left and right, "Where's the cash register?"
Alfredo offered Olive his arm, which she gently took, and lead the way through the store to the cashier. "You don't want to look around more?"
"It would take weeks to get through this place. I'd like to look at some of the other shops too," Olive explained. "If that's okay with you."
Alfredo smiled. "Of course it is."
"H-E-L-L-O! Welcome to Book Barn Boutique!" An excited sales girl said when Olive Snook and Alfredo Aldarisio walked into Book Barn Boutique two and three-quarter hours later; from leaving Chic Antique Boutique. They had spent the time walking down Boutique Boutique Way, exploring every craft and trinket shop on the way. Olive found herself more enthralled and captivated by each store; this quaint, hidden way quickly becoming one of her favorite spots.
"Hiya," Olive said, taken aback by the girl's enthusiasm. Alfredo merely smiled and nodded awkwardly in response.
"Can I help you find anything?" The girl asked in a rush, sprinting around the counter she stood behind to stand in front of the couple. Alfredo shifted back and pulled at his collar; in ever present fear of the oxygen leaving the room taking hold as the girl invaded his personal space.
"Um, no we're just going to browse," Olive said, pulling on Alfredo's arm as she maneuvered around the girl, who wasn't letting them pass.
"Okay! Let me know if you, like, need anything!" The girl called after them as they disappeared into the many bookcases of the book store.
Book Barn Boutique was very much like Chic Antique Boutique. It was covered from floor to ceiling in books. Shelves and book cases were filled to the breaking point with books. The walls of the establishment disappeared behind the abundant amount of reading material.
"Do you like to read?" Olive asked, as Alfredo picked up a random book and began to thumb through it.
"Yes, I have a lot of time for it when I'm on the road. Especially if I do any traveling by train," Alfredo said. Olive nodded. "What about you?"
Olive grabbed a book and weighed it in her hands. "Yes, I do. But I don't do it nearly as often as I'd like."
The two fell into a comfortable silence as they browsed the books, walking slowly through the many cases and shelves. Olive would occasionally glance at Alfredo, watching as his brow would knit in concentration as he read summaries of the different books he picked up. She would smile when he would laugh at reading some funny random passage. And though it appeared that he found some books funny or interesting, he would simply place them back where he got them, picking up the next book; looking for that perfect find.
"Oh! Do you like that book?!" The voice of the shop girl pulled Olive from her thoughts, as the girl appeared out of nowhere. She quickly approached Alfredo, who took a step back into the shelf he stood by.
"Then you should read this one!" The girl exclaimed, grabbing a near by book and practically shoving it in Alfredo's face. Olive watched, as a quiet look of fear slowly began to cover Alfredo's features as the shop girl invaded his personal space, excitedly rambling about the book she was telling him about. It was the same look, Olive quickly realized, that had crossed his face the first day they had met; when Alfredo had explained his anxiety of the earth losing it's atmosphere.
Olive quickly jumped forward. "Uh Time!" she yelled, grabbing hold of Alfredo's arm. "We're late. Really must be going," she said, pushing past the shop girl. "Thank you so much, we'll have to come back soon!" she called over her shoulder as she pushed through the shop door, leaving a bewildered Book Barn Boutique shop girl in their wake.
"Thanks," Alfredo croaked, digging into his jacket pocket and pulling out his own supply of herbal mood enhancers and dropping three drops into his mouth. "Sorry," he said sheepishly.
"I don't know what you're apologizing for," Olive said with a kind, toothy smile. "So," she said, clapping her hands together. "Where to next?"
Alfredo smiled and offered Olive is arm once more, taking the bag, with the item she had purchased from the boutique shop, from her. "I have an idea."
It was particularly hot for an early March day. A light snow covered the ground, though it refused to melt under the unrelenting sun. Olive and Alfredo walked through a small park that Olive hadn't realized lay just beyond Dempsa's Dining Diner. Olive's coat was draped over her arm as she clasped a water bottle in her hand, her purse draped over her shoulder. She and Alfredo walked side by side, Alfredo holding a thing of popcorn in one hand and a water bottle and Olive's purchase in another.
"This path runs through the whole park," Alfredo said, pointing ahead with his head that held is water. "It's not that big, but it wraps around the backs of the shops, ending at the street I parked the car on."
Olive nodded and Alfredo held the popcorn towards her, she grabbed a handful.
"Hey Fredo?" She asked, plopping a few popped kernels in her mouth.
"Hm?"
"Well I was just…you said you get tired of traveling," Olive started, plopping more kernels into her mouth and blocking her eyes from the sun with her hand. "And that you'd like to open up your own shop to sell you pharmaceuticals."
"Yes," Alfredo said, awkwardly grabbing at some popcorn.
"Do you want me to take the bag?" Olive asked.
"No I've got it."
"But I did buy it."
Alfredo smiled, shook his head and threw a piece of popcorn in his mouth. "It's fine, I want to carry it."
For a reason unknown to her, Olive blushed.
"Were you going to ask me a question?" Alfredo asked, taking two more pieces of popcorn.
"Hm? Oh yes. Well, I suppose I was just wondering why you don't do it. Open your own place."
Alfredo shrugged. "Money, time. Every reason. No reason. Traveling as its ups and downs. And it does get tiring, but I do like what I do." Here Alfredo paused, looking thoughtful and forlorn. It looked as if he had something else to say, but was unsure of saying it.
"Yes?" Olive asked, urging him on.
Alfredo sighed. "I suppose I'm just searching for my reason to stay," he said, quietly looking everywhere that wasn't Olive.
Olive smiled shyly and looked away, just as they began to cross over a bridge. "Beautiful," she breathed, taking in the sight of a small pond that opened from a small stream they were walking over.
"It is, isn't it," Alfredo said, walking up to her as they looked over the edge of the bridge. Olive nodded, closed her eyes, and took in a deep breath.
Olive found that, when she closed her eyes in surroundings such as these, she often felt the reverse effects of gravity. She took in deep breaths letting nature and the world fill her. The birds chirping, the water running, the trees swaying in the calm wind; she could hear every breath that Alfredo took in, his breathing tandem with her steady pulse. And slowly, ever so slowly, as she completely relaxed, the feeling that her feet were slowly leaving the ground would fill her, until she was positive that she was floating amongst the clouds.
"Oh my shoe," Alfredo's voice broke through Olive's thoughts, sending her flitting back down to earth.
"Wha?" She asked in a daze, turning to Alfredo, who was setting down his water, Olive's purchase, and the popcorn.
"My shoe is untied," he explained, bending to fix it.
Olive nodded and uncapped her water bottle, taking a swig. She held the bottle up to her eye level, inspecting the half filled bottle through the sun. She took another drink and looked down to Alfredo; and then she froze as words Alfredo had once said ran through her mind.
"If I were any less of a gentleman I would have dumped the rest of my drink on you for that comment."
It would be perfect. Too perfect. It was almost unthinkable. But funny, very funny. Borderline hilarious, but not quite reaching it. She could do it. It wouldn't take much. Just a slip of the wrist. But how would he react? He had seen her covered in chocolate syrup, so what was a little water? Yes, she would do it.
Carefully, as to not attract Alfredo's attention, Olive moved her hand that held her open water bottle away from her body. She froze; her hand and the water bottle hovering over his head. She but her bottom lip, slowly tipping her hand. She watched, a small ounce of adrenaline running through her, as the water slowly moved to the edge of the bottle; before it finally broke free of its containment, landing on Alfredo's head.
The man tensed as the water was poured over his head and shoulders, before he slowly looked up; an air of utter shock on his face. Olive bit her lip to keep from laughing, clutching her sides as she tried to breath.
"I—I can't…believe…" Alfredo slowly stood up, a smile spreading across his features.
"I guess it's a good thing I'm not a gentleman," Olive said, laughing so hard that Alfredo had to catch her.
"Can you believe this?" Pim asked, walking into The Pie Hole, brushing snow from her shoulders.
Chuck looked up from wiping down the counter, "Believe what?" She asked.
"This weather," Pim said, sitting at the counter. "It was all sunshine and happiness this morning and now it's snowing like we're in the dead of winter."
"Yes," Chuck agreed. "It is odd. I thought we were going to have an early spring this year, it was so warm earlier."
Pim snorted. Outside, a car pulled up along the road, catching Chuck's attention. Pim followed the woman's gaze, watching as two figures emerged from the car, hunching together and racing to the door.
"Whose that?" Pim asked, scrunching her eyes to see through the immanent dusk and the falling snow.
"I'll give you three guesses," Chuck said with a smile. "First two don't count."
"Oh really?" Pim said, smirking, turning her full attention to the couple in standing outside the door. From the warmth of The Pie Hole Pim and Chuck watched as the taller of the two figures lightly kissed the smaller one on the cheek, before kissing their hand as well. The two seemed to say goodbye, before the taller figure ran back to the car while the smaller figure walked into the pie shop. The doors opened and Olive emerged a shivering, smiling mess.
Chuck pretended to busy herself and make it seem as if she hadn't been watching, though a knowing smile covered her face.
Pim, on the other hand, laughed. "Have fun, Olive?" she asked, smugly.
Olive jumped at the voice. "Oh heh," she stammered whilst brushing the snow from her dress. "Hiya Pim. Hiya Chuck."
"Have fun, Olive?" Chuck asked.
Olive blushed and nodded.
Pim made kissing noises. "Olive and Alfredo sittin' in a tree," she sang.
Olive rolled her eyes. "How old are you Pim? Five?"
Pim scoffed. "What? It's therapeutic to be in touch with your inner child every once in a while."
Olive smiled. "So I've learned."
Author's Note: There you go! I hope you enjoyed Chapter Ten! I don't know when I'll be updating again, but hopefully it will be soon.
Thanks for reading and reviewing! I really appreciate it!!
Until next time!!