Olivia spotted Sebastian as soon as he arrived at the carnival. He was sporting an anxious grimace he tried to pretend was a smile but after being his friend for a bit, she could tell he was uncomfortable. She hoped that her plan wouldn't put him further on edge, but she had signed up as a kissing booth volunteer specifically for a chance to lock lips with the boy she liked.

After making her way through the crowd, Olivia touched Sebastian's shoulder to get his attention and ran her hand down until it rested on his bicep. He turned around and quickly smiled as he recognized her. A genuine one. Like the ones she got in English class. As if they were the only people that mattered in that overcrowded grass field.

"I'll be working at the kissing booth… come see me later." Olivia winked at Sebastian as she squeezed his bicep twice before she went on her way. She had a new pack of breath mints and butterflies in her stomach.

I don't even know if he'll show up… or worse, what if he does show up but he doesn't buy tickets? Or what if he doesn't stand in line but just makes fun of me? I've seen guys mock some of the debutantes that were up there… No, don't think like that, Olivia you are a smart, confident and beautiful girl, you can't give up.

With that she sighed and got ready for a long day ahead of her.

After a while, she spotted Sebastian, who was very intent on running and shoving people around him. Not paying attention to the fact that he transitioned from being part of the carnival to pushing past people in the kissing booth line. The ones who had been eagerly lining up for a chance to kiss her. It seemed that Sebastian was trying to hide from something or someone because he kept ducking behind people and checking over his shoulder as soon as he hid.

Olivia registered this but didn't pay much attention to it because he was in line and after 10 people, he would be next. She was so excited that she practically threw the other guys off the stage, some before their lips even made contact. She made sure to pop a couple of breath mints into her mouth and smoothed her hair down.

Sebastian, on the other hand, seemed completely taken by surprise. A look of confusion was clearly written all over his face as he was shoved onto the stage by a crowd of impatient guys. They all had come to kiss the blonde and wouldn't be waiting any longer than necessary because some loser geek couldn't see it was his turn for a smooch.

"Hi, I umm didn't give my tickets so I guess I'll catch up with you later." He nervously squeaked while sitting down in front of Olivia. "Besides there's a long line, better not keep everyone waiting… right?" Sebastian asked as he scooted closer to her.

With his body language and his words being incongruent, Olivia reached out to take a hold of his hand. "No, please, just stay for a bit… even if it's for a couple of seconds, I just need to rest." She confessed shyly.

"Oh, ok, I'm sure the other girl is going to come soon to relieve you from this." He smiled at her and nodded.

Olivia was so nervous about the whole thing that she removed her hand from where it was resting on top of his. If Sebastian wanted to get up and leave, she should let him. This wasn't who she was. She decided against kissing him this way. Even if she had gotten up early to plan her outfit and straighten her hair so that she would look perfect for their first kiss.

I guess I'm just not that kind of girl.

Before she could thank Sebastian for just sitting with her, he looked to the right, into the crowd, looked into her eyes and Olivia thinks she saw something like determination flash in his eyes before he nervously leaned forward and kissed her.

She was so shocked at being kissed unexpectedly that it took a couple of seconds for her brain to register the knowledge that the boy of her dreams was kissing her. That his warm and soft hands were cupping her face. It was more than just a reluctant kiss. Olivia could only respond by kissing him back and resting her hands-on top of his. She wanted Sebastian to know that this was real. She slid her hands from his until they rested on top of his cheeks. His face was as smooth as it looked. He didn't have any stubble, just baby smooth skin that smelled like… strawberries? It was kind of odd, but it somehow worked for him, he didn't seem like the frat boy type to bathe himself in Axe.

Right as Olivia was about to deepen the kiss, someone very angrily pulled them away.

"What the hell man, I thought you said you didn't like Olivia and would help me get with her if I helped you with your game? And now you come here and start making out with her in front of me?"

Sebastian looked torn and full of panic, Duke was angry and turn, while Olivia was shocked over everything.

And that was when the taller boy swung at Sebastian.

Her crush ducked the clumsy punch and started apologizing.

"Duke, I'm so sorry… I swear I didn't plan for this to happen… besides, didn't you have like three years to get her to consider you as an option?"

So that's why he was acting weird during biology… Duke is in that class and was probably pressuring him to make him score a date with me?

"You finally make first string, and this is how you repay me? You get my girl and you also get to play soccer as a first stringer during the Cornwall game? It seems like it doesn't matter to you if you hurt your friends as long as you get what you want, isn't that right?"

Sebastian's shoulders drop and the hands that were covering his face follow.

"No, Duke, it's not like that at all. We are friends. And I did ask Olivia to consider you as a dating option… but I can't force anyone to like you… I promise that I can explain everything if you give me a chance…"

"You don't deserve that chance man, you betrayed me. Did you laugh when you were thinking of me being your stupid loyal friend and still getting the one girl I like?"

"No, Duke, I swear it's not like that." Sebastian tried to plead his case again, but Duke was done listening to him.

One moment they were standing next to Olivia and the next, she blinked, and Duke had tackled Sebastian off the stage and into the popcorn machine.

She screamed and jumped off the stage, following after them. Making her way through the crowd that had formed around the two sparring boys. They were throwing punches at each other… or rather… Duke was throwing punches at Sebastian and the smaller boy was trying his best to shield himself. There were times when Duke was wide open, but Sebastian didn't swing at him. Instead he apologized for breaking his trust. Asking his friend to forgive him and to give him an opportunity to explain what happened.

"Duke I'm sorry, I just… I'm sorry man, I can't fight you."

"Are you too good to fight me? Come on and punch me you fucking sissy!"

Olivia felt that insult cut down to her core. It reminded her of the night she broke up with Chris. That awful word he used.

It made her act.

Taking matters into her own hands, Olivia decided that it was enough. She asked them to stop fighting. When they didn't listen, she tried to pry a very angry Duke away from a cowering Sebastian who already looked like he was starting to develop bruises.

"Duke, let him go, I don't even like…" And just like that an elbow hit her in the face and she landed on her back in the dirt.

"Shit Olivia! I didn't… I mean… I thought…" He sounded genuinely remorseful and full of panic.

Sebastian pushed the other boy off, Duke landed onto some broken pieces of the popcorn machine. Stunned and unmoving. Sebastian rushed to her side.

"Olivia, you're bleeding." Sebastian said, and quickly grabbed her, wincing in pain over all the bruises that were starting to develop and carried her away from all the mess.

Duke was still on top of the popcorn machine when Toby and Andrew found him, dazed over what he had done and practically catatonic. The organizers from the Debutant Carnival finally broke through the crowd and started screaming when they reached the center.

That was the last thing Olivia remembered before falling asleep.

She was safe in Sebastian's arms as he carried her away from the commotion.

The last thing she remembered before waking up was that he tasted like strawberries during a hot July, he smelled like popcorn after the fight and that her new blouse was probably ruined by all the dirt and blood that were on it by now.

Author's Note: This story is not forgotten! Thank you all that reviewed and asked after this fic. This update is for you :) :)