Ch. 21
"Where have you been so long? I thought you'd be back in ten minutes" Adrien said when Louis came back home.
"I though that too, but there was an accident..." the boy said but cut himself. It was the last thing he wanted to remember.
"What happened? What did you see?" Adrien asked. He saw the strange look at his son's face. He wanted to know what happened.
Louis bit his lip. He was looking downwards and thinking if it was right to say the truth. But he couldn't lie either. He didn't want to. It just wasn't right.
"I... I saw her. Olivia" he said quetly. "She was attacked by a stranger and, please, don't ask me to tell what he tried to do to her" Louis shook his head and closed his eyes. He felt sick only of those memories.
"Okay. I won't" Adrien nodded understanding his son. He saw how bad the boy felt. He didn't force Louis to speak about the accident. But he was still curious to know who she was to Louis. "But you will tell me who she is, right? You promised" Adrien smirked. He already saw in his son's eyes she meant a lot to the boy. Adrien just wanted Louis to say it out loud.
Louis looked at his dad with a surprise. It wasn't the right time to talk about it but not a long time ago he was trying to figure out what to tell. But when he'll have another chance to do that?
"She's from my school. But not in the same class though. She's my f-friend, but every morning before school visits mom. Olivia loves mom's croissants" Louis said slowly falling in his dreams. "She plays violin and is in a part of school orchestra. Though she's alergic to strawberries, her hair smells like it. She's so beautiful and kind..." the boy talked dreamily.
Adrien smiled widely. He already understood Louis had feelings for her. When Louis cought himself lile this be blushed brightly and bit his lip.
"You love her, don't you?"Adrien asked. He didn't need an answer to that question. The boy's eyes told everything. "You know, I fell for your mother when I was a bit younger than you are now. And I still love her. She brought the most luck in my life and I believe Olivia will too. Dont let her go. Tell her what you feel" Adrien put his hands on his son's shoulders and looked at his eyes. "You're worth this. I know she won't let you down. From the way you talk and how fou fell in your thoughts, I believe she makes you feel happy."
"How do you know, I didn't tell her?" Louis's eyes widened.
"Father knows" he said simply.
"Do you... Do you think she could like me? I mean, we are friends, so it's obvious she does, but you know what I mean" Louis asked.
"She will. Maybe already does."
"You're saying that only to make me feel better" the boy looked downwards again. He wasn't sure if she liked him at all even thought she acted friendly around him.
Adrien gave him a smile. He wasn't sure if what he was saying was true. He just hoped it to become true. He wished his son had found his true love already. Like he did.
"Maybe I do, but if she's ao close to Marinette and you, I wouldn't be surprised."
Louis sighed. His dad had a point. But he was still one big but.
"This won't happen anyway. She has a boyfriend."
"The world is unpredictible, Louis. Everything can happen" Adrien sad and winked. Louis smiled weekly.
--
Cornellia mumbled something through dreems and slowly oppened her eyes. She thought she heard a scream. No, it wasn't a screem, but it seemed like one in such quiet night. Cornellia slowly turned to the side Olivia was sleeping. The curled-haired girl breathed heavily. She obviously had nightmares.
The girl put her palm on her sleeping friends shoulder and shook it slowly.
"Olivia, wake up. You have a nightmare" she whispered.
"...No..." Olivia murmured. "...Please, don't... "
Cornellia sighed. How was she supposed to sleap when her bestie was so unquiet. Olivia yelped a little again and Cornellia saw the girl's teers running down her face.
Cornellia shook her friend again. This time stronger.
"Wake up" she whispered again.
Olivia's breathing cleared and after a minute she slowly oppened her eyes.
"Whatdouwant..." she said sleeply.
But then her eyes widden a bit more. She felt her face and pillow wet. She put her palm on her cheek and dried it a bit.
"What did you dream?" Cornellia put her head back on her pillow looking at her friend.
Olivia blinked a few times. She didn't remember at first. But the memories slowly came back. She remembered the tall overweight man grabing her bag and saying he needed her money. She tried not to give it to him but he was stronger then her. He quickly grabbed her wallet from there and looked inside. He shouted something at her but then his anger lovered. He smiled eavily. So unnaturall, creepe wide smile looked rather painted then normal. He grabbed Olivia and pulled into dark. Then he put his trousers off and Olivia tried to run but she somehow couldn't do that. The man pressed his lips on her neck, holding his one hand on her back while the other one was on her chest. Olivia couldn't move, couldn't screem, couldn't move... She was like a statue. Suddently she heard her sister and grandmother laughing. She slowly turned her head and saw them showing her way and laughing.
And that was it. She woke up. She was saved from this nightmare.
"I... I don't know" Olivia slowly whispered. "I had a nightmare, right?"
"Yeah. Does it happen ofter?"
Olivia shook her head a little. She knew she lied, but couldn't say the truth. She didn't want to talk about it.
"You know, sometimes I have them too" Cornellia whispered. "Especially after I was kidnapped by one of the amols."
"Really?"
Cornellia nod.
"I wouldn't be surprised if half of the city started to have them too. Those creatures are really terifying and when people go out they always have to fear not to meet one. Of course, eventually Mister Bug and his sidekick saves everyome, but it still leaves a memory, you know" Cornellia said.
Olivia nod. Her friend had a point. She thought really logically. Though she believed to be saved, she still knew that before she was saved she had to go through the worst.
"I hope they'll find Plunksna and finally defeat her as soon as posible" Cornellia added after a long pause and turned around to sleep.
--
After a few weeks
Cornellia was full of joy a few days already but didn't tell enybody why she was like that. All her friends including Olivia weren't able to guess why she was like that but, of course, were really curious why she was so secretive.
"Oh come on. I'm your best friend" Olivia said to her. "Tell me, who's behind that smile?"
"No one. Can't I just be in a good mood?" She asked.
"Of course you can, but it doesn't look like you" Olivia said honestly.
"Well than it soon will be, becauee I'm going to be in this mood every day" the pink-haired girl gigglled.
Olivia stayed quiet for a moment.
"Does it have something to do with Dominic?" she dig her friends shoulder giving her a strange smile.
"Who? Are you serious? No! How can you even think of that?" Cornellia gave a disguised look. "You know I despise him. Why you think I changed my mind?"
Olivia sighed. She really hoped they stoped fighting. But why she thought of that at all? She even shouldn't say this to Cornellia at all.
"Sorry. I just thought you guys eventually moved on and finally become friends" Olivia said. She hoped this will work. She couldn't say she shipped her bestie with that boy.
"No, and I hope we wont. He did something for me once and I will never forgive him for this."
"What did he do?" Olivia asked. She kmew something happened in their past. Something Cornellia never wanted to talk about. It was clear Cornellia tried to burry those memories deep down but Olivia wanted to know. She wanted to understand.
Cornellia looked downwards. The smile was gone from her face and she looked like being in another world.
"He-... It wasn't mutch he did, but it meant a lot to me. What he did had an painful consequences which I don't want to remember. I just need you to trust me on this. He's not the guy you think he is" she said quetly.
"But how can I trust you on this when I don't see him bad or anything. Let me understand you. Tell me" Olivia put her arms on her friends shoulders.
"It's a long atory" she said and steped back. After a second she smiled again. "Let's better not talk about that, OK?"
"Then tell me why are you in such mood? Tell me at least that" Olivia crossed her arms on her chest. She wanted to know at least something. She felt strange knowing she also hid some secerets. The ones nobody expected her to have.
Maybe she really should tell her friend the truth. She understood that feeling when nobody want to tell her somthing, so it was obvious Cornellia should feel the same every time Olivia lied.
"I'll tell you tomorow. I promise" Cornellia answered smiling.
"No! Tell me now! Or I'll terrorize you until you tell me" Olivia smiled pretending to be Cornellia. She crossed her arms on her chest waiting for her friend to say something.
Cornellia stared at her bestie for a few seconds and started laughing.
"And how are you going to do that?"
Then Lina came to the girls. Her shiny blond hair flew in the air, while she was running. Light grey eyes were shining as always. She was a little taller than both Olivia and Cornellia, but never had a lot of confidence. Of course, when Cornellia wore her high-heeled shoes, they both looked simmilar height. She ran towards her friends and said quickly.
"You won't believe what happened. There's one drunk teacher down the stairs. She barely can go upstairs. I can't believe she managed to come to the school at all!"
"Who's that teacher?" Cornellia squeaked.
"Biology" Lina said "Come on before all the play starts, you don't want to miss this!"
--
The other day during the art lesson Olivia couldn't stand but ask her friend again. The teacher was talking about the lettercards. It was obvious the next art lesson they'll start sketching them in Christmas topic.
Nobody was writing down the information they were hearing. Half of the pupils were talking to each other, some making funny selfies, playing with their phones or sleeping. Nobody cared abiut the teacher.
"You really want to know?" Cornellia teesed when she was asked again.
"Of course" Olivia glanced at the teacher who seemed not caring that nobody was listening to her.
"What if I'll tell you to turn on TV at eight o'clock?" Cornellia asked.
Olivia gasped. She smiled widely to her friend.
"You were on TV? I can't believe they invited you!" Olivia yelled and everyone looked at the girls. Olivia turned red from embarrassment. "Sorry."
Teacher glared at Olivia for a second and continued her lesson. The girl sighed.
"Is that true?" Lina asked from behind. She was sitting with Samanta who was also interested in this.
Cornellia smiled widely.
"OMGOMG!" Lina shouted-whispered with excitement. "was your brother there too?"
Cornellia nod. Lina's eyes widdened even more. She was a huge fan of Cornellia's and Leon's videos. She was the one who freaked out from excitement when Cornellia told the whole class who she was a few days before school year started.
After that day she barely let Cornellia alone. She was nice and super friendly with both Cornellia and Olivia and fully accepted she wasn't going to be that close to Cornellia as Olivia was. Though the pink haired girl was tollerant to Lina, they were friends only inside the school teritory. This was only that kind of friendship you forget while going on vocation.
"Of course, we are CandL, after all" the pink-haired girl smiled.
"Wait, is this how your YouTube chanel is called?" Samanta joined.
"Actually, it's CandL Adventures. But yeah, you can call it like that" Olivia shook her schoulders.
"How does your brother look like?" she asked once more looking at the girls in the front with her sleepy eyes. It was clear she didn't enjoy the lesson same as everyone else.
"Please, don't tell me you still haven't wached their videos yet. You promissed you will!" Lina blinked a few times with a surprise. Maybe she expressed her confusion too loudly, because the teacher looked at the girls.
"Do I disturb you, girls?"
"No, teacher, not at all!" Lina said quickly turning red. "We enjoy listening about..." blondine looked at the interactive board and managed to finish. "...Russian lettercards made in 90's?"
The other three girls almost started laughing knowing Lina was used to improvisations. Mosy of the times she messed up, but sometimes she succeded, like the time when Martin took her seat next to Cornellia in the canteen.
The teacher looked at her a bit longer and asked:
"Then tell me how you'd recognize it from any other lettercards? Tell me at least two indicational aspects."
"Ummm... About the Russian Christmas lettercards?" Lina whispered. Her face burning.
"No, anout the alien ones" the woman said sarcastically.
"Ugh... Err... They offen draw a blonde girl with long hair. She usually wears some kimd of strange rather national clothes?" Lina tried to say but then she got an idea. "Ah, and their Santa Claus wears a blue clothes. He isn't a real Santa, honestly, because he comes during the new year in there."
The teacher nod.
"Not bad, though it was obvious you didn't listen." the woman said ant turned to the board to continue her lesson. Students, who noticed that accident were giggling and giving thumwup to Lina.
"This was awesome." Olivia whispered to her friend sitting behind her. "How did you know?" she aslked.
Lina lead closer.
"My grandparents still have a few from their childhood" she said and giggled.
"Well done, Lima. You deserve a medal." Cornellia giggled.
"You're our hero" Samana put her head on Lina's shouler but Lina hugged her. She smiled blushing brightly. She was happy to hear those words from her friends.
--
Louis looked at Olivia and her friends. They all were smiling and laughing. Louis didn't feel when he smiled too.
He took a deep breath and went towards them. He took the whole courage to do that. He had planed the words he was going to tell, though he was afraid it won't work.
Olivia saw him comming when he was already near by and smiled to him the same beautiful smile he loved that much. One second and he was under her spel again. All this courage and planing for the perfect words was for nothing.
"Hey, Louis. What's up?" she asled still smiling. The other girls glared at him and shut up. They probably didn't want him to know what they were talking about or just didn't like to be interrupted.
"Hy..." Louis mumbled turning red. What an embarrassment, Cornellia rolled her eyes. Why he's even comming here if he can't talk normally. And how Olivia still can handile this? Eww, you're so lame, Louis.
"I'm going to the bathroom" Cornellia said and grabbed Samanta's and Lina's arms, so none of them would have to listen those stupid stutters.
Olivia saw her bestie leaving. She understood the pink-hair girl had enough of Louis being around. When the three girls turned to the stairs, Olivia looked back at Louis.
"Did you want to tell me something?" she asked.
Louis blushed even more. He felt like Olivia tried to read his mind. But what else she had to do? He barely spoke to her and sometimes it was almost imposible to understand what he was saying, so she had to guess it.
"Umm... Yeah" Louis finally nodded hervously. "... T- talk... Something bout."
Olivia waited for a few moments waiting for him to continue, but he was too stressed to say anything.
"I'm listening" she tried to encourege him but it seemed he just stoped thinking.
Louis felt more and more embarased. He waned to comfess to her, like his father said to him. He believed he could do this. Though he was as shy as his mother, he still had her brave side and dad's playful one, who was never afraid to confess anything to his love. But how he could manage to use that side? It was imposible.
Louis bit his lip. Maybe it wasn't the right time after all? In the school with full of other students, in such noisy place, there was nothing romantic or sweet in school, especially for a student. The most beautiful thing should have been told in the place she deserved.
"Umm... Would you-" Louos tried to ask Olivia out but someone pushed him aside, saying:
"Out of the way, kiddos."
Louis stepped back from confusion. He forgot what he was about to ask. He stared at the boy with and his friends passing by. The rude boy looked at Louis ang laughed.
"Idiot" that guy mumbled to his friends and they all went away.
Louis looked back at Olivia.
"Don't pay attention to him, they are older and therefore thinks they rule the school" she said rolling her eyes. "So... Where were we?"
Louis shook his head. It was stupind anyway. He was stupind. Maybe that older boy was telling the truth and he trully was and idiot. He didn't deserve to be near Olivia. That girl had a strong will, he could only dream about having such amazing girl by his side. Or even if he tried to do this, he felt like not worth her.
"Nothing important..." he said rather to himself and walked away.
~~~
Hey everyone! I'm so happy to come back with this story after a whole month. I believe this chapter wasn't the most imteresting, but we moved a bit with a timeline. In another chapter we'll move further but I hope it to be more imteresting.
Anyway, I'd really love to read your thoughts in the reviews!