Chapter 2
The next morning Olivia woke up Noah first. Lucy came and helped as usual. Olivia knocked on the door before opening it. Amanda was laid out all over the bed. She looked peaceful under her blonde hair that was covering her eyes. Olivia brushed her hair back and Amanda's eyes flew open. Olivia saw fear, "Shhh it's ok. It's just me." Amanda sat up against the headboard. Olivia didn't draw attention to it, "I let you sleep as long as I could, but I've got to get you to school."
Amanda started to slowly relax. "Your clothes, towels, and a new toothbrush are in that bathroom." Olivia stood up giving her space, "You good?" Amanda nodded. Amanda got ready and came out to noise. Noah was 3 and wide awake. "Manda! Play!" Amanda smiled because he was cute. Olivia quickly shot that down, "No Noah. It's time for school. Come put your jacket on." Noah's face turned upset and he stomped and cried. Olivia's voice turned stern "1, 2…"
Amanda watched in shock, but by 5 he had walked over calmly. "Mama, no spanking?" He was so serious and his eyebrows scrunched together. "No baby. Thank you for doing the right thing. Why don't you ask Amanda if she will play with you after school." Noah's eyes lit up, "Manda pleeese!" Amanda laughed, "Ok." Noah hugged and kissed everyone and Lucy took him to school. Olivia gave Lucy a piece of paper, "See you this afternoon Luce."
Olivia looked at Amanda, "You're quiet in the morning. Make sure you're quiet when you go to Dr. Marlowe's class. Come eat breakfast." Amanda ate everything, the eggs, bacon, toast, and fruit. "You ready?" Amanda looked around, she wished she had this and Olivia, "Yeah." Olivia noticed her book bag was full, "Hey what's in there?" Amanda shrugged, "My stuff." Olivia smiled, "Why don't you leave it here and take whatever you need for school. Amanda, you have what a month left in high school? Stay with us and let me help you." Amanda was shocked at the invitation. It's what she said she just wanted. "Ok."
They were heading to school, "Lucy will pick you up and then you both will pick up Noah. Ok?" Amanda nodded and climbed out of the truck. "Amanda, behave today." Olivia stopped herself. She didn't want to scare her off, but Olivia wasn't going to deal with her behavior. Alex and Monique grabbed her before class, "How was your night?" Amanda smiled, "Good. She said I could stay." Monique was happy for her, "That's cool." Amanda asked, "When I stayed with you and I got in trouble you two were hard on me. She's going to be harder isn't she?" Alex smiled, "Probably, you going to run again?" Amanda shook her head, "No."
Amanda didn't want to run, she was secretly in love. Amanda went to class, early for once. She hugged Casey, "You didn't text me. Where did you stay?" Amanda told her about Sergeant Benson, "She's cool." Casey smiled, "Oh by the look on your face, she's more than cool." Amanda laughed, "I don't have a chance. She's older, a cop, and has a 3 year old son. I can only wish." Dr. Marlowe looked up, "Amanda Rollins is here before the bell, wow!" Casey grabbed her, "Amanda, don't do it." Amanda ignored her at first, but Dr. Marlowe baited her the entire period. She knew she was supposed to behave, but her mouth. "Dr. Marlowe, get a fucking life and get off my ass." The class laughed and Amanda smiled until she grabbed the phone.
Casey shook her head, "Amanda, why don't you ignore her?" Amanda saw the door open and Alex called her over. "Liv is going to get you." Amanda became scared. They kept her in the office, but decided to let her go to the rest of her classes. "Amanda, phone." Alex held the phone out to her. "Hello?" Olivia sighed, "I thought I told you to behave." Amanda swallowed, "I was but…" Olivia cut her off, "I'll deal with you this afternoon." Amanda heard the dial tone.
Amanda made it through the day and sure enough Lucy was there to pick her up. They picked up Noah and even made dinner. When Olivia came home, Noah took off, "Mama!" Amanda smiled at their relationship. "Hey big boy! How was school?" Noah showed her a picture, "This is you and Lucy and Alex and Mo and Manda. And look mama, daddy in heaven." Amanda listened carefully and watched Olivia's face. Olivia smiled and kissed him. She looked at Amanda, "And how was the rest of your day?"
Amanda heard the tone and knew Olivia had information that she didn't. This wasn't just her cursing problem, "It was fine." Olivia smiled, "Really? Here you go. I bought you a few things." Amanda looked in the bags. She saw jeans, shirts, and new shoes. "Thank you!" Noah looked in the bag, "Mama?" Lucy laughed, "Here Noah!" Noah held up a new shirt smiling. Olivia leaned into Amanda's ear, "After dinner, you and I are going to have a long talk." Amanda didn't like the sound of that. Then Olivia did something that no one had done ever, she kissed the top of her head. It made Amanda feel warm, special, and loved.
They ate dinner and Amanda pushed her food around. Noah watched her, "Manda eat or it's the corner. You won't like the corner." Amanda ate but she was nervous. When Lucy was sitting with Noah, content on the couch, Olivia talked to her. "So, tell me what's the purpose of school?" Amanda stood in front of her, "To learn." Olivia nodded, "So the work that they give you, should be done correct?" Amanda knew where this was going, "Yes."
Olivia laid down a stack of papers and a novel all from Dr. Marlowe's class. "Why is all of Dr. Marlowe's work being ignored?" Amanda didn't hold her tongue, "Because she's a fucking bitch!" Olivia was shocked and Noah popped up, "Ohhhh Manda said 2 bad words." Amanda twisted her hands and Olivia was in her face, "Shower and bed now!" Noah was sad for her, "Sowry Manda." Olivia held him and rocked him. Lucy smiled, "He loves her already, Liv."
Lucy helped, "She isn't wrong Liv." Olivia turned, "What?" Lucy explained, "Dr. Marlowe was at Hudson. I had her. I failed her class. She failed all of us. They dismissed her and gave us all a free summer online course." Olivia got it then, "I get it. So she was a tough professor and she's probably mad at life and Amanda is smart and gets under her skin. But Amanda allows it and goes after her. There is a lesson in this. Plus, we spoke today. She says Amanda has so much potential. She aces every test and holds this work on purpose." After putting Noah down, she checked on Amanda. She was asleep and had dried tears on her face. When Olivia went to cut out the light, she saw the stack of work done, all of it. She kissed her forehead and cut out the light.
The next morning was the same routine. Amanda was still scared when Olivia woke her up. She hated seeing the fear in those blue eyes. "Do you have your work?" Amanda nodded, "Yes." Olivia asked, "If you could do it that fast and that easy, why not. You may not like her and she may not like you, but do the right thing." Amanda had a question, "If I get in trouble, what will you do to me?" Olivia smiled, "You heard Noah, that corner will have your name on it." Amanda laughed and they went to school. When Amanda climbed out, Olivia stopped her, "Hey, you aren't 3. Curse at her and be disrespectful today, my belt will have a fucking life on your ass not off." Amanda's eyes got wide, "Yes ma'am."
The threat was enough. Amanda got her shit together quick. Amanda's birthday was Monday and Olivia wanted to make a big deal about it. She called Alex, Monique, Fin, Melinda, and her best friend Casey. Everyone agreed to come have a birthday dinner on Monday evening at Dave and Buster's. Olivia got off early and took the cake and gifts to the restaurant. No one said anything about her birthday all day, except Casey, "Happy birthday! I left your gift at home though, I'll bring it tomorrow." Dr. Marlowe heard her, "Happy birthday Amanda!" Amanda smiled, "Thank you." Amanda didn't have long and she decided she should do the right thing. She knew Alex and Monique were working on getting her a scholarship to Hudson.
Lucy picked her up as normal and they picked up Noah. After that they went grocery shopping for the week. When they got home everyone screamed, "Happy birthday!" Noah clapped and Lucy laughed while Amanda grabbed her chest. Olivia hugged her, "Did you think we forgot?" When she announced they were heading to Dave and Buster's, Noah grabbed Amanda's hand and did his happy dance.
They talked to Casey to figure out her favorite things. Casey explained she never had much so anything would be awesome. They played games, ate dinner, sang happy birthday, and last opened gifts. Alex and Monique went first. They passed her box with 5 new outfits in them. "Thanks!" Alex gave her an envelope, "Read it out loud." Amanda opened it, "Congratulations Amanda Grace Rollins. You have been awarded this academic scholarship to attend Hudson University." Amanda knew it was special. They stayed after her for four years and even made her turn in the essay she had no interest in. "I never thought I had a chance." Casey went next and gave her a best friend key. It was blue and hung on a gold chain. "Thanks Casey!" Melinda gave her a Hudson hoodie. "This is nice! Look Liv!" Olivia winked at her. Fin went last, "Oh my gosh Fin! These are Space Jam Jordan's."
Olivia thanked everyone for coming and celebrating Amanda. Noah whined, "Mama, we didn't give her anything." Amanda frowned, "Noah you gave me the party." Olivia smiled, "You have gifts from us at home." Amanda smiled at the word "home". When Amanda got home Olivia told her to check out her room. Amanda was shocked. She had a blue comforter, a desk with a rolling chair, and a huge TV with an Apple TV. "You decorated this for me." Olivia smiled, "We wanted you to know you were here to stay." Amanda smiled and thought this would be nice for a month.
Amanda fell into a good routine. A month later she was thriving and doing great. She finished exams and only had a couple of weeks left. She was in class and had a huge headache. "Dr. Marlowe, I'm not feeling good." They had managed to make amends and come to an understanding. She wrote her a clinic pass, but she went to the office first, "Is Ms. Cabot or Ms. Jeffries here?" The secretary looked at the schedule, "No Amanda. Sorry."
She gave the nurse the pass, "You can't call Olivia she's in the field. Can you call Lucy?" Lucy came right away, "She needs to go to the doctor. Her fever is 102.6." Lucy gave her Tylenol and got her home, "Hey Captain Cragen. Amanda is sick. Can you reach Liv." Lucy remembered Melinda was off today. She saw her earlier in the building. She called her cell phone, "Hi Dr. Warner, it's Lucy." She explained it wasn't Noah, "I picked Amanda up, she's sick. I know she's not a kid, but... Melinda laughed, "She's still a kid and I'm actually in the building now. Let me drop by now."
Lucy explained, "It was 102 at school. I gave her Tylenol but I haven't talked to Liv." Melinda woke her, "Amanda." Amanda cried, "No, I don't like doctors or shots." Melinda smiled, "I understand, but you like me. How about just let me look you over and take your temperature." Amanda agreed. Her fever was still high. "Amanda, what hurts?" Amanda held her head, "My ears and head." Melinda was looking at her ears when Olivia came in, "What's wrong." Melinda smiled, "Looks like a double ear infection. Lucy, take these and get them filled. Amanda you need to rest, drink liquids, and take these meds." Amanda fell back on the couch and fell asleep.
Olivia was glad Lucy thought about her, "Lucy called you?" Melinda smiled, "She's good." Melinda gave Olivia instructions. Lucy came back with Noah and he was tiptoeing so she must have told him. "Mama, can I give her a kiss?" Olivia kissed him and picked him up, "Let's wait until she feels better ok?" They ate dinner and Amanda only woke up long enough to take her medicine. She refused dinner, so Olivia knew she was sick. Around 2 AM Olivia heard moaning, "No please don't. Mmmmm." Olivia walked into the family room and saw Amanda twisting.
She woke her worried that she would fall off of the couch. "Hey, wake up." Amanda was soaked and scared. "Amanda? It's just me, Liv." Olivia took her temperature, but it was down. This was a nightmare. After she calmed her, she got her in the shower, changed, and in her bed. "Better?" Amanda nodded. "Amanda, what was that about?" Amanda shrugged. Amanda got better but the closer it got to graduation Olivia noticed more nightmares. Amanda should have been happy and proud of herself.
Everyone joined the graduation party and celebrated Amanda, Olivia's circle had really come together for her. They gave her gift cards and money. Olivia even opened up a checking and savings account. She put 2000 dollars in each and gave her a big box. Amanda had the new iPhone, MacBook, and Apple Watch. After everyone left Olivia sat on her bed, "Are you happy and proud of yourself?" Amanda was acting funny, "Sure."
Olivia sighed, "Ok, enough out with it now! This is your chance to tell me what's going on." Olivia had only told her to stay with her until graduation. She knew Olivia was going to put her out on the streets. Amanda lied, "I'm just nervous about leaving Ms. Cabot and Ms. Jeffries. I'm happy." Amanda smiled. Olivia looked at her, "You're a liar and when the truth finally comes out. I have a corner with your name on it."
Olivia talked to Amanda about lying before. Noah got in trouble at school and when Lucy picked him up, he was crying about a spanking. It broke Amanda's heart. Amanda signed his note Olivia Benson. She failed to tell Lucy she did it and she didn't understand that 3 year old Noah would tell on himself. "Amanda Rollins, do you know I could put you in jail? You don't lie or sign my name. Both of you find a corner." Amanda thought she'd rather have a spanking, standing in a corner was torture. They both got lectures and were sent to bed.
Amanda thought of the memory and knew Olivia cared. Olivia kissed her on her head and said goodnight. "Are you sure you don't want to talk to me?" Amanda shook her head. When Olivia went to bed Amanda packed and left. She looked at her new stuff and only took her phone. Someone would steal the other stuff. She figured she could deal with it later when she started school. She left a note.
Olivia,
Thank you for helping me this last month and a half. I wouldn't have made it without you. I know I can't stay and I thought it would be better to leave this way. Give Noah a kiss for me and tell Lucy she's forever my friend.
Amanda