Chapter twenty: Smoke gets in Your Eyes
"Jeffery, has an Olivia Pope arrived yet?" Fitz asked one of the security men standing at the door. Jeffery scrolled through the many names on the guest list for tonight on his tablet and came up empty.
"No sir."
"Okay. When Ms. Pope does arrive, have someone notify me."
"Yes sir."
Fitz walked back inside to the main event. The night of the benefit had finally come. The Grants were in full force, breaking out their entire wardrobe of charming to suck as much money from these people as they could get. Gerry and Marilyn were making their rounds together, Tabitha was talking up her model friends and Patrick was talking to any hot single woman in the room. Fitz was the only one hanging back a little. He'd spent the majority of the night hanging out by the bar with the best view of the door. He wanted to know the exact moment when Olivia arrived. He didn't want to miss it.
"Fitz what are you doing?" Tabitha's voice broke Fitz's from his focus on the door. "You are supposed to be working the room, not hanging out by the bar. We need to get these people to start making pledges for this stuff."
"I got Mr. Johnson to pledge fifty thousand for that Marco painting."
"Okay, well that's one. Now get up and do it again."
"You do know I'm your big brother."
"Not right now you're not. Right now you're a love sick puppy missing his Olivia. I don't even recognize my brother anywhere in this." Tabitha waved her hand in front of Fitz. "Look, she said she was coming, and she will. You can't sit by the door waiting all night for her. Get up and socialize. If you're not up by time I get back, I'm telling mommy."
Not really in the mood for another lecture from his mother, Fitz got up off his ass and started working the room. Soon, he found himself locked in a conversation with one of New York's biggest hotel moguls. He loved shopping for new artwork to fill his luxury hotels with.
"So how's business treating you?"
"Amazing. Better than I could have expected." Fitz answered. "I just discovered an amazing artist, who's going to make a very rich man. He's a sculpture, only seventeen years old. He's already got the talent and poise of a man three times his age. It's incredible."
Fitz was conversing with the man for about five minutes more, when someone tapped on his shoulder. It was a man in a black suit with an earpiece. Fitz recognized him as one of the security men for the night. He leaned in a spoke lowly in Fitz's ear that Ms. Pope had arrived.
Fitz felt his mood instantly brighten just by the mention of her name. Fitz politely, but quickly excused himself from the conversation and headed toward the front door. He stayed back a little, not wanting to make it too obvious that he had been waiting for her to arrive. It didn't take long for Fitz to spot her out of the sea of people. She stood out not only by her dress, but just by her presence. But she did look good, in a sleeveless, beige floor length, ball gown type dress. It had it had a colorful design along the bottom portion of the dress, but Fitz was drawn more to the plunging neckline and the missing back when she turned around. Her hair was straightened and in sleek up do, showing off her gold chandelier earrings and natural makeup.
Fitz could tell she was looking around for someone, mostly likely someone from his family, but certainly not him. Even still, Fitz was just about to walk over to her, when Tabitha showed up out of nowhere next to Olivia. The two shared excited squeals and hugs. Fitz could see they were having a moment, so he stayed back.
"You look beautiful." Tabitha gushed at Olivia's dress. It was classy and daring with the plunging neckline. Tabitha couldn't help but think that Olivia had worn this dress for Fitz.
"So do you. I would never guess you had a baby." Olivia complimented Tabitha in her all white strapless, form fitting, floor length Vera Wang gown.
"Oh please, I dropped that weight. You should've seen me before I dropped that load."
Olivia laughed. "How is he?"
"Perfect. He's home with the nanny now. I'm not use to leaving him, so I've been calling my nanny about every thirty minutes. I can tell the nanny is really getting tired of answering my calls, it's kind of funny."
"Well I'm staying for the weekend, so that's plenty of time for me to spoil him before I have to leave again."
"Oh it's too late for that." Tabitha looped her arm through Olivia's and walked her through the party. "My mother already has him spoiled. She's always buying him something. Her and my dad, I wouldn't be surprised if they got him a horse for his birthday."
Up ahead, Gerry, Marilyn and Patrick all saw Tabitha leading Olivia over their way.
"Damn, is that Olivia?" Patrick gave Olivia's body a thorough check. "She sure is looking good."
Marilyn heard her son, and discretely pinched his side hard. "Don't you even think about it Fitzpatrick."
"Ow!"
"Olivia dear!" Marilyn was the first one to hug Olivia, when she finally made it over. "You look absolutely beautiful."
"Thank you Mrs. Grant. You look lovely as always. That is such a beautiful necklace." Olivia complimented Marilyn's multi-strand pearl necklace that paired nicely with her long sleeve black and white gown.
"Oh thank you honey, it was a Christmas gift from my lovely husband last year."
"Great taste." Olivia said.
"Well I got the hint, when she started leaving pictures of it all around the house." Gerry was the second one to hug Olivia. "Nice to see you dear."
"Hey Liv."
"Patrick."
"How's Alex?" Patrick knew he didn't have a right to ask, but that didn't stop him.
"Fine." Olivia answered curtly.
"Olivia honey come take a walk with me. There's some people I want you to meet." Marilyn took Olivia by the arm, much like Tabitha had done before. "Gerry, Patrick, Tabitha, continue circulating. We need to meet our goal by the end of the night."
As Marilyn took Olivia away, to meet some people, Gerry and Tabitha went their separate ways campaigning for more money like Marilyn had said. But Patrick went to the bar with his older brother.
"Hey man. Did you see Liv's here." Patrick said, sitting down on a stool next to Fitz and ordering the same thing Fitz was currently drinking on.
"Yeah."
"She looks good man."
"Yeah."
"I mean real good. That dress, and the whole neckline thing. You can see some serious side boo-"
"Do you want me to hurt you Patrick?" Fitz asked all too seriously. His brother checking out his woman was not something he wanted to listen to.
"No I do not." Patrick cleared his throat. "So uh… Why are you still here holding up the bar? You've been looking so hard for her, now she's here and you aren't going to go see her."
"I will."
"When?"
"When she's not surrounded by a million fucking people Patrick."
"Well you might want to move a little quicker big bro. Seems mom is introducing her to the great Jackson Beauford."
"Why does that name sound familiar?"
"The heir to the billion dollar fortune of hair care products." Patrick said. "His mother invented some hair cream stuff and made a fortune off of it. That spoiled brat never has to work a day in his life and he's not even thirty."
Fitz recognized the name from his mother's business, but that's not why he sounded so familiar. Turning around, to face the direction Patrick was looking in, Fitz finally remembered why that name sounded so familiar. Jackson Beauford. That was the little SOB that called himself flirting with Olivia in Paris. Fitz had been heated just by the quick exchange he had with Olivia then, when she wasn't officially his girl. And now, seeing him talking to his woman again was making his blood heat. Fitz watched with a tense face as his mother got pulled away from the conversation leaving Olivia and Jackson alone.
His grip on his glass gotten tighter, when Olivia laughed at something Jackson must have said and he reached out and touched her arm.
"Hey, you might want to put that glass down before you break it." Patrick spoke like it was a joke, but Fitz was in no laughing mood. Patrick now regretted even bring up Olivia's name. "Fitz you alright? Don't even sweat it man, he's a kid. What is he like twenty-five?" Patrick said, but then thought for a minute. "Well Liv is twenty-four…"
"You really don't know when to shut up do you Patrick?" Fitz said, finishing the last of his drink and dropping it down hard on the bar top. Then he took Patrick's drink out his hand and walked off. Fitz wasn't going to go over to Olivia and make a scene. This wasn't the place for that, and he wasn't the type of man to make public scenes in front of a lot of important people. No, this was an important night for his mother and it meant a lot to her. And as bad as he wanted to lay his claim to Olivia, he would restrain himself.
Instead, he took a corridor to a deck area to relax and calm down for a bit. Fitz took a seat on a bench, leaning back so his head could rest on the back of the bench. He closed his eyes and took a breather. He had his drink and a million thoughts running through his mind. And all of them had one or more things to do with Olivia. Here he was, after a year and a half of searching for Olivia, he finally had her in the same building and he couldn't talk to her. He didn't even know where to start off a conversation, what did he say? What would she say? Would she be happy to see him after all this time? Had time healed her wounds? Probably not.
Fitz had no idea when he had become this man. The type of man that pined after one woman. The type of man that spent his nights wide awake in bed restless. Fitz had spent many of nights just staring at TV or the wall, because he couldn't sleep because there wasn't a body curled against him. He'd gotten use to waking up to Olivia snuggled into him, her limbs entangled with his. Her scent constantly invading his senses. Fitz hadn't been one for cuddling before Olivia, but now he needed it in order to have a good night's sleep. He needed Olivia.
Fitz didn't know how long he had been outside, but when he opened his eyes, the sunlight had begun to dim away. He knew his family, mainly his mother was probably wondering where he was. So instead of having her lose her mind looking for him, Fitz decided to head back inside. He had just stood, when the glass door to the deck opened. Fitz couldn't have planned the timing more perfectly.
In the doorway, there stood Olivia. She had yet to see Fitz, but he saw her and she looked even more beautiful up close. And although he wasn't standing close to her, the slight breeze in the air wafted the smell of Olivia's perfume his way, and he was intoxicated.
Olivia finally noticed Fitz's presence, when she turned her head in his direction. Fitz could tell she was caught off guard, obviously. But not just by the fact that she wasn't alone, but because she was with Fitz. Olivia had mentally prepared herself on the two hour drive, but apparently it hadn't been enough. She didn't know what to do right now. Do I stay and chat, or do I turn on my heels and run in the other direction? Olivia was leaning towards the first option, but still she opened her mouth to speak.
"I'm sorry- I didn't know anyone was… I was just looking for a quiet place to…" Olivia couldn't finish any one of her sentences.
"Hi." Was all Fitz answered.
Despite herself, Olivia had a small smile on her face as she answered. "Hi."
"You look beautiful tonight."
"Thanks." Olivia answered, looking down at the ground.
"How have you been?"
"Fine." Olivia answered simply, but Fitz knew she was doing better than fine. After that day he spent as a stalker outside her house. Fitz went back to his penthouse in New York and did some research on Olivia. He career had really boomed in the past year and a half. And it wasn't all just for her panting. She was getting recognized as a great photographer as well. She had made a lot of good friends and associates in the business.
"How's work?"
"Great."
Fitz was only half disappointed she didn't tell him about her gallery opening or her photography studio, because he hadn't really expected she would anyway. But he was upset that he was only getting one word responses from her. And also the fact that she wouldn't look at him, like it would burn if she did.
"Is that all I get?"
"What more do you want from me Fitzgerald?"
"Wow, I'm Fitzgerald now? I'm trying to have a conversation with you Olivia. I'm trying to find out how you've been for the past year and a half, and all you're giving me are these one worded responses."
"Well you're lucky you're getting that."
Fitz chose to ignore that little comment. "You know I looked for you after you left. After you sister told me you were gone, I searched for you." Olivia looked up at him now. This was the first she'd heard of this. She knew Fitz had tried to contact her on multiple occasions, but she didn't know that he'd tried to find her. "I kind of went crazy looking for you, but I could never find you. And your sister, she's like a lock box. She wouldn't tell me anything."
"Fitz-"
"Where'd you go? You're back now, why can't tell me."
"A lot of places." Olivia finally answered him. "I was in Europe for a long while. Asia, South Africa… I came back to the states and…"
"Didn't tell anyone."
"Why would I have told you? I was avoiding you. Why would I inform you I was back in the city?"
"Why are you being like this?"
"Like what Fitzgerald? How am I supposed to be? No really, I want to know, because I don't know myself. I don't know how to act around you anymore, I don't know how to be around you anymore. So tell me, how am I supposed to act Fitz?" Olivia could feel and hear the emotion in her voice beginning to build.
"I'm sorry Liv."
"Don't. Okay, I've heard all your apologies."
"Then why won't you listen to them? Why won't you listen to me?"
"What's the point?"
"The point is you would know how sorry I am that I hurt you. You would know that I never meant for any of that to happen. You would know that I'm divorced now. That I gave that woman everything she wanted so she would be out of my life for good."
"It's a little late for that don't you think."
"No I don't." Fitz took a step towards Olivia.
"Don't touch me." Olivia meant for it to be stern, but her words came out more like a whisper as Fitz steadily came her way. Olivia back up, but instead of heading to the door she backed into a wall. Olivia back away until she couldn't go anymore. Fitz was right there with her, she had nowhere to go. "Don't touch me. Don't- please."
Olivia was sure Fitz was going to kiss her, and she was also sure that she was going to let him. This wasn't at all how she'd planned the night to go. She'd planned on staying away from Fitz at all cost, and to definitely not be alone with him. But if the situation did occur where they were left alone, Olivia planned on telling Fitz off and walking away with the upper hand. She definitely didn't have the upper hand right now.
But, much to Olivia's relief, she was saved at the last minute from dissolving into Fitz's incoming kiss. Just as he had leaned forward into her space, a waiter opened the door, interrupting them.
"Oh!" The young waitress was embarrassed on what she had walked in on. "I'm so sorry to interrupt. Mr. Grant your… Mrs. Grant has been looking for you. She says your presence is requested, no required at the moment."
"Please tell her I'll be right there." Fitz said annoyed. Unlike Olivia, he didn't appreciate the intrusion. "We aren't done discussing this." Fitz told Olivia, still blocking her path.
"There's nothing to discuss." Olivia pushed past him, and walked behind with the waiter. She made sure to keep close with the girl, knowing Fitz wouldn't try anything in front of others.
X
"And that ladies and gentlemen concludes our action for this evening, and I am pleased to announce that we have met our goal for the evening!" The band played a little tune as the crowd cheered. The Grant's all stood in a single unified line on the stage, as Marilyn happily gave her speech. The auction had closed, and everything had been sold away. They had reached their goal for the night and beyond. Now all they had to do was drink and party, until they wanted to go home.
"Now just because the auction is closed, doesn't meant the night is over. Please stay and enjoy your evening. Drink, eat, break a leg on the dance floor dealers choice." More laughter. "MY family want to thank you all again, for changing the lives of hundreds of little girls and boys. Enjoy the rest of your evening."
The band started up again, as all the Grant's made their way down off the stage and back onto the dance floor. Fitz held his mother's hand in the crook of his arm as he helped her down the steps.
"You disappeared on us for a while sweetheart." Marilyn kept a sweet smile on her face, as she walked past the party goers. Shaking hands, and the occasional double kiss on the cheeks.
"I'm sorry mother, I just needed a minute of quiet."
"Seems like you took more than a minute sweetheart." Marilyn said. "Does this have anything to do with Olivia being here?" Fitz didn't answer. "Patrick told me you were a little upset that we were having a conversation with Mr. Beauford earlier."
"I'm not her father, she can talk to whoever she wants to." Even as Fitz said it, he didn't believe it. Earlier he wanted nothing more than to carry her away from that man in front of everyone.
"I didn't know she would be here tonight, until Tabitha told me this morning. I would have warned you otherwise."
"I'm fine mom."
"You are anything but baby." Marilyn stopped walking, which made Fitz stop walking. "Since you and Olivia parted ways, you've been different. You've been sullen and grumpy towards everybody. And you've been distant more than usual, spending all your time alone. But now I know it was just were searching for her." Fitz cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably.
"Listen honey, I know you don't want to hear this from me, but I'm your mother and it's my job to be in your business and I'm going to tell it to you straight. You fucked up." Fitz gazed at his mother in shock, she wasn't normally one to use such harsh profanity. "You fucked up real bad. And you were warned about the major fuck up that was about to come raining down, but you ignored me. And what happened? You fucked-"
"Okay mother I get it. Can you please stop saying fuck?"
"Watch your mouth." Fitz gave his mother an are you serious face. "I'm just being honest son, no sugarcoating."
"I remember what happened mother, I was there."
"Yes, and so was Olivia. And it's going to take a lot of time for her to get over that, and even more for her to forgive you. To truly forgive you. You may be working for her trust in you for the rest of your life. But you can't force it on her Fitz. You can't just stalk her and corner her in a room and-"
"I didn't."
"You haven't taken your eyes off her since we started talking. Honey just give her some space."
"She's had space. A year and a half of space. That's enough, now she's going to listen to me." Fitz walked away from his mother, leaving her standing there alone. Fitz was on a mission.
Olivia was standing by her table with a glass of champagne, talking to Tabitha. The two didn't notice him coming their way, too wrapped up in their conversation. Probably making plans for the rest of the weekend. When Fitz reached them, he didn't speak, didn't apologize for the interruption and barely even stopped. He just took Olivia by the arm and kept walking towards the dance floor. Olivia barely had enough time to sit her drink down on the table before Fitz dragged her away.
"What do you think you are doing?" Olivia asked, almost jogging behind Fitz to keep up with his fast pace. "Fitzgerald."
Fitz came to a stop on the dance floor and spun Olivia around into his arms. "Dance with me." He was already swaying with her to the music.
"Excuse me?"
"Dance."
Olivia let him take her hand in his, still swaying. "You hate dancing."
Fitz shook his head. "Not true. I like to dance with you." it was true, Fitz hated dancing. When he was twelve his mother signed him up in some ballroom dance classes that he absolutely loathed. But Fitz jumped at any chance to get Olivia close to him.
The band started with another song, and a female performer began to sing a Billie Holiday song, Smoke gets in your eyes.
They asked me how I knew
My true love was true
I of course replied
Something here inside
Cannot be denied
"I love this song. So beautiful." Fitz spoke in Olivia's ear. She had relaxed, and was now resting her head on Fitz chest. Her hand captured in his, while her other rest on his shoulder. Fitz's right arm wrapped protectively and possessively around her waist.
"I missed you so much Livvie." Olivia still remained quiet, but she was listening to him. "I didn't think I could ever miss someone so much, but I did. When you left, I felt lost and helpless. I've never felt that way before, and I didn't know how to handle that. I still don't. I also didn't think I could love someone as much either. Then you went and proved me wrong again."
They said someday you'll fine
All who love are blind
When your hearts on fire
You must realize
Smoke gets in your eyes
"I'm so sorry Olivia. And I know those three little words don't began to make up for everything that's happened. But it's all I know to do right now. I wish you would just tell me what to do to fix it."
So I chaffed them and I gaily laughed
To think they could doubt my love
Yet today my love has flown away
I am without my love
Now laughing friends deride
Tears I can not hide
So I smile and say
When a lovely flame dies
Smoke gets in your eyes
"Why couldn't I have met you sooner? I wish I had met you sooner. What kind of coward was I to marry her and not wait for you to show up?"
Olivia looked up at Fitz then. Her big brown eyes getting wet with emotion. She did not know how to respond to that. How would anyone respond to that? Things would have been a lot easier if he had met Olivia earlier. They'd probably be married by now, or at least engaged. Maybe they'd have a family. Two or three kids. Boys that looked like their daddy and a little girl the perfect mix of the two of them. Olivia was getting upset again, just thinking about what could have been.
So I chaffed them and I gaily laughed
To think they could doubt my love
And yet today my love has flown away
I am without my love
Now laughing friends deride
Tears I can not hide
"Fitz I don't know what you want me to say."
So I smile and say
When a lovely flame dies
Smoke gets in your eyes…
X
The next day, Olivia stayed in bed longer than she should have. When she did get up, she was the only one in the brownstone. Alex had some work thing to take care of and Quinn was gone as well. Although Olivia was tired from her drive and the long night she had at the party last night, she still got dressed and went for her morning run. Early morning runs had become a daily ritual for Olivia.
After she ran enough to break a sweat, she stopped for a bagel and smoothie, before walking back home. It was weird being back in the house. It didn't even feel like her old home anymore. Alex and Quinn had redecorated and turned the spare bedroom downstairs into an oversized storage closet. Olivia didn't mind of course, she didn't live there anymore, but it was still different to feel out of place in a home she spent so many years in.
Even the city didn't feel the same. Olivia had always loved the city. She loved the fast pace, the commotion and the never ending sounds. But she found she liked the quiet that Sag could offer as well. Up there, things didn't move so fast. People stopped and talked to others on the street. People rode around on bikes, and not because they were delivering something. There weren't constant horns honking, and bumper to bumper traffic. And Olivia absolutely loved her home. She'd never get the kind of front and back yard she has, living in the city. Olivia may have been a city girl at heart, but suburban life wasn't so bad after all.
After Olivia showered, she got dressed and headed out the door. Olivia left her car at the brownstone, not wanting to drive today, so she took a cab. When she got to the restaurant she was eating at, she was shown to a table outside. Tabitha was already at the table, smiling at a babbling baby boy in her arms.
When Tabitha noticed Olivia, she smiled brightly and stood to greet and hug her. "Liv you made it."
"I'm sorry I'm late. I woke up later than I had hoped."
"Its okay, Theo and I were keeping each other company weren't we buddy." Theodore giggled in his mother's arms, when she poked at his round belly.
"Oh my God Tabi he's gorgeous."
"Oh please don't let his uncles, or his grandfather hear you use that word to describe him. You'll never hear the end of it. You wanna let Auntie Liv hold you?" Tabi said in baby talk, passing her little boy over to Olivia. Theo didn't whimper once being out of his mother's arms. He was used to being passed around from person to person.
The two sat down at their table, and Olivia stood Theo up on her thighs. "Oh my God he so chubby I can't take it!" Olivia began speaking in a baby voice, earning a big smile from Theo. "You look like a little teddy bear, yes you do. I'm gonna call you Teddy, yes I am. He looks a lot like you Tabi."
"You think so? People say that, but I don't see it."
"He's definitely got the Grant eyes though." Olivia said of the baby's striking bright blue eyes. He got those from his grandfather and not his brown eyed mother. "How old is he now?"
"Thirteen months." Tabitha answered and Olivia gave her a funny look. "What?"
"Don't tell me you're one of those mothers. 'My baby's twenty-four months'"
"Shut up." Tabitha laughed. "I'm not that bad."
Their waiter came by and they ordered some food. Tabitha ordered mac and cheese for Theo, and got herself a hot sandwich with sweet potato fries and Olivia ordered the same.
"So how does it feel being a mother?" Olivia asked, letting Theo play with her braid, but taking it from him when he tried to put her hair in his mouth. She pinched his plump cheek and Theo gave her a drool filled smile.
"It's… I don't know it's just different." Tabitha laughed. "I don't know how to explain it. My life is just completely different you know. One little baby came a turned my entire world upside down, but for the better. I'm not gonna lie and say it's all been easy, because it hasn't been. Those first few months were rough." Tabitha sighed. "I was nervous about being a new mom and I was on my own in my apartment and I had no idea what I was doing. And he didn't make it any better. I felt like he never slept, he cried all the time and was constantly getting colic, which only made him cry harder. And to top it off, he refused the bottle. I was pumping, but he just wouldn't take a bottle for whatever reason. I was so frustrated and tired all the time. I even once thought about just dropping him off with my parents and taking off."
"What happened?" Olivia asked.
"I grew the hell up." Tabitha laughed again. "It was still tough, but it got a lot easier. And it helped to remember that I had family able and willing to help me out. And now I'm lucky because I have this perfect little boy who absolutely adores me." Theodore laughed, like he knew he was being talked about. "I hope I didn't scare you off of babies did I. You still plan on having kids one day right."
"I always saw myself with kids." Olivia smiled down to Theo, who was having fun ripping a paper napkin apart. "But now, I don't think it's in my future."
"Why not?"
"Well there's the lack of a man situation."
"First, you need a man's sperm, not a man. Trust me there is a difference. And secondly, if you want a man, it would not be hard for you to find one. As a matter of fact, that guy in the suit at the bar has been casually looking this way at you since you walked by him earlier." Olivia straightened up in her chair. All of a sudden, she could feel someone staring at her. She looked behind her to the bar, and just as Tabi said, there was a man in a suit at the bar looking her way. He smiled at Olivia when he noticed he'd been caught, and tipped his glass to her. "He's cute."
"Yeah." Olivia agreed. "But he looks-"
"Exactly like my brother?"
"Yes! You see it too?"
"Spitting image. That could be my long lost brother. So I should probably stop having inappropriate fantasies right now."
"You are a mess."
"Eat!" Theo shouted loudly, when the waiter came to their table with their food. Eat was one of the new words Teddy had learned. He knew to say it when he wanted something, or saw food. He didn't always say it right, sometimes it came out more like 'eh' or just like he was saying the letter E.
"Is someone hungry?" Olivia asked the little boy.
"You want me to take him?" Tabi asked, but Olivia declined.
"I can feed him." Olivia was enjoying the little boy too much to give him back now. Plus she wasn't really that hungry, so Tabi could eat while Olivia fed the baby his mac and cheese. She hadn't even put the spoon in the dish, before Theo's mouth was wide open waiting for his first bite. "I can tell he's a good eater."
"That he is. He totally skipped the baby food stage. He ate it for a short while, before he started wanting what was on my plate."
Olivia didn't stop Theo, when he reached out and took a fry from her plate. She pinched off the ends, so he could easily bite into the crisp potato. He ended up eating a good portion of Olivia's fries along with his mac and cheese.
"So." Tabitha struck up another conversation.
"So?"
"So I saw you and Fitz spoke at the party last night."
Olivia knew there was a chance that Tabitha would bring Fitz up at some point in their day together. "Yeah." Liv answered simply.
"I take it things went well."
Olivia sarcastically c Huck led. "I wouldn't say well, but we didn't end up screaming at each other. So that's a pro."
"You know he spent a great deal of time searching for you, after you left."
"Yeah he told me."
"I've never seen my brother like this ever. He's always been put together. Never been one to rattle easy or show his true emotions. He's basically a robot. But you humanized him. When you left, he wasn't himself. I don't even know how to explain how he was, he just… he wasn't Fitz. He was always moody and irrational. He shut himself up in his penthouse all day, except for when he went to work. And he wasn't sleeping."
"Tabitha-"
"He loves you Olivia."
"Did he put you up to this? Is this why you wanted to have lunch with me to talk about him?"
"No. I just, I thought you should know. He'd probably be angry with me for saying any of this to you. But I was rooting for you two. And I know he was the one who screwed everything to hell, but I also know he really cares about you."
"Did he care about his wife?" Olivia said that more of a sarcastic rhetorical question, but Tabitha still answered.
"He thought he did, I suppose. He never really talks about it, especially not with me. But I don't think he was ever in love with her."
"Then why did he marry her?"
"You have to ask him that. Melanie and my brother were all wrong for each other. She didn't even care about him, she was a gold digger and everyone saw through her. My mother was the first to see through her sweet façade. It took Fitz longer to see the real Melanie, but once he did he wised up and filed for divorce. But she wouldn't let go. Kept him trapped even living thousands of miles away."
"Why didn't any of you tell me? You and I were getting closer, you were my friend. Why didn't you tell me?" A tear fell from Olivia's eye, but she quickly wiped it.
"It's wasn't my business to tell." Olivia scoffed. "He's my brother Liv. And you guys were so happy together, I didn't want to be the one to ruin things for you two. And he said he would handle Melanie before you had to ever find out about her. I honestly thought he could get her to sign the papers this time. No one wanted you to get hurt Liv."
Olivia laughed. "Yeah well, neither did I."
"Do you still love my brother?" Tabitha asked.
"What?"
"I know you loved him before, do you still love him?"
Olivia didn't have to think about her answer. She knew she still loved Fitz, but love wasn't always enough to fix broken hearts. "I don't think I can ever stop loving him. But I don't think I can trust him again either."
"Just give him a chance Liv. My brother can be hardheaded, but it works to his advantage sometimes. And his hardheadedness won't let him give up on trying to win you back. No matter how much you push, he'll still come after you. He took the 'Grant me don't give up' motto very seriously." Tabitha reached across the table and took hold of Olivia's hand. "Just promise me you'll try to forgive him. He's going to contact you, and when he does promise you'll hear him out."
Olivia wasn't in the habit of making promises she didn't know she could keep. And she wasn't going to start now. "I can't promise you that Tabitha."
X
Alex:
Well, sometimes I go out by myself
And I look across the water
And I think of all the things, what you're doing
And in my head I paint a picture
'Cause since I've come on home
Well, my body's been a mess
And I've missed your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Won't you come on over
Stop makin' a fool out of me
Why don't you come on over Valerie?
Valerie, Valerie, Valerie
Olivia:
Did you have to go to jail
Put your house on up for sale
Did you get a good lawyer?
Hope you didn't catch a tan
Hope you find the right man
Who'll fix it for you
Are you shopping anywhere
Changed the color of your hair
Are you busy?
And did you have to pay that fine
You was dodging all the time
Are you still busy?
Since I've come on home
Well, my body's been a mess
And I've missed your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Won't you come on over
Stop makin'? a fool out of me
Why don't you come on over Valerie?
Valerie, Valerie, Valerie
Both:
Well, sometimes I go out by myself
And I look across the water
And I think of all the things, what you're doing
And in my head I paint a picture
'Cause since I've come on home
Well, my body's been a mess
And I've missed your ginger hair
And the way you like to dress
Won't you come on over
Stop makin' a fool out of me
Why don't you come on over Valerie?
Valerie, Valerie, Valerie
Valerie, Valerie, Valerie, Valerie
Why don't you come on over Valerie?
After a few drinks, and some serious coaxing on Alex's part, she finally got Olivia up on the stage for armature karaoke night. Olivia, Alex, Quinn and Chance were hanging out at a popular karaoke bar having fun. They had invited Tabitha, but she went home a couple of hours ago to get home to Teddy. It was pushing midnight now, but no one was gathering their things to leave. Tonight was Olivia's last night in the city, she was driving home tomorrow night. So she wanted to enjoy her last night with her sister and friends.
Olivia wasn't drunk, but she was tipsy. It was a good buzz. The kind of buzz that had you sitting on a stool all night, just people watching with a little smile on your face and although you're not doing anything, you totally love it.
Olivia gave her mike to the MC and hoped off the stage with Alex following close behind. Valerie was one of Olivia and Alex's favorite Amy Winehouse songs. The second they saw it on the list of songs for karaoke, they picked it.
Olivia needed tonight, she needed a night out with the girls, and Chance. She loved living in Sag Harbor, but she missed her sister and friends back home. And although she appreciated to quiet, slow pace living Sag Harbor provided, she also missed the hustle and bustle of the city. Olivia never thought she'd missed the sound of cars honking and busy streets at night. It took weeks for Olivia to get use to the quiet, before she could get a good night's sleep.
"That was so much fun!" Olivia yelled, sliding back in the booth, where Chance and Quinn were waiting. "I needed this you guys. I've been a little bit on edge about the gallery opening. I needed a night to relax."
"Well you're welcome. Here." Alex passed another shot Olivia's way, but Olivia pushed it back.
"No, no. I'm at my limit. I've got a good buzz, I don't want to get drunk." Olivia stuck to the ice water, now just water, she'd ordered earlier.
"More for me than." Alex took the drink and turned up the shot. "We should order some food, I am starving. The pizza here is bonkers." Quinn ordered some sliders and Chance ordered some hot wigs. "What do you want Liv? You need to eat something too, you haven't eaten since lunch."
"I'm not hungry."
"You're never hungry. Now what do you want, or I'll order for you."
"Something sweet. They got doughnut holes?" Olivia had been craving doughnut holes ever since she got back to New York. But she didn't want just any doughnut holes, she wanted them from the bakery Fitz had taken her to a long time ago. He had taken her there a couple of times during their relationship, it had become 'their' place. It was only a few blocks away from where she was now and she could practically smell those cinnamon doughnut holes.
"No they don't have doughnuts Olivia. You need food."
"That is food. Besides, I told you I'm not hungry." Olivia got out her phone to google the bakery place for their business hours. She was pretty sure they were still open, because she and Fitz use to go there at all hours of the day and night. Now that she was thinking about them, she couldn't stop.
"Oh yeah, they're still open."
"Who is?" Alex asked, wondering where Olivia thought she was going, gathering her jacket and purse.
"This bakery a few blocks away. They have the best doughnut holes. I've been craving them for months." Olivia put on her little jacket and grabbed her shoulder back from beside Chance.
"Well hold the hell on, you can't just walk out in New York at midnight by yourself and you've been drinking." Alex attempted to get up, but she slipped on something on the floor and plopped back down in her seat, laughing.
"I'm not drunk Alex. And you're tipsier than I am, who are you going to protect me from?"
"You still can't walk out there by yourself, I'll go with you." Chance volunteered. He, like Olivia, had limited himself to a number of drinks tonight, and he reached his limit and was now only drinking soda. "These two bitches won't protect you from anything." Olivia smiled, and looped her arm through Chance's and they walked to the bakery together.
They stayed that way the entire time as they walked to the bakery. Olivia with her arm looped through his, and her head on his shoulder. To anyone, they would look like a couple taking a midnight stroll for some baked goods.
"You know you didn't sound half bad up there." Chance teased.
"Why thank you. Good to know I have something to fall back on."
"So how do you like living in Sag Harbor with all those snobby white folks?"
Olivia laughed a little. "It's not like that at all. Okay there are a few bad apples, but for the most part it's really great. I've got some good friends up there, good clientele. And although it took me a little while to get use to the quiet, I enjoy it now."
"You think you'll ever come back?"
"To the city?" Chance nodded. "I don't know. Maybe. Probably. You know my dream was to have an art gallery in New York, not Sag Harbor, but we'll see. It's not all bad, my career is still taking off."
"Oh by the way Hollywood, I saw the Vogue photo shoot you did, it was great."
"Oh my god, that was so much fun. But I think my favorite was the Runway shows I did in Milan. I met Donatella Versace backstage, and we spoke for like fifteen minutes, it was insane."
"Oh I bet it was." Chance winked. "All those Italian men."
Olivia laughed again, nudging Chance's side. "I went there to work."
"Honey you can work and play."
"I did play, just not with any Italian men."
"Well honey you're better than me. I probably would've come back pregnant."
This time Olivia's laugh could be heard down the block. She always loved how Chance made her laugh every time they were together. In many ways, Chance was like the big brother Alex and Olivia never wanted but had.
"I'm not looking for a man thank you."
"Mhm, then what's with the whole wardrobe change?" Chance said looking down at Olivia's outfit for tonight. She was wearing a pair of tight, ripped black jeans, a sleeveless shirt that came up to her neck, but left she shoulders bare and stopped above her belly button, showing the thin god belly chain she was wearing. And she was wearing a pair of thick heeled, burgundy high heels, the same color as her shirt. The shirt was tight, making her nipples evident, since she wasn't wearing a bra and showed a little belly.
"What?"
"Don't get me wrong, you look great. It's just different from the baggy jeans and t-shirt you used to wear when you came out with us. And Alex didn't dress you. And you're wearing makeup. I couldn't tell you the last time I remember you wearing makeup. Who you getting all gussied up for?"
"No one." Chance gave her a look like he didn't believe her. "I'm serious. I guess doing photo shoots for all those fashion shows and magazines has inspired me to liven up my own wardrobe. Plus, I just want to look professional to potential clients."
"If you say so." Chance said, just as they entered the bakery, still arm and arm. The line was a little backed up, so Chance went to the bathroom, while Olivia held their spot in line. She was checking her messages on her phone and going through her snapchat feed, while she waited in line. She had just moved up a spot in the line, when laughter made her look up. She didn't recognize the female voice, it was just that loud that it made her look.
Olivia was almost froze in place when she looked up to the table to find the source of the laughter. She may not have recognized the tickled woman, but she certainly recognized the man she was sharing a table with. Olivia would recognized Fitz's curly moped head from anywhere. He was facing sideways, but didn't seem to notice Olivia staring daggers into the side of his head. Once she'd gotten over the initial shock of seeing Fitz that shock turned into jealousy and then anger.
Who was this woman he was with? Olivia thought to herself, as she continued to stare at the couple at the table. Was this a date? Did he bring another woman here for a date? This is our spot, how dare he bring another woman to our place.
Olivia watched in anger with her arms folded as the woman laughed at whatever Fitz was saying to her. Olivia couldn't help but roll her eyes. Fitz wasn't that damn funny and she knew it. He was corny funny. Olivia damn near dung holes into her arm, when the woman reached over and squeezed Fitz forearm. Every woman knew that was the go to move when you were flirting with a man.
Not wanting to see any more of this show, and having lost her appetite for the doughnut holes, Olivia walked out the bakery. She was about to walk back to the bar to meet Quinn and Alex, but then she remembered she'd come here with Chance. He was still in the bathroom, and Olivia wished he'd hurry up. She was standing outside the bakery, but the entire front part was made up of big glass windows Fitz. She could still see Fitz and his mystery girl, which meant either one of them could see her at any minute.
When Chance finally walked out the door, he noticed Olivia wasn't waiting in line, and he didn't see her at any of the table or booths. But he did notice Fitz sitting at a table with a rather attractive blonde, laughing at Fitz like he was Richard Prior. Chance eventually spotted Olivia standing just outside the bakery doors and made his way over to her.
"Hey you okay?" Chance asked, when he reached Olivia. "Why are you standing outside? Did you see Fitz in there?" Chance asked back to back, but Olivia didn't answer. "Liv."
"Let's get out of here." Olivia said, walking off without even waiting.
"Hey what about your doughnut holes?"
"Don't want them anymore." Olivia picked up her pace back to the bar.
"Olivia what happened? Are you okay? Did you see Fitz in there? Is that what it is?"
"No, I'm fine." Olivia slowed back down and looped her arm through Chance's like she'd done before. "Hey what do you say we go to a club?"
"I thought you didn't want to go clubbing tonight." Chance responded.
"Yeah well I changed my mind." Olivia said. "I need a drink." Olivia continued walking with and angry strut back to the bar.
X
"Okay Chance, what the hell did you do to my sister?" Alex asked. She, Quinn and Chance were all sitting on circular ottoman chair in the club. Alex and Quinn were more than shocked, when Olivia came back from the bakery without doughnut holes and wanting to go to a club. She'd been so adamant about not wanting to go to a club tonight. And yet here she was now, partying like this was Studio 54.
Olivia had all but drug Quinn and Alex out the bar to go to a club. She was shocked it took so much effort to get them to go out, considering they were the ones who wanted to go out in the first place. When they got to the club, they walked straight ahead of the line to the bouncer. Alex, of course knew him, and they were let right on in. Much to the dismay of the people in the line wrapped around the building.
When they got inside, Olivia headed straight to the bar. She ordered everyone a shock of tequila, followed by a shot of gin. Olivia wanted and needed a buzz real quick. She was still pissed off from seeing Fitz at the bakery earlier with that woman. And it pissed her off even more than she even cared. He was a lying, cheating, prick and she shouldn't care about anything he does now. It's not her problem. But that was easier said than done. And she couldn't deny that it hurt her deeply to see Fitz with that woman. She didn't even have the full story, that could've been a relative for all she knew, but she was still furious. Olivia had never really been one to drown her sorrows in alcohol, okay maybe a few times before, but she figured this one last time wouldn't hurt.
After they all downed their shots, Olivia headed to the dance floor with Alex. They danced for a while, until Alex took a break for another drink with Quinn. She left Olivia on the dance floor by herself, where she stayed, dancing with every guy and girl who came her way.
"She was fine when she left with you Chance. Now she's out there backing it up on dudes left and right. What did you do to my sister?"
"I didn't do anything to her." Chance defended himself. "We got to the bakery, she was fine. I had to relieve myself, she was fine. When I got out the bathroom, she was outside ready to go. I didn't do that." Chance pointed over to Olivia, who was stumbling over to towards them with another drink in her hand. Alex had never seen her sister drink as much as she had tonight.
"What are you all doing over here?!" Olivia yelled over the music, as she plopped down on the circular ottoman chair the group was sitting on. "Why are you over here babysitting this couch? We're at a club! Come on we're supposed to be dancing and having fun! You all need to loosen all the way up." Olivia brought the straw from her long island ice tea up to her mouth.
"Yeah, I think you are loose enough for all of us dear." Quinn pulled Olivia's hand down, making the draw come out Olivia's glass. "Maybe a little too loose."
"What?" Olivia obnoxiously laughed. "I know you aren't trying to police someone's alcohol intake. You must not remember all the nights I had to help you, practically carry you, up the steps because you were too hammered to walk by yourself. Or all the times I've held your hair back as you puked in the toilet. I've taken you baths before, because you didn't always make it to the bathroom. Then I got you dressed and put to bed. You were basically my twenty year old baby. Don't lecture me Alex." Olivia put her straw back in her glass, and took a long swig. "Oh and by the way, I'm pretty sure I'm going to need you to do all of that for me tonight. Because I don't think this is my last one of these," Olivia shook her glass in the air, before leaning in and whispering to Alex. "And also, I can't feel my legs."
"Okay Olivia, that's enough." Alex snatched Liv's glass from her hand, much to her displeasure.
"Hey! Give me that back."
"No, you're cut off. The only thing else you're drinking tonight is water." Alex put the drink on a tray passing by with a waiter. "And we're also leaving. Because I don't know what's gotten into you tonight, but I'm not sure I like it."
"What? You're always telling me I'm too uptight and I need to have fun. Now look who's the uptight shrew."
"Liv stop okay. Obviously something is bothering you and you need to talk about it." Alex waited for Olivia to answer her, but she never got a response.
"I don't feel well." Olivia spoke softly with one hand on her stomach and the other covering her mouth.
"Bathroom." Alex said hurriedly. "Bathroom hurry." Alex helped Olivia get to her feet, but it was too late. The moment Olivia stood up, she emptied her stomach on the floor and some on a females shoes, who just happened to be walking by at the moment.
"Are you serious?! Are you fucking kidding me?!" The girl screamed in horror of the wet liquid on her shoes.
Alex was holding Olivia up on her feet, bearing all her weight. "Oh relax, they're not real and they're ugly anyway. She did you a favor."
"I'm so sorry." Olivia mumbled, as Alex led her out the club. Chance helped them get Olivia into a cab, before he parted ways to head home. Quinn and Alex got Olivia home and Alex payed Olivia back for all the times she's had to take care of her because she was too drunk. Alex got her in the bathroom, for a quick wash-up and into some pajamas, which was really just an oversized shirt and put her in her bed. Alex let Olivia sleep in her bed tonight, and she went to sleep with Quinn in her room. After Olivia moved out, Alex took her advice and asked Quinn to move in with her. Not as a girlfriend, but as a roommate. Alex couldn't afford the brownstone rent by herself and she knew Quinn was looking for a new place to live. Alex took Olivia's bigger room and Quinn took Alex's old room. Although they both spent more time in the other's room, than their own. The third room downstairs was just basically a storage room now.
Alex made sure Olivia was comfortable in the bed, before she left a bottle of aspirin and some water on the nightstand. The water would be room temperature by morning, but Alex knew Olivia would need it.
X
The next morning, Olivia woke up with the worst headache of her life. She felt like an elephant was sitting on her head. The little birds chirping outside the window sounded like airplanes flying by. The sun creeping through the thin curtains, shining right in her eyes, was not helping one bit. Olivia rolled over on her stomach and groaned. She most definitely over did it last night. She couldn't believe she let Fitz get her that upset, to the point where she had to get stupid drunk. That wasn't her, it never has been. She couldn't even remember half of what happened last night. For instance, she didn't know how she got in bed in her old room. It looked drastically different, now that Alex had redecorated.
But Olivia was more so upset about her feelings, than the drinking last night. She hated that Fitz still had an effect on her. She hated that he could change her mood and day just like that. She was actively trying to get over the man, but every day she was reminded of just how hard that was going to be.
There was a knock on the door, and Olivia knew it was Alex.
"Can I come in?" Alex poked her head in the door.
"It's your room now." Olivia rolled over, turning her back towards the window and the sun. "I feel like complete and utter crap."
Alex giggled. "I bet you do." Alex set on the edge of the bed with a cup of coffee in hand.
"Ugh! Get that away from me, before I puke again."
Alex rolled her eyes, but sat the coffee cup on the nightstand. She picked up the aspirin bottle she left there last night and poured two in Olivia's hand. Olivia popped the pills in her hand, and took three large gulps of the water from the glass.
"I don't know how you do this again and again. I feel like my head is splitting in two."
Alex shrugged. "I guess I'm immune to it now."
"How did I get in bed last night?" Olivia asked, finishing off the water.
"I carried you. Quinn, helped, but after the fact. I gave you a bath too, more like a wash-up. You have a little vomit trickle on your chest."
"Oh my God." Olivia was embarrassed. She always prided herself for not being one of those drunken party girls, but now look at her.
"Yeah, so no more giving me flack about having to take care of me when I'm drunk."
"Oh please, you gave me one bath. Do you know how many times I've bathed you? I'm going back to college by the way."
"Whatever. So are you going to tell me what the hell happened to you last night?"
"I wasn't planning on it."
"Olivia seriously, I've never seen you like that before. It was worse than that night Fitz came to get you from the club." Olivia tensed up at the mention of Fitz's name, and Alex noticed. "What was that?"
"What?"
"That. Why did you just get all weird on me?"
"I didn't. And please stop talking, you're making my head ring."
"Olivia."
"Ugh, please stop talking." Olivia dunked underneath the covers, pulling it over her head.
"I said one word."
"One too many." Olivia grumbled from beneath the covers.
"Well you're going to be hearing a lot more words, because we're going to mom and dad's today."
Olivia pulled the covers back, exposing her face. "What?"
"Breakfast. At mom and dad's. Did you forget?" Olivia had definitely forgotten about breakfast at her parents this morning. She was in no mood to go anywhere right now.
"This is your last day, before you leave. Momma wanted up to have breakfast together today. Now it's looking more like brunch, because it's already eleven and we were supposed to be there an hour ago. And momma has already called three times. I gave you to eleven to sleep in, but now it's time to get up. Because if she calls this house one more time, I'm giving the phone to you. I'm not getting yelled at for the fourth time today and it's not even noon." Alex smacked Olivia thigh, as she got up off the bed. "We leave in thirty minutes so we can catch the train. Get up."
X
An hour later, Olivia and Alex were seated at their parent's dining room table having a late breakfast. It had taken Olivia ten minute before she could get out of bed and into the shower. She wasn't feeling it today, so she dressed in a pair of black leggings, a loose white t-shirt that drooped down passed her butt. She wasn't fifty percent sure it was her father's shirt from a while ago. She wore a pair of Nike flyknit sneakers and wore her hair in two braids. He wore her shades the entire time, the sun seemed to be a thousand times brighter this morning. Olivia didn't know how Alex dealt with these morning hangovers on a semi regular basis.
Olivia felt something brushing against her legs, and she reached down to pick up the five year old Russian blue cat her parents had recently adopted. It was shock, because everyone knew Dianna had a deep dislike for animals. It was the only reason the girls didn't have a pet growing up. But for whatever reason, her parents decided to adopt a cat. It was weird to see Dianna fawn over the cat, snuggling on the chairs with it and feeding it from her plate on occasion when she thought Eli wasn't paying attention. But although Dianna had warmed up to cats, she still didn't like Olivia's dogs.
Olivia snuggled Oliver, the cat, close to her chest listening to it purr. Oliver was really making Olivia miss her babies at home. She'd left Pongo and dipstick at home, and Laurel promised to look in on them. If she hadn't been such a dog person, and already had her hands full with her two big babies at home, she'd probably appreciate a cat.
"Olivia stop feeding that cat." Eli scolded Olivia, after he saw her feeding Olivier some of her banana from her pancakes. "Your mother already has that thing spoiled rotten."
"I'm just confused that you two have a cat." Alex said. "Liv and I begged you guys for a dog when we were growing up and we always got a no. We even made a poster presentation detailing all the reasons we should have a dog and you still said no."
"And we were proud of you both." Dianna laughed. "Maybe if you had asked for a cat I would've said yes."
"Now you tell us." Alex mumbled. "Who names their cat Oliver anyway?"
"Actually Oliver is a very common name for a cat."
"Did you really google popular cat names?" Olivia asked.
"Yes, but I always wanted a kid named Olivier. That was actually going to be your name had you been a boy." Dianna said. When Dianna and Eli found out they were having twins, they opted to not know the sex until they gave birth. They didn't even know if they were identical or fraternal. "And if Alex had been a boy, her name would have been Alexander."
"Aw cute. I have a kid in my music class named Alexander." Alex gushed about her students every day. She came home with another story to tell Quinn on a daily basis, and called Olivia regularly to talk about the kids in her music class. Olivia was happy for her sister. She was glad Alex had finally found a job she was not only good at but a job she loved. Alex was never meant to be in an office or some cubicle behind a computer. She just wasn't wired for a corporate job, neither of them were. Olivia hoped that Alex wasn't giving up on her dream of being a singer, but Alex seemed content with her music class for now.
"You okay Pumpkin?" Eli asked Olivia. He'd been watching her since the girls arrived hours late. She looked the dead walking. Her skin was pale, she was moving very sluggishly and when she finally took off her shades, Eli noticed she had dark circles under her now glassy eyes.
Olivia looked over to her father with wide eyes. "Yeah." She tried to his behind the cat, looking away from her father inquisitive glare.
"You do seem a bit off this morning honey." Dianna chimed in. just like her husband, she'd noticed the circles and glassy eyes as well. "You two go out last night?"
"Yeah but I'm fine." Olivia quickly answered, drinking her juice. There was no way she was telling her parents she went out last night and got sloshed and couldn't even remember all of last night. Even if she was a twenty-four year old woman, she still felt like a kid around her parents.
"She had too much to drink last night and she's paying for it this morning." Alex said.
"Shut up."
"What? I told you to slow down. You're the one who kept taking those shots and how many long island-"
"Shut up!" Olivia growled, and not so secretly kicked Alex underneath the table.
"Ow! What the hell?" Alex threw her napkin at Olivia followed by a harsh pinch on her arm that was sure to leave a mark. Olivia squealed and smacked Alex's hand away.
"Alright you two cut it out." Both the girls stopped when their father said so. It was like they were five years old again, fighting over who got which Barbie doll. "Now Olivia I hope this partying isn't a regular occurrence."
"It's not daddy." Olivia assured her father.
"Good, because this isn't like you."
Olivia hated when he spoke like that. She hated to think that she somehow disappointed him. "Daddy I was just having fun, it was just some drinks. I wasn't shooting up in the alley with a homeless dude."
"Olivia don't be so crude. Your father is just concerned."
"Well he shouldn't be. Jesus it was one night, you hound Alex about her partying."
"That's because we've come to expect that from Alex."
"Yeah I'm gonna pretend not to take offense to that." Alex said.
"Honey you're our rebellious child." Dianna patted Alex's hand. "Nothing you do know shocks us."
Alex shrugged. "Fair enough, but I'm pretty sure I could still give you both one last big shock."
The conversation moved on, but Olivia could still feel her father staring at her.
"Daddy could you please stop staring at me." Olivia spoke, without even looking his way.
"I'm sorry honey." Olivia cold tell her was itching to say something else. "You sure there isn't something you want to share with us."
"No daddy. But I would like for the subject to get off of me." It was silent for a few minutes. "I'm gonna go lie down in my room." Olivia sat Oliver on the floor, who walked over to Dianna, waiting for a treat. Olivia did this often. Olivia hated confrontation, always had. When she was younger, she use to go to her room and just sit quietly on her bed or in a corner, whenever someone upset her. Most of the time it was Eli who would go and check on her, because Olivia always found it easier to talk to her father. And Alex, although their relationship was rocky sometimes, had an easier time talking to her mother. Although she didn't like to admit it most of the time, Alex a lot like her mother. They both had those spitfire personalities as opposed to Liv and Eli's more tame personalities.
But since Eli was the one who had gotten Olivia upset, Dianna thought she'd be best to go and talk to Olivia. When she got to her room, she walked right in. Dianna never knocked on doors she owned. Olivia was laying on the bed on her side, with her back towards the door. She'd kicked off her shoes, and her mix-matched socks were showing. She was wearing adorable bee themed socks. One foot was blue with black and yellow bees and the other was yellow and black striped.
Dianna smiled, and tickled Olivia's foot. And despite herself, Olivia couldn't help but laugh. Dianna grabbed Olivia's brush from the vanity in the corner and walked back to the bed. Dianna and Eli had kept both Olivia's and Alex's room the exact way they left it when they went off to college. Olivia felt the bed dip, and scooted over to make room. She felt her mother reach for her hair and undo her two braids, before running her brush through her hair. When they were kids, Alex always loved for her mother to play in her hair, Olivia, not so much. She was tender headed and hated for anyone to brush or comb her hair. But as she got older, she learned to appreciate it a little more.
"You wanna talk now?" Dianna asked.
"Not really. But do I have a choice?"
Dianna shook her head, although Olivia couldn't see it. "No, not really."
Olivia stayed quiet for a few minutes, before she sighed and sat up in the bed. She hugged one of the many pillows on her bed to her chest and rest her chin on it. "Saw Fitz yesterday."
Dianna nodded, not wanting to say what was on the tip of her tongue. When Eli and Dianna found out about what happened between Olivia and Fitz, they'd been highly upset. They were so upset, they didn't know what to do with themselves. Eli wanted to kick Fitz's ass, but a few problems. One he didn't know where Fitz lived or worked and two he didn't have a number he could call to curse Fitz out.
"Okay. Did he upset you?"
"No. He didn't even know I was there. He was with some woman. And I may have gotten jealous. I don't even know who the woman was, I don't even know if they were on a date. I was just pissed that he was with someone else and had the nerve to take her to our spot. I can't go a day without thinking about him, and I gave up on dating a long time ago. Every date I went on, I just found myself comparing every man to Fitz. Just the mention of his name and my entire day is screwed." Olivia huffed. "But he seems to have no problems moving on. And I can't believe I almost fell for all the crap he was saying to me at that gala. I just feel so stupid. How could I have not known? How'd I fall in love with a married man? I let him in, where no one has ever been. I thought I knew him. I though he loved me. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. He broke my heart, and I don't know how to fix it."
"Baby." Dianna pulled Olivia's head to her chest. She could feel Olivia's tears wetting her shirt and she felt helpless, not knowing what to do to make her little girl feel better. "You're not stupid Olivia. You just fell in love with a boy."
"I love him mommy."
"I know baby." Dianna kissed the top of Olivia's head. "And I know it hurts like hell now, but I promise it won't be this hard forever.
"I'm trying so hard to believe that momma."
X
Songs:
Smoke gets in your eyes, Billie Holiday
Valerie, Amy Winehouse
Catch You Later...