Part 18

Olivia got back 31… no, 32, or 33 days ago. It doesn't matter. Counting days exactly doesn't matter as much now. Well, of course, he counts days when Fitz says "you can see Olivia next week", because he has to know what "next week" means exactly. But the most important thing is that she's back and that they do things together. On Tuesdays and Fridays he doesn't have after-school club so she picks him up from school and takes him to the park, or to her house, and he stays with her for a bit until Fitz finishes work. Once, as a extra special treat they went to see a movie. Harry Potter. That was so, so, so good. He didn't understand all of it, it got a bit long, but it was so good. It's so neat with Olivia, they do drawings together, or talk, or read stories, or just hang out. He loves that phrase, it's so grown-up, it's what Quinn says "hey guys you're hanging out?"

He really likes Quinn. Sometimes she says things and the others laugh, and he doesn't understand why because he doesn't find it funny, it's a grown-up kind of funny. But she talks to him as if he's a grown up, and that's cool. She says cool a lot. He can tell Olivia doesn't always like it when Quinn asks him grown up stuff like "do you like this outfit Zach, I'm going to meet this guy", or "hey Zach, I've got a date tonight." He doesn't really understand what going on a date means, a date is like… Tuesday June 6th, or Monday July 10th… so what does it mean to go on a date? He wanted to ask Quinn but Olivia hushed her so he couldn't, and somehow it felt weird asking her. So, he asked Fitz instead and Fitz started laughing and said that it's when two grown-ups really, really like each other, they want to spend some time alone together to talk. That's a neat thing, and he thought he had understood it but then when he said "So when you and Eli go to diner, just the two of you, it's a date then?" Fitz laughed even harder, and said no, a date is when two people who don't know each other well, want to know each other better because they like each other and they think that if they spend time together they'll know each other better.

Well, he still doesn't understand it, but it doesn't really matter. What matters is doing stuff with Olivia, and sometimes Quinn, and Fitz of course. It's nice that Olivia is living with Quinn and Harrison. Harrison is nice, and kind of quiet, not like Quinn who's much louder and full of energy. He likes it there at their house. It's nice to live with friends when you're a grown-up, that way you're not lonely. When he's a grown-up maybe he'll live with friends. But Fitz didn't, he asked him. And Fitz got a bit serious, he does sometimes, and said that he got married really young, to Karen's mum; she was called Mellie. He's never met Karen, she's coming to visit soon, she's like his big sister now. His very big sister, because she's 26. But he hadn't realised she had a mum, till now. And when he asked Fitz where Mellie was, he got sad-serious and said she had died in a car accident 12 years ago.

He couldn't say anything, all he could do was give Fitz a big hug. It's so sad, if your wife dies, and then your baby, and if you love someone like Olivia but can't live with them, as Olivia explained the day he ran away… Now he understands why Fitz looks so sad sometimes. But he doesn't understand why Fitz doesn't want to see Olivia. OK, maybe you can't live with someone but if you love them surely you want to see them more? But not Fitz. Fitz has never said it, but he can tell. When Fitz picks him up from Olivia's place on Tuesdays and Fridays, he never stays around, he just says "Hi Olivia, how has Zach been?" and then "Bye Olivia, thanks", with a small smile, and that's it. And they don't do things the three of them, like in Ghana. And OK there's no beach in the city, but they could go to the park or the movies or something, but they don't. And he doesn't want to ask them because he's worried that if he does, they're both going to say no and be even more sad. But he's got an idea. Maybe it'll work. He's got to think about it some more…

"Zach…"

He looks up, Fitz is talking to him, he hadn't heard him. They're having diner in the kitchen: pasta and bolognese sauce, he loves it. "Zach, have you decided whom you want to invite here on Saturday for the barbecue, after the school's sports day?"

Oh. He thought he was going to have more time to think about it. But it's better this way, if Fitz is going to say no it's better to know now. "Yes. I want to invite Ben, and Annie, and Poppy, from school."

"OK. That's three. But you can invite one more friend, remember?"

He takes a deep breath. "And Olivia", he says, without looking at Fitz.

Fitz doesn't say anything. "It's OK, Fitz, if you don't want to, but you said four friends and she's my friend and I thought…"

"It's fine, Zach, of course you can invite her".

"Really? Really?" He can't believe it, he was sure Fitz would say no, he is feeling so happy now...

"Yes Zach, really. Tell you what, I'll invite Eli and Maya, that way, you'll have your friends, and I'll have mine."

He's feeling all upset. "But, Fitz, Olivia is your friend too!"

Maybe he shouldn't have said that, Fitz is looking all tired, he always looks tired when it's about Olivia. Maybe he should say sorry, but he doesn't have the time. "You're right, Zach, she's my friend too. So, we'll both invite her." Fitz says in a low, but gentle voice.

He is smiling so big his cheeks hurt. Two more things to ask, just two more… "Can she come to the school too, before the barbecue, to watch the sports?"

Fitz does this funny thing, it's like, he is smiling and giving a sigh at the same time. He isn't sure what that means exactly. "Of course she can. Well, we'll have to ask her."

OK, so now one more thing, just one… although, he doesn't even have to ask, because Fitz takes the phone from the kitchen counter (he doesn't even have to get up, he's got those long arms) and he gives it to him. "Why don't you phone her now, and ask her yourself?"