Hey thanks for the reviews by TV Angel 711, livandellover, JARLY4EVER, Bookworm0485, i-love-benson, and Tommys My 21. And now...here's the next Chapter.
Here's where we left off...
"Thanks...I hope Olivia likes it." Elliot spoke as he opened the box and played with one of the silvery-blue ribbons.
"She will...trust us." Jenna said with a wink and turned to Caitlyn, who started to speak again.
"And call her Liv or Via"
As soon as the words left her mouth, they heard her bedroom door close and turned towards the stairs. They heard the floor boards creak as she took the first three steps down. Once she came into view, Caitlyn and Jenna smile with pride while Elliot's jaw dropped slightly causing Alex and Dominic to snicker. Watching her come down, Elliot couldn't take his eyes off of her, making Olivia a little self-conscious. Once Olivia reached the bottom, the boys finally got to see the whole dress.
Her dress was mostly strapless, except for the one thin spaghetti strap the was attached to the front left, crossed over the top of her chest, and attached to the back right, with one more strap attached to the first strap in the front left and went over the left shoulder and attached to the back left. But didn't touch the front of the dress like the first one. It was a straight, satin dress the fit her to perfection. The top of the dress was pitch black with one line that wrapped around the whole dress from the middle top in the front to the left bottom front. The line was somewhat close but not too close, and when it came towards the bottom it spaced out more and dropped. But it was very unique, because it wasn't just a regular line; it had more of a thin vine with thorns on it. The dress faded from being black at the top to a pale blue at the bottom, and the line was the pale blue where it was black and faded to black when it reached the blue. It trailed the floor and had somewhat of a train but not too much. Her shoes were silver heels that were about 4 inches high. They crossed over the front and back around her ankles, but where the lines meet in the crossing, the X was replaces with a silver circle that was studded with diamonds. Her finger and toe nails had a French manicure and she had a silver ring on her right middle finger that had the same design as the strip on her dress and here it ended she had a diamond. Her earrings were simple drop earrings with a diamond on the end and she wore the journey necklace that her mother had given to her one night when she was sober on her 13th birthday.
As soon as she came into the living room, Caitlyn and Jenna smiled proudly while Dominic and Alex just hugged Caitlyn and Jenna. But Elliot, he was nowhere prepared for how Olivia would look, so he was utterly speechless to say the least. His jaw dropped a little, his breathing became heavy slightly, and his palms became all sweaty as if he was the freshman who the junior just asked. But when Caitlyn flicked his ear and Jenna pinched his neck, he finally came down from his high when he heard Olivia giggle.
"Wow. You look...amazing. Beyond amazing! Liv, you look gorgeous!!" Elliot said as he came to stand in front of her and gave her a lingering kiss on her cheek. When he made his comment and his action, Olivia blushed slightly and looked down.
"Thanks El. You know, you clean up nice yourself." She said with a laugh when she looked up and grinned.
"You know..." Caitlyn said as she put her arm around Jenna's shoulder. "We just said the same thing. Okay, why don't we take your pictures now, 'cause you guys still have to get there fashionably late."
"Umm...okay." Elliot said as he took Olivia's hand and led her in front of the fire place. "Hey." His warm breath whispered in her ear with a small smile.
"Hey yourself." Olivia said playfully back just a quiet.
"Here, I bought this for you." He said as he took the corsage out of the case and laid the case on the table. He smiled slightly when he heard Olivia's breath get caught in her throat.
"El...It's gorgeous! I love it." Olivia whispered as Elliot began to slip it on her wrist. The corsage had pale blue and white rose buds and was accented with baby's breath. Slivery blue, black, and faded blue ribbons flowed freely down and out of the corsage.
"But it's nothing compared to how radiant you look right now." He spoke softly as Olivia looked down and flushed a deep, deep red.
"Okay you two, Elliot, stand behind her and wrap your arms gently around her waist." Caitlyn said as she saw Elliot get a little red too as he did so. "And Olivia, when Elliot does that, cross your arms and lay them over his. But make sure the hand with the corsage is shown." Jenna finished as she grabbed her silver camera and handed Caitlyn her black one.
As soon as Elliot wrapped his arm around her slender waist, Olivia stiffened a little but relaxed as Elliot's warm embrace pressed against her back. With a sigh, Olivia crossed her arms over Elliot's and leaned back slightly.
"Okay now smile like you actually like each other." Caitlyn and Jenna laughed as Elliot coughed slightly uncomfortable and Olivia looked everywhere but at them, with her lips pulled tightly together to hide her smile.
Caitlyn and Jenna took at least 75 pictures each. Maybe less, but it seemed like a lifetime to time to them. As soon as they were done with the pictures, Caitlyn pulled Olivia over to give her, her clutch and to give her a little advice.
"Here, inside is your phone, camera, mascara, lip liner and gloss, and 80 bucks." She paused when Olivia looked at her suspiciously. "What? You never know, the limo could be hijacked and you might need money. Don't worry; you don't need to pay me back. Now, the girls there are going to feel a little threatened because you're a freshman. Trust be, 'cause it was brutal when we were 8th graders. If they start messin' with you, just walk over to Elliot or Fin, okay? Have fun, and Jenna and I will be here when you get back." Caitlyn said, giving her a big hug as Jenna finally came over and did the same.
Olivia turned her head to see Elliot talking to Dominic and Alex. He gave a side glance, and when he saw her look at him he gave a sweet, warm smile. Smiling back, she turned to Jenna and Caitlyn and hugged them again.
"Thanks guys. For everything." With one last squeeze, she turned to find Elliot standing there waiting for her.
"Ready?" he asked as he put out his arm to escort her out.
"Always." She replied as she took his arm and began to walk towards the door.
"I'll see you guys when I get back." Olivia told them as Elliot opened the door for her and stepped out after her, closing the door as he goes. What was out there surprised her.
"You bought a limo?!" Olivia asked quietly in shock and aw as she walked over to it and gently skimming a finger over it, as if to see if it was really there.
"Yea." Was all Elliot whispered in amusement as he led her to the door, opened it and helped her in before getting in himself.
There was a wrap around seat, a flat screen TV, stereo, and a bar filled with various drinks. Helping Olivia sit, he went over to the black glass window that divided the cabin and the back, knocked 3 times before turning towards Olivia.
"Would you like drink?" Elliot asked as he pulled out a coke for himself and set it on top of the bar.
"Uhh, sure, I'll have water." Olivia said with a smile as Elliot got a bottle of Figi water, closed it and went back to her.
"Here you go." Elliot said quietly sitting next to her.
"Thanks El."
"Anytime Liv."
Olivia smiled brightly when Elliot called her by her nickname. Elliot grinned and leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes. To his surprise, he felt Olivia lean back against him so he moved his arm so that it draped over Olivia's shoulder.
"Can I ask you something?" Olivia asked a few minutes later causing Elliot to look at her.
"Yea, sure, anything."
"How come you didn't go to the prom with Kathy? I mean she's one of the prettiest juniors, and she seems to have spied you out of everyone." Elliot stiffened a little not wanting to answer but thought about it and didn't really see the harm in telling her.
"Well, see, our parents are great friends and they had always dreamed that Kathy and I would get married and all that. Kathy said yes, I said hell to the no. We were both 10. Kathy was always hooked up in the idea that I liked her and that she could make me love her. I'd rather be locked in a pit with poisonous rattle snakes. She won't stop until she gets what she wants; at least that's what she told me at the Soph-hop last year." Elliot spoke softly, with slight amusement and aggravation in his voice.
"That...really kind of sucks" Olivia said with a laugh as she looked up at Elliot to find him trying to hold in his smile.
Elliot looked down at her and saw she was still smiling up at him, which of course made him let out a laugh and he let his actions go on their own terms. His hand reached over and tucked a lose strand hair behind her ear causing her to look down a little embarrassed. He used his index finger and thumb to tilt her face to meet his and ran his thumb over her bottom lip. He pulled his hand in; bring her with it and closer to him. His lips didn't even skim hers when he heard her breath hitch. Smiling to himself, he leaned in more so that they were just barely touching. Her hands slide up and braced themselves against his chest as his other hand went and grasped the nape of her neck. But when Elliot started to pull her even closer and Olivia began to close her eyes, light filled the back of the limo and a cool breeze entered, making them separate immediately.
"Miss, Sir. The prom awaits you." The driver said sweetly, not noticing what he just broke up.
"Oh...umm...thanks man." Elliot said as Olivia laughed an embarrassed laugh and was slightly red.
Elliot climbed out of the limo to see Fin and his date Sabrina Rodia talking at the entrance with Bruce and his date Angelica Goss. He turned back and stuck his right hand out for Olivia, which she took in hers and got out of the limo. Stepping out into the cool sunset air, Olivia shuddered slightly as a breeze past, causing Elliot to stop her from walking.
"What?" Olivia asked quietly with amusement in her voice.
"Here" Elliot said as he took off his jacket and placed it over her shoulders. When Olivia put it on, it came down to her thigh making Elliot and herself laugh. He put his arm around her waist and started to walk towards the group.
"Yo El!" Bruce yells, being the first to see them walking over. "Is that the freshy?" He asked when they reach them. "Olivia right?" He asked making her blush a little as she nodded. "Yo El, hold your coat for a sec." he said as Elliot slowly took off the jacket. "You look better up in person then from across the hall. Damn! Girl, you sure you're not a junior? Senior?" Bruce asked as he spun her around to check her out.
"Positive. Unless the school is as screwed up as we're shown to believe." Olivia said making Bruce and the rest laugh.
"Hey, El, I like'er. Can we keep it?" Bruce joked.
"Nahh, man, Cait would have me dead if I let you get a hold of her." Elliot said as he put his jacket back on and wrapped his arms around her waist and stood behind her. Olivia looked up and smiled at him and He pulled her closer when a cool wind blew by again.
"Liv...this is Fin Tut-" Elliot was interrupted by Fin going to her side and gave her a huge hug, spinning her as he did and Olivia's giggly laugh.
"Oooooooookay...I take it you know each other." Elliot said slightly amused, slightly envious.
"Damn baby girl, ya should da told me ya can clean up dis good." Fin told her as he put her back down and gave her a long hug.
"Good to see you too, Fin. And if I must say, Sabrina couldn't pick a better date." Olivia said as she walked over to Sabrina and Angelica and gave them both hugs. "And Gel, I still can't believe you and Cait pulled that trick on Dillon in Spanish. I thought Fernandez was going to flip!!" Angelica, Sabrina and Olivia said as they laughed at the confused, dumbfounded face on Elliot.
"Oh, umm, Angelica is in my block 3 Spanish, Sabrina was in my first semester chemistry, and Fin is in my math class. The only one I don't really know is...Bruce?" Olivia asked as she walked back over to Elliot and wrapped her left arm around him.
"Yep! Bruce O'Neil, at your goddess like service." He said as he knelled down and kissed the back of her hand. Receiving a slap on the back of the head from Fin and Angelica.
"Well, I think we should be heading in and get a table, you guys want to sit with us?" Angelica said as she took Bruce's arm.
"Yea, that'll be nice." Sabrina said and turned to Elliot and Olivia.
"Umm, sure, is that okay with you Liv?" Elliot asked looking down at her.
"Yea, that's cool." Olivia said with a smile as the rest started to walk in. As she took a step forward, Elliot pulled her back by her wrist and captured her lips in a deep kiss. His lips softened a little but still worked against hers. Olivia moaned causing Elliot to slip his tongue into her mouth. His hands went from holding her hips strongly to him to cupping her cheeks, while Olivia had her hands wrapped around his neck. Pulling away slowly, Elliot looked at Olivia and smiled at her slightly shocked features.
"That's for our interruption from the limo." Elliot whispered as he took by the waist and led her into the door way. Inside the, the room was dimly lit. The whole place was a wooden design, with a dance floor and wooden beams all along the place. It was the most elegant place Olivia has ever seen!
Elliot smiled as he watched her admire the place in awe. He gently took her arm, surprising her and making her jump, and lead her to a table in the back corner where Fin, Bruce, Sabrina an Angelica were sitting also. He pulled out one of the soft chairs for her, and waited for her to sit before pushing her in and leaning in slowly.
"I'm going to head to the bar. Would you like something to drink?" His warm breath tickled Olivia's neck, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Umm, sure. Do you want me to come up with you?" She asked quietly turning towards him to look him in the eye.
"No I got it. What would you like?"
"Uhh, water, I guess." She spoke with a smile.
"Okay, well if you want or need anything, just ask, okay?" he squeezed her shoulder gently and headed up to the bar with Fin and Bruce.
"So Liv," Angelica started, turning towards her "when did you start dating Elliot?"
"Well, umm, I don't really know if were dating or not." Olivia said looking down at the napkin she fumbled with.
"What do you mean 'You don't know?'?" Sabrina asked
"Well, he asked me to prom, but we never really talked about dating. I mean, I don't know if this is just a friend's thing, even though I rarely talked to him, or if he really does want to date. I really have no clue." She said with a shrug causing Angelica and Sabrina to look at each other in a shock/confused gaze.
To save her from anymore questioning, Elliot, Fin and Bruce came back with their drinks and sat down next to their dates. Elliot handed Olivia her water and rested her arm around the back of her chair. After a few minutes, their food came out and was delivered to their tables and they all laughed and joked as they ate.
"So 'Livia, did Fairchild ev'a give ya that detention?" Fin asked as the waiter came and picked up their empty plates.
"Of course! I don't think that woman would ever give up the chance to put me through her own private hell." Olivia said as Fin, who was sitting next to her, gave her a one-armed hug.
"Ahh, so we have a bad girl on our hands, do we now?" Bruce asked receiving a snicker or two from Angelica, Olivia and Fin.
"Boy, you have no idea." Angelica said getting a raised eyebrow from Elliot.
"What do you mean by that, Gel?" Elliot said as he wrapped his arm around Olivia shoulder and pulled her close to him.
"Well, it was April Fool's Day.-"
"Oh, no. not this one." Olivia sighed amusingly, shaking her head and rolling her eyes.
"Oh yea. This one." Angelica laughed. "Well the week before, our Spanish class put bets on who pulled the best prank on Misses Fernandez, our Spanish teacher. So eventually we made it April Fool's Week. Obviously, Olivia won. Not only did she have the best pranks, but she had the most pranks. Lets see, there was the exploding chalk, the Honey-Bun seat, the melting chalkboard, and...There was something else. What was it?"
"The Clock!!" Angelica and Olivia said at the same time laughing. "Oh god, that was a great day."
"So...do you care to explain these...experiments?" Elliot questioned in pure amusement.
"Ok, well..." Olivia started with a laugh upon hearing Angelica snicker. "The exploding chalks a little obvious. Cait actually gave me the idea for that one." Elliot just chuckled knowing Caitlyn would do that. "The Honey-Bun seat was fun! I took two jars of my friend Jenna's grandma's homemade honey. It's beyond really sticky! Well I took off the cushion to her chair, poured the honey inside the cushion part and reattached it and poured more on the top but spread it out so you couldn't see it. She sat, and...Yea. The melting chalkboard was cool. Gel helped me out with this one a little. We have her class right after lunch, and the school was having construction done that day. So me and Gel took a bucket full of tar and smeared it all over the board. I still think we should have put the tar on the seat and the honey on the board, but Gel thought that would have been too mean." Olivia snickered. "But the clock, god that was my favorite! There was this guy, Daron, in our class. Well, he helped me out by showing me how to hot-wire the clock. Gel, Cait and I would move the time forward and backwards and screw her up so bad!" by the end of the explanations, everyone at the table was laughing so hard. Also by the end, a lot of other couples were out on the floor dancing. Without warning, Bruce and Fin got up, gently pulling their dates with them and headed to the dance floor.
"Hey Liv, would you like to dance?" Elliot said as he got up and lightly laid his hand out for her.
"No." she said as she got up and took his hand, laughing at his bewildered face. "I'd love to." With a smile of sheer amusement and joy, Elliot led her towards the dance floor and to where Bruce, Fin, Angelica and Sabrina were dancing.
The after a few fast songs, the first slow song came on. It was 'Collide' by Howie Day. Olivia barely placed her arms on Elliot's shoulders and around his neck and leaving some space between them. She gasped in surprise when Elliot's hands wrapped around her waist and tugged her in tightly to him.
"Better?" she asked as she held onto him tighter.
"Much." He said lowly as Olivia smirked and laid her head on his chest.
They swayed back and forth for a while until the song was over. Olivia smiled, a little embarrassed, and backed away. Elliot smiled and took her in his arms gently.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Yea...just, a bit thirsty that's all." Olivia said as she and Elliot started to heads towards the bar. Once they got there Olivia ordered a Coke and Elliot ordered a water. Walking back to the table, they were greeted by Fin and Angelica.
"Hey Fin, how come you're with Gel and not your date?" Olivia asked
"'Cause Bruce asked ta cut in. Besides, I promised 'Gelica a dance." Fin said as he took a sip of his Sprite.
"Ahh." Elliot said as he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around and came face to face with a blond-haired, blue-eyed Kathy.
"Hey El." Kathy said as she laid her hand on his shoulder "I was wondering, Olivia," she started, turning towards Olivia and smiling innocently. "if you would let me borough Elliot for one little dance." Olivia turned towards Elliot, who let out a long aggravated sigh.
"Umm, it's fine by me, but I just think you should ask his opinion though." Olivia said turning towards Angelica. "Besides, I was about to ask Gel to show me where the bathroom was anyway." Just as the words left Olivia mouth, Wait for You by Elliott Yamin came on.
"Great! Come on, El. Lets hit the floor." Kathy said as she pulled Elliot's arm to the floor and tightly wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Liv," Angelica started as Olivia grabbed her clutch and walked towards the door and down the stairs. "You got some balls, my friend."
"What do you mean?" Olivia asked as she opened the door and walked through it.
"I mean, Kathy's been trying to get with Elliot for the past lifetime. And you're willing to give her the opportunity to dance with him?" Angelica said as she fixed her eyeliner.
"Yea, but if he really didn't want to, he could of said 'no'. But honestly I don't care. He can do what he wants. It's not like we're going out." Olivia said as she put on a coat of lip gloss.
"'Not going out'?! Liv! You two hooked up in the parking lot and you're going to tell me you don't go out!?" Angelica said as they walked out.
"Okay fine, I don't know if we do, but he's making it seem like we are so I guess we are! But still, he can dance with who he wants." They walked back into the room and walked over to Fin, Bruce, and Sabrina.
"Hey...is Elliot still with Kathy?" Olivia asked scanning the floor as Wait for You started to end.
"Umm, yea...there over there." Bruce said as they all turned to see them in the back doing, what looked like fighting. Kathy had her back up against one of the pillars and Elliot had one arm stable against the side of it, while the other made motions as they talked. Kathy gave a side-ways look at Olivia and an idea came to her mind. She threw her arms around Elliot's neck and kissed him with as much passion she could sum up. Elliot, who was in complete shock, gripped Kathy's forearms to try and pull her off, but Kathy had him in a death grip. Finally pulling her off of him, he was about to yell at her when he looked up and saw Olivia standing a few feet away. The rest of the table standing behind and beside her. Obviously they saw the whole scene.
"Liv, wait!" Elliot said as he left Kathy, who had a devilish grin on her face.
Olivia turned towards the table, tears burning to break over the brims of her eyes, and grabbed her clutch. Shaking her head, she looked up to see Bruce, Fin, Angelica and Sabrina looking at her in shock, pity, horror and pure sadness.
"LIV!" Elliot called out through the crowd of people that was blocking him from her.
"I'll, umm, talk...talk to you guys later, okay?" Olivia spoke quietly, not wanting them to her the devastation in her voice. But they were way past knowing her pain.
Elliot pushed and shoved to get to her, but by the time he got to their table, she was heading towards the door.
"Olivia!" He called out, only to have Fin shove him back.
"Ya really fucked dis one up man!" He yelled. "I can't believe you! 'Livia's like a sista to me, and I trusted you wit' her more than anyone!" Fin shoved him back again. He was going to do it another time if it wasn't for Bruce, who was holding him back.
Elliot just looked at him shocked. Fin never got physical. Ever! The only exception is in football.
Elliot got back into balance and bolted towards the door. The whole way towards the exit, he felt the stares and glares in his direction.
"Olivia! Wait!" he called out as he ran down the stairs, taking them 3 at a time. He ran out into the lobby and, upon seeing it empty, ran out the front door. Elliot was at the door frame, when he saw her. Olivia was opening the door to the limo. Elliot ran as fast as he could to her and just caught her wrist before she got in.
"Liv, please, just wait...wait a seco-"
A heart-wrenching sob escaped her throat as she slapped him as hard as she could at that moment. And it was hard enough to force his face to twist to the left. Another sob broke way as the tears fell.
"I know you probably think I have...like no right to be upset, but I...I..." Olivia spoke so quietly through her now heavily flowing tears. She took a long heavy breath and let it out as Elliot looked at her with tears of his own. "The limo will be back to pick you up when the prom ends." Olivia looked up at the starry night, begging the tears to weaken. They only flowed harder, so she gave up and looked at the ground. "I wish I'd said 'no' when you asked me." She whispered so low, if Elliot was a step away, he couldn't hear her. But man did he. His face fell and his heart broke. With that, she climbed into the back and closed the door. The limo drove way, leaving Elliot there in tears. He turned around towards the building and looked up. In the window stood Bruce, Angelica, Fin and Sabrina looking down at him. He knew they saw the whole thing. That slap, the tears, the ending, all of it. But the one thing he didn't see, nor did the rest, was Kathy standing by the last window, smiling the same devilish smile.
Saturday, April 19th
Black and dark grey storm clouds hung low as the Chi-Valley Cougars made their 11th touchdown against them.
"Alright boys!" Vo yelled as the offence got up to go on. "Were losing by a safety! We have 13 seconds left in the 4th so we'll pull the right and run center fold. Elliot! I'm counting on you to make this catch!" Fin just shook his head angrily while Bruce just looked completely in another world. "Alright...Break!" the team went out and lined up into position. Walking out onto the field, Elliot looked up and scanned the crowd of cheering fans, when he did a double take just in time to see Olivia getting out of her seat and leaving the stadium.
When Pat Cordell hiked the ball to Fin, Bruce, who was set up next to Elliot cut crossed the field diagonally and pivoted towards Fin. Fin faked him the ball, causing the Cougars to shift left all the while Elliot ran straight back and was now heading diagonally to the corner just out of his tracker's reach. Fin threw the ball with all he had and watched as the perfect spiral sailed though the air. Elliot ran faster then he normally would to catch it. Reaching out for the ball, his middle and index finger just reached it, when he caught a glimpse of Olivia leaving. With just that mill-second of a distraction, he felt something cold and hard hit him from behind. Chris Rogers's arms gripped his waist and forced him down, watching the ball land on the muddy ground and hearing the refers blowing the whistle 3 times to indicate the game was over and that the Chi-Valley Cougars won the championship. 77 – 75. Chris helped Elliot up and ran over to his team, only to have Elliot sink back down to his knees and put his head in his hands. Thunder cracked and rain pour on them as Elliot lifted his face to the rain as a tormented sob exploded through his chest. Bruce and Fin, who subsided his anger for the time being, ran over to Elliot and pulled him up to stand, only to have him sink right back down again.
From the entrance way to the stadium, Olivia watched the scene with her own tears falling rapidly. She whipped them way, and walked out with the rest of the fans, with Elliot on the muddy ground, sobbing, being the last memory she had of him.
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