A/N: Once again, thanks for the reviews and comments. They really made my day. I hope you enjoy this next chapter. :)

"I'm never speaking up again; it only hurts me. I'd rather be a mystery than she desert me."

The next morning, Alex woke up before her alarm started to ring. The alarm was set for 9 o'clock, but an overly excited Alex woke up at 8. She was supposed to meet Olivia at noon at a little diner that the girls frequented after basketball practice. Alex had never been there, but all of the girls swore by it, especially Sarah. Alex had called her the moment she got home yesterday to tell her the good news. She was itching to tell someone and she knew she couldn't tell her mother and her friends in Framingham didn't care, so she decided to call Sarah. Calling Sarah was not only a way for Alex to share her good news; it was also beneficial. Sarah had known Olivia for over ten years and, although she didn't know everything about her, she knew more about Olivia than any of the other girls did.

She had asked Sarah for pointers on how to date Olivia and Sarah started laughing because she knew that Alex's worries were justified. She told her that Olivia had been asked out by guys and one or two girls, but she had always said no. Never before had she asked someone out on a date, so that must have meant that Alex was special to her. Alex started smiling when she heard that, but her happiness was short-lived. She started to feel as if even more pressure was on her now because she was the first girl that Olivia had ever asked on a date. She asked what she should wear and Sarah had told her to keep it casual because Olivia wasn't the type to pay attention to what girls wore. She said that Olivia would have the same reaction to her regardless of whether she was wearing a short dress or a t-shirt and jeans. Sarah insisted that Olivia was interested in getting to know Alex and not her wardrobe. She also said that Olivia wasn't interested in lingerie models or porn stars. Alex had no idea what that meant and Sarah could sense it, so she told her that Olivia was annoyed by girls who tried too hard to be seductive. Olivia preferred the girl next door type, which was a great relief for Alex. With her glasses and A-cup chest, she felt far from being a lingerie model or a porn star. Alex asked about conversation topics and Sarah started laughing again. They both knew having a conversation with Olivia was rare and if you were able to get her to talk about a subject that didn't upset her you should stick with it.

Alex kept all of this in mind as she got ready for her date with Olivia. She had originally wanted to wear a skirt and boots, but she opted for a pair of jeans and an olive green sweater. She found some brown flats under her bed and decided to put those on. She wore her hair straight and parted in the middle and her make-up was natural-looking; only brown mascara and chapstick. Alex thought she looked cute, but nowhere near sexy, which was a good thing if she wanted to attract Olivia.

At 11:30, Alex was ready to leave, but her mom decided otherwise. It had been days since they had a conversation with each other and she had chosen the worst possible time to touch base with her daughter. Alex began to assess the situation and think of possible answers for all of the questions she knew her mother was going to ask. Since she was dressed casually, she knew her mother wouldn't ask her about dating. Or so she thought.

"Are you going out again?" Mrs. Cabot asked with a smile on her face that started to make Alex nervous.

"Yes," Alex said casually.

"You've been smiling a lot since yesterday. Is there a new young woman in your life? Alex, you know you can tell me these things. If you like a girl, I want to know about her."

"I don't like anyone," Alex insisted. It was a lie, but there was no way she was going to have that conversation right now.

"It's normal for you to like a girl, Alex," Mrs. Cabot told her. "You're 16 and you're going to be having crushes. I just don't want you having a girlfriend yet."

"I know, Mom," Alex said. "And I don't have a girlfriend. I've never even kissed a girl. I just need to hang out with girls from school so I can make friends. It's important. I'm not going anywhere other than a diner with some of the girls. I'll have my phone on, so if you want to check in with me, you can. I promise I'll answer, just please let me go."

"Go on," Mrs. Cabot said after seeing the look of desperation in her daughter's eyes.

Alex arrived at the diner on time and saw Olivia sitting at a booth with her trademark olive green beanie. What she didn't expect to see was Sarah and her boyfriend there. She also didn't expect to see Olivia smiling.

"Hey," Olivia said nonchalantly to Alex.

"Hi," Alex replied nervously.

"This is Shawn," Olivia said, introducing Sarah's boyfriend.

"You must be Alex," Shawn said as he shook Alex's hand. "Olivia was just saying she wants to jump your bones."

"What?" Alex asked, surprised.

"Shawn and Sarah were just leaving," Olivia said and started glaring at Shawn.

"Are you busy next weekend?" Shawn asked Alex.

"No," Alex said. "Why?"

"Next weekend is Olivia's birthday," he informed her. "And we're having a co-ed slumber party for her. The problem is the birthday girl is the only one without a date."

"You dirty son of a bitch," Olivia said and started laughing. "Alex, ignore him. We aren't having a sleepover. We're just hanging out at Sarah's and you're welcome to come."

"I bet you'll make her come," Shawn said and winked at Olivia. Alex and Sarah didn't understand what was happening, but Olivia just shook her head and smirked at him.

"Grow up," she told him.

Sarah pulled Alex aside and apologized for intruding on their date. Alex said she didn't mind and she was glad to see Olivia smiling so much. Sarah had told her the reason she was there with Shawn was to put Olivia at ease for their date. Sarah knew that Olivia liked Alex, but she wasn't ready to completely let her in. Shawn, despite how immature he may be, was the only person who could make Olivia laugh and the only person Olivia fully trusted. When Alex asked why, Sarah told her it was because they "get" each other and have a similar home life. Alex wanted to know what that meant, but Sarah said she didn't know because neither Shawn nor Olivia would say anything about it.

When Alex returned to the booth where Olivia was now sitting alone, she saw that Olivia was all smiles.

"I ordered us Oreo milkshakes. I was going to get lunch, but I figure we should have something small, go to the movies after this, and then we can go out to dinner. By the way, your outfit is missing something," Olivia said the moment Alex sat down. She took off her beanie and reached across the table to put it on Alex. "I like the way it looks on you."

"Thanks," Alex said. "Are you excited for your birthday?"

"Not really," Olivia told her. "It's just 17. I'm not turning 18 or 21."

"I can't wait until I'm 17," Alex said. "That's when I can actually have a girlfriend."

"When is your birthday?" Olivia asked.

"March 17," Alex responded. "St. Patrick's Day."

"That's in a month," Olivia pointed out. "Your parents think one month makes a difference? It's not like you're going to change all of a sudden. Who you are today at 16 years and 11 months is the same person you're going to be at 17."

"It's just a rule, but I know they are looking out for me," Alex said in their defense. "When did your parents let you start dating?"

"I never had a set age," Olivia told her. "My mom doesn't care about things like that."

"How about your dad?" Alex asked. "I know dads are more strict about how old their little girls are when they date. At least mine is."

"I don't have a dad," Olivia admitted.

"Everyone does," Alex said.

"Can we change the subject?" Olivia asked.

"Why are you so closed off?" Alex asked even though she knew Olivia was becoming frustrated.

"Alex, drop it."

"No, Olivia. You can't hide yourself from the world forever. You're so beautiful and talented and I know deep down you don't want to keep things a secret anymore. Why don't you tell me anything?"

"Because you're nothing to me," Olivia said coldly. She grabbed some money from her wallet and tossed it on the table. When she made sure she had enough to cover what she had ordered, she got up from the table and left without saying another word to Alex.

Alex sat motionless for a couple of minutes. During that time, she began processing what had just happened. She wished she would have taken Sarah's advice. Sarah had told her that Olivia had a home life that she didn't like to talk about, yet Alex didn't listen. She kept prying into a topic that really was none of her business. She knew Olivia was right; she was nothing to her. She wasn't her girlfriend and she really wasn't even her friend. She had no right to ask those questions. Alex knew she should just let Olivia go, but she couldn't. She never saw herself as the type of person who would chase after a girl, but there was something different about Olivia that made Alex know she was worth it.

Alex got up from the table and hurried out of the diner. Olivia was almost out of sight, but that didn't stop Alex. She took off running as fast as she could to catch up to her.

"Olivia!" she called out and was surprised that Olivia turned around.

"What?"

There were so many things that Alex wanted to say. She wanted to apologize. She wanted to tell her that she'd never pry into her home life again. She even wanted to tell her that she'd do anything to be with her, but no words were able to come out of her mouth. Instead, she did what she felt was the next best thing. She leaned in and kissed Olivia right then and there.

"What did I just do?" Alex asked. Never did she think she'd be gutsy enough to kiss Olivia on a street corner in front of everyone.

"I don't know," Olivia responded. "But you're not very good at it."

"Well, neither are you," Alex said defensively.

"I've never kissed anyone. What's your excuse?"

"I've never kissed anyone either."

"Maybe you need more practice," Olivia suggested.

"We both do," Alex told her. "Maybe we should practice with each other."

"I need to go home," Olivia said. "I'm sorry. I just...I need to think."

"Want your beanie?" Alex asked. She was about to take it off of her head, but Olivia stopped her.

"Keep it. Like I said, it looks good on you."

"Thanks," Alex said and started smiling.

"Alex?"

"Yeah?"

"One more for the road," Olivia said and kissed Alex. It was a quick kiss, but Alex felt herself start to tremble. She wanted to kiss Olivia one more time, but she knew she shouldn't push her luck.

Alex walked home with her headphones on, just as Olivia did. They lived in opposite directions, but Alex still felt as if she was close to her. She put on a song about falling for a girl because it reminded her of Olivia. Alex knew it was a long shot, but she refused to give up hope that Olivia was falling for her too.