Chapter 3 – Walking Behind
The day dragged on slowly. Walter had taken to finding out what was causing the sudden outbursts of music, Astrid decided to hide herself at the back of the lab after her outbursts of emotions and Peter and Olivia had decided to ignore their emotions and go out and have lunch.
Being a nice warm afternoon they decided to walk to a near by restaurant. On the walk though they realised that they hadn't heard a single musical note and Olivia began to wonder why, "Peter, have you noticed that no one is singing?"
"Yea actually I have. I wonder if that means it is just us." Taking a few steps in front of Peter Olivia had distanced herself from him. It was as if she was running and he was just walking behind.
Shaking his head, Peter realised he had the same feeling as he did when he had sung during the night and he did all he could to stifle the noise coming from his mouth. Although the words flowed freely they were whispered;
She's running
And he's walking behind
He's trying
But he's last in her line
His love's dying but he keeps on trying
He lives in fear with a love that's clear
He's got love that he needs to give but she's afraid to let him in
To her world with no together
She can't see him in her picture
She wants love but her heart won't let her let him in
He's walking behind
He's walking behind
The phone's ringing
Is it her on the line?
Does he answer?
Or is he wasting his time?
His love's dying but he keeps on trying
He lives in fear with a love that's clear
He's got love that he needs to give but she's afraid to let him in
To her world with no together
Olivia hadn't looked back until they came to a stop at the restaurant. She waited for him to catch up and Peter was overly joyed that she hadn't heard his emotional outburst. He didn't know if he could deal with her finding out how he felt through a forced song.
Whilst inside the restaurant Peter had pulled out Olivia's chair for her to sit in, "Chivalrous are we?"
"We are a dying breed." Peter smirked at her while taking his own seat opposite her.
Not much was spoken throughout their lunch. Peter didn't trust himself to speak because he didn't know if it was going rhyme. Olivia seemed distant to him but he didn't want to push it, not while they were in public.
Olivia's phone suddenly vibrated on the table and she almost jumped to answer it, "Dunham…yes sir, we'll be right there." Hanging up the phone she sighed, "Broyles wants us at the lab, apparently Walter night have a lead."
"Wait, why is Broyles there?" Peter was confused about why Broyles would be involved. As far as they all knew, he hadn't broken out in to song anytime in the last 24 hours.
The walk back to the lab was silent but when they arrived at the lab, something seemed off. Olivia made her way to Astrid who looked like she had seen a ghost and Peter walked over to his father who looked like he had just came down from drug high.
"Olivia, Peter. It seems these outbursts that you have been experiencing is Walters doing." Broyles got straight to the point.
Looking at his father Peter was stunned.
"Apparently the drug mixture I was working on the other day was mixed into out coffees and this is its' side affect." Walter seemed so at ease with what was happening and it wasn't until Astrid began to cry did anyone say anything.
"Walter, how long till it wears off?" Olivia's question was more in general that actually at Walter.
"Well, apparently once the source of the emotions have been worked out will the drugs wear off." Astrid's voice was hoarse from the tears, "My boyfriend came in before and I sang to him. I sang…Unfaithful by Rihanna. And then it was like something had been pulled from my body, I collapsed and I couldn't feel the music inside of me anymore." Fresh tears ran down her cheeks.
So Astrid wasn't as innocent as she looked? Olivia had to push her thoughts back to the current situation. So until I actually sing to Peter about my feelings this isn't going away…great!
Peter's heart dropped, so I have to sing to Olivia. She will find out how I feel and I won't be able to do anything to stop it…great!
"Walter, have you overcome you emotions?" Peter didn't even want to know but he had to ask.
"Why yes Son, my emotions required more of my medical mixture. That's why I sang Yellow Submarine."
"Ok I think I'm going to leave now. Olivia make sure you sort all of this out and call me when everything is back to normal." Broyles had just left them there. Astrid followed suit and Walter went back to his concoction.
All that was left was Olivia and Peter. They stared at each other, not knowing what to say and so they said nothing. Looking away Olivia found something on the floor very interested but Peter couldn't take his eyes off her, so I'm going to have to tell her…could it be that bad? Peter was starting to think that the situation they were in at the moment wasn't as bad as he first thought.
If he was going to tell her, he was going to do it on his own terms. And so he walked to the back of the lab with a piece of paper and began to make plans. He was going to tell her, tonight.
Olivia was left in the middle of the lab with only her thoughts, looking around and realising that everyone had either gone or was busy doing their own work she made her way into her office and shut the door. She leaned up against with her back and sighed, what was she going to do?
Without warning the words rolled off her tongue. It was as if all her feelings for Peter since the day they met just bubbled over the edge and she couldn't stop herself and she just prayed that no one could hear her;
So now I will be waiting for the world to hear my song
So they can tell me I was wrong...
But they weren't there beneath your stare,
And they weren't stripped 'till they were bare of
Any bindings from the world outside that room.
And they weren't taken by the hand
And led through fields of naked land
Where any pre-conceived ideas were blown away...
So I couldn't say "no"
You sighed and I was lost in you, weeks could've past for all I knew.
You were the blanket of the over-world and so I couldn't say,
I wouldn't say "no".
And they weren't stripped 'till they were bare of
Any bindings from the world outside that room.
And they weren't taken by the hand
And led through fields of naked land
Where any pre-conceived ideas were blown away...
So I couldn't say "no"
Turning, Olivia peaked out of the window into the lab. Letting out the breath she had been holding she realised that no one had actually heard her singing. Her eyes were drawn to Peter. He was beautiful and she was in love.
Hope you enjoyed chapter 3
Please R&R
I want to know what you think. If you want to know Peter sings Walking Behind by the Moffats and Olivia sings They Weren't There by Missy Higgins.
Ash