R&R Appreciated!

-disclaimer- This chapter contains slash themes. Please don't read if this offends you.

Chap. 3

Evening turned into night as Olive Snook and the dog called Digby sat together on the couch. Digby's head sat in Olive's lap, enjoying the caressing Olive was absently giving him. Olive's head meanwhile, was spinning with emotions she did not think she could feel. She thought about it again, picturing Ned and wondering why her image of him had changed. She used to get a tingle up her spine simply from thinking about him, but now he seemed more like a brother or a close cousin. She thought about Chuck, wondering why all of a sudden the mysterious brunette- that had sprung up from the middle of nowhere and turned her life around- seemed was more interesting to her than Ned.

And why had she felt excited when she learned of Chuck's rejection to Ned? Surely she was not interested in Chuck romantically… Olive shook her head, dismissing the possibility. Digby looked up, his eyes wide with wonder.

"Well that's ridiculous," Olive said to the dog. "I mean, I'm not-" She paused, unsure how to end her sentence. Needing proof, Olive Snook allowed herself a moment to test herself. She imagined herself kissing Ned, which was a fantasy she had almost every day, only this time she inserted Chuck. Expecting the thought to be completely unappealing, Olive was terrified to find that her heart was pounding and her body tingling at the thought of locking lips with Chuck. Instead of being something she would rather not think about, Chuck became something she needed, craved.

Olive whimpered slightly, coming out of her reverie. Digby still looked at her, and she at him. Shocked and terrified, and thinking something serious was wrong with her, Olive sprang up from the couch. Digby, looking slightly disgruntled, put his head back on the couch as Olive began pacing the living room. She had never felt this way before, why now? Was there something wrong with her? What if Ned ever found out? What if Chuck found out? The questions piled up as Olive tried to make sense of the odd feelings in her head and heart.

A soft noise made Olive jump. She turned to find Chuck standing behind her.

"Oh, Hi Chuck!" Olive hoped Chuck didn't sense her unease. The brunette smiled at Olive, which made her stomach tremble. What was going on??

"Olive, I was thinking about what you were saying," Chuck said. "I'm sorry I was making such a big deal earlier."

Olive shook her head. "It's nothing Chuck."

"Well I guess I'll leave you and Digby alone," Chuck said, her eyes still red from crying. "I'll go to bed."

As Chuck started to leave, Olive struggled with words to keep her. "Uh, Chuck?"

Chuck turned, waiting for Olive to speak. Olive, however, had nothing to say. She shrugged and sighed, deciding to end the conversation there with a simple, "Goodnight".

Chuck didn't buy it however, and stepped closer to Olive. "Is everything alright Olive? You don't look so good."

Olive did what she typically did in serious situations, and giggled while waving her hand. "I'm fine!" She said. "I'll probably go to bed too."

Chuck still looked inquisitive. Olive's smile faded as she looked into those gorgeous green eyes. Her knees felt weak, and she thought for a moment perhaps she was looking at Ned. All the feelings she was experiencing had before been the result of The Pie-Maker's closeness, not Chuck's. Why was she suddenly seeing Chuck this way? Chuck then smiled and had Olive completely. If there was one thing that she loved the most about Chuck, it was her bright smile. Olive couldn't help but smile back, though she felt sick inside.

"We should roast marshmallows over the stove and watch romantic movies or something," Chuck said happily. "Since we both feel bad, we'll just make each other feel better!"

Olive smiled. This was the "friend" Chuck that she knew the best; the Chuck that was there before the "special" Chuck.

"I'll get the mallows," Olive smiled widely.

Chuck nodded and moved to turn on the TV. Several minutes later, there was a sticky mess on the burner of the stove, a bowl of perfectly toasted marshmallows by the couch and a cheesy but satisfying romantic movie playing. Olive paid extra attention to the movie, hoping to avoid her recently crazy thoughts, and to observe the way "normal" love was supposed to work.

Chuck seemed just as engrossed, though she sighed regularly during the scenes in which the couple would touch and kiss. Olive felt genuinely sorry for Chuck, but also wondered what it was that prevented the girl from touching the one she loved. Hoping to get an answer out of Chuck, Olive tried a question.

"Mmm," She sighed as the characters embraced. "Don't you wish you could have romance on a ship like that…"

Chuck's face didn't change, but she answered. "That would be romantic, but I don't really like ships."

"Why's that? Doesn't everyone like ships?" Olive giggled.

Chuck looked very serious. "I get seasick."

Olive nodded, deciding to lay off. There was definitely something Chuck was holding in, but Olive didn't want to upset her by asking. They watched the rest of the movie in silence, and as the credits rolled, a single tear drifted down Chuck's cheek. Olive did not notice this at first, and smiled at the happy ending. When she looked over to Chuck, she found her crying anew.

"Oh, Chuck," Olive put a supportive arm around her friend, forgetting about her feelings for her. "That was supposed to help!"

"Well it just made it worse!" Chuck said. "Oh Olive, I'm so alone…"

Olive hugged her closer, knowing exactly what "alone" felt like. "You're not alone. You've got me and Emerson, and most importantly you've got Ned…"

"I don't really have Ned," Chuck cried. "I can't touch him; I barely KNOW him. We haven't been in touch since we were eight years old! I don't know anything about him and he doesn't know about me."

Olive Snook's curiosity took over her then, and she came out and asked. "Chuck, WHY can't you and Ned touch?? It really makes no sense, I've never heard of people being allergic to people."

Chuck stopped crying and looked at Olive. She looked so ready to say something, Olive didn't even breathe. She said nothing however, letting her head lower to Olive's lap as she continued crying. Olive ran her fingers through silky brown hair, wondering how much attention like this Chuck had received as a child. She then wondered how much Chuck had been touched as a young adult. They had to be around the same age, and Olive had had experiences with the opposite sex, however nothing she would call "serious".

Chuck's tears stopped as her eyes closed. Olive's affection was soothing her. It was soothing Olive, too. Olive let her hand slide down Chuck's arm, gently caressing her with her nails. Olive thought that this might be as good a time as any, and asked Chuck a question.

"Chuck," she started. "Have you ever been touched?"

Chuck shrugged her shoulder. "Sure, when I was little… I'm being touched now aren't I?"

"Yeah, but-" Olive struggled with her wording. "Have you ever experienced… other touching? Like romantic, physical contact?"

Chuck smiled slightly. "I've had boyfriends." She paused. "But nothing serious. Ned was my first kiss."

"You were eight," Olive giggled. "That doesn't count!"

"Why not? We were in love… well, the sort of childish love you have when your eight."

Olive shook her head. "High school? Anything?"

"I kind of did things alone when I was young," Chuck said. "If there were any memorable moments, I don't really remember." Olive knew the brunette was probably lying, but she said nothing. "And anyway, this is nice enough." She referred to Olive's affections.

"Yeah," Olive said softly. "But a little more can be really exciting."

Chuck looked at Olive, and before Olive knew what she was doing, she leaned down and kissed Chuck. Expecting to feel awkward right away, Olive couldn't believe that Chuck's lips could feel so good. She didn't stay there long. Pulling herself upwards, Olive averted her eyes, expecting Chuck to be completely taken off-guard. Instead however, emerald eyes met Olives, and Chuck's lips turned up into a smile. Olive could no longer think straight. Before she knew what exactly she was doing, her lips were on Chuck's again, only this time, Chuck kissed back. Her hands wrapped around Olive's head, pulling her close.

"Mmm," mumbled Olive, pulling her lips away. "Chuck, what are we doing?"

Chuck looked innocently at Olive. "I- I don't really know…"

Chuck started shivering. Olive put her hands on Chuck's shoulders. "We should go to bed."

"What?!" Chuck asked, rather alarmed.

"No! I mean, we should each go to bed," Olive recovered quickly. "You know, you in your bed, me in mine." Olive started laughing, the telltale sign that she was uncomfortable.

Chuck knew this, and smiled uneasily. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess we should."

Chuck stood and Olive mentally kicked herself. How could she have done that?? What was Chuck thinking about her? As she stood, she felt the blood rush to her head, dizzying her. Thinking she should say something, she opened her mouth. Chuck however, turned towards her at the same time, and met her lips with another kiss. Olive whimpered lightly. Chuck tore herself away, looking terrified.

"Oh God, Olive I'm sorry," Chuck said, turning away. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I've never felt like this before."

"Me either!" Olive said quickly. "I don't know why I did it in the first place. I'm so sorry."

Chuck shook her head. "We must have had to much to drink."

Olive looked blankly at Chuck. "Um, Chuck… we haven't had anything to drink."

Chuck looked ready to cry. "I know, I just figured I should say it. Isn't that what you're supposed to say? I don't know, I had to say something."

Olive took a deep breath. "Look, Chuck… maybe we should just go to bed. This is probably just-- something in the water! I don't know what it is, but I'm sure it's nothing a good night's sleep can't solve!"

Chuck admired Olive's optimism. She smiled at the small blonde as she nodded her agreement. They stood for a moment longer, before Olive made the first move. "Okay," she smiled. "Well, sleep well."

Chuck nodded, "You too."

Both girls made off in separate directions, but both stopped to steal a glance at the other as they made their way down the separate hallways.

TBC