When Viola answered her question with a Twilight reference Olivia would have laughed because she knew that Viola hated the book, at least she would have on a normal day. But today Olivia was more concerned about why her girlfriend had skipped the majority of the first day of school.
And when Vi brushed off her second question with some ridiculously childish 'double crossed pinky promise' Olivia didn't know whether to be hurt or concerned. That must have shown on her face because Vi relented a little and gave a noncommittal answer about 'some Yvonne and Kia drama.'
That did explain a bit. Kia, Yvonne, and Viola were extremely close and had been that way for years. This immediately quelled all worries Olivia had been harboring since Maria's suggestion.
At this point the conversation stopped as the coach made the assembled group begin running laps. When Olivia and Viola matched paces Liv decided to put her lingering questions away. "So, it is the first day of school and we don't have homework, what do you want to do before you have practice?" Liv asked. It was not that they needed to do anything specific; Olivia would be happy just spending time with Vi.
The guilty look that crossed Viola's face did not bode well for Olivia. "That's the thing, Kia needs to talk to me after school. It'll take a while," Vi answered hesitantly, not looking Olivia in the eye. And Olivia was right about the look.
"Oh," was all that Olivia could say. That left Olivia a whole afternoon with nothing to do, something that was not in the norm for the blonde debutante. "That's alright. I have a book to read for class and I can always catch up with Grey's Anatomy." Olivia needn't mention that the book was a tiny thing of poetry or that she was caught up with Grey's Anatomy because she was grasping at straws.
Olivia had not intended to guilt trip Viola but the dejected tone had the brunette fumbling for a quick fix. "I can meet you at Cesario's after practice," Vi offered lamely.
"Sure Vi, that will be fun," Olivia said accepting the implied apology. She was still disappointed but Vi was doing her best with the hand she had been dealt.
"Schveet," Vi smiled, obviously relieved that Olivia was not making a big deal of it.
The couple continued jogging the track talking about innocent enough topics, never touching on Vi's mysterious absence or Olivia's free afternoon.
When the final bell echoed across the school's grounds both girls stopped their exercise. "I'll meet you at Cesario's Vi?" Olivia confirmed.
"Uh, yeah. Six or so," the soccer player answered distractedly. Then Viola trotted away with out even a 'goodbye.'
Olivia was a bit surprised, that was twice Vi left without saying anything. She hadn't even gotten a kiss from her girlfriend at all today. "Bye Vi," Olivia said to the thin air in which Viola had left in her wake.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: So this is my shortest chapter so far. I am not running out of ideas merely waiting to shove them all in to coming chapters. Sorry no Malcolm, he didn't fit right. *Announcer Voice* How will the Kia discussion go? What is going to happen between our favorite couple? And when do we get Paul? Find out in the coming installment of How the Chips Fell. And now word from FanFictionBroadcasting: Due to schedule conflicts How The Chips Fell will be moved to Monday nights at 8:00 to make room in the current time slot for Farmer Billy's Almanac. Thank you for your patronage.