Olivia had cried for a while but could not stay mad at Viola. She might have managed to keep some of her anger if Vi hadn't sat giving her a back rub for hours. When Olivia had stopped crying Vi left, most likely to eat since her stomach rumbled nearly in Olivia's ear.
Olivia should have used this period of Viola free time to assess her feelings but that was too hard. Instead Liv just got ready for bed and lay there waiting for Viola. Olivia laid in the bed waiting for Vi to come back, and when the time had stretched out far too long Olivia wished she had not told Viola to go away.
After some time Viola did return to the room, but did not immediately get in to her bed. Olivia wondered if Viola would actually walk out of the dorm when she heard the familiar creak of a dorm bed being occupied. Olivia also heard the "I really am sorry Liv."
Olivia barely slept that night, kept awake by her thoughts. Viola's presence might not have helped, because even with Viola only a bed away Olivia felt as if the distance were miles not the feet it really was. And when Viola's alarm went off at its normal time it woke Olivia from her fitful sleep. Olivia was acutely aware of every movement Viola made getting ready.
When Viola left Olivia got up, not needing to keep up her charade of sleep. Climbing out of her bed Olivia saw something on the door. It was a note from Viola. Olivia opened the note, flipping the folded paper open to expose the chicken scratch that was Viola's writing. Olivia read the note in her hands out loud.
"Liv," even reading it herself Olivia could hear the awkward voice Voila would have adopted for the conversation. "I really am sorry; I don't know how many times I can say it. Will you give me a ball park estimate, so I can at least know if I am close to forgiveness? I really do want to make it up to you, but I still can't tell you why I wasn't around yesterday. Maybe I can tell you this weekend, hopefully. Trust me I do want to tell you. And I am sorry. See you in class, Vi." Olivia smiled slightly because Viola had dotted her 'I' with a smiley face.
Feeling still hurt but no longer mad at Viola, Olivia got ready for class very early and even ate a breakfast bar instead of meeting Maria for breakfast; she was barely ready to talk about yesterday with Viola, she was not even ready to tell Maria about yesterday.
For the second time in as many days Olivia was very early to class. Today Olivia didn't look up every time someone entered and was very surprised when a person interrupted her solitude by sitting next to her.
Looking over to her neighbor Olivia was surprised to find that it was Viola, looking almost exactly as she had the day before. Olivia glanced at the clock and was amazed that it was nearly time for class to start; she had barely noticed the passage of time.
Both girls wanted to talk to the other, but neither mustered the courage to before Mr. McManus, the health teacher came in. Looking at Mr. McManus you might wonder why he was a health teacher; the man looked for all the world like Santa. But don't let looks deceive you because he definitely was not jolly. Mr. McManus would have been more suited to be a drill sergeant than a health teacher.
In a voice that would do an army commander proud Mr. McManus barked out a quick roll call before popping in a movie. Before playing the movie McManus told the assembled class that he expected silence, and enforcing it with a glare. Then McManus doused the lights.
So the two girls who couldn't talk sat next to each other, for an entire hour. The silence was deafeningly loud, in a way that makes sense only to people who have experienced it.
During the hour of movie, what it was about neither girl could say, furtive glances were shot when one thought the other was not looking.
After the lights had been turned back on Olivia had mustered up the courage to speak and had began to say "Vi," but stopped because Viola had spoken.
Viola, who had started speaking at the same time as Olivia had said "I'm so sorry."
When they interrupted each other both girls cracked a smile. One small smile can tell you a lot of things. Olivia saw from Viola's nervous smile, almost the exact same one that had made her heart pound when 'Sebastian' gave it, how sorry Vi truly was, something you can't get from being told the same thing a thousand times.
"I know," Liv said simply. She wasn't mad at Vi anymore, still mortified yes but not angry. Maybe Olivia wasn't ready to forgive Vi but she was getting there.
"I don't expect you to forgive me or anything." But the unsaid 'yet' was easily understood. Vi had something up her sleeve, of that Olivia was sure, but what was still a mystery.
When the bell rang both girls got up and, stuff in hand, left the class room. The second she was out of the room Viola snorted with laughter. Olivia, confused, turned to look at Vi.
Viola puffed out her chest and in a very low voice rumbled, "What?" She sounded so much like Mr. McManus that Olivia dissolved in to giggles. "Am I supposed to take him seriously?" Viola asked in her normal voice.
And with that any remaining tension vanished like fog in sunlight. The two walked to their next classes together, laughing and chatting. Both knew that they still needed to talk but for now that didn't matter.
Viola stopped in front of Olivia's Calculus class and gave the blonde an awkward smile. The smile melted Olivia's heart, like it always did. "I'll see you in Physics?" Olivia asked needing reassurance, as she was still unready to fully trust Vi not to let her down, again.
Vi smiled a big lopsided grin. "Totally. Why wouldn't I want to be in class with the hottest girl in the school?" Vi asked, stealing Duke's, very true, assessment of Olivia. "See you later," Viola said and then she took Olivia's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze before turning towards her own class. And just before turning the corner and disappearing from sight Viola shot a wave back at Olivia who was still standing outside the classroom.
After a few seconds, in which Olivia didn't care that she was grinning like a fool, Olivia made herself move in to the classroom. She sat with a smile on her face for the entire class period, barely paying enough attention to note that the class was given an assignment due tomorrow.
When the bell rang it snapped Olivia out of the stupor she had been in. Olivia hastily scribbled the assignment written on the board in to her daily planner. Snapping the planner shut Olivia put her Calculus book and then the planner in to her waiting bag. The she reached up to grab the pencil to put back in to her purse.
When Olivia reached for the zipper, to close her bag, she found it was already done. That was weird, because it had just been open a moment before. Olivia shrugged and hoisted the bag on to her shoulder and was surprised when she met resistance.
Olivia turned around, only to come face to face with Viola. Vi had attempted to take Olivia's bag at the same moment Olivia had tried to shoulder the bag. "Sorry, I thought I'd walk with you to Physics, is that ok?"
"Sure Vi," Olivia grinned, relinquishing the bag. Vi was certainly going out of her way to make it up to Olivia for standing her up, even if it hadn't been intentional. And, truthfully, Olivia didn't mind Viola doing that, it made her feel special, something that went farther to mending the hurts than words.
"Physics awaits," Vi said, waggling her eyebrows in an entirely ridiculous fashion. Vi took Olivia's backpack, along with her own messenger bag. Viola than ushered Olivia out the door, to their next class.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This might be my last post for a while. Second semester of college starting Monday. I'm moving back either tomorrow or Sunday so maybe I can pop out a chapter sometime soon. Don't leave me if I can't. And I'm trying out a different announcer style, tell me what you think. *Announcer Voice* Next time on How the Chips Fell. Olivia doesn't fully trust her girlfriend. Viola may be contemplating breaking her double cross pinky promise and telling Olivia about Yvonne and Kia. There is also Labor Day weekend drama coming up. Please be advised that the following material is not suitable for young children. And now a breaking news report from our reporter in the field: Oh My God.
Oh My God: "Thanks Chuck. We have breaking news of the tragic scene on . It is horrible but the traffic section for users is down. It is causing mass chaos."