Chapter 9

The next day was an ordinary day for Sam and Ian. Both got up, showered, brushed their teeth, kissed their significant others on the cheek, grabbed their stuff and drove to work. As always, the two ended up parking their cars next to each other.

"Morning, Sammy." Ian greeted him with a grin as he locked his car.

"Morn, Ian." Sam smiled back. They heard the sound of a bell dinging behind them, and they turned round, surprised to see Olivia approaching them with her bike.

"Hey, I thought Dean was picking her up today..." Ian told Sam.

"Maybe he had to go somewhere first?" Sam thought. Olivia stopped her bike, slamming her feet to the ground. As she chained it against the pole, the boys noticed her hair was up in a bun. It had probably been days—maybe even weeks—since she'd had her hair up. "Hey, Liv, you okay?"

She huffed and turned round. "Yes, Sam. I'm okay. Great. Super. Perfect!" She smiled fakely, picked up her bag and made her way to the reception. Every day, when she passes the reception desk, she greets the receptionists and security guards. But not today: she simply rushed to the elevator and went up. Sam and Ian looked at each other.

"I think they had an argument last night." Ian said. "She called me last night when she was over at his apartment to meet his brother. She told me he forgot their anniversary... which is today."

"Yikes." Sam winced. "Remember when I forgot our friendship anniversary last year? She didn't speak to me for a whole week."

"Chick holds a grudge, doesn't she?" Ian commented, shaking his head. They entered the lift, and as the doors were about to close, Dean puts his hand in between them so that they reopened. He stepped inside.

"Morning." he nodded courteously and stood in the middle.

"Don't 'morning' us, dude." Ian retorted with a glare, crossing his arms. "Thanks to you forgetting the anniversary! Now Olivia's pissed at us too!"

"Okay, just let me explain..." Dean tried to calm Ian down, but he persisted.

"Oh you better explain, cos the girl's upset. And when she's upset, shit goes down!" Ian yelled, Sam hushed his friend, and smiled shyly at Dean.

"Sorry about Ian... he's a bit of a drama queen." he explained through gritted teeth, sending death glared at his friend. "You, uh, you were about to explain...?"

"It's not that I forgot the anniversary." Dean started explaining. They got to their floor, but instead of going towards Tech Support, Dean directed them to the men's' bathroom. "My brother, Ash, he suggested I pretend I forgot about the anniversary, so I can surprise her. Is it too soon for a hotel reservation?"

Ian smirked. "I slept with my wife after our second date. There's no such thing as too soon, man. You either go for it or you don't."

Sam nodded. "Olivia doesn't believe in waiting and that crap. She's pretty laidback. She just goes with the flow. Seeing how upset she is that she thinks you forgot the anniversary's a good sign."

"Yeah man. She's into you big time, so you better plan big."

"How about The Dragonfly Hotel?" Dean asked. The other two drew back their breath.

"That's the most expensive hotel in the area! Not to mention the busiest." Ian exclaimed. "It took me months to find a free booking for one night with my girl."

"I've kinda made the reservation last week..." Dean looked down bashfully. "I know the owner."

"Last week huh." Ian slapped his back. "You fell for her too, didn't you?"

Dean gave Ian a look: 'You think?'. "So now that you know what I've planned... No one besides us needs to know about what I planned."

"Except for me." The boys jumped with fright when they saw Mr Adler walk in. He let out a gleeful laugh at the sight of their frightened postures and proceeded with washing his hands. "Don't worry boys, secret's safe with me. That girl's gonna have the surprise of her life!"

Olivia switched on her stereo, turned up the volume and immersed herself in some invoices. She didn't mean to be pissed at Sam and Ian. It's wasn't their fault Dean's an ass. She decided to talk to them, so she went to their cubicles, which were across each other, but froze when she saw Dean talking to them. She approached cautiously and cleared her throat.

"Sam, Ian. I, uh, wanted to apologise for my behaviour this morning." she told them, ignoring Dean, whose minty breath turned Olivia on a tiny bit. (A lot).

"No big, Liv." Ian smiled. "We still on for lunch? Mel's gonna drop by for a while."

"I thought we were having lunch together today." Dean frowned. Olivia turned round and smiled sardonically.

"Whoops, I forgot." she replied, emphasising the word and sauntered away towards the photocopier. Dean walked past her, almost bumping into Kay.

"Morning, Kay!" he exclaimed, smiling brightly. Olivia made slight gagging sounds, which boosted Dean's smile. 'Plan's working so well!' "Hey, wanna grab lunch with me today?"

"Sure thing, Dean." Kay winked and walked the other way.

Dean turned round and pretended to see Olivia for the first time behind him. Smile still plastered, he said, "Oh, didn't see you there, Liv."

"Oh, you think you're so cute huh." she snapped.

"Hmmm... nope, I think I'm adorable."

"You seriously have no idea what day it is today?" Silence. "Nothing? Really?"

"It's... it's not your birthday is it?" 'This is so much fun... but I miss her playful jokes and subtle flirting...' "I could've sworn it's in February..."

"You're infuriating!" she groaned and locked herself inside her office, music louder than before.

"There she is!" Mel exclaimed when she saw Olivia walking into the diner.

"Sorry I'm late. I received a last-minute call from HR." she explained and sat down.

"Ian told me everything. You okay?" She reached over and squeezed her friend's hand.

"Just peachy. I just thought he'd remember. And then, instead of begging me for forgiveness, he went ahead and asked fucking Kay to eat lunch with him!"

"Fucking Kay!" Sam groaned with exasperation, but sent a secret smile to Mel, who nodded.

"Yeah man, she screws up every fucking thing!" Ian chimed in. deep down, he wanted to burst out laughing.

"And then I asked him if he seriously doesn't remember what today was..." Olivia looked down and sighed. "He didn't."

"Oh, poor baby." Mel leaned over her and hugged her tightly.

"So I have news." Sam grinned. "Miranda managed to get us a booking at the Dragonfly tonight."

"Shut the door!" Olivia exclaimed. "That place is always booked!" The Dragonfly was the same hotel her parents and brothers got married in. Nathan, her other brother, was getting married in a few months' time in that hotel too.

"That's great, Sam!" Mel cheered. "How long will we be there?"

"I notified Mr Adler and he gave us a day off tomorrow." Sam explained. "Said we deserve it or something along those lines."

"This is so awesome, man. Room service, swanky dinner in formal wear, scary movies after dinner! The dream!" Ian sighed dreamily.

"Well remember to book an extra room for single little me." Olivia half-joked. "Don't wanna share a room with any of you couples. Gross."

"Already did that, babe."

"It's gonna be a great BFFs live-in. Better than the last one for sure." Last time they booked a room for one night, Madison got such severe allergic reaction to something they ordered, that they had to check out and go to the hospital with her.

Olivia suddenly realised she had to meet with her sister-in-law, Katie, right after work. "Fuck, I'm meeting Katie for coffee after work."

"It's okay, you can meet us there." Mel said.

"I'll make it just in time for dinner. Should I be dressed up for that?"

"Duh!" Mel alguhed. "I expect to see you in a sexy-ass dress and killer heels, sweetie. No smart pants allowed."

"Fine, fine... sexy-ass dress it is."

"Oh wow! We get to see Livvy in a dress!" Ian joked.

"Press further and you'll be the one in that dress, McCall." Olivia warned him.

"Oh honey, that's not gonna happen."

I'm having a hard time trying to make the chapters longer and more eventful, but I have neither the time nor the inspiration for it all -sad face-. Plus I had no idea how to end the chapter.

If anyone has any suggestions on what the dress should look like, I BEG YOU PLEAAASE send me a private message with a description of the dress, and preferably a link of said dress? I have no idea what Olivia should wear for a formal dinner!