"Oh my goodness that's him!" Olivia exclaimed in a panic, grabbing Abby's arm and spinning her to face the nearest painting.

"Ow!" Abby stated plainly, glancing down at her friend's hand. "And it's who?"

"Teddy Nelson," she whispered, still gripping Abby's arm and marching her in the opposite direction of the boy. "The quarterback, the boy from school. He's here!"

"Which one?" Abby asked eagerly. Olivia turned around and began to point at the boy, but Abby grabbed her hand. "Don't point!" she exclaimed in an exasperated tone. "Just direct."

"Blue t-shirt standing next to the Matisse," Olivia directed as instructed. The words slipped through her mouth through gritted teeth.

Abby turned, eyeing Olivia to stay in her place, and faced her as if they were having a conversation so she could get a better look at the guy.

"He's cute," she admired with a smirk. "Go talk to him," she urged, patting her on the arm with encouragement.

"I'm not just gonna go talk to him!" she dismissed in horror. "Are you crazy?"

"Fine," Abby said, letting out a grin. "Then I will." As a look of horror and shock came to Olivia's face, Abby pranced off towards the teenager, and Olivia was left gaping in the middle of the gallery with her arms crossed.

"I've never really had an admiration for Matisse myself," Abby declared softly as she positioned herself next to the boy. She looked carefully at the painting, admiring its unusual colours and textures.

"I like this one," Teddy replied, only giving Abigail a quick sidewards glance.

"Oh yeah?"

"The colours, they're joyful," he's explained. "And the medium is interesting."

"So you like art?" Abby asked, fishing for information.

"I'm more of a sport man myself," he confessed. "But my mother works in the art industry so, you grow up knowing a thing or two about it."

Abby, with her hand down at her side, gave Olivia a thumbs up and a sidewards glance.

"What about you? Do you like art?" he asked politely.

"Not really," Abby shook her head. "But my friend does, you should meet her." She gave Olivia a wave to come over. She did so sheepishly.

Teddy's eyes squinted as he began to recognise Olivia as she drew closer. "Um, Olivia right?"

Olivia let out a shy nervous smile at being recognised. "Yeah, and Teddy?" she replied nervously

"You two know each other?" Abby asked cheerfully, pointing to each with both of her hands. "What a coincidence"

"We go to school together," Teddy explained. "I saw you at the game the other day."

"Oh, yeah?" Olivia pushed her hair back nervously behind her hair. Teddy nodded. "You played well."

"And that chess tournament as well," he added. "You played well in that didn't you?"

Olivia's smile grew wider as she realised the boy had actually noticed her. At this point, Abby began to back away. "I'm going to go find Maggie."

Olivia turned her head and gave her a look of surprise, excitement and awe and mouthed the words 'oh my goodness' to Abigail as she slinked away into the crowd.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It took Abigail a solid ten minutes to find Maggie who was instructing a pair of ushers on one of the centrepiece paintings.

"Where's Olivia?" she asked upon seeing Abigail alone.

"Talking to a boy," she sing-songed.

"Oh dear," Maggie smiled. "Exciting for her, not so much for James. Speaking of," she lifted her head up towards her partner, making his way towards the two.

"This exhibit is wonderful Maggie, you should be proud," he complimented her, slipping his arm around her waist.

Yup, Abby thought, the team definitely brought out the worst in him.

"Where's Olivia," he asked, looking at Abby.

"She's catching up with someone from school," was her nonchalant reply, waving in the general direction of her friend. "And he's right Maggie, this is an amazing exhibit. Sophie and Nate would love, it. Actually, so would Parker."

"I'm going to take that as a compliment," Maggie smiled.

"I would, they all have impeccable taste in art." A slight bitterness returned to James' voice. "Drives me bloody insane," he muttered as an afterthought. Abby had no doubt his bitterness would have continued were it not for an elated Olivia, sprinting up to the others.

"Oh my goodness!" Olivia exclaimed, excitedly gripping Abby's arm, this time with both hands.

"What? What?" James asked in a slight panic.

"Fine, I'm fine," she assured with red cheeks, looking up at her father briefly, before turning back to Abigail. Olivia offered her a cheesy grin and perked up her eyebrows.

"Umm, we're gonna go get something to eat," Abby informed the adults as she giggled and pulled her friend away.

"What was that about?" Sterling muttered to Maggie as the teens whisked themselves away.

"A boy," Maggie gleamed. Sterling could only stutter in disbelief.

XXXXXXXXX

"I don't know what to wear? Or how to do my hair, or anything and I have to leave in half an hour!" Olivia exclaimed in a panic. In a plush bath robe, and hair wrapped up in a towel, she paced nervously about the room as Abby sat cross-legged on the elaborate four poster bed.

"Just relax, okay, we'll sort it out," Abby said calmly, brushing her hands through her hair. After Abby's little set up at the gallery earlier had resulted in Teddy inviting Olivia to his big game tonight. And then, Olivia had divulged very quietly, to the after party.

"No, no, no, I don't date! I play chess, and read, and don't date." She continued to pace up and down the room.

"You're kidding right? You, pretty much single-handedly, took down a nuclear arms dealer and got yourself back living with your dad! You did that, you can handle a date, with a sweet, art loving, Olivia crushing, quarterback."

Olivia stopped pacing and bit her lip. "You think so?"

"Yeah, absolutely," Abby assured.

Olivia let out a breath. "So what should I wear?"

28 minutes later Olivia, with subtle makeup, carefree hair, floral dress and tanned wedges was walking down the stairs to meet her date. "So I look good?" she asked with a crooked smile, spinning on her toes on the tiled floor. Her dress flared out in an arc of colour.

"Amazing!" Abby assured.

"You're sure you don't wanna come?" she asked not for the first time.

"Yes, you sure?" Sterling asked hopefully. He'd been reluctant to let his precious daughter go on a date with a quarterback of all people, but Maggie had convinced him otherwise. Once convinced, he was hoping that Abigail would be going with her and would be able to keep an eye on things. His plan was threatened when she reluctantly refused.

"Quite sure, Eliot might have a fit if I go to another party. Especially a football one," she explained, glancing at her watch. "You should get going."

"Yeah. Keys please?" She turned towards her father, holding her hands out in front of her. Reluctantly, Sterling dug his hands into his back pocket and pulled out the keys. They fell into her hand with a soft clink. "Please be home by midnight," he pleaded.

"Of course dad," she assured him. She turned to Abby and smiled. "See you later!"

"If anything happens I blame you," James muttered, after Olivia had hitched up her bag and walked out the door.

"You wouldn't dare," Abby grinned.

"Are you staying here tonight?" He walked into the kitchen, and Abby followed.

"If you don't mind, I wanna see how it goes."

"Of course not, let me know if you need anything."

XXXXXXXX

Olivia opened the door to her room slowly, with a dreamy look on her face. Lying on her bed, Abby looked up over her laptop and smiled at her friend. "How'd it go?"

The door swung closed slowly, and Olivia leant against in. She kicked her shoes off and walked into the room. "He kissed me," she finally offered in a soft, bashful tone.

"Told you you could date," Abby reminded her. "Now," she said eagerly, slamming her laptop lid down and leaning forward eagerly. "Tell me everything."

XXXXXXXX

For early in the morning the airport was bustling. Business travellers rushing to get to their business appointments on the other side of the country. The rest of her week with Maggie, Sterling and Olivia had been simple and enjoyable. They had made her feel perfectly at home.

"So you have everything you need?" Maggie asked for the third time, fussing with Abby's clothes. "Passport, phone, money?"

"I have everything Maggie, thank you," she replied patting her satchel hanging across her shoulder.

"And you're okay, I mean, you're okay?"

"Maggie, don't bother her," Sterling tutted.

"I'll be fine Maggie, Nate's waiting for me over in Heartford," she assured once more.

"Well, alright then," Maggie agreed reluctantly. "But call if you need anything."

"I will," she assured. "Bye Livy." Abby leant in to hug her best friend. She was slightly sad to be leaving; her and Olivia, and all of them really, had a lot in common but there was a bit more normalcy in their lives. Plus, her and Olivia got along like two peas in a pod.

"Bye Abby," Olivia replied, hugging back. "It's gonna be ages 'till I see you again yeah?"

"Probably," she replied disappointingly. "We live on the opposite sides of the country, so. We'll skype and text though yeah? And you have to keep me updated about Teddy." Olivia nodded shyly, trying to hide her bashful smile. "I should go. Thank you for having me James."

"No problem."

"Message us when you land, okay?" Maggie pleaded when she began to walk away, dragging her luggage towards check in.

"I will!" the teen promised, walking off in the crowd of bustling travellers.

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Keep up the reviews guys, I love reviews!

Up next, Abby spends some time with Nate!

xx A Lyrical Dreamer