A/N: My wife and I are heading out today on a little 4 day vacation to a remote cabin! So, there won't be any updates for a couple days. I will be back ASAP! Appreciate you all (:
Chapter 10
Second Thoughts
Olivia awoke the next morning in the early afternoon. She crawled out of bed, yawning as she usually did, and took a shower before heading downstairs.
"Hey, Liv!" Kathy called from the kitchen island where she was sitting.
"Mornin' Liv!" Elliot called from the couch, deep in a game on the Xbox. "We playin' Halo today?"
"Mornin' guys. Hell yeah, El. Just let me eat first, 'kay?" Olivia said, grabbing a hot pocket from the freezer and popping it in the microwave.
"How was your night?" Kathy asked suspiciously, eyebrows raised.
"Uhh, fine?" Olivia asked confused, leaning against the counter waiting for the microwave as she heard Elliot snickering on the couch.
"Alex, Alex, oh God, Alex!" Elliot mocked in a high pitched voice before laughing hysterically. Olivia immediately turned red as she pursed her lips and stared at the ground.
"Shut up," Olivia warned.
"I can't wait to hear until she's actually in your room," Elliot laughed.
"Really? You wanna talk, El?" Olivia grabbed the counter in front of her and made her best attempt at low, deep grunting noises to mimic Elliot while air humping it.
Kathy started laughing as she too, turned a bright shade of red.
"Hey, you can't embarrass me, Liv," Elliot said, face glued to the TV.
Kathy walked over to Olivia who was retrieving her hot pocket from the microwave. She leaned in to whisper, "I'm sorry, were we really that loud?"
Olivia chuckled as she put her arm around Kathy. "Yes, but you guys always are."
"Sorry, Liv. We didn't mean to eavesdrop either. We were just headed to the bathroom afterwards to clean up and heard."
"No worries. Like Elliot said – not embarrassed!" Olivia tried to bite the corner of the hot pocket, immediately regretting her decision as she burnt her tongue, chewing with her mouth open, breathing what she believed to be fire.
"More sexting, I take it?" Kathy wiggled her eyebrows.
"Maybe," Olivia said with a smirk.
"I wanna read!" Kathy said.
"Uhh," Olivia started. "Last night wasn't as tame as the first time it happened."
"Oh," Kathy said. "Good for you, Liv. You're inviting her to the party in a couple weeks, right?"
"Planning on it." She took another regretful bite of the hot pocket that was filled with cheese as hot as lava.
"Good. I can't wait to meet her!" Kathy hugged Olivia.
"Liv! Get over here. Halo 4 isn't gonna play itself. We gotta prep to beat Tim and Johnny," Elliot beckoned.
"Alright, chill. I'm coming!" Olivia grabbed the rest of her hot pocket and plopped next to Elliot, picking up a controller.
Alex woke up to Casey shaking her about 1 in the afternoon. "Dude! Are you gonna get up anytime soon?"
"Huh?" Alex said sleepily.
"It's like 1 o'clock, Lex! We gotta go get lunch. I'm going to die if I don't eat."
Alex sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Sorry, Casey. I had a late night."
Casey raised her eyebrows at Alex. "Were you sexting soccer girl again?"
Alex immediately smirked as she looked down at the floor. "Maybe."
"Oh my God! Girl, you've got it bad. I'm afraid to leave you two alone," Casey teased. "So, you gonna let me read?"
Alex's eyes got wide. "Uhh… you can. But… it's… dirty, Casey."
"Come on, Lex. You're my best friend. Plus, I've already had sex. I won't easily be scarred." Alex gave the phone to Casey, who began reading Alex and Olivia's conversation from the night previous.
Casey's eyes were wide open as she read the exchange. "Alexandra Rose! Who are you?! There's a naughty girl living inside you, holy shit, this is steamy! She's right, where did you learn to talk like that? You literally can't even say the word 'horny,' and now you're telling some hot girl to come and fuck you at 3 in the morning? Oh my God, Alex!"
Alex was blushing as she hid her face in her pillow, mumbling unintelligibly.
"Talk to me, right now!" Casey demanded.
"It's just… easy through texting. There's no embarrassment. My fingers can type out the words I'm otherwise too nervous to say. But hey, I'm working on it. I can admit when I'm horny, Casey. And last night, after almost kissing Olivia? I was horny." Alex said the word, but immediately began blushing afterwards.
"I told you, College was going to be amazing. I'm so happy you're breaking out of that shy girl shell, Alex. You're my best friend, and I live to see you thrive being yourself." Casey hugged Alex. "Now come on, pervert. We gotta go eat before I strangle someone."
Alex and Casey walked to the dining hall and grabbed lunch. They sat talking about Olivia, Alex telling Casey all about her research and how Olivia just made her feel. After a while, Amanda came over to sit down with them.
"Hey guys!" Amanda said.
"Hey, Amanda!" Alex and Casey said.
"How's it goin'?" Amanda asked, taking a bite of pizza.
"Good!" Casey said.
"Great! I want some pizza now though," Alex laughed, getting up to go get some. The girl loved pizza more than studying.
Amanda turned around to see that Alex was out of earshot before leaning over to Casey. "So, Olivia Benson is after Alex, huh?"
Casey gave Amanda a concerned look. "Yeah. Wait, she's not your girlfriend, is she?!"
Amanda laughed. "Lord, no. I just… watch out for her, Casey. She usually gets girls into bed and then dumps them."
Casey looked carefully at Amanda. "Did she do that to you?"
"Unfortunately. We went on a few dates, she got me in her bed, and then she just wasn't interested anymore. She's done that to like 3 other girls that I know. We're friends now, but I'm afraid she's going to do that to Alex." Casey could see the concern Amanda had on her face.
"She better not. I already threatened her last night as I left," Casey smirked.
"Good," Amanda smiled in return. "Since Alex has more freedom now on her own, I just worry. Promise me you'll keep an eye on her?"
"You know I will. She's my best friend. If soccer girl does anything to hurt her, I will call my dad. He can help us make it look like an accident." Casey winked at Amanda, who laughed in response as Alex came back with 2 giant slices of pizza.
"Lex, how do you put food away like you do?" Casey asked annoyed.
"Good metabolism I guess," Alex said, digging into her pizza.
"Aww, come on!" Tim yelled from the couch, throwing down the Xbox controller.
Olivia and Elliot stood up and did a chest bump, followed by their secret handshake.
"Why is this chick so good at video games?" Johnny asked, flipping off Olivia.
"It's the lesbian in me," Olivia teased. "We're better with our fingers, you know."
Kathy started laughing hysterically as Elliot gave her a high five.
"Damn, Benson. That's hot!" Tim picked up a joint from the table and lit it before taking a hit and passing it to Johnny.
"Yeah, Benson. Shit." Johnny started coughing, the smoke of the joint burning thickly in his lungs. He passed it to Olivia, who immediately passed it to Elliot.
"Not for me today. One, I gotta kick your ass again, and I need to be sober. Two, I really need to study later so I need a clear head."
"Study what, Blondie's body?" Elliot teased, Olivia punching him in the arm as he passed the joint to Kathy.
"Shut up," Olivia said.
"Yo, who's Blondie? She sounds hot," Tim said. "It's not that Amanda chick, is it? I thought you already did her."
Olivia sighed. "No, Tim. It's not Amanda. This girl's name is Alex. And she's… different."
"Different how? Good enough for a second time with 'Bang 'em Benson?'" Johnny clapped his hand together with Tim's. Olivia was clearly not amused.
"I hate that nickname," Olivia gritted through her teeth.
"Guys, come on. Leave Liv alone. She actually cares about this chick," Elliot said, rubbing Olivia's back.
"Who is she? Alex you said?" Johnny asked, taking another hit of the joint.
"Yeah. She's a freshman. Tall, blonde, long legs, cute ass glasses." Olivia couldn't help but smile as she thought of Alex.
"Wait," Tim said. "Doesn't she sound like the chick your brother has a crush on Johnny?"
"Actually, yeah. Charlie's been trying to talk to this chick in his Political Science class for weeks now. But she hasn't picked up on his shitty flirting." Johnny laughed.
"Probably because he's barking up the wrong tree," Olivia said. "She's gay. So he can just give it up."
"Wow, someone's defensive," Tim said, his eyes red and drooping.
Olivia couldn't help but feel jealous. "I'm just saying. She's too busy flirting with me. Now come on, we gonna play again or not, bitches?"
Alex sat studying in their room for a while, uninterrupted. She finally was able to finish all of her homework, so she was studying and practicing for her Economics test. Casey couldn't help but think of the conversation she had with Amanda, and how Olivia did keep sexting Alex.
"Hey, Lexie?" Casey said, turning away from her desk.
"Yeah, Case?"
"Can I… talk to you about something?" Casey was treading lightly.
"Of course, silly." Alex gave her a soft smile.
"Umm, it's about Olivia."
Alex's face grew with concern. "What?"
"Amanda told me at lunch today to keep an eye on Olivia. I guess she… doesn't have the best reputation." Alex could hear the concern in Casey's voice. She folded her arms, listening intently before responding.
"What's her reputation?"
"Apparently she… has a habit of talking to girls, sleeping with them once, and then never talking to them again." Casey had a sad expression on her face.
Alex pondered for a moment. "And she did this to Amanda, I take it?"
"Yeah," Casey breathed.
"Hmm." Alex tried to play it off, but she couldn't help but feel immediately nervous and sick inside.
"And with the way she's been texting you… like, you're a virgin, Alex. I don't want her to just… take that from you and run."
"She wouldn't…" Alex said, her voice coated with nervousness and uncertainty. "It's not like that, with her. I feel it. She feels it."
"But how do you know?" Casey asked.
"I just do, Case. Now, I'm going back to studying." Alex's tone was cold. She didn't want to talk about it anymore.
There's no way… not Olivia. She wouldn't just do that, would she? But Amanda wouldn't lie, either. What if she is only after me for sex? That's not me. But she is always so caring in our texts… making sure I'm not uncomfortable.
Alex got up from her desk and walked to the door.
"Where are you going?" Casey asked.
"I'm talking to Amanda. I need to hear this from her." Alex shut the door behind her and walked down to Amanda's room, knocking lightly on the door.
"Hey, Alex! You okay?" Amanda noticed the worry in her face.
"I need to talk to you. Do you have a few minutes?" Alex's stance was closed off – arms folded, blank expression.
"Yeah, come on in."
Alex walked in Amanda's room and sat at her desk. "Tell me about Olivia Benson."
Amanda sighed. "Casey talked to you?"
Alex nodded.
"I just want you to watch your back with her, Alex. She's a player." Amanda's eyes were soft. Alex could see the hurt in them, from what she assumed to be Olivia.
"A player?" Alex asked.
"Yeah. She… only talks to girls until they get in bed with her. Then, she just ghosts them. I'm worried about her doing that to you."
"Did she do this to you?" Alex asked, already knowing the answer.
Amanda let out a long breath before answering. "Yeah, she did. We talked for a few weeks, went on a couple dates. Then she got me to come home with her one night, and the rest is history. She never showed interest in me again. For the longest time, I thought it was my fault, but I finally realized, it's hers."
Alex slowly nodded her head. "Have there been others?"
Amanda pursed her lips before nodding. "A few, actually. It's always the same with her. I'm not saying not to pursue her, Alex. But… please just watch out for yourself. I know how she can be. Don't give in too easily to her."
"Okay," Alex said, standing up. "Thanks, Amanda."
"You're welcome. Bye, Alex."
Alex walked back into her room and flung herself on the bed, grabbing her phone. She immediately pulled up her conversation with Olivia.
Alex: We need to talk.
Olivia continued to play Halo with the guys a couple more hours before quitting. She and Elliot had won against Tim and Johnny 6:2. Grabbing her phone, her stomach sank when she read the text from Alex.
"Shit," she whispered.
"What?" Kathy asked.
"Something happened," Olivia said, her chest feeling tight. She took the phone and ran up to her room, flopping on her bed.
Olivia: Hi… everything ok?
Alex: Not really
Olivia: Want me to call u?
Alex: Idk. You have some explaining to do, tho.
Olivia: ok…
Before she could think, Alex was calling her.
"Shit, shit, shit." She took a few deep breaths before answering the phone.
"Hello?" Olivia said nervously.
"Hi," Alex said softly.
"Uhh, what's up?"
"Nothing. I uhh… had an interesting conversation with Amanda today. I just… wanted to get your side of the story."
Olivia immediately knew what this was about. She sighed into the phone.
"Alex, look. My past is my past. I hurt Amanda and she's still mad about it. I don't blame her."
"She said she's not the only one, though…"
"Fuck…" Olivia whispered, but loud enough for Alex to hear. "Alex, please. Take a chance on me. I don't have a good reputation, I know that. But you gotta believe me. The way I feel for you is… different."
She was met with silence on the other end of the phone. Without warning, Olivia then heard a click of the phone. She immediately tossed her phone on the floor and groaned. Within seconds, there was a knock on her door before it opened.
"Liv?" Kathy asked. "You okay?"
"No, I'm not. Fucking Amanda. She got to Alex." Olivia felt tears stinging the corners of her eyes as she hugged her pillow.
Kathy sat next to Olivia and rubbed her back, wiping a stray tear falling down Olivia's cheek. "Honey… what happened?"
"Amanda fucking told her about my reputation. It's bullshit. She can't keep using this against me! I gotta go talk to her." Olivia stood up and started grabbing her things, Kathy grabbing her arm.
"Are you sure that's a good idea? You're angry, Olivia. Nothing good comes out of being angry."
Olivia shrugged her arm away from Kathy. "I don't care." She slammed the door behind her, making her way towards Carman Hall.
