A/N: SLIGHT TRIGGER WARNING! Very very tiny brief mention of r*e.
Chapter 14
Study Date (Part 2)
Olivia opened the door for Alex as they walked into the restaurant. Once standing in front of the host's podium, Olivia placed her hand carefully on the small of Alex's back.
Alex immediately smiled, completely enthralled by Olivia's chivalrous action.
"How many today?" The host asked.
"Two, please," Olivia replied.
The host smiled as he grabbed two menus. "Follow me."
Olivia extended her arm so Alex could walk ahead of her. They both followed the host to the back of the restaurant, slipping into a booth.
"What to drink?"
"I'll have a water with lemon, please," Alex asked with a smile.
"I'll have the same, please," Olivia said kindly.
The host nodded and left to grab their drinks as the women looked through the menu.
"Please, get whatever you'd like, Alex. Dinner is on me." Olivia beamed at Alex, who was giving a shy smile.
"Are you sure? I can pay for mine."
"No no," Olivia insisted. "My treat for our first date."
Alex smiled wider as she restrained herself from squealing in excitement. She nodded her head at Olivia as she skimmed the menu.
Soon, the waiter came over with their drinks and asked if they were ready to order. Alex gestured for Olivia to go first.
"I will take the chicken hibachi with noodles, please." Olivia handed the menu to the waiter.
"I will take the Sushi for 2, please." Alex handed the menu to waiter, thanking them before looking at a terrified Olivia.
"Sushi?" Olivia asked.
"Yeah!" Alex replied happily. "I love it. I got enough for us to share."
Olivia felt the color drain from her face. "Uhh…"
"What?" Alex asked concerned. "Are you allergic?"
"No," Olivia quickly replied. "I just… have never tried it."
Alex's eyes were wide as her mouth hung slightly open. "Never?"
Olivia shook her head. "The idea of eating uncooked fish… really terrifies me."
"It actually has really good health benefits," Alex beamed. "It's interesting at first but it's really good. Plus, not all sushi is raw. They have cooked sushi you can try!"
"Really? Hmm. Okay, that doesn't sound terrible. What comes with what you ordered?"
"16 pieces of sushi, a dragon roll, and a spicy tuna roll. The tuna will be raw, but the dragon roll is cooked. You can try that one!"
Olivia would be lying if she said she still wasn't apprehensive about it. She gave a quick swallow as she nodded. Alex reached across the table and took her hands in hers. "I promise, it'll be good. It'll change your life."
Olivia smiled as she held onto Alex's hands, noting how soft they were. "So, Alex. Tell me about yourself. When's your birthday?"
"July 23rd. Yours?"
"January 23rd."
"Huh," Alex pondered. "Exactly 6 months apart."
Olivia smiled. "Yeah, I guess you're right! That's pretty cool."
"It is indeed. What's your favorite color?"
"That's a tough one. Well, I really like dark colors." She pondered for a moment before giving an answer. "Probably maroon. Yours?"
Alex nodded in acknowledgement. "Mine is blue."
"Good choice," Olivia said smiling. "You look great in it."
Alex felt herself blushing. Again. "Thanks. What do your parents do?"
Olivia tensed up a little at the question, with Alex noticing. "Uhh… well…" Olivia started, making a sour face and rubbing the back of her neck. "My mom is a professor here at Columbia. It's actually the only reason I go here, because I get free tuition."
"Oh," Alex said, unsure how to respond based on Olivia's tone. "And your dad?"
Olivia pursed her lips. "I don't know who my dad is."
Alex, who wasn't used to this type of situation, bore a sad expression as she held Olivia's hands tighter, causing Olivia to look up at her. "I'm really sorry, Olivia."
Olivia shrugged. "I'm not. Whoever he is was a piece of shit, so good riddance."
Alex tried to give a half-smile, but could tell that Olivia was still pained. "Well, at least you have your mom."
Olivia's expression didn't lighten.
"Well… I guess. I don't really talk to her much."
"Oh," Alex said. "Why?" She chastised herself immediately. Alex, so inappropriate…
Olivia took in a deep breath as she closed her eyes. "My mom hates me."
Alex leaned forward more on the table, still holding Olivia's hands, but gripping them a little tighter. "Why does she hate you?" She asked softly.
"A few reasons. The main reason is because my 'father' raped her and she got pregnant with me. She tells me that I remind her of him and it sickens her to look at me. Also, I'm gay. She tells me that it's a shame I've dedicated my life to sin. She swears it's because of his DNA that I'm this way."
Alex looked like she got punched in the ribs. She felt her stomach tighten in knots as her throat also tightened, tears stinging her eyes. "Olivia… I'm… I don't even know what to say. I'm so sorry."
Olivia gave a weak smile. "It's okay. I'm used to it by now."
The waiter finally brought over their food, placing it gently on the table. Quickly changing the subject, Olivia spoke up.
"Man, this looks so damn good!" She licked her lips and rubbed her hands together before picking up a fork and digging into the noodles.
Alex gave her a smile as she picked up her chopsticks and began eating her sushi.
"You can use those things?" Olivia asked, her mouth half full.
Alex giggled before carefully swallowing her food so she could answer. "You know, you aren't supposed to talk with your mouth full." She raised an eyebrow at Olivia who stopped slurping a noodle mid bite. "But yup, I can use them!" And with that, Alex picked up another piece and ate it.
Olivia chuckled and made sure to finish her bite before responding. "Sorry. Also, you're gonna have to teach me to use them. I've always wanted to learn."
Alex gave a loving smile. "I'd love to teach you. Now, are you going to try this?" Alex picked up a piece of the dragon roll and held it over to Olivia, who nervously swallowed.
"Remember what I said?" Alex asked, Olivia staring at her. "This is all cooked. No raw fish. I promise."
Olivia leaned forward a little bit before taking the roll in her mouth and cautiously chewing. She surveyed the flavor for a few moments before nodding her head. "Okay," she said, still chewing some of the roll. "Not bad at all!"
Alex smiled in victory as she held up another piece for Olivia to eat. "Here," she offered.
Olivia gladly took it and moaned approvingly as she chewed. "It's good!"
"Good, now try this one." Alex held up a different piece to Olivia who hesitated.
"What's in that one?" She pointed at the sushi like it was an actual flailing fish.
"Cream cheese, avocado, and crab. Which, is cooked."
Olivia took it into her mouth and ate it. She made a slightly disappointed face after. "The other one is better."
Alex giggled as she ate some of the tuna roll.
"Want some noodles?" Olivia asked, pushing her plate towards Alex.
"I think you just want to see me use the chopsticks on the noodles," Alex accused, an eyebrow raised.
"Maybe," Olivia admitted, lowering her head slightly.
"You are so cute," Alex said, scooping up some of Olivia's noodles perfectly with the chopsticks before eating them.
"I may be cute, but not nearly as much as you," Olivia said back with a sweet smile.
Alex shook her head in disagreement as she tried not to blush. "So, what's your middle name?"
Olivia immediately turned red.
Alex raised her eyebrows at her before smiling as she added onto her question. "Liv? What is your middle name? Why won't you tell me?"
"Tell me yours and I'll tell you mine," Olivia quickly stated, hoping Alex's middle name would be as old lady-ish as hers.
"Fine. My middle name is Rose."
Of course it is.
"Damn, that's cute. Alexandra Rose Cabot. Wow." Olivia repeated it a few more times.
"Okay, your turn," Alex said, arms now folded as Olivia refused to cooperate.
"Uh…" Olivia said, burying her face in her hands. "It's… Margaret." She was fully expecting Alex to burst into laughter, much like Elliot had when she told him. However, it never came.
"Olivia Margaret Benson. What an astonishing name. It's perfect," Alex cooed, completely entranced by Olivia.
Olivia looked up from her hands at Alex, who wore a happy expression. There was no ridicule, no judgement. Alex learned and said her name as it was, never thinking twice about it's elderly tones.
She flashed a weak smile in Alex's direction. "Perfect? It sounds like I'm in my 70s."
"No, it doesn't," Alex said sternly, grabbing another piece of sushi. "It suits you."
Olivia's smile grew a bit wider. "So, tell me about your parents. I already know about your dad, but I'd love for you to tell me more."
"Well, my dad is obviously William Cabot, big time lawyer. My mom is a court stenographer."
Olivia raised her eyebrow at Alex. "A what?"
Alex giggled as she grabbed more of Olivia's noodles. "A court writer. You know, the person who types everything that everyone is saying during a trial?"
Olivia sat her silverware down rather quickly. "That's so cool! How does she type that fast?"
"I have no idea," Alex shrugged. "My parents are great, though. They're very stern and kinda strict, but I love them."
"Do they know you're gay?" Olivia asked, forgetting Amanda had told her that Alex wasn't out until she came here.
Alex pursed her lips as she silently shook her head. "No. I don't know how they'd react."
Olivia slowly nodded. "I'm sure they would still love you, Alex. You're a pretty great person."
Alex returned a weak smile.
"And if they don't, well. That's their loss." Olivia looked into Alex's eyes, feeling her heart flutter as she looked at the beautiful blonde in front of her.
Alex, feeling her own heart flutter, smiled as she tried to think of another question to ask Olivia. "Um, do you have any siblings?"
"Nope. You?"
Alex shook her head. "Well, Casey might as well be my sister since we've grown up together."
"That's kinda how I feel about Elliot. I've only known him for two years but he's just like a brother to me. We just fit so well."
"I'm glad you have him," Alex smiled.
"And I'm glad you have Casey. Even though she threatened to kill me." Olivia laughed after the admission, making Alex freeze.
"She what?" Alex asked surprised.
Olivia froze too, mouth full of chicken. "She didn't tell you?" Olivia mumbled with her mouth full, almost unintelligibly.
Alex gave her a stern look as she folded her arms, making Olivia giggle and quickly swallow her food.
"She didn't tell you?" Olivia said clearer, now that her mouth was empty.
"No? When did she do this?" Alex asked.
"Well…" Olivia started nervously. "Remember the night we almost kissed? She was exiting your dorm as I was going in. She figured out I was there to see you and told me if I hurt you she'd kill me and make it look like an accident."
Alex's eyes were wide for a moment before a smile formed at her lips and she started laughing, burying her face in her hands in embarrassment. "Jeez, Casey…" Alex muttered.
"Hey, just wait until Elliot gets you alone. He'll probably threaten you the same," Olivia admitted, taking another big bite of food. "It just means she cares, Alex. Don't be mad at her."
"I'm not," Alex said before eating the last few pieces of sushi. "This was really good, by the way. Thank you for dinner." Alex batted her eyelashes at Olivia in a way that made everything else around them seem still. God, she's so beautiful.
"It was my pleasure, Alex. Honestly. Thanks for agreeing to come out with me," Olivia said with a smile as she took Alex's hands in hers.
Alex smiled as she stared at her and Olivia's hands intertwined together on the table. She rubbed her thumbs over the back of Olivia's hands before looking up to meet Olivia's eyes. "You're welcome, Olivia."
After a few moments of silence and exchanged smiles, Olivia spoke again. "You ready to go?"
Alex nodded as they got up from the booth to walk towards the exit. Once outside, Olivia walked directly next to Alex as they headed back towards her dorm. Olivia let out a nervous breath as she grabbed Alex's hand in hers as they walked.
Back at the dorm, Olivia turned to stand directly in front of Alex, taking her other hand in hers. They stood there for quite a few silent moments, holding each other's hands and smiling at each other – both of their hearts were pounding in their chests.
Come on, Alex… lean down and kiss her. Just do it.
You got this, Benson. Just kiss her. She wants to. You want to.
Neither of them could move. They stayed frozen and staring at each other for what seemed like hours, until someone exited the dorm and broke them out of their trance.
"Uhh… so, I… better go," Olivia nervously said.
"Yeah. I've got class in the morning," Alex reluctantly agreed.
"Me too. But, hey. I'll see you at the party this weekend?" Olivia asked.
"Of course," Alex agreed.
Olivia leaned up to kiss Alex on the cheek and pull her into a hug before turning to walk to her townhouse. "Bye, cutie."
Alex giggled in response. "Bye. Text me, okay?"
Olivia turned around to face her as she walked backwards. "Absolutely. Bye, Alex."
Alex waved as she watched Olivia walk away until she couldn't see her anymore. She silently squealed to herself as she touched her hand to the cheek Olivia kissed before walking up to her room to tell Casey all about the date.
