The sun hung low in the sky as Olivia and her dad, Ben, drove towards the Quileute reserve. The text from Ben had come that morning, asking if Olivia could help out his Aunt Lucy for the day. Her mother, usually the first to offer assistance, was feeling a bit under the weather.
Olivia looked out the window, taking in the lush, green scenery. The beauty of the reserve never failed to captivate her, and she was grateful for the opportunity to spend the day here.
When they arrived, Aunt Lucy was already outside, deep in conversation with a neighbor. Ben greeted Aunt Lucy warmly, and Olivia smiled, glad to see her dad's cheerful demeanor.
As Ben exchanged pleasantries with the neighbor, Olivia glanced over, seeing a woman with kind eyes and a familiar face. She couldn't quite place where she'd seen her before, but she felt a sense of recognition.
Aunt Lucy turned towards Olivia, her eyes twinkling with appreciation. "Oh, Olivia, I'm so glad you could make it! We could really use some help in the garden."
Olivia nodded eagerly, happy to be of assistance. "Of course, Aunt Lucy. I'm ready to get my hands dirty."
As the morning passed, the sun emerged in full force, warming the air and chasing away the earlier chill. Olivia found herself pulling off her sweater, revealing a hint of skin beneath. The task at hand had her fully engaged, and she lost track of time in the process.
Meanwhile, across the street Seth's truck pulled up. He watched, his heart racing, as Olivia shed her sweater. The sight took his breath away, and he couldn't believe his eyes. He hadn't expected to see her here, and the unexpected encounter filled him with a mix of surprise and delight.
Without thinking, he approached her from behind, his footsteps quiet on the grass. He leaned in, his voice a soft whisper in her ear. "Hi."
Startled, Olivia let out a yelp, her heart pounding. She turned around, her eyes wide with surprise. "Seth! What are you doing here?"
Seth's smile was warm, his eyes filled with affection. "I should be asking you the same thing. It's a pleasant surprise to find you here."
Olivia's confusion melted into a smile of her own. "I'm helping my dad's aunt, Lucy."
As Seth explained that Sue was Aunt Lucy's neighbor, Olivia nodded in understanding. It made sense now. She was about to ask Seth if he was here alone when he beat her to it.
"So, are you here alone, or did you bring reinforcements for the gardening mission?" he inquired, his curiosity evident.
Olivia chuckled and pointed towards the back fence, where Ben was focused on painting. "No reinforcements needed. Just my dad, over there, working hard on that fence."
As if on cue, Ben looked up, his protective instincts kicking in. He quickly made his way over to Olivia, eyeing Seth with a friendly but cautious expression. Olivia hadn't had the chance to talk to her parents about Seth yet.
As Ben approached, his eyes scanned Seth, and he furrowed his brow. "You look familiar. Have we met before?"
Seth offered a warm smile, recognizing the recognition in Ben's eyes. "It's been a long time, Ben. I'm Seth, Sue's son."
Understanding dawned on Ben's face, and he extended a hand. "Seth, of course! It's been years. Good to see you again."
Olivia couldn't help but feel a bit relieved that her dad and Seth seemed to have a friendly history. Ben then turned to Olivia, his curiosity piqued. "How do you know Seth?"
Olivia had to think fast, and she improvised a story that Seth found quite amusing. "We met at the grocery store a while back, and he offered to help Aunt Lucy with some heavy lifting today."
Ben nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "Well, it's good to have some extra hands around here. Thanks, Seth."
As they continued to chat, Olivia seized the opportunity to enlist Seth's help with some heavy bags that needed to be moved to the shed. As he effortlessly picked them up, she couldn't help but steal a glance at his prominent abs, hidden beneath his shirt. She quickly looked away, feeling a flush of warmth creeping up her cheeks.
Seth couldn't help but notice the slight flush that tinted Olivia's cheeks, and her quick glance away when their eyes met. He chuckled softly, the sound warm and filled with amusement. It was endearing to see her react this way, and it only made him more drawn to her.
"Seems like the gardening isn't the only thing that's heating up around here," Seth teased gently, his tone playful.
Olivia's cheeks turned an even deeper shade of pink, and she couldn't help but join in the laughter. "You caught me," she admitted, her voice tinged with a mixture of embarrassment and lightheartedness.
Just as things were starting to feel a bit too heated, Aunt Lucy emerged with refreshments, saving Olivia from any further embarrassment. Olivia brushed some hair out of her face, inadvertently smudging some dirt on her nose in the process.
Seth noticed and reached out, gently wiping the dirt away. Their eyes met, and there was a brief moment of shared intimacy. It was a small gesture, but it sent a thrill through Olivia.
As the afternoon sun bathed the garden in a warm glow, Sue Clearwater emerged from her home, a friendly smile on her face. She looked at Seth and then across the street, a twinkle of recognition in her eyes.
"I thought I saw your truck over there," she remarked, her voice filled with warmth.
Seth nodded, a fond smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, I'm here helping out Lucy with some heavy lifting. And, Mom, this is Olivia. We met a while back."
Olivia extended her hand, a warm smile on her face. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Clearwater."
Sue shook Olivia's hand, her eyes sparkling with a knowing glint. "Likewise, Olivia. It's always nice to meet a friend of Seth's."
Seth couldn't help but notice the subtle smile his mother gave him. He knew that she was happy for him, but also understood that she couldn't let it show too much just yet.
As the afternoon came to an end, they said their goodbyes, promising to catch up soon. Olivia returned home, the day's activities still fresh in her mind. After a refreshing shower, she decided to call it an early night, knowing that a new work week awaited her in the morning.
Just as she settled into bed, her phone lit up with a message from Seth. She couldn't help but smile as she read his words. "I can't stop thinking about you," he confessed.
Olivia's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly typed out a reply, feeling the same way.
Olivia's sleep was deep and undisturbed until a dream started to weave its way through her subconscious. In the dream, she found herself in a forest, surrounded by tall trees and the sounds of nature. It was both beautiful and eerie, a strange sense of familiarity washing over her.
Suddenly, large shadows moved among the trees, and Olivia's heart pounded with fear. She turned to see a pack of wolves emerging from the shadows, their eyes intense and focused. The sight sent a shiver down her spine, a mixture of terror and awe.
Yet, to her surprise, the wolves didn't seem hostile. Instead, they formed a protective circle around her, their presence strangely comforting. Olivia couldn't explain it, but she felt a connection to them, as if they were looking out for her.
As the dream unfolded, Olivia's fear gradually melted away, replaced by a sense of calm and acceptance. She watched the wolves with a mixture of wonder and gratitude, feeling a strange bond with them.
But then, the dream took an unexpected turn. The sky darkened, and a low growl rumbled through the forest. Olivia's heart raced, the once comforting presence of the wolves now tinged with an underlying sense of danger.
Suddenly, she was jolted awake, her body covered in a cold sweat. The remnants of the dream lingered, leaving her with a mix of emotions. It had been both terrifying and oddly reassuring, a strange combination that left her mind racing.
Taking a deep breath, Olivia tried to calm her racing heart. She glanced at the clock, realizing that sleep was unlikely to return. Instead, she decided to get up, maybe make a cup of tea to chase away the lingering unease. As she moved about her quiet home, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of connection to the dream, as if it held a message that was just beyond her grasp.
As the day wore on, Olivia's exhaustion only deepened, a constant heavy weight on her eyelids. When she finally returned home from work, she mustered the energy to send Seth a text, hoping to catch up on their day.
She waited for a response, but much to her surprise, none came. She chalked it up to a busy day for Seth, feeling a twinge of disappointment. As the evening settled in, she decided to make dinner for herself, the quiet of her home seeming to amplify her unease.
After a solitary meal, she settled in to watch another episode of Gilmore Girls, trying to find comfort in the familiar banter of the characters. But the day's weariness caught up with her, and before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep on the couch.
Meanwhile, Seth was at Embry's garage, lending a hand with various tasks and completely unaware of his buzzing phone. He was preoccupied with the work at hand and the thought of Olivia briefly slipped his mind.
It wasn't until he returned home, much later than he had intended, that he saw the messages from Olivia. Worry gnawed at him as he quickly tried to contact her, wondering if she was alright.
Unable to shake off the feeling of unease, Seth decided to drive over to Olivia's house. When he arrived, he rang the doorbell, but there was no answer. In her tiredness, Olivia had forgotten to lock the door, and Seth hesitantly stepped inside, his concern growing.
He found Olivia on the couch, her brow furrowed in sleep, murmuring words that he couldn't quite make out. Without hesitation, he carefully gathered her in his arms, carrying her gently upstairs to her bed.
The next morning, Olivia awoke at 7.30. As she blinked away the last remnants of sleep, she slowly became aware of her surroundings. The soft morning light filtered through her curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. She stretched, feeling a sense of comfort and contentment wash over her.
As she turned her gaze towards her nightstand, her heart skipped a beat. There, nestled amongst her belongings, was a handwritten note. She reached for it, her fingers trembling with anticipation.
Unfolding the paper, she saw Seth's familiar handwriting, each word etched onto the page with care. It read:
"Came by to check up on you. You were asleep on the couch, so I carried you to bed. Please remember to lock your doors in the future. Your safety is important. Hope you slept well. I'm here if you need anything. - Seth"
A smile tugged at the corners of Olivia's lips as she read the heartfelt message. It was a simple gesture, but it filled her with warmth and gratitude. She carefully placed the note back on her nightstand, a newfound sense of connection with Seth settling in her heart.