Simon knew when Peter was upset and he was. They'd been friends more than half of their lives and Simon could read him like a book. He knew that Peter had seen Olivia on Saturday and judging by the way Peter had been in cloud cuckoo land all day- it hadn't gone as planned.

'So…. Saturday how did it go?' Simon broached the subject over their sandwiches in the staff room. He had waited until they were alone- Peter wouldn't want anyone else involved or to know about what was going on.

'I did something very stupid Simon.' Peter shook his head.

'What happened?'

'We went for lunch. It was so nice to be there with her. I got to see the real her.'

'That sounds like it went well'

'It did, but then I ruined it.'

'How?'

'She went to the toilet, and then I decided. I paid the bill and left something with the girl behind the counter. And I left'

'You left? Why? And what did you give to the girl behind the counter?'

'I left her a piece of paper with the words I like you written on them. I knew I wouldn't be able to see her face when I said them, and I wasn't sure I could find the right words so I left. The ball was in her court, but now I've heard nothing from her. I blew it, I shouldn't have said anything'

'Whoa Peter, you're getting ahead of yourself here. You don't know you've blown it'

'Yes I do. Why hasn't she text or rung me? I didn't take my eyes off my phone all day yesterday, but nothing.'

'She's probably trying to work things out herself. What you did wasn't the best way to do it, but I understand why you did it. I've known you too long.'

'But now I'm worried I've moved things too fast and stuff'

'You don't want to worry. It's not good for you Peter'

'That's easy for you to say. It's all I can think about, do I ring her or text her?'

'You mean you haven't already?'

'No, I wanted to let her decide first'

'Peter, you run out on her during lunch, and then don't ring or text her to check she's okay. How do you know she even got your note, she might not have done. If she didn't she's probably thinking she upset you because you ran out on her'

'So… you think I should ring her?'

'For god's sake Peter, if you don't ring her right now, then I will'

'Okay! I'll ring her' Peter raised his hands in mock surrender and then grabbed his phone and called Olivia- not needing to find her contact because her number was moulded to Peter's brain.

Olivia was sat at the bench in the middle of the lockerroom with Peter's note on her knee. She didn't know what she should do next- she wanted to call Peter, but thought that since he hadn't called her to see if she was okay, maybe he had changed his mind.

The question that had been eating Olivia since Saturday was- did she like Peter too? There was no denying he was handsome and Olivia felt such ease when she was around him, but liking him as more than a friend was veering off into unchartered waters.

'There you are… I've been looking for you everywhere' Amanda suddenly opened the door to the room. Olivia folded up the paper and shoved it in her pocket, but Amanda saw it and her eyes narrowed inquisitively.

'Sorry… I'm just not…'

'Got things on your mind?'

'In a manner of speaking'

'And by things, I mean someone'

'What?'

'Thinking about Peter, and whatever it was you just put in your pocket'

'I don't…'

'Olivia, this is me. Just talk to me. I'm not going to tell the guys if that's what you are worried about'

'I'm not going anywhere until you tell me, so tell me'

'Okay… look I am thinking about Peter but that is all I'm ever going to tell you why can't people stay out of my personal life.'

Amanda walks out leaving Olivia alone after that as Liv says" Should I ring him?' she asks herself

Olivia pulls her phone out of her pocket and was about to ring Peter, when it burst into life and Peter's name flashed up on the screen.

'he's ringing me!'

Olivia steeled herself and accepted the call.

'Hey'

'Hey… I was just calling to ask if….'

'Yes?'

'If…'

'If what?' Olivia knew what Peter was going to ask, but she needed to hear the words for herself.

'If you're okay' Peter chickened out and Olivia's heart sank.

'I'm okay, are you?'

'I suppose so, just busy at work'

'Me too… talking of which I have to go. I'll talk to you soon' Olivia put the phone down.

As Peter heard the phone go dead, he felt tears prick up in her eyes.

'What the hell was that?' Peter has forgotten his best friend was in the room.

'I bottled it okay'

'Not okay. She put the phone down right?'

'Yes'

'That means she got your note'

'Does it?'

'For god's sake Peter, how blind can you be to see what's right in front of you? She obviously got it and wanted you to ask if she liked you. When you didn't, she was hurt, that's why she put the phone down'

'But…'

'Peter, you need to talk to her or you'll lose her'

'I need to ask her don't I?'

'If you can't say it over the phone, maybe writing her a message would be easier?'

'You're right'

Peter picked up his phone and then it vibrated in his hand. Peter looked at the message and then dropped it on the table, almost as if it had caught fire.

'What?'

'Look'

Peter pushed his phone over to Simon with a single finger and Simon stared at the screen for a moment before his eyebrows began to raise.

I KNOW WHAT YOU WANTED TO ASK ME. SOMEONE TOLD ME ITS BETTER TO FIND A LESS DIRECT WAY OF TELLING PEOPLE- SO HERE GOES:

YES I GOT YOUR MESSAGE AND YES I LIKE YOU TOO xx

COMMENTS AND REVIEWS ARE WELCOME