I licked my lips, trying to concentrate. “My point is that they are definitely hiding something from everyone. Did Heather ever mention anything about Olivia to you?”
“No. But why wouldn’t she tell you? You two are a lot closer that she is to me.”
“I don’t know.”
We fell into a silence although both our minds were in chaos over what could possibly be wrong with Olivia Rivera.
“Have you ever considered the possibility that maybe… they are seeing each other?”
“Really? I don’t think so. I don’t think Olivia is into girls. She’s always dated boys.”
“She might be bisexual. Heather also dated and slept with men all this time because she was forcing herself to like men because of her mother.”
“That could be a possibility. Oh my God, why didn’t Olivia tell me?”
“She must be have been worried over how you’d react to having two friends dating each other?” He suggested.
“Why would I even matter? It’s their heart, it’s love. They shouldn’t be worried about me. I’m going to be talk to Olivia tonight and tell her that she had been cold to me for nothing!” It all made sense now. They probably ditched us that day to spend time together.
“You do that. I hope you two work it out. I can see that this rift between you two has really saddened you.”
“It has.” I admitted. “I felt all alone. Even you were distant. I didn’t have anyone to talk to. Everyone was busy with their own lives. I felt insignificant.”
“You’re not insignificant. I’m sorry.” He brushed my hair back and I peered up at him.
“It’s not your fault. I brought it upon myself. I pretended to not like you. I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. “I’m pretty sure you had a good reason for that.”
I grabbed his arm. “I did. Ethan, I’m sorry. You probably wouldn’t believe me but I had a reason to do that.”
“Are you going to tell me what it was?”
“I can’t. Not now. I will tell you soon.” I held his hand tightly, my face serious. “Just remember that my feelings are genuine. No matter what happens in the future, I want you to know that I like you. So much. My feelings are real. They are sincere and I hope I’m doing well to show you that through these dates.”
“Juliet, is everything alright?” He looked at me, uneasy. “Why are you saying things like this?”
“Everything’s okay but I don’t know if it will be in the future. You might hate me at some point of time. You’ll be mad at me. You’ll question the time we spent together but I want you to remember this day and what I said right now, when that time does come.”
“You’re scaring me.”
“I’m sorry.” I hugged him. “I like you very much.”
He sighed. “I’m going to trust you and let you take your time to tell me what this is all about.”
I nodded into his shoulder.
The car came to a stop in front of us as we pulled away. We loaded our little backpack and would soon be home and back to reality.
***
“Are you and Heather dating?” The question bubbled out of my mouth. This was not how I had planned on approaching this matter.
“What?”
“Olivia, are you dating Heather?”
“Why would you think that?” She looked genuinely confused.
“Why not? You two seem so close to each other. You two are hiding seeming from me, aren’t you?”
“We aren’t hiding anything and no, I’m not dating Heather. I like boys. I’m straight.”
“But then how do you explain what you two secretly have been up to?”
“We don’t have to explain anything.”
“Look, I’m not here to fight. If you two like each other, then be together! If you’re worried about how I’ll react, then you don’t have to any longer. I’m not going to forbid you to date her.”
“Oh, you can allow that but can’t allow Tristan and I dating?” She arched an eyebrow.
“That was before. Now is different. Then do you like Tristan?”
“Yes! Julie, are you stupid? Of course I like him. Heather knew it. Amelia figured it out. They told me it was so fucking obvious. Are you blind?”
I did not expect a confession like that from her. “Then what’s the problem? You want to date him? Date him!”
She scoffed. “Are you for real? You told me to fucking stay away from him. That if I date him, it might endanger your secret. I avoided him because of your fucking rule.”
“What? I just… if you liked him so much, you should’ve fought me! You should’ve fought for your feelings. How could you give up?”
“Maybe because I considered our shitty friendship more important than him.”
I didn’t know what to say. She had avoided him because of me. Tristan was going to be so mad at me if he got to know about this.
“I’m sorry.” I couldn’t look into her eyes. They were hateful.
“Fuck you.”
“I know I made a mistake but you can still go back to him, right? He likes you too. He misses you.”
Tears glistened in her eyes, ready to fall down. “I can’t. I can’t go back now. I’ve made him suffer so much. I don’t want to be so shameless and selfish to think he’ll accept me back.”
“But he will. I know he will.”
She shook her head. “You don’t know anything, Julie. Get out. I don’t want to look at your face any longer.”
“You’re been too harsh, Liv. Don’t you think you’re over reacting to this?”
“Like I told you, you don’t know anything. You don’t know how deep my problems run. You’re so self obsessed, you don’t even know what I went through.”
“Enlighten me then, Olivia. Because I can’t find a valid reason for you to abuse me like this.”
“I don’t want to talk to you. Please get out.”
From numerous fights we’ve had before, I knew better than to push her. So I left.
I thought that finally Olivia and I could reconcile. That we’d go back to being friends and forget all about our fights.
But instead it just got worse. She wasn’t dating Heather. She liked Tristan but there was a bigger problem I was unaware of.
This was hopeless. Getting her to talk to me was turning futile every time. It was wasted effort. I wouldn’t get anything out of her no matter how hard I tried. I wondered how long she was going to keep being like this. I was already tired of her.
When I returned to my room, Ethan was waiting outside his room. I had told him I was going to talk to her and he said he’d wait to see how it went.
“Well? Did you two kiss and make up?” He asked hopefully.
I sighed and shook my head. “No. It became worse.”
“Why? Are they not dating?”
“No, we were wrong. She likes Tristan.”
“Really? Wow. Okay. So what’s the problem? They like each other. Shouldn’t they be together?”
“They should.” I nodded. “I don’t know what’s holding Olivia back.”
Noticing I wasn’t in a good mood to talk, he kissed my forehead which made the day a bit better after what just happened.
“I’m sure she’ll come around. Don’t worry.”
I nodded although I didn’t believe it.
“Now you go and get your beauty sleep. You’re clearly tired. Do your arms and legs still hurt?”
“No, I’m okay now. Thanks to your massage last night.”
“Are you sure? I can give you another massage right now. You just have to promise you won’t moan so loud. If your father hears you moaning like that and sees me in your room, I’d be dead meat.”
I laughed. “I don’t think you’d be dead meat. My dad likes you. He thinks we are together and he said that you’re a good person and he wouldn’t mind if we start seeing each other.”
“Really? He said that?” His eyed twinkled with happiness.
“Of course. And he’s right. You’re a really good person and I hope I can be with you.”
“I’m going to decide that after the third date.”
I pouted. “Right. I forgot the exam isn’t over yet.”
“Are you that tired of it already?”
“No, I like going on these dates. It’s just that they are test dates. I want to go on a real date where we are a real couple.”
“Well then hurry up with that last date so that I can make a decision.”
“It’s tomorrow.”
“What? So soon?”
I nodded. “I came up with the perfect idea for the last date. I can’t wait to take you on that date.”
“I’m excited. You better not disappoint me.”
“I’ll try.” I replied dryly.
We bid each other good night and went into our respective rooms.
Yes, tomorrow will be the third and last date that would determine our fate. I was confident that by the end of the day we’d be together.
I? knew? that we’d be together.