Silent Lies - Chapter 41: Chapter 41

"Son, there's nothing to be nervous about," dad tells me from the front seat in mom's car as I fidget with anything I possibly can.
"It's his first relationship, everything makes him nervous. Leave our boy alone," mom scolds him and I raise my eyebrows, still confused with them.
"I'm not nervous." It's a complete fucking lie, I'm more than nervous. It's not about another date with Olivia, well it partly is, but with my parents. I pray they won't do anything to embarrass me, but I don't see any promises that I won't be embarrassed at least once tonight.
"We're here now, so you go-" I get out of the car the second it's in park in Lauren's driveway, walking up to the door with the flowers I bought for Olivia-many different tulips-while calming my nerves.
The door opens the second I raise my hand to knock, my face flushing when it reveals Lauren with Olivia. "H-Hi."
Olivia's wearing a new light pink sweater that falls off her shoulder a little from being too big, ripped jeans, and a new pair of black converse. She's also wearing some eyeliner and mascara, nothing else as the bruises that previously covered her face are completely healed up now. Her hair is down and straight, shorter now after Noah cut it. She fiddles with the friendship bracelet from Danny all those months ago now, looking flushed and nervous just as I am.
She's so fucking pretty.
"Hi," she speaks up, biting back a grin as I hand the flowers over to her. Lauren grins down at her daughter, just as she's getting even more nervous, I can tell. Hearing her voice is what calms my own nerves, happy that she's talking again.
"I... We should um..." I trail off, wanting to tell Olivia everything without her mom right there to hear-or Noah as he grins, standing on the bottom step of their staircase.
"Be safe kids! Curfew is 9pm, no later." Olivia pushes Noah away as Lauren laughs, pushing him away also. Olivia's more than likely staying the night anyways.
"But seriously, be safe," Lauren says just as Noah takes the tulips from Olivia when she's smelling them, saying something about how he'll put them in a vase for her. "You text me, or call, once you know whether you're staying the night or not, okay?" Olivia nods, reaching for my hand which I'm sure is sweaty, but she says nothing about it.
"Love you." Olivia and her mom hug once more before she walks out of the house, her hand in mine, as Lauren waves something to my parents.
"You look really pretty tonight," I say to Olivia as I open the door for her, her face flushing. "Y-You always do though, I mean-"
"Thank you." She grins, letting my nerves go away for a split second. I shut her door and quickly walk over to my side, preparing for whatever my parents will be saying to Olivia.
"How're you Olivia?" My mom asks her, just as Olivia reaches her left hand over and holds my hand which is now free from her cast she just got off yesterday.
"I'm g-good," Olivia says, making me happy that she's started talking to everyone again. She's doing so fucking good, I've never felt more proud in my life. "How're you guys?"
"We are good," dad answers, smiling back at me. "We were thinking of going to this steak house downtown, Olivia. Does that sound good to you for dinner?"
"Anything sounds amazing," Olivia replies, her nerves making her voice shaky as she clings to my hand.
"Steak house it is then," my dad tells my mom with a genuine smile that still makes me confused.
That's not a fake smile and they're not faking getting along, this is all very real. They never hated each other or anything, I mean, but they just did not get along when I was little. Thankfully they got a divorce before they did hate each other and made things worse, not sticking together just because of me. I wouldn't at all be against them getting back together, it'd just be really confusing after all these years, but I'd like that. A lot.
"And good thing because we already made reservations," mom says and I shake my head as Olivia stifles a laugh.
"How's catching up with school, Olivia?" My mom asks, trying to make small talk during the drive. Olivia answers, talking about how she's actually doing good and catching up, earning back decent grades from the stuff I've been turning in for her this week. School actually is understanding Olivia's situation, giving her the time she needs and excusing her from being considered a truant.
Morgan, our principal, has also been apologizing for allowing her to go back home with her dad. She actually feels bad, genuinely, shockingly.
I fidget with my own friendship bracelet from Danny now, even more nervous with Olivia in such close proximity with me. She still holds onto my hand while making it through the small talk with my parents about school, how she's doing after everything she's gone through but not actually bringing it up, how being with her mom again is going, all of that. I get caught in a trance for most of the time though, unable to stop looking at my girlfriend, falling even more with each passing second.
I do think I love her now. This is definitely becoming more than a liking.
The second we're parked at the restaurant, I'm out of the car before Olivia can even take her seatbelt off, opening her door again. She grins when she steps out of the car, her lips lifting in ways that don't look like it pains her for once. I take her hand again, pulling her in for a kiss before my parents are out of the car too.
"What if your parents don't like me once they actually know me?" Olivia blurts out in a whisper, making me frown, just as dad motions us to follow him and mom into the restaurant.
"They're going to love you, don't talk like that." She just nods, leading our way behind my parents into the restaurant.
As mom and dad are going for the reservations, I wrap an arm around Olivia's waist, keeping her close as the restaurant is packed. A waitress takes us to a booth, me and Olivia sitting on one side with my parents on the other. We look through menus, waiting until after ordering drinks for all of us to actually talk.
"So, Olivia, any plans for after graduation?" Dad gets right into conversation, focusing on Olivia.
"Uh, I'm not sure. I'm t-trying to figure it out. I might retake my SAT's but I don't have much time until the next round to study so I'd probably do worse than last year anyway." Olivia struggles, forcing the words out about her future. "I don't know... Community college will probably be my best bet for now, but I don't even know what I want to do. And I've not even applied anywhere because... yeah." Her dad. "I don't have anything to make my applications look good and I'm just barely passing."
"Well, gap years can always be an option," mom assures her with a warm smile. "And you don't have to go to college, not right away at least. Unless that's what you want, of course."
"College isn't for some people," dad chimes in. "Look at me. I wasted four whole years for a degree I've not once used apart from getting a job right after graduation to get me started. Now I own a construction company that you just need some experience for." Olivia smiles. "I suggest a gap year, Olivia. Get to really know yourself so you don't waste four years like I did."
"That sounds like a decent idea," Olivia agrees just as the waiter comes back over for our dinner orders. Mom and dad get the same steak meals, then me and Olivia get the same meals, as she's too nervous to speak up and tells me she'll have what I'm having.
"What kind of things are you into?" My mom asks, getting to know Olivia question by question.
"I like reading," she replies without hesitation, very passionate about reading. "And yeah... Music too."
"Two amazing things. What do you like to read?" I hold Olivia's hand under the table, brushing my thumb over her knuckles, feeling her relax more.
"I like romance a lot. Paranormal stuff too, or fantasy. Crime. Okay, anything really. Apart from non fiction stuff, it kind of bores me. As long as it sounds interesting." There's no hesitation or tremor in Olivia's voice once on the topic of reading-her escape, she's said.
"You are just like me." Mom grins, as she loves reading too. I'm getting more into reading now, also. I never hated reading but it was also never my thing, until Olivia has shown me certain books that do make reading my thing. It only takes one book.
"Okay, so, what kind of music do you like?" My dad chimes in now, more intrigued with that than reading.
"Also anything. Well... I'll pass on country music." We all laugh and agree. "There's a few good country songs though, but hardly."
Just before my parents can start anymore conversations, the waiter is back and setting our meals down. Olivia smiles down at the good ass meal of steak, mashed potatoes, and some mixed vegetables just as I do. My parents got about the same thing, just different vegetables. We all dig in before talking more-at least just my parents and Olivia talking.
"Do you like any video games?" Olivia finishes her mouthful of vegetables before answering.
"I like GTA, and that one zombie game Adrian and Ashton play a lot. Left for dead?" I nod at Olivia.
"Who's your favorite character for GTA?" Dad asks, enjoying the topic of video games as mom rolls her eyes.
"Oh... I just like blowing up places and well, committing serious crimes in the game. I never actually follow the storyline," she explains as I grin, knowing how true that is. Anyone who'd watch her play that game would for sure think she's a psychopath. "Trevor is cool though... I think." She thinks about him more. "Or... no. He's definitely something."
"Definitely," dad laughs.
"Anyways," mom says. "Olivia, what is your favorite meal for the next time we have dinner so I can start planning?" Olivia smiles, happy to hear we'll have more dinner after this. I'm happy too.
"How's my son treating you?" I hear my mom ask when me and my dad are supposed to be going to the desert buffet and I pause.
"Ah ah, that is girls talk. Your mother is going to ask questions Olivia needs to answer by herself, let's go." Dad pulls me along but I still manage to hear some part of Olivia's answer.
"Really good, he's amazing." I grin, happy to know I'm doing good.
"Olivia is an amazing girl, Adrian." I feel all giddy as I grab a cone for the ice cream Olivia wanted, and not from my nerves with all the people crowding the restaurant. But from Olivia, and how she's making me feel.
"I'm well aware, dad." She's way more than amazing, though.
"Think she's the one?" That's a big question coming from him, that I don't know at all how to answer. "You've only been together for a little bit, and you're only in high school, but you could be one of the lucky ones."
"I hope so." I've never placed myself into the idea of actually getting married to anyone, but if it was me getting married to Olivia, I'll definitely place that idea into my head. That might be crazy given our age, I know. "I really like her, so much."
"Really?" I nod at dad's teasing tone. "Yeah, I can tell son. Anyone can. I'm pretty sure you even love her." My face flushes and I can't deny it, knowing this is more than liking. "Whether you're ready to admit those feelings yet or not."
"Do you think it's too early to love her?" I ask him, grabbing some cookies for myself. Red velvet.
"Love doesn't involve time." He rolls his eyes and I roll mine right back as I follow him back to the table.
"Here's your ice cream." I hand Olivia the cone as I slide back into the booth beside her, dad handing mom her chocolate pudding. "Mom didn't pry too much, did she?" Olivia shakes her head with a laugh.
"Oh, I do not pry like that," mom says as though she's offended.
"You do," me and dad say together, earning a glare from mom and a laugh from Olivia.
"She didn't," Olivia defends her.
"See, thank you, Olivia."
"You'll see that she does pry one day." I wrap an arm around Olivia's shoulders, keeping her close again.
"Okay, serious talk time." My nerves rise again when dad says this, knowing this has to be embarrassing. "Do we need to have the talk with you two?"
"Dad!" Olivia's face is redder than I've ever seen it. "We're at a fucking restaurant, for one. For two, we've gone over this-no. We're not having that talk."
"It's a serious question, Adrian," mom chimes in. "We need you two being safe if or when you have s-"
"Please stop talking." Mom and dad laugh together, having fun embarrassing me, but also Olivia. Dad already tried talking to us about this when we all went down to his house, we do not need this. Again.
"We do not want to be grandparents, Adrian," mom goes on. "Not yet, at least. Please be safe if-"
"We know, Ms. Jackson," Olivia speaks up, mom wincing at Ms.
"Yeah, we completely do." Even though me and Olivia have not at all done anything more than kiss, we're far from that stage.
"It only takes one time-"
"Oh my god, please stop." My parents do finally listen, going quiet with amused grins plastered on their faces.
Olivia's phone dings then, her checking it quickly under the table. I worry when she seems to freeze though. I can't read the text from this angle and I don't want to anyway, not wanting to invade her privacy even with my worry.
"What's wrong?" I ask her quietly as my parents are caught up in their own conversation, finally giving me peace.
"My dad was found," she whispers as I see her hands start to tremble. "He was hiding out in Myrtle Beach, drunk as hell apparently." She shows me the text from her mom, explaining the situation quickly. "He was finally found." She leans into me, going for a hug.
"Good. Good. It's okay, baby." I wipe the tear I see roll down her cheek, my parents' attention coming back to us as I worry about Olivia.
"What's wrong?" Mom is the first to ask.
"Nothing. My dad was found." Olivia wipes her cheeks as she pulls away from me. "I don't know why I'm crying... Just very relieved, finally."
"That's good. Finally." My parents don't know at all to say in this moment and neither do I, other than that it is more than good that Olivia's dad has fucking finally been found. He's going to prison, for sure.
"Do you want or need to go home?" Mom asks Olivia, worrying but also happy about this fact.
"Oh, no. It's even better to stay out now, I'm completely safe." Olivia smiles, relaxing more than I've ever seen. "I feel like a ton of bricks have been lifted off of me."
"I'm sure it does," mom agrees, smiling happily for Olivia. "Thank gosh they have found him." My dad agrees then also. "Was anything said about the trial yet?"
"Mom said they only just found him, so not yet. But I don't care, as long as he's not still out on those streets with freedom." We all agree then.
"What about we catch a movie?" Mom suggests with a smile, trying to lighten up the tense mood.
"Sounds like a great idea," Olivia says and I smile, knowing she really is okay right now, not just pretending like she'd usually do.
After dad pays the bill, we all stand from the table to leave the restaurant. I immediately wrap an arm back around Olivia when we're walking through the crowded building again, not missing when dad's hand finds the small of mom's back.
I jump when I feel something crash onto my shoulder-Olivia's head. She's fallen asleep during the movie. I flush when her hand falls to my thigh, resting on it. Mom and dad are in the row in front of us, solely concentrated on the movie me and Olivia already went to see when we first met-Halloween. I kiss her head, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"Kids, wake up." I hadn't even realized my eye's fluttering shut during the movie, being woken up by mom shaking me gently. Olivia still has her head on my shoulder, out in a deep sleep.
"Liv, baby, wake up." I tap her own shoulder a couple times, easing her awake, seeing as mom and dad try and fail at holding back their grins. "Liv."
"What?" She mumbles, seeming annoyed. I laugh, seeing as she slowly opens and realizes her surroundings. "Sorry," she says quietly, hurrying to sit up with her hair a mess.
"Sleepyhead," I laugh, pushing her hair back, helping her fix it.
"Come on, you two sleepyheads," mom interrupts. "It's getting late, even more as you guys wouldn't wake up for a minute."
Me and Olivia stand together, my hand immediately finding hers and I see her lips lift. We follow mom and dad out of the theater, out to the car. Olivia sits in the middle seat in the back this time, her head on my shoulder and my hand hesitating but making it to resting on her thigh this time.
"Olivia, do you want to stay the night? If your mom is okay with that." Her mom was perfectly okay with that earlier, but things might have changed given the news with her dad. "Or do you want to go home?"
"I want to stay, if that's okay." Mom nods, happy. "My mom is fine with that."
I hold Olivia's hand on the way into the house, unfortunately being stopped by my parents before we can even start making our way to my room for the night. It's a little past ten now.
"Okay, we do want you guys to keep the door open-if you're sleeping in Adrian's room, okay?" We both nod, used to that rule with Admira and now Olivia's mom. "Well then, that's all..."
I don't hesitate to pull Olivia up to my room after that, saying quick good nights and I love you's to my parents as Olivia sticks with goodnight. I hear mom go to her room, dad going to the guest room he's been using while being here. Me and Olivia take turns in my connected bathroom, getting changed for the night and doing whatever else we need.
"Today's been great," Olivia says, sounding happier than I've heard in a while. She looks around my room with a smile, as it's her first time in my room.
"It has been." I sit next to her on my bed, pulling back my covers and motioning for her to go ahead and get under them. Even though I know she's okay, as I'm able to read her better than ever now, knowing her tells for if she's really not okay, I can't help asking, "How're you feeling?"
"I'm feeling great." She smiles at me, pulling the covers back over us when I settle beside her. "I really am. I was doing okay before, but now that dad's finally off the streets... I feel fucking great. I can finally have some peace." Before I can say anything, she frowns and I worry. "Unless he's somehow proven innocent..."
"He won't be," I quickly assure her. "There's too much evidence for him to be proven innocent, and-"
"A lot of cases have a lot of evidence yet the bad guy still gets away as innocent." I pull her close, wanting to get rid of all of her doubts.
"I believe he will be going to prison, though. I've got plenty of faith that he'll be put into prison." She lays her head on my chest and I wrap my arms around her for the millionth time today. "He's not going to get away with what he's done to you, what he's done to Hadley, all these years."
"I wish..." She hesitates to go on. "I wish Hadley was here to see this. To see him going to prison. To see the days we can finally live in peace."
"She will. She'll be watching over you." She smiles, clinging to me even more.
"You're right." She pulls herself to be practically on top of me now-which I don't mind at all-stifling a yawn. "I'm going to sleep now."
"You do that. I will be too." Except she falls asleep way quicker than I ever could, snoring softly, her face in the crook of my neck as my heart beats fast. It doesn't matter that we've been in this position a shit ton of times now, my heart will always beat quicker than it should.
"I love you," I whisper, pressing my lips to her forehead.
Oh god.
That's a lot different when saying it out loud than just thinking it.