Loving Olivia

Chapter 1 – The Lone Wolf

Nico

I never understood the real meaning of loneliness until they left.

By they, I’m of course referring to the two most important people of my life. My twin sister and my best friend.

I always knew it would happen at some point, that Sofia and Adrian would end up together. It was obvious to me from the moment they met, even though they always tried to hide their feelings from each other. I feared it because I knew once they would get together, I would lose them. They would no longer be my twin sister and my best friend, but a couple, and my two different worlds would never be separate again.

But I never imagined that they would end up moving away to Washington, DC together, and I would lose them in a literal sense of the word through a distance of 3,781 miles and the world’s second largest ocean in between. Even worse, I never imagined the profound impact it would have on me.

At one point in time, I would have considered my ex-girlfriend as constituting part of the Reasons Nico is Lonely list, especially due to the fact that she’s been my first and only girlfriend and we were together for more than two years, but I refuse to miss her any longer after what she did to me. Now she just belongs under the Reasons Nico is Angry list, and to be honest, that makes things a whole lot easier for me.

It’s been three months since I’ve been living on my own in Madrid. Technically, my parents still live here, but they’ve been traveling for work so much lately I’m lucky if I see them once a month. So that only leaves the housekeeper, but we came to an agreement where she’ll come by once or twice a week since she didn’t have much to do anymore with only one person remaining in the household of originally a family of six.

Even she was completely bored out of her mind. After a week where the most exciting thing she had going on was playing cards with me to pass the time, I decided to draw the line. I felt bad that she was waiting on me like a stupid little rich kid when she could be spending quality time with her family instead.

At first she didn’t like the idea and refused to leave even though she would still be getting paid full-time. This was an agreement between her and me, and my parents didn’t need to know about it. I guess the concept came as a shock to her, especially considering that she’s run this house since I was a child, but I suppose even the most permanent things come to change.

I make my way to the kitchen, intent on sticking two pieces of bread in the toaster and eating it on the way to school, but I see that a full breakfast is already waiting for me. I guess I should have expected Carmen to be here today since it’s Monday and the first day of a new semester. But it’s been a long summer and I lost track of the days once they all started to blend in together.

I take a seat at the counter and try not to notice the empty placemats on either side of me. Just the thought is rather depressing, knowing that Sofia and Adrian would normally be sitting here with me. Even if none of us really talked much in the morning, the absence of their company hits me harder than I expected it to. It makes me wish I had skipped this part after all.

I finish eating rather quickly, and Carmen walks into the kitchen just as I’m about to head out. She gives me a saddened smile, and I give her one in return. I end up leaning down and hugging her goodbye. She gives the best hugs in the world, and I’m already in desperate need for one today.

On the drive to school, I keep expecting to hear a quip from Adrian coming from the passenger seat, which I would have gladly responded to in turn, and for Sofia’s face to appear every time I look in the rear-view mirror, trying her best to ignore us, yet failing miserably. But neither of those things happen. The silence in the car becomes deafening, and I turn on the radio to try to stop it. After hearing some annoying pop song I can’t stand, I find myself lowering the volume, and then turning it off altogether before it gives me a headache.

The one thing I’m actually looking forward to is soccer practice. As excited as I am about it, I’m equally terrified. I’ll officially be captain of the team. It still feels bizarre to me as that position still belongs to Adrian in my mind, and probably always will. But he’s no longer here, and Coach thought I should take over the reins even though I don’t know the first thing about being a leader or bringing a team together.

Adrian always made it look easy, but I know it’s not, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to command the same level of respect that he did. Especially because I’m only in my third year and there are plenty of guys on the team that are older than me, even more so because I skipped a grade when I was younger. Thankfully, most people don’t know about that.

I make my way through the hallways, taking in the noise and chatter surrounding me. I thought I would welcome it for a change, but for some reason it sounds really loud to me and I almost feel like covering my ears. It’s not like I have supersonic hearing, but I can hear everything. People’s footsteps screeching over the linoleum, high-pitched laughter coming from a group of girls, the repeated banging of doors as they open and close. The sounds all clamor together in acoustic pressure, and suddenly I feel a disproportionate level of decibels blasting in my ear like a giant cacophony.

Something must be really wrong with me.

It tapers down as the day progresses, but it’s mostly when I’m sitting down in a classroom only listening to the professor’s voice that I feel more at ease. As soon as I reach the cafeteria after my first two classes, it starts up again like a noise storm and becomes as loud as a freight train. I sense an impending migraine start to take form.

Durant! a voice yells over all the racket.

I consider ignoring it and making a beeline for the library so I can at least find a few minutes of comfortable silence. But I know the last thing I should be doing is being antisocial. So I turn around and head towards a table where some of my teammates are gathered.

What’s up, man? Where’ve you been? Ben asks me as I take a seat. After Adrian, he’s probably the closest friend I have on the team, but still comes nowhere near him.

Busy. Unless you consider busy as part of thinking of ways to not get bored out of your mind. Like rearranging my closet and donating half of my clothes to charity. Or completing a five thousand piece jigsaw puzzle of the Tower of Babel.

Were you traveling or something? You weren’t around during the summer.

Yeah, I was in London, I lie again. Well, at least that one is half-true. I did go to London to visit my two older brothers and their families, but that was only for a week in July. The complete truth is, I didn’t feel like hanging out with them once I got back to Madrid. Or anyone for that matter.

Ben nods at me, easily buying my answer. So have you heard about the new freshman yet?

No, I respond. I should care?

"Dude, you have to see her, he says emphatically. She’s the hottest thing this place has seen since your sister. And we all know that didn’t last very long."

What the hell, Ben? I don’t need to hear that.

Sorry. Well, it’s true.

Well, I’m not interested. Save it, I huff back. The last thing I need is to get involved with a girl at school.

What? Are you still not over Ana?

I feel like slapping him just for bringing her up. Trust me, I’m over her. I just don’t want to get stuck with a girl that I’ll have to see every day.

I used to hate it when we were together, but I’m so glad Ana goes to a different college. It’s bad enough that the guy she cheated on me with is also on the soccer team, and I have to constantly refrain myself from punching him in the face. But if I had to witness them parading around together every day, it would have been much, much worse.

So yeah, definitely not getting into another situation like that anytime soon.

I can almost guarantee you’ll want to see this girl every day. I swear I couldn’t take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. She is seriously hot.

I scoff and shake my head at him. There are billions of girls on this planet, but guys always seem to choose one to obsess over solely based on their looks. Sure, I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to hook up with an attractive girl, but I’ve learned that there’s much more to this world than just another pretty face. So the whole concept is completely ridiculous.

A sudden movement catches my eye, and I turn around to see a girl take a seat a few tables away from us, followed by a guy who sits directly in front of her. I don’t know exactly what catches my attention, but I can’t stop staring.

Her long dark hair covers her profile, but she’s mostly looking down at the tray of food before her. I can’t even see her very clearly as she’s facing the same direction as I am, but after a while the guy says something to make her laugh, and she turns her head and looks straight at me.

My world goes completely silent. I can no longer hear the clattering of silverware and dishes, the dragging of chairs being pushed around, or the raucous of a hundred people confined in a small space. Even the raised, strained voices of conversations going on around me all stop at once.

Everything just stops.

It’s like I’m suddenly being transported to another dimension, and I’m stuck in this vacuum where I simply don’t know where I am or where I’m going.

Her eyes leave mine, and she turns around to look at the guy she’s with, tucking her hair behind her ear. She shakes her head at him, and I see her lips move uttering a single syllable, probably in response to something he’s just asked her. She then proceeds to grab a fork and starts picking around at her food.

Oh yo, oh yo. Check it out. Two o’clock. That’s her, dude.

Ben’s voice makes its way back into my sound waves, and I nearly curse out loud when I realize I’m already looking in that direction.

Shit.

That can’t be her. I don’t want it to be her.

But it is her when I realize I’m not the only one looking at her like she’s the last girl on Earth. I confirm it is her when I see guys start to approach her one by one, as if they are all waiting in line to buy tickets to a new blockbuster release at the box office.

She seems extremely put off by it, and I watch her politely shoot down all of them throughout the course of her meal. I almost feel bad for her, until the guy she’s sitting with stands up and goes around the table to sit next to her, wrapping an arm around her neck.

She smiles at him as he kisses her cheek, and then she circles her arms around him in a hug.

Something ignites in my stomach, akin to a white fire emitting from a Bunsen burner. I don’t understand the feeling, but I think it’s coming from the knowledge that this guy is most likely her boyfriend.

I finally tear my eyes away from her, trying to bury the disappointment, trying to understand why I’m disappointed in the first place. I shouldn’t be disappointed. I shouldn’t even care. I know nothing of her, except that she’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.

Dammit all to hell. Who cares? I refuse to be another one of these idiots fawning over her just because she’s pleasant to look at.

I silently stand up from my seat and wordlessly make my way out of the cafeteria before more ludicrous thoughts and notions rear their way inside my head.

I manage to calm down by the time the rest of my classes end and I head towards soccer practice. Somehow I managed to clear her out of my mind, but that all goes out the window the minute I see her walking down the hallway towards my direction.

There are a few stray people in this particular corridor, but even so, she’s the only thing I can see. I guess that’s why it takes a while for me to understand that she’s being followed by someone she clearly doesn’t want to talk to and is trying her best to ignore.

He says something behind her, and she turns around to look at him in exasperation.

Listen. I already told you I’m not interested. Please stop asking me, I hear her say.

Jeez, guy. Desperate much?

It’s at this point that I force myself to continue walking as this clearly isn’t my problem. She turns around again to continue on her way, when I see his arm reach out to grab her wrist and stop her.

Oh c’mon, don’t be like that. You can drop the act. All I’m asking for is dinner.

I’ve never seen this guy before so I have no idea who he is. He must be a freshman, and is clearly an idiot. What part of not interested does he not understand?

But again, this is not my problem, so I continue walking past them even though my steps feel heavier. Besides, she seems like she can handle him.

It’s not an act. The answer is no. Can you let go of me? You’re hurting my wrist.

My head whips back as I hear that, and instead of doing what she’s just asked, I see him pull her even closer to him. Not until you agree to go out with me.

Not your problem, keep walking, you have practice to get to.

I repeat this sentence numerous times in my head until my legs no longer cooperate with my mantra. I’m now several feet away, but I see that he still hasn’t let go of her despite her protests.

How do guys like this still exist? I start pacing around in a circle, waiting for her to solve this on her own. I don’t know who this jackass is, but I know if I confront him I’ll end up getting into a fight with him, and I can’t afford that right now. Coach will have my ass if I do.

But then I see that she’s starting to struggle against him, and I feel the blood pump through my veins and rush through my body. My hands automatically ball into fists, and I can already see myself attacking him to the floor.

Walk away. Walk away right now before you do something stupid.

Suddenly an image of my sister getting hurt like that with no one to defend her pops in my head. Sofia never deserved it and neither does this girl. I’ll be damned if I ever let that happen again.

Ah, screw it all.

I race back towards her in no time, stepping in between them and shoving him roughly in the chest.

What the hell, man? he yells, losing his balance.

"Are you deaf? What part of no do you not understand? She’s asked you repeatedly. Let go of her. Right now."

He looks at me with menace, but he must have seen the crazy glint in my eye, because he quickly backs down and steps away. Damn straight.

"If I see you bothering her again, you and I are gonna have a problem, freshman," I threaten him.

He sneers at me in response, but I don’t care as I’m already guiding the girl away from him. I’ve already won, and I managed to do it with only a minor amount of violence and insults. I take it as a good sign.

I notice she’s tending to her wrist, so I stop to check on her once we’ve gained some distance from the bastard.

Are you okay?

I look up at her face and freeze. If I thought she was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen before, I was dead wrong. She’s absolutely stunning. And it’s completely breathtaking.

Her eyes are light blue, almost like a grey color. Actually, I think they are grey, and compared to her bronze skin and dark hair, they look ethereal. Her nose is long and delicate, but my vision soon falls to her medium-full lips and it stays there until I vaguely sense someone approaching us.

I turn around just in time to see a fist smashing into my face, followed by the sound of a girl’s scream as I helplessly collapse to the ground.

Chapter 2 – Sucker Punched

Nico

The first thing I notice is the blood rushing down my nose. The metallic taste reaches my lips, but I see it continuing to drip towards my white t-shirt and staining it red in what must only look like my very own death scene.

It takes me a few seconds to understand what just happened and orient myself. I cup my nose and pinch it closed, attempting to stop the blood from flowing, as I hear scuffled footsteps around me.

Oh my god. Are you okay?

I can only assume it’s the girl’s voice saying that, and I’m pretty surprised she’s still sticking around after I just made a complete fool out of myself in front of her.

But she suddenly grabs my left arm and helps me stand up, not seeming to care that there is blood all over me. In fact, she doesn’t even seem fazed by it. I look around to see that Mr. Doucheface is nowhere to be found. Of course he would run away like a little sissy instead of fighting fairly.

Is there an infirmary? the girl asks me in alarm.

I nod and quickly start walking in that direction, realizing I need to get there sooner than later. I’m afraid to talk as I don’t want any more blood reaching my mouth. Also because I’m embarrassed of what just took place and kind of wish she would disappear.

Unfortunately, she follows me all the way to the infirmary, and I even see her take a seat in the waiting area after a nurse passes me through to an inspection bed.

The good news is that like with most nosebleeds, the damage appears a lot worse than it actually is, and after the nurse manages to stop the bleeding and clean me up, she confirms that my nose is not broken. I didn’t think it was, but even so I feel a lot of pressure behind my eyes and around my cheekbones.

I inform her I need to get to soccer practice as soon as possible, but she says I can’t leave for at least another half an hour, claiming I need to rest with an ice pack over my face to help the swelling. She also gives me a shirt to change into, and I’m actually thankful for that as I don’t want to show up to practice looking like an axe murderer.

By the time she finally releases me, I’m seriously pissed off. I’m now over an hour late for our first day of practice, if not more, and I’m the bloody captain of the team. Literally.

To make matters worse, the girl is still sitting in the waiting room when I get out. Why won’t she just leave?

She stands up and looks at me worriedly, but I brush past her and exit the infirmary without acknowledging her further. I don’t need her wasting any more of my time, and I know I’ll probably end up saying something I’ll regret. Adrian would always tell me I should think more before I speak, and this feels like one of those situations.

Thankfully she doesn’t follow me and I take off in a sprint towards the soccer field. At least she seems to know when to back off.

Once I arrive, I realize that practice has ended and most players have left already. It started to drizzle so maybe they decided to quit early. Coach takes one look at me, and I prepare myself for the ass whooping that he’s about to hand me.

Where the hell have you been, Durant? he barks at me.

Sorry, Coach. It wasn’t my fault, I swear, I answer lamely.

Who was it this time? Or was it Ruiz again? I’ve told you countless times to ignore him.

No, it wasn’t Ruiz. I’m over that. It was some freshman. I was on my way here, and he just –

Listen to me carefully, Durant. No more fights. I don’t care if it’s the Pope you’re having a problem with, I don’t want any of that shit on my team anymore. You’re the team captain now, so you better start acting like it. We’re already at a huge loss with Adrian gone, so I need you to pull the guys together.

I know that, Coach. I swear it won’t happen again.

He looks at me suspiciously. Don’t make me regret this. You’re already on thin ice and there won’t be a next time because you’ll be off the team. I don’t care how many goals you average per game, I’ll find a new head striker.

I gulp and nod at him. Understood, I reply, trying to muster up some confidence. Inside my world is all but crumbling apart. This is the only good thing I have going for me.

The rain picks up as I head back to the parking lot, ready to put this miserable day behind me. Why does the first day of a new semester always have to suck so much?

But before I’m able to do that, I see her sitting down on a bench at the bus stop. She’s actually sitting on the back of it with her feet propped over the seat area, probably trying to avoid the rain.

It’s a strange sight because I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone waiting for the bus on campus, much less for an actual bus to come around here. I wonder what the hell she’s doing there and why she is alone. Maybe the guy she was with at the cafeteria isn’t her boyfriend after all, otherwise he would be looking after her. Or at least, he should be.

I suddenly feel bad that I wasn’t nicer to her after she tried to help me, and my feet drag over towards her. After all, it wasn’t her fault that prick sucker punched me in the face. It was mine for being such a careless idiot.

Hey, I say, trying to think of a peace offering.

She turns around slightly to look at me, and after a small grimace, looks straight ahead without responding.

Look, I’m sorry I took off like that. I just had somewhere to be, I explain.

She gives me a slight nod, but again doesn’t say anything.

Do you need a ride somewhere? I can give you a lift.

No, thank you.

She says it so politely, it takes me aback. Like she really appreciates the offer, and it almost sounds like she wanted to say yes.

Are you sure? I really don’t mind.

Yes, I’m sure.

I sigh,