Chapter thirty-two: Like old times

O L I V I A

The girls' day was going fun. Sam's parents had finally met Josh. They hadn't fancied him much, but Sam was happy to know that they had at least hosted them both for the night and let them stay in the same room.

"Baby steps," she had told me when I had reminded her of the subtle insults they had imparted that she had mentioned to me. I had just sighed.

Her parents, although they liked me, were not exactly fond of me. And right then? Oh, their affection was barely cordial. They wanted Sam to live with them in their mansion and join their company now that she was experienced, but the girl was living with me and still pursuing architecture instead of putting her Business major to use as well.

Whatcha gonna do? Sam was stubborn as a mule.

Presently, I had just confessed to my run-in with Charlotte and my best friend was pissed.

"What did that hag say to you?" She yelled indignantly. I smiled involuntarily despite the replay of the exact words in my brain.

"You know what," I said, feeling at peace.

Something about someone else being mad on your behalf cools you down completely.

"I'm gonna find her man, chop off his puny dic-"

"Alrightttt," I sang, interrupting her with a laugh. "That's enough."

"No," she huffed. "I didn't even start properly."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course, you didn't."

She glared at me for being so casual about it.

"What does it matter anyway?" I shrugged. "I don't think we'll be getting photographed publicly anymore."

"Why wouldn't you?" She asked me incredulously. "You're dating. Don't tell me you plan to hole up and date in secret like some other woman."

I cringed at her choice of words. "I mean, the hate isn't going anywhere," I said defensively.

"Don't make that mistake," she warned me. "Finish what you started. Stopping now would only add fuel to fire."

"What's the point, Sam?" I groaned. "I will end up being scrutinized even more and I will also lose my job."

"No," she said, "You will shut those haters right up. Kaison is your man and you're his woman. Those people know nothing, Liv. You gotta tell them!"

"Tell them what?" I rolled my eyes. "Kai won't make any public statements and I'm not a huge fan of a crowd either."

She frowned. "What do you mean Kai won't make any statements?"

"He doesn't want to go up and be hounded by the media." I sighed.

"He doesn't have to go to lengths like that," she cried. "His godly body and looks have brought him a few million Instagram followers. All he has to do is post a story or make a post to clear this up."

I started. "He- what?"

Was it really that simple?

She scowled. "Do you live under a rock?"

"Maybe," I admitted.

"Olivia, you need to talk to him."

"I did," I said placatingly. "And we sorted it out. We're not stirring any trouble up intentionally. He'll speak to Angeline and let me know what the next steps are."

"Let you know?" She scoffed.

I nodded skeptically. "Yeah."

"Girl, where's your pride?" She demanded.

"Don't speak code." I scrunched my nose up.

"Why aren't you a part of the discussion?" She pressed. "This involves you and affects you as well. Why do you take orders when you should be the one passing them?"

"I don't want to," I said defensively. "I don't like going through all the popular reactions and having to decide the next steps when I barely understand how all this is working. Also, I hate Twitter and there's where the maximum of the drama we're in is brewing."

"Post a Twitter statement, then, for God's sakes! Did Kaison even ask you?" She asked in exasperation. "To be a part of it, I mean."

"Yeah," I answered truthfully. "He did."

"And you still didn't- like wow." She raised her eyes heavenward as if asking for strength. "Man up, Liv."

"Samantha-"

"No," she cut me off, "Listen to me. I get that you don't want to be a part of the decision-making team. Fine, it triggers your anxiety. But sweetheart, you should grow a thicker skin and fast. Kaison loves you and he's not letting you go as long as he knows you love him too. Considering that he can read you like a fucking book, I'm guessing he's never leaving you again. With him comes his life and with his life comes fame. Second-hand, but fame nonetheless. That fame is going to get you under the public eye and they're going to tear you down whenever they have a chance to. You need to either get immune to it or get used to it. Otherwise, it is goodbye love of my life. You will always keep fighting but losing. Do you understand?"

She took a deep breath when she finished and I stared at her in wonder. I was ashamed to say that half the things she said had never even crossed my mind. The fact that Kai had gone to such lengths to protect me made more sense now.

I could see my options and I knew that leaving Kai was not one. I did that once and it did not make me happy. It left me miserable and broken. I was never going down that road if I could help it.

"Fine," I breathed out, "I will try my best."

"You need to stop running away from your anxiety triggers and learn to take them on headfirst," she said commandingly. "We'll go slow and it'll be gradual. I'll help you and I'm sure Kai will want to help you, too. Josh has no option, he is doing it whether he likes it or not. I'll glue his butt to your couch if I have to."

I let out a laugh.

"What would I do without you?" I chuckled fondly.

"Probably cry in your bedroom or run to Kai," she teased.

"Probably," I sighed sadly.

"Hey, we're gonna fix this." She smiled at me reassuringly. "Don't stress. We're here for you."

"Thanks, Sam." I leaned in to hug her. She squeezed me tightly before she let go.

"Anytime, bitch." She grinned. "Now, what say we call our boyfriends over?"

"What? I thought it was a girls' weekend," I mocked her.

"Shut up," she grumbled. "I miss him and I don't want you third-wheeling."

"I can just feel the love," I sighed dramatically.

She poked my arm roughly. "Oh, just call him."

"Ow!" I protested with a laugh. "It's too much work," I delayed to torment her.

"Don't act like he isn't your fucking speed dial." She rolled her eyes.

"He isn't," I lied.

"Lemme try," she suggested, reaching for my phone.

"Fine," I snatched it before she could. "Jesus. I'll call him."

She laughed. "That's what I thought."

* * * * *

We didn't just call our boyfriends, we also called our other favorite boys: George and Griffin.

As soon as Josh had arrived, he had kissed his girlfriend hello. Correction, Sam jumped him and kissed him. When he got rid of that over-excited koala, he greeted me with a hug. He made idle chat, asking me how I was before he was dragged away for a tour of our mini aboard. They made an extra long stop at Sam's bedroom and I made sure to stay in the kitchen while they were at it.

I had seen her room, and god bless her, she had transformed it. It looked amazing and so damn cozy with all the curtains, cushions, and fairy lights that now adorned it. I had no idea how she managed to do that and do my laundry along with hers on the same day. It was damn impressive. And I was very grateful because my laundry basket was full and I would have been in quite some pickle had she not done that.

Kai arrived next and he greeted me with a kiss too. It was awkward between the boys but I chose to stay clear of the topic and did not address the tension. I could never, it was just too uncomfortable. I was surprised that Sam didn't either, but I did not comment on that.

Griffin and George came together shortly after and that's when our night started. We put on Friends. and sat down with popcorn and food. Everyone was supposed to bring a dish and they had delivered. It was a fucking blast.

Kai sat against the sofa with me between his legs. Griffin and George were cuddling on the couch while Josh and Sam were mostly making out on the love seat. We had brought out blankets and everyone was staying the night because it was Sunday the day after and we wanted to freakin enjoy and let loose.

It was like weekends in high school all over again, only now we had George with us, Sam and Josh were dating and we were all adults with more responsibilities than we would like to admit.

I didn't realize that I had fallen asleep till I came to life in the middle of the night. The light from the TV was the only source of light in the room apart from the small light in the open kitchen behind us. I would've rolled right back to sleep but I noticed that I was alone. Kaison was gone. I groaned, sitting up. Apparently, I had slid to the floor, too.

Griffin and George were passed out behind me, tangled together and sleeping peacefully. My eyes wandered to the loveseat only to find that Sam was missing and Josh was hugging her pillow, his brows furrowed. He looked so innocent in his sleep.

I rubbed my eyes, pulling the blanket around me as I squinted around. My ears picked up some whispers and I focused my eyes on the figures in the kitchen.

There they were.

They seemed to be talking about something. I watched as Sam gave him something and he gasped before replying excitedly. Sam nodded in response, a satisfied smile on her face. Then Kai hugged her and she chuckled. When they pulled back, he pocketed the small object, patting down on it as if it were something precious. They exchanged a few more words, Sam got a glass of water and Kai walked back. Upon seeing me awake, he gave me a small peck.

"What're you doing up?" He asked me, pushing the hair away from my face and getting next to me under the blanket.

"Waiting for you to get back," I grumbled sleepily, curling next to him. His chest rumbled with his chuckles as he brought me closer by wrapping his arm around me. I draped my leg over his and he tangled them together.

"She's awake?" Sam whispered, coming back.

"Yes," I answered grumpily. "And she is mad at you for stealing her boyfriend but she will deal with you later."

She laughed. "You do that."

I watched under Kai's arm as she gently pulled the pillow from Josh's hold. He startled awake, but she smiled at him reassuringly. He smiled back at her lovingly with hooded eyes before he cuddled her and closed his eyes again. It felt nice to be able to watch that without feeling bitter.

"Is everything okay?" Kai asked me softly when I couldn't sleep for a few minutes after laying down.

"Umhmm," I hummed. "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"Something is bugging you," he stated.

I bit my lip. "Not really."

"What are you thinking?" He prompted.

"Do you ever wonder what would have happened if we hadn't broken up?" I asked him.

"More times than you would believe." He sighed.

"Me too," I traced patterns on his chest, "What do you think would've happened to us, Kai? Would we be like Sam and Josh? Or would we be like George and Griffin? Would we still have inhibitions like we now do or would it have been a fairytale? The Jock And The Cheerleader . . . "

"I don't know," he admitted after a thought. "In my mind, I always see us together, happy. I either see myself marrying you or already married to you. I see our family."

"Has it always been that way?" I asked.

"Ever since Senior year," he confessed.

"What happened to us?" I mumbled, feeling with a pang all the years we missed. All the time we lost. All those days when I could've been next to him, I was alone and unhappy. I was lonely. I was dead inside. He somehow made me feel alive again. I left him, but I found my way back to him, too.

Was this how fate worked? Was this what happened to soulmates? Were we soulmates?

I found it all very uncanny.

"A drunken mistake I wish I could take back," he muttered.

My eyes widened. "So you didn-"

"Fu- It's late, Livvy. Sleep."

"But I'm not sleepy. Wait, Kai did you or did you not-"

"Shut up!" Griffin complained, shifting behind us. "Some of us are trying to sleep here."

"One min-"

"Sure thing, Griffin. Sorry," Kai spoke over me. Griffin let out a loud, short heave of approval before his breath became even again. I wanted to glare at Kai but I was sure that he wouldn't see it in the dark anyway so I didn't waste my energy.

"I hate you," I muttered crossly, a yawn slipping out.

He kissed the top of my head. "I love you, too."

This time when I closed my eyes, I did fall asleep.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A/N:-

Why doesn't he fucking tell her already goddammit? Why?!

Cause then, my dear readers, we would not have drama. No one wants to read about the life of a sensible simpleton, now, do they? All of you want people who you can scream at for screwing things up all the way up to the last chapter.

Yes, we do have a happy ending coming. How can we not? I like making you mad, but not so much that you show up at my place with an ax to assassinate me! No. I love myself too much for that.

Haha, I'm guessing this is the longest author's note I've ever written for this book. I hope you enjoyed a peak in my crazy brain when it's going haywire lol.

QOTD: What is the best thing that has happened to you yet?

I'mma take my leave now. Adios and see you tomorrow!

Don't forget to vote! Lemme know your thoughts in the comments <3

All my love,
xoxo.