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Chapter Seven | Her Insecurities

The Braverman family had all been seated at the dining table for breakfast the next day, an assortment of breakfast options having been laid out by Maria moments before; the Braverman's enjoyed the calm.

Ian Braverman had informed his family the night before of all he had learned, and had asked Matter if he had known the Wilson boy. It came to no surprise when Matter had answered no; they all had discussed Ian's findings and had moved on to Olivia's diary to which Matt had, had last.

It had taken The Braverman Boys by surprise to have learned that Olivia was failing in academics, having always achieved at the very least a B – in each class, but what had struck the Braverman Family the most was that she had lost the photo each one of them had carried for years.

A family photo, taken a mid-summer morning, the boys had been messing around, their sister and Mother having laughed while Jonathan stood behind them all a fond smile upon his face.

Each Child had been given the photo as a keep sake, most had placed the photo in a frame upon their night stand. Olivia however had insisted on keeping it with her, insisting that whatever bad may come she would always have her family with her, even if they were not in her presence at the time.

Jonathan Braverman could not imagine what a blow it must have been for the girl to have lost something that had made her so proud and joyful to carry, He could only assume it had felt as if she were once more losing her family.

Matter Braverman had forgone mentioning his visit to the McCaw residence, having needed time to let all he learned of his sister settle in his mind before he told those stories to his brothers. However Matter knew he could not keep all he had learned to himself, and he would have to tell them soon.

Ian Braverman was now in possession of the diary, having decided to read it after he got to his office, not wanting to delay whatever information they could learn from the book, yet still not ready to read whatever lay in the book in front of his family, knowing whatever may be written would cleave his heart in two.

Jake Braverman had been messaging Cleopatra all morning, a feeling of giddiness coming from the pit of his stomach as he looked forward to the day ahead with the girl, His brothers having all but insisted he go the night before when he had brought it up to Ian and Jason. They were more than happy for the boy, knowing he needed the quiet time more than he would ever let on.

Jason Braverman was seated toward the end of the table; his body slouched over the table as his head rested in his breakfast bowl as slight snores escaped from his gaping mouth, having slept very little the night before. Despite having taken medication to help with the nightmares that still persisted in plaguing his nights.

Matter Braverman had been sure to snap a quick photo of the sleeping boy, having not been able to hide his growing amusement at the scene.

Jonathan Braverman who had returned from the office the night before, exhausted due to dealing with all parties involved in the incident yesterday morning, was well rested having had an adequate amount of sleep.

The blissful morning brought a sense of calm to the man, a feeling lost to the man as moments like these became more scarce in his home, he wished the moment could last a life time as he took a sip from his bitter coffee and turned the page of his newspaper.

Ian Braverman returned to his seat, having come from the corner of the room where he had been on a call with his business partner and close friend.

Ian had informed his partner that he would see him in the office, and that they had things to discuss once they had both reached. He wanted to have the Wilson's investigated, He would leave no stone unturned in his search.

He would uncover their secrets.

Jonathan Braverman could not help but smile fondly at his family as he set the newspaper aside "What are your plans for the day?" He asked none in particular, it had been something Marcia would ask the kids, when she passed many things stopped however Jonathan could not bring himself to stop the morning tradition in the absence of his late wife.

Ian looked toward his father "I'll be going to the office today, I have clients I need to reach out to and things to discuss with Law" He responded before taking a bite of his breakfast.

"I'll be digging through social media, hopefully I can find someone who was close with Olivia in this town" Matter answered, the Idea having come to him the night before.

Jonathan tilted his head down ever so slightly, in an approving nod.

"I have..."Jason yawned "... An appointment with Dr Ann this morning" Jason had muttered from within the bowl, far too tired to care.

"And you?"Jonathan directed his question to his second oldest son, Jake Braverman, who had yet to lift his head from his phone.

However it was Ian Braverman who answered their fathers question with a chuckle "Jake has a date today with Cleo" He teased his younger brother who had finally looked up from his phone with a scowl.

"It is not a date" Jake replied gruffly, having already gone through this with the older boy the night before.

"So Daniel will be there?" Ian asked, knowing full well the answer was no. However he enjoyed watching the boy squirm, a faint blush taking over his cheeks.

Jake faltered in his reply "... No, he will not be joining us today"

"So it IS a date" Matt quipped from where he sat, snickering at his older brother's deepening scowl, as he took a mouthful of pancakes into his mouth happily.

He had quite the sweet tooth.

Jonathan Braverman could not stop the slight chuckle that left his mouth, as he watched his sons seemingly silly exchange. He found the moment enjoyable as moments like these were truly rare these past four years, and even more so now that they were all worried for their younger sister.

Yet at the same time Jonathan found himself missing his late wife and youngest child the most, as the moment was not the same, without their joyful presence present. Jonathan felt his heart ache and his eyes begin to water.

He could not help but think how big a scolding his wife would have given him and his boys if she were still with them. Her children were her life, she loved them with all her being, having dedicated much of her time doting of the five siblings.

Jonathan had no doubt in his mind, in his heart that his wife loved her children more than she had loved him. And he did not resent that fact but found himself loving the woman even more for it, as he had seen over the years how much joy she got from their children. He knew the children were her joy, Her strength to take on any hurdle, and her life.

Marcia Braverman had loved her husband dearly, had shown him time and again how far her love stretched and every time Jonathan had found himself imagining the two of them old and wrinkled cuddled together on their porch swing as they watched their children and grandchildren run around the garden.

He had wished with all his might that they may watch their children start their own families.

That wish had not changed, despite the circumstance, only now the man wished to simply watch his children grow and begin their own life so that he may take the stories with him to the grave, in hope he would be able to share them with his wife in their next life.

So that perhaps she too could experience the joy of knowing how their children stumbled only to stand once again on their own two feet and continue on.

Jonathan Braverman knew he would first have to beg for forgiveness first, as the woman would not so likely take the sin of abandoning their little girl so easily, or forgive the neglect shown to the others in his grief.

Jonathan's mind wondered how much of little Livy's life he had missed, or how far she had come since losing both parents. As she had lost both parents the night she lost her mother. '

He wondered if she would forgive his ignorance of not understanding she too lost more than perhaps he will ever know that night, if she would allow him back into her life to watch her grow further, if she would perhaps still give him the honor of walking down the aisle when she met the man she wished to spend the rest of her life with, if she hadn't already met that boy.

As she so often said she wanted him to do when she were little.

Jonathan Braverman could only hope, that they would move forward together instead of apart as they had for all these years.

"Where did you go yesterday?" Jason questioned Matter; bring Jonathan's attention back to his children who, as it seemed, where done teasing poor Jake.

"Melvin's house" Matter answered shortly with a shrug, continuing his onslaught on the pancakes.

"Why?" Ian asked curiously, a hard edge in his voice as he still had suspicions about the man.

"He knows where Livy is, we don't" Matter responded bluntly "However he refused to tell me"

Jake dropped his phone upon the table, the only surprise he had been willing to show "He knows where she is?"His voice was calm, however Jonathan knew the boy was far from it as his eyes had narrowed toward Matter, who ate obliviously.

Matter Braverman gave only a nod in confirmation, His focus remaining on his pancakes having stacked a couple more onto his plate.

"Is she okay? You did ask him if she was okay, right?" Jason frantically questioned his younger brother, his head shooting up and his nap long forgotten.

"He was reluctant to answer any questions about how she is doing or where she went however it was implied that she is aright" Matter had asked multiple times through the day before, but to no avail as the man had simply shrugged off the question and gone into a new story about Olivia.

"And you do not believe his deceiving you? He could easily have been involved in what happened to Olivia that night" Jake said to no surprise from Jonathan, as his second eldest had always been the least trusting of all his wary children.

Matter Braverman reached into the pocket of his shorts, Tugging the folded photo out from within the pocket and placing it open on the table for his brothers to see "If he were involved, Olivia would not be in this photo with him and his wife" Matter mumbled through a mouthful of pancakes.

Ian, Jake and Jason stood up from their seats, crowding around the photo in awe. The photo itself was taken in front a garden of tulips; Alisha was hugging Olivia's shoulders while Melvin stood behind Alisha his arms around her waist and chin on her head. They were all laughing.

The photo had been given to Matter the day before by Alisha before he left, Alisha had made him promise to show it to all his brothers as they too deserved to see just how much Olivia had grown.

And she had grown, so fucking much it had scared Matter when he first beheld the image, their little Livy wasn't so ... Little. Olivia Braverman Mirrored her mother, having inherited her mother's striking features, and had only grown more uncanny to the woman over the years, her smiling face a stark contrast to the girl they had been reading about in Her leather bound diary.

It had been that smile that had hit each Braverman hard, relief overwhelming each of their bodies as they struggled not to let their bodies fall to the ground under the weight of it. They had all painted a dull picture in their head, could only picture Olivia with tears in her eyes, not once had they imagine their sister smiling wide, joy so overwhelming that it had shined through her eyes, making her already blue eyes look like oceans glistering in the sunlight.

That happiness in Olivia's life, had brought happiness to them in that moment. The joy festering in them bringing bouts of hope to the Braverman boys, hope that the past hadn't ruined her like it had for them, that not all of her years were spent fighting. Even if that hope would be crushed, crushed by her own words, by her struggles. They had Hope, and it was all they could ask for in a time such as this.

"She's so..."Ian struggled for words as he trailed off.

"Grown?" Jason added unsure of himself that that was the right word to use.

"Happy" Jake swallowed, this had been the Olivia he had always known, the girl who never let anything wipe that bright smile from her face, even in times of strife, her smile still stayed. And just this once, Jake Braverman didn't find himself resenting her for it, for he didn't see a master of masks in the photo, he saw someone who was a lot stronger than he ever could be.

Jonathan Braverman smiled softly at the image before his eyes, it bringing the same joy to him, as it had days before when he had paid the McCaw residence a visit.

Jake Braverman was quick to pick his phone up and open the camera app, knowing full well Matter would not part with the picture so easily. So he would settle with a picture of the picture, so he too would have it on him. Ian and Jason doing the same after he was done.

"At least we know she's safe, that's more than what we had" Jake stated earning agreements from his brothers. Olivia would not have been smiling as such, if she were with someone she thought was responsible for the events that had taken place that night.

Jake Braverman frowned; He had not missed his Father's reaction. Or lack of, Jonathan Braverman hadn't been fazed when Matter had mentioned the McCaw man knew the whereabouts of Olivia, had not blinked an eye at the photo the man had given Matter besides the smile that had softened his father's features.

It was no hidden truth that the Braverman children took much from their father, their temperaments and cunning being two of the personality traits they had inherited from their father. But none rivaled the man in either aspect, not even Jake whose mind was far sharper than any of his siblings.

And it appeared to Jake Braverman that perhaps his father had already been one step ahead of the four boys, he would have to have a conversation with his father later.

However it would have to wait till later, Jake realized eyeing the time on his phone, he would have to leave soon to pick Cleo up having insisted on driving Cleopatra with himself, telling the girl it was the least he could do for what she was trying to do for him.

"If you will excuse me, I have a friend waiting for me to pick them up" Jake informed his family, making his way toward the door "I will see you all later, goodbye dad!'"

"Enjoy your date!" Matter and Jason shouted together, Ian snickering behind the two in amusement.

Soon after, all the Braverman's went their separate ways, leaving the Braverman manor nearly empty.

~*~

Matter Braverman settled in Olivia's bedroom, his laptop set up on the desk and plugged into the wall a notebook filled with students who he and his brother's had gone to school with spread open on the once empty desk.

Matter had been reminded of his loss, when he had stepped into the miserable room that remain empty, yet clean. Maria had been tacking much care of the girl's room, having been hopeful of Olivia's return. Matter could tell how much the woman missed the young girl, How often he had seen Maria set an extra plate of food to the side for Olivia, who would not eat it.

Matter had yet to realize just how much of his sister's life he had lost, having been confronted with the reality the day before. Hearing those stories of Olivia had been eye opening, especially when he had realized he was hearing them from a stranger, it was a devastating reality that, that had been caused by his own cowardice.

What hit the most was that there were still two unaccounted for years, as not even Melvin had been present in those initial years after Marcia's death.

There were still pieces missing of a puzzle he and his brothers had yet to piece together.

Matter logged into Facebook, determination ringing true in every stroke of the keyboard, or click of the mouse. Matter Braverman's thankful he and his family lived in a fairly small town, as everyone knew everyone in a town such as this.

It was easy for Matter, as he used his own profile as a starting point, before going into the pages of friends who had younger siblings; from there he accessed the accounts of most of the population of Devendor high school.

And one after the other Matter browsed through page after page, looking for any mention of Olivia, or any glimpse of a photo with the girl in it. He was lucky, most teens these days did not care for the privacy settings Facebook put in place, their profiles all public.

He focused his search on teen's around the same age as Olivia, those who would have gone to school in the same grade as she had been.

Matter found it intriguing, how everyone had been connected, despite social differences; all it took was for one teen in a clique to have been friends with a teen from another Clique. Connecting two groups to one. And none was aware, not truly how far their connections reached.

However despite all the connections Matter could find nothing, Page after Page yielding no results. No mention of her name, no photo ever posted or tagged with Olivia in it. Nothing.

He had gone as far as searching other social media sites, Instagram, Twitter and snapchat. All of which proving to be much more difficult to sift through than Facebook.

Matter had even resorted to calling a few of the students, to no avail, those who knew her had only known of her due to the car accident. And so Matter found himself once again going through Facebook pages.

He had been about to give up, after having spent four hours searching endlessly for ANY sign, when he had come across it. A picture taken of the graduates, the caption reading "Graduating Class of 2018". It had not taken Matter long to find Olivia in the picture, as she stood in the middle Valedictorian of her year.

She looked different from the photo that lay in Matter's pocket, Olivia stood triumphantly among her peers, her smile wise and eyes shining. Matter was quick to save the picture to his laptop, as pride filled his veins. A smile finding its way to his own face.

It was a bitter sweet feeling that wormed its way into his chest, squeezing his heart painfully. He had missed this, missed this mile stone in his sisters life, had missed the years of her high school career, he would not get these years back and that fact was rubbed in his face at every turn.

As if the world wished to shove the fact he were an asshole down his throat, forcing him to choke upon his own mistakes. Crushing him from within.

Matter sat back in Olivia's desk chair, swallowing the feeling as if it were a bitter pill. Matter supposed it was a bitter pill to swallow, reality was harsh after all.

Matter scrolled through the rest of the boy's Facebook page, coming up with nothing more than the photo. Matter would not say his time had been wasted on the fruitless search, as the search had been fruitful despite having come up with nothing that would lead Matter and his brother's to their younger sister, Matter had still found a piece of Olivia's life he would have otherwise not have had.

Matter Braverman had started to wonder if his sister HAD any friends, the girl having always been anti-social by choice. However that was far too sad a reality for Matter to dwell on as that would mean Olivia had been alone.

Although Matter was curious, if perhaps her lack of friends had less to do with her being against making friends, and more to do with what ever had happened that night. Was there perhaps a reason she made no friends in Devendor High?

Matter's curiosity shifted with a spin of the chair he was seated on. Why? He wondered.

Why would Olivia clear out her room? Why bother going through so much effort? She could have left it all, made it he and his brothers problem to clean up, if they ever even chose to do so. It made little sense to the boy. He furrowed his brows in thought, Olivia would not have been able to take everything with her, if she were running away as her note had suggested.

So maybe, just maybe she had donated some of it, to a church or charity. She could have, although there were a slim chance, mentioned in passing where she was going. However Matter had to wonder if she even knew where she was going at the time.

He would have to pay a visit to the church tomorrow; maybe she had friends within the church as some of the congregants came from within the city to attend church. Matter knew he was grasping at straws, however he would not leave any stone unturned in his search for his sister, no matter how small the pebble.

Matter's searching gaze landed on Olivia's closet, and curiosity took over him as he made his way toward it. Maria had said she already searched the room, however the cupboards shelves were high, and she could have over looked something.

Matter truly was grasping at straws.

Yet he still flung the wooden doors open, revealing a bare closet, no clothes hanging on the rack, or shoes lining the floor. Yet he searched, reaching his hand deep on the highest shelf, his hand moving around and he prayed he would find something, anything.

Reaching onto his toes Matter reached further on the closet shelf. He sucked in a breath when his hand grazed something. Feeling the edges of what he thought to be a box, Matter could have cried out in that moment. His heart beat was rapid as he pulled the box from the closet, still holding his breath in anticipation.

The box was by no means big in size; if it were not for his curiosity and tall frame Matter knew it would have gone undiscovered. Matter let out the breath he had been holding, his hands now shaking, his nerves having been frayed due to the rush of adrenaline that had seemed to take over Matter's body in that moment.

Matter noted how the box seemed to have been kept in good condition, despite the fading color that implied the box had been handled many times before, as if Olivia had taken care when handling the box. Matter took the box with him back to Olivia's desk, hands still shaking as his heart raced on in his chest.

Anxiety pooled in the Braverman boys stomach as he took a deep breath and lifted up the box lid, with a careful consideration. Matter however was left confused and disappointed with the newspaper clippings he found inside.

His mother's death, funeral and obituary laying neatly tucked in to the box. A newspaper clipping of the Wilson boy laying with the others. But that was not all that was in the box, Matter pulled out a friendship bracelet he recognized as belonging to Olivia, it having been given to her by Emma.

And Matter pondered Why Olivia would keep memories that had obviously been so painful for the girl who had seemed so broken in her Diary? And why would she include clippings of Derrick's death in the box too? He knew the Wilson's were involved, however he could not fit the pieces together, as he was still missing such a huge part of the story.

This was confirmation at least, that Derrick's death had in fact been linked to the night of Marcia Braverman's accident. And Matter realized, this only added more questions to an ever growing list of questions he and his brothers had.

The puzzle stretching further, in front of his very eyes, growing more complicated every time they uncovered another piece for the puzzle. Matter let out a frustrated sigh, putting the contents of the box back before closing the lid and throwing the box onto the desk.

~*~

Jake Braverman was ecstatic, his excitement only increasing the nearer he got to Cleopatra's house.

Jake recalled the first time he had met Cleopatra and her brother Daniel, it had been Cleo who had approached Jake while he was going through his own exercise routine and asked to join, her brother following suit. And while Jake had been hesitant, he could not find malicious intent coming from the girl, only curiosity for the boy who had joined recently and kept solely to himself.

He remembered Daniel's piercing glare the entire time his sister had talked with him, had realized the man had only joined the two to watch over his twin sister. Daniel having been the overprotective brother type, Jake had seen Daniel give that very same glare from their first meeting to countless other men who thought they could score with Cleo, only for those same men to be rejected moments later by Cleo herself.

Jake still found himself wondering why Daniel had allowed Jake near his sister, however was glad he had as he and Daniel became fast friends alongside Cleo. Especially now that he was parked in front of their house, making his way to their front door in order to greet Cleo.

Jake knocked once on the door and waited for the short woman to open the door.

Cleopatra and her older brother lived alone in the homey two story house, Having moved out their parents house years before Jake had met the two siblings. Jake had never asked about it, however the two had confided in him about the toxic environment they had lived in before.

Their mother, to put it lightly, had been a perfectionist. She had a vision of what her family should look like, had created this fantasy of having the perfect husband, the perfect children, and the prefect house to live in and had done everything in her power to sculpt each aspect into that vision, that fantasy. Their father would do nothing to stop his wife and instead worked long into the night to avoid his own wife.

Daniel Edgar had been told what he had to do all through high school, was not allowed to get any lower than an A, was expected to be the quarter back in football as well as the captain, he was to be popular and have a sweet girlfriend. Lord forbid he went astray from that image, while Daniel had never told Jake what the consequences had been if they had Jake could tell from the hardened features of his face, the gritting of his teeth, and the faraway look in the man's eyes had told Jake it was bad enough to forever haunt Daniel.

Daniel Edger had even been told he would take over his father's company that he would not be allowed to do anything else as there was no other heir to the business throne. However despite his father's wishes, Daniel had taken to art in secret throughout his schooling career, and had wanted to make it into a business when he was old enough to do so. And with the help of his grandfather, Daniel had told his family to shove it, and opened his own art gallery.

The gallery itself held art from both new and famous artists from the city, and was host to a weekly art gala that saw wealthy families and famous artist flock to the gallery. Daniel Edger had not been a fool when he had contacted friends of his fathers, whose children grew up with him, in order to build a client list of influential people. Had used his family name as a stepping stone in order to get not only his own art but his new found gallery out there.

Cleopatra Edgar had, had it far worse than her older brother, their mother having expected more from the girl and Cleo had admitted to Jake that she had cracked under the pressure. She had never been pretty enough, skinny enough, smart enough nor popular enough for that wicked woman, no amount of fake friends or high grades had been perfect enough for the woman.

Cleopatra's self-esteem had plummeted under her mother's watch. Cleo had admitted to Jake that it had been a slow process, one she hadn't known was happening until she was looking in the mirror one morning and she hadn't been able to see anything worthwhile in her reflection.

She had told him every single part of herself she allowed her mind to pick apart like vultures descending on a carcass. Confided in him how she destroyed the best parts of herself.

She had described the ordeal as her being her own enemy, she had been her own downfall, and with the help of her mother she had ruined herself. This had led down a road of self-harm, used as a means of blocking the thoughts and doubts that wrapped themselves around her heart wishing to drag her under the water.

Jake Braverman had, had to admire both siblings for their struggles in life, however his admiration for Cleo was just that much greater, not only for her struggles but for the fight that followed her strife. And Cleopatra Edgar had fought.

It had been around Cleo and Daniel's senior year, that Cleo had found dancing. Having been walking through the streets of the city with her 'friends' when she came across a street performer. The boy who had been performing had been no older than Cleo herself, and he was amazing combining a more modern style of dance with hip-hop, the combination making it so that no one would be able to look away from the fluid motion.

Cleopatra had been in awe of the sight, and it had been the first time she truly felt mesmerized by something. That sight had stayed, for days in her head, for weeks after she had seen the performance. Cleo found herself drawn to the art of dance. So she had went out one weekend to find the street performer and had begged the boy to teach her. Had pestered the boy to no end until he had given in, and Cleo had poured everything into learning that routine, hours of going home and practicing until her body would ached and scream in protest.

She lost herself in the art, in the music. And even after having mastered that first routine Cleo had been determined to learn more. And she did; dance after dance she learned to fly through the movements, letting the music guide her across the dance floor.

Cleopatra had replaced cutting with dance, had learned to let the music take her mind away from the degrading thoughts that still poisoned her mind. Through dance she had overcome an addiction of pain, had found something that allowed her to express herself in ways she thought would never be possible. And she had overcome that all by herself.

Had faced those demons on her own and she had won.

Yet that was only half the struggle, she still saw nothing of worth in herself when she would gaze into a mirror. It had gotten so bad after a while that Cleo found herself picking at flaws in her dance routines, it held her back from learning more techniques because she had blown a bubble of self doubt around herself.

She had convinced herself she would fail so she had stopped trying.

But Cleo had remained determined to overcome this, she would not let self doubt crumble what she had built, she had finally grown her wings back, she wished not to see the clipped once more. Jake had asked her how she overcame her own insecurities, and found his heart aching when she had told him you don't.

Years later and Cleo had, had to admit that she still had those thoughts passing by in her mind, her insecurities poking their heads out when she was most content with herself as if she wished to see herself burn when she truly just wanted to be herself. To love her own skin and wear it proudly on herself.

But Cleo had found a coping mechanism for herself, had figured if what got her into that mess was the judgmental words of a woman too flawed to see the beauty in simplicity that perhaps it would take the words of a girl with too many flaws to bring out who she wanted to be. She would be the one to evaluate her own self worth, as her worth extended as far as she wished it to stretch.

Cleo spent every morning, for years, standing in front of her mirror. Finding one thing that she even remotely like about herself and pointing it out, one reason to like herself every morning, justifying to herself why that part of herself was worth mentioning until she had liked every single part of her body again. And she had struggled, those first couple of months to come up with anything remotely likable about herself.

She still had mornings that it was hard for herself to pick something positive about herself. But she did, even if it meant spending hours in front of that mirror, even if she didn't make it to work that day, she looked.

She had been determined to find something, anything that gave her a sense of worth.

And it had been that same determination that had given her the confidence to start her own business with the help of her grandparents. She now owned her own dance studio had gone as far as to franchise it in order to open up dance studios under her studio name across the country.

Now she taught dance of all styles to girls and boys, both young and old.

She brought the art alive through competitions, traveling around the country in order to compete, backed by sponsors of dance wear companies and such.

Jake loved that about the woman the most, her stubbornness to never give up no matter the obstacle.

The front door is swung open, and Jake is greeted with a cheerful "Hey Frumpy!"As Cleo pulls the boy into a hug before stepping back, still beaming up at him.

Jake chuckled at the girl, his heart filling with joy at the nickname "Good morning Cleo" he greeted.

"I am almost ready!" Cleo informs Jake, making the latter raise his brow in disbelief. Cleo stood in her living room, in a unicorn onsie, which Jake had gifted her for her last birthday.

Cleo looked down at what she had been wearing, her eyes widening and cheeks flushing red in embarrassment.

"I-I was helping D-Dan find his keys, b-bud was whining a lot a-and the plumbing needs to be fixed and- and the breakfast was burning and I- I lost track of time and then you where knocking and t-this place was a mess" Cleo rambled, eyes still wide like a child caught doing something they shouldn't as she stuttered her reasons for not being ready.

To anyone else it might have sounded like an excuse, However Jake Braverman was all too aware at how disorganized his two best friends were. There had been many a times Jake found himself visiting the two, only for him to walk in on the two rushing around trying to clean up cloths scattered around the house obviously from one of their sibling fights.

One time, the twins had stuffed their clothes into a closet near the front door, and had asked Jake to fetch something from said closet, it had been a truly terrifying sight when objects came flying toward him after he had pulled open the closet door. Apparently they had been storing more and more little trinkets from around the house into the closet and the clothes being shoved in had been all it took for the contents of said cupboard to come rushing out.

Jake laughed at the memory, "Do not worry Cleo, I can wait" He told her, placing his hand on her head to pat it.

Cleopatra Edgar's cheeks grew brighter, as her heart did summersaults in her chest. She was mortified, the embarrassment lingering in the pit of her stomach where butterflies had erupted in happiness.

"I'll be right back" She muttered to Jake before sprinting up the stairs, leaving an amused Jake to make himself comfortable on her couch.

Cleopatra truly had it bad for the Braverman man. She could recall her brother teasing her on multiple occasions, when they were with Jake. Cleo had to marvel at how oblivious Jake could be too it, for a man who could read everybody he had struck out on this one.

Cleo was quick to get undressed, rummaging through her closet for a cute outfit and putting it on. She wanted to look perfect for what she was calling a date. She Knew Jake saw it as going out with a friend, however for Cleo who had, had a crush on the boy for two years, any time spent with Jake she considered special. And she wanted to express that to Jake, would show him how she felt.

Cleo knew it was not the time for such things, but for her it was now or never. The future had become uncertain, before she was almost guaranteed Jake would always be beside her even if they were only friends, however now Cleo feared the search for Olivia may drive the boy away.

She did not wish to put pressure on him, however she did want to reassure him no matter what she would be there for him. He was walking on a path of ice, and Cleo wanted nothing more than to assure him that if the ice were to break she'd be there to pull him to safety even if she drowned in the process.

Cleo quickly brushed her hair before tying it up into a messy bun and took one last look in the mirror. And she could find nothing to hate about herself, as Jake had never given her a reason to care about how she looked around him. Perhaps that was what she liked most about Jake, he made her feel comfortable being who she is a feeling she usually only got dancing.

Cleo walked back down stairs, meeting Jake near the front door where he smiled at her from. His eyes twinkling for the first time in days.

"Shall we?" He asked gently, holding out his arm for her, for which Cleo took.

"We shall" Cleo answered.

~*~
Word Count [6 687]
Our longest Finding Olivia chapter to date.

Hey all,

As promised, I bring you yet another chapter, one I do hope you enjoyed.

I know not all of you ship Jeopatra, but honestly I've been in love with that ship since I first introduced Cleopatra to the story.

But we will see how it goes.

What do you all think about the box Matter found? Or the picture?

I would love to hear your thoughts and theories!

Please don't forget to:

Until Next Time,
Byeeeeeeeeeeee