Olivia's POV

I step out of my house, reminded that today is Friday which is the final day of the week. I take a deep breath, letting the crisp, clean air fill my lungs, and shiver slightly as the wind blows every now and then.

The roar of traffic rushing past my house is as noisy as ever, and I silently hope I won’t have to wait long for the bus.

As if on cue, the bus appears at the end of the street, its body emblazoned in shades of red and gray. It pulls up, and I make my way on board, spotting Tom in his usual spot, animatedly chatting with some members of the rugby team.

When he notices me, his face lights up, and he shifts to make room for me to sit next to him.

“Hey, Liv. How’s it going?”

I smile at him. “Really good, actually. I feel so much better today, it’s unreal. Oh! Is your rugby match tonight? I totally forgot to tell you that I’ll be there cheering you on!”

“I wouldn’t wish for anyone else cheering for me,” he says with a grin before adding, “Oh, I totally forgot. How are your projects going?”

My face brightens as I think about my progress. “Amazingly! I’m so close to finishing my solo piece now, all thanks to you. And the group project with Freddie should be okay too. We’ve made peace, and I think we’ll work well together. He’s a good person beneath the exterior.”

Tom’s expression darkens immediately, his brows furrowing. “What do you mean, you’ve made peace?”

“Well, we talked things over and realized we have more in common than we thought.”

Tom’s strong hand suddenly grips mine tightly. When he speaks again, there’s a bitterness in his tone I’ve never heard before. “I don’t trust him, Liv. Just be careful. If he tries anything with you, make sure to tell me. He won’t make that mistake twice.”

Not wanting to continue the conversation, I nod, hoping to keep him content. But deep down, I can’t help wondering why he feels this way.

And I don’t know why.

***

The tannoy blares:

“Welcome, everyone, to today’s inter-college rugby match! The Lions are up against the Giants, and it’s set to be a close game. With team captain Tom McKenzie leading the Lions and Leon Wilson leading the Giants, we’re about to witness some high quality Rugby League action!”

The crowd erupts into cheers as Tom’s name is announced. A group of girls wave enormous banners with his name and face on them, screaming his name at the top of their lungs. He’s clearly popular. Not just with the sports crowd but with most of the school, thanks to his talent and charisma.

I, however, am sitting as far away from the fan girls and the loud sports fanatics as possible. I’ve chosen the quiet green hill in the corner of the open-air stadium.

Thankfully, I’m the only one here. It’s peaceful, so I can sketch while watching the match.

The day is unseasonably warm for September, so I’m wearing my favorite denim shorts, an off-the-shoulder top, and my sneakers. My hair falls loosely down my back in natural waves, and the sun’s rays make my tanned skin glow.

It feels like summer all over again.

Pulling out my sketchbook, I begin a live drawing of the scene before me: the stands, the crowd, and the players on the field. Charcoal glides effortlessly across the page as I start sketching. Just as I’m about to shade in the stands, a familiar voice interrupts me.

“Olivia Meyer, you don’t stop for a second, do you?”

I turn to see Freddie approaching. He looks surprisingly good today, dressed in Nike shorts, trainers, and a white vest that shows off his toned arms and chest. The sun highlights his naturally tanned skin and lightens his hair slightly.

“I’m just watching Tom play,” I reply, “and thought I’d do some live sketching while I’m here.”

He sits down beside me, gazing out at the field. “You know, this is my spot, right?”

“Well, it’s mine now too,” I tease. “I’ve never seen you watch a game from here.”

“I don’t come here to watch the game. I do my art here. It’s calming, helps me deal with my personal stuff.”

“You mean you come here to deal with your anger?” I ask.

He nods. “Why do you?”

“Weirdly, for the same reason.”

For a while, we sit in comfortable silence. To my surprise, Freddie has brought his own sketchbook and is working on something I can’t quite see.

When Tom spots me from the field, I give him a supportive wave and a thumbs-up. He sends a sarcastic kiss back, making me laugh.

My life feels better than ever.

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Author’s Note: Sorry for the slightly slower chapter. I promise the next one will be more exciting! Don’t forget to vote, comment, and follow for more chapters!