It Was Always You

What A Way To Start The Day.

…Olive’s POV…

“UGHHH” I yelled as my phone alarm started going off. How does 8 hours of sleep feel like I just closed my eyes for a minute? After silencing the alarm, it was time to roll out of bed and get ready for the day.

I made my way to the shower and slinked out of my pjs. I should have looked closer at this shower last night. There’s one lever and about a million buttons and I don’t see any kind of shower head. Making a not-so-educated guess, I reached in and turned the lever, hoping for hot water to somehow shower down on me. To my surprise, the entire ceiling began to rain down. Just when I thought this place couldn’t get anymore perfect, Lucas had installed a rainfall shower head that covered almost the entire size of the shower. I stepped into the warm water, letting myself soak and enjoy every moment here. My mind drifted to Lucas, picturing him working on the farm, working to build this house. The butterflies I felt in my stomach turned into a slow burn in my core. ‘He may be off limits in real life, but in my imagination is a whole different story’ I thought to myself as a slowly slid my hand down to help myself relieve the feeling.

I stepped out of the shower, feeling ready to tackle my first day as a farmhand. After drying my hair, I decided to touch up the pieces that framed my face with the curling wand and made my way over to the closet. After deciding on an old t-shirt that hung off one shoulder and a pair of black leggings, I slipped on some socks and set my sneakers on the floor next to the door. The clock on the wall said 9:30, I had stayed in the shower a little longer than I should have, so now I only have time to dust a little bit of makeup on. After hurriedly applying some light makeup, I ran down the stairs, hoping to find some kind of food in the kitchen that could pass for breakfast. Before I could open the door on the fridge, there was a knock on the front door. Lucas is here.

After my thoughts this morning, I couldn’t help but get a little excited at the thought of spending the day with him. Even if it was strictly platonic in real life. He always had a way of making me feel safe, seen, and heard. Something none of my past relationships could ever hold a candle to.

“Coming!” I yelled, probably a little too excited, as I made my way to the front door. I swung it open to see Lucas looking down at me. I thought I caught a flash of desire in his bright green eyes, but I’m pretty sure it’s just my projecting from my shower session this morning. I feel a blush creeping up my face. I thought I could block out where my mind had gone this morning when I saw him, but that’s proving to be more difficult than originally anticipated. I looked down and saw the plate of food in his hands. “Please say that’s a plate of breakfast for me.” I small chuckle rang through the air “Ask and you shall receive” he said with a wink. I rolled my eyes and took the plate from his hands. I started for the kitchen when I turned around and saw him still standing in the doorway.

“Are you coming in?” I asked with a confused look. “Am I invited in?” he asked, almost teasing.

“You literally built the damn house, Luke. Who am I to say if you’re allowed in or not?” I joked back.

“Let’s get two things straightened out here. One- this is your house. I may have built it, but you’re living in it. All jokes aside, you have the only say in who’s welcome. I mean it.” I nod in response with a small smile. “Thanks. What’s the second thing that needs straightening?” I asked. “You called me Luke. No one does that anymore.” I saw a small smirk flash on his face as he sat down next to me at the counter “and you lost the nickname privilege.”

I swallowed a piece of bacon and replied “I assumed I had the nickname privilege when you called me Oli last night. Literally no one has called me that since high school. I even asked my family to stop. What did I do to lose such a coveted privilege?” I asked, dripping with sarcasm. “When you started dating all those shitty guys.” he responded with a wink. Ouch. I immediately put on my most hurt face and watched his face drop. “Oh no, Oli. I always joked with you after a break up, I’m sorry. I didn’t even think about it being too soon for something like that..,” I immediately looked up with a grin and said “If that’s the case, I lost that privilege long before I met you.” I couldn’t contain my laughter as he playfully shoved me “You were 4 when we met, Olive.” “Oh Luke, decisions this bad start at birth.” I gave him a quick wink as I tossed the empty paper plate in the trash and headed for the stairs to retrieve my shoes.

I could hear his steps behind me stop at the door. I turned around and said “I need my shoes! give me a minute to go grab them!” he nodded in acknowledgment and I made my way up the stairs. I wasn’t sure if it was just my imagination, but it felt like his eyes were burning into me as I climbed up the stairs. I looked down at him before I rounded the corner into my room. I caught his eyes lingering and I think his cheeks turned red, but maybe that was just wishful thinking.

…Lucas POV…

As she made her way up the stairs, I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. Half out of surprise at the 180° turn she’d made overnight, the other convinced that she’d still look that good in a garbage bag. I know I looked for far longer than I should, but it wasn’t like Owen was around to catch me doing it. As she rounded the corner to the room, she looked back down at me. Owen may not be here, but I still got caught. I know my face turned red, I just hoped she couldn’t tell from up there. I swear a smile danced across her lips as she raised one eyebrow and teased “Like what you see?” I felt more heat rise to my cheeks. “Maybe a little too much,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “and definitely for a little too long.”

Now it was her turn to blush, but before I could see it she rounded the corner to grab her shoes. She quickly made her way back down, avoiding eye contact the whole way. s**t, that may have been a bit too forward. What happened to friends? I said I would be her friend. I am going to have to chill out. I opened the door and asked “Ready for your first day, farmhand? We will start in the back orchard and work our way back to the houses”

We walked out of the front door and made our way down the path to the main houses in complete silence. What a way to start the day, I think I royally screwed this up.