Little Red Riding Hoodlum

A desperate escape

LA, U.S.A.

Olivia's body seemed to deflate like a punctured balloon. Her shoulders slumped, and her head drooped, as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders and had suddenly become too much to bear. She collapsed onto the mattress, landing with a soft thud.

She lay there, motionless, her arms limp at her sides, her right hand dangling off the edge of the bed like a lifeless appendage. Her face was a picture of despair, her eyes sunken, her eyebrows furrowed, and her mouth agape, as if she had been punched in the gut and couldn't catch her breath.

Suddenly, her eyes widened and she spot on a ‘I’m so dumb look’ while using her palm to hit her head softly. Then, she dropped the phone and hurriedly rushed to her locker like a meteorite crashing to earth. Her hands shook as she brought down a traveling box from the top of her locker. Then, she pulled out the new clothes from their shopping bags and tossed them in the black traveling bag.

“Wow, look what-” Her roommate, Mia tried to butt in but Olivia shot her a glare.

"I don't have time for this, Mia," she snapped.

Olivia rushed to her reading table then grabbed her blue file jacket and opened it. She grabbed her passport and stuffed it into the bag with her clothes.

She hovered over her bed and took her phone. She logged on to an app and booked the next flight to Los Angeles. No shower, no goodbyes. She shot the stunned Mia a glare before dragging her bag out of the room, her heart pounding in her chest like a drumbeat.

The sun had risen when Olivia reached Orly international airport. She'd used her hands to smoothen her hair, while trying her best not to look unkempt. With a weary body and a shaken soul, she dragged her luggage into the bustling airport, her eyes glancing around warily.

However, Olivia bypassed Orly's private section at the airport and headed toward the public terminals. She booked a second-class ticket, hoping that the large number of people would keep her away from ‘prying eyes’.

‘At least they won't kidnap me in the midst of people as much as this.’ she thought as she sat on a bench, waiting for her flight.

Every moment she had to wait seemed like eternity and the feeling of someone watching her, the feeling of someone boring holes into her body haunted her. Literally, Paranoia was strangling her.

Olivia felt relief wash over her like a tidal wave when it was finally the turn for her luggage to be scanned and when she was on the line to enter the plane, she kept glancing around warily.

As Olivia settled on her seat in the plane, she felt a heavy burden being lifted off her shoulders and she heaved a sigh of relief. It was a non stop flight.

Olivia's plan was to go to her bestfriend's place, Lisa, at Los Angeles, instead of yielding to Enzo's threat. She decided to take a quick nap before the flight landed.

_ _ _

She released a deep sigh as her plane landed in LA. She quickly sent a text to Lisa, her best friend. She's too scared to board a taxi.

"Hi baby, can you come pick me up? I'm at Orly's" she wrote, her fingers shaking. "I'm too scared to take a taxi."

Luck seems to be on her side as Lisa's response came almost instantly. "On my way," she said. "Hang tight.”

Olivia waited, trying to keep her cool as she could not shut her mind off from all the ways Enzo might track her down. Any person walking by seemed like a threat that was going to turn her in. She kept her head down, blending into the throngs of people coming and going.

Finally, seeing Lisa's familiar face in the crowd almost had her crying with relief. Lisa rushed over to her, wide-eyed with concern.

"Olivia! You didn't tell me you were coming. What has happened? " she asked as soon as she saw Olivia , her short small frame tackling her into a hug before taking Olivia's bag.

"I'll tell you everything once we get to your place," Olivia replied tightly, keeping her gaze rooted to the ground after hugging Lisa.

Lisa had been Olivia's best friend since when they were young. Olivia's mother used to work at Lisa's home and that's how they became friends, then best friends.

They drove in silence, the tension inside the car so thick it was almost palpable. Olivia simply couldn't bring herself to talk, as her brain replayed the last few hours over and over again. Finally pulling up to Lisa's apartment, Olivia let out a shaky breath. Somehow, this place seemed like a haven from the storm that was now her life.

Lisa hurriedly scanned her card and stepped into the high-end apartment. Olivia entered after Lisa and locked the door, then tried to pull it open to check if it's really locked before rushing into the living room.

“I'm doomed babe!” She shouted as soon as she flopped into the couch, her hands tugging her hair.

"Shut up and start from the beginning," Lisa urged excitedly, sitting beside her.

Olivia inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself and stood up and started pacing on the rug in the center of the white colored living room.

"Okay, so it all started with Sorbonne wanting to reverse my fortune by withdrawing my scholarship…”

She went on to retell it all-from her hacking into that very account belonging to the alumni donor down to the intimidating call from Enzo. Lisa listened with a shifting expression from shock, anger, then worry as she heard it all unfold before she interrupted.

“You should have told meee! I would have told mom.”

“Not that Lisa. You know I hate being pitied or feeling like a burden.” Olivia butted in, her hands on her waist in a defensive stance.

“This is not about being pitied fool!”

“Hush and let me continue.” Olivia said, almost pleading.

Just as Olivia was going to finish, the doorbell rang. Both girls froze, and their hearts stopped for a beat.

"Who could that be?" Lisa whispered, her eyes wide.

“My life's a toast.” Olivia cried. “The grim reaper is here to reap my soul!” She exclaimed before dragging her luggage and running to hide behind the couch. She lifted her head a little and whispered to Lisa who stood near the centre table dumbfounded.

“Tell him you've not seen me…”

They exchanged a nervous glance before Lisa finally moved to answer the door. Olivia held her breath, tensing her muscles. After a few minutes, Lisa came back into the living room

“Come out scaredy cat. It's just food," Lisa said, her voice shaking with laughter. "My mom sent it over.

Olivia cautiously stood up and after confirming that there's really no one apart from Lisa, she leaped over the couch and landed in a sitting pose.

“B*itch, you will never fail to be lucky.” She said with a smile.

“You know she can always think I'm suffering just because I insisted on living alone. Like, it's kinda real but at least, I have my independence.” She said, and dropped the packaged food on the table.

“Who did she send?”

“Aunty Chloe.”

“Wow! I've missed her.” Olivia mused.

Lisa settled back on the couch before leaning forward. "Okay, continue. What happened after he called?"

Olivia took another deep breath, her sarcastic nature fighting to come through despite the fear. "Well, after he graciously informed me of his plans to have me dragged to Italy, I decided a spontaneous trip to the US sounded like a better vacation option."

Lisa laughed, rolling her head. "Only you would think of running for your life as a holiday."

"Hey! I'm all about the silver lining," Olivia replied, but her smile didn't make it to her eyes.

She went on to talk about the quick packing, the mad dash to the airport, and how she had felt that someone was following her every second. Lisa's expression turned somber as she listened, fully cognizant of the situation.

"You're safe here," Lisa said. "We'll figure this out together."

Olivia nodded her head, her eyes welling up with tears that she was trying to prevent herself from shedding. "Thank you, Lisa. I don't know what to do if it wasn't for you."

"You don't have to do anything alone," Lisa said smiling. “Remember what you did for me during Asher's period.” She said with a small smile which made Olivia burst out laughing.

"You know, you could have told me or Mom about the scholarship revision programme or you really could have warned me about this Enzo guy," Lisa said finally, breaking the mood.

"Oh, believe me, he's not someone you want to know," Olivia said, a small smile playing on her lips. "But if he turns up here, I'll introduce you. A tip, he threatened me with a gun…"

"Oh my god! Great, can't wait," Lisa replied, her hands clenched together.

“This is not the romance novels you always read Lisa.”