The Way Life Goes

Countdown

“We’ve been doing this for a month now and I’m all up to date,” Olivia said to Tyler as they sat together in his classroom

It was nearing the end of October and Halloween was right around the corner. It was her birthday in November which she wasn’t looking forward to. Seventeen was such a dull age. It was overlooked, it was all about being eighteen, being legal, turning into an adult, and she couldn’t care less.

Tyler rolled his eyes at her, opening his drawer, and tossing her a bag of sweets. She caught them in surprise, staring down at the gummy bears with a grin.

“You actually did it! You actually got me food after all this time! I think we should alert the news,” she said with a giggle, opening them up and popping one into her mouth. “What’s your favorite sweet?”

“I don’t like sweets.”

“You freak! Okay, what’s your favorite food?”

“Meat,” he said looking down at his desk as he scribbled into his journal.

“Oh my god, it’s like talking to a wall today,” she muttered with a frown. “What kind of meat? Stop holding back on me, Danson.”

“Steak, I like steak, I like medium rare,” he said after a long moment. “I thought we were done with this sharing with each other?”

“Hell no, you’re my puzzle and I need to complete you.”

“Well, this puzzle is tired for one night and if you’re done then you better be on your way.”

“You’re so boring! I just want to talk...” she murmured with a sigh, closing her book and shoving it into her bag getting ready to go. It would be another lonely night at home what with everyone doing their own thing.

It was weird to have friends but feel so alone at the end of the day. They had each other and she had no one. It was getting ridiculous and she pinned for someone to want her and for her to want them back.

“Fine, if you want to talk, we’ll talk,” Tyler said after a minute of silence, sitting back down.

“Really?” she questioned with a raised eyebrow. “Here?”

“If you want.”

“Why can’t I remember you? Everyone knows each other in this little town, everyone knows each other’s business, so why can’t I remember you?” she said sitting on top of a desk facing him.

“Because you were just a child when I moved, Olivia, I was fourteen so that would have made you about six or seven years old at the time,” he explained. “There was the car accident and it… my family died”

“Oh,” she breathed. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.”

“So you moved to New York?”

“For a while, yes, we moved around a lot though. We always came back. New York is a wonder,” he said softly. “What about you, what do you want to do after here?”

“College.”

“Studying what?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted with a chuckle. “I think I might do psychology or art. It’s college, I get to go away and have fun. I’m not staying here; I might go New York myself or go to Stanford, Harvard, or anywhere fancy.”

“You’re very clever, I’m sure you can get in.”

“You say that now but I have another year to go! I could end up failing everything!” she cried dramatically. “So who did you come here with?”

“A friend of mine.”

“What is their name?” she said slowly and smiled when he looked over to her pointedly.

“You’re far too nosy for your own good.”

“I like to know things, I’m just curious.”

“Curiosity can get you into trouble.”

“Not always,” she said softly in response. “It killed the cat but it doesn’t mean it has to kill me.”

He narrowed his eyes at her as she jumped off and grabbed her bag, popping another sweet into her mouth. She hummed, heading to the door before turning towards him.

“I’ll see you on Monday!”

“I look forward to it,” he said slowly, seeing her eyes light up in wonder before she smiled and walked out leaving him alone in his hidden misery.

Olivia sat in her car feeling strange but also strangely satisfied. The smile wouldn’t fade from her lips when she started the car up and drove home unaware of what was going on back in the school.

***

November arrived in Winslow with a bitter cold snap as everyone moved past Halloween and started to prepare for the countdown of Christmas. Olivia was nursing a three-day hangover after a Halloween party at Samantha’s. It was so like her to host one and it wasn’t the best moment when she threw up on three strangers and collapsed with Noah into a bush. It was the worst feeling to wake up freezing, covered in vomit and booze, and her best friend snoring next to her in the bushes.

It was also saying goodbye to the sixteen years of her life as her birthday drew closer and closer.

She was wrapped up in her comforter on the couch when her dad strolled in from the early morning shift to confront her about it.

“Your birthday is on Friday.”

“Yeah, I know,” she muttered, staring at the television screen. “I told you two days ago now that I don’t want to do anything and I haven’t changed my mind, dad. No one cares about the seventeenth birthday, it’s the eighteenth that everyone has an orgy over.”

“Olivia.” he scolded with a look as she sat up and rolled her eyes at him.

“Look, dad, save those dollars for next year, I want to travel the world and I’ll be going to college around then. I think we should just get takeout, watch a film and you can let me drink alcohol.”

“You’re seventeen, not twenty-one, you’re underage.”

“Spoilsport!” she called after him when he walked away to make some dinner. Olivia sighed, resting her head on the cushion and staring at the television screen. She wasn’t looking forward to it one bit really. Her birthdays were not as fun as they used to be before her mom passed away. It left a sour taste in her mouth and she sighed moving back upstairs to wallow. It left a painful feeling in her chest every time she thought about her.

It had been an interesting week previously and she was really beginning to enjoy her extra lessons. Tyler was a mystery she wanted to unravel and every time he closed up she somehow managed to open him up. It was interesting to see what she could wield out of him and her little “crush” for him was growing bigger and bigger by the day.

***

The next day was of course Monday and the alarm clock was the worst creation in the world. She gritted her teeth smacking it to the floor and groaning as she buried her head under the pillow.

“I’m not buying you a new one, get up!” Her dad said, knocking on her door and heading downstairs. She lifted her head from underneath, glaring at the closed door before pulling herself out of the warmth of her bed with a whimper.

The sky was overcast and it made her miserable as pulled on her jeans and a jumper. It had Mickey Mouse on the front and it made her smile before it faded and coffee was the only important thing in her life.

Her dad handed her a cup as soon as she walked in and sat down with a heavy sigh.

“I hate school,” she mumbled.

“Yup,” he said with a nod. “That is said by every teenager all over the world but your education is important.”

“I don’t need to know about chemistry, I don’t need to know about algebra. You tell me when I’m going to use an x and y in my life, please? It sucks.” she said and smirked when he rolled his eyes, turning away from her.

“I’ll tell you in ten years,” he said with a nod. “Now hurry up, drink your coffee, and over you go to learn about x and y.”

She glared at him till he walked away looking overly amused for the morning. Her sigh left her lips and she took her coffee with her as she walked upstairs to finish getting ready. Her hair was scraped back and she looked at her appearance before shrugging and heading out.

***

The car journey with Noah was tiresome when he talked all about his girlfriend and about them sneaking out together to watch the stars. She imagined killing him in three different scenarios and each time was satisfying. Her mood picked up though when he ran away like a puppy to find her and Adam appeared slinging his arm over her shoulder.

“You look sad and you’re wearing a red jumper with Mickey Mouse on,” he commented, giving her an amused look.

“It makes me happy in these sad times,” she said with a smile and a nod. “By sad times I do mean winter coming in and ruining everything. I miss summer.”

“I thought you liked Christmas?”

“I do! I just like being warm,” she murmured and jumped when the bell went. “Oh yay! I have English Literature.”

“Do not deny that you love staring at Danson all time,” he said, pushing at her head gently.

She grinned batting at his hand and shrugged walking in the direction. “Cute face, cute ass, what’s not to like?”

“Goodbye, Liv,” he said loudly, going in the opposite direction.

She chuckled and headed into the classroom to see him leaning against the desk waiting for the class. Her lips twitched into a smile when his eyes tailed her till she sat down and she blinked innocently when his eyes narrowed. The butterflies in her stomach wouldn’t stop and she fiddled with her pen nervously. The lesson was underway and she had no idea why she was so nervous. It wasn’t like anything was happening or going on but the butterfly feeling wouldn’t fade.

It was after the full hour that she lingered behind packing things up slowly that Tyler appeared in front of her.

“I don’t like it.”

“What?” she questioned, confused, and stood still stunned when he pulled the band holding her up. Her hair tumbled down all curls and waves and Tyler seemed satisfied.

“You should always wear your hair down,” he said, handing it back to her. “Have you got the new essay?”

“I haven’t...I haven’t started it yet,” she said, clearing her throat and slinging her bag over her shoulder. “I was hoping for some help this Wednesday.”

“I can’t do Wednesday, I have business elsewhere and I can’t do Thursday because I have plans with friends. How about Friday? Unless you’re busy and we can just do it next week.” he said sitting down at his desk.

She bit her lip contemplating it and nodded. “Friday sounds good.”

“You have no plans?”

“Nope,” she said with a small smile and went to head out when he called her name.

“Nice jumper, by the way,” he commented with a smirk when she blushed and walked out of the room. Her hand tugged at the end of her hair and she hurried to chemistry still feeling jittery and confused.

***

“Your hair was up before,” Noah noticed at lunchtime as he slid onto the chair.

“Yeah… Apparently, I should wear it down all the time,” she murmured thoughtfully looking up at him and he blinked back at her confused. She was quiet throughout lunch and Samantha frowned, taking her hand and dragging her with her as they went to the toilet.

“Spill.”

“What?”

“Don’t give me that, you’re quiet, you are never quiet. You always have something to talk about and you’re quiet so that says something is up,” she said, folding her arms over her chest and nodded at her.

“I’m just quiet! You know Monday blues and all that jazz,” she said slowly tugging at her sleeve. “Am I not allowed to be quiet?”

“You’re not quiet, I mean even Adam noticed and questioned it.”

“I’m fine, I promise,” she said with a small smile even though she knew it didn’t reach her eyes. Samantha frowned, not convinced but let it go with a shrug of her shoulders and they walked out together. It wasn’t like she was hiding anything really.

There was nothing to hide but Tyler’s actions had left her confused and questioning.

The rest of the day was like that as she stayed quiet and worked hard in her lessons instead of speaking and raising a point. The drive home was diverted as she headed over to Noah’s instead.

“You’re acting weird today,” he said as they dropped on the bed together and stared up at the ceiling.

“How did you know you liked Angela? I mean what was it that made your head spin and your heart stop so to speak?”

“I- I don’t know, I guess when I first met her. I mean she’s different, you know? I liked that and she’s also beautiful, smart, funny, and I just felt it. It’s like there are quick heartbeats and butterflies in your stomach… that kind of thing. Is there a reason you’re asking this? Do you like someone?” he said, turning on his side to look at her.

“I’m not sure, I mean I do, and then... I don’t and then I realize I’m an i***t. This… person, I know nothing can happen, I know it would be wrong of me to do that, but then a part of me says f**k it and you only live once. I think I like him more than I should and he’s confusing me—” she rambled and sighed deeply, closing her eyes. “It’s the look in his eyes or something he’ll do that will make me flip out internally and I can’t… no, I don’t know what to say or think around him.”

“Is it someone I know?”

“No,” she lied, tapping her fingers on her stomach and opening her eyes. “I just needed to know from an expert. She’s all you think and breathe about. It’s actually sickening. I hate you for it because you’re happy, insanely happy, and you suck. Now fancy a game or two?”

“Hell yeah!”