Concealed in friendship

Introduction My name is Olivia, Olivia Knight but most people just call me Liv. I am currently a high school Senior at Hawks High...well for the next two months at least. At the moment I am ankles deep in garbage, not literal garbage but rather all the mushy, gushy momentos from my past five years of high school. Things like photos from my first valentine's day, a card and deflated balloon from my birthday three years ago, a rock from my 10th grade survival camp, a chocolate wrapper and even a Hawks hockey jersey. So not all of it is quite literally trash, but some of it does qualify. Actually coming to the part of throwing it away is something I have not been able to do...so here I sit for the past four hours now getting lost in memories of the past. Memories that might quite easily get lost in life without the momentos to remind one thereof. Yeah, yeah sentimental bulls**t I know, but I cannot help it you see it is not about the materialistic things before me but rather the person they came from. That person happens to be my very best friend Alexavier Reid who has been my partner in crime since the fourth grade. Alexavier is the spontaneous, bubbly person out of the pair of us where I am a bit more reserved and quiet around people that are not family and friends. That’s enough for today time to pick up all the things scattered around me. So once again no progress made today at least I still have more than a month before the moving trucks arrive. On my way to the kitchen in search of some caffeine I passed by the living room and saw that Charlie had fallen asleep on the couch. Charlotte Knight, nickname Charlie was my younger sister by a full 5 years, one would not think we were sisters by our completely different looks. Charlie has shoulder length blonde hair, blueish – grey eyes a very petite frame and a smile that could totally light up any room that she walks into. She has an innocence to her that one just wanted to defend because the cruelties of this world had not gotten her down yet. She was sprawled out on the coach with cell phone in hand and a drool trail running from the corner of her mouth all the way down to her left ear. I walked over to her to cover her with a throw, but looking at her I could not pass up the opportunity to take a photo of her. No, it was not for blackmail or torment but rather because in about 2 months’ time I would be moving 1560 kilometres away to attend university which meant that I would be seeing her once every few months rather than once every few hours. 1560 kilometres meant 15 hours of continuous driving. Charlie and I were not always the best of friends but grew considerably closer once our parents got divorced and re married to our step parents. i threw the blanket over her and continued making my way to the kitchen. Waiting for the kettle to boil always seems to take forever, pulling out my phone I looked at the screen that read “13 new messages”. I never heard my phone go off once but proceeded to see who the messages were from. Alex 07:03 Morning, what’s the poa today 07:15 Hello? 07:16 Are you still asleep? 07:18 Lazy… 07:20 ZZZ (sleep emoticon) 08:30 How are you still asleep? I swear you could put a sloth to shame. 08:40 Get up you will miss the game. 08:45 Are you coming to the game? 09:40 You missed the game. They lost 9 – 6. Played like it was their first time. A team my A** 11:00 ??? 12:00 You can’t still be asleep MOM 08:11 Remember to do the laundry in washroom please. 08:20 Make sure your sister does not spend all day in front of the TV, exams start on Monday 08:40 We will be home around 3. Please take out the patties to defrost for dinner First I decided to answer mom Me 13:02 Yes mom laundry has been done and on the line to dry. Will do. Chicken or beef? Text messages with mom were always short and to the point seeing as we had a bit of a strained relationship growing up. Then I decided to answer Alex. Me 13:05 Hey :) Got distracted with packing and did not realise phone was on silent. For your information I could win medals with my ability to sleep like the dead, any sloth should be jealous of my sleeping abilities it takes years of practice. What game? Your game is next Saturday. Well if it was that bad then I did not miss much, glad I did not get dressed up for nothing. Once the kettle had boiled I made my fix of caffeine and moved to the kitchen table to enjoy some caffeine kick with my peace and quiet. My cell phone screen flashed with a new message from Alex asking if I was home. Before I could answer I head Missy (my mom’s English bulldog) bark at the gate. The gate opened and a car pulled in who’s occupant was obviously hearing impaired judging on the volume of the song wasted by Tiesto ft. Matthew Koma playing on the radio. I already knew who it was so made my way to the front door. Obviously opening the door to quickly seeing as Austin was mid knock judging by his fist in the air. In front of me stood Mr. Alexavier Reid, he was almost 6.3 feet with a muscular build not too over the top, his ash blonde hair was due for a haircut and hazel eyes that changed to a amber tint depending on his mood. His jawline was defined with just a hint of 5’0 clock shadow. All these features definitely overshadowed with his lopsided goofy smile that he always seemed to have spread across his face. Today he was dressed in a white Levis shirt, some white washed jeans, white sneakers and of course his tan leather jacket – it was worn but it was his favourite. Alex POV Before I was able to knock Liv had opened the door, “Seriously” I gave her a questioning look, with a raised eyebrow and one of my best smiles. She just shook her head at me turning and heading towards the kitchen. I step inside closing the front door behind me. Liv called, “Don’t start. Coffee?” over her shoulder. Stupid question I muttered under my breath while rolling my eyes at her, not expecting her to be looking at me. With crossed arms I knew that if I wanted coffee I would be making my own. I moved over to the kettle to make myself a cup of Jo and joined Liv at the kitchen table. Shaking my head at her as I sat down, she lifted her left eyebrow questioning what I was shaking my head at. “Are you seriously still in your pyjama’s?” asking as I sat back in my chair. Looking at this person in front of me with messy hair ball concoction on top of her head, black top with pink flannel pants and fluffy eared bunny slippers I bought her for her birthday in August. “If you must know, I was packing and last I checked you weren’t the PJ police” crossing her arms looking me up and down. “Okay, Okay looks like someone woke up feisty”, I put up my hands in a defensive manner. I took a sip of my coffee, smiled and proceeded to say, “Not yet, but once we are officially roommates there will be a strict no pyjama policy from 9am to 6pm”. She laughed so hard that she snorted, “And who made you supreme ruler of all apartments? You can take your rule and stick it. I will dress how I please, when I please and don’t need no man dictating rules to me about my body and its coverings”. I lifted my hands in surrender palms facing liv and pulled my shoulders back before I answered, “Okay, can we compromise? No pyjamas when we have or are expecting company?”. She seemed to think it over for a few minutes before answering “Fine on 2 conditions. First being that you need to inform me in a timely manner if you are expecting someone and Secondly you will never mention my pyjamas again”. I nodded my head in agreement and asked if she would like another cup of coffee as well as if she had started studying for Mondays English exam. “I skimmed through it, but it’s just Paper 1 pure language so mostly common sense” she answered without looking up, it seemed she was typing something on her phone. Things went quiet and I could hear the television in the other room, “What are you watching? Thought you were packing” I asked. “I was packing; Charlie was watching some yeti snowman movie but fell asleep midway” was her reply. I gave her a raised eyebrow look and without missing a beat “Is that all you Knight’s do? Sleep?” I turned and headed towards the living room before Liv could reply. Upon entering the living room, I could see Charlie in the fetal position on the couch, movie still playing on the screen, blanket in disarray and her cell phone on the floor. Walking over I picked it up and pretended to be on a call,” Yeah bud, I don’t know what to tell you, she’s asleep and you will have to call back later. Luke I know man just thought you should know she loves…” and that’s when I heard the most ear piercing scream “ALEX!” before I could react the phone was snatched out of my hand and Charlie proceeded to press it against her ear and speak “Hey Luke, Luke?” a puzzling expression making its way to her face. Looking down at the screen she realised there was no call, in fact her phoned battery was drained. She proceeded to roll her eyes and made some vail threats, “Honestly if you were not Luke’s brother” I cut her off “ You’d what pipsqueak? You’d have me all to yourself?”. She put her finger to her mouth and made a gagging noise “Focus on your own love life lover boy”, as she made her way down the hall most probably to go put her phone on charge. “yeah, yeah Char love you to” I called after her. I sat down on the couch thinking to myself young love, those two definitely had it bad for one another and would most definitely not remain just friends for very long. Liv Alex offered to make us another cup of coffee and I would most definitely not refuse. It was most definitely always better than me like liquid caffeine from the Gods, but I would never tell him this, the man most definitely did not need another ego boost. As he stood up from the table my phone buzzed with a new text message from Rachel. Rachel: Hey, missed U at the game. Hope UR Ok?” Alex asked me about studying for the English exam and I answered, “I skimmed it, English paper 1 is easy. No literature means no minor details to remember so it’s basically just common knowledge and basic language rules” while replying to Rachel’s message: Me Hey Rache, I am fine thanks. Did not know the game was today, had a lot to do, but at least Alex came to watch :) sorry to hear about the loss, sure you guys played your hearts out. One more game before year end sure you guys will make it one to remember. Alex started talking about the television and I told him Charlie was watching some Yeti snowman movie but passed out about half way through it. He made a comment about how all my family does is sleep earning him and eye roll before he headed in the direction of the living room. Looking back down at my phone I saw that Rachel had replied Rachel: Glad U R Ok. Yeah was surprised he showed up to the game, guess he wanted 2 cheer us on like the cheer squad cheers them on at their games. We will kick a** next time seeing as we have our very own cheerleader now. I did not reply to her message just sat there thinking to myself how their “cheerleader” had made a comment about their awful playing abilities. I am sure he will love being referred to as a cheerleader. Smiling to myself recalling Alex’s exact words I got up to go see what he was busy with. Seated on the couch watching Charlotte’s movie, not a care in the world. If I did not know this man was about to turn 18 I would have thought, he was 13 with his absolute infatuation with anything animation or Disney. I stood in the doorway with arms crossed watching him, he seemed to notice my presence due to the fact of him asking me why we have yet to watch this movie called Abominable Snowman. “We have! You just fell asleep midway through it. Pot calling the kettle black much Mr Sandman. Thought you were making coffee? I replied. “Coming, we need to watch this movie. Seems really good.” He said switching off the television and heading towards the kitchen. I followed close behind replying that I had already watched and it was a really good movie. “So why weren’t you at the game?” he asked and my reply was simply, “I was not told about it or invited to it, you know how it is. More often than none my invite gets lost in the mail. “yeah seems that way, but you are coming to next week’s game right?” he asked c*****g his head. I smiled “Miss my chance to see the Titans crush you guys in the last game you will ever play as a Hawk, with no redemption game. Most definitely not”. He gave me a knowing look scrunched his face a bit and sarcastically laughed before his reply “Yeah they wish. Since when are you a traitor? Drop us on the last game my poor heart cannot take the betrayal” clutching his chest. Earning him a sarcastic pat on his back as if comforting him in his pain. “Anyway the game starts at 8 and will be on home grounds. Want me to pick you up or meet you there?” shocked by what he just said my first reaction was mouth dropped and wide eyed, “8 am! Oh the sloths will win this round but I will redeem myself. But still it’s early for a Saturday morning so I will most definitely be needed some liquid caffeine bribery, a minimum of 2 Mister and something to munch on. Think I’ll meet you there” I chuckled and held up 2 fingers with a serious face, one does not joke about coffee. He laughed nodding his head at me and handing me a cup of coffee freshly made before uttering, “Sloth!”. Mom texted back asking that I take out both chicken and beef patties seeing as Charlotte had asked if she could invite Luke over which meant that Alex was most probably also joining us for dinner. Alex I got a message from Luke asking if I could pick him up at 3 because he was having dinner at the Knight’s house. I chuckled asking Liv what was on the menu to which she replied burgers and I could not help myself’ “Which Chef is on duty? You know I have specific preferences and dietary requirements”. She said not to worry because I would be her Sous chef so would be assisting in the preparation of tonight’s meal thus I could see to my specific dietary needs until my heart’s content. We laughed and then sat in silence before I spoke up, “Can you believe the big one eight next week? Mom gave the invite to your mom and yours is in my car. Keep forgetting to give it to you. Not that I don’t want you there it’s just your mom said you will be there so I assumed that would include you. You could even plus one and tag Rowan along”. She looked me in the eyes and my heart felt a ping I could not describe even if I wanted to,” Yeah sure I’ll be there. I will ask Rowan if he would like to join, but I doubt it because I know you guys don’t like each other very much and aren’t very good actors concerning the issue. I heard there is a Vegas dress code. Vegas formal or Vegas nightclub?” she asked. Knowing that it was not a favourite of hers I needed to assure her” It is a Vegas/casino theme. Moms pick. So there will be a few tables and slots along with the open bar and an overall good night I promise you will enjoy it. There is ample space for people to crash if they drink.it starts at 5 and will end when the last person goes to sleep. It’s not that I don’t like Rowan, it is just that I don’t like the way he talks and treats people including you” I said dropping my shoulders and pulling my fingers through my hair. “Thanks Alex, but I am a big girl I can fight my own battles” she said while giving me a hug. In instant uplift to my mood grabbing my keys with a smile on my face saying that I was off to fetch Luke. Liv scribbled something on a piece of paper and asked if I could get a couple of things on the way. Reassuring I would I left and decided I would stop at the grocery store on my way back to Liv’s house. Liv started the prep for the burgers as Alex left with music blaring out the car this time it was Look what God gave her by Thomas Rhett. Lost in a world of thought she decided that she would finish his birthday shopping in the morning. Alex was a simple person happy with anything you would give him, but over the years buying any sort of gift for him proved difficult seeing as she wanted the gift to show hoe much he meant to her. And now she would also have to find a dress or outfit for the party, I am sure I lot of people will associate Vegas with glitz, glam and slu**y drunks. Speaking of maybe she should ask Rachel to borrow a dress seeing as it was definitely in her wardrobe rather than Livs. Smiling she continued to work in silence.