Almost Everything

My phone rang. I pulled it from my pocket and to my surprise Olivia's name lit up against the screen. All these thoughts came rushing to my mind. I took a deep breathe and answered.

"Hello, Liv?" I said, my voice slightly shaky. I felt so nervous, my heart pounding against my chest.

"Hey. I just urmm.... Wanted to check that everything was okay with you?"

"Why so suddenly after nothing for the past 2 months?" I queried her.

"Well, urmm because if everything that's happened with Arielle. I just wanted to make sure you know?"

"No. I don't know Liv. I've had my heartbroken. By the pair of you. I wouldn't be in this situation if it wasn't for you, forcing me to go out with her. None of this would of happened."

"I know Alex. And I feel awful. But I just wanted to let you know. As of today in 3 weeks you will be free of her. You can call it all off with her. You will be free to do as you please. I've spoken to the record company, their pleased with all the new stuff you're producing. So as long as you keep it together they will not have a problem with you not being with Arielle. And if they start any shit, then I'll sort it. Okay?"

"Okay." There was a long silence for a while.

"Liv?"

"Mhmm."

"Are you okay? After every with Collin, I just wanna make sure. I know your tough but you're forgetting that I know you."

"Yeah, you know me." But it wasn't quite right. Her voice was caught in the back of her throat. Like she was forcing herself not to cry.

"Come over. I don't mind whether we talk for hours, get blind drunk, or sit in silence and look up at the stars. Sometimes, the world down here just gets a bit much, and I don't know about you but I need to loose myself in somebody's company for a little while. And I would much prefer to do that with you."

"I would like that."

"I'll see you soon then."

_/\_/\/\_

Olivia came over later and we spoke for hours. About everything and anything. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't missed this with every bone in my body. I miss her. Her eyes, her smile, her laugh.  We were on our third bottle of wine by now. One thing lead to another and the next thing I know I'm carrying her shitless to my bed. And that's when it hit me. In 3 weeks she will be all mine. And the whole world is gonna now about it.

_/\_/\/\_

She traced the outline of my tattoo on my forearm. I love  it when she lays with her head on my chest, resting over my heart so she can hear it beat, whilst tracing the faint lines of the Yorkshire rose. I will gently stroke her hair. Placing a small kiss from time to time on her head. Taking in the deep cent of her lavender shampoo. I imagine 20 years from now we will still do it. I could never imagine a life without doing this. It just seem so right. Like our bodies were made to be in this moment and do this.

"When I'm cold at night, I imagine how warm you would feel lying next to me. I imagine my blankets are your arms. But instead I'm alone with only these thoughts and that my dear is a fucking tragedy."  She whispered. Her warm breath against my torso. Making small goose bumps appear, faintly on my tanned skin from the L.A. sunshine.

"What does this mean Liv?" I asked. She stopped tracing my tattoo. She got up out of bed. Pulling on my white shirt. Begging to do the buttons up. My eyes glanced over her knuckles. They had healed now. All gone as if it never happened. She didn't say anything to me. She looked blankly at the plain white wall behind me. "Liv, what does this mean?" She simpler ignored me again, picking up a box of cigarettes and her lighter, making her way out to the balcony.