The Ties That Bind

V: Not so Normal

A/N: Sorry if anyone has waited a while for this chapter. Some people were saying that when I updated the "Part 1" thing that they got their hopes up that it was a new chapter. I've decided that I'm separating this story into 3 parts. I also put up a picture on how I kind of imagine Anthony looking.

I was really sad that I made the last chapter super short so I tried to make up for by making this chapter a lot longer, which is why it took longer. But it may just be like last time when got all hopeful and thought I was writing 7 pages but on Wattpad it only turned out to be 4 D':    I hope you like it! 

"So how did your little lunch date go?" As we walk out of the school building toward the parking lot, Olivia keeps her eyes on the ground. She's refused to look at me since our run in at lunch, though she doesn't refrain herself from speaking to me as venomously as possible.

I roll my eyes and groan inwardly. "It was not a date. I already explained to you that he was being friendly to the new girl and invited me to sit with them at lunch."

"A little too friendly if you ask me."

"Nobody did." She shoots me a dark look. "Besides, it's not like Richard just randomly searched me out; we had physics together this morning and that's where we met."

She grumbles something under her breath. "Yeah, you met all right."

My eyebrows knit together in confusion. "What does that even mean?"

Instead of an answer, she simply kicks a large pebble across the asphalt as we make our way up over the curb into the designated student parking lot.

"What'd you guys even talk about that was so important?" She asks finally.

I hoped that whatever brother-obsessed rant she went off of at lunch would fade by the end of the day. Apparently, though—much to my discontent—it has not, and instead, she's decided that it would be much more appropriate to hold a grudge against me for things that aren't even entirely my fault.

"It doesn't matter." This constant arguing with Olivia is really beginning to get old.

"Well, maybe not to you. But to a lot of people, it matters."

 "What do you care anyway?" I ask. "It's not like you even ever talk to them."

Immediately, I can tell by the look on her face that I struck a nerve; that I have gone too far.

"What do I care?" For the first time since lunch, she looks at me and I have to say that I like it better when she isn't. "Who do you think you are anyway? I've been here for years. Years I've been watching those boys hoping that would notice me. They didn't so much as glance my way. The one time was only to humiliate me in front of everyone." We have reached her car though neither of us makes a move to get in it. "Then you come along out of nowhere and make friends with them as if it's no big deal." She comes up in front of me. "Let me tell you that it is a big deal."

I don't know how to respond. Any possible fight left in me is dissolved, leaving me speechless.

"We're just friends," I say finally, hoping that this small reassurance might ease her mind. "Not even that really."

My words seem to have to opposite effect than what they were intended for. Her cheeks flare red and suddenly she yanks open the car door then slams it shut behind her after she is comfortably seated in the driver's seat. She cracks the window then tells me, "Get in."

I answer by doing as she says, not wanting to further the argument. In my mind I know she is overreacting and being ridiculous, but no part of me wants to anger her any more than she already is. The air in the car is cold, icy more like, which seems very fitting with the mood that Olivia is giving off. The seats are stiff and uncomfortable and my seatbelt seems to not fit quite right like it is too low on my shoulder. Everything about this situation is uncomfortable, but I know for the sake of myself and my new family I've come to live with that I might have to bear such situations for a while. It's far from pleasant, but I'll be here for the foreseeable future and so for that reason and that reason only, I remain quiet along with Olivia the rest of the ride home.