The Olive Theory

Chapter 6

MICHAEL

As I walked to lunch lost in thought, I couldn't help but feel a certain pull towards her. It was something inexplicable, yet undeniably real. Something in the way she laughed, or the way her hair fell in cascading waves around her face. I found myself unable to shake the thought of her from my mind as if she had taken up permanent residence there. Despite my best efforts to focus on other things, my thoughts kept drifting back to Amica, and I couldn't help but wonder what it all meant.

I hadn't intended to make her run out of the class in tears, honestly. All I wanted was for her to snap at me like that again, because holy shit was it fun getting a reaction out of her. But I probably should have thought it through before I annoyed her with my repetitive pen clicking since she had been on the verge of tears only ten minutes before that. People were already lined up with trays when I made my way into the cafeteria, to get their share of the special meal of the day, which was a 'mystery meat sandwich'. I groaned inwardly, feeling a knot of hunger in my stomach but not wanting to subject myself to that dismal lunch option. I heard a high-pitched squeal calling my name, and I turned to look at where Natalia was already sitting. I strolled over, my hands still deep into my pockets when I noticed a blonde kid sitting across from her. I sat down at the table beside the dude.

"Hey baby," she beamed.

"Hey," I replied. "Who's he?" I asked, gesturing to the blondie sitting beside me.

"This is Peter, the new guy." she smiled. I turned to face him, and he did the same.

"Peter Jones," he said in the most British accent possible as he held his hand out. "Pleasure meeting you." I gave him an awkward closed mouth smile as I shook his hand. He was dressed nicely, with a short-sleeved sweater over his long-sleeved shirt, and he looked like he just came from a coffee shop, or like, a library.

"Yeah, nice to meet you." my voice was monotone. I turned away, trying not to roll my eyes at this dude. I overheard a sweet-sounding voice that caught my ear, I glanced up to see Amica, chatting away with Vivian as they made their way to the table. She was smiling brightly, which made me sigh in relief. She appeared to be feeling better than she was earlier this morning. Her eyes perked up as she noticed my stare, she held eye contact for a second before her eyes fell on Peter, her face immediately going red. She and Vivian sat down with a small hey; Vivian sat beside Natalia, while Amica sat between me and Peter. "Hi, Peter." she squeaked, her back facing me.

"Oh, hello. It was... Amy, right?" he asked. She let out a nervous chuckle.

"Um, Amica."

"Amica, right." he nodded.

"You know him?" I butt in, leaning forward. Amica looked over at me.

"Uh, yeah, we met after I got kicked out of science," she said to me, glaring a bit. I just shrugged.

"Cool, I guess?" I replied as she scoffed, turning back to Peter.

I sucked in a breath. Her hair was close to my face as I rested my chin in the palm of my hand, my elbow perked up on the table. Her smell practically infested my nose, but honestly, I didn't mind that much; because she smelt nice - like the summer - if I had to describe it. It was like the smell of sunscreen and salt water, campfires by the beach. It felt like I was back at the summer house my family used to go to every summer before...

Before Olivia. My Livie.

I cleared my throat and turned away from Amica because her smell was practically shouting Livie's name in my face and right now was not the time to think about her. I turned to Natalia because her nonsense rambling was a good distraction.