Forever and Always, Olive

Chapter 16: Vomit All Over Me

Chapter 16

Calling the past week "uncomfortable" is an understatement. Though Maddox seems to have forgotten about what one would call "a moment" at the cliff the other day, I did not. My mind is racing whenever I see him. I'm now oddly aware of his attractiveness and I've discovered a few new talents. Stuttering is one of them. It only happens when I'm around Maddox. No one at the table says anything about it but they all took notice of my new found impediment. Another talent I've unmasked is the ability to avoid people at all costs. I've let Maddox know that I no longer need rides before and after school via text message and I don't speak to him unless I absolutely had to.

All of this awkwardness and discomfort is happening because of one thing: a realization I made on Sunday. Though I promised to leave the happenings of Saturday in Saturday, I woke up on Sunday morning with fleeting thoughts of Maddox. And once I sat down for breakfast, those thoughts hit me like an earthquake. I realized that I might have a crush on Maddox.

A crush would explain the urge to hug him and talk to him all of the time, plus the pain I feel whenever he says something that could be seen as an insult, even if he's joking, which is hard to tell. It also explains why I blush all the time and feel the need to express to him that I do not like his brother. I mean, with our friends, I honestly don't care what they think, but I always need to let Maddox know that I have no feelings for Abel.

After much research, I've understood that the first step to getting over a crush is admittance. I'm skipping the second step, which is where you tell your crush that you like them. The third one is accepting the fact that they don't like you back. The next step is to put some distance between you and your crush, which will be hard because we have the same group of friends. And the last step is to stay over your crush, meaning no falling back into the pattern of gushing over them. I guess I'll have to start today.

"Are your friends coming?" my aunt asks me as she plops down on the couch beside me. I nod as I look at my book bag. They sure are, and Maddox will be here too. "How'd your date go, by the way? Was Maddox a gentleman?"

My neck snaps in her direction and I find that she has a grin on her face. "What?"

"Kyle Parker?" she corrects with a knowing smirk. "When you got in the car, I heard you say 'Step on the gas, Maddie' and I could only assume that this Maddie person was Maddox."

"You can't tell my dad," I beg her and she shakes her head.

"I didn't know you liked Maddox," she smiles as if entertained by my teenage drama.

"I don't," I assure her. Well, I do. But I'm not telling anyone. No one will know.

"Then why'd you go on a date with him?" she continues to hound me.

"Because his brother was supposed to go on a double date but the other couple cancelled. Maddox and I filled in. I told you this already," I reiterate, which gets a nod from her. "I lied a little bit. I just didn't want you to tell my dad about Maddox."

"You shouldn't have lied," she comments and I give her a slightly fearful look.

"Am I in trouble?" I ask after a few seconds of us just staring at each other.

She lets out a somewhat evil cackle, which gets a confused look from me. The doorbell rings and she stands up, most likely going to the kitchen to call the pizza and gather up some other snacks. "I think your friends are here."

I walk to the door and pull it open. Abel smiles when he sees me. "Olivia!" he greets with a hug. Maddox just slips past him and lets himself into the living room. I close the door once Abel releases me and motion for them to sit down on the couch. I make small conversation with Abel about Caroline until Winona and Cassidy arrive, followed by Nicholas and Jackson. My aunt comes in only moments later and drops down on the recliner.