Growing Pains

Chapter 3

Olivia Mercer knew her friend wasn't feeling like she was on top of the world, the poor girl was tired. So, she did what she did best and closed Simone's computer, sliding it away from her grasp to make sure she couldn't open it again.

"Liv what the fuck, I have a progress assignment due in the morning." Simone reached towards Olivia to take back the computer.

"Not right now," Olivia shook her head and spoke softly. "We're gonna have some food, take a break and once your spirits are up you can get your computer back."

Simone stayed quiet; she didn't know how to react at this point.

"I don't think we can solve my mood in one night." She admitted. "It's like, I've never had to worry about you or August. Never felt like I was losing control with you guys. This isn't just about him being a little reserved." Olivia stayed quiet; Simone never offered her true feelings so willingly. She knew if she spoke her friend would shut down, throwing herself into school and work and isolate herself to paint.

"I know we're both individuals that are horrible at communicating and expressing what we really feel. I thought we were truly getting better at it, I mean in four days it will be our one-year anniversary and I've been so excited..." Simone stopped talking, a pensive expression overtook her face. She was trying to figure out how to say what she needed to say, her insecurities would now be something she had to face if she spoke them out, they would no longer be something she could ignore or push down. So, Simone took a deep breath.

"I was planning to try to do something special with him, but he doesn't even want me sexually at this point either. Like since when is a guy not horny? Never had I heard of a boyfriend not having his hands all over his girlfriend. Even I can't keep my hands off him and you know how I am about people touching me and being affectionate. Today is the first text I've gotten from him since before the party on Friday you know?" Simone shook her head, her hazel eyes purposely avoiding blue ones she loved so dearly.

"You know..." Olivia started, unsure of what to say but as she thought about it her confidence in what she was about to say strengthened. "The way I see it, you have a couple options. Now, I have never known you to be the type of girl who let people push her around. You've never been the type of girl to let a guy dictate your happiness either- "

"Its not about a guy making me happy." Simone shook her head. Things weren't that simple; they weren't that shallow to her. Even if it were, your boyfriend of one year ignoring you was still a valid reason to be upset for a bit. "Liv, did I tell you that my mom gave birth to me at seventeen." Olivia nodded, knowing that Simone's mom was a topic they never discussed. Everyone knew her maternal grandparents had raised her, but no one had the balls to ask why, never wanting to upset little Ms. sunshine. "Some mothers, it takes 6 to 8 weeks to recover after labor. My mother had a C-section and the moment her stitched healed..." Simone scoffed, "the moment she could walk around, she walked out the door with her bags packed. No one has a clue who my sperm donor was."

"Holy fuck" Olivia breathed out, she couldn't believe that this very major fact about her best friend, someone who was basically like a sister to her, was never known to her until now.

"It's not about just a boy... I wish it were, but it isn't. Someone who made me trust them, love them, someone I could be intimate with is pulling away and I feel like I can't do anything about losing one of my best friends either."

Simone had gone to therapy as a child with her Grandparents. As far as she knew, she always felt like everything was just out of reach. They had taken her after she'd thrown five too many tantrums when her grandparents dropped her off at school, being a child and thinking they wouldn't come back at the end of the day. It didn't help that she was shy to the point where walking into a new public place had her face a shade darker than a tomato. When she started begging them to stay at bedtime so the nightmares wouldn't start, it drew the final straw.

"I learned as a kid how to deal with my mom leaving. It wasn't a problem I was aware of until it became aware in therapy." She was suddenly nervous; she'd never felt this exposed. As Olivia sat across from her, listening intently and face expressing concern; Simone couldn't help but just let it all out. "So, August pulling away... all those insecurities just came back. I feel like I'm a little girl again and I feel like there is nothing I can do about it."

"There's definitely something we can do about it." Olivia spoke in a matter of fact type of tone. "You either put on your big girl pants and get this boy to sit down and have the conversation that you need, not the one you want but the truth. Or you walk away. Anything other than that right now I don't think will help you. You need to think of yourself Simone. For once, drop the act and be selfish."

"It's not that easy."

"Sure it is, if you think about how much he's pissed you off everything gets a whole lot easier." Olivia inspected her nails, uninterested in any reaction from her friend that wasn't in line with her thoughts now. "You said you'd both gotten better at communication, but I don't see it. Not in the way you're ignoring his text like he was ignoring yours. He's clearly not gonna grow some balls any time soon so you gotta do it for the both of you." Simone shrugged, knowing her best friend wasn't going to let her just sulk.

"So, what do I do?"

"You, my little glass of champagne, are going to get yourself dolled up for your one year, and we're all going to celebrate Halloween like college students. I know if you don't get any alcohol in you, you'll back away or let him walk all over you again. This weekend okay?"

"Okay..." Simone scratched the back of her neck nervously.

"Great, now let's have some dinner and a movie because tonight you're my date." Olivia kissed Simone's cheek before getting up to pull the brunette out of the room with her.

★♡★

Don't be shy, leave a comment... say hi, tell me what you like, what you don't like. where can I improve...

I've had Simone's story in my mind for a while, and I'm still trying to see where it gets her, until then I need help if where is now in her life is interesting or if there's anywhere that I need to elaborate on.