{17}

: (Olivia's POV) "I'll come get you at 7?" he asked, both of us standing at my porch. "Yeah, 7 sounds good," I nodded in response. "I'll uh, see you then," he said, glancing at his house. He already parked his car in his driveway and then we both walked over to my house, so he started retreating his steps and headed down my driveway. I turned around to open my door but he called out my name. "What color dress are you wearing?" he asked. I smiled before turning to face him. "Purple. Or do you not have a tie in that color?" I asked knowingly. He smiled, looking down at his feet. "I don't have a purple tie," he chuckled, shaking his head. I nodded in response, thinking of a color I would have some options in. "Light blue. Does that work for you?" I asked, helplessly smiling. He nodded, "Yeah, that works. I'll see you later, Olivia." "Bye!" I called out. "Bye!" he chuckled, walking to his house and I opened the door to mind and headed inside, locking the door behind me. I headed to the kitchen to grab a snack for myself and while I was washing my hands, I saw him enter his kitchen too. I smiled to myself before shaking my head, laughing. "Shit," I chuckled. I turned the water off before grabbing a rag and drying my hands off. "God damn it," I mumbled, glancing up at him. He was making what looked like pasta. We've got two hours, I don't blame him for making pasta. I kind of want pasta myself right now. "I thought I'd never come to like you, Ethan Miles Archer. And now that I do, I am royally fucked," I sighed to myself while opening the fridge. "Because you're already my so-called boyfriend. Now, what the fuck are you gonna do, Olive?" I asked myself. I groaned, running my hand through my hair, "Olive, Olive, Olive! I've been calling myself Olive for god knows how long now just because he does. God! Get it together, Olivia. I can't like you, Ethan. I can't," I mumbled under my breath, closing the fridge, grabbing a box of berries, and heading to the sink to wash them. He was cooking happily, zoned in. "Well then, shit Olivia. You already do," I said, staring at him. The water started overflowing from the box and I snapped out of it, looking down at the sink and turning the water off. I threw the water out, grabbed a bowl, and poured some berries out. I huffed, shaking my head, and clicking my tongue in frustration, drying my hands again. I closed the box of berries and turned to put them back in the fridge when I noticed Ethan watching. I willed myself not to smile and raised my eyebrows at him, sending him a nod. He shook his head with a small smile. I laughed before turning around and heading up to my room. I flicked the lights on and opened the window to let some air through before sitting on my bed. I heard a loud crash and jumped, looking out the window where Ethan came rushing in. He unlocked his window, his bottom lip caught between his teeth. I walked over and looked at him, "What?" I asked. "Get back down there, we were having a moment," he huffed. I rolled my eyes, grinning, "I have to find the dress I'm thinking of," I chuckled. "I left my pasta on the stove for you," he said, shooting me a glare. "Okay," I put my hands up in surrender, "Okay." I closed the window as he closed his and went back downstairs, sitting on the barstool, pulling it to the sink. He stood there cooking, I sat there eating berries and staring at him. I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and texted him. I'm getting bored, can I go shower? He pulled his phone out, jumping lightly when it buzzed, and replied with: No. That's all I got. A single 'no.' I rolled my eyes, sending him: I'm leaving. He said: I'll break into your room. I huffed, looking up at him but he was already looking, smirking at me. I sent: Then entertain me. He looked at me with a blank face after reading my text. I shrugged at him. I grabbed my phone and put some music on before washing the bowl and putting it back in the cupboard. I looked up at him, waving wildly to get his attention and when he looked my way, I waved him bye. He grabbed his phone quickly and called me. "You're boring me to death, as pretty as you are, I can't just sit there watching you," I explained, answering his call. "Thanks for calling me pretty, but I don't know how to entertain people," he said. "Then goodbye," I sang. "What do you want me to do?" he asked, glancing up at me. "Dance," I shrugged. "I don't dance," he retorted. "Then goodbye, my lover," I chuckled. "I… hold on, I'm getting a call," he said before the call went on hold and he disappeared. I sat back down, tapping my nails against the counter. His voice came through the phone again, "Yeah," he said. "Where are you?" I asked, looking at the window. "Missing me already?" he laughed, coming back. He put the phone on speaker and got back to cooking. "Ethan, you're boring me, I'm gonna go take a shower, okay?" I said, standing up to leave. "I'll get bored by myself," he groaned. "You'll survive," I scoffed. "I can't do anything to entertain you, Olive," he laughed. "Then stand and look pretty, I'm heading off," I said, dragging the barstool back to its place. "Traitor," he scoffed. "See you later, boyfriend," I laughed before hanging up. He looked up at me, pouting. I blew him a kiss before going upstairs. I went to take a shower, deciding to find the dress when I came back out. I cleared my throat while running my fingers through my freshly straightened hair and adjusted the straps of the dress. "Oi, oi, oi, don't fall off, honey," I mumbled, tightening the straps around my shoulders. "There we go," I said, dusting the dress and straightening it. I then got to my hair, grabbing two pieces and pinning them at the back, pulling thin strands to frame my face before I grabbed my favorite perfume and misted it all over myself. I grabbed my heels and turned to sit at my desk chair. When I started walking there, I saw Ethan in his room, standing in front of his mirror, only wearing his trousers, his shirt lying on his bed on a hanger. "You're not making this any easier," I mumbled to myself, sitting in the chair and pulling my heels on, resisting the urge to look at him. He walked over to the desk, noticing me while grabbing his towel that he tossed on the chair. "Hey," he grinned while ruffling the towel on his head. "Hi," I sent him a small smile, strapping up the heels. "Stand up," he demanded. I looked at him in confusion but listened nonetheless and stood up. "Spin," he said, holding up one finger and moving it in a spinning motion. I did a spin, showing him the dress, all 360 degrees. He leaned forward, his hands on the desk while his eyes scanned me up and down. "I think I'll fall in love with you tonight," he chuckled. "Then I'll hope you do," I grinned, "Put a shirt on, it's almost 7 o'clock," I said grabbing a clutch and putting my phone into it with a pack of gum. "I'll be right there," he smirked before taking his shirt and throwing it on, leaving the first two buttons open. He grabbed his coat and tie, huffing at it. "You don't know how to tie a tie?" I laughed. "Nope," he shook his head. "Then who ties it for you?" I asked. "My mom," he said, turning to me. "Now my girlfriend will," he smirked. "Don't jump through, you'll ruin your-" "Move." I huffed, taking numerous steps back and making room for him, moving the chair and my laptop which was on the desk. He climbed through and jumped over my desk, standing in front of me. "Hi," he smirked, raising his eyebrows at me. "Do that again and you'll ruin your clothes, don't wrinkle them," I shook my head, taking the tie from his hands. "There's no other way," he shrugged. "It's called a door," I scoffed, sticking up his collar and looping the tie around before fixing the collar and beginning to tie the tie. "You gotta get lower, you're too tall," I huffed, dropping my arms. "You're too short," he retorted. "You're 6'4." "You're 5'4, Oliver," he deadpanned. "Get lower," I demanded. He clicked his tongue, sitting on the edge of my bed. I tied his tie for him, feeling his eyes on me the whole time. "Don't stare, it's creepy," I said, avoiding his eyes while adjusting the tie. "I'm trying," he mumbled. "All done," I cleared my throat, turning around to avoid him but he grabbed my wrist and yanked me back. "Your zipper is still open." That's right, you just couldn't reach it, could you? Serves you right. Fuck off. . . . . . Chapter 17