Chapter 5 Crossroads

The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow over Olivia's bedroom. Stretching her limbs under the covers, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her long, curly ginger hair fell in a cascade of fiery waves down her back, giving her an ethereal appearance. "I need to call Em and apologize for my behavior yesterday," she murmured, running her fingers through her unruly curls. Emily was supposed to stay with her until the day of their trip, but Olivia was sure Emily didn't stay last night because of how she reacted.

"Olivia, dear, breakfast is ready!" called her grandmother downstairs. Her voice was comforting, like a warm blanket on a cold winter's night.

"Coming, Grams!" Olivia replied, hastily throwing on a sundress and bounding down the stairs. The kitchen smelled of freshly brewed coffee and homemade blueberry muffins, the sweet aroma wrapping around Olivia like a loving embrace. Sitting at the table, she said, "Thanks for making my favorite, Grams," flashing a grateful smile before diving into her food, which included turkey bacon, eggs, waffles, and blueberry muffins on the side.

"Anything for you, my dear," her grandmother replied warmly, her eyes twinkling with affection. "I wonder what Emily is up to today," Olivia mused.

"Ah, that girl," Olivia's grandmother chuckled. "You two are inseparable, aren't you? She'll call you soon enough."

"Maybe," Olivia agreed, finishing her breakfast and rising and kissing her grandmother on her cheeks.

Olivia walked out of her front door, her hand fumbling for her keys to lock the door behind her. The sun was out, casting a warm golden glow on her as she took a deep breath. She could smell the freshly cut grass and blooming flowers, and birds chirping filled the air.

As she turned to head down the path toward the street, she heard a familiar voice calling out her name. Emily was jogging toward her, her brunette hair bouncing with each stride. Emily's bright smile shone like a beacon, beckoning Olivia to share in her infectious energy.

"Hey, Em!" Olivia replied, flashing a wide grin as she greeted her friend. "What brings you here so early?"

"Can't I visit my best friend without an ulterior motive?" Emily teased, looping her arm through Olivia's. "Besides, we really need to talk about what happened yesterday."

Olivia sighed and looked down at her feet. "Em, I'm so sorry about how I reacted yesterday. That wasn't right, and I didn't mean to say those things to you. Are you mad? Because you were supposed to stay with me until the trip," Olivia said, her voice trembling with remorse.

Emily smiled warmly and shook her head. "You did great. I don't know how I would have reacted if someone put me in a situation I was scared of. I understand how you felt and figured you needed some time."

They embraced in a comforting hug, and Emily looked at Olivia with a raised eyebrow. "Would you like to come to my house instead? We have someone to take us to the airport."

"Sounds perfect," Olivia responded, her initial concern dissipating as she finally agreed to Emily's offer, her spirits lifting even higher.

"Did I tell you about my job interview when we returned?" Olivia asked, bringing Emily's attention back to the present.

"Really? That's fantastic, Liv! What's the position?" Emily inquired, her genuine interest shining through.

"Assistant manager at one of the Baker's stores down the street," Olivia replied, her eyes lighting up. "It's a big step, but I can do it."

"Of course you can," Emily encouraged, giving her friend's arm a gentle squeeze. "You're incredibly talented; any organization would be lucky to have you."

"Thanks, Em," Olivia murmured, touched by her friend's unwavering support. As they continued down the street, they stepped into the bustling café, arm in arm.

Olivia distractedly twirled a lock of her hair as she sat across from Emily at the quaint café in town. The aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans filled the air, mingling with the soft chatter of people enjoying their drinks. They had planned to meet for a casual catch-up session, but as always, Emily turned any outing into a grand adventure.

"Three more days, Liv! Three more days until we hit the charming streets of Italy," Emily exclaimed with boundless enthusiasm, her brown eyes gleaming excitedly. "You promised to go shopping with me!" Emily inquired.

Olivia smiled and sipped her velvety cappuccino. "Yes, we can go," she replied. Truthfully, she'd underestimated just how expensive this European trip would be. She tightened her grip on her cup, harboring financial concerns deep within. Their cheery conversation was abruptly interrupted when Kelvin pushed open the door to the café, scanning the room.

"Wait, isn't Kelvin's last name Baker?" Emily asked with a knowing look in her eyes.

"Yes, the family owns most of the grocery stores in town, and he works in one, too. I'm trying to get the position in another branch," Olivia replied.

Olivia had known Kelvin since their high school days, where lingering glances and awkward exchanges had hinted at his years-long crush on her. "Hey, Olivia. Emily," Kelvin acknowledged and offered them a sheepish smile, joining their table uninvited. Olivia couldn't help but discreetly roll her eyes at Emily, who pretended not to notice the flicker of annoyance in Olivia's expression.

"Kelvin, it's great to see you," Emily cheerfully greeted, always radiating warmth toward others. We were just talking about our trip to Italy. Would you like to join us for some shopping?"

Before Olivia could respond, Kelvin excitedly interjected, "Yeah, that sounds fun! Plus, I had to do something for you girls after what happened, Olivia. Let me treat you both to something for the trip."

Olivia's face reddened, hinting at her pride and financial strain. In a futile attempt to retain control over the situation, she quickly rejected Kelvin's kind offer, shaking her head emphatically.

"No, Kelvin, that's really kind of you, but I couldn't possibly accept it," Olivia muttered, nervously pushing her hair back effortlessly.

Kelvin frowned for a fleeting moment, but his eyes carried understanding. "Alright then, I respect your decision, Olivia," he said softly, refusing to let the awkward breeze seep in fully.

Emily sensed her friend's underlying unease and skillfully steered the conversation back to lighter topics, relieving the tension lingering like an unwelcome cloud. "So, are we ready to go?"

"Sure," Olivia said, locking eyes with Emily. They left the café, and Kelvin stopped momentarily. You know what, you girls? Go ahead. Maybe we can catch up later and hang out at the bar?" Kelvin asked, and before Olivia could answer again, Emily did. That sounds like fun. I'm in." Olivia sighed and nodded.

Olivia and Emily walked through the shiny boutiques and glimmering displays, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the mall. Olivia was thoughtful, looking at the various items on display, but she ultimately walked out of the store empty-handed. She realized she could use what she had at home for the trip and couldn't afford anything in the mall. Even if she could, she didn't want to buy something unnecessarily.

On the other hand, Emily was more enthusiastic and interested, inspecting every item that caught her eye. She bought several shoes and bought dresses.

As they sauntered from store to store, they examined the practical necessities, comparing the items and brands as they debated which products to buy.

After spending almost a day shopping, Olivia and Emily decided to head back to Olivia's house to collect her belongings before moving in with Emily a few days before their trip. Upon arriving at Olivia's house, she quickly packed her bag, including everything she would need for the trip.

As she was packing, Olivia hugged her grandmother and reassured her that she would be back soon. "Don't worry, Grams," she said, "I will call you daily to check-in. Just make sure you take excellent care of yourself." Her grandmother, Elizabeth, smiled and hugged her, saying, "Oh my sweet, you have a safe trip and stay out of trouble."

Emily, standing nearby, couldn't help but smile at Olivia's exchange with her grandmother. Elizabeth gave her a knowing look and said, "Make sure you take good care of her, Emily." Olivia and Emily giggled, and Emily replied, "Don't worry; I will take good care of her."

As Olivia's departure approached, she meticulously packed her bag, ensuring she had everything she needed for the trip. She shared a heartwarming moment with her grandmother, promising to call her when she reached their destination. Exiting the house, Olivia settled into Emily's car, ready for the journey ahead.

Catching her friend off guard, Olivia quizzically asked, "If you weren't upset, why didn't you take your own car last night?" Emily responded with a shrug, eventually admitting, "Okay, maybe I was a little disappointed. I wanted to have fun, and you sort of blew it," before starting the car and driving off. Despite feeling slighted, Olivia avoided conflict and let the matter rest.

Upon reaching Emily's place, Olivia took a refreshing shower and settled onto Emily's invitingly comfortable bed. As she attempted to unwind, she glanced at the clock and realized it was only 7:15 p.m., giving her plenty of time to relax and make the most of her evening.m.

However, her peaceful moment was short-lived as Emily walked into the room and reminded her that they were meeting Kelvin for drinks. Olivia groaned inwardly, feeling drained and not ready to go out. She suggested they skip the drinks and save energy for their trip.

On the other hand, Emily was quite excited about the evening plans and urged Olivia to get ready quickly. She promised it would be the last time they would go out, and Olivia reluctantly agreed, not wanting to spoil the fun. As Emily continued to chatter away, Olivia quickly dressed, hoping the night would turn out better than last night's.

Olivia was dressed to impress in a fashionable outfit that comprised a solid green crewneck maxi cardigan with a front pocket, a crop top button-sleeveless shirt with a strap tied around her waist, and ripped skinny stretch denim jeans that hugged all of her curves. She had also styled her hair in a lush and voluminous high ponytail that perfectly complemented her outfit. Olivia had decided to keep her makeup minimal, which was a wise choice as it made her natural beauty shine through. As for Emily, she looked equally stunning in her brown leather slit skirt and a long-sleeved bodysuit with a mock neck cutout front.

Once they left the house, Emily took the driver's seat and steered them towards the bar where Kelvin awaited their arrival. Upon entering, Kelvin enthusiastically caught sight of them and animatedly waved, exclaiming, "Over here, ladies!" After exchanging warm hugs, he guided them to a table nestled in the quiet rear section of the bar. The area exuded a serene atmosphere, with soft music weaving through the background and gentle lighting that enveloped the space in a cozy ambiance.

Kelvin thoughtfully pulled out chairs for Olivia and Emily before leaning close to Olivia and whispering, "You look gorgeous as always." Although Olivia felt her discomfort rise at the closeness, she couldn't help but blush in response and murmured a sincere "thank you."

Subsequently, Kelvin disclosed that he had invited Trevor to join them, expressing, "I hope you don't mind. He really wanted to apologize for what happened the other day," his eyes pleading as he rubbed the back of his neck while glancing at Olivia.

"That's alright, he already apologized," Olivia calmly responded.

In contrast, Emily held her feelings about Trevor's behavior and said, "That's fine. I have a thing or two I would like to say to that jackass."

Olivia smiled in agreement, while Kelvin looked slightly embarrassed and palmed his face with his hands.

After receiving their drinks, Trevor appeared with a bright and youthful smile. Kelvin offered him a firm handshake, and Trevor sat next to Emily, who whispered under her breath, "Great choice." Trevor was curious about what she had said, but Emily kicked him under the table before he could ask. Trevor groaned softly, and Olivia, who was drinking, sprayed her drink out, laughing as she knew exactly what had happened.

"Are you okay, man?" Kelvin asked Trevor, noticing his discomfort.

"Yes, I'm good," Trevor replied, grimacing in pain, "Hey Olivia, I'm genuinely sorry about the other day. I had no idea you couldn't swim. If I had known, I wouldn't have done that."

Trevor's heartfelt apology was quickly dismissed by Olivia. "It's okay. I told you it's fine, and I know you would have done that if you knew, so let's drop it."

Trevor felt grateful that Olivia had accepted his apology. Kelvin stood up from his seat and asked Olivia to dance. She was hesitant, but Emily interjected, "Go, Liv, get some practice in." Kelvin helped Olivia up, and they started slow dancing.

"Do you know how long I've liked you?" Kelvin's confession caught Olivia off guard. She had always suspected that he liked her, but she never thought he would say it out loud.

"I have no idea," Olivia replied, looking into Kelvin's blue eyes, surprised and blushing.

Kelvin laughed, "You're a terrible liar, Olivia. Your face is as red as a beet."

When Kelvin lowered his head, Olivia pulled her face away, looking nervous as though she was unprepared for a kiss. "I'm sorry, I'm not ready for this," Olivia said, her voice low.

"I want you to be my girl, Olivia, you and no one else, and I will wait for you no matter what happens, okay?" Kelvin said, leaning in close to Olivia. Her heart was racing, and she nodded in agreement. Kelvin then bent down to kiss Olivia gently on her cheek.

As they returned to their seats, Olivia complained about her hurting feet. Kelvin smiled and tenderly held her hand, guiding her back to her seat. Emily, who was fanning herself, mouthed, "That was hot" to Olivia. Olivia waved her off, and they resumed their evening. Suddenly, fast-paced music began playing, and Emily got up to dance. She swayed her hips and threw her hands to the beat while Kelvin and Olivia cheered and clapped their hands. Olivia felt like she was having fun and let herself go with the music.

Out of the blue, Trevor chimed in, "You guys look perfect together." Kelvin smiled at Olivia, and in a surprising turn of events, he said, "I know, that's why I will marry her." Olivia was taken aback by his words, but Kelvin quickly continued, "But only when she's ready." Trevor laughed, while Olivia was just speechless, staring at Kelvin with her mouth open.

"Aww, that's so sweet," Emily said, breaking the silence. Olivia checked the time and said, "It's getting late. We should get going. We have things to do tomorrow, right, Em?" She looked at Emily, hoping she agreed. Emily reluctantly agreed, and they said goodbye to Trevor while Kelvin walked them to their car.

Since Emily had been drinking, Olivia had to drive. While Emily was already in the car, Kelvin bent down and kissed Olivia softly on her lips. She allowed the kiss, feeling a rush of emotions, and when she felt like she was out of breath, she stepped back and quickly said goodnight before getting in the car. On the other hand, Kelvin was mesmerized and excited, feeling like he had made a bold move.