60 days of learning love ✔️

Part 19

Olivia POV

I made sure to take my time in the shower, and take my time on the toilet. I didn't really want to deal with Mia, but I knew that I kinda had to at some point. Unless she's already left.

I hope she has.

After I finished up, I put on some comfy clothes and made my way downstairs, turns out she hadn't left yet. In fact, she was laying down on my couch, scrolling through her phone with something waiting to be played on the TV. This is a situation I never thought I'd be in. Mia Miller, chilling in my house. I don't think I could ever like her name, it's a fucking alliteration! I don't know what my problem is with alliterated names, I just hate them.

"Did you actually get any food?" I asked her, I saw her flinch at the sound of my voice. She was probably so indulged in her phone that she didn't hear me come down the stairs. She did put down her phone before she started talking though, which was unexpected since she's hardly ever away from her phone.

"Um, no. I didn't want to walk around your home without permission. That may sound stupid, but it's just a rule I've made up in my head. I guess I feel like a burgler or something of I'm wandering around your home without you nearby" she laughed a little and offered me a smile.

I nodded my head at her before heading into the kitchen and pouring her a glass of coke and grabbing some popcorn. I didn't know if she liked sweet and salted, just salted, just sweet, toffee, caramel or whatever other popcorn flavour you can come up with. So I just went plain and simple with sweet and salted.

When I'd entered the living room again, Mia had moved to one side of the couch to make room for me, which I was grateful for. Not that I'd ever tell her that.

It was still weird having her in my house.

She gave me a soft 'thank you' as I passed her the drink and food. Turns out sweet and salted was the right choice. It was funny watching her stuff pieces of popcorn into her mouth.

"I didn't know what type of films you usually watch, so I just put on a film that I thought we'd both enjoy" she announced, pointing a finger at the TV screen. I didn't know what film she'd put on before because the TV hadn't been left alone long enough to show me, but now that the remote hadn't been touched in a few minutes, the title had popped up. She'd put on 'carrie'.

I smiled to myself as I read the title. I never thought I'd have anything close to an inside joke with Mia, but Carrie had become just that. An inside joke. It made my chest feel somewhat warm.

"Are you gonna press play or what?" I looked at her as she laughed at my tone of voice, then she pressed play.

We immediately focused on the film playing in front of us. Both of us trying to eat our popcorn as quietly as possible. I had even stood up at one point to turn of all the lights to add to the horror atmosphere, it was like my living room had become a cinema and I loved it. After the day I'd had so far, this was exactly what I needed.

We stayed mostly silent throughout the movie, only making quiet noises when we found something funny or scary. But when it came to the pigs blood scene, we gave each other a look and started bursting out with laughter. This was such a weird thing to do, but it felt so nice.

When the film ended, we started a different one. This one was harder to pick but we went with a Disney film in the end, to be more precise, we started watching 'Brother bear'. I hadn't seen this film in a long time so I was exited to watch it, and Mia seemed even more happy about it, a huge grin plastered on her face as soon as the opening scene started. But we were soon disturbed from our movie watching time when I heard a knock at the door. I knew that it couldn't have been my brother because he has a key, but it could be one of his boyfriends.

I unwilling stood up from the comfort of the sofa as Mia paused the film. She gave me a look as if asking me who was at the door, I just shrugged at her and made my way over. After watching a horror film, I was hesitant to open the door. But I knew I was just being stupid.

When I swung the door open, I was immediately snapped away from my hesitant state as I pulled the crying boy close to me. I didn't know why he was here, I didn't know why he was crying, I just knew I had to help him.

I lead him inside the house and received a worried look from Mia as her eyes grazed over the boy.

"Noah, what's wrong?" I asked, but instead of answering me, he just clung tighter. Like a sloth to a branch.

I rubbed his back in soothing motions as he soaked my comfy clothes with his tears. Mia walked over to us and placed a hand on his shoulder, I think she was also trying to comfort him but it just looked like an awkward exchange between strangers, which it practically was.

Noah let out more loud sobs, and I couldn't do anything but worry about him. Him crying isn't my fault, is it? Is this because I told him to stay away from Tyler? Fuck, did it hurt him that bad?

I took a glance at the boy, and my questions were answered when I saw a bruise forming on his left cheek. I felt relieved to know that he wasn't crying because of me, but because of whoever gave him that punch. Well, at least I hoped it was because of that.

"Should I grab him a glass of water?" Mia whispered from beside me. I nodded my head and whispered back to her asking her to grab some frozen peas as well. When she'd left for the kitchen, I sat Noah down on the chair.

"You wanna talk about it" I stared at his blotchy eyes and red face, worry piling up by the second. He shook his head and mumbled the biggest lie I'd ever heard him say, 'it's nothing'. I wanted to shout at him, but I knew this wasn't the right time.

A few seconds later, Mia came back with the water and peas, which I'd handed to Noah. He placed the peas on his cheek and offered me a week smile and a thank you. My heart ached to see him wear a real smile.

Me and Mia sat back down on the sofa as she unpaused the film. And even though I was so exited about watching this film again, all my attention was focused on Noah and whoever punched him. I have a feeling he won't tell me, but it's worth a shot. I'll ask him later though, when Mia has left and it's just me and him. He might be more honest with me then.

~~~

The film finished and it was still just as good as I remembered it to be. Noah had also calmed down, and Mia was still smiling. And of course, I was still worrying about Noah, but I knew I'd just have to be patient.

"I'll get going then, guys" Mia stated as she stood up and made her way to the door. I stood up after her an followed her. I have no idea why I followed her, I could have just said goodbye to her from the couch.

"Have you got everything?" I asked her as she put her shoes on.

"Yeah, should do. And for the record, I actually want to spend more time with you, but by the looks of things, he might need your company even more" she gestured towards Noah and I sighed. She was right.

"Thanks Miller. I actually enjoyed our time together too" I admitted, feeling a little stupid for actually letting her see some true emotion from me. She's only used to sarcasm.

"No need to thank me, I'm just being honest" she gave me a wink which I chuckled at. I rolled my eyes at her fake flirting, and then I smiled softly at her. Her gaze meeting my own.

We stayed like that, staring into each others eyes for a long second. I didn't know why, but I just couldn't pull away. She inched towards me a little, her eyes falling to my lips. But then she turned away, and looked over at Noah, who wasn't even paying attention to us.

"well, goodbye Olivia" she said, snapping her head back to me before opening the door and leaving quickly.

Wait, did she want to kiss me or something? And why did it seem so familiar yet so different? Did I forget something I shouldn't have?

I stayed standing at the door for a few more seconds before turning to face Noah again.

"Do you wanna stay over?" I asked.

"Yes please. I don't want to go home" He said. He looked so close to crying again. I moved closer to him and wrapped my arms around him once more, he seemed to shrink in my grasp, as if he was forcing himself to be as small as possible. It was cute, but it was also worrying.

I'll have to ask him soon, but for now, I'll let him calm down.