Rejection [A Bensler Fan Fic]

Eight

It was really weird for them to be hanging out together. They had been friends before they started to date, but then it was like they started dating and they were no longer friends. Elliot didn't try nearly as hard to make Olivia feel wanted or loved as he did when they were just friends.

"Alright, pizza and a grape soda." Elliot smiled as he sat down on his side of the booth. 

"Thanks." Olivia replied softly. She grabbed her soda and cracked it open before taking a sip from it. Elliot watched her, and it just made Olivia feel awkward.

"Can you not stare at me?" Olivia asked, and Elliot sighed and nodded.

"Yeah, sorry. I just can't believe we are actually hanging out. I never thought that we could be civil to each other." Elliot replied.

"We are trying to be friends. I don't know if it will last, but I guess we will see." Olivia spoke, and she completely shut down their conversation.

After eating, Elliot walked Olivia outside and back towards the park, where they both left their cars.

Elliot had to keep stopping himself from grabbing her hand and holding it, but he knew that he'd rather have Olivia in his life as a friend instead of never seeing her again. He would love to pull her close and kiss her, but he knew he'd get smacked and probably kicked in the balls. He didn't want that to be the last time they ever talked.

"This is me." Olivia spoke, as she pulled her keys from her pocket and unlocked her car.

"Oh, okay. Uh, drive safe." Elliot frowned as he looked over at Olivia.

"Elliot, I'm sorry if this isn't want you wanted... but I can't let myself get hurt again. I don't even know if I will ever be able to move on after what you did to me..." Olivia sighed softly.

"What I want is for us to be back together. This whole day has been nice, because I got to be next to you and talk to you. I had to stop myself from holding your hand and kissing you on this whole walk back. I don't want to be just friends, but I'd rather just be your friend instead of never seeing you again!" Elliot exclaimed.

Olivia looked at him for a moment before shaking her head.

"I guess we won't be doing either, then. Thanks for the pizza, but this isn't going to work out." Olivia replied. She quickly walked away from Elliot and got into the driver's seat. She started up her car, but was stopped when Elliot climbed into the passenger side.

He quickly kissed her without any warning, and Olivia froze and didn't kiss him back. When Elliot leaned back, he looked at Olivia and smiled softly.

"I'll be good for now... I'm sorry, Liv. I really am. I'm a changed man, and I could... no, I can be an amazing boyfriend. I know what I missed out on. I know that doing anything with Brandy was dumb, and that when I did all of those things... I lost the best thing to ever happen to me." Elliot breathed. He climbed out of the car before shutting the door and walking away.

///

Olivia was really confused about what was happening, so she just blocked Elliot out of her life completely. She went back to Boston after Christmas and she didn't even keep in touch with Elliot's family at all. She just focused on school, work, and her family. Eventually though, Olivia made it through four years of college with her teaching degree, and she decided that enough time had passed and she wanted to live and work in New York again.

Olivia got a job teaching kindergarten at Washington Elementary School, and she couldn't be more than happy. Minus the fact she didn't know someone else worked there, too.

"Need help?" A man asked Olivia as she attempted to open the front door while moving items into her classroom.

"I could use some help with the doors." Olivia chuckled. The man walked over and opened the door before letting Olivia in. They hadn't even looked at each other until they were in the lobby.

"Olivia?" Elliot asked, and Olivia quickly looked at him.

"Elliot? What are you doing here?" Olivia asked quickly.

"I work here. I didn't know you did too." Elliot spoke, and Olivia swallowed hard and nodded.

"Yeah, I'm the new kindergarten teacher... what are you?" Olivia replied awkwardly.

"What am I? Did you forget that I went for education, too? My focus was on physical education and coaching." Elliot smiled.

"Oh, yeah. I forgot. Thanks for holding the door for me, but I gotta get back to moving things into my room."

"Do you want actual help? I can carry in boxes for you." Elliot asked.

"I'm fine. Thanks."

"Okay. I'll see you around." 

///

Olivia made several more trips before settling down and unpacking the boxes. She hung up several posters, and she decorated her door. She even managed to get time to do lesson plans before writing the first day's schedule on the board. She had a few weeks before class started, but she wanted to be prepared. 

"Fuck." Olivia swore quietly, as she looked at her schedule and saw that her students had gym on their first day of class. That meant she'd have to interact with Elliot, and she didn't really want to do that.

"I hope you don't plan on saying that in front of your students." Elliot smiled as he came into Olivia's room. She sighed before turning and looking at him.

"What are you doing? Don't you have to organize some kick balls or unroll mats?" Olivia replied.

"I actually came down here to give you the list of things the students need for my class. You can give it to them on their open house." Elliot spoke, before passing Olivia a stack of papers.

"Oh, okay. Thanks." 

"It looks really good in here." Elliot spoke as he looked around the room.

"Thanks. I have been designing this room since I found out that I got my job..." Olivia trailed off.

"Well, congrats on the job. Now, I'll leave you alone. But I will see you around. Have a good day, Miss Benson."