Make You Believe (A Justin Bieber Love Story)

Part IIII: Olivia

2 hours. 2 more hours until Justin was supposed to go to Olivia’s. They’d agreed on midnight. It was ten currently. Each hour passed slower than the one before. He groaned. He didn’t know what to do with himself until midnight. And there was still the question burning in the back of his mind…

Why did Mrs. Blake hate him?

As a kid he’d been best friends with Olivia. His days were spent hanging out with her and eating the always delicious apple slices and graham crackers with peanut butter that her mom would make. Mrs. Blake never was mean to him though. Albeit his memory isn’t very good, still, even if she was mean she was never this harsh.

He sat on the couch in his house, fiddling with his key chain. His impatience was growing. Where was Olivia’s mom going anyway? Olivia was very vague with that. ‘Come back later, she’ll be gone.’ Gone where? And where was her dad? Fuck it. He didn’t really care where her dad was. He could rot in hell for all Justin be concerned. It was the haunted look he saw in Olivia’s eyes that concerned him. Usually her russet orbs are bubbly and jubilant, giving him a sense of ease and contentment. But they were dark and troubled. He had only seen her like that once before, but that was a long time ago…

FLASHBACK

“Olivia Blake to the office, please.” The intercom blared. All the heads in the fourth grade classroom turned, their eyes fixated on the girl that was called. Justin knew what this was about. Her grandmother. He recalled an earlier conversation with Olivia and her parents about her nearly fatally ill grandma.

With wobbly knees, Olivia rose from the plastic chair she was assigned. Justin jumped up joining her without hesitation. The teacher, Ms. Gardener, gave him a funny look. “Justin what ar—?” Olivia glanced at Justin too, chewing her bottom lip nervously.

He interlocked fingers with her. “I need to go with her.” Justin stated, locking eyes with Olivia. Her eyes were overcast. The pain in her eyes made him sick. They both knew why she was called to the office.

End.

His stomach churned painfully. He knew how hard she took losing people. She continuously accused herself. That day in fourth grade when Olivia and Justin went to the office they were told that her grandmother had passed away. He remembered that day clearly. It was the first time he had seen true grieving. He can still clearly picture Olivia’s bouncy brown pigtails and pink jumper she was wearing. He remembers how she cried and cried while clinging to her mom’s leg. Yet Justin has been lucky enough to have not yet experienced loss like this. Everyone he loved remained around him. He didn’t know how he would be able to handle losing someone.

A low rumble of thunder in the distance brought Justin out of his deep thought. He clicked on his iPhone and checked the time.  10:19. He sighed but before he could click off his iPhone he found himself unable to tear his eyes away from his lock screen. It was a picture of him and Olivia taken at Nolan’s house party a couple of days ago. He licked his lips nervously. Deep down he knew there was something more than just the fact that she was his childhood best friend that drew him to her. However he would never admit it to himself. He couldn’t. The idea of Olivia and him being anything more was silly. But yet there was an unquestionable lure to her that he felt. But why?

He dropped his head into his hands in frustration. “Olivia.” The name slipped out of his lips and broke the thick silence that coated the room. Her name came out raspy and full of desperation. Justin ran his hands up his face and through his gelled hair.

“She fell apart ya know.” A voice said calmly. Justin’s eyes, which were briefly closed, shot open. Ryan stood leaning against the doorway. Justin narrowed his eyes at Ryan and stood up.

“Who did?” Justin asked.

“Olivia. When you left.” Ryan clarified keeping his eyes locked on Justin. “She was devastated.”

Justin was confused hadn’t he and Olivia gotten past this? “What do you mean?”’

“The first time you left. When you went to Atlanta.” Ryan said accusingly. His voice was strong and echoed through the empty house. Ryan paused while Justin tried to register what was happening. “You didn’t even bother to say goodbye to her.” The tension in the room was almost palpable.

“Oh.” Justin squeaked. That was all he was able to manage. He hadn’t thought about it. But it was true. He abandoned her. Not intentionally though, he always planned that once he got lots of money he would fly all his friends to LA and they would be happy. But that never happened of course.

“I know you love her.” Ryan stated plainly.

That was the tip of the iceberg. “What?” Justin‘s heart started to beat faster.

“It’s obvious. The way you look at her. The way you act around her. You came back here for her, right?”

“Well yeah but I don’t…”Justin trailed off. He wasn’t able to deny it or confirm it. Or even say the L word. “I have Selena.” Justin snapped.

“Yeeeeahhh. But you love Olivia.” Ryan said raising an eyebrow. “Why are you still with her?”

“I never said that about Olivia.” Justin rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

“But it’s true.” Ryan argued.

“But she doesn’t…feel that way about me…” Justin muttered. He couldn’t believe he just said that.

“You don’t know that go after her. Fuck bro, don’t sit there and wait for her. Go after her because that’s what you should do if you love someone, don’t wait for them to give you a sign because it might never come. Don’t let people happen to you; especially her. She’s not a fucking television show or tornado. You don’t want to waste this chance or waste her. Because when you fly 3000 miles on a days’ notice for someone they must be worth it.” Ryan threw his hands up in the air for emphasis.

Justin stared at his friend bewildered. “Dude. Where the fuck did you come up with? Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you have the chance I never will.” Ryan said quietly.

“You’re in love with her?” Justin couldn’t help his jaw hanging open.

Ryan looked straight in Justin’s eyes. “You’re the only guy in the world I trust to take care of Olivia.” Ryan avoided Justin’s question.

“Um. What about Chaz?” Justin asked nervously, feeling really awkward.

A gagging noise came from behind Ryan. Both boys turned.

“I would never! Hello. We’re talking about OH-LIV-E-UH,” He denoted. “The girl we’ve all seen go through the pull-ups stage!” Chaz bellowed as he emerged from around the corner.

“Chaz? How the hell did you get in here?” Justin exclaimed. He and Ryan both were extremely embarrassed that Chaz just heard their whole conversation.

“I can’t believe you’re both in love with Olivia.” Chaz muttered, shaking his head dismissively.

“Uhh. Yeah.” Ryan mumbled looking at the ground.

“Olivia Blake.” Chaz repeated.

“Yup.” Ryan chided grumpily.

“The one and only.” Justin grumbled sourly. He glanced at the time on his phone. 11:46. “Oh shit. I gotta go.” He grabbed his keys and ran out the door.