Partners In Our Own Crime| BEING EDITED

4.I'll Be Missing You

As she stood in front of her suitcase, she pulled the oversized hoodie over her head. Though her flight was set to leave in an hour, she'd been in no rush. She'd honestly rather miss her flight by having the excuse of not being ready on time. But that would just disappoint her mother, and that was the last thing she wanted to do.

The dried tears stained her face, as she turned toward Sasha.

"You ready to go? It's an hour drive on the way to the airport.." Olivia just nodded and zipped up her bag, still dreading this flight down to LA.

Though she wasn't happy about this trip, she was hoping to get some time in with her mother and brother. She hadn't seen them in three years, and no matter how much she convinced herself that she missed nothing about L.A., she had always missed them. How could she could she not? Because of the distance, it was harder to be there for them. Even when billy was announced with cancer. But she still wouldn't step foot in LA. And she was starting to regret that a lot right about now.

***

Olivia stared out of the plane window as Sasha sat by her sleeping. She still couldn't quite believe this was happening. She knew the cancer was bad, she probably should've expected it. But even if she was to expect it, it still would've hit her just as hard. She let a tear fall. This was breaking her, and she wasn't sure if she'd be able to put the pieces back together this time. After being happy for so long...it was all crumbling now. She took out her phone clicking on the last picture she had taken with her father. That was three years ago. What was she gonna do without him? Yeah, they had their moments, the arguments, the ups and downs, but he was still her father, and she loved him more than anything.

"I'll always miss you," she kissed the picture lightly.

"And if you can hear me right about now, judy know...my love for you will never go away, ever."

She clicked off her phone, leaning her head back onto the headrest.

This is gonna be a long flight.

***

"Liv?" Sasha whispered, lightly nudging Olivia awake.

"Hmm?" Olivia muttered through a tired voice, her eyes refusing to open.

"We're here," the quiet whisper made Olivia's eyes pop open, her body heavy from the hours of sleep she had gotten. She turned to look out of the window.

Her stomach dropped.

I'm back in L.A.

"Calm down. We're still about 30 minutes from landing," that made her settle just a little. But her nerves were still high.

"Listen," she nudged Olivia, "I got you...you're gonna be fine," Sasha grabbed her best friend's hand, giving her a soft smile.

"Thanka Sash."

Sasha gave her another smile.. "Always."

***

"Baby, come on. The bakers are waiting on us," Amara came into the bedroom, finding her husband placed on their bed, his face deadpan.

"I don't think I can go," he looked up at her and she gave him a look of pity.

"Baby, I know you miss him, and I know this is all hard for you. But you're gonna have to face this sooner or later." Amara placed a supportive hand on his knee.

"Mara, I don't want to intrude. They're going through a lot. Besides, me and Jordan haven't talked in forever. And..." he trailed and she sighed.

"It's her isn't it?" She said, her face having a bit of a bitter look. He turned to her, shaking his head.

"It's not anything like that. It's just me and Liv fell out a long time ago, and I don't want to cause anymore stress or pain than there already is."

It was true—though, he was anxious to see her face after so long. He didn't want to hurt her again, or like he'd stated, cause any unnecessary stress. And he didn't want to hurt himself, it had been so long, and their last encounter was painful enough.

"Look, I understand...but she isn't not the only one in pain about all this. And she is not the only one who is allowed to be in pain about this. You have every right to be there. You're family to them, for God's sake, you looked at the man like a father, he was the only father figure you had for a while."

She gave him a hard look as he faced forward. "You have a right to say goodbye just as much anyone else in that house."

He sighed but didn't meet her eyes.

"Fine...I'll go."

***

Olivia stood off to the side while Sasha conversated with the rental car manger. She held her phone up to her ear as she spoke with Jordan.

"Yes J, I'll be there soon, Sash is getting the car now."

Her tone was rather dry and she turned to see if Sasha was almost done renting out their car. "Liv I should probably warn you..."

She could tell where this was going, "Spence is gonna be here a—"

Olivia sighed, "I kind of figured that."

"Liv, I'm—"

She cut him off again, "it's fine Jordan. He's family. Yes, me and him aren't really...on good terms. But it doesn't mean we can't put our differences aside for the funeral."

Jordan let out a sigh of relief. In the past few years, Olivia had never really spoken about Spencer. Time and time again, Jordan would try and bring him up in random conversations, just to see if she had let the whole thing go, but she would change the subject or would simply decline the conversation every time, so after two years of her being down there, he decided to stop trying to hold the conversation about what went down between them. But it made him happy that she was willing to be cordial with Spencer for the funeral.

"How long will you be up here?" Olivia shrugged on her end.

"I don't know...probably 2 weeks at the most. Want to spend some time with mom, I don't want her to feel like I'm just coming for the funeral and leaving right after."

"Would you leave, if she didn't mind it?" She paused. Of course she would, L.A. was her past, and she had nothing here except her brother and mother. Nothing else down there had mattered to her.

"I don't know," she lied. She didn't want to make him feel bad or anything, so she just told him what he wanted to hear.

"I'll see you soon, Liv..."

"See you soon, J," she clicked off the line as Sasha approached her with the keys.

"You ready," Olivia looked at her.

"No," Olivia took in a breath. "But I have no choice."

Sasha grabbed her arm, pulling her along. This was about to be hell.

***

"You have to eat something, Olivia" Sasha tried to hand Olivia the burger she'd ordered.

"I'm hungry." She stared forward and Sasha sighed, placing the bag down.

"Fine," she pulled off.

"Liv?"

"Yes," Olivia now stared out of the window.

"I just want you to know, whatever happens in  here....i have your back,"

Sasha knew seeing Spencer would probably set Liv off the edge—no matter how much she tried to act like it was all good.

"Thank you," Olivia's voice fell to a whisper as they pulled into the drive way of the baker residence. It's time.

***

Sorry for not updating yesterday, I didn't really feel well. But I'll update again tonight.

Liv and Spence reunion coming next chapter. But I'll say this; they won't really talk until chapter six.

Bye, bye for now!