Keeping Love

Chapter 1

I came out of the garage where I worked on a cold morning in December. It was the first day of my Christmas holidays of my last year in school and I had picked up an early morning shift so I was finished by lunch. 

I went home changed out of my overalls, showered and ate some lunch then was straight back out the door again.

I went straight to the youth centre hoping my girlfriend and my friends would all be there. When I got there I frowned slightly. Olivia wasn't there.

I sat down next to my best friend, Aaron, "have you seen Olivia?" I asked him.

He nodded, "she left about a half hour ago with Ethan. Went to get some food."

I nodded. She would be back soon.

I joined in on the conversation. We were trying to plan what to do for George's upcoming 18th birthday. He didn't know if he wanted a house party or to go out.

When Olivia arrived she was with her brother and my cousin. "Hi!" I smiled at all of them, my arm going up to snake around Olivia's waist as she came to stand next to me.

"I need to talk to you." She said seriously.

Her tone made me look at her face more closely, she looked upset, "what's wrong?" I frowned at her.

"Can we talk?" She repeated. She looked really upset.

I was worried now.

"Of course." I stood up and kept my arm around her as we walked out. She leant into me as we walked.

Once we were away from other people I spoke, "what's up?" I asked, "you're ok?"

She didn't say anything so I turned to look at her and saw that she was crying. Olivia hardly ever cried.

I stopped walking and wiped away her tears, "what's wrong?" I asked her, really worried now, "you can tell me."

"Can we go to yours?" She asked through her tears.

"Sure." I nodded kissing her forehead gently, hoping that gave her some comfort then taking her hand and walking back to mine.

Once we got to mine my mum shouted out for me, "Joe? Is that you? Why are you back so soon?"

"Just go to my room. I'll be there in a minute." I whispered to Olivia kissing her hand and then letting it go. She was still crying a little bit as she ran up the stairs.

I went into the kitchen where my mum was. "Hi." I said to her, "yeah it's just me and Olivia."

"Where is she?"

"In my room." I didn't want to explain that she was upset because I didn't know why yet.

"Ok." Mum nodded, "let me know if you need anything."

"Thanks mum." I smiled. My mum had almost grown to like Olivia over the two years we had been going out.

I went upstairs and saw Olivia sitting on my bed holding my pillow. She wasn't crying anymore but she looked upset still.

I sat next to her, "you're scaring me." I told her, "what's wrong?"

"My grandpa is ill." She said, tears back in her eyes, "Cancer. He's going to be ok but it's still bad."

"Im so sorry." My arms went around her. I knew how much her grandpa meant to her. She had often described him as her favourite person in the world.

"We're going back to be with him." She said quietly like she didn't want me to hear it. I didn't want to hear it.