Always

33

Olivia Baker

It was 6:30 p.m.

The dark clouds slowly peaked into the sky as the burnt orange sun had set. Olivia stood anxiously as she glanced at the brown door in front of her. She didn't think she'd be back on this side of town, unless it was to visit Mr. A with the kids every other weekend.

She jumped as she felt her phone vibrate in her hand.

From: Jordan

Where are you?

 Olivia was supposed to be meeting with Jordan and Simone for dinner but had to make an important stop. She responded to Jordan's message, letting him know that she had to make a stop and would be on her way soon. She then stuffed her phone in her purse and knocked on the door. She smoothed her skirt out with her hands as she heard the footsteps approaching.

"Oh! I ain't think you was gon' show up" Quinten said as he answered the door. "Come in" he stepped to the side, allowing her to enter his home.

"Wow! It seems you've fixed up majority of what was in here" Olivia said as she glanced around his home. "Everything's different" she said as the vivid memory from when she last visited his home clouded her mind.

"It was time for change" Quinten said as he met her in the living room. "You look good" he told her.

"Don't start" Olivia said and he chuckled. "But thank you" she smiled and he nodded.

"Can I get you somethin' to drink?" he inquired and she respectfully declined.

"I've got a long night ahead I need to be focused" she answered.

"You ain't tell me we was a goin' out, I woulda put on somethin' nice" he chuckled as he glanced at her outfit. 

"Q...there is no 'we'" Olivia began. "There never was. You and I had such a great connection as friends and-"

"That night told me somethin' different" Quinten interrupted, stepping close to her. "You were standin' right here, in that exact same spot. We had just come back from that party and-"

"That night was nearly two years ago, Quinten. That night changed everything" Olivia said.

"If anything that night clarified what I already knew..." he stepped closer to her. "You can't stand here and tell me you never felt the same" his eyes locked with hers.

"Wait, what? What are you talking about?" she raised an eyebrow.

"You not finna play in my face Liv" Quinten shook his head. "Let's not act like you ain't-"

"That was in the past" Olivia interrupted. "Sure there was a brief moment where I was attracted to you but I genuinely valued what we built as friends. I've told you this in the past. Then things became distant between us after I met Jackson...and as you can see that didn't end up working out" she explained.

"That's all we ever were to you? Friends?" he inquired and she nodded her head. "But that night-"

"I'm not here to discuss with you about that night. It was a mistake and it shouldn't have happened" she said sternly.  Olivia avoided his eye contact and then stepped away from him. "I...wanted to apologize to you for how things went down the other day. It should have been approached differently" she affirmed.

"It could have been...but it wasn't. You and Spencer ain't got nothin' to worry about" Quinten told her. 

"Okay...good" Olivia heaved a sigh of relief. "I should get going now" she nervously laughed as she walked past Quinten.