Veronica's Vendetta

~ like they broke me ~

Two Years Ago.

"What do you mean Harvard?" Olivia asked her friend as they were cuddled up on his couch. They were at his apartment in NYC, a safe haven for them to be away from the rest of the world.

She turned away from the television which was playing a re-run of How I Met Your Mother and looked up to him, her eye bags visible courtesy of the light coming from the electronic.

"Exactly that" Caleb responded, his fingers massaging the knotless braids on her head.

"You said you wanted to school in Singapore, so you'll be far away from your parents" She said, her face morphing into confusion as she stared at him.

"I did. And now I want Harvard" I want you is what he meant to say, but he refrained. Olivia is in a relationship and he respected that, even though he knows Alexander is undeserving of her.

"Why?" She pressed.

"Do you really think I'd leave you to be with those people? Especially when you're so vulnerable" He questioned, the love in his eyes unmasked.

It was a few days after her friend, Keira had died. Olivia flew in to clear her head and hasn't been able to get herself together ever since. Though she tried to hide it from everyone, he could see right through her. Which is why he decided to go with her to Harvard instead. He had to ensure she was safe. His brother is dead now, and he refused to lose another person he loves.

"Caleb" She started, rising from his embrace.

She was only wearing underwear and a shirt of his, which had started to expose her upper thighs, due to her height. Caleb averted his gaze and kept his eyes on her instead, ignoring the blood rushing down south.

"I don't want you to do this, I'm fine" She stated firmly, but he only rolled his eyes at her. He was used to her lies now.

Having known her since their high school freshman days, he was no longer the gullible boy she met at Jordans, a diner in New York. It was newly opened at the time and he decided to check it out one evening, since it was in his city after all. But then, he had seen her sitting by herself at a table, clutching a Rubik's Cube tightly in her hands, shaking and crying so intensely that no one could hear her, even in the silent and empty diner. Several years after and Caleb still goes back to the diner as often as he can, he sits at the table where he found her and reminisces about how they met, how she was the best thing that ever happened to him, regardless of the way they had to keep their friendship a secret from their different friend groups.

"I want to do this. It really is the least I can do, considering everything you've done for me" He replied, referencing a recent agreement they had come to.

"No, Caleb" Olivia said, shaking her head in disapproval. He proceeded to grab her arms and pull her back into him.

"Aren't you tired of these secret meetings?" He asked her quietly and she sighed.

"Of course I am, but this isn't the solution. You don't understand, these people will break you" She whispered, looking up at him, a tear making it's way down. Like they broke me...she wanted to say, but decided against it.

Olivia is only comfortable with crying in front of him, or Rahim. They were the only people she could let her guard down around completely. After all, there is no need to wear an armor when you are with the people you trust.

"I'm stronger than you think" He replied, smirking and wiping her tear away with his finger. Olivia gave a weak laugh in response.

"Besides, I won't be alone" He continued and Olivia jerked in surprise.

"Don't tell me you were crazy enough to do that" She said and Caleb broke out into a wide grin.

"It didn't take much convincing. They already believe they are meant for the best only" He replied. Olivia dropped her face in her hands and groaned.

"This is a bloody mistake" She muttered, causing Caleb's chest to rumble in laughter. He loves hearing how she sounds when she gets irritated. He loves her British accent.

"All of them?" She asked, peeking from her hands and he nodded, his grin never leaving. Olivia groaned again and dropped her face back into her hands.

"You'll love them, it'll be like a large royal court" He said, prying her hands away from her face, his blue eyes peering into her brown ones.

"No, I won't, and no, it wouldn't. It's going to be a constant power struggle. Don't think I've forgotten all the stories you've told me about them. I'm already dreading to meet infamous Kingsley ice King and his Toussaint Queen" Olivia replied, which made Caleb laugh out again.

"Scared already?" He teased.

"No" She huffed and rolled her eyes.

"Good. Because you're the only Queen that matters, and not just to me. You're the one with the true power. Plus you have an actual future King as your boyfriend" He said, burying his face into her neck and inhaling her lavender scent.

"I don't want to be Queen anymore" She whispered, failing to notice how the last part of his statement came out bitterly.

"I know, but do you really have a choice?" He asked, his face still buried. Olivia simply sighed dejectedly, already knowing the answer.

Of course she didn't have a choice. She turned her attention back to the television, just in time to see the moment Barney realized he was in love with Nora.

"They should have ended up together" She said to Caleb who was watching as well. He hummed in agreement.

Olivia stared at the man in the screen, hoping one day she would find a love like that, hoping someone would fall in love with her that way. Not knowing she was in the arms of that person already.