Beyond the Bet

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕿𝖜𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖞-𝕿𝖍𝖗𝖊𝖊: 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐲

★[ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏɴ ᴅʀᴜɢ ᴀʙᴜꜱᴇ ɪꜱ ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ᴄᴏᴍꜰᴏʀᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɪᴛ, ᴘʟᴇᴀꜱᴇ ꜱᴋɪᴘ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ɪᴛ. ʟᴏᴛꜱ ᴏꜰ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ɢ.ᴛ.ᴅɪᴏʟᴀ]★

Olivia

 ''Olivia!"

I frown as Avril's voice echoes, calling my name.

Am I hallucinating too?

I turn slowly, doubting what I have heard. As soon as I turn around arms wrap around me, hugging me tightly.

''Oh, I've missed you so much.'' Avril says and I gasp, my heart bursting in my chest.''Oh Avril.'' I cry and wrap my arms around her, resting my face against her beautiful red hair.

She is here. She is back. My friend is back.

I hug her tightly, clutching her, afraid that she might disappear.

''Avril?" Andy calls and we pull away from each other. I face away from her, wiping my eyes not wanting her to notice my tears.  ''How is this-'' his sentence is left midair as she runs toward him and kisses him.

A real smile flashes at my face as I look at them.

''Luke,'' I say, my heart overwhelms as I see him approaching. He opens his arms, and I run towards him, hugging him.

''Hi, little troublemaker.'' he says and wraps his arms around me.

This times I can no longer force myself to hold the tears and cry in his chest. He pats my back slowly without saying a word.

They don't hate me. Luke and Avril don't hate me.

''I know that you were forced to do it Olivia.'' Luke speaks, ''I'm so sorry.''
I hug him tighter, feeling relived that he understands me.

I pull away from him and look around for a glimpse of Joel. I'm aware he won't come near me; he might not even wish to glance my way. I know that he hates me. This realization makes my skin crawl and my heart weep.

I keep searching the area for him, but he's nowhere to be seemed.

Did only Luke and Avril return? My shoulders drop in disappointment and my heart breaks all over again. I hoped I would see him again after two months. But he isn't here.

''Oh wow, the Cullens returned on Friday too!'' Justin says, ''What's up with this day? It's the end of the week, take a break y'all.'' he adds and Luke laughs shaking his head.

Andy meets Luke and then grabs Avril in his arms again. The sight of them lights a glint of happiness in my chest.

I tear my eyes from them and look around for Joel again, still hoping that I would find him here.

''He's inside.'' Luke speaks and my head snaps at his direction.

Without any thinking I move forward to enter the school.

''Olivia.'' Luke stops me and I turn at him. ''I don't think that's a good idea.'' he shakes his head.

''I just want to see him.'' I speak quietly. I won't run toward him and hug him or kiss him, the sight of him would be enough for me. I just want to see him alive, I'm tired of seeing his lifeless body every night in my dreams.

''He doesn't want to see you.'' Luke says and my heart drops. I nod, biting my lip and fighting back the hot tears gathering in my eyes.

A bile rises in my throat, and I struggle to swallow. ''He will see me, sooner or later.'' I murmur.
''I know.'' Luke says, ''But I think this isn't the best moment.''