Solace (Sabrina Carpenter/Olivia Rodrigo/ YOU)

Water...

The evening in Olivia's apartment was tense from the start, a chill settling in the air that I couldn't quite place. She moved around the kitchen in silence, setting things down a little too firmly, her usual warmth nowhere to be seen. I tried to ignore it, telling myself it was just a long day. But as the silence stretched, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

"Hey," I said, finally breaking the quiet. "You okay?"

She glanced at me over her shoulder, a tight smile barely reaching her eyes. "I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

I bit back the urge to press, sensing her irritation. "You just... seem a little off tonight. Since we left the hospital, actually."

She let out a small, humorless laugh, setting down a plate with more force than necessary. "Right. The hospital."

I frowned, trying to understand. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, nothing," she replied, her voice strained, though she clearly had something more on her mind. "It's just... surprising to see how well you and Sabrina get along, that's all."

The way she said Sabrina's name made me flinch, and suddenly the tension in the air made sense. "Olivia, are you... jealous?"

Her jaw tightened, and she crossed her arms, leaning back against the counter. "No, of course not," she said, but the words came out defensive, and her eyes wouldn't meet mine. After a moment, she sighed, her shoulders slumping as she looked away. "I just... I know I have no right to feel this way, but I can't help it. She obviously means a lot to you."

I stepped closer, reaching out to touch her arm, but she pulled back, her face a mixture of hurt and frustration. "Olivia, I... Sabrina's just—"

"A friend?" she interrupted, her voice wavering. "Because it didn't look that way today. And I know, okay? I know this is my problem, but... this is all new to me, Y/n. I've never... I've never done this before." Her voice softened, and she looked down, biting her lip. "I've never felt like this about anyone. So maybe I'm scared. Maybe I am jealous. But can you blame me?"

Her honesty caught me off guard, and for a moment, all I could do was stand there, feeling my own confusion rise to the surface. I wanted to reassure her, to tell her there was nothing to worry about, but with Sabrina, my feelings had always been complicated, messy. And now, standing here with Olivia, the words felt heavy and uncertain.

"Olivia, I'm not... I don't know how to explain it," I said, running a hand through my hair. "Sabrina's just someone I have history with. But that's in the past, okay?"

She looked up, her eyes glossy with unshed tears. "Then why do I feel like you're still holding onto her?"

I swallowed, her words hitting harder than I expected. "I'm not holding onto her. I'm here with you, aren't I?"

"But are you, Y/n?" she said, her voice cracking. "Because today... it felt like I wasn't even there. Like all you saw was her. And I know it's irrational, but I can't help feeling like... like you're choosing her after everything we've been through."

"Olivia, I wouldn't do that to you," I replied softly, reaching for her again, but she took a step back, hugging her arms around herself as if to shield from the hurt.

"I thought you wouldn't," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "But seeing you with her... I couldn't ignore it. And it scares me, Y/n. It scares me that maybe I'm just... second best."

"Olivia," I began, but the words dried up in my throat. I could feel the hurt and fear in her voice, her insecurity a raw wound that I didn't know how to soothe. And deep down, a part of me couldn't deny that Sabrina still had a hold on me in some way, even if I wished it were different.