Only if you know (Book 1)

Chapter 14

Olivia was slowly coming to her senses. When she tried to open her eyes, the bright white light made her wince. A familiar voice soothed her.

"Easy there, Livy."

As her vision adjusted, she saw Drake leaning over her, his expression tight with worry. He gently helped her sit up on the infirmary bed.

"What... happened to me?" she asked in confusion.

He exhaled softly. "You went into shock. It caused you to black out."

Olivia blinked, trying to piece together the last few minutes-the locker, Caleb's voice, the words that cut like glass. "Am I... in the emergency room?"

"Yes," Drake said, offering her a glass of water.

"Oh." She sipped quietly, then tried to stand. "I should go. There's still a lecture left-"

Drake's hand pressed gently but firmly on her shoulder. "No, you're not going anywhere. You've already missed one, and with just one left, you might as well rest and tell me what the hell happened back there."

Olivia hesitated. A lump formed in her throat. She hated talking about her pain, hated reliving it, but if there was anyone she could trust, it was Drake. He and Jiggy were the only two people who knew her entire story, the only ones who never looked at her with pity.

So, she told him everything. From the day she arrived in Rosewood, to the cafeteria incident, to Caleb's harsh words in the hallway.

When she finished, Drake ran a hand through his hair, speechless. "I can't believe this," he muttered finally. "Livy, I'm so sorry."

"I don't blame Sia or Mason for being upset," Olivia said quietly. "I've been a terrible friend to them. And Caleb... he doesn't know anything about me. He couldn't have known that pushing me would-" She stopped, staring at her trembling hands. "He couldn't have known it would trigger me."

"Still," Drake said firmly, "that doesn't give him the right to treat you so harshly. They need to know you are not comfortable with people touching you roughly."

Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I can't tell them, Drake. I don't want their sympathy or their pity. I just want to forget. I'm not even sure why I came back here. I just... want to leave. I'm waiting for this year to end so I can disappear again."

"Olivia-"

"No, Drake." Her tone was sharp but laced with pain. "This place holds too many memories. It hurts too much."

"What about Cameron?" he asked softly.

Her chest constricted. "I don't deserve him. He's just a child. He'll forget me."

Drake's eyes softened. "And you? Will you be able to forget him? Will you be able to live without him?"

That question hit her like a blade. Olivia looked away, blinking rapidly. "I'll survive," she murmured. "The memories are enough to keep me alive."

Drake sighed, defeated. He knew that tone very well. The quiet finality that always followed when Olivia made up her mind. She was stubborn, relentless when it came to shielding her heart.

"At the very least, don't push your friends away until you leave. Don't isolate yourself, Livy."

Her reply was barely above a whisper. "It'll be easier for them if they hate me now. It'll hurt less when I go."

"Olivia," Drake's voice cracked slightly, "please. Stop doing this to yourself. Stop hurting yourself more than the world already has. You don't have to tell them everything, but don't bury what's left of your connections. They care for you. Let them. Try to rekindle your friendship with them."