A Long Time Coming

Chapter Eighteen

"Are you okay?" My hands were trembling as I looked down at my phone. How does he know I'm hurt? What do I say? Why does he care about me? JUSTIN BIEBER CARES ABOUT ME!

I am so screwed up. If MTV had a show called '16 and Insane', I would be the star. I started typing back without really thinking things through. I tend to do that a lot. "You care?" I sent it and regretted it immediately. What if he takes it the wrong way? I mean it in an 'Awh, you care about me.' kind of way, not a 'Why do you care? You're too good for me anyway.' kind of way. I'm freaking out that he is talking to me and that I just said that.

"OLIVIA. FAITH. STRAUSS. WE. ARE. LEAVING. THE. HOUSE." I look up from my phone to see Wyatt 6 inches from my face, emphasizing every syllable. "ARE YOU GOING TO JOIN US?"

"Yeees! Just get away from my face." I pushed him back. Can't I have one moment that doesn't get ruined?

I got up and crutched to the car, hearing Wyatt's words as I went out the door. "Great. We've got a cranky cripple."

I turned around, fuming. "I'd rather be a cranky cripple than be in love with someone who will never ever date me that I've liked since the third grade. My situation is much less embarrassing." I crutched out to the car, immediately putting my headphones in and turning my music up.

I looked out the window to see why no one was coming. I saw Matt with a blank expression on his face, looking at me, while Wyatt had pain radiating from his body. My mom was rushing them out the door, frazzled.

"Olivia..." I heard my mom's muffled voice through my music, but I chose to ignore it. I felt a tug and then my headphones were ripped out of my ears. I looked to see them in my mom's hand.

"What the heck?!" She is so unbelievable sometimes. I mean, she's making me go to school after I broke my ankle this morning, and now she won't even let me listen to music.

"Apologize." She gave me the sternest look I've seen in a long time.

"Why should I if he doesn't have to?" I know I'm almost 17, but he's a big boy.

"Both of you will be apologizing." She turned to face Wyatt and gave him the same look.

"She promised to never tease me about Bree!" He practically jumped out of his seat.

"You sound like a five year old!" I faced him, glaring in annoyance.

I'm pretty sure my mom loves the twins more than me, so I wouldn't be surprised if he got let off the hook and I didn't.

"Olivia, Wyatt, knock it off!" She was yelling, but we kept going.

"I can't help who I like and I can't help the fact that Bree has been in a relationship since 3rd grade! If she wasn't dating anyone I guarantee you, we would be together!" Again with the whining.

"You can help who you like and I bet you $50 that you wouldn't be dating! Just shut up already." I turned back around.

"At least she knows my name and I don't have to stalk her from behind a screen." He mumbled more to himself than me.

"What was that supposed to be? A reference to Justin? You and I both know, he knows my name and I've touched him. Unlike you, you'd be lucky to even get to smell Bree." I rolled my eyes.

"Well, I don't have to compete with 40 million other guys, never get to see her, or cry like an idiot every time she talks to me." He thought he was really clever with this one, but I could tell he was still hurt about what I said about Bree.

"I'm done with you." I faced the front, not turning to make eye contact.

"Why? Because you can't win?" He smirked.