The Bad Boy's Best Friend |✓|

Chapter Two

Olivia and Ashleigh sat at their table, drinking hot cocoa, while they enjoyed the view of the surroundings. They were talking about what Olivia had missed out in the past four years.

"I can't believe Ashton settled down I mean, he was such a flirt" Olivia said, in disbelief.

"Yeah well,   Andrea totally changed him, they've been together for almost two years now. It's cute actually. They hated each other in the beginning." Ash replied and took a sip of her drink.

"What about Stacey?" Olivia asked, with a disgusted face.

"She actually isn't that bad Ollie, I'm friends with her. She's a nice person. Like yeah, she is the head cheerleader and all, and she might wear skimpy clothes when she gets a chance to, but she isn't all that bad. She's pretty cool."

Olivia raised her eyebrows questionably and said, "Ash she stole my dress when we were eleven. I went on the stage as Juliet in jeans," 

"Well, Jack Austin had put itching powder all over that dress and the only way Stacey saw to save you was to stop you from getting into the situation itself." Ash said, and Olivia's eyes widened.

"Really? Jake is such an asshole wow."

"Yup" Ash said and laughed. "I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you, Drew and Jared the most. Why is he behaving so weirdly?"

"Oh, about that. We don't exactly know, but he's been a jerk for almost a year. Complete player, everyone throws themselves at him, but he's never polite. I've heard he's basically slept with the entire cheer leading squad at this point. He's got this bad boy persona going on and some people think he's doing drugs. No one knows, he just talks to Kate and Peter. No one else." Ash said and Olivia frowned. That didn't sound the least bit like Jared.

"Are you sure you have absolutely no clue why he suddenly changed?" She asked and Ashleigh shook her head.

"I really don't know Ollie. He just, changed. I know that sucks to hear, sorry."

Olivia nodded and decided to change the topic. She didn't want to believe anything till she got a chance to speak to Jared on her own. She said, "When did that new mall on third main come?"

"Oh, a year back. Funnily enough, its already the most visited mall in the area. There's bowling there Ollie! We've gotta go someday! It's so cool!"

Olivia smiled and said "Sure, I'd love to someday. For now, I've gotta head home. Mom needs help in setting up the house. So much work to do" and groaned.

Ash chuckled and said, "If you need any help, don't call me okay?"

Olivia glared at her playfully, and got up. "I'll text you later. Drive carefully yeah?"

Ash nodded and Olivia shouted, "Marie I'll be leaving!" and walked towards her car.
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She turned into her driveway, and parked her car behind her dad's car. Getting down, she grabbed her keys, expecting her parents to be too busy to open the door, but instead, had someone pull the door open for her.

"Jared?" She said, confused. He just smiled and she walked in, to see Andy with her parents.

"Hey!" Andy said, pulling Olivia into a hug. "My my haven't you grown!"

"Andyyyy!" She said, hugging him back and responded," And haven't you grown old. I see white hair!" and chuckled.

"How are you lil one?" He asked 

 "I'm alright. Where's Alicia?" she asked, looking behind him into the room.

There was a sudden shift in the atmosphere. It seemed tense. Every ounce of excitement in the air turned dark and dimmed out. Olivia noticed her parents shift uncomfortably.

"She's a little busy, so I thought I'll come here, meet these two, have Jared reunite with you. I'm surprised you guys aren't hugging each other to death yet." Andy said, trying to ease the tension. 

Jared began scratching his head, he felt a bit awkward and Olivia noticed it. "We already met up a few hours back. You missed it." Olivia responded with a small smile.

Jared was eyeing Olivia, questionably. That's when Margaret said, "Alright honey, you both catch up in your room, we three have got things to talk about"

She turned around, heading up the stairs, knowing that Jared was following. She entered her room, and placed her keys on a dresser and heard Jared say, "No more posters on the wall? Has Livvie really grown up?"

Olivia grinned and said, "I didn't have time to put them up yet. They'll be up soon though, don't worry."

Jared smiled softly at her, and sat down on the carpeted floor. It was extremely comfortable to sit on, but would definitely cause carpet burns.

Olivia sat down beside him, poked his side and said,"I've missed you Jared"

He nodded and said, "I've missed you too Liv" and turned to look at her. She looked the same yet so different, He wondered what all happened in the three years they didn't speak.

"How was life without me around?" Olivia asked and Jared fake-pouted.

"It was horrendous. I couldn't breathe."

Olivia playfully swatted his arm and said,"You never bothered returning my calls."

"I was busy." He replied casually, pulling at the loose thread on his socks. They sat there in silence in each others presence when he said,

"I heard that our Livvie got boyfriends there" 

She laughed and said, "Yeah, but right now I'm single."

"Did any of them hurt you?" He looked at her. His eyebrows were brought in together, and he seemed serious.

"Nope. I crushed their hearts." She responded, trying to make him calm down. He was behaving rather unusual. She used to feel a natural comfort around Jared which seemed to be missing in that moment.

"That's my girl" he said and grinned

"I knew the day you stole my action figures, that you're gonna break hearts some day" 

"Oh shut up. You stole my underwear, tore off all the heads of my barbies and TP'd my room all at the age of ten! I mean how did you even get those ideas at the age of ten!?" She responded. She hoped bringing up memories would make it easier for them.

"I'm brainy. It wasn't that hard to think honestly. You have always been too naive." He replied, and grinned. He wished they were small again, times were simpler when all they cared for were toys and each other. 

"Speaking of you, I've heard stuff. Don't know if I should believe it though. Wanna talk about it?" She asked, raising her eyebrows. She knew she had to try to get some information instead of merely acting like everything was alright. 

"What do you mean?" 

"Just stuff. You've become more, umm, closed off and, well, different apparently. Is it true?"

Jared looked tense. Olivia noticed and immediately regretted, but before she could act, he got up and said,

"Since when did other people's opinions matter to you Liv? What they think is not my problem, shouldn't really be yours either. You just returned, might as well settle in first. Honestly, it isn't your business"

"J I didn't mean it in a wrong way, I mean, I'm your best friend, I should know right? It is my business!"

"Olivia, you've been gone for four years. Trust me, I'm the last thing to be your business right now. I've gotta go. Bye." 

With that, Jared walked out of her room.

She sat there on the floor staring at where Jared stood. Her eyes began to well up with tears and all she could think was

'What just happened?'