I Know Places / b.s.

Quatre

Brad

Jeremy was trying to teach me how to change the oil in his jeep, even though I literally did not care. I still sat there, trying to be patient for the sake of not getting into an argument.

"What do you know about Olivia?" I asked.

Jeremy froze and looked over at me. "No, do not go there, Brad. She doesn't need you to corrupt her-"

"I'll try not to take offense," I snapped. "I'm serious, Jeremy. I want to know more about her but she doesn't want to open up to me."

"Probably because you're minuscule problems are nothing compared to her's. She's a sweet girl. The last thing she needs is you to ruin her recovery-"

I cut him off again, "recovery?"

Jeremy stood up straight, wiping his hands with a rang. He was clearly contemplating his next words, but I expected the truth.

"Two months ago she got into a pretty bad car accident with her brother. He died on impact but she somehow survived. The doctors lost her for a minute or two but they revived her. It's been a hard few months for her. Her parents made her move in with Beth so she could recover without pressure from anyone else. That's why I'm telling you do not fuck with her, Brad. She's still mourning the loss of her brother."

I felt sick. This wasn't what I expected, but now that I knew, I wasn't really surprised. Olivia had seemed pretty depressed since I met her, but I figured it was because she was stuck here.

"I didn't know," I groaned, "wow."

-

Olivia

I wasn't feeling well today and for reasons I knew too well, I couldn't get out of bed. It was cloudy today and I swore I heard thunder a few minutes ago. My body ached with sadness as I pictured Charlie.

There was a quiet knock on my door and Beth opened the door slowly and quietly. She poked her head in and have me a half smile.

"Hey, I made some food. Hungry?"

I shook my head. "Not right now."

She walked into the room and sat on the edge of the bed. I pulled the sheets a little closer to my face, seeing her concerned eyes meet mine.

"It hurts today, doesn't it?" she asked.

I nodded, "I can't help it."

"I know," she breathed, "it's okay."

"I miss him," I admitted. "I feel so guilty. It should have been me that night-"

"Don't say that," Beth stated, "you know he didn't feel it - the doctor said it was instant. If it were you, he would be in your position right now, saying the exact same thing."

Chills ran across my body. Tears flooded my eyes and I nodded. I don't talk about this with anyone, especially not Beth. My parents barley know the story, except for what they heard from the cop he got me out of the car.

"Can I tell you something?" I asked.

She nodded, "anything."

"In the ambulance, my life flashed before my eyes. I felt so cold and I couldn't feel my body, but I felt the memories that were in my head. It's like in those few minutes that they lost me, I was reliving everything. It was dark and strange and I saw this white light but that's the moment the medic revived me and I started to breathe again."

Beth was crying, wiping her cheeks even though I didn't mean for her to. I swallowed hard, overcome with guilt.

"I'm sorry," I began, "I just needed to say that. I haven't talk to anyone about this."

"It's okay, Olivia," she assured.

"I remember it all too well, Beth. I picture it all every night before I go to bed," I revealed, "and I won't ever forget Charlie's laugh before it all happened."

Beth grabbed my hand and squeezed it as a sign of reassurance. My chest felt a little lighter but not by much. A few tears slipped from my eyes but I wiped them away.

-

I'm running through the woods and along the right side of the road past houses. It's raining harder than it was when I left the house but I'm far from the house. My clothes are drenched in sweat and rain, but I keep going. I'm getting closer to the house, but I take a left and run through a small trail that leads to the pier.

Even though it's raining, I stand at the edge of the pier and stare out at the water. For the first time in a really long time I burst into tears. My sobs can barley be heard over the pouring rain but I bring my hands to my face as if wiping away my tears is possible in these conditions.

I'm a hysterical mess and I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. That night I died and was revived as if I have a life to go back to. I was given a second chance but I feel so undeserving of it.

"Olivia?" I hear someone's voice calling out my name through he loud ran. I turn around and see Brad standing at the other end of the pier, drenching in rain.

I shake my head at him. "Go away."

Brad doesn't listen. Instead, he's beside me now, giving me the saddest look I had ever seen on his face. I'm still a sobbing mess and he just stands there, trying to figure out his next move.

"I'm not supposed to be here," I cried.

"You got a second chance. Not many people get that, Olivia," Brad said over the rain.

I stared at him. "What?"

"Jeremy told me about your brother... I'm so sorry. You're not alone - I'm willing to listen if you need someone," he advised.

"No one understands," I sobbed.

"I'm willing to try," he said. "You just have to give me a chance. Let's go inside."

I shook my head, "I can't. I feel so lonely and tired and I just want Charlie to take my place."

Brad looked so desperate because of how hopeless I must have looked.

"Charlie would want you to be happy, Olivia. Now let's get out of this weather. Come on, you can dry up at my place. No ones home."

Brad led me to Jeremy's and brought me inside. We took off our wet shoes at the front door. He rushed off the bathroom and brought back a large towel for me, wrapping it around me before leading me up the steps to the guest bedroom.

He opened the top dresser and pulled out a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. When he turned around he was handing them to me. I hesitated but accepted them, dropping the towel to the ground before peeling off my wet clothes.

When I got down to my bra and underwear Brad cleared his throat a little and turned around. I pulled off my bra and underwear and put on his clothes, not really caring that I was half naked in front of him.

"Thanks," I said.

He turned back around. "No problem."

Silence.

"Where are Jeremy and Kira?" I asked.

"They had a baby shower to go to," Brad explained, "do you want to watch a movie or something? I can make us some food."

"Sure," I replied.

There was something about him right now that was foreign. He was being cautious but not too cautious. I admired this side of him, but it was a side of him I had never seen. I followed him down the steps and into the kitchen, watching him put together a homemade pizza with the ingredients they had in the fridge.

He glanced back at me and smiled. In that moment I wondered if I'd fall in love with him, because he sure wasn't pushing me away and he definitely was here to stay.

---