Only if you know (Book 1)

Chapter 5

Livy, Livy.” Olivia heard someone call her name and gently shook her shoulder. “Livy honey, wake up.” A woman’s voice called out.

      Olivia opened her eyes slowly and saw two figures crouched beside her. It was a little dizzy at first, but after a few seconds, the picture became clearer. She slowly rose from the bench that had served as her bed the night before and noticed Eliana and William kneeling in front of her.

      “Good Gracious! You finally woke up, Olivia.” Eliana exclaimed, relief flooding her voice.

      “Why were you sleeping out here, Livy?” William asked, his expression tight with concern.

      ‘Because your son assumed I was already in bed and locked me out without even checking up on me. Not that it was my fault, but I was severely beaten up by a stranger who decided I didn’t deserve peace on my way home.’

      “I woke up early, so I came out here to take a breath of fresh air. But I guess I drifted off to sleep.” She said quietly.

      “All right,” William was still suspicious, but he accepted her lie.

      She's gotten quite good at lying after all this time. She is skilled at concealing her emotions. 

      Olivia reached up to remove the hood covering her head, but froze when she heard Eliana’s soft gasp.

      'Oh shoot! I forgot about the bruise.' 

      Back home, it was normal, so she didn't need to hide her face unless she had to go out and act like a perfect girl with a perfect family.

      If only they knew the truth.

      “What happened to your forehead?” Eliana asked, gently cupping Olivia’s face, eyes locked on the dark bruise near her temple.

      “I slipped,” Olivia lied easily. “Hit the edge of the bed, that’s all.”

      Eliana touched the bruise lightly, but Olivia didn’t flinch. She was used to worse. So much worse. With a bit of makeup, she could erase every mark, at least the ones visible on her skin.       

      “I will just put some ointment on it, and it will be fine,” Olivia reassured them softly.

      They weren’t sure, but they gave her some space. Olivia respected them for it. She stood and started toward the house, only to freeze when she saw Caleb standing in the hallway. He might’ve overheard everything. It didn’t matter. Without saying a word, she walked right past him and went to her room as if nothing had happened.

      Once inside, Olivia closed the door and pulled out a large pouch from her bag, one she always kept hidden. Inside were rows of medicine bottles and ointments, painkillers, and sleeping pills. No seventeen-year-old should need this much medication. But she did. It was the only thing that kept her functioning.

      She applied the cream to her bruised forehead. She took off her clothes and went to the shower. Olivia could see that it wasn’t just her forehead that was injured, but also her arm and stomach. She ignored the stinging pain when water came into contact with those marks.

      After showering, she put on her usual outfit—a loose, long-sleeved shirt and black leggings. A layer of makeup erased the evidence, leaving her face deceptively calm. Her hair went into a neat ponytail. She looked almost normal. Almost.

      Grabbing her phone and sling bag, she headed downstairs.

‘I should have listened to my intuition and checked on Olivia. Thank goodness I awoke early today and unlocked the front door. Otherwise, mom and dad would have discovered she had spent the night in the backyard and slept on the bench.’ Caleb thought when he noticed Olivia sleeping on the bench.

      He knew something was wrong, which could be why he couldn’t sleep the night before. But he must admit that she is good at lying. Too good, in fact. He knew she wasn’t hurt by the bed because she hadn’t slept on one.

      Perhaps she had been beaten. But by whom?

      The worst part is that she didn’t even flinch when his mother touched her bruised forehead. Even men withdraw when they are hurt physically. But not her.

      Olivia was on her way to her room when she noticed him. She took a breath and walked away after a few seconds. She most likely went to her room to clean herself. He quietly followed her upstairs. He was just checking to make sure she was okay. He noticed her quietly taking a larger-than-average pouch from her bag. Because she was sitting on the floor on the other side of the bed, he couldn't see her very well. He saw her applying some sort of ointment above her brow, but she didn't flinch for a second. She got up and went for a shower as if nothing had happened.

      He immediately hid when he thought he was about to get caught and went towards his room.

      Caleb was consumed by guilt at first. He should have been more careful with her. He should not have left her alone to attend the party in the first place. But she shouldn't have gone to wherever she was going to get those illegal substances. He could be wrong. But why was she beaten up in the first place?

      Olivia couldn't have fallen because she wasn't at home. She used the bed as an excuse. She could have said she fell at the party or something, but she didn't. She gave the excuse of a home, which means she was beaten up, maybe by a drug dealer or something, for not having money.

      After a few more minutes, Caleb went downstairs and sat on the couch. He noticed Olivia coming down the stairs. The bruise on her forehead had magically disappeared. She might have put on some makeup. He must admit that she is very good at applying cosmetics and concealing bruises.

      Then he realized something. Olivia wasn't high to begin with. You have to have a side after effect from drugs. He had seen it with his own eyes, but he didn't find a single flaw on her face. Except for the purple mark on her forehead, she was as normal as any human is in the morning.

      There was more to this girl than she lets on.

      ‘Olivia, who are you? What's the deal with you?’

      Caleb suspected that he was overthinking things. He should just leave her alone and let her do her own thing. But he must give her fair warning before she hurts anyone. His parents adore her, and it would break their hearts if they discovered she’s no better than his good-for-nothing brother.

      He needs to talk to her and make things clear.