Impractical (1)

14

Above: Upstairs floor plan for Curly's room.

With her back to her bedroom door, she caught her breath as her fingers clawed through her curls. Wiping her hands over her face, her heart dropped in her chest at the sound of a knock at the door and she jumped to her feet. Turning to face the circular mirror that hung on her wall, she pulled at her curls, but the continued to bounce off her shoulders - They weren't voluminous or attractive, and when she was around Curly she was insecure about it.

She opened the door and felt her shoulders relax when she recognized James, "Is everything alright in there?" He asked with a small smile on his lips, telling her, "We decided to walk across the street to Curly's place."

"Why would you 'we' decide to do that?" Olivia asked defensively as she glanced to see that everyone had already left the den to walk across the street, "We hangout here." She said with a bit of anxiety on her brow, "I'm always the hostess."

"It will be a change of scenery," Murray shrugged, telling her, "Curly mentioned that she is a musician, maybe she'll play something for us."

"I could've been a musician," She muttered as she stepped around him and entered the empty den.

"Are you sure everything is alright?" James asked her once more, noticing how she paused at the center of the large room, "You seem stressed."

"I'm always stressed," She hummed for the thousandth time, reciting, "You should know that."

"What's up?" He asked, tossing his body onto the larger couch against the window, tapping the spot she always sat in, "Let's talk," He hummed, adjusting his body as she stepped forward, "Obviously there is something bothering you."

"Obviously, you're nosy."

"True, but I also care about you." He shrugged, watching as she hesitantly moved to take a seat beside him, "You know you can tell me anything, Liv."

"Anything?" She asked, her heart urging her to speak.

"Anything."

"Promise you won't tell?"

"Is it really that serious?"

"James --."

"Promise, okay, I promise." He said genuinely, his eyes locked on her as she stared forward, "Olivia, what's wrong?"

"I slept with Brian."

There was a long silence. She was relieved, but she didn't want to look at him. She feared the disappointment that would be spread across his features, but when she turned she saw something unexpected - Acceptance.

The silence sat over them as he met her eyes and shifted his body to face her. She was nervous to hear his voice, but his response confused her, "I know." He hummed quietly, his hand moving to brush through the back of his hair.

"You know?"

"Brian told me," He hummed, gently shrugging his shoulders, "I was sworn to secrecy," He added quickly, telling her, "I promise, I haven't told anyone."