Only if you know (Book 1)

Chapter 10

Olivia was looking in the mirror when she noticed a girl with green eyes staring back at her. She was fair-skinned. Things have changed dramatically in the last four years. Livy used to be a happy-go-lucky girl before the whole thing went downhill. Her eyes used to be bright green and twinkled, and her skin used to glow but no longer does. Those happy times in her life had passed her by.

She sighed deeply.

She misses her old life and wishes she could relive all of the happiness and good times. She wishes to reclaim her happy family. However, not all dreams come true.

"May I come in, Honey?" Eliana spoke as she stood at the door to her room.

"Of course," Olivia says. She smiled at her with a tight grin.

"How do you feel right now?"

"All right, thank you."

"Good. I was thinking, do you want to go shopping before your school starts tomorrow?"

"No, thank you, Eliana. I have all the clothes I require. I bought it with my mom about a month ago." She lowered her gaze.

Despite everything, she still misses her mother. Olivia vividly recalls the day she went shopping with both of her parents. That was the day her parents spoke to her and apologized for their behaviour towards her. As compensation, they both took her shopping. After three years, she finally had a family moment with them. For the next two weeks, everything went swimmingly. Her parents were even seeing a therapist to deal with their grief and problems, and Olivia was on the verge of forgiving them when something snapped. Things began to deteriorate once more, and the next thing she knows, her parents were no longer in her life.

Eliana approached her and hugged her. Olivia recalls how her mother used to hug her. She misses those hugs. "All right, how about a fresh look?"

Olivia was about to protest, but Eliana was not ready to listen. She was persistent.

"Olivia, I am not going to take no for an answer. And believe me when I say that a new hairstyle will make you feel great."

"Okay," she sighs, defeated.

Olivia and Eliana were both sitting in the parlour after an hour. She discussed with the stylist a look that would suit her. So, in the end, they went with layers. She also added baby pink highlights to her hair. Not on her entire head of hair, but only on a few strands on both sides.

Olivia's mom always told her when she was a child. 'A good hairstyle always boosts your confidence.'

Olivia felt different after she had her hair done. She was more or less the same, but her new look gave her the confidence to face everyone at school the next day. People in this place only have one piece of the puzzle, which is her past. So she was bound to get some strange and knowing looks the next day at school if they even remember her. Due to her family history with this town, it would be hard for anyone to forget.

She also needs to strengthen herself in order to face her two best friends, with whom she hasn't spoken in three years. They texted her every now and then, but she couldn't muster the courage to respond. She missed them and wished she could talk to them, but she couldn't. She couldn't tell them what she had been through in the previous three years. And, given her blatant disregard for them, there's a good chance they won't want to see her again.

Olivia's brave self must return from tomorrow to face the person she despises the most. Because once she returns to school, she will undoubtedly try to make her life a living hell. Now that she doesn't even have his support, she needs to make herself ten times stronger and deal with her.

It doesn't take a genius to predict that Olivia Brown will have an eventful day tomorrow.