Olivia goes West

Chapter 7

There was a knock on the door bright and early in the morning. Bridget and Tony, used to staying up late and sleeping until at least 10 o'clock because of Tony's job, were asleep. But not everyone in the house was sleeping. Olivia still stared up at the ceiling in her room, her eyes bloodshot with bags under them, having not gotten a wink of sleep all night because every little creak or noise made her think Fidget was breaking in to kidnap her.

The knock came again. Olivia sat up with a groan, and climbed out of bed, walking toward the living room.

Wait-she was the only one awake right now. Wouldn't this be the perfect way to kidnap her, in the morning when she wouldn't expect it? Olivia had her guard up, as best as she could, feeling drowsy and tipsy from the lack of sleep.

"Who's there?" she asked.

"It's Fievel."

Olivia smiled a little, and opened the door. Sure enough there he was, with Tiger waiting outside behind him.

"Olivia...you don't look so good."

"Oh! Um...l-let me get dressed an' I'll come out with ye. Maybe I oughtta let Bridget or Tony know where I'm goin' too so they don't wake up worried, oh and I guess I oughtta have somethin' to eat for breakfast, can't eat with yer family anymore and all."

"If you need more time I'll wait, or come back later. I was just kinda worried about you."

Olivia blinked. He was here so early because he was worried? The thought made her blush, and she turned away.

"I-I'm alright, Fievel, just wait there for a bit."

As she went into the bathroom to get washed up and dressed she realized what Fievel had been talking about, seeing her own bloodshot eyes and ruffled fur in the mirror. It had been a terrible night. She was embarrassed for letting Fievel see her like that. And in her nightgown again too. After a quick bath she got dressed, and lightly knocked on the door of Bridget and Tony. She heard a groan and a yawn.

"Yeah? Dat you Livvie?" asked Tony from inside.

She opened the door, speaking softly, "Sorry to wake ye up, but Fievel's here and I wanted to go with him."

Tony rubbed his eyes, "Yeah alright, I'll tell Bridget where ya went when we wake up in a few hours. If yer hungry go ahead and make a sandwich or somethin', and be back for dinner."

"Okay, thank ye Tony," Olivia said with a light smile, closing the door so Tony could get back to sleep after probably having only gotten three hours at this point. More than Olivia could say for herself.

After a quick trip to the kitchen to make a cheese sandwich and put it in a basket, she moved to open the front door again, where Fievel had been waiting patiently on the porch as Tiger explained to him why girls took so much longer than boys to get ready. Olivia put the basket down and eavesdropped on them, with the door only open a crack.

"But why is she so concerned with her looks around me?" Fievel asked naïvely, "I think she looks fine anyway. Why can't she just brush her hair, put on her clothes and be ready?"

Tiger chuckled, "You're a boy, that's why. Maybe it's because she likes you, Fie."

Fievel looked up at Tiger, "Likes me? Like as in...more than a friend?"

"Yeah, like that!" Tiger answered, "Like me and Miss Kitty, Tony and Bridget..."

"I know what you mean," Fievel said, "I'm not as young as I used to be, I know about stuff like that. I just never had a girl like me before, I-I mean, if she really does, like you think."