Trading Heartbeats

Chapter 9:

"Would you just pick something already." Alexis scolded as Olivia continued scrolling through Netflix. She let out a long frustrated sigh as she rolled her eyes at her friend. Alexis busied herself by setting out a buffet of take-out containers of Chinese food on the coffee table. After another 5 minutes, they settled on an old rom-com.

"So, tell me how things went last night," Alexis asked taking a bite out of her egg roll, eyes focused on the television.

Olivia smiled to herself as she felt her stomach do somersaults thinking about Dean and their evening together, a light blush coming to her face. No man she had ever been with had made her feel the way he had, she didn't even know it was possible. She had been thinking about him since he left. She wasn't even able to focus on grading her third graders' assignments as she had planned on doing. He had awakened something in her, a hunger she didn't know she had.

"It was...nice." She answered simply. Alexis rolled her eyes. "Anyway, what did you guys do after I left?" She asked in an attempt to change the attention off herself.

"Max left right after you guys did. I hung out with Cas and Sam for a bit before calling it a night. Sam is like...crazy smart." She yawned.

"That's great. They seem like a lot of fun." Olivia smiled.

"They were. Now back to you...'nice'...is that all you're gonna give me?" She replied cocking an eyebrow as she tossed a piece of shrimp at her. Olivia shook her head with a quiet laugh.

"I'm not going into details of my sex life with you." Alexis' eyes widened in interest as she grinned.

"You DID sleep with him!" She exclaimed as Olivia bit her lip. "I was sure you'd punk out. But, one-night-stand is now off your bucket list." She laughed teasingly. 

"It was never on my bucket list, and I'm not going into details." She sighed.

"Come onnnnnnnn." She whined.

"Oh my god, fine. He was...is amazing." Her blush deepened.

"Is?" Alexis' eyes narrowed as she took another bite of food. "Are you planning on seeing him again?" She questioned.

Olivia shrugged stifling a grin. "I dunno, he said they'd be in town for a few more days and to call him."

"Liv, you're just a convenience to him. You know that, right?" She asked sincerely. Olivia looked down and picked at her plate of food in embarrassment. She was certain there was something there, some bond, a connection. There was a part of her, a small part, that felt he may have felt it too, she shrugged.

"I don't know, he's just so..." She trailed off.

"Jesus Christ..." Alexis rolled her eyes.

" What?" Olivia asked furrowing her eyebrows. "You're the one who told me to 'get back out there'." She said making air quotes with her hands before crossing her arms over her chest.

"I told you to sleep with him not fall head-over-heels for the guy." She said raising her voice slightly. Olivia's eyes widened as she looked down.

"Goddammit. Liv. I love you, you know that. But sometimes you're so fucking naïve it kills me." She finished shaking her head. Tears welled in Olivia's blue eyes as she got to her feet.

"Shit...Liv, I'm sorry. I didn't mean..." She apologized. Olivia shook her head quickly wiping the tears from her cheeks in an attempt to collect herself. She cleared her throat.

"No, Lex, you're right. It's stupid to assume he'd even..." She was cut off by her phone ringing in the kitchen. Alexis motioned for her to go get it as she focused her attention back on her food and the television. She hurried into the kitchen seeing it was Mrs. Davis, the principal of her school. She took a deep breath in an effort to compose herself before answering the call, putting it to her ear.

"Hello?" She answered biting her lip.

"Liv, it's Sue, I'm so sorry to bug you at home on a Sunday but I'm afraid I have some bad news." She started.

"Oh no. Is everything okay?" She asked nervously.

"I'm afraid there was an accident last night involving the father of your student Spencer Martin." She paused before continuing. "He was found dead early this morning in the woods...the authorities are saying an animal attacked him." She said somberly. Olivia gasped quietly as a hand covered her mouth momentarily.

"That's terrible." She sighed as she felt her heart drop into her stomach.

"Yes, we're all in shock." She agreed. "But, I was wondering if you'd be able to drop off Spencer's assignments for the week since he'll be off." 

"Oh, of course." They spoke briefly before ending the call. Olivia sat her phone on the counter. She covered her face with her hands letting out a long sigh before running her hands through her hair.

"Hey, everything okay?" Alexis asked cautiously taking a set at the kitchen table.

"Um, I don't know." She answered truthfully. "The father of one my students was found dead...they're saying an animal attacked him." She answered trying to steady her breath. Alexis' brow furrowed in confusion.

"Animal attack? Like Mr. Simmons?" Olivia nodded in response. "That's weird."

Olivia nodded in agreement. In the number of years, she had lived in the town she could never remember hearing of an animal attack. Her heart broke for sweet Spencer, he was a quiet child and they had formed a special bond in the time he had been in her class. She could tell his home life wasn't the best.

She sat down at the table at the command of Alexis as she began to make them some tea. She smiled weakly at her friend as she sat down a steaming mug in front of her. She glanced out the kitchen window allowing her mind to wander.