Loving Olivia

Chapter Twenty-Six

"Stop pretending you're okay, because I know you're not." I turn around and see Brooke with Emma right next to her in my doorway.

"I don't know what you guys expect me to do or say. I don't have a side in any of this." I tell them, throwing more clothes into my suitcase.

I woke up this morning with my mind blank and void of emotion. I have to get my bags packed for I head to school.

"Are you serious right now? You're not the Liv I know. You're putting up no fight and just going along with things. What's wrong with you?" Emma exclaims,  grabbing my face in the process.

I swat her hands away from me and continue to pack my clothes.

"Liv stop! What the hell is wrong with you. The Liv I know would be kicking and screaming before she left this house!" Brooke's boring holes into the side of my face. Once she gets I'm ignoring her, she walks over and forces me to look at her.

"Olivia talk! Jesus Christ talk!" I shove her away from me staring her down.

"What the fuck do you expect me to do Brooke? Huh? What's fighting this gonna do?" She stares at me speechless at my outburst. "No comment? Exactly. I don't have a fucking choice in the matter. I'm drained. I'm physically and emotionally drained. I don't have fight left in me." I feel a single tear slide down my cheek and I quickly wipe it away.

"Oh Liv come here." Emma pulls me into a tight hug, only for Brooke to join.

"We got you okay? You're our little sister and we're always here for you. We'll stop talking about all this, but all it takes is a phone call or text and we'll storm that place." She gets a small chuckle from her as I pull away.

"I love you guys but I really gotta finish packing and get to school."

"We love you too Livie. Always and forever." They finally leave me to get finished.

I throw the rest of my clothes in my suitcase and zip it up. I grab my phone off my dresser, sticking it in my pocket. Slinging my volleyball bag and school bag over my shoulder I walk out of my room with my luggage in tow.

I can hear my moms heels clicking against the marble floor before I see her face. I expected her to be gone by now. My plan is to just walk straight out of the front door and go to school. I don't want to talk to her.

"Olivia." Dammit. I drop my bags in the foyer and go towards the kitchen.

"Yes?" I can see her perfectly manicured nails typing furiously against her phone but she stood once she hears me walk in.

"You know I'm doing this for your own good right? I love you." That's hard to believe.

"If you really cared about my well-being, you'd be there for me. You wouldn't be gone 24/7 and would sit and talk to me. You've thrown yourself into work and and every time someone tries to talk to you about their problems, you're excuse is you're always busy but in reality you make enough a day from the company alone to retire now and be fine with the money. If you really cared, you wouldn't have missed my 17th birthday. I don't think staying with him while you're gone is what's best for me, but I have no say so."

She stares at me in shock and I catch a glimpse of pain in her eyes.

I turn to walk away but I stop once she calls out my name. I watch her open her mouth and close it for a few seconds, feeling truly sorry for this woman.

"I gotta get to school." And with that, I want out of that house.