Summer Love: Before the Spark

Chapter 18

Reuben was sitting in a small chair while Lukas who was laying in a hospital bed gazed out the window.

"I hope she won't be mad," He said softly.

"I'm sure she won't be too happy about you signing her up for that," Reuben said thoughtfully.

Lukas nodded slowly.

"But I can't just sit here and watch her throw away her talent like that," Lukas stated rather passionately.

"Yeah I understand that," Reuben said softly as he fiddled with his thumbs.

"Maybe this is what she needs though a little encouragement," Olivia said, nonchalantly.

Axel shifted from toe to toe.

"Why'd she stop playing the piano anyway?" Axel asked as he crossed his arms over her chest.

"Don't know," Reuben muttered.

Olivia shrugged while Lukas kept quiet. 

Axel's brow raised.

"Well.. How do you plan to bring the idea up?" Olivia asked to no one in particular.

"Maybe we ask her out to eat or something," Reuben suggested.

"She loves sweets," Lukas said faintly, "So find a bakery."

"Yeah, but don't you think that's quite suspicious," Olivia said as she put her hand on her hip, "She'll definitely know something's up. We rarely take her out to eat."

"Well it's not like we have many suggestions here Liv," Axel said bluntly.

"I know, but what if this doesn't work out. What if she freaks out or something," Olivia stated negatively, her tone growing a little harsher ever since Axel made a comment, "Then what?"

Reuben sighed quietly.

"Please Olivia just this once can you look on the bright side," Reuben pleaded longingly.

Lukas nodded in agreement wearily, as he glanced gently at Olivia.

Axel glanced at Reuben puzzled, why was he so intolerant today?

Olivia gazed at Reuben, looking slightly bothered by his comment.

"Fine," She muttered as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Well... I think maybe we should discuss this later," Axel muttered, as he nibbled on a warm chocolate chip cookie that had conveniently been in his hand.

"Yeah, it's getting late," Olivia said. "I understand," Lukas said softly as he smiled a little.

Olivia uncrossed her arms.

"We'll see you tommorow Lukas," Reuben said as he got up from his seat and opened the door.

"Yeah," Axel muttered inaudibly as he finished the last bits of his gooey cookie.

"Bye Lukas," Olivia said gently as she flashed him a warm smile.

"Bye guys," Lukas said softly, as he watched his friends leave the room.

Olivia shut the door quietly as she walked out.

Axel, Reuben and Olivia walked silently down the dimly lit hall.

Reuben had his brow furrowed as he stared at the pristine ground. He was lost in deep thought.

Axel coughed, "So uh.. Liv do you think Jesse will come back to school soon?" He asked, breaking the tense silence.

"I don't know," Olivia mumbled sincerely, "I just hope she's alright."

Axel nodded.

"Same here. It's... Really weird without Jesse," He said, softly.

"Yeah," Olivia said quietly.

As the conversation died silence fell between the two and the silence made Axel extremely uncomfortable, so he stuffed his grimy hands in his pockets and whistled.

"Can you please stop whistling," Olivia asked within a few mere seconds. His whistling irritated her and she couldn't exactly pinpoint why.

"What?" Axel inquired, "Is it illegal to whistle now or something. Plus I've barely even started whistling and you're already on my case!"

"Ugh, all I'm asking is if you can stop," She said, frustratedly.

Reuben snapped out of his train of thought and he glanced at them.

Axel stuck out his tongue and Olivia scowled.

"Why do you have to be so childish," She grumbled quietly.

"Whatever," Axel mumbled in response.

Things had been tense between Axel and Olivia ever since their last argument.

Reuben sighed faintly and for once decided not to intervene. He wasn't very surprised that they were getting heated over something silly, it had been a common occurrence ever since their last argument.

Poisonous thoughts filled with fury rushed into both Axel and Olivia's mind.

They, surprisingly, refrained from strangling each other with their nasty remarks, but they were both silently fuming.

Reuben was unsure as to why the two weren't getting along lately, but he was starting to feel on edge whenever he was around them.

Although, he simply brushed the feeling aside and the trio walked out of the hospital.

"So do you guys want to hang out?" Reuben asked, gently, a small smile plastered on his face.

"Uh n-no," Olivia stammered hesitantly, "Sorry, but I have plans."

"Same," Axel said as he rubbed the back of his neck rapidly, "I have homework to do."

The two slowly walked away from Reuben and his smile quickly faded.

"See ya tommorow," Olivia said as she waved.

"Yeah see ya," Axel hollered.

Olivia glared slightly at Axel, but fortunately he didn't catch her gaze as he walked away.

"Uh.... Ok," Reuben muttered as he raised his brow a little. He couldn't help, but be a bit disappointed that they didn't want to hang out with him though.

Reuben started heading home and walked home slowly, almost as if he was dreading to go home.

With his head in the clouds, he wondered if things would ever go back to the way they used to be.

With everyone happy.

The sound of laughter hummed softly in Reuben's ears.

The sound of their laughter. Jesse, Axel and Olivia's. He missed it so much and he craved to see the sight of joy spreading across all of their faces once more.

A cheerful memory suddenly crossed his mind, made him smile a little.

Less than a few moments later though, that smile fell from his face as he came to a realization.

Things were different now and one of the things that he feared the most was finally unfolding before him.

They were changing and he was simply watching it happen.