Downfall

Paparazzi

Downfall

Chapter Four

Paparazzi

 

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Olivia groaned and rolled over in her bed, slamming her fist against the alarm clock and tangling her legs in the satin sheets. She stumbled as she stood from the bed before kicking her legs free of the deep violet material.

Her phone buzzed and she turned her attention to the slim device. Three missed calls and seven text messages. She shook her head – no doubt they were added attempts made by her friends to get her to join them for spring break. They could wait until after her morning ritual.

Grabbing a pair of jeans and a light, grey sweater, she headed toward her bathroom and the shower that waited for her there. The warm water felt good as it sluiced against her tired muscles. She grabbed for her sandalwood scented body wash, inhaling the intoxicating scent as she rubbed it into her skin.

Her morning routine took a little longer than normal – she had spent a few extra minutes under the warm water than she usually would. Stepping out from under the now lukewarm spray, goosebumps began peppering Olivia's otherwise smooth skin as she hurriedly wrapped a grey towel around her shivering body. It didn't take her long to dress and make her way to her kitchen and the steaming pot of coffee waiting for her.

As she sat nursing a warm mug between her hands, the blinking of her phone caused her to turn her head toward the device. She sighed and finally reached a hand out to pick the slim phone up. Unlocking the screen, she began scrolling through her several text messages.

"Where are you?"

"Have you seen the paper?"

"Well now I know why you wouldn't go on a date with me...awkward." The text from the resident bad boy at Lincoln, Mason, had Olivia furrowing her brows. What was that supposed to mean? She sighed and continued on to her next and final text – from her best friend.

"Olivia Carolyn Pope, you little slut! I didn't think you had it in you! Call me?"

Olivia shook her head. What was she missing? Something happened that had set everyone on edge and she didn't like the sinking feeling that that something involved her. Deciding to get straight to the point, she began dialing.

"Olivia," Chloe's loud, shrill shriek caused Olivia to pull the phone back from her ear a few inches, "Why did you tell me you were seeing someone? As your best friend, I find that offensive."

Olivia laughed at the pout that had made its way into Chloe's voice – she had always been a tad immature and wild, but that only seemed to balance out Olivia's personality. On the surface, their friendship didn't make much sense to anyone but them.

"I'm not seeing anyone." Olivia finally settled the phone back against her ear, confident that there wouldn't be any more squealing on her friend's part. Chloe loved drama and Olivia was certain that the beginning of the conversation had nothing to do with Chloe's hurt over being kept in the dark about some supposed secret but more to do with her need to cause a scene for most everything.

"Really?" Chloe's shocked tone only added fuel to Olivia's confusion, "Because the front page of the paper would disagree."

"What are you talking about?"

"You haven't seen the paper?"

"No..." Olivia wondered what the sudden enthusiasm for the morning paper was about. Chloe rarely read anything except the glossy pages of whatever magazine currently interested her and occasionally her textbooks half-way through the semester when she began worrying that she might actually fail. Not that it would happen – Chloe had her ways of making sure she passed. Ways that Olivia didn't approve.