Summer Love: Before the Spark

Chapter 20

Jesse sighed faintly as she pushed the tall door to her home open.

A heavy weight settled in her chest as she closed the door behind her and stepped foot into the house.

The recent memories of what had occurred raced through her mind and she glanced down for just a moment.

Jesse bit her bottom lip before adjusting her backpack and sighing heavily.

She quickly walked into the room where the piano was, set her stripped backpack down and took a deep shaky breath.

"You can do this," She muttered faintly as she glanced blankly at a picture of her and her little sister grinning before quickly gazing at the piano.

She swiftly unzipped her backpack, grabbed the heavy folder and opened it slowly before setting it on the ebony music rack.

As she took the sheet music out of the folder and put it on the rack, she sighed faintly.

"Doubt I'll be able to hear anything...," She muttered softly as she sat down on the ebony piano bench, "But I suppose I'll try anyway..."

Meanwhile, Olivia was in her room, her hand underneath her chin as she studiously wrote an essay.

Her brow was furrowed as she tapped her fingers against her dark brown desk rapidly.

She had so much work to do.

Her softball bat, ebony glove, milk colored visor was besides her desk and as she glanced at it for a moment, she quickly gazed determinedly at her essay.

She knew she had to finish it now even though it really sucked, but it would be worth it.

She felt her phone buzz since it was in her pocket, but didn't bother picking it up just yet.

Her phone kept buzzing and she groaned softly.

She set her narrow pencil down and took her large phone out of her pocket.

Olivia retched as she warily read the messages she was sent.

"Hey loser can't believe I'm talking to the girl everyone hates also known as you."

Olivia bit her bottom lip anxiously, mixed feelings beginning to arise.

"Give me the money tomorrow before I expose you, you know where to meet."

Olivia swiftly set her phone down and exhaled quietly.

Her heart was simply racing.

This person just wouldn't leave her alone.

Olivia clenched her teeth.

"I know you don't want this exposed... And you know what I can do."

Olivia gulped and her hands began to shake. This wasn't fair, but the incrimination would be far to difficult for Olivia to fight off.

She groaned faintly before reluctantly replying.

"Fine, I'll pay you."

The other person never replied after that and Olivia frowned as she began biting her nails.

She wondered when she would run out of money? Would she need to get a job? Why is this person doing this?

_-(The next day)-_

It was lunch time and everyone was talking except for Olivia. She was busying writing things down.

"Hey, Olivia," Reuben said softly, "Don't cha think this is cool?"

He held up a design in his sketch book and he smiled proudly.

"Huh," Olivia glanced up swiftly, barely registering what was said, "Yeah.."

Jesse glanced at Olivia for just a moment before glancing down.

"So uh.. You coming to the football game tonight," Axel asked, his voice simply annoying Olivia.

Actually, at the moment everything seemed to irritate her.

"Oh yeah, sure why not," Reuben said with a casual shrug.

"And what about you Jesse," Axel said gently.

"Yeah.. I don't see why not," She said, a smile painted on her face, "We got to support ya."

"Liv, are you coming?" Axel asks nonchalantly.

"Please shut up," She said, unexpectedly, as she wrote faster.

"Geez, he just asked a question," Jesse said as Reuben raised his brow.

Axel looked slightly surprised for a moment.

"Ok... Ok Olivia what's been going on?" Reuben said faintly, finally having enough of everything, "You've been acting weird for the past week or so."

"It's nothing," She mumbled hastily.

"It's obviously something," Jesse stated, her suspicions growing as well, "You can tell us."

"No, I can't!" Olivia retorted, slightly enraged, "You wouldn't understand!

"How do yo-"

She sent an icy glare towards Reubens direction, instantly silencing him.

"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you," Olivia said as she took a deep breath, trying calm herself down.

She gazed wordlessly into a different direction.

An awkward silence hung in the air that no one dared to break and Reuben gazed at Jesse, concern in his gaze.

Jesse shrugged casually. She found Olivia's sudden outburst strange and at the moment she didn't know what to do or say.

---

"Here," Olivia said quietly.

The person in front of her smirked and quickly snatched the envelope before stuffing it into her pocket.

"Nice doing business with you, idiot," The female said as she put her hand on her hip.

Olivia helplessly stood there.
She hated this, but she couldn't do anything about it.

"Oh.. You just don't know how to stay out of trouble," The petite, green eyed woman muttered as she flipped through the large amount of cash, "What a shame... Tsk.. Tsk."

Olivia grit her teeth.

"Remember tell anyone a word about this and I'll make sure your life is a living hell. And you have my word on that one, stupid."

---

Who do you think is blackmailing Olivia?

Why do you think their doing this to her? What could she have done?