Healing

You were hanging out with Nate in his room in the Beta house, you had the last two weeks to think about everything and heal a little from the death of your mom and Sam. 

“How's things been?” Nate asked, carefully, rubbing the bottom of your back.

“Okay, if I’m being honest.” You smiled, reassuringly.

“Did you figure things out about us yet?” Nate asked, sheepishly.

“Not quite, I will soon, it's been a lot to process.” You smile softly at him.

“I understand.”  Nate replied, a little hint of sadness in his voice.

You head into the Livingroom to be greeted by Blake and Oscar; Blake wraps you in a hug.

“My favourite person, how’s things?” Blake beamed at you.

“They’re good.” You laughed at Blake.

Nate is staring daggers at Blake. Blake hasn't noticed, you pull away and sit on the sofa.

“So, Oscar, where’s Tara?” You grin at him.

“She’s just getting ready.” Oscar blushes a little.

“Are you two dating?” You asked.

“Yes.” He blushed harder. Tara comes skipping into the Livingroom.

“I didn’t want to ask, but when’s the funeral for Sam?” Tara asked, sadly.

“It’s been and gone, Madison wouldn’t let me go.” You replied, tears filled your eyes.

“She didn’t even invite me.” Tara gasped.

“I mean you are his ex; it is a little weird.” You remarked.

“Yeah, that is true, what do you have planned today?” Tara smiles at you changing the subject to something a little lighter.

“Nothing, I just want to hang with these guys.” You smiled, gesturing to Oscar and Blake.

“Wrong. We have a dance coming up.” Tara beams, hopping on her tip toes.

“What for now?” You grimace at the mere thought of a dance.

“Did no one tell you; the university has decided to hold a Halloween ball.” Blake explained.

“What? Nate never told me.” You gasp and look towards Nate.

“Must have slipped my mind.” He remarked glumly.

“Anyway, it means we can dress up and do couples costumes.” Tara remarked, giddy.

You shuffle on the spot a moment, you hadn’t told Tara that you and Nate were on a break.

“Oh, did you and Nate not get back together?” Tara sighed, sadly.

“It’s kind of complicated, we are kind of back together, but things don’t feel the same with us.” You sighed.

“Oh well we could go together.” Tara suggested, Oscar looks at Tara his face a little disappointed.

“I was hoping we could go together T.” Oscar remarked, his face still filled with sadness.

“We can but Olivia can join us, right?” Tara beamed.

“I don’t want to third wheel; I think I’ll skip it.” You replied.

There's a silence in the room, your phone buzzes cutting through the silence. There's no ID but a text reading; 'Break up with Nate or face the consequence.'

‘This has to be from Taylor.’ You tuck your phone back in your pocket and go to head out.

“Olivia, if you're not busy after classes maybe we could go for coffee?” Blake asked as he comes barrelling into you.

“I was gonna ask the same thing.” Nate rounded the corner standing beside you and Blake.

“Let's go together as a trio, it will be nice to hang out since I've shut myself off from everyone.” You suggested.

“Sure.” The boy remarked in unison and nodded.

You head out for classes, you walk down the somewhat bare hallways, there’s banners and posters everywhere reading ‘Spooktacular Dance.’ Suddenly the day dreaming is interrupted, another text comes through, again from no called ID. 'Watch your back, I'm warning you.'

‘I have to figure out whose sending these.’ You tuck your phone back into your pocket. You head into class, Taylor is already there, she doesn't acknowledge you. You take your seat, shortly after classes are over and you head over to the coffee shop to meet Nate and Blake. It’s a short walk up the street from campus.

You enter the coffee shop; the boys have already found a table. Your phone buzzes, this time it's a photo of you and Blake, you met up with him when you and Nate were on a break, not for anything more than a chat. The picture came with a message saying, 'End it or I'll tell Nate.'

“You good? You look like you’ve seen a ghost?” Blake beams at you.

“I keep getting these weird, anonymous texts, with threats to break up with Nate and stuff.” You explained.

“We aren't dating right now, who do you think it could be?” Nate snapped.

“My main suspect is Taylor. She’s been obsessed with you for years.” You explained.

“Wasn’t she suspended for attacking you?” Nate asked.

“She’s back now, her suspension must be up, I saw her in class earlier.” You explained.

“Shit, what do we do?” Nate looked at you panicked.

“I can avoid her.” You reassure him, Nate sighs a little.

“We should get going, we have a Halloween party to organise.” Nate remarks, trying to change the subject.

You follow Nate and Blake out of the cafe and back to Beta house.

“Why don’t you and T go get ready, we can handle everything from here.” Nate beamed, looking up at you from the sofa.

You head to Nate’s room with Tara, she’s practically printing behind you with excitement, you enter Nate’s room, Tara stares at you a moment and then presents you with two outfits.

“I'm thinking, either angel of death or devil, which would you like?” She shows you the outfit options.

“I'll take angel of death.” You grinned.

“Awesome, I'll change, I'll be back soon, we can go down together.” Tara disappears into the adjoining bathroom.

Tara reappears a good twenty minutes later, you both head downstairs, The Halloween party is in full swing, and you've just finished getting ready, you meet T outside your room and head down together, as you walk down the stairs all eyes are on you. Of course, they are because your dress is stunning, it’s a black ballgown which you accompanied with black horns and a black eye mask and black angel wings.

“Everyone is staring at you.” Tara gasped.

You sheepishly work your way through the crowd, making your way to Nate.

“You look so hot.” Nate gawks at you.

“You make a hot swat guy.” You laughed.

“I’ll get you a drink.” Nate disappears and Blake slides to your side.

“Looking good princess.” He smirks, dressed as a pirate.

“Angel of death actually.” You mock him a little.

“You’re too sweet for an angel of death.” He smirked again.

“Thanks, I guess.” Nate returns with your drink and sizes up Blake, after an hour of drinking you're a little tipsy.

“Let's play spin the bottle.” Tara beams, practically pulling you with her.

“I dunno T, this could go bad.” You whisper to her.

“I’m game if you are.” Blake smiles directing the question to Nate.

“Sure, it couldn’t hurt right?” Nate remarked.

You all sit in a sort of circle and take it in turns to spin the bottle; you spin the bottle. It stops in between Blake and Nate. 

“What do i do?” You blurted.

“Pick one.” Tara’s voice rung out to you.

You move towards Blake, Nate looks a little hurt, Blakes eyes light up with hunger. He pulls you close and kisses you passionately.

“Plenty more where that came from.” Blake boasted.

“Of course that was ego fuelled.” You laughed a little.

“I’m wounded.” He clutches his chest and laughs. Nate glares at Blake.

“Chill bro, it’s just a dumb game.” Nate doesn’t respond, just continues to glare.

You decide now might be a good time to head to bed.

“I should head to bed I’m exhausted.” You announced to the group. Really you wanted to do some research on who the mystery person could be.

As you enter your room, you receive another text. 'Running from me already?' ‘Who is this?’ You change into your pyjamas and leave your phone on the nightstand as you head to bed. The next morning you wake to Nate standing at the foot of the bed with Waffles in his hand for breakfast.

“You brought me waffles?” You beamed at him.

“I made them, but I have to get to practice soon.” He explained.

“Thanks, they’re delicious.” You remark with a mouthful of waffle.

“Is something wrong?” Nate asked, it’s like he can read your mind.

“I just got this text.” You flip your phone around showing Nate the text you received this morning.

“We can meet them together if you want, I’ll skip practice.” Nate replied.

“Don't you dare, I'll be alright, I'll message you as much as I can.” You gasped at him.

“Okay, if I don't respond assume I'm on the field, swing by when you're back.” Nate reassured you.

“Okay.” Nate kisses your cheek awkwardly and heads to practice, you change and head out to meet the mystery texter.

‘Ry's diner, 10am. Who could it be.’

You enter to see a familiar face; you're stunned into silence.

“You’re the mystery texter!” You stare at them, in shock.

“I can explain.” Ella replied.

“Okay, I’m listening.” You take a seat opposite Ella in her booth.

“I didn’t want to, Taylor blackmailed me.” She explained.

“What has she got on you?” You ask, shocked.

“Something that could ruin a lot of things in my life, I told her it in confidence and she used it against me.” Ella remarked, sniffling sadly.

“I’m sure it’s not that bad.” You replied.

“Depends on who you ask.” Ella dismissed your comment.

“Well Taylor got what she wanted, Nate and I went on a break, and we still didn't get back together.“  You explained.

“But he made you so happy Liv!” Ella gasped at you, stunned.

“And a lot more has made me sad the past few months.” You replied, feeling tear prick the corner of your eyes.

Ella holds her head in her hands, she meets your gaze, her eyes puffy.

“I’m sorry.” She sobbed.

“Why’d you come clean?” You asked.

“I was tired of Taylor having power over me.” Ella explained, sniffling.

“So, what was she blackmailing you with?” You asked.

Ella leans closer to you, her voice a whisper. “She was going to out me to everyone.” She explained.

“What about Kain?” You stare at her in shock.

“I love him, I want to stay with him, but I like girls too, I just hadn't admitted it until I thought I could trust Taylor, when she was dating Zack.” Ella continued.

“I don’t think anyone can trust Taylor.” You laughed, this whole meeting you had forgotten to text Nate, and he was blowing up your phone.

“Someone’s popular, would that be a certain Mr. Perfect?” Ella laughed.

“Both Nate and Blake are messaging me, they are just blowing up my phone.” You replied.

“Blake?” Ella looked at you a little confused.

“Nate’s friend, he sort of has a thing for me.” You explained.

“You know who you want to be with?” Ella asked.

“I think so.” You grinned.

“You better go before they send a search party to look for you.” Ella laughed.

You stand up and turn to leave but turn back to Ella and hug her.

“Thank you, for telling me the truth.” You offer her a sympathetic smile.

“I miss my bestie.” She replied.

“I miss you too.” You smiled at her.

You head out of the diner and to Nate's practice as promised.