I waited to be sure that Olivia phoned. I also wanted to be absolutely sure that I was the one who answered the phone, and not one of my parents. I went out of my way to be sure that neither of my brothers were on one of the other lines and trying to overhear something worth black mailing me over.
She had made it home safely, and my mother was alarmingly relieved that she had made it and cared enough to call.
Olivia and I made plans for the next day and I went down to my room and immediately went to bed. When I got up the next morning, I let my mother force feed me pancakes. I was so desperate for my own space, I skipped my morning coffee and went straight to the shower. There was far too much noise with all the kids and my two parents at the same table. I wasn’t used to the noise of everyone talking over each other and everyone reaching for things. I had no idea how I was going to make it through Christmas dinner.
I couldn’t wait a few more hours to see Olivia, so I caught the three busses I needed to take into the main stretch of the city. I swiftly walked to Olivia’s apartment building, and got on the elevator before security even had the chance to recognize me.
I knocked on Olivia’s door and waited impatiently. She opened the door and smiled hugely. “Isaac!” She beamed. “You’re early! I thought I wasn’t picking you up until later?”
I sighed. “I had to get out of the house.” I mused. “Do you mind if I come in?”
“Of course!” She beamed, opening the door and letting me inside.
The apartment was so clean, it hardly even looked lived in. If it hadn’t been for Olivia’s book lying open near an arm chair, the apartment would have just been a fancy show room.
She shut the door behind me and leaned against it. I removed my coat and draped it over one of the stools at the kitchen island.
I turned around to Olivia, who was smiling hugely at me.
She crossed the kitchen and threw her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly.
I grinned. “Wow, it’s like you haven’t seen me in a year or something.” I teased, holding her tightly.
She smiled, standing on her toes and kissing me. Her kisses were slow and deliberate, her hands moving into my hair and pulling me deeper into her kisses.
I wrapped my arms around her, trying to pull her closer. Her hips bumped against mine.
I felt her lips curl into a grin, and she slowly broke the kiss.
She smiled at me. “I’m buttering you up, I have a favor to ask you…” She cooed.
I rested my forehead against hers. “Honey, you can butter me up any time.” All I wanted was for her to kiss me again.
I swallowed thickly.
Olivia giggled sweetly. She stood on her toes and pressed her lips to mine again. Her mouth opened against mine, and I was already plotting on how I was going to get her to take this further.
She broke the kiss slowly, smiling at me. Her eyes opened and she batted her eyelashes over her bright green eyes.
I sighed. “Okay, now I’m curious. If it takes this much work to get me to do something, what is it?”
“It’s nothing too big. I just need to find something to wear for the Christmas eve thing at your parents house. I have nothing here… could you come with me to look for a dress? I figure you know what Christmas is usually like at your house, so you could help me. I’ll try stuff on a model it for you and maybe you could tell me what you think?” She wrinkled her cute little nose.
I grinned, “Alright, on one condition…” I mused, leaning down and lightly brushing my lips across her cheek.
“What’s that?” She asked eagerly.
“If you show me what you’ll be wearing under the dress…” I mused, lightly kissing along her jaw.
Olivia laughed a little louder than necessary. “Okay, I think it’s a deal.” She beamed.
I grinned, turning to kiss her lips again. Olivia turned her head, sinking her teeth into her lower lip. “Although I do have to warn you, it’s pretty cold out, I’ll be wearing long underwear.”
“Tease.” I mumbled.
Olivia laughed sweetly. “Aww…”
She glanced away, looking at the flashing time on the microwave. “Oh, it’s getting late! I got distracted… we should go.” She insisted. “I asked the concierge downstairs to give me a list of dress stores in the area, and he faxed me this.” She handed me a stack of papers. “I highlighted the ones that seemed the most promising.”
I raised my eyebrows and quickly flipped through the pages. There were at least thirty pages, all with names and addresses of dress shops throughout Oklahoma.
“Wow. Are we going to all of these?” I asked in disbelief.
“Not all. I’m sure if we pick one, it might be the right one. I might just find what I want in the first store we go to.” She shrugged lightly.
I shrugged. “Liv, you know you don’t really have to dress up. It’s not exactly that formal of an occasion. Besides, my uncles are just going to be drunk and my brothers are just going to get obnoxious…”
“Are you dressing up?” Olivia asked.
I sighed. “I have to. I have to wear dress pants and a shirt and tie. But I am not wearing the jacket. I need to maintain some form of dignity.”
Olivia smiled. “Then I’ll dress to match.” She was struggling into her boots.
“Alright.” I shrugged. I pulled my coat back on. “Which one first?”
“Umm…. This one.” She leaned over me and pointed to the first store on the list. “It sounds like a good one.” She shrugged.
“Alright.” I shrugged lightly. I pulled my coat on and pulled up the zipper.
Olivia slung her purse across her body and pulled on a knitted hat. “Okay, I’m ready.” She smiled.
“Okay.” I followed her out into the hallway, and we took the elevator down to the parking garage and climbed into her father’s car.
“Seatbelt.” Olivia reminded.
“Oh, right.” I mused, reaching around me and fastening the seatbelt. Olivia started the car and with my direction, we found the dress shop without delay.
I awkwardly wandered around the store, trying not to touch anything. I felt like a mischievous kid in a store full of glass items. If I even brushed against something the wrong way, I thought it would crumble and break.
Olivia was working with the sales lady, and had already amassed a collection of dresses in her size.
She found me at the back of the store. “Look, there’s a dress you should get.” I motioned to the dress hanging from the wall.
It was a mess of peach fabric that was strapless and bunched in several different awkward places. It was hideous.
Olivia laughed, “Oh, please tell me you’re kidding!” She insisted.
I grinned. “Are you going to try on some dresses?” I asked.
Olivia nodded. “Do you still want me to model?”
“That depends on what you’re wearing.” I replied.
Olivia playfully swatted at my arm. She moved past me into the dressing room.
Suddenly the thought of being left alone in the dress shop with a handful of women was terrified. “Wait, for me!” I insisted.
I plopped down in a comfortable chair and watched as Olivia went into the dressing room.
“Let me know if you need anything.” The saleswoman offered to Olivia.
“Thank you.” Olivia answered sweetly.
I let out the breath I’d been holding in, and dropped my head back against the back of the chair. “Hey, so are we still on for movies tonight?” I asked Olivia.
“Yeah, if you want.” Olivia answered. “I’m pretty sure I have the dress I’m going to wear here. I feel good about these dresses.” She insisted. “So I won’t bore you with any more of this dress shopping stuff.”
“No, it’s not boring.” I shrugged lightly. “I’m still kind of stoked that you’re going to be there at Christmas. It’s definitely going to take a lot of the stress of me.” I shrugged.
I wanted to add that the urge to get obnoxiously drunk would probably be a lot less prevalent, but I kept my mouth shut.
“Okay, are you ready for the first dress?” She asked.
“Yeah.” I answered.
The door opened and Olivia stepped out in her bare feet. The dress fell just below her knees. It had a halter top with a thick blue band around the waist, the only separation between the mass of flower print that covered the remainder of the dress.
“Thoughts?” She asked, turning in a slow circle.
“Uh… it’s nice.” I shrugged.
“Yeah, but it’s not very Christmasy, you know? And it’s not exactly very formal.” She glanced toward the mirrors on the one wall. “This one is a no. I’ll be right back.” She insisted.
She disappeared into the dressing room and closed the door.
“This next one is my second choice.” She said from the other side of the door.
I drummed my hands on my pant legs.
After a few minutes, Olivia emerged in a long, red dress that reached the floor. It was strapless, and very beautiful on her. Her pale skin and dark chocolate curls made her look even more beautiful.
I gaped at her. “Wow. You look… hot!” I said.
Olivia laughed softly. “You think?”
“Yeah… I vote for that dress. Definitely.” I grinned.
Olivia turned slowly. “I think it might be too formal, though. Don’t you think?” She asked, wrinkling her nose slightly.
“Umm… you might actually be right.” I replied. “But for the record, you look definitely hot.”
Olivia giggled. “Okay. I have one more dress, and this one is my favorite.” She informed me.
“Okay.” I replied. I sat forward in the chair and balanced my elbows on my knees.
“You know, I’m actually really excited to be doing the whole Christmas thing at your house. I mean, I got everyone gifts anyway, I just hope they like them.” She mused.
“You didn’t have to do that…” I insisted.
“I know, but I wanted to. Besides, Christmas is all about giving. That’s the best part of Christmas.” She mused.
I knew my mother had bought her gifts from all the kids, although I didn’t know what they were or how good the gifts were.
Finally, the door opened and Olivia came out.
The dress she emerged in was short, and a lot more casual than the last. It was covered in glittery red and black fabric, with a black tie around the waist. The top was of the dress had thick straps and was gathered at the neck.
“Wow,” I breathed. She was breath taking.
“It’s a little flashy.” She said, “But I think I can dress it down with a black sweater and some black tights. And I have the perfect shoes to wear with it. And I wouldn’t need jewelry either, because it’s already very sparkly. I’d definitely wear this again too.”
“I think that’s the best dress. And I haven’t even seen the others.” I mused.
Olivia smiled brightly. “Perfect. This is it, then.” She went back into the dressing room and emerged several moments later in her regular clothes. The sales woman was instantly there to ring in her purchase and said she would put away the other dresses at a later time.
I waited while Olivia paid for her dress and I carried it out. With Olivia’s instruction, I hung the dress up in the back.
I climbed into the passenger’s side and Olivia backed from the parking space. She turned onto the road and we drove along in silence.
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