Olivia parked her father\u2019s SUV in my parent\u2019s driveway. I reluctantly got out of the passenger\u2019s side of the car, carrying one of the pies that Olivia made. Thomas stumbled out of the back seat with another pie.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan I just state for the record, once again, that I really, really don\u2019t want to do this.\u201d I sighed.<\/p>\n
Olivia met me around the front of the car, holding her cookbook under her arms. \u201cYou\u2019ve already said that. Numerous times on the way over here.\u201d She pointed out.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat, so let\u2019s go home. Pie for dinner?\u201d I asked Thomas, who smirked in response.<\/p>\n
Olivia sighed impatiently. \u201cWe are not going home. We are going to have a good old-fashioned fun family day.\u201d She smiled brightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat, whose family are we spending that with?\u201d I asked without skipping a beat.<\/p>\n
Olivia rolled her eyes. \u201cOkay boys. Both of you in the house.\u201d She sighed.<\/p>\n
I turned to Thomas, who moved past me and started up the stairs and into the house.<\/p>\n
\u201cTraitor.\u201d I cursed him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, it\u2019s you or pie. And I helped you out once this week.\u201d Thomas said. \u201cThis time I\u2019m following the pie.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Thomas.\u201d Olivia chirped happily, following him up the stairs onto the front porch.<\/p>\n
I sighed, shaking my head. Suddenly the two people who had stood up for me in court and testified on my behalf were mutinying.<\/p>\n
Olivia smiled at me and turned on her heel, pressing the button for the doorbell.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust go in.\u201d I said, rolling my eyes. I moved between them and pushed open the door, stepping inside.<\/p>\n
I kicked off my shoes and pushed open the closet doors to hang my coat inside. I reached toward Olivia and plucked her wool hat from her head, watching her perfect French braid tumble out. I smirked.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey!\u201d Olivia warned, playfully shoving me. She smiled at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cKids!\u201d My mother cried from behind us.<\/p>\n
I turned around, unzipping my brown-leather jacket. \u201cHi, mom.\u201d I said evenly.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, honey! You came!\u201d She cried. She swept across the room and kissed me on the cheek.<\/p>\n
\u201cGross, mom. Seriously?\u201d I rolled my eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoney, I haven\u2019t seen you most of the time you\u2019ve been home!\u201d She gushed.<\/p>\n
She grabbed Olivia, embracing her tightly. \u201cThank you, thank you so much!\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia giggled. \u201cWell, it wasn\u2019t easy, but I finally got him here.\u201d She shot a quick glance at me.<\/p>\n
I rolled my eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh! And this is Thomas Hardwicke. He testified yesterday on-\u201c<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I know. I remember you! Please call me Diana.\u201d She insisted, sweeping Thomas into an awkward hug. When she finally released him, he adjusted his glasses awkwardly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re Isaac\u2019s room-mate, correct? I\u2019ve heard so much about you!\u201d She chirped happily.<\/p>\n
I sighed. \u201cOkay, mom. Enough gushing over my friends\u2026 please?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine, fine.\u201d Mom replied. \u201cCome in.\u201d She insisted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere can we put the pies?\u201d Olivia asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cBring them into the kitchen.\u201d My mom offered, taking a pie from Thomas and leading Olivia into the rest of the house. Thomas and I hung our coats up in the closet. I hung Olivia\u2019s with mine.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, man.\u201d I clapped Thomas on the shoulder.<\/p>\n
Thomas nodded, following me into the living room. My dad was sitting in his usual chair in the living room. His usual chess game was open in front of him. He was frowning over the game.<\/p>\n
My brothers Taylor and Zac were lounging on the sofa watching a movie.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey.\u201d I shrugged, walking into the living room.<\/p>\n
I glanced toward Thomas, who didn\u2019t seem to notice the people in the room; he was simply staring at the chess game like a moth to a flame.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, dad? This is Thomas, he likes chess\u2026 maybe he\u2019ll play you.\u201d I offered.<\/p>\n
Thomas pushed his glasses up his nose again and nodded. \u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad looked up from his game. \u201cSure kid. Give it a shot. But don\u2019t blame me if I wind up smoking you on this old board.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas grinned. \u201cYou\u2019re on.\u201d<\/p>\n
I decided against pointing out that Thomas was head of the chess club at school, and that he was practically a chess genius, but I thought that in a weird way it might do my dad some good to be taken down a few pegs.<\/p>\n
Thomas plopped down on the ottoman and helped my dad re-set up the chess pieces.<\/p>\n
I walked down the hall toward the kitchen. My two sisters came running past in a flutter of floral dresses and giggles.<\/p>\n
I sighed and peeked into the kitchen. My mother and Olivia were pouring over their cookbooks and deciding on dinner.<\/p>\n
I watched them for a moment, leaning against the doorway and into the kitchen and watched them for a minute. Everything seemed to return to normal in the house.<\/p>\n
I was once again a simple voice in the background. I felt like a ghost, haunting my own family. I was always in the background, not really mattering.<\/p>\n
I silently pushed myself away from the wall and ventured down the remainder of the hallway. I opened the door to the basement; located beneath the spiral staircase that led to the upper level of my parent\u2019s perfect home.<\/p>\n
I slipped down the stairs quietly. When I reached the bottom, I turned on the light in the downstairs rec room. The light over the pool table flickered and buzzed to life.<\/p>\n
I placed my hands on my hips and surveyed the room.<\/p>\n
I crossed the room to the pool table, dropping to my knees next to it. I reached beneath one of the legs and felt around the ledge below. I removed the item I\u2019d been looking for.<\/p>\n
I had hidden a battered package of Marlboros there. The package was only half full, with a lighter occupying the empty half of the package.<\/p>\n
I removed one of the cigarettes and stuck it between my lips. I flicked the lighter until the flame ignited.<\/p>\n
I stared at the flame for a moment, then sighed and released the button. The flame went out. I sighed and crossed the room, dropping the package of cigarettes into the garbage bin.<\/p>\n
I shoved my hands through my hair and turned around.<\/p>\n
Olivia was standing at the bottom of the basement stairs, her mouth open slightly in alarm.<\/p>\n
I sighed, leaning back against the pool table. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Liv.\u201d I mused.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, don\u2019t apologize\u2026\u201d She said softly. She stepped down the remaining stairs and moving toward me. She lightly laid her cool palm against my cheek. \u201cI\u2019m proud of you. You saw temptation and resisted it. You\u2019re the strongest person I know.\u201d<\/p>\n
I sighed heavily, lifting Olivia up and sitting her on the pool table. I hopped up next to her.<\/p>\n
Olivia shook her head. \u201cThis is all my fault. I was trying to do the right thing and help you. Your parents kept saying how much they missed you and how much they loved you; I never stopped to think that it might bother you or hurt you to be here\u2026 I guess I was just so busy trying to help, I didn\u2019t think that I might be doing more harm than good\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, no. Liv, it\u2019s okay. You\u2019re right. I should at least try to fix things with my parents\u2026\u201d I protested. I couldn\u2019t stand the thought of upsetting her.<\/p>\n
Olivia sighed and laid her head on my shoulder. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Isaac. I wasn\u2019t thinking about how hard this would be for you\u2026 your mom kept saying how much she missed you, and she felt like you were finally back to the old Isaac that she knew before all this happened, and I thought so too. You\u2019re doing so well, and you\u2019re so sweet and strong and\u2026\u201d Olivia sighed.<\/p>\n
I swallowed thickly. \u201cLiv\u2026 I\u2026 I have to tell you something.\u201d I blurted out, before I could stop myself.<\/p>\n
Olivia lifted her head from my shoulder, a frown pulling at the corners of her lips. \u201cWhat is it? What\u2019s wrong?\u201d She asked.<\/p>\n
I sighed, placing my hand on her knee gently. \u201cLiv\u2026 I wanted to tell you this for a long time\u2026 I was planning to do it the night I got arrested and ended up back in jail\u2026 but after that there was so much else going on that I just never\u2026 I couldn\u2019t get the words out\u2026\u201d I sighed. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I\u2019m rambling, it\u2019s just hard to tell you this\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia frowned deeper. \u201cIt\u2019s okay. Whatever it is, we\u2019ll work through it-\u201c She shook her head slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Liv. It\u2019s not bad\u2026 at least I don\u2019t think so\u2026\u201d I sighed. \u201cLiv, you mean a lot to me. You\u2019re the only person who believes in me no matter what. Your faith in me has gotten me through so much in the last couple of months and I\u2026. I\u2026 love you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia gaped at me for a moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s okay, if you don\u2019t feel the same, you don\u2019t have to say it back or anything\u2026 I just\u2026. I wanted to let you know\u2026 how I feel.\u201d I frowned at myself.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, no.\u201d Olivia insisted. She smiled hugely. \u201cI\u2019m so glad you said that. I\u2019ve been thinking about it too and I love you too.\u201d She leaned toward me and kissed me.<\/p>\n
I sighed, embracing her tightly.<\/p>\n