We managed to finish all of our shopping; Olivia even found some clothes for herself. She stopped at Victoria\u2019s Secret, and picked up a few cute bras and underwear that I couldn\u2019t wait to see on her.<\/p>\n
I gave a donation and got my gifts all wrapped, and they did an excellent job; I would have never been able to wrap anything half as well as they did.<\/p>\n
We put our purchases in the back of her dad\u2019s car and went back into the mall to stop at the food court for lunch.<\/p>\n
I grabbed a foot long sub, and Olivia found the healthiest possible thing in the entire mall; some kind of noodle and vegetable Thai soup. I was sure it was a vegetarian dish, if not entirely vegan. Instead of a soda, she got herself a fruit smoothie.<\/p>\n
I watched in amazement as she somehow managed to eat this noodle soup with chopsticks expertly, like she used them every day.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d She asked, laughing. \u201cYou\u2019re staring at me like you\u2019ve never seen me eat before.\u201d She protested.<\/p>\n
I shrugged. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen anyone eat soup with chopsticks before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed. \u201cWell, you don\u2019t really eat the liquid in this dish. Once I eat the noodles and broccoli and everything I\u2019m pretty much full. This is delicious. You should try it.\u201d She offered.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, thanks. It looks like something from the x-files.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed, glancing down at her bowl. \u201cIt\u2019s a heck of a lot healthier than your meat filled murder sandwich.\u201d She challenged, pointing her chopsticks at my sandwich.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright, I\u2019ll try your lunch if you try mine.\u201d I offered.<\/p>\n
Olivia shook her head. \u201cYou\u2019re terrible.\u201d<\/p>\n
I smirked. \u201cBut you love me anyway, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed sweetly. \u201cYes, you\u2019re very lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo kidding.\u201d I chuckled. \u201cNot many girls would haul me into a dressing room and molest me.\u201d I smirked.<\/p>\n
Olivia\u2019s eyes widened and her mouth fell open. \u201cShe gaped at me in disbelief for a moment, then grinned. \u201cYes, and that might be the last time I do that for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAww\u2026 that\u2019s so unfair!\u201d I protested.<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed sweetly. \u201cOkay, maybe we\u2019ll see.\u201d She mused.<\/p>\n
I grinned, satisfied with that answer. \u201cSo what are we doing after this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know. What time are we supposed to be at your house for dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n
I shrugged. \u201cWhenever. My mom wants you to help her cook, so\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, so three or four maybe?\u201d Olivia offered. \u201cIt\u2019s one now\u2026 maybe we could take a drive to my dad\u2019s place? I\u2019d like to change\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
I frowned. \u201cWhy? What\u2019s wrong with what you have on?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
She shrugged. \u201cWell, I don\u2019t know how appropriate it is for meeting your family. I need to make a good impression.\u201d<\/p>\n
I frowned deeper. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed. \u201cWell, I want them to like me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t understand why.\u201d I shrugged. \u201cI\u2019m their kid and they hate me.\u201d I laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIsaac,\u201d She scolded lightly. \u201cI\u2019m sure that is the furthest from the truth.\u201d She insisted.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot really.\u201d I mused. \u201cYou\u2019ll see when you meet them. But if you want to stop at your place I\u2019m cool with that. It\u2019s been a while since I\u2019ve been to the Phil Tower. That\u2019s if they\u2019ll even let me in. Security might stop me at the door and kick me off the property.\u201d<\/p>\n
A worried expression crossed Olivia\u2019s face. \u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI might have gotten really drunk and really stoned and thought it would be a good idea to sneak out onto the roof and trip out to the city lights.\u201d I shrugged lightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my.\u201d She mused.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere isn\u2019t really a place we could go in this city where I haven\u2019t been in trouble in.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, well I guess that\u2019s good to know. At least I can be prepared for when the Tulsa police swarm us and try to charge me as an accomplice.\u201d I knew she was kidding, but there was probably a hint of truth, or at least some truth about the part concerning the Tulsa Police Department. The TPD had been out to get me all year, or at least some members were.<\/p>\n
I thought it might be best if I didn\u2019t say anything, so I took a long drink from my coke instead. I was sure that anything I could possibly say would incriminate me.<\/p>\n
I watched Olivia eat her noodle and vegetable mush and ate my sub in a series of huge, ravenous bites.<\/p>\n
I waited for her to finish, before I stood and helped her with her jacket. I shoved my arms into my own leather coat and brought our trays to the garbage can.<\/p>\n
Olivia looped her arm through mine. \u201cCan I ask you something?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course.\u201d I answered.<\/p>\n
She laid her head on my shoulder as we walked toward the car. \u201cIs it hard?\u201d<\/p>\n
I frowned. For a brief moment, I thought she was asking something entirely different. Then I remembered Olivia wouldn\u2019t have been so forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, is it hard not to fall back into your old patterns? I mean, you were drinking and doing drugs for so long, it must be hard to deal with the temptation.\u201d<\/p>\n
I drew in a deep breath. \u201cYeah, it is. Especially being at home and knowing everyone is watching me so carefully and just waiting for me to make a mistake\u2026 sometimes it\u2019s all I can think about. I mean, I always think that if I could just have one drink to take the edge off, everything would be a lot easier, but I could never just stop at one. Christmas is especially hard. There\u2019s just something about this time of year that makes all the cravings resurface. I think it\u2019s because the holidays are supposed to be for families to be together and I\u2019ve never felt like I belong in mine. I always feel like I\u2019m standing on the sidelines of my own family, you know? They\u2019re so perfect all the time, and I\u2019m the only one who\u2019s ever made a mistake. Or at least a mistake that can\u2019t be fixed or taken back, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia\u2019s expression changed to worry. \u201cI\u2019m sure that\u2019s not true.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is. You\u2019ll see today when you meet them.\u201d I insisted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry I brought it up.\u201d She said quickly. \u201cI just see the expression on your face when you talk about the past. They seem almost like good, memorable times for you, but at the same time it seems like an event that has drastically changed you and your outlook as a person.\u201d<\/p>\n
I smiled and pressed a kiss to her hair. \u201cYou should go into psychology.\u201d I mused.<\/p>\n
Olivia looked up at me and her smile matched my own. \u201cI was actually thinking you should. It might be beneficial for you and it might help other people if you became an addiction\u2019s councilor. You\u2019d be very good at it, I think.\u201d She offered. \u201cNot that I\u2019m telling you how to shape your future or anything, I just thought it might be good for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I smiled lightly. \u201cMaybe. I don\u2019t know, I never really thought about the future. I mean, I never really saw myself with one. Who knows?\u201d I shrugged.<\/p>\n