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Olivia released her seatbelt and sighed heavily. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked out the window on the airplane. She didn't want
to be on the plane. She didn't want to go home. All she wanted was to be back with Nick, in his arms. She missed him horribly already.
"Damn." she mumbled softly as the tears started again.
Olivia stood up and began to walk to the back of the plane. She picked up the phone and slid her credit card in and furiously dialed a number.
"'Ello?" the raspy voice answered.
"Nick?" she sobbed.
"Olivia...are you ok, luv?"
"I'm fine. I'm on the plane....I just miss you."
"I miss you too, sweetheart."
"I was going to call you once I got home, but I just couldn't wait. I had to hear your voice." she cried.
"I'm glad you called, luv. It's good to hear your voice. I just wish you were here with me."
The tears came harder "I wish I were there with you too. You're going to have to come see me soon." she sobbed.
"Don't cry, luv. We'll plan a visit soon."
"Good."
"Will you still call me when you get home?"
"Of course I will. I just had to talk to you.....had to hear you."
"I'm glad you called. I miss you so much already."
"I miss you too, Nick. I'll call you when I get home."
"Liv?"
"Yes?"
"Did you open the box yet?"
"No, not yet...I just got settled on the plane."
"I love you, sweetheart."
"I love you too, Nick."
"Open the box."
"I will."
Olivia smiled and hung up the phone. She made her way back to her seat. She pulled the box out of her jacket pocket. She looked at it for a long
time as the tears rolled down her cheeks. Olivia slowly began to open the box.
She had the package unwrapped before she decided to wait.She knew whatever was in there would just make her cry harder and she was trying so hard to keep herself together.
Olivia tucked the box back safely in her pocket...she would be home soon enough.
The cab driver helped Olivia carry her bags to the door. She paid her fare then he was on his way. She fished out her keys and opened the door. Home....she was happy to be there, but her heart was someplace else.
She kicked off her shoes, grabbed her suit case and headed for her bedroom. She opened the suit case and pulled out the dress shirt of Nicks' she had taken with her. She took off her clothes and slipped it on.
"God...it still smells like him." she said as fresh tears filled her eyes.Then she spied her jacket on the bed. She sat down and reached into the pocket.
Olivia pulled out the unwrapped box and stared at it for a moment.She very slowly opened it to find a silver and diamond bracelet, and a note.
Olivia,
This is for you to hold on to til we are together again.Remember that I love you...not even an ocean between us can change that. I love you with all my heart.
Nick
The tears were streaming down her face as she reached for the phone. She dialed the numbers she now knew by heart.
" 'Ello?" John asked
"John, it's Liv."
"Liv! Glad to see you made it home. I'll get Nick for you. Hang on." "Thanks John."
Olivia could hear John yell for Nick to pick up the phone.Within seconds she heard his voice on the line.
" I love you." was the first thing Nick said. "I love you too...and thank you."
"For what, luv?"
"For the bracelet...it's beautiful."
"Wear it everyday, Liv."
"I will. I miss you, Nick." she said as she started to cry again. "Sshh....don't cry luv. Just concentrate on work...that will pass the time til we are together again. And we will be soon...I promise." "That's easier said than done."
"I know it is...but it's what we have to do." he said with a sigh.
"I know." she replied
"You know you can call me anytime-day or night. Do you have the number at the studio?"
"Umm-humm...I have it."
"Just remember, I'm normally not there till around 12:00pm." he laughed.
Olivia began laughing. "I know." she said.
"Have you put it on yet?" he asked.
Olivia looked down at her wrist. "Yes, I have and it's beautiful. Thank you."
"I'm glad you like it, luv. You're welcome."
"I love it, Nick."
"I love you, Liv. I love you very much."
"I love you too."
"Remember, I'll see you soon."
"I'm going to hold you to that." she laughed.
"Goodnight, sweetheart. I love you."
"I love you too, Nick."
"I'll talk to you soon."
"Goodnight, Nick."
"Goodnight, luv."
Olivia hung the phone up. She curled up in her bed and pulled the collar of Nick's shirt up to her face. She smiled as she inhaled his scent from the shirt and drifted off to sleep.
Nick descended the stairs to find John and his mother chatting.
"How's Olivia?" Sylvia asked.
"She's fine. She's at home." he replied.
"Are you hungry? You haven't eaten all day." she said.
"Not really."
"I'll make some tea. " she said as she got up and went into the kitchen.
Nick took a seat on the sofa and relaxed.
"How's Olivia doing?" John asked.
"She's sad, but she's fine." Nick replied.
"When are you planning to go see her?"
"No definite plans as of yet, but I'll go soon."
Sylvia returned with their tea.
"I think I'll take mine up with me. I'm going to have a shower and try to get some sleep." Nick said.
"Goodnight, luv." Sylvia said
"Goodnight, mum. You really don't have to stay. I'll be fine." he said as he hugged her.
"John, what time are you getting started tomorrow? I know you and Simon will be working Sunday."
"We'll get started 'round 9:00am. You don't have to come in though."
"I want to come in. I need to." Nick replied.
"We'll be there." John said.
"I'll see you in the morning then. But, it'll be more around 11'ish." Nick chuckled as he started up the stairs.
Nick entered the shower. The hot water felt good against his skin. A shudder ran through him as he thought of Olivia showering with him entered his mind. He turned the water off, grabbed his robe and entered his room. He set his alarm, just in case and held Olivia's pillow, inhaling the scent of her perfume as he drifted off to sleep.
CHAPTER 28
John and Simon arrived at the studio at 10 the next morning to find Nick already there.
"I see it...but I don't believe it." Simon said as he turned to face John.
"Believe it...I get the feeling it is going to be a long day." John said as they made their way through the studio doors. Nick was looking down at the keyboard concentrating when they walked in. "Nick, you're early." Simon said with a chuckle. "Yeah, well....I woke up and had no reason just to sit home, so I thought I would catch up."
"Are you sure you wanna." John trailed his sentence off as he met the look in Nicks' eyes.
"Yes...I am sure." Nick hissed "Can we just get on with it?" "Um, sure." Simon said as he walked across the studio to get his lyric sheet.
John began tuning his bass and Simon began to warm up. Everytime John glanced up at Nick, he noticed his head stayed down, his eyes were on the keys and he was furiously writing notes in his notebook.
"Are you ready now?" Nick snapped.
"Yeah." Simon and John replied, both in shock at his surly mood.
Nick began the countdown. They had worked for several hours and were finally taking a break. Simon glanced at his watch.
"I've really gotta get home. Yas is gonna have me head on a platter!"
"What time ya got, Charley?" John asked.
"It's going on 6:00pm." Simon replied.
"I think it's time we called it a day, don't you Nick?" John asked.
Nick didn't respond. He just breathed a heavy sigh and began turning his equipment off.
"Go ahead, Charley....I'll see you tomorrow." John said.
Simon left the studio. John approached Nick.
"Do you want to talk?" John asked.
"About what?" Nick asked in an irritated tone.
"Do you wanna go somewhere for awhile?"
"I'd rather just go home."
"Are you sure, Nick?"
"Yes. I'm sure. I don't want to be around anyone and it's quiet there."
They arrived at Nick's house and went in. John fell back on the sofa, while Nick checked his answering machine. The first message was his mum, the second was Yasmin and the last was Olivia. Just the sound of her voice brought a smile to his face. He missed most of her message, but caught the end when she said she'd call him later. Nick joined John in the living room and took a seat on the sofa.
"Did she call?" John asked.
"Umm-hmmm." Nick mumbled.
"Nick, what's going on with you?"
"I don't know. I do know I can't concentrate on anything and everybody keeps watching me and wanting to know what's wrong."
"I'm sorry she had to leave, but you knew she was only here for a short time. You asked her to come for a visit, not to stay forever."
"Dammit John, don't you think I know that? How the hell was I supposed to know I'd feel this way about her?"
"You're not supposed to know, mate. It just happens."
"Do you know how you feel about Kate?"
"I'm very fond of her and I like being with her at this point. We haven't gone any further than that as of yet. Who knows, maybe one day we will go beyond that point, maybe we won't. Why do you ask?"
"Just curious since you analyzed me, my emotions and my feelings." he snapped.
"Nick, I'm not here to analyze you. Just to talk. You're going through a difficult time."
"Now you dare to presume what I'm going through?" he spat.
"Calm down, Nick. I'm not here to fight with you. I'm your friend-I'm here to help, not hurt."
"Dammit!" Nick yelled as he lowered his head to his hands.
"Nick? Are you ok, mate?"
"I don't know."
John realized something was wrong with Nick, but he didn't know what. He remained silent, letting Nick sort out his thoughts.
"What the hell have I done?" Nick asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I let her get on that damned plane. Now she's in the States and I'm here. Alone, without her."
"Did you talk to her about staying?"
"I may have mentioned it, but I didn't really press the issue."
"Why not?"
"John, I told you before, I can't just blatantly ask her to give up what she's worked so hard for. I'm not that selfish!"
"If you both want the same thing, then it's not selfish. You both want to be together, so some compromises will have to be made."
"Easier said than done."
"Do you love her? Cos I know she loves you."
"Of course I love her. What the hell kind of question is that? I love Olivia very much. I'm in love with her, John."
"You need to talk to her about your future, Nick. I mean really talk."
"I'm certainly not going to discuss it over the phone with her, that's for bloody sure. I'd rather discuss our future with her in person.
"I didn't say you had to discuss it now."
"John, you don't understand. I want a future with Olivia. I want her with me."
"Calm down, Nick! Don't go getting hysterical on me."
"Sorry." Nick sighed "I'm in one hell of a mood."
"I kinda figured that. You ok now?" John asked as the phone rang.
"No, but I think I will be in a minute." Nick smiled as he went to get the phone.
"'Ello?"
"Hey you." Olivia purred.
"I love you." he said
"Mmmm..I love you too." Did you get my message?"
"Umm-hmm....I've been waiting for your call."
"I miss you Nick."
"I miss you too, luv."
"I dread going into the office tomorrow. I don't know if I'm ready or not." she confessed.
"I can relate." he sighed
"Rough day at the studio?"
"Yeah. I wasn't in the mood to be there. It was a long day."
"I wish I were there, Nick."
"Me too, luv. Me too."
"I know it's late there, I just wanted to call and say goodnight."
"I'm glad you did. I needed to hear your voice."
"I needed to hear yours too. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"I love you, Olivia."
"I love you, Nick."
"Goodnight, sweetheart."
"Goodnight."
Nick hung up and held the handset as hot silent tears flooded his eyes.
Nick choked back the tears as he placed the handset back in the cradle. "Nick? You ok, mate?"
"Yeah...I have to be. Don't I?"
"It's ok to talk tome about this, y'know."
" I know it is Johnny....but right now I really just want to be alone."
Olivia barely slept all night long, and now the alarm was going off, to signal the start of her first day back to work. She went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. "Aw Liv." she said to her reflection "You look like shit. Time to go back to being the hard ass bitch attorney. Enough of all this silly love crap." she sighed as she turned on the shower.
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