Her - S01 E21

Story 5 months ago

Her - S01 E21

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 21

"I'd gaze at him as though his were the first I'd ever seen."

- Ellen Bass

. . .

Olivia Woods

After the high of breaking things departed and I was left with the fact that none of them were in Paris with me, I found myself crammed in a small booth of a tiny diner with Giovanni Valentino. Daisy was gone because we had classes tomorrow and she needed her eight-hour sleep - or she got grumpy.

I drank my Oreo milkshake, it reminded me of when I had visited their office months back. The day I had agreed to be friends. We were far from friends now. "You checked up on me," I said to Giovanni who had ordered the same milkshake.

"You want me to leave?"

"I don't get why you don't want to leave." I wiped my lips with the back of my hand. "I'm sure you have more interesting things to do in Paris than babysit me."

He raised his eyebrows, tucking a strand of his hair away from his face. "Someone is snappy today. And this is not babysitting."

"It is."

He shrugged. "With the way you are acting right now? Yes, it's babysitting. I'm babysitting a whiney baby who can't deal with the fact that none of her boyfriends are in the same country as her."

"Ashton will be here in a week." I huffed.

He sipped his milkshake calmly. "And you plan to go through the week smashing things?"

"I don't think so. My arms already hurt." I rubbed my upper arm. "I'll need painkillers. I have to start on my fresco soon."

He tilted his head. "Fresco?"

I hummed. "I've never made one. How hard can it be?"

"I'm not familiar with the process." He sipped his milkshake. I had a feeling he got one just so I wouldn't feel awkward. He didn't look like a milkshake guy, but he didn't look like someone who'd steal ice cream either.

"It's a long process." I drummed my fingers on the table. "Giovanni."

"Yes?"

I put my elbow on the table, cupping my chin. "Are you bored?"

He frowned. "Why would I be bored?"

"I mean-" I shrugged. "This isn't exactly...interesting."

"I saw a barely five feet five women smash things while wearing a floral dress. Even the staff flinched, you know?"

"The staff flinched because you were there, glaring."

"I wasn't glaring."

"Your eyes were narrowed with anger or irritation or hatred or with just the need to intimidate."

"Well, I suppose I was glaring." He shrugged. "People make it too easy to scare them."

"You like it?" I asked. "Scaring people."

"It's either that or walk on eggshells around them. Wouldn't you do the same?"

I thought about it. "I'd walk on eggshells. I can't imagine anyone being scared of me, but even if someone was, I wouldn't like it."

He smiled. "You know, I still don't get how they found you. But I'm glad they kept you."

"I'm not a pet."

"Doesn't Zavier call you kitten?"

My face heated up. "I need to sleep."

"You're going back to the apartment?" He asked as we walked out and made our way towards where our cars were parked. His was a beautiful Lamborghini and mine was Zavier's. I felt giddy every time I looked at it.

"Yeah," I said. "I think I need privacy tonight."

"Call me if you need anything. I have a meeting tomorrow so I won't be free, or able to pick up the call, but I'm free after that, yeah?"

"I don't have your number."

He took my phone from my hand. "What's the password?"

"It's rude to ask for someone's password."

"What is it?"

"Ashton and Zavier's birthday."

He glared down at the screen. I laughed. "Sixth July."

"Poor Xerxes."

"I use his birthday for other devices." I frowned. "Forget I told you that."

"Forgotten."

"Is it?"

"No."

He handed me my phone back and bid me goodnight. He waited in the parking lot till I drove away. I looked at the two SUVs which had been following me since I stepped out of the apartment.

They were so concerned with my safety. It did make me feel safe, yes, but it made me feel watched. I could not relax for a second.

As soon as I dropped onto the bed, I was asleep.

. . .

I woke up to my phone screaming. I grabbed the useless modern slab of doom and pressed it to my ear.

"What?"

"Good morning, Little love. I miss you too."

"Xerxes." I groaned. My arms really did hurt. "Morning."

"What's wrong?"

My body still thrummed with the pain that Zavier had inflicted, and as promised I had felt him every time I sat down, but not my shoulders hurt, too.

And then I felt the wetness between my thighs. Not the naughty kind.

"On no."

"What. Is. Wrong." He gritted out.

"Hey don't be mean. You woke me up!"

"You're supposed to be at college in half an hour, Olivia. I thought you'd already be up."

Half an hour?

I looked at the clock on the wall. I did have only half an hour.

"I'll call you later. I love you. I'm sorry."

"Hang up on me and I-"

I hung up, already wincing at what he'd do to me when he got his hands on me and rushed into the washroom. I took the quickest shower, wore a pad, cried a little when the craps hit too hard and was ready in just fifteen minutes.

I rushed out of the apartment and realized too late that I had left my phone.

Knowing if I went back I'd be too late, I decided that I'd get it after the first lecture.

And then I forgot to do that.

. . .

The whole day cramps hit me so hard my eyes were blurry behind my glasses. I dragged myself through all of my lectures and found myself laying on my stomach in my dorm with Daisy pressing a hot bag on my lower bag.

"You're an angel."

She giggled. "Just Daisy, for now." She covered me with a blanket. "My younger sister gets the worst cramps. I am used to taking care of someone like this."

I smiled. "Thank you, Daisy."

"You're welcome. Do you need anything else?"

"No, thank you."

"I'll be back in an hour," she said. "I need to visit the darkroom real quick."

"Okay. Thank you again."

"You're welcome, Livy."

She walked out, closing the door behind her.

I slept through the day.

. . .