A Twist in My Story

Olivia knew that Carrie, Christina, and Jamie were right; she had to get over Nick. Obviously he wasn't interested in her if he snuck off to make-out with Serena. She slept off her headache from her sob-fest and awoke on Sunday with a fresh outlook. If Nick didn't find her attractive or interesting enough to be in a relationship with, she would encourage the boy who was interested in her.
Her roommates were right! Carter was nice, good looking, and for some unfathomable reason, interested in her!

Going against her shy nature, Olivia rolled over, grabbed her cell phone off her desk, and texted Carter.

"Hey Carter! Wanna grab lunch w/me today?"

Hitting send, Olivia stared at her phone mentally begging it to buzz with a return text. The minutes ticked by achingly slow. The butterflies fluttered faster in her stomach with each passing silent second. As she reached the embarrassed-self-esteem-panic-meltdown level, her cell buzzed. With a sigh of relief she saw Carter's name on her phone. She opened his text to read:

"Sorry. Can't today."

Olivia felt like a popped balloon. The first step outside of her comfort zone and she was shot down. Dropping her phone on the bed between her legs, she plopped back onto her pillow fighting tears. The cool kids in high school were right; she was an undesirable preacher's kid that no boy liked.
Just as the first tear brimmed and threatened to fall, her phone vibrated in an awkward spot.
Resigned, she picked it up to see who was trying to reach her. A new text from Carter appeared.

"Visiting home today. Dinner tonight?"

Olivia sat stunned for a full minute. Carter really wanted to go on a date with her? Suddenly it clicked in her mind that she really did have a bona-fide date for tonight. She jumped off her bed and did a little happy dance.

In the middle of her dance, Carrie came back from breakfast. Halfway through the door she stopped, stunned and confused.

"Liv? You okay? Did you win a million dollars or something?" Carrie asked cautiously. "Cuz if you did, I get some of the take. You know being your best roommate and all."

Olivia squealed in surprise and spun around in shock that she'd been caught acting ridiculously silly. "Oh my gosh, Carrie, it's so much better than a million dollars," she answered, unable to keep the goofy grin off her face.

"Well..." Carrie motioned for her to elaborate as she shut the door.

"Carter asked me out!" Olivia gushed, immediately embarrassed by her bubble-headed behavior. A blush covered her cheeks.

Carrie rushed over and wrapped her in a hug. "I knew that boy had brains in his head unlike some others." Olivia ignored the dig at Nick and simply smiled. "So what did you say?"
Olivia's jaw dropped. "I-I didn't answer. Oh my god, Care, he's totally going to think I'm blowing him off! I-"
"Chill," Carrie grabbed Olivia's shoulders to steady her and calm her near hyperventilation. "Answer him now. No big deal, Liv. A girl doesn't want to look too excited. It goes to the boy's head."
Olivia opened Carter's last text and replied:

"Absolutely! Enjoy family time. Let me know the details for dinner."

Carter immediately replied:

"I'll pick you up at your dorm at 6:00pm. See you later, beautiful."

Olivia's blush deepened at his term of endearment. With that done another thought popped into her head causing her to blanch.

"Liv? What now?" Carrie asked, concerned.

Olivia turned to look at her with all seriousness. "Carrie, what am I going to wear?"

Laughter spilled from Carrie. "No worries, Liv. We've got hours to figure that out. Get dressed, Cinderella. We're going shopping."

Olivia spent all afternoon out shopping with the girls. This was the first time she blew off doing homework even though she did have assignments due Monday. She tried on so many outfits that her head was spinning by the time they stopped to eat dinner.

"Are you sure we didn't over do it?" Olivia worried, sipping her Coke. "I don't want Carter to think I'm trying too hard."

Carrie waved her concern away. "He won't think that. All the outfits you actually bought are casual but can be dressed up as needed. You'll look chic and stylish, yet approachable."

"I don't know..." Olivia nibbled on her bottom lip.

"Trust us, Liv," Jamie soothed. "Have we ever steered you wrong before? And besides, Christina breathes fashion and boys so she's practically an expert."

"Hey!" Christina balked, but then cocked her head pensively. "Actually, thank you for such a nice compliment."

Olivia laughed with the girls and her worry slipped away. She didn't even hear her phone buzz with a new text from Nick - his fourth this afternoon.

That evening Olivia hurriedly worked to finish her light make-up under the careful eye of Christina. Carrie had helped her choose the date outfit: a short pullover dusty rose dress with dark tights and ankle boots topped off with a black leather jacket and floral printed scarf. Jamie approved everything and took up watch duty by the window.

At exactly five minutes to 6 o'clock, Jamie saw Carter walking towards their dorm.

"He's here," Jamie announced happily, "and he drove his car. Where are you two going?"

Olivia grabbed her purse and stood as Christina fluffed her golden curls for more volume one final time. "I actually don't know. He wouldn't tell me. Should I have had him tell me?"

"No. Let him surprise you. Boys can be romantic when they really try," Carrie calmed her.

"Carter doesn't have to try very hard," Olivia blushed at her admission.

Carter's knock at the door quieted Christina and Jamie's giggles. Taking a deep breath, Olivia answered the door to welcome her date.

"Hey Liv. Wow, you look beautiful," Carter smiled as his eyes roved over her from head to toe. "Hey ladies," he greeted her quadmates, his eyes never trailing from Olivia's.

"Hi Carter," they chorused.

"Ready to go?" He held his hand out to Olivia.

She had lost all ability to speak intelligent words so she simply nodded and placed her hand in his.

"Carter. Keep an eye on her," Carrie warned him, her protective nature flaring for her friend.

"Absolutely," he smiled charmingly at Olivia then led her away for their date.

They'd been driving for 30 minutes when Olivia finally worked up the courage to say more than two word answers. Her self-esteem as far as dating went was nonexistent and would only remain so if she didn't start conversing with her date. She'd been watching the scenery pass outside her window. As they drove away from the Penn State area she saw more trees and single houses than chain stores, restaurants, and subdivisions. The traffic had thinned out too.

"Where are we going?" she inquired.

Carter glanced over at her with a shocked expression. "A whole sentence? Wow," he teased.

Olivia blushed and looked away. "Sorry," she murmured.

He reached over and laid his hand on hers as they rested in her lap. "Don't be. I was teasing," he reassured her. His voice was smooth as silk."I like it when you blush. You look so cute."

"Uh, thank you?" Carter laughed in response until she joined in too. "I'm a pretty lousy date. I don't know why I'm so nervous! I guess I thought we were just going to hang on campus and eat. Where are we going?"

Carter chuckled at her short ramble. "You're not lousy; you're adorable. And you have absolutely no reason to be nervous! It's just me! And to answer your question, I wanted our first date to be memorable, so it's a surprise, but we'll be there shortly."

"Okay, but I hope you know the anticipation builds so it must meet the ever-rising standards," she replied trying to seem serious but the twinkle in her eyes gave her away.

"It'll be great. Promise."

Twenty minutes later they were pulling through the gates of a drive-in movie theater after Carter paid their entrance fee. He pulled into a slot, turned the car off, but left the radio on, and cracked the windows so the crisp fall air could come in. They had a perfect view of the movie screen.

"A drive-in movie? I didn't know they still had these." Olivia was impressed and enthralled.

"Neither did I until my brother mentioned it. Do you want some popcorn and a hot dog?"

The excitement was bubbling up in her, especially after he sort of admitted that he'd mentioned her to his brother!. "I'd love some. How much does it cost?"

"Liv, this is a date. I 'm paying," he opened his car door. "Be back soon."

Olivia unbuckled her seat belt and straightened her hair. This was the perfect opportunity to completely embrace her independence; no Nick, no parents, completely free. 'Should I cuddle up to him or is that too close too soon? But if I stay huddled by my door he'll think I don't want to be close to him. I do though. He smells so good,' she thought.

Before she could make up her mind Carter returned with one large bucket of popcorn, two loaded hot dogs, and one Coke...two straws.

"Hope you like extra butter, lots of condiments, and Coke," he handed them to her as he settled in.
As he turned the radio to the correct station so they could hear the movie, it dawned on Olivia that she was needlessly worrying over nothing: the console was between them so cuddling was out of the question.

It took only one preview and the annihilation of their hotdogs for Carter to remedy the distance issue. "Wanna sit in the back? We'll have a fuller view."

Olivia was stunned silent. Backseats were notorious for make-out sessions. Her dad was always talking about that with parents of teens. If he only knew that she was currently doing that right now... It took her all of two seconds to agree and hop into the backseat. Once Carter joined her, he pulled a blanket she hadn't even seen over their laps. Smiling to herself at the thoughtful gesture, she leaned into him, the popcorn on her lap. He draped his arm over her shoulders.

"This is much better," he said, smiling.

The rest of their date went smoothly. They started off watching the movie in silence, but soon enough it turned into them critiquing situations that wouldn't really happen in real life. By the time they were driving back to campus, Olivia had no idea why she had been so nervous to begin with! They was Carter! She already knew they got along great - when her nerves and insecurities weren't getting in the way. Olivia held hands with Carter as he walked her back to her dorm, totally at ease with him.

"I had a really great time, Carter. It was fun," she said. Her happiness came through her voice.

"I'm glad you liked it. I did too. I'd like to take you on another date, but I don't want to rush you," he responded.

Olivia felt her heart turnover with joy. A second date! She worked to rein in her emotions as she remembered what Carrie said about being too eager. "I wouldn't turn you down if you asked. Especially if it's as good as this one," she smiled up at him shyly. "Not that I'd say no if it wasn't as good. Any date with you is good. I just - should stop rambling."

Carter chuckled and squeezed her hand. "I got the message."

"We could do something next weekend..." she suggested.

"I'd love to, but my friend is throwing a party at his house and I told him I'd be there. I know that's not really your scene," he trailed off.

The fact that he remembered that about her sent a squiggle of something through her belly. "I could like parties," she trailed off. "Is it invite only?"

Carter's lips lifted in a grin. "I could bring a guest. Does this mean you want to come with me?" A glimmer of hope sounded in his voice.

"I'd love to," she beamed, thrilled to finally be moving in the right direction with a guy.

"Great! Walk you to class tomorrow?" he stopped at her dorm building. She'd have to key herself in and leaving him now took the pressure off of whether she should anticipate a goodbye kiss or not.

"Meet you right here," she agreed, then turned away to go inside.

Carter didn't release her hand but instead turned her back toward him. He smiled at her then ducked down to plant a sweet, lingering kiss on her lips. "Goodnight, Liv." He walked away not without noticing her shell-shocked expression.

Olivia eventually entered her dorm and knew she'd have a lot to tell her roommates.

Nick glanced at the clock above the board again: four minutes before class began and still Olivia wasn't here. He tried calling her several times over the weekend but every call went to voicemail. He was smart enough to know he'd hurt her feelings and realize that she was avoiding him, but she wouldn't even give him a minute to let him explain. And to make him feel even worse, anytime he saw her roommate he got the evil eye...especially because every time he ran across Carrie, Serena was glued to his arm. Serena had clung to him all weekend and it didn't look like this week would be any different. He picked up her hand off his thigh to move it onto her thigh, but she simply laced their fingers together.

Just when he thought Olivia was going to skip class she entered the lecture hall. Nick's heart stopped, plummeted, then flipped when he saw her fingers laced with Carter's. He couldn't say he was jealous because he didn't think he wanted to date Olivia. Did he? But he knew he didn't like Carter and he didn't want Olivia to get hurt.

"Olivia! Saved you a seat," Nick called out once they'd walked up to their usual row, waving with his free hand and gesturing to the seat his bookbag was on. And oh darn, it was only one seat. Looked like Carter would have to sit somewhere else.

Olivia sent him a cold, blank stare that he'd never in a million years expect from her and walked right past him to the upper seats. He didn't fail to catch the charming smile she sent Carter and the one he sent her in return.

Nick twisted in his seat to look at them, but Serena stopped him with a firm hand on his cheek.

"Nick, leave her alone. She obviously likes that guy and you shouldn't interfere."

"I don't trust him, Serena. She's innocent and I promised to look out for her."

"She's a big girl, Nick. If she wanted your protection she'd ask for it. I think she doesn't want it based on her signals. Trust me, Nick. I'm a girl. I read girl signals very well," she crooned. "However, I want you and your protection even if she doesn't. Do you want me too?" she purred stroking his cheek.

Nick stared into her big brown eyes knowing exactly what she wanted him to say, but couldn't bring himself to voice the words. Instead he simply half-smiled and forced himself to not look over his shoulder at Olivia again.

The downside to sitting above Nick and Serena was they were constantly in her line of sight. Without even wanting to she saw everything they did...especially all Serena's caresses. It just reaffirmed her decision to get over him once and for all. She'd been kidding herself when she thought they were growing closer. Serena was the one he seemed to be forming a romantic relationship with. If anything, she and Nick would only ever be friends - but not any time soon. She had to move on from him once and for all so that she wouldn't be sucked back into her delusions of them being anything more.

The constant vibrating of Carter's phone in his pocket pulled Olivia from her thoughts. She glanced at him as he pulled it out, a small smirk forming on his lips as he typed out a response and then shoved it back in his pocket.

Unlike Nick, Carter had never sent her any mixed signals. He was constantly doing and saying things that proved he was interested in her - even if she still had a little hard time believing it and was constantly insecure about herself. Carter was sensitive and kind and an overall great guy she thought to herself as he tapped out another response to the set of messages that followed his last reply. She couldn't wait to meet his friends, get to know them, and possibly make more new friends of her own. It was quite possible that she was on her way to finding her niche in college.