Starlight Love

Study Partners from today

Olivia’s Point Of View

“O?” Aunt Rita shouted for me to come out of my room, she wanted me to help with dinner preparations but I wasn’t even keen to do that knowing that Ethan was going to come to dinner, I wasn’t even looking forward to it because of Ethan.

“Coming!” I responded plainly, I dragged myself out of bed where I was studying from> I walked to the hallway and I found her by the stairs waiting for me

“What’s wrong? Are you not okay?” She questioned me as I shook my head. I couldn’t tell her that Ethan bullies me at school.

“Okay, please just help me with chopping the carrots. If you are worried about chopping onion don’t worry, I will do it okay?” She questioned me as I smiled at her.

“It’s fine I will help you” I said to her walking to the kitchen, “Can I take an apron?” I questioned her as I looked at the aprons. She was wearing one herself, so I thought, why not?

“Olly… This is your house now; you don’t have to ask me what you can take or not,” She mentioned to me as I faked a smile going to get an apron.

We spent the afternoon preparing dinner for people I didn’t even want to eat with, anyway my mother always said that no matter how upset you are, never refuse to dine with someone.

I heard the doorbell go off, and I felt my palms get all sweaty, I couldn’t believe that they had finally come to our house.

I Sighed heavily as I looked at my aunt. “Good thing is that we finished cooking on time, right?” She smiled at me, shrugging her shoulders before taking off her apron and rushing to get the door.

I took off my apron and hang it hangers before walking to the living room, “You will be fine! Kim is here,” I reassured myself as I walked to the living room.

My eyes widened when I saw Kim wasn’t there, I looked around the room with my mouth wide open. I looked at Ethan who was looking at the ground I looked at him from head to toe.

He wore a black jean, dark grey t-shirt with black Nikes on his feet. I turned to his mom and father, looking at the clothes they wore, my lord! It was like they were going to a fancy restaurant.

“You haven’t met my niece Olivia Have you?” Aunt Rita pulled me closer to her as I faked a smile looking at her.

“Oh! Is she your sister’s daughter whom you wanted a school for?” Ethan’s mom asked as my aunt nodded my head.

“Yes, and thankfully I was able to find a place for her. Where’s Kim?” Aunt Rita questioned checking around, hoping to see Kim as I looked ahead.

“Well, Kim had to go for a movie with some friends” She said to me as I swallowed hard. She didn’t tell me she wasn’t coming for the dinner.

“I see, please come this way?” She said to Ethan’s mother, leading the way to the second living room.

I looked at Ethan and his parents as they told him to smile.

“I will go get Paul” I said to aunt Rita so I can excuse myself but she insisted on going to get him.

I sat down on the chair as I waited for Aunt Rita to come and tell me what to do next, “Would you like something to drink?” She questioned our guest.

“Anything exciting? Red wine?” Ethan’s Mother questioned as I raised my eyebrows looking at her.

“Of course, I have got Cabernet Sauvignon from Heitz Cellar?” Aunt Rita responded with an enormous smile; Ethan’s mother nodded her head as she watched Aunt Rita walk out of the room.

“So, Olivia? You are at the same school with Ethan?” She turned to me, trying to start a conversation with me as I recalled what happened with Ethan last time.

“yes. I am” I responded.

“that’s great! I hear you are quite a brainy.” She said to me as I swallowed hard looking at Ethan who was glaring at me.

“Uh Not really. Please excuse me. I will help my aunt in the cellar” I said to her getting up from the couch walking to the Kitchen. I just wanted to leave this place as fast as I could.

I wondered what my class would be like the next day at school.

****

“Do you need help with anything>?” I questioned my aunt, who was busy trying to take out wine glasses.

“Yes, please. Did you find out what Ethan would like?” She questioned me and I shook my head.

“Can you check?”

I reluctantly nodded my head before walking back to the living room, I still debated with myself on my way there If really, I should ask him but I didn’t want to embarrass Aunt Rita and Paul.

“Uh… Ethan Would you like something to drink as well?” I questioned him and he looked at his father before looking at me.

“I will have a coke” He responded, and I wanted to laugh hard. How was that even possible?  If it was at school, he would swim in beer.

“Okay. I will get you that” I said turning to leave but stopped in my tracks when I heard some whispers in behind me. I turned around to look at Ethan and he looked like it had just rained on him.

I went on helping Aunt Rita with bringing the drinks to the living room as Paul joined us in the living room. They went on chatting as Abby served dinner in the dining room.

I kept on looking at Ethan as he had his dinner, and back to his parents. “We are thinking of sending him to a military school” His mother commented as I looked at him. He looked sad about it.

“Really?  I am sure he will do great. He just needs a little direction and help with that he might increase in his studies,” Aunt Rita suggested, but the way his mother burst out in laughter I almost felt sorry for him.

After we finished having dinner, I couldn’t wait to excuse myself so I could have some time to myself in my room.

I stood up wanting to leave and Aunt Rita stopped me, “Olly, why don’t you go with Ethan and chat with him?” Aunt Rita suggested, and I gasped, widening my eyes as looked at her. What was she trying to do? I just hated the fact that I had to deal with this boy.

She winked at me, rolling her eyes to Ethan’s side.

“Ethan, can you help me with the dishes?” I offered him and she widened her mouth as I smiled at her. I knew she didn’t want me to do dishes with him, but I couldn’t take him to my room.

I saw Ethan stand up, following me behind to the kitchen.

“You must be having fun tonight?” He mentioned to me as I went to the sink to clear the plates.

“As much as I would enjoy seeing you in pain. Believe me when I say that tonight is not that day,” I said wiping the things off the plates. I heard him scoff as I went on cleaning.

“What will you be doing? Rinsing and wiping the dishes? Or you will scrub?” I questioned him and he folded his hands, looking at me from head to toe.

I looked at myself, wondering what could be wrong with my dress.

“I didn’t say that I would help with the dishes” He bluntly replied, walking towards the chair so he could sit down.

“Oh? I can just go back in there and ask your father if he can speak to you?” I said with a smile on my face and I saw him clenched his jaws.

“Fine! What do you want me to help with?” He said, and I smiled at myself.

“Scrub the plates! I will rinse and wipe them” I said to him as I grabbed the gloves, giving him. He sighed heavily before coming to stand next to me.

“Why didn’t you say anything to people at school?” he questioned me as I wiped the dishes were already in the dish rack.

“Well, what will I gain from that?  I will probably enjoy seeing you sad for a day, but then what fun is there to hurt another person?” I said to him as I wiped the plates.

“yet you let me hurt you” He said to me as I smiled, lifting my eyes to look at him.

“My mom always said that bullies aren’t like that because they want to be but because someone once pushed them to the wall so they hurt others thinking they will forget about that pain they felt,” I said to him and he raised his eyebrows.

“What?” he responded, and I bit my lower lip

“I think you don’t like hurting people but because they always treat you like nothing by your family,” I said to him and he lowered his head focusing on the dishes.

“Don’t worry, I will say nothing to your friends. I will just endure it,” I said to him, waiting for the plates from him.

After washing the plates, we went to the study room where I was going to do my homework. While I studied, he was busy on his phone. 

“Did Kim go out with her friends?” I questioned him and he didn’t respond. I swallowed hard, nodding my head as I went on studying.

“O? Ethan?” I heard my aunt shouting for me as I closed my books, I heard Ethan’s mother speak approaching the room.

“Yes? In here!” I shouted, grabbing one of my books and throwing it on Ethan’s lap as he widened his eyes.  I mouthed to him to take the book before taking to the door where Aunt Rita was coming from.

“Yes, Auntie?”

“So, I was just talking to Ethan’s mom. Maybe you two can have like time to study together. I know you are good in science and all. Maybe you can help Kim and Ethan?” Aunt Rita suggested as I raised my eyebrows. What was she talking about? Was she being serious?

“So, what do you think?” She excitedly asked me as I looked at Ethan, what was I going to do?

Ethan and I could never study together or even spend time without arguing.

“Of course, I will be glad to help,” I said with a fake smile.

“Perfect! Then you can start soon, ” She said to me as I swallowed hard. Why did I agree?  I regretted just seconds later after I told them I could do it.