Days grew to weeks and weeks grew to months. They became close friends who did almost everything together. Olivia’s feeling only grew toward the girl and she knew she was in love. Her thoughts only became more complicated though because being gay was looked down upon and some even thought it was wrong. Some people supported and some did not, and it was hard to tell where people fell on the line of the topic. She definitely did NOT want to come out to her mom and was even more scared to be outed in her school. Suddenly this became very real to Olivia. She was scared of not being excepted and being thought of as weird by her peers. Olivia decided to bury her feelings. Whether that was the wrong or right thing to do she didn’t know at the time. Her image remained intact and high school flew by in a flash. It was only then the day before they were about to graduate that Olivia laid on her bed regretting every choice, she ever made with her first love. She cried and cried for the entire night until she eventually cried herself to sleep.

She wondered if it was to late in the morning, they graduated that day after all. She knew she regretted her choices and so desperately just wanted to at least express her feelings to her before leaving each other’s lives. After the ceremony she found the girl on the bench just as they had first met on that fateful day. She was doing this regardless of whether the girl said yes or no. She was tired of hiding and waiting. If she wanted something, then she would have to grab and hold onto it with her own hands. She sat next to her friend and love nervous with coursing thoughts at the moment happening right before her very eyes. Olivia turned her focus to her with devout resolution and said the words she’s been wanting to say since she’s met the girl.

“I-I-I love you”

The girl that she loved with her whole heart didn’t even look surprised at this sudden declaration and that made Olivia even more nervous than when she first came here. The girl opened her mouth and moved to say something only for Olivia to see her lips begin to say her answer.

“I know”

That’s what she said with a sad look on her face. She brought Olivia’s hand to her face and proceeded to say something else that would stay with Olivia for the rest of her life.

“And I’m sorry….”

Olivia’s eyes started to water, and she cried. Just those simple words were what she said but Olivia new all to well what she meant. Her heart was shattered into a million pieces, and they embraced as if it were there last. Olivia thought that she could finally have everything she’s ever wanted, but the one thing she wanted the most slipped through her fingertips.

Her emotions were like a raging sea for a while. Even though she decided beforehand that whatever the outcome was she’d except it, the reality of being rejected was still almost too much to bear. They say first loves never last and it seemed like that was certainly true for Olivia’s case. Just as fall turns into winter in turn winter turns into spring. People think that if something bad happens to them they feel that they could never recover from said thing, but as another famous saying says: ‘Time heals all wounds.’ It might take a while and it will certainly be a difficult process, but situations will always get better and there certainly always will be new opportunities.  

Olivia’s plan was to drown herself in her studies for university. She wanted her love to work out, but she unfortunately did not have the time to grieve her broken heart. She got into the university she wanted with a full scholarship. Olivia wasn’t a classic case of all brawn and no brain. She had her athleticism, and she had her scholarly mind. Even if she didn’t get the academic scholarship, she certainly would have gotten an athletic one. She continued being on the cheer team. Olivia thought it best to keep the attitude she had in high and apply it to college as well.

Oliva went through her first year of college almost like it was an extension of high school. People fawned over her, she studied, she was on the cheer team and remained closed off in her love life. To be honest for Olivia this time around it wasn’t because she wasn’t interested in love, she just didn’t find anyone she was into.

Her days remained the same until an obstacle came into her spotlight. Ava Thompson was a picture-perfect example of a cheerleader. She was dubbed “the princess” as soon as she got into the college. Her coming made waves throughout the school, and everyone was obsessed with her. She immediately applied for the cheer squad and in no time at all took the throne as captain for herself. This was the first time Olivia had an actual threat to her status in school. Olivia started butting heads with Ava more times than there are stars in the sky. They were more or less “friends” if you can call them that and viewed each other as rivals to be bested. It wasn’t like she hated Ava, but she certainly had a dislike for her and who wouldn’t if everything they worked for would be in jeopardy because of newbie student. Ava in her mind was a snarky and pretentious person who – on the surface – seemed like she got everything she wanted whenever she wanted. It was only when Olivia asked randomly if Ava had ever regretted anything, and she actually did to her surprise (this question was definitely a backhanded comment).

“Yes, I’m not heartless you know. Being separated from my best friend is what I regret.” Said Ava with a sullen look.

‘Well, I guess she isn’t completely rotten to the core’ Olivia thought to herself. Whoever was Ava’s “best friend” must have been just like her. Olivia made a bunch of assumptions about said friend and then stopped thinking about it entirely.

Olivia and Ava’s rivalry continued for a half a year until something big happened. The arrival someone both Olivia and Ava never saw coming. Blair Reeve, Ava’s supposed best friend and now Olivia’s new love. Olivia thought she’d never experience what she did in high school again but here it was happening all over again. Blair had captivated Olivia as soon as she walked into the room to introduce herself. It was textbook love at first sight. Olivia moved as soon as she started walking her way. She was not letting Blair slip away just as her first love did in the past. She was tired of being indecisive and cowardly. Olivia decided to be forward and cunning using all her charms to her advantage. She already saw that Ava and Blair had a strained relationship from there brief interaction. This was her golden opportunity, and she was taking it without caring about what others think. She got her number, she proposed they go on a date, and she kept on the pressure by making sure to see her regularly. If none of this worked then she would just chalk it up to bad luck and not dwell on it to much, but it seemed to be working. She was neither apprehensive or disgusted by anything Olivia was doing rather she felt comfortable and open to her.

The date was a great first step, but in classic Olivia fashion she almost fucked it up completely. The day went off without hitch until the minor incident at dinner happened. Olivia was enjoying her food and the good company when Blair said she had to use the bathroom. She tried to wait for her to come back but coincidentally one of her old admirers from high school was there at the restaurant. Seeing Olivia, she came up and plopped her ass right where Blair was sitting. Olivia thought that was a really fucking rude thing to do especially if Olivia brought someone here. Of course, Blair came out right as Olivia was trying to coax her old classmate out of Blairs seat and dashed out of the front door. Luckily everything turned out fine, but that one instance where she almost lost Blair made Olivia want to redouble her efforts.

Olivia’s heart sank though when she wanted to surprise Blair and she found Ava in Blairs dorm. Her heart would’ve jumped out of her chest if Blair didn’t inform her that they had some sort of “reconciliation party” for there newfound friendship. Honestly, she felt a little conflicted by their reconciliation, but Blairs face looked ecstatic, and Ava never looked like she wanted anything more. If need be, she would remind Ava of her shortcomings with Blair and put her in her place of she ever did want something more. It was her turn now and she was giving it everything she got this time around. No being a coward, no misplaced feelings and no more time spent running.

Olivia’s plans for the future were simple. She was going to continue to focus hard on her studies, she was going to keep being a pillar of the cheer team and she now had a goal for her love life that was very real. If Blair didn’t confess or mention anything about feelings for her, she planned to make a whole day of it on the 24^th of December. As romantic as a date could be and at the end in front of the fireworks show they hold every year that’s when she’d make her move.