Charlie

Today's the day.

This could be the last time me and Olivia will ever spend time together. Even if it is, I'm glad it will be because it'll mean that we found the perfect job for her. Sure, I'll miss her but I'll be happy knowing that her future is a bright one.

Not that it wasn't bright before. It's just that it'll be better for her since she'll know what direction to take.

I sigh. Part of me hopes she won't like this career and that we'll just end up at square one again. It would mean that I'd get to spend more time with her. Which is selfish but I can't help it. She's amazing and I fell for her. Hard.

My leg bounces up and down as I wait for her outside of the bakery in my car. She told me she wouldn't be long. That her and Nick just had to finish one last batch.

Even if she choses Nick over me I'll be happy for her. All I want is to see her smile and know what she wants for her life.

The glass paneled door to the bakery swings open. A hand grips the door knob, propping it open. The arm disappears into the building, blocking me from making out who it is. But a piece of fire-like hair falls down onto her arm.

I grin.

A second later the arm turns into Olivia as she exits the building. She looks down the street towards where I sit in my car and smiles. Her smile is brighter than the sun. I know I should look away with it being that bright but I can't. She bounds towards my car, her smile never leaving her face.

I reach across the passenger seat to grab the door handle and push it open for her.

She jumps a little with a chuckle. "Thanks!" She walks around the now open door and hops in.

"Are you ready?" I ask as she gets settled in.

She holds her hands out to me which shake in the air. "Does this tell you anything?"

I reach out with my own and cup them around hers. I bring her hands together, letting the palms touch and hold mine above them. "You have no reason to be nervous. I'm sure this will be the one."

She shifts in her seat. "I know. I know! I'm just so nervous and excited! Because what if it is the career? But what if it isn't?" Her eyes seem to war with each other as she tells me her worries.

I don't release her hands as I try to assure her. "If this isn't the job then we'll keep looking. I won't stop looking until you're happy."

Her mouth opens a little. The bottom of her top teeth peek out. She ducks her head as pink blooms on her cheeks. "Thank you," she whispers.

I've never wanted to reach out and hug her as much as I do right now.

I cough into my fist and turn around in my seat. "Yeah, of course."

There's silence in the car as we buckle up and start driving towards the vet clinic. Our last stop. Last chance at her future.

***

When we arrive at the vet clinic and make our way inside, I can't help but notice how few people there are.

"So this is it?" Olivia whispers to me as we get closer to the reception desk.

I nod.

She takes a deep breath. I swear I almost hear the shake and hitch in it as she does.

The urge to reach out and hold her hand, or place a soothing hand on her shoulder has never been stronger. But I don't. Instead I focus my attention on the man behind the desk.

He pushes his glasses up his nose as he grins at us. "Hey there. What can I do for you today?" His eyes flick down to the ground beside us. He frowns.

"Well," I lean my forearm against the desk. "We have an appointment with Dr. Harper."

The guy furrows his eyebrows and turns to his computer. "Dr. Harper is currently on her lunch and I know for a fact that she didn't..." He clicks around his computer as his brows furrow deeper. "She said she didn't have any afternoon appointments because she had something else happening today."

I furrow my brows as well and place my hands onto the edge of the counter. "Are you sure?" I lean over it as if to get a better look at the computer.

He nods before turning back to me. "I can't find anything in her schedule, kids, so sorry. But whatever appointment you had today isn't there."

"That can't be right-"

"Hey, Charlie?"

"Hm?" I turn back to Olivia who now stands beside a lady with black hair and scrubs on. She smiles at us.

"Harper!" the guy behind the desk exclaims.

The woman - Harper - just smiles. "Hey there." She laughs. "I meant to put these two into my schedule and I just kept forgetting." She turns to me and winks. "It was a busy morning."

I nod. "So... we're still good then?"

She nods. "Of course!"

The guy furrows his brow. "I know it's been busy for you but you can't keep forgetting this stuff."

Harper rolls her eyes. "It's fine. This is the first time it's happened in awhile."

He sighs but doesn't push her any further.

Harper turns to us. "I'm doctor Harper, and you must be Charlie." She points at me. "And you must be Olivia." She points at Olivia. We both nod. "It's great to meet you both."

"It's great to meet you, too," Olivia says with a grin and a star-struck look in her eyes.

Harper smiles. "You must be the one who's looking around for a career."

Olivia nods.

"Great! Well then, I guess we shouldn't waste any current time just standing around, right?"

"Um, no miss."

Harper waves Olivia off. "Please, call me Harper."

She nods. "Alright then. Harper, show us the way!"

I grin as Harper takes us into the hall and shows us around the building. Olivia listens enthusiastically. When Harper starts to show her some of the jobs around here, Olivia follows along, and does the job as carefully and best she can. By the time Harper's next appointment gets here, she's shown us around as much as she can.

Harper places a finger on her lip. "How would you two like to watch me with my client?"

"I'd love to!" Stars dance in Olivia's eyes.

"Would that be allowed?" I ask. That doesn't seem like something a doctor, even a pet doctor should be doing.

Harper bits her lips and rocks her head from side to side. "Well... not really. But! My next client is this super nice old lady who likes children, so I'm sure she'd be okay with it."

I look to Olivia. This feels sketchy to me. And, even if I don't think it's the best thing that we should do I'd rather leave this up to Olivia. This is for her future career, afterall. I'm not sure what I expected from her, but it definitely wasn't for her to look scared. Her eyes are wide and a little frantic. She twirls her hair between her fingers as she bites her lip.

That makes two of us.

"Actually, I just remembered that we have another appointment to get to. So thank you for today, it was very... enlightening!"

Harper frowns but doesn't say anything about my very bad lie. "It was lovely getting to know you both." She turns to Olivia, who has now put on her best brave face. "I hope you decide to look farther into being a vet. It really is a great job. Maybe if you do I'll be able to help you!"

"I know I have a few more careers to look into, but I won't push being a vet off to the side. Thank you for today." She tries her best to smile.

Harper glows. "Well, I better get to my client. Hope you two have a great day." She waves as she turns around and heads down the hall.

Olivia whips around, her arms already wrapped around her. Instinct kicks in and I place my arm around her shoulder protectively as we walk to the front.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper to her.

"Why are you sorry?" she asks, just as quietly.

I dip my head and try to avoid any eye contact with her. Which isn't hard right now. "I knew how important this job was for you. That you had all your hopes and dreams in it. So, to see Harper act how... well, how she must always be, I just... I don't know. It seemed to ruin the job for you and-"

She stops and places her hands on my chest. Shutting me up. "She didn't ruin anything for me. Sure, she made it harder for me, but before she did I realized something."

"What did you realize?" I ask like an idiot.

She laughs. "I realized that this is the career for me, Charlie."

I grin and grab her around the waist. I hoist her up and spin her around in the air. Her laughter fills the hallway as she grips onto my arms for life. "Charlie!"

"That's amazing!" I set her down in front of me, but my hands don't move from her waist. "You're amazing."

"Charlie..."

My gaze flicks to her lips.

A cough sounds throughout the empty hall.

"I'm glad to see that Harper didn't ruin anything for you."

I spin around to find the guy from the front leaning against the wall with a mug in his hand.

Olivia coughs and flattens out her shirt. "Um... No. She didn't."

The guy sighs. "I really am glad to hear that." He shifts off the wall and peeks over us. "Harper isn't our greatest vet. Very forgetful and overall just... pushy."

Olivia nods. "I can see that."

He too, nods. A small smile filters onto his face. "But you seem different then her. Which makes me think you'd be a better vet than her. So, if you ever need any help figuring out your career as a vet, here's my number and I can help." He holds his hand out, with a paper between two of his fingers.

I don't know whether to be protective and mad that he's giving her his number. Or to be happy that someone less weird is helping Olivia out.

She reaches out and takes the paper from him. She quickly scans it and tucks it into her pocket. "Thank you. This means a lot to me."

The guy smiles. "No problem. We need some better vets here anyways." His gaze drifts to me. "You're a good boyfriend for doing this for her."

Before I can correct him he's turning and walking away. "I'm not her-" But it dies on my lips.

I turn and look down at Olivia who watches the guy leave. Her bottom lip trapped between her teeth.

"Hey? You good?"

She scares herself and looks up at me. A soft smile grazing her face. "Yeah. I'm good. Let's get out of here." She grabs my hand and pulls me after her. Leaving me no choice but to follow like a lost puppy.