[Chapter 6]
Olivia

George stared at us with wide unblinking eyes, absolutely speechless by our appearances. He looked at us from head to toe with a horrified expression plastered on his face. His expression soon turned into anger and pointed to me in accusation. "Flo, this is your fault, isn't it?"

Leo was shocked that George called me by my first name, confused to why his principal was talking to a new student so casually.

"You don't know that!" I exclaimed, attempting to defend my guilty self. Leo snickered softly and I proceeded to give him a subtle side glare.

He narrowed his eyes at me, leaning over his desk. "But I do know you and it was you, wasn't it?" He accused me once more, staring at me with disappointed eyes. I sensed that he was being more serious than usual, so I couldn't help but admit to my own wrong doing.

I sighed and reluctantly nodded in defeat. "Yeah, it was." I mumbled incoherently, hating how serious the atmosphere was. I've never felt this sorry for getting into trouble with my past school principals before. I guess it's different when it comes from someone who personally knows and cares about you.

George then turned his head towards Leo and shook his head. "I would have never expected this type of behaviour to come from you, Mr Archer. You do remember our terms and conditions that we've talked over before you got your position as varsity football captain, don't you?" He raised an eyebrow, giving him a pointed look.

Leo nodded his head firmly, pursing his lips. "Yes, sir." He said apologetically.

Terms and conditions?

"Very well then." George sighed and crossed his arms sternly, leaning back in his chair. "I don't know what happened to cause you two to get into this mess nor do I want to know. What I do know is that the both of you have just bought yourselves a week's worth of lunch detention. Oh, and one after school detention for you on friday, Flo."

I gaped at him in betrayal. "What? Why do I get more detentions than him?" I frowned, almost pouting.

"Because you started it." He shrugged.

I actually didn't mind having extra detention. I'm practically immune to it by now. But I just hate that Leo was present to witness the ruling of my extra detention. He's going to use it as his leverage, I just know it. Just as I suspected, at the mention of my extended punishment, Leo sent me a smug grin in which I replied with a fake, over exaggerated smile. The bell rang, signalling the end of the school day. George ordered us out of his office, complaining about how we're getting his newly bought carpet dirty. Leo and I then went our separate ways down the hallway without another word.

I met up with Kathryn in the girls' locker room when I went in to pack up my clothes. She couldn't stop rambling, asking me so many questions that I had to physically stop her by shushing her with my index finger. Thankfully, she stopped immediately — especially when she realised I had touched mud with that hand. I gave her my phone number, promising her that I'll answer all of her desired questions later this evening.

By taking one look at the showers, I knew that driving all the way home in my dirty, uncomfortable clothes just to take a shower would definitely be worth it. The condition of the showers weren't that bad, but I definitely would not take the risk of stepping in there with my bare feet.

I got out to the parking lot and everyone just stared at me with the same way George did — horrified by my dirty appearance. I ignored all the snickers and stares, heading straight for my motorcycle. The mud had thankfully dried by now so I didn't have to worry about dirtying my beloved motorcycle.

I put on my helmet, squirming at the uncomfortable feeling of dried mud in my hair. I quickly dusted some dirt off of me before getting on the motorcycle. I went slightly over the speed limit on my way home, eager to get home to wash out all the dirt from my hair and body. The security guards at the entrance of my neighbourhood easily recognised me from my license plate and automatically opened the gate to let me through. I waved at them as a way of saying thanks as they do so.

I arrived at the front of my house which was at the top of the hill and saw the usual absence of my dad's black Porsche. He usually gets out to work early in the morning and comes back home late at night, which more or less tells me that he would like to avoid me if he can. I drove into our stone pavement driveway, circling around the marvellously sculpted marble fountain until I reached the front of our garage. I parked my motorcycle outside, not bothering to open the garage door as the dirt in hair was starting to irritate my scalp.

I quickly walked up the mini flights of stairs to the front door. I rustled around in my backpack until I found my keys and unlocked the large, wooden door. A cold, air conditioned breeze hit my face the moment I stepped in. I took off my dirty shoes and placed them in the tall shoe rack located near the door. My bare feet made contact with the cold wooden floor, causing me to shiver slightly. I quickly put on my comfy house slippers, immediately enjoying the warmth of them as I slipped them on.

"Flo, is that you, honey?" Olivia's sweet sounding voice echoed from another room. I could hear her footsteps coming closer as she made her way to the entrance hall of the house. "So, how was your first day of— FLORENCE! What happened to you?!" She gasped in horror and placed a hand on her chest in shock, her eyes widening the second she saw me.

I laughed and rubbed the back of my neck. "It's a long story." I grinned cheekily.

She placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. "Well, whatever it was, you could explain to me while I cook your dinner. But right now, you better go wash all that gunk off of you." She nagged in a motherly way, pushing me gently towards the tall, spiral staircase. I chuckled and did as I was told. I jogged up the wooden stairs to the second floor which was entirely my bedroom. I walked down the short hallway, my bedroom door located at the end of it.

Miraculously, I was able to wash out all the dirt from my hair but it definitely wasn't easy. After my relieving shower, I told Olivia everything that happened today. Even though she was supposed to be nanny and maid, I saw her as nothing less than a second mother. She's the only person I would ever truly listen to and obey.

Well, most of the time anyway.

Olivia started working for us shortly after my mom passed away and she's the one who's been raising me ever since. It took me almost half a year just to talk to her. But she was more than patient with me and understood I needed time to grieve, which eventually made me trust her like the way I do now. She never really agreed with my mischievous doings but she also understood why I acted the way I did. She does, however, laugh with me whenever I tell her stories about the new pranks I've pulled but also speaks up seriously when she thinks I've gone too far.

Olivia cracked up after hearing about the mud fight between Leo and I. "And how did George react to it?" She smiled as she peeled a potato.

"He was absolutely horrified." I giggled, leaning against the marble, kitchen island. She shook her head, chuckling softly. "By the way, I'm going to be home late on friday." I winced.

She raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Why?" She asked as she stopped peeling the potato.

I pursed my lips, not responding for a while before giving her a small, cheeky grin. "I kind of have after school detention."

Olivia puts down the vegetable peeler as well as the potato and crossed her arms. "Flo, when are you going to take your life seriously?" She asked sternly, narrowing her eyes at me. I sighed, knowing that a lecture was about to come my way. "You're the only heir to your father's company and that's a huge responsibility. When are you going to stop getting into trouble and start considering the more realistic things in life?"

"I don't know." I groaned in protest and frowned, upset that the fun, carefree atmosphere has been shattered. "I guess, when my dad realises that he has a daughter to take care of." I grumbled, fumbling my thumbs.

Olivia sighed and rubbed my arm to comfort me. "He is, by giving you a proper education, putting food on the table and providing a roof over your head." She told me with a soft tone, looking at me with sympathetic eyes.

I rolled my eyes and laughed humourlessly. "He's just someone who pays for everything. He doesn't even care that I'm failing all my classes. It's like... I'm nothing but a garden to him. He pays people to make sure it's well groomed but he never actually bothers to step out to enjoy it."

Tears started building up in my eyes and I leaned over the island, resting my chin on my folded arms. I sniffled, trying to contain the tears. Olivia frowned, hearing upon my sniffling. She walked around the island and wrapped her arms around me, making me immediately start sobbing.

I never tend to keep my emotions hidden from Olivia, even if I attempt to out of habit. I know she would never judge me and I will always count on her to provide me support and comfort when I need her to. I honestly wouldn't know how I'd handle all my emotions without her.

"Oh sweetie, I know it hurts. I just want you to be the best person you can be — with or without your father. I love you too much to see you waste your life like that. I just hope one day, you'll be able to do amazing things for yourself and not for that father of yours. And he will be your father again. Soon. I just know it. I love you." She whispered to me, gently rubbing my back as I sobbed into her shoulder.

I sniffled, wiping the tears away from my cheeks. "At least you do." I smiled sadly.

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