Olivia's Point Of View ~

"Michael, are you home? . . " 

I yell out happily. A huge smile is spread across my face. I'm very excited. I skip towards the stairs then run up them like they are on fire, burning and just about to turn into dust underneath my feet. 

"Yeah, I'm in my room . . " 

I hear Michael call out as I reach the top of the staircase. Knocking on his bedroom door with great enthusiasm. I hear him invite me in as I press my ear against the door. I open it, the image of Michael lying down on his in bed watching television. His finger pressing the button to change the channel, flicking through one program to another in a matter seconds. He finally gives up, switching the television off altogether. He looks at me, sitting up. His full attention is on me now. 

"What's up, Liv . . why are you so excited? . . " He asks me.

I just got off the phone with Eric. He told me that he has plans for the both of us tomorrow night. Eric has selected a very fancy restaurant to dine at. It's only the best for me, he says. He's so sweet. Eric also said to me that he wants everyone there with us. Friends and family he wants them all to attend. He says he has something to announce and wants lots of close witnesses. Maybe, he just got a promotion at work. Well, he has been working very hard as of lately. I have invited my mum of course, along with my cousin Carly and Sam her now husband. But I couldn't not invite Michael. Michael has to be there because he does mean the world to me. He's such a good friend. 

"You wanna come to a fancy restaurant tomorrow night? Eric planned it . . " I tell him. 

Hmm, Michael doesn't look that happy. Uh oh. 

I look down at my phone, reading the long text message that Eric sent me explaining everything I need to know about tomorrow night.

"Eric said he has booked a table for about 10 people. The more people their the better, Eric says . . " I say, giggling.

"Please Michael . . " I say. Pouting my lips to him, imitating a little puppies cries. Michael chuckles.

"Okay, fine . . I'll be there" I throw my arms around him, hugging him tightly. 

"Thank you . . thank you, Michael . . "

I run out of his bedroom, going next door to my bedroom. Preparing to take a nice, long shower. I let out a soft sigh. As I image the feeling of the warm water when I am to finally step inside, the contact of the warm water when it hits my exhausted being. I can't wait. Ugh! Work was so crazy today. But now it's the end of the day and all I want to do is have a shower and then go out to have dinner and be with Eric. I hear Michael's voice, he's calling me. Breaking me from my loose state of mind. I turn around as he walks into my bedroom, closing the door. I look at Michael . . in this moment, he seems very serious and it's leaving me concerned. I feel the muscles in my body begin to tense up. When Michael is serious, it's normally about something pretty bad. He's normally childish humour has suddenly vanished. Michael's humour is so funny and it's kinda cute actually. One time, we were walking through the park, late in the afternoon and Michael stopped to climb a tree. Along with him challenging me to climb up too. I wouldn't, I didn't. I was always too afraid. We would both be giggling and I would wait for him to climb back down again. Or that time when we were watching Peter Pan and he would be throwing popcorn at me. But this, I have never seen Michael act or even look so serious in a long time. Something really must be bothering him. He walks over to me, until he's standing in front of me. Holding both of my hands with his, intertwining our fingers. Our eyes connect instantly. I feel his eyes look far into mine. 

"It's about Eric . . " Michael tells me. 

I become confused, very confused. My eyes darting away from Michael's soft stare before I glare back at him. Eric . . 

"What about Eric? . . " I ask him. 

Michael clears his throat. 

"Olivia, after you left for work this morning, he came into my room and confronted me . . "

Confronted Michael? What about exactly? . . 

" . . about you, Liv . . " He finishes. 

What about me? Oh god, maybe about the whole situation with Michael and I casually sleeping together when Eric and I broke up. Oh no. But I don't wanna tell Michael that Eric knows about that . . should I? No, no. Michael wouldn't be happy that I told something like that to Eric. I say nothing about that and just keep listening to what Michael has to say. Oh maybe, this morning when Michael was being incredibly rude to Eric. I was not happy about that. 

"What about me, Michael? . . " I ask him, irritation throughout my tone towards him. 

Michael throws his hand up. Continuing to talk. 

"Look, he just suddenly turned on me and showed this threatening and angry side of him . . "

I sigh heavily. This is frustrating. Why is Michael making all this stuff up about Eric? I know that Eric wouldn't act like that . . he wouldn't . . I know that. That's just not Eric, he never gets like that. I began to raise my voice. How dare Michael paint Eric as this intense individual that he has never been for as long as I have known and been with him. 

"Michael, you don't like him! You never have liked him . . " I yell at Michael. 

Michael steps closer to me, looking at me in the eyes once again. But I still don't believe Michael for one second. No. I just don't believe Michael. But did Eric say anything to Michael about us sleeping together in the past? I told Eric that we did but reassuring him that it was always nothing. Just a casual thing. Eric doesn't have to worry. Eric was fine with it and we were broken up. Eric was totally cool with it. That's how I know that Eric isn't what Michael is making him out to be. Eric didn't get angry when I told him the truth about Michael and I . . he's not a jealous person. He's not that type of guy. 

" . . no . . your lying, Michael . . " I say out a frustration. But I do mean it. 

Michael stops in his tracks. His speech coming to a sudden halt. 

"Olivia, I'm not lying . . but I have a feeling that Eric is lying to you . . " 

"Michael, what are you talking about? . . " 

" . . his phone just never stops ringing! Don't you find that a little strange? . . " Michael asks me. 

Okay, now I'm getting angry. I feel my blood start to boil from Michael's words. 

"Eric loves me, Mike! Are you saying that he's cheating on me still just because his phone is always ringing? . . " I yell at Michael. 

"Olivia think about it. Eric gets called at 3 in the morning for a 'family emergency' . . " 

" . . and he's always at work . . "Michael finishes saying. 

I start to realise that my eyes are filling with water. Michael is hurting me as he is saying all of this to me. I know Eric and I know that he is not cheating on me. He's a real, true guy that I'm in love with. That's the truth about Eric. I trust him so much. A pearl shaped tear falling from my wide luminous eye, onto the floor and leaving no smears of streaks on my face. Michael's face softens . . realising that he's the reason for these tears. I wanted to hold them in, but I can't. The beads of water starting to fall down one after another, without a sign of stopping. This time saturating my cheeks. 

"Olivia, I'm sorry about this but remember . . "

"Eric was seeing another girl while he was dating you. I have a strong feeling. I don't trust him . . "

Michael's voice softens. 

"He's a liar, Olivia. He is never going to change . . " Michael says, looking straight at me. 

I cross my arms over my chest. I don't believe that Eric was aggrieve towards Michael. Maybe Eric just came to Michael to talk to him and Michael just took it the wrong way. I think back to the way Michael was acting this morning towards Eric in the kitchen. 

"I think this whole thing is your fault, Michael! You were so rude to Eric this morning . . "

" . . my fault? . . " Michael asks, putting his hand over his chest. 

" . . how is this my fault, Olivia? You're seriously blaming me? . . " 

He yells back to me. Both our cracking voices feeling like they will break the ceiling and shatter all the windows around us. "You know what, Olivia? . . " Michael says . . 

"You can not see straight with Eric around you, he makes you crazy" Michael's voice continuing to be raised by this point. His eyes so glassy, along with my own. 

I have had enough of this, this whole thing. This fight, and just of Michael. I attempt to walk out of the room to go anywhere but here. I just need to get away from here. I can't be around him when he's acting this way. He's lying about Eric. If anything Michael is the one that's lying. Saying that he's doing such terrible things to me emotionally. Michael is saying this about someone I love and care about. As I turn, I feel Michael take a gentle hold of my slightly trembling hand, stopping me from going any further. 

"Olivia, wait . . look, just please would you stop letting him get the best of you . . " His voice is quiet this time. 

I don't say anything. I just yank my hand away from his soft grip. Walking downstairs, grabbing my wallet and car keys. My frustration is obvious as I slam the front door closed. With having nothing more to say to Michael. 

Michael's Point Of View ~

I stand still, putting my hands over my face and letting out a sigh of pure frustration. What the fuck just happened? Olivia and I were fighting? . . like for real. I'm just letting my mind get the best of who I am. But I feel it, I really do. And I believe that it's nothing but the truth. Eric is capable of doing such a heartless act. Cheating and lying . . he is a lair. That's all he is. I can't believe that Olivia thinks it's all my fault, from how I was acting. She says that I'm the one that's lying. What is wrong with her? But wow . . that was intense. The last time Olivia and I yelled at each other like that was about . . 

Eric. 

We don't have any problems without him. But Olivia doesn't see that. She doesn't see that I'm looking out for her. I'm protecting her. But, she doesn't see any of that. Nothing. 

I just lost all control. Completely. I was speaking my mind the whole time and it just put me in a place that I wasn't prepared for. These feelings of Eric being unfaithful towards Olivia is just way too strong to ignore or shake away. So, I'm not going to. I'm sticking to what I believe is the truth. 

At the restaurant ~

7:30pm. 

I give Olivia's mum a kiss on the cheek as she exchanges her warmest of welcomes to me, telling me that she's over the moon to see me tonight. "Michael, darling . . " 

"Olivia told me about you two had a fight . . " She says. 

I just nod, telling her I wish to speak to Olivia when I get the chance. Where is she? 

I look around . . 

I must say, this evening does seem quite special. Every man and women dressed in black tie. Black and white suits are spotted as the men treat themselves to fine cigars and tall glasses of beer while the women are seen in gorgeous gowns, in every colour that I can think of. Holding red wine glass in their hands, taking small sips in such a delightful sense. So elegant, a unique wave rushing over everything that is tonight. But I do wonder, why was this evening made this way? What is Eric's big announcement that he wished for all of Olivia's close friends and family to attend. I think everyone is thinking the same. 

"Speaking of Olivia, have you seen her? . . " I ask her mother, still looking around. 

Hoping that my frantic gaze will catch sight of her. Wait. There she is . . oh and what a sight she is. Olivia hasn't seen me yet, walking back towards the large dining table where everyone is gathering to be seated as all the dinner guests as in attendance. She's hand in hand with Eric. I can't stand this. I have to talk to her about our fight. Seeing her with Eric and having these feeling's of him lying to her . . I'm gonna tell her. Olivia. I'm going to confess my love for her . . maybe then things might be different. Will she leave Eric to be with me? Will she love me like that in return? I hope so. I walk over to her, standing behind her. Her back is facing me. I clear my throat softly, tapping her gently on the shoulder. She turns around. A smile is spread on her face, complementing her already gorgeous features and aroma, making my heart pound against my heaving chest that I'm trying to hide. 

"Michael, thanks for coming . . " She says sweetly, meaning it. She hugs me tightly then kisses my cheek. 

"Thanks for still inviting me . . " 

"Listen, Olivia . . I-I need to talk to you in private . . " I tell her. 

A response from Olivia is left to wait for now as Eric's irritating voice is heard. He's crystal glass making beautiful music as he gently taps a spoon against it. Everyone's attention is turned to him. Ugh. Olivia turning back to me . . her sweet voice engulfs my ears gently like the sound of peaceful, quite morning. "I'm sorry, Michael . . is it okay if we talk later? . . "She asks. 

I nod. Eric asking for everyone to become seated. Other conversations around us are halted as everyone makes there way to their seats. I'm sitting next to Olivia's mother . . she hooks her arm with mine as she leans in closer to me and kisses my cheek, pinching it softly afterwards. She's such a sweet women. Olivia sits next to Eric opposite us. Eric is still standing, holding up his half drunken glass of beer in his hand. His eyes darting from me then back to Olivia as he starts to spill out this big speech about his love for her. Ugh! He's doing it to rub it in my face . . to show me when he confronted me. God, he's a dick. I look at Olivia, trying to calm down. 

God, she's breathtaking. She is. 

But then, wait. What is Eric doing? He gets down on one knee and pulls out a little box from in his pocket. Oh my God. No, this is not happening. He's not doing what I think he's about to do. The table is overflowed with gasps and tiny whispers . . is that? . . is Eric going to? No. This is just a dream. A really bad dream. I'm sitting here wide eyed, I'm sure I'm the only one looking horrified to what is happening as Eric opens the little box for Olivia to see what's inside. My breathing has increased, my chest rising and falling quickly. Then, feeling it stop altogether. From the corner of my stunned eyes, I see Olivia's mum with her hand on her chest in shock. I look at her quickly, hmm . . she's doesn't look that happy. She's completely taken from this unexpected . . unwanted announcement.

"Olivia, will you marry me? . . " I hear Eric ask her. 

No, Olivia. Please, say no. 

I'm looking at Olivia's face, she's shocked more. Her eyes darting down to look at Eric then to look at the ring that is put on display in the box that Eric is still holding, waiting for an answer. Her eyes looking all glossy now, she smiles wide as her eyes then drop a single string of water . . one after another. She seems so happy. Why? . . but I love her. I'm the one that's in love with her. Me. She looks straight at Eric now . . 

"Yes! . . yes, of course I will Eric . . oh my gosh! . . " 

She says, blissfully happy. Putting her hand over her mouth. 

Eric smiles, standing up from off his knee . . taking the ring out of his place in the box and sliding it on Olivia's finger. The table in engulfed with the sound of thousands of hands bashing together. Along with the rest of the dinner guests around us joining in. Hearing 'congratulations'  being heard from every direction. Olivia is crying, happy tears if anything. But me . . I'm the opposite to her. Wanting to get away from here . . 

This is the end of everything. 

to be continued.