Olivia's Point Of View ~

"Hi mum . . we're here" I say, walking towards her. 

She gives me a warm hug with a smile on her face.

"Olivia sweetheart . . so glad you made it . . " 

She looks away from me . . until her hazel eyes land on Michael as he stands next to me. She smiles widely and lets out a very cheerful sound. 

"Michael, darling! It's so good to see you! . . " 

She says giving him a big bear hug, breaking the hug to then pinch his cheek. Mum has always just loved Michael, she adores him. She would tell me that there was always just something so special about him. That their is something so special between the two of us, even when we first met she would tell me this . . and today, 10 years of our friendship later she still does. But I just brush it off. I don't see Michael in that kinda way. 

"Thank you for having me . . " Michael says to my mum, politely as always. 

"Oh Michael . . don't be silly. No need to thank me . . you know I always love to see you . . " 

Michael smiles, letting out a shy giggle and mum places her hand on Michael cheek. He puts his arm around me. Mum looks at us for a few seconds, a smile on her face . . before she excuses herself to go and mingle with family members and other guests. I feel Michael lean down to me to say something in my ear . . 

"You okay, Liv? . . " He whispers softly.

I give him a forced smile, quickly looking up into his eyes. 

"I'm fine, Michael. There's no need to worry about me" I say while playing with the buttons on his tux. 

He's always worried about me. He just cares too much. Especially with the whole Eric thing. When we saw Eric at the mall yesterday with his . . Amanda 'friend' . . Michael could see that it hurt me so much seeing the two of them together. When Michael and I came home from the mall and he was asking me why I was so friendly to him. I told Michael that I was still in love with Eric, even after everything that he did . . all the sadness he has caused me. Michael was so shocked . . I won't forget his face when I said that to him. It's like he had so many different emotions going through him right in that moment. He was shocked but then his face just turned into sadness. I had to walk away from Michael after that argument. I had to be alone for awhile and Michael and I haven't really spoken properly since then. I make my way over to the bar, gathering my red gown in my hand before sitting down in the stool. I decide to order a drink . . an alcohol filled refreshment kinda drink. That'll make me feel a bit better. I suddenly feel a tap on my shoulder . . I turn around to the unknown individual, already taking a few good sips from my drink already.

It's Carly. 

She leans down to give me a tight hug, taking a seat next to me herself. 

"Carly, congratulations on your wedding. And you look beautiful . . " I tell her. 

"Thanks, Liv . . listen . . I heard about you and Eric breaking up . . "  

She says as her face softens. The mere mention of his name rings through my ears. I put my head down, bringing my eyes up to meet her sympathy ones . . forcing a smile. I finish the rest of my alcoholic drink off in a few sips. I order another. 

"Oh thanks . . but I'm doing just fine . . " I tell her, trying my best to sound convincing. 

Carly gives me a comforting hand on my shoulder. I catch her looking over at Michael, on the other side of the room as he talks with my mother and other members of my family. I look over at him myself. Catching him taking a sip from his glass of water he holds in his hand. Michael  glances over at me and smiles, followed by a cheeky wink. It makes me giggle a little I must admit. 

Carly looks back at me, rising an eyebrow. 

"What's going on with you and Michael? . . " Carly asks me, one of her eyebrows raised. 

I quickly protest to her seemingly intrigued expression. 

"No . . no, Michael and I are not together . . we're just friends . . " 

"Oh come Liv . . you two have been friends for 10 years now. Something has got to have happened between you guys by now . . " 

I'm not telling Carly that we have had sex. It's not her business, it's no ones business. And if I was to just go ahead and tell Carly something like that . . it's not fair to Michael. He is very shy and private when it comes to that kinda thing. He's a gentleman, he says to me. And he is. 

Carly looks back at Michael. Then back at me seconds later. 

"Well if you ever do, Liv . . you're so lucky! Michael is gorgeous . . " 

I chuckle at her comment. She picks up her champaign glass, bringing it to her lips as she continues to talk to me. 

"Just saying, girl . . but you and Michael would be perfect together" . . 

" . . forget about Eric . . because Michael is a good guy, a good friend and he loves you"

She walks away. How can I just simply forget about Eric? I'm not sure if I can. I still love Eric . . so much actually. I can't just shake that off. Ugh people don't understand how much I still love Eric. I order another drink from the bartender. Just one more. That won't hurt me . . 

Michael's Point Of View ~

Where has Olivia gone? 

Where is she? . . 

The last time I saw her, she was sitting at the bar talking to her cousin Carly. I'm not sure what they was talking about, they were both looking at me at one stage. I couldn't help but to give Olivia a little wink. I just wanted to make her smile. She has a gorgeous smile. 

I have searched everywhere that I can possibly think of, so where she could be? I swear it's been at least an hour or so since I have seen her last. Olivia's mum dragged me away so that she could have a slow dance with me . . and ever since then, I have lost the whereabouts of her daughter. I still want to talk to her about the certain something she said about her still being in love with Eric. After our little argument yesterday, she walked away and went up to her bedroom. 

We didn't speak the rest of the afternoon. 

 . . and have only said a few words to each other this morning while getting ready for the wedding. I just need to talk to her about it . . I need to find her. The wedding reception is coming to an end now. All the guests are starting to say their final congratulations and goodbye's to the bride and groom and wish them safe travels for their honeymoon. I give Carly a kiss on her cheek and her husband, Sam a handshake. I wish them both well. Olivia's mum comes up to me. 

"Michael, darling . . are you looking for, Liv? . . " She asks me. 

"Yes I am, have you seen her at all? . . " I say, looking around. 

"Oh . . hmm last time I saw her, oh I believe she went into the ladies bathroom" She says, pointing in that direction. 

I thank her and quickly make my way there. Giving a casual nod to all the passing women's confused faces as they walk out. I catch a glimpse of myself in the wall length mirror on the right of me. That man . . that man in the mirror. That's me. I'm a man who's in love and I'm going to tell her tonight . . everything. Olivia needs to know how I feel about her. How I have felt about her for the past 10 years. I feel I finally have to courage to tell her. And with Olivia confessing that she is still in love with Eric . . it's the perfect time. I want her to be mine so . . I have to put my heart on the line. I'm going to do it tonight. The night seems perfect.

 The toilet stalls are on my left. I don't see anyone in here.

"Olivia, baby . . are you in here?" I question, hoping to hear her respond.

"Michael? . . ye . . yes! . . I'm in here . . here I am!" She sounds a little strange.

I walk past the first stall and then the second stall. I reach the third stall. I crouch down to have a look underneath as the door is closed. I see her. She's sitting on the floor?! What is she thinking? I notice that the door is not locked . . but I knock, just incase . . 

"Liv . . you okay?" I don't hear anything from her. This is really concerning me.

I gently place my hand on the door, pushing it open . . to find Olivia sitting on the floor. Her legs spiraled around her . . her beautiful red gown, gathered up in her hand that sits in her lap while her other hand sits tangled in her now out, messy hair that once sat neatly tied in a high bun. She looks up at me as her mascara is streaked down her damp cheeks. This is heart breaking for me to see her like this. I know what this is about. I knew she wasn't okay like she told me she was. I knew that she was just putting on a brace face so that I wouldn't think anything or worry. 

"Michael . . heyyy . . what's up?" She says, her speech all over the place. 

"Um nothing much . . are you drunk? . . " I ask but already knowing the answer. 

She shakes her head. Looking down.

"Nooo . . " She says in a very drunk way. 

"Yes you are. How many drinks have you had? . . " I ask her. 

"Hmm . . I have only had like 6 . . I think . . " 

I crouch down so that I'm in front of her. 

"Why are you in the bathroom?" I say softly.

She drunkly answers. Her words slurred while she attempts to stand up.

"I thought I was gonna get sick . . so I came in here and . . now well, I just didn't wanna leave. I like it here, Michael . . this bathroom is so nice . . " 

"Ooh you and I should move in here . . " She says giggling but then she starts crying all of a sudden with her head down, hiding her face from me. 

I shake my head, wrapping my arms around her. I pick her up as gently as possible. She leans her head against my chest and I feel her body relax in my arms. I can faintly hear her soft sobs coming from her lips. 

"Shh . . it's alright, Olivia . . I got you and I'm taking you home . . " I whisper to her. 

She doesn't say anything. She clings onto me . . she doesn't have to worry though, I'm not letting her go for nothing. I carry her limp body through the almost empty wedding reception room, bridal style. I get her to my car . . gentle placing her along the backseat. I can't hear her cries anymore . . maybe she stopped. I take a small step back to look at her . . she's fallen asleep. I get a blanket from the boot of my car, placing it over her. I look at her face, the face that I have fallen in love with. I brush my hand over her forehead, leaning down to place a kiss upon it. I guess I'll tell her another night. Well I guess it's for the best that I didn't tell her. I'm too afraid and besides . . she still has strong feeling's for Eric. 

Why is it so incredibly hard for me to tell her the truth about how I feel about her? 

It kills me knowing that she still has feelings for stupid Eric. I don't know why. It really puzzles me. When she said that she was still in love with Eric. I was shocked but then I felt very sad. I hope Olivia didn't notice that . . I'm sure she didn't. Every time she even mentions his name, I just put on a brave face. How she feel's about Eric . . 

. . all I want is for Olivia to feel that way about me, not him. 

God! 

I really am in love with this girl. She's my best friend and has been in my life for 10 years now. I should be able to tell her just about anything that's on my mind. But I can't. And right now, I don't believe it's the right time. Well not now anyway. I will tell her, I want to so badly but it's just gotta be perfect when I do. 

to be continued.