chapter 13: Outing with Fred

They were now at the ice cream shop, both Olivia and Fred were sitting down. They were having their ice cream ordered.

"This taste great." she said happily.

"Really?" he asked

"Yes, taste the ice cream cone, that tastes different." she urged him.

"Whoa!" he said and licked the ice cream cone delighted "Could you believe I never liked the ice cream cone? If not you just asked me to taste it now. And it tasted like wafer." said Fred delighted

"Yes, you are right." she replied busy licking the ice cream cheerful.

"Where'd you like to go again?" he asked

"I think it's enough for today." she replied. And smiled all of a sudden. "I bet you I can ride more than you now." she said joyfully

"See who's talking!" he chuckled.

"I'm a fast learner. You said it yourself." said Olivia

"Yes, I know but remember I taught you how to ride." he said grinning.

And suddenly it happened. He hadn't felt so relaxed like this ever since his father died. He noticed whenever she was with him, there was these calmness that brought joy overflow within him.

"I must admit this Olivia," he said gently and looking at her face intently.

"What's that?" she noticed his mood had changed.

"I like you." he said suddenly.

Olivia was taken off guard, she was lost of words and didn't know what to say at the moment. "Uhmn." she mumbled.

"I like you. Your presence. Your attitude. I mean everything about you." he said looking intently at her.

Both locked eyes together, and Olivia looked away. "Thanks for the compliment." she managed to say finally.

"I think we can go home now?" she quickly added

"Yes before they arrived back home." agreed Fred

They both hurried out side. On getting home, Anita and Ben are already waiting for them to come home.

"Where are you two coming from?" asked Anita, she was surprised to see Olivia with Fred.

"We went out." replied Fred.

"Oh! Really?" she asked again

"Yes, we went out." said Olivia.

"When did you start going out with Fred. When did you two become friends.?" surprised Annie looking suspiciously at his brother

"Fred is actually nice. I never knew until now." replied Olivia

Fred was astonished to heard that coming from Olivia.

"Whoa!" said Ben looking at him suspiciously. He knew Fred was playing games with Olivia, him being nice to Olivia was a joke not true.

"Wow, I'm surprised Fred had finally like Olivia." exclaimed Anita chuckled.

"I like her, she's different from every other girls I have met." said Fred warmly and Ben was shocked. And Olivia blushed hearing those words coming out from Fred, Anita quickly dragged her inside to ask her what happened at the place they went.

The week had already came to an end. Olivia went back home to meet her grandma, she was happy to see her grandma back in good health.

"Tomorrow is Monday dear." said grandma

"Yes granny." replied Olivia

"Have you packed your clothes for the week?" Her grandma asked suddenly

"My clothes?" said Olivia surprised

"Yes Olly. Have you forgotten about what my madam said the other time?"  said grandma

"Oh yes I remembered, she said we should be staying in her house for the week and when it's weekend we can go home." said Olivia

"Now you know." said grandma

"I will quickly do that now." said Olivia. She quickly got up and ran inside to pack some of clothes inside her bag. After some hours Peter came knocking at the door.

"Yes who's that?" asked Olivia, inside the sitting room.

"It's Peter!" said Peter

"Oh Peter, am coming." replied Olivia

She opened the door for him to come inside.

"Where's grandma?" he asked eagerly

"She's inside the sitting room." she replied and Olivia was puzzled to see Peter brushed her aside because of grandma. Peter quickly rushed inside to meet grandma

"Good evening ma, and how's your health?" greeted Peter cheerfully

"Oh Peter dear! I'm fine and how're you doing?" Grandma was glad to see him

"I'm happy to hear that grandma." he drew closer to grandma and hugged her gently

"I've missed you grandma and I thank God you're back in good health." he said happily.

"Thanks my dear. I missed you all too." said granny cheerfully

Olivia coughed out in a playful manner "Grandma and son, I see." said Olivia grinning

"What did you see?" asked Peter chuckled

"Nothing anyway." said Olivia, she quickly remember something and said "Grandma please excuse us. I need to show Peter something." said Olivia

"Alright dear." said grandma. She turned to excused herself from the kids

Olivia dragged Peter's hand and both entered the kitchen.

"Lovebirds!" chuckled grandma and she entered inside the room

"What do you want to tell me?" asked Peter sitting down at the kitchen stools.

"I'll be following grandma to her work place tomorrow." she said suddenly

"Why?" he was surprised

"I mean I'll be staying at Mrs Smith house till weekend before resuming back." she said gently

"You and grandma?" he asked

"Yes!" replied Olivia

"Okay!" he said dryly

"What's wrong?" Olivia noticed his mood changed

"Nothing just that I'll miss you." he said emotionally

"Really... You will see me in school then." she said nonchalantly

"I know, it's just different." he said uneasy

"I understand you, we're still friends and no one is stealing me away from you." she said chuckled.

"Okay if you say so." he replied differently

"You're not happy," she could see his mood. "Remember it's all because of granny, am staying there." she said gently

"Fine I'm happy to hear that.." he said smiling. "And promise me, you won't hide anything from me. I mean anything that happens there you'd let me know?" he said looking intently at her

"I promise!" she said with her finger crossed

"Okay good, have you arrange your clothes for the week?" he asked

"I've done that since." she replied

"I trust you, let's stroll out then?" he asked softly

"Alright." she said and both went out.

The following day it was Monday, Olivia had gone to school and both the kids. It was already noon, the kids were the first people to arrived home early. Anita was inside her room relaxing before Fred knocked at the door "Yes come in." said Anita

"Where's Olivia?" asked Fred looking behind the door

"Olivia?" Anita was astonished, his brother was asking of Olivia

"Yes, is she not back?" replied Fred eagerly

Olivia entered inside all of a sudden.

"Hey guys." shouted Olivia

"Olivia!" Exclaimed Fred happily

"Fred!" said Olivia. Unexpectedly Fred  hugged her. Olivia was shocked with his reaction

"Olivia welcome." said Anita and she hugged her too

"Thanks Annie." said Olivia smiled

"What happened, why are you late?" asked Fred

"Debate." Olivia didn't wanted to tell them about Peter's birthday party, they didn't really celebrated the birthday because of the debate. The debate took a lot of time. She only gave Peter a present and snapped pictures with him before she left their house.

"Debate?" both Fred and Annie said unison

"Yes, we did our debate in school today and my department won!" said Olivia joyfully.

"Really, what was it about?" asked Fred interested in her

"Fred won't you allow her to rest and freshen up?" asked Anita surprised at his brother sudden interest in her

"Okay, when you're done please, come and meet me outside I need to hear the details." said Fred and went outside.

"Alright." replied Olivia and entered the room with Anita.