Reese had everything going her way at the moment, but she couldn't shake the feeling that this was one of those times when she needed to remain cautious. Just because things were finally looking up didn't mean she could afford to get too comfortable. Xander had continued attending their study sessions, though he remained distant and not particularly social with her. Despite the positive turn her life seemed to be taking, Reese knew she couldn't let her guard down, and the reason was simple: Olive. The mere thought of that brat made Reese's blood boil, and the urge to punch a wall was hard to resist. Olive was a constant thorn in her side, and Reese had learned the hard way that even in moments of success, it was dangerous to underestimate the chaos Olive could unleash.
Reese walked home alone after a study session with her friends and Xander, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the sidewalk. She felt a sense of contentment; things were finally falling into place, and she felt like she was getting a few steps closer to having Xander warm up even just a little.
But as she approached the park near her house, Reese's laughter faded. She spotted Olive leaning against a tree, flanked by her usual entourage of sycophants. The smirk on Olive's face was enough to make Reese's stomach tighten with dread.
"Well, well, if it isn't Little Miss Brit," Olive sneered, pushing off the tree and sauntering toward her. Her voice dripped with mockery as she eyed Reese up and down. "Had a nice little study date with Xander, did we?"
Reese fell silent, her earlier cheer evaporating as Olive got close. Reese forced herself to stand tall, refusing to let Olive see her fear. "We were just studying, Olive. Not that it's any of your business."
Olive's grin widened, a predatory glint in her eyes. "Studying? Is that what you call it? I bet my brother was bored out of his mind. Who could blame him, really? You're about as exciting as watching paint dry."
Reese clenched her fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. She could her entourage snickering behind Olive, but none of them dared to speak up. They all knew what Olive was capable of.
"Why don't you just back off, Olive?" Reese said, her voice wavering despite her best efforts to keep it steady.
"Back off?" Olive mimicked, feigning shock. "Why would I do that when I'm having so much fun?" She stepped closer, her tone turning darker. "Listen, Reese. Just because you're playing nice with Xander doesn't mean you're suddenly important. He'll never actually like you. He's just using you for your notes to get a good grade on the project after that you'll be as useless as you originally were."
The words stung, sharper than Reese had expected. Olive's voice was low and venomous, each syllable aimed to wound. Reese's resolve faltered for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest.
"You're wrong, Olive," she managed to say, though her voice was faint. "You don't know anything about him."
"Don't I? You think I don't know my own twin brother?" Olive's eyes narrowed as she took another step closer, invading Reese's personal space. "You think he's actually interested in you? Don't kid yourself. He's just another guy who knows how to play the game. You? You're not even in the same league."
Reese swallowed hard, trying to muster a response, but the words caught in her throat. She could feel the weight of her Olive's group's eyes on her, but they remained silent.
As if satisfied with her victory, Olive finally stepped back, the smirk never leaving her lips. "Better watch yourself, Reese," she said, her voice sickly sweet. "You never know when things might just… fall apart." With that, she turned on her heel and sauntered off, her followers trailing behind her like obedient shadows.
Reese stood there, her heart still racing, her mind buzzing with a mix of anger and hurt. She wanted to scream, to hit something, anything, but she forced herself to stay calm. Olive wasn't worth it. Not this time.
As she resumed her walk, Reese couldn't shake Olive's words from her mind. They echoed in her thoughts, taunting her, making her doubt the progress she had made. But deep down, Reese knew she couldn't let Olive win. Not now, not ever.
As Reese turned the corner, she felt the weight of Olive's words pressing down on her. It was as if every step she took was dragging her deeper into a pit of uncertainty. How could Olive know what was really going on between her and Xander? Reese knew better than to let Olive's poisonous words take root, but the doubt had already begun to fester.
Reese found herself replaying every interaction with Xander over the past few weeks. His quiet presence, the way he would nod along to her explanations, the brief moments their eyes met—were they all just a façade? Was Olive right? Was she really just a tool for him to get a better grade? The thought gnawed at her, making her stomach churn.
She reached her house and hesitated at the front door, her hand hovering over the doorknob. Reese's mind was a storm of conflicting emotions. On one hand, she wanted to believe that Xander saw her as more than just a study partner. On the other, Olive's words had struck a nerve she hadn't even realized was exposed.
Finally, Reese pushed the door open and stepped inside. The familiar smell of her mother's cooking greeted her, but it did little to calm her racing thoughts. She dropped her bag by the door and made her way to her room, barely acknowledging her mother's cheerful greeting. Reese needed space to think, to process everything that had happened.
In the solitude of her room, Reese collapsed onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling. The doubts continued to swirl in her mind, refusing to be silenced. She had always prided herself on being strong, on not letting people like Olive get to her. But this time, it was different. This time, Olive had hit where it hurt the most—in her uncertain feelings for Xander.
Reese had never been one to easily trust others, especially when it came to matters of the heart. Her past experiences had taught her to be cautious, to guard herself against the pain of rejection. But with Xander, she had started to let her guard down, started to believe that maybe, just maybe, there was something real between them.
But what if she was wrong?
The uncertainty gnawed at her, making it hard to breathe. Reese felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away, refusing to let them fall. She couldn't afford to show weakness, not even to herself. Olive would love nothing more than to see her break, and Reese refused to give her that satisfaction.
But as much as she tried to push the doubts aside, they kept creeping back in. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Xander's face, heard Olive's taunting voice. It was like a poison that had seeped into her thoughts, twisting her perception of everything she had believed was true.
Reese's phone buzzed on her nightstand, pulling her out of her spiraling thoughts. She reached for it, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Xander's name on the screen. For a moment, she hesitated, her thumb hovering over the screen. What if Olive was right? What if this message was just another part of the game?
But then she shook her head, pushing the doubts aside. She couldn't let Olive control her like this. Reese opened the message, her eyes scanning the words.
"Hey, thanks for today. I really appreciate your help."
Simple, straightforward, and completely in line with how Xander had always communicated with her. There was nothing in the message to suggest anything other than gratitude. No hidden meanings, no ulterior motives. Just a genuine thank you.
Reese let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Maybe she had been overthinking things, letting Olive's words get to her more than they should have. Xander had never given her any reason to doubt him, and she wasn't about to start now.
With renewed determination, Reese typed out a quick reply and set her phone aside. She wasn't going to let Olive's venomous words poison what she had with Xander. She knew it wouldn't be easy—Olive was nothing if not persistent—but Reese was prepared to fight for what she wanted.
As she lay back on her bed, Reese felt a sense of resolve settle over her. Olive might have gotten under her skin today, but that didn't mean she would win. Reese had worked too hard to let someone like Olive ruin things for her.
No, this wasn't over. Not by a long shot. And Reese was ready for whatever came next.