Chasing the Moon: Chapter 11 Earn It
AU what it would be like if Drake x Olivia were involved before the start of the social season. Written primarily from Olivia's perspective.
Pairing: Olivia x Drake x Liam x Samantha (MC)
Disclaimer: I do not own TRR characters they belong to Pixelberry
Olivia sat in her room alone for several days. Drake and Liam had both come by and she refused to speak to either of them. It was only a few days until they left for Applewood, when she heard yet another knock. "Go away" she sighed. "Livvy… are you okay?" She heard Maxwell's soft voice, a small smile tugging on her lips for the first time in days.
She opened the door, seeing his worried face. "Hey Maxwell." He walked in, plopping on her bed, casually. "What's going on, Liv?" He questioned. "Liam and Drake both look like they were on the losing end of a fight. They said it was a sparring match gone wrong, but I don't think anyone buys it. They won't even speak to each other. They just give each other angry looks." He shrugged. "And you, you've been hiding in here. I know something happened, Liv. What's going on?"
Olivia climbed onto the bed, laying next to Maxwell. "Things are a mess, Max." He looked over at her. "This about you and Drake?" Olivia bit her lip, trying to fight back the emotion. "Partly." Maxwell nodded. "Is the other part about you and Liam?" Olivia shrugged. "I thought as much." "You did?" Olivia asked, surprised. He nodded. "Something is different with you two." He shrugged. Olivia shook her head. When would she learn to stop underestimating Maxwell Beaumont? He picked up on more than he ever let on. "That what the fight was about?" Olivia nodded, resting her head on her hand. "It got pretty ugly." Maxwell chuckled. "I could tell."
They laid there in comfortable silence for awhile when Maxwell spoke again. "So, what is it that you want?" He looked over at his friend. "I think…" she exhaled. "I think I want something that will never be possible, Max." He nodded. "So what are you gonna do?" She shrugged. "I don't really know what options I have, Max." He thought for a moment. "Well you either choose to be with one of the guys who love you, that are in front of you. Or you can keep chasing the dream." Olivia thought about that for a long time as she laid there with her friend. It was time to stop chasing a fantasy and to get real about what she wanted. The only problem was, she couldn't be sure who or what that was anymore.
The next morning, Olivia knocked on Liam's door, her arms crossed in front of her. He opened the door tentatively. She held back the gasp at seeing the large bandage over his nose and his blackened eyes, instead pushing past him. “You look like shit.” She snapped walking across his office and claiming her seat at the desk, picking up the trade agreement they had been working on. "Liv", Liam exhaled. "Can we talk about the other night?" Olivia did not look up. "I don’t see why, you asked me to come help you complete this, that is what I am here to do."
Liam exhaled, taking a seat next to her. "Olivia...I want you to know that I was sincere in the feelings I expressed for you." He raised his eyebrows, still staring at her as she kept her gaze trained down at the contract. "I never intended to try to...to...steal you from Drake." "You can't steal something that no one owns, Liam" she huffed, still averting her gaze. "I'm sorry. You're right. I just meant...When you told me that Drake had made his feelings clear to you and that you wanted a different life…" he rubbed the back of his neck. "I assumed that you meant he told you that he is in love with you" Olivia turned her head to Liam. "And that it was not what you wanted. I thought perhaps." He reached over gently picking up her hand. "I thought perhaps you were telling me that you were interested in a life with me." He bit his lip, looking up at her through his long dark lashes. "Maybe it was only a hope, in my mind." He exhaled.
Olivia sat staring at him, unsure of what to say. "This has all gotten so confused, Liv. My feelings for you, Drake's feelings for you, Drake's feelings for Lady Samantha." Olivia felt her breath hitch. "Drake’s feelings for Samantha?" Liam nodded, biting his lip. "Yes, apparently Drake told Lady Samantha that he has feelings for her. I do not believe they are reciprocated, but at this point…" He shrugged. Olivia, felt her heart racing in her chest as she worked to swallow down the emotion rising.
"Can I ask you a question?" Liam asked nervously. “Did you feel anything? When we kissed?” Olivia bit her lip tentatively, then rolled her eyes. “Of course I did Liam, its not…” "Olivia” Liam cut her off smiling. “I know that I messed up." Liam continued on. “I’m not asking you to make a decision now, just...please give me another chance. A chance to explore these feelings between us?” Olivia exhaled thinking, then a small grin tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Fine, but after we finish the contract” she quirked an eyebrow. Liam grinned shyly. "You have a deal Duchess."
Olivia made her way down the hall back to her room. She turned the corner and stopped abruptly spotting Drake sitting on the floor outside her room, his back against the wall and his knees bent, his arms resting on them. She continued on, ignoring him. His head snapped up as she approached, abruptly standing. "Liv.." "What are you doing here, Walker?" She focused on unlocking her door when he turned her, his eyes boring into hers. He placed one strong arm on the wall on each side of her, trapping her between them. He held her gaze for a long time before his eyes flitted down to her lips as they stood, the tension between them building. "Drake...we're in the middle of the hall." "I don't care Liv. No more hiding." He took a shaky breath. "I am in love you, Liv."
Olivia wanted to push him away. She wanted to scream at him. But hearing those words from his lips, that she had longed to hear for so long. She found herself unable to move.
He pressed his lips to hers, claiming her mouth as their tongues rolled together slowly but full of passion and need. He pulled away breathless. "I'm gonna earn it." He pushed himself off the wall with a smirk. "See ya in Applewood" he waved as he sauntered down the hall.
Olivia snapped out of her stupor, clawing desperately for the door handle slamming it behind her. She collapsed against the door, sliding down to the floor. She wanted to say "What about Lady Samantha?" She wanted to say "You're too late". But when he kissed her. She brought her fingers up to her lips, her eyes fluttering shut. It was true that when Liam kissed her, there was a spark. But when Drake kissed her, her body buzzed with electricity, ready to explode. Olivia leaned her head back against the door, staring at the ceiling as a tear leaked from her eye and snaked down her cheek. She both loved and hated Drake Walker.
The next morning as she made her way out to her car to prepare for the trip to Applewood, Liam approached her. "Olivia" he leaned in placing a soft kiss on her cheek. She was distinctly aware of the slight tingle left as he pulled away, that had not been there before. "I was hoping perhaps you would join me for the ride to Applewood? We could further discuss the trade agreement?" She looked curiously at him. "Isn't Drake joining you?" Liam shook his head. "I believe he has found other transportation." Olivia nodded curiously and then followed Liam to the car. He peeked his head in a moment later with a goofy grin. Olivia rolled her eyes chuckling. "Just get in."
"As they started their journey, Liam opened the cooler, pulling out two champagne flutes and a bottle. "Look what I got for us." he showed her the bottle with a wide smile. "Oh my god! Cordonian ruby cider? I haven't had that in years!" Olivia grinned as Liam popped the top. "Do you remember the first time?" Olivia shook her head. "How can I forget? We were what...sixteen?"
"The hunt should be rather exciting this year." Constantine remarked over dinner at Applewood. There was a formal dinner for the families that were participating and Liam, Olivia and Maxwell were stuck beside the other nobles as they droaned on about the hunt. "Well, I have full faith that Bertrand will do quite well this year" Barthelemy clapped his oldest son on the back. "His riding skills are second to none." He beamed, as Bertrand nodded. "And as for the other one, let's just see if he can keep himself on the horse this year."
Maxwell was talking with Lady Stephanie. He had only recently met her but was smitten from the start. Liam and Olivia watched Maxwell visibly wince, hearing his father speak his name. He knew the tyrade was just beginning. "Do you remember the first time he went on the hunt?" Maxwell's face turned red with embarrassment as Liam and Olivia watched on, unable to do anything. "His fat ass couldn't even stay on the horse. Good thing he had so much padding when he fell or he might have really gotten hurt." His father laughed, looking at Bertrand to join in. The elder Beaumont offered a uncomfortable chuckle to appease his father.
"Didn't Maxwell break his arm in that fall?" Liam challenged. "Quite right" Barthelemy agreed. "He couldn't even fall off a horse properly." Barthelemy laughed. Olivia was about to speak when Constantine shot her a warning look. "Liam, Olivia.. why don't you two take Maxwell and check out the horses for tomorrow?" Regina suggested. Liam nodded, grateful, as the trio rose and exited the dining room.
"God your father is a dickhead, Max." Olivia sighed, wrapping her arm around him. "I have an idea. I'll get some drinks and then we can go check on the horses." Liam nodded. "I'll get Drake. They met up on the grounds a short while later. Olivia and Maxwell held three bottles of Cordonian Ruby champagne in their arms. "Where's Drake?" Olivia questioned. Liam shrugged. "He wasn't there. Come on."
They popped the tops, wandering through the orchard and over to the stables. "Why does he have to embarrass me in front of everyone? Even Lady Stephanie heard." Maxwell swallowed a fuzzy gulp of champagne. "Fuck him…" Liam staggered, taking another swig of his half empty bottle. Olivia nodded, draping her arm over Maxwell's shoulders. "Fuck him. He's an asshole and everyone knows it." Max swallowed hard nodding. He rubbed the moisture from his eyes. "Yea, fuck him." He agreed swallowing more champagne.
By the time they made it to the stables, they were all pretty wobbly and giggling furiously. "Shhhh" Liam swayed as he tried to quiet the group. "Do..do you hear that?" They listened, hearing the sound of a woman moan, "yes". They all clapped their hands over their mouth giggling silently. "I bet...I bet it's Leo and Lady Alicia. I saw them sneak off." They nodded in agreement. "Let's go see".
They giggled, as they quietly crept through the barn to the rear stahl. They were leaning up against the door to see over the top, when it flung open, all three tumbling in, laughing.
"What the fuck?" They heard Drake's familiar voice. Olivia's smile fell, as she watched him quickly zip up his pants, the servant girl tugging her dress down, covering her face in embarrassment. Liam laughed uncontrollably. "There you are, Drake." Drake's eyes met Olivia's watery gaze as she turned and ran out of the stables. "Where'd Liv go?" Liam questioned Maxwell, as Drake hung his head. "Fuck"
They weren't an item. They never agreed to be exclusive or even talked about what was happening between them, but it didn't stop the pit in Olivia's stomach that night, or even now as the memory came flooding back.
Liam shook his head smiling. "I will never forget the headache I had that next day on the hunt." Olivia offered a sad smile, looking out the window. "Is something wrong, Liv?" She shook her head. "Nothing. Just tired." He wrapped his arm around her. "It's a long trip, take a nap."
The next thing Olivia knew, she felt fingers gently grazing her hair and then soft lips pressing into her own. She sighed "Drake..." a smile tugging on her lips. She heard him clear his throat, as her eyes flew open, her head popping up from his lap. "Oh. Liam. I'm so sorry...I… " he shook his head. "Its fine, Liv." He smiled, brushing the hair from her face. "But we're here." "Oh" she squinted out the window, feeling the car roll to a stop.
The door opened and she stepped out into the sunlight, stretching. Liam followed her, his hand resting comfortably on her waist just as a limo pulled up. Maxwell hopped out excitedly followed by Bertrand and Lady Samantha. "Morning sleepyhead", they heard Samantha tease, tussling Drakes hair as he stepped out of the limo. "Good afternoon, Lady Samantha.. Drake." Olivia felt Liam tighten his grip on her waist, pulling her closer to him. "Welcome to Applewood."