Shattered

Chapter 49

Ben's POV

Olivia leans up against my chest again as she examines and reexamines the paper over and over again. Her eyes keep hovering over their signatures. They left about 5 minutes ago. She's been looking at it for hours.

"I can't believe it." I keep stroking her hair and she just keeps saying those words over and over again. "How long did you know about it?"

"When Jason came over to my place and you and Claire hung out was when he showed it to me. It's been killing me not telling you."

She sits up straighter so her one leg is scrunched up and the other one-the broken one- is dangling off the couch. "Do you think I should go live with them?"

They asked her about living arrangements and they decided to let her think about it before she decides on the spot. I honestly don't know what she should do. If she moves, she'll only be down the street from me and not downstairs. I won't be able to climb down the stairs outside to get to her window.

Just then my phone starts vibrating. The face of my phone blinks Jason. I pick it up. "Hey, Jason. What's up?" I put it on speaker so Olivia can hear it too.

"Not much. I just wanted you to know that if Olivia decides she wants to live with us, you're given the same decision."

"What do you mean?" I shush Olivia so that Jason doesn't find out I have it on speaker. "I mean...We have a finished basement. If you wanted, you could move into the basement. That way you're not far away from her. The only difference is that you have to go up to see her instead of down." I can hear him smiling on the other end. I am also. "I will definitely consider it. Thank you so much." We both say bye and hang up.

I put my phone back in my pocket and just sit there. Olivia is the first to speak. "I think we should do it."

She sits up and looks back at me. I give her a look. "Really?"

"Yeah. I mean if I did decide to move, you would be here, all alone. But Jason said you could come live in their basement. How could you not take the offer?"

"I know. But I feel like I would take advantage of them. " She takes my face in her hands and squeezes my face. "You won't. Trust me. They would have never offered if they thought you would take advantage. You're not one of those guys either. " Her hands are still on my face, so I make a fishy face and she laughs.

She lays back with her head back on my chest. "It's weird, you know. I grew up in this apartment. Now I'm going to move out of it. " She sighs. "I'm gonna miss this place. "

So will I.