stomach it

Olivia was still working out the whole I owe you one you owe me one thing to even pick up on his mumbled words before his next question caught her attention. “Oh, yeah, sure, I could go for a coffee, yeah-” she smiled as a soft laugh slipped from her lips, unsure if this was still a ‘I owe you’ coffee.

“Great,” Michael beamed. “I'm Michael, by the way.” He told her, slowly beginning to walk in a direction with the hope that a café or something would be somewhere along the way.

“But by that logic I’m still paying for said coffee or ice cream so at that point I could’ve just bought my own.” She stated her facts in a playful tone although she was confident in her logic.

“And here’s me thinking I was being smooth...” Michael mumbled under his breath, letting out an awkward chuckle. “Can I buy you a coffee?”

“it’s only the truth.” she insisted; burying herself more into him as she pressed a giddy kiss to his cheek, “you’re nice.” she told; thinking on a movie, “how about - uhm, nightmare before christmas?”

"Thanks,” Michael chuckled nervously as she kissed his cheek. “Oh, I love that movie. I haven’t seen it for years, so this should be good.”

“Hang on, this is still hypothetical right? Cause I didn’t cause those cracks on your phone if anything you owe me the coffee or ice cream, I could’ve sprained ankle with your careless standing around.”

“I owe you? You’ve got it all wrong,” The entire situation was entertaining for Michael, despite it starting with him nearly knocking her over and her running into him. “Okay, here’s an idea: we owe each other coffee or ice cream?”

     There’s a surprisingly soft laugh that leaves her lips as he played along with her act. Relieved that he got the message she was waving in his face placed her hands over her heart in typical dramatic fashion and gave fake relieved sigh. “What are the odds?” She repeated before dropping her hands back to her side. “Is this the part where we’re meant to talk business? I’ve never hired my own personal anything before — my mom’s always taken care of that.” It wasn’t until she mentioned it that she realized how much it was true. From vocal coaches, to dance instructors, assistants, nutritionists and acting coaches — her mother always designated where she went and who she learned from. It swelled her with pride to make such a small decision for herself, so much so that her smile brightens without her realizing.

as he laid beside her and pulled her closer; she felt a warm sigh leave her lips.. she was starting to come down and felt safe in his arms- after all she lacked a feeling of safety.. especially after that betrayal, “mhm.. it is, you’re comfy.” she lightly giggled, “wanna-watch a movie?” she asked looking back at him.

Michael let out a soft chuckle, he didn’t think he had ever been called comfy before. “Thanks,” He responded in almost a whisper. He had to admit, it felt nice to be like this with someone, and even better if it was helping Wednesday feel better. “Sure,” He nodded. “Anything you want.”

“Oh,” Lucy frowned and used the back of her hand to wipe some drool from the corner of her lip. “I’m okay. I’ve just had… a very long day. I wake up early and survive on coffee and naps and I didn’t get either today,” Lucy explained with a yawn. “Thank you. For saving me from my soup I mean.”

“Well actually, you technically got your nap.” Michael observed with a soft smile. “No problem. I think I was worried you might have drowned, that would have been a super embarrassing way to go.”

     “Thought I made that pretty simple to get but okay one second.” She started before turning to walk away from him, before turning back to walk the few steps back up to him. “Oh my god, I just heard about your ad. The one about needing a client to train every now and then. Are you still looking? I’m absolutely interested.” She offered with a sweet smile, hoping that he got what she was saying this time around. Trixie didn’t know how she’d explain it a third time, but to get out of eye sight of her glorified babysitter she’d certainly figure it out.

Michael didn’t realised he has missed something until she had to spell it out for him. Scratching the back of his neck, he did his best not to let his face flush. “Yeah!” He began, nodding his head enthusiastically. “That’s great, I was worrying no one would reach out. What are the odds, huh?”

“Of course, happy to help” she gave him an encouraging smile before it turning into a less than sympathetic shrug, “I don’t know what to tell you, I’m not made of money here. You could afford like a coffee or ice cream or something to drown your sorrows in, that’s about all the help I’d be.”

“Yeah, I suppose coffee or ice cream is the least you could do for nearly breaking my phone.”

“Probably energy drinks, and those Buzzfeed cooking videos.”

“Imani. She could be be my...ball, you know, like from that movie.”

“Um...horizontally?”

Olivia laughed softly as he tried to form some kind of connection, “they’re both in the athletic world, so I can see what you were going for there.” Shaking her head at his thought Olivia quickly corrected him, “oh no, we were both at fault, I might have felt a little guilty but maybe only five bucks worth of guilt.”

“Thank you for appreciating my efforts.” He nodded his head confidently. “Five bucks? I couldn’t even get a phone case with that!”

at his confusion she let out a dizzy giggle, patting the spot she made. “yeah- just lay here.. it’s more comfy than standing up, unless you prefer it that way.. which by all means, but I sort of want to cuddle.. -if you’re okay with it.”

     “You clearly must be good at it or you wouldn’t have gotten the job. Maybe what you need is a client to personally train on the side. Like a happy balance sort of thing, something to get out out of the stuffy office for a few hours out of your day. Think that could work?”

“I mean, yeah that’d be great. I don’t know how I could advertise for that, though. I can’t put up a poster saying ‘Looking for one client to train every now and then’, it wouldn’t look good.”