Chapter 5 - Silver Falls, First Day ♡︎

Morning light crept gently through the thin curtains, painting Olive's room in shades of gold and pink. She stirred beneath the blankets, her bunny nightlight still glowing faintly by her bedside, the hum of the farmhouse quiet except for the distant sounds of someone clattering pans in the kitchen downstairs. Olive shifted, her teddy bear tucked under her chin, and for a few precious moments she forgot where she was. Her thumb had found its way to her mouth during the night, and when her sleepy eyes blinked open, she startled as the realization hit her.

Her cheeks flushed with a wave of panic. She pulled her thumb from her lips quickly and sat up straight, clutching her bear as if it could shield her from the embarrassment. Her heart thumped anxiously while she darted her gaze around the room, praying nobody had seen. But the door was still closed, her bunny light still casting its soft glow, and the only witness was the bear in her arms. Olive let out a shaky sigh of relief, pressing her forehead against the bear's fuzzy head. "It's okay," she whispered softly, almost like she was reassuring herself. "Nobody knows. Just me."

Once her pulse slowed, she set the bear neatly against her pillows and pushed the blankets aside. The cool air of the farmhouse nipped at her bare legs, and she hurried across the rug, the old floorboards creaking faintly beneath her feet. She pressed her ear to the door for a moment, listening carefully for footsteps in the hall. The Walters' house was always busy, and she didn't want to run into one of the boys half-asleep in the hallway. When she heard nothing, she opened the door just enough to peek out. The coast was clear.

Taking her chance, Olive dashed out, her socks sliding slightly against the polished wood, and she made it to the bathroom without interruption. She slipped inside quickly, closing the door with a soft click and pressing her back against it with a small breath of victory. Finally, she was safe to get ready.

She took her time in front of the mirror, determined to make herself look as put-together as possible for her first day at Silver Falls College. It wasn't a big school—not like the universities she sometimes saw in movies—but it was something, and she wanted to start off on the right foot. She carefully brushed out her hair until it fell smooth and shiny down her back, then tied it up with a large pastel bow that matched the soft pink of her long-sleeved top. The sleeves hung just a little too long over her hands, which made her smile shyly at her reflection, as if the extra fabric was a secret shield. She paired it with a simple skirt, twirling once in the mirror to make sure it fell just right.

For a moment, she studied herself carefully. The bow, the skirt, the oversized sleeves—it was her, soft and childish and safe, even if she wasn't sure how people at college would see her. Would they think she looked silly? Too young? She bit her lip nervously, clutching the sink for a second before shaking her head and whispering, "No, it's okay. Jackie said be yourself. This is me."

Olive tightened the strap of her bag across her shoulder before making her way downstairs, the scent of coffee, toast, and sizzling eggs drifting up to meet her. The farmhouse always smelled like something hearty and homemade in the mornings, and though it was comforting, it also made her stomach twist with nervous anticipation. Her steps were small and cautious, the wood groaning gently beneath her feet as she descended into the chaos she could already hear building below.

In the kitchen, Katherine was bustling between the stove and the counter, a spatula in hand as she flipped pancakes onto a growing stack. George sat at the table nursing a mug of coffee, scanning through the local paper with his usual quiet focus. Jackie was already perched at the counter, her black hair glossy under the morning light, munching on a piece of toast while scrolling through her phone. She looked effortlessly collected, like mornings never rattled her.

"Good morning, Olive!" Katherine greeted warmly, her smile as bright as the sun streaming through the window. She gestured toward the counter where plates were lined up neatly, each piled with food. "I made plenty, so don't be shy. Eat before the boys come down and clean everything out."

Olive's soft "Good morning" was barely above a whisper as she padded toward the counter, sliding onto a stool beside Jackie. She was still adjusting to mornings here, the sheer noise and motion of the Walter household compared to the quiet routine of her home. She picked at her food delicately, her cheeks warming as Jackie leaned close, bumping her shoulder in a silent little nudge of encouragement.

Katherine turned toward the staircase, her voice suddenly sharpening with practiced authority. "Boys!" she called, the sound carrying through the house like a drill sergeant's command. "Get down here right now or you're all going to be late for class!"

Olive nearly jumped at the sudden volume, her fork clinking against her plate. Jackie stifled a laugh and gave her an apologetic glance. "You'll get used to that," Jackie said lightly. "Trust me, it's the only thing that gets them moving."

Katherine sighed and shook her head, muttering something about how she shouldn't have to herd teenagers like cattle. Then, turning back to Olive, she added matter-of-factly, "You'll ride with Jackie, Cole, Alex, and the rest of the boys to campus. It's the easiest way, since you're all going to Silver Falls anyway."

The moment Cole's name slipped into the air, Olive froze mid-bite. Her hand trembled just slightly as she set her fork down, and she blinked at her plate, the soft color draining from her face. Her stomach gave a nervous flutter that had nothing to do with first-day jitters and everything to do with the memory of last night—the open door, his smirk, his bare chest. She swallowed hard, pressing her lips together as if words might betray her.

Jackie's sharp eyes caught it instantly. She tilted her head, studying Olive with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Hey," she said gently, brushing her hand against Olive's arm. "You okay? You look like you've just seen a ghost."

Olive managed a weak smile, but her voice came out a little too soft, a little too quick. "Y-yeah, I'm fine. Really."

Jackie narrowed her eyes slightly, not buying it. "Listen," she said, lowering her voice so Katherine and George wouldn't hear. "College isn't scary. Silver Falls isn't like some big city school. It's laid back, and you'll be with me, okay? You don't have to be nervous."

Olive nodded quickly, grateful for the reassurance, even though Jackie had completely misread the reason behind her panic. It wasn't classrooms or strangers she was afraid of—it was the thought of being crammed into a car ride next to Cole Walter, the boy who had already made her cheeks flame and her words scatter after one brief, humiliating encounter.

Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sweater as Jackie gave her a warm, encouraging smile. "First day's going to be fine. You'll see," Jackie promised. And Olive, as she always did, nodded quietly, though her heart was still racing.___

The kitchen felt like a storm as the morning carried on. One by one, the boys thundered downstairs, each in their own rush, grabbing slices of toast, pancakes folded in napkins, or gulping orange juice straight from glasses before disappearing out the door. Parker complained that nobody left her syrup, Isaac wrestled with Jordan over a bag of chips, and Danny muttered something about how Cole always hogged the good spot in the driveway.

Katherine moved like a conductor in the middle of it all, pointing to backpacks, shoving lunch bags into hands, reminding each boy not to forget their textbooks or sports gear. George leaned in the doorway with his coffee, shaking his head at the chaos, though the faint smile on his face said he loved it.

Amid all the movement, Olive sat perched carefully on the edge of her stool, small and quiet, watching the whirlwind with wide eyes. She kept her hands wrapped tightly around her bag as though it might anchor her in place. Jackie, slipping her phone into her pocket, caught Olive's unease immediately. She reached over and gave her wrist a gentle squeeze. "Come on," she said, her voice calm and grounding. "Time to go before they leave without us."

Olive nodded, her stomach fluttering nervously, and allowed Jackie to tug her up and guide her toward the door. The morning air outside was crisp and smelled faintly of hay and damp earth from the fields. The sound of engines starting echoed across the yard as several of the boys piled into different cars, their voices overlapping in arguments about music and who got shotgun.

But Olive's focus froze instantly on one figure. Cole. He leaned casually against his truck, one boot braced against the tire, his arms folded across his broad chest. The early sun caught in his blond hair, and his green eyes sparkled with something between mischief and ease. That half-smile—lazy, knowing—curved across his lips as he watched the commotion, though when Olive's gaze accidentally met his, it felt like all the air in her lungs rushed out at once.

Jackie must have noticed, because her whole expression shifted. Her jaw tightened, and she shot Cole a sharp, warning look as if she could communicate a full lecture with just her eyes. Cole glanced at her, rolled his eyes with an exaggerated sigh, and straightened from the truck like he couldn't be bothered. Jackie muttered under her breath, "Unbelievable," before climbing into the passenger side seat with practiced ease.

Olive hesitated, rooted to the spot, until Cole turned toward her. Without a word, he swung the door open to the back seat. The gesture should have felt polite, but there was something about the way he leaned on the frame, watching her so intently, that made Olive's throat tighten. His green eyes held hers for a moment too long, a teasing challenge hidden in the depth of his gaze.

"Did you need help getting in, tiny, or what?" he drawled, his smirk widening as he dipped his head just slightly closer. The nickname—"tiny"—slid off his tongue again, belonging to her.

Olive's whole body tensed. Her fingers twisted in the hem of her pastel long sleeve, her breath stuttering as heat crept up her cheeks. She wanted to say something, anything, but words tangled hopelessly on her tongue. All she managed was a small shake of her head before she quickly climbed into the truck, her knees knocking together as she tried not to stumble in her rush.

Cole chuckled under his breath, closing the door behind her with a soft click. For Olive, the sound echoed louder than it should have, lingering as she fumbled with her seatbelt. Jackie twisted in her seat to check on her, her eyes narrowing at Cole like a hawk circling prey. Cole, completely unfazed, rounded the truck and slid behind the wheel, his smirk never quite leaving his face.