Chapter 7 - Meeting Jackie's Friends ♡︎

The bell rang sharply, echoing down the hallways, and soon the corridors of Silver Falls College were alive with movement. Olive clutched her books tightly against her chest, her knuckles pale around the edges of her oversized sleeves. She walked half a step behind Jackie, her eyes darting nervously around the unfamiliar space, but Jackie's calm, confident stride kept her moving forward. Jackie glanced back at her with a reassuring smile, the kind of smile Olive had grown used to seeing on their video calls. It said you'll be fine, I'm right here.

"Alright," Jackie said as they reached the bustling cafeteria, her voice firm but warm. "It's time you meet some of my friends. You'll like them, I promise. They're good people." Jackie's tone carried the weight of certainty, as though she'd already decided these were people who could be trusted with Olive's fragile shyness.

Olive's stomach flipped at the thought of meeting anyone new, but she gave a small nod, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Jackie, unfazed by her silence, led her toward a table in the center of the room where two students sat with trays of food. The first was a boy with crisp, dark hair and an air of polished confidence. His button-up shirt was neatly tucked in, and he carried himself with the kind of presence that drew eyes without him needing to try. Sitting across from him was a girl with brown hair braided carefully down her back, her clothes simple but perfectly put together, and her expression one of calm self-assurance.

"Skylar! Grace!" Jackie called out, her black hair swishing as she approached. Her voice cut through the chatter of the room, making both of them look up instantly. Skylar's face broke into an easy smile, sharp and bright, while Grace's eyes lit up warmly.

"This," Jackie announced, tugging Olive gently forward by her sleeve as though coaxing a nervous rabbit from hiding, "is Olive. She's new here. My best friend, basically my little sister. Be nice, okay?" Jackie gave them both a look that was half teasing, half warning, making it clear Olive was under her protection.

Skylar was the first to respond, leaning forward on his elbows, studying Olive with curiosity but no malice. "So you're Olive," he said, his tone smooth, almost like he was already rehearsing for the kind of interviews he hoped to give someday. "Jackie's mentioned you. I was starting to think you were a myth, the way she talks about you like you're some fairytale character." His grin was quick, disarming, and his confidence seemed to fill the space around him.

Olive froze, her cheeks pinking instantly. She ducked her head, fumbling with the edge of her sleeve, and whispered, "H-hi..." The sound was barely audible over the cafeteria noise, but it was enough to make both Skylar and Grace's smiles soften.

"Oh my gosh," Grace suddenly exclaimed, standing up so quickly her tray rattled. Her eyes widened with delight, and before Olive could even brace herself, Grace wrapped her arms around her in a crushing hug. "You are the absolute cutest thing I've ever seen!" Grace declared, squeezing Olive as though she really might never let go.

Olive let out a squeaky, startled sound, her body stiff at first before her blush deepened. "O-oh—uhm—" she stammered, but the words fell apart before they could form.

Jackie laughed, stepping in to gently tug Olive free from Grace's arms. "Careful, Grace. You'll scare her off before she even gets a chance to sit down." She gave Olive a reassuring pat on the shoulder before shooting her friend a knowing look. "She's shy, remember? Ease into it."

Grace just grinned, unabashed, brushing her braid back over her shoulder. "Sorry, sorry. I couldn't help it. She's adorable. Jackie, you didn't warn me she'd be this adorable."

Skylar chuckled, leaning back in his seat with an amused smirk. "Don't mind Grace. She has a habit of collecting people she likes. Once you're on her radar, there's no escape."

Grace swatted at him, but she was still grinning as she pulled Olive to sit beside her. "Ignore him. You can sit with us anytime, Olive. You're officially one of us now."

Olive blinked, wide-eyed, and managed a shaky, "Th-thank you," as she slid onto the bench, her heart pounding. She couldn't believe how fast things were moving, but the warmth in Grace's voice and the humor in Skylar's eyes made it a little less terrifying.

Jackie, satisfied, settled down across from them, her tray sliding into place. "See? Told you they'd be good to you," she said to Olive with a small smile, before shooting Skylar and Grace a look that silently said don't mess this up.

As the group launched into chatter about classes, professors, and Skylar's endless campaign ideas, Olive sat quietly, listening more than speaking, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Every so often Grace would lean over and squeeze her hand, or Skylar would throw in a light comment directed her way, but neither pushed her too hard. For the first time since she'd arrived in Silver Falls, Olive felt the tiniest flicker of belonging—though her nervous heart still beat wildly.

The cafeteria felt warmer as the minutes passed, laughter and chatter filling the air until Olive began to loosen her grip on her books and shift a little more comfortably in her seat. Jackie had been talking to Grace about an upcoming student council event when a familiar figure appeared at their table. Alex Walter, carrying his tray with one hand, smiled as soon as he spotted Jackie. His whole presence softened when he reached her side, and without hesitation, he leaned down to kiss her temple before sliding onto the bench beside her.

"Hey, you," Alex said in that calm, steady voice of his. His hand automatically found Jackie's under the table, and the two of them exchanged that look—one that made it clear how much they meant to each other. Jackie, who usually kept her guard up in so many parts of her life, seemed to melt when she was with Alex. She tucked her hair behind her ear and leaned against his shoulder with a small smile that Olive couldn't help but notice.

Skylar rolled his eyes dramatically, though his grin betrayed him. "Ugh, you two are disgusting," he teased, stabbing his fork into his food. "We get it, you're in love. Save it for the movies, please."

Grace nodded eagerly, smirking as she nudged Jackie with her elbow. "Seriously, Jackie, it's not fair. The rest of us have to deal with cafeteria food and midterms, and you're over here acting like you're in a rom-com."

Jackie laughed, but she didn't let go of Alex's hand. "You guys are just jealous," she shot back, her eyes twinkling.

"I'm jealous of Olive," Grace said suddenly, swiveling in her seat. "She gets to watch all this and look adorable while doing it." She caught the sound of Olive's soft giggle—the tiniest sound, but enough to make Grace's head snap toward her with delight. "Oh my gosh, did you just laugh?"

Olive's eyes went wide as if she'd been caught doing something forbidden. She quickly shook her head, her cheeks flushing pink, but her lips still curved in that shy little smile that betrayed her.

Grace let out a squeal of delight and immediately threw her arms around Olive again, pulling her into a warm, unrestrained hug. "You are too much. Too much! Jackie, I can't handle her. She's like a real-life doll."

Olive squeaked again, fumbling with her sleeves as she tried to wriggle out of the hug, though a tiny laugh slipped through her lips again, muffled against Grace's shoulder. "Y-you don't have to—" she started, but her words got lost in the commotion.

Jackie laughed, shaking her head as she reached across the table to rescue Olive. "Grace, let her breathe. You're going to crush her before she's even had a full week here."

Grace loosened her hold but kept her arm draped over Olive's shoulders possessively. "Fine, fine. But she's mine now. You can't keep her all to yourself, Jackie."

Olive's blush deepened, but she didn't pull away. A part of her, hidden beneath all the nerves, felt... safe. Safe in the way Grace's enthusiasm wrapped around her without judgment, safe in the way Jackie hovered nearby like an older sister ready to step in if it became too much.

From across the room, leaning with studied nonchalance against the vending machines, Cole Walter's eyes tracked the scene with sharp precision. His arms were crossed over his chest, his jaw set, though he wore the faintest smirk as though he wasn't bothered at all. But inside, something churned. He didn't know why it unsettled him, seeing Grace pull Olive close, seeing Olive blush and laugh against someone else's shoulder. He told himself it was nothing—just a protective instinct, maybe curiosity—but the truth was harder to admit. He didn't like that Olive's shy smiles and soft laughter were being given away so freely, and not to him.

Cole exhaled slowly, shifting his weight, his green eyes narrowing ever so slightly. He reminded himself that Jackie had told him to back off, to leave Olive alone. But watching her now—blushing, giggling, shrinking into her sweater while Grace clung to her like she was something precious—Cole knew one thing for certain. The longer he watched, the harder it was going to be to stay away.___

The rest of the day flew by faster than Olive could have imagined. Each class blurred into the next, her nerves always humming just beneath the surface. Every hallway seemed too crowded, every professor's voice too loud, and every assignment too daunting. But the comfort of knowing Jackie was only a text away kept her moving, even when she wanted to curl into herself and disappear. By the time the final bell rang, Olive felt both exhausted and relieved, her notebook filled with neat, careful notes that she wasn't sure she'd remember later.

Jackie was already waiting by the front entrance, leaning casually against one of the pillars with her bag slung over her shoulder. Her sharp dark hair caught the fading afternoon light, and she straightened when Olive approached. "There you are," Jackie said with a smile, looping her arm through Olive's like she had done so many times before. "Come on, we better get going. If we don't move fast, Cole will leave without us, and trust me—you do not want to walk all the way back to the ranch."

Olive's stomach tightened at the sound of Cole's name, her mind instantly flashing back to the night before—the smirk, the green eyes, She bit her lip but nodded, letting Jackie guide her through the parking lot.

When they finally reached Cole's truck, Olive froze for half a second. He was leaning against the driver's side door, one hand casually hooked in his pocket, the other holding his keys. The late afternoon sun caught in his messy blond hair, and his half-smile flickered as soon as he spotted them.

"Well, look who finally decided to show up," Cole drawled, his voice carrying just enough teasing to make Olive's pulse quicken. He glanced at Jackie, then shifted his eyes to Olive. "It's just us today. Jackie, Alex, me, and tiny." He let the nickname roll off his tongue with deliberate ease, watching Olive closely as he said it. "The rest of the circus found other rides or bailed to hang with friends."

Olive's cheeks burned instantly. Her voice caught somewhere between protest and silence. Tiny. He was really going to keep calling her that.

Jackie raised a brow at him, unimpressed. "Don't start, Cole," she warned, her protective tone slipping into place as naturally as breathing. "She doesn't need you teasing her every two seconds."

Cole lifted his hands in mock surrender, though the smirk on his face didn't fade. "Hey, I'm just being honest. Truck's a lot quieter without all the family fighting over who gets shotgun." His gaze flicked back to Olive, softer now but still tinged with mischief. "Besides, I don't mind the company."

Jackie rolled her eyes, tugging Olive forward. "Ignore him. He thinks he's charming when he's really just annoying."

Olive, still clutching the strap of her bag, gave the tiniest nod, her voice barely above a whisper. "O-okay..."

Alex appeared a moment later, slipping an arm around Jackie's waist with his usual calm presence. "Ready?" he asked her, before looking at Olive with a kind smile. "Don't worry, Olive. You'll get used to Cole. Eventually."

Cole shot his brother a look, but Alex just laughed under his breath and opened the passenger side door for Jackie. Olive lingered nervously at the edge of the truck, feeling the weight of Cole's gaze on her. He didn't move to open the door this time—he just leaned there, watching her, the keys dangling loosely from his fingers.

"You getting in, Tiny?" he asked finally, his voice low, almost daring.

Olive's throat bobbed as she swallowed hard, then nodded quickly, scurrying into the back seat before she could lose her nerve. Her heart hammered against her chest, the word Tiny echoing in her ears long after she'd settled into the worn leather seat.

Cole smirked again as he shut the door behind her, shaking his head like he'd just discovered something amusing. Jackie glared at him from the front seat, but he only chuckled under his breath before sliding into the driver's side and turning the key in the ignition.