Chapter 13 - Argument ♡︎

The fire pit had quieted down after a while, the loud cheers and dares slowly fading as people drifted into their own smaller groups. Some stayed around the fire, laughing and passing bottles back and forth. Others had wandered down toward the lake, their voices echoing faintly over the water. Music still thumped softly from someone's speaker, but the energy had dimmed, settling into something looser and slower as the evening rolled on.

Olive, feeling the heat of the fire pit and the heaviness of the drinks swirling in her body, wandered away from the crowd. Her steps weren't entirely steady, but she managed, clutching her sleeves in her hands as she made her way toward the dock. The lake stretched out endlessly before her, the last of the sunlight bleeding across its surface in soft pinks and oranges. It was beautiful. Quiet. Safe. She breathed deeply, the air cool against her cheeks, hoping it would calm the storm inside her.

But she wasn't alone for long.

"Enjoying yourself?" Erin's voice cut through the silence like a blade, sharp and smug.

Olive flinched and turned, her big eyes wide. Erin was standing just a few feet away, arms crossed tightly over her chest, a smirk tugging at her lips though her eyes flashed with anger. Olive's stomach dropped instantly. She hadn't done anything wrong, but the look Erin gave her made her feel guilty anyway, as if she had stolen something that didn't belong to her.

"I—um—I'm just... just getting some air," Olive stammered, her words soft and slurred from the drinks. She tugged at her bow, her cheeks heating as she tried not to trip over her own tongue.

Erin scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Air, huh? That's cute. You know, you've been here five minutes and already you think you can plant yourself next to Cole like you belong? It's pathetic."

Olive's lips parted, her face going pale at the harshness. She blinked rapidly, trying to think of something to say back, something smart or tough, but her tipsy brain scrambled the words before they could even form. "I—I don't... I don't think I belong anywhere," she mumbled, her voice small, "but—Jackie brought me and Cole... Cole—he—he kissed me, not the other way around."

It wasn't the fierce comeback she hoped for. Her words tumbled out clumsy and awkward, but at least she said something.

Erin let out a cold laugh, the sound cruel. "Oh please. You're just a little lost puppy, aren't you? Hiding behind Jackie, hiding behind your stupid teddy bear, acting like you don't know what's going on. But I see right through it."

Olive's chest tightened. Her eyes stung, but she forced herself to stay put, her fists clutching her skirt tightly. She didn't want to cry in front of Erin—not here, not now. Her lips trembled as she tried again, her words wobbling with both nerves and drunkenness. "I... I may be... a puppy... but at least I'm... um..." She froze, frowning, trying to piece together something that made sense. "...loyal?"

The word slipped out like a question, making no sense at all, and Olive winced the second it left her mouth.

Erin stared at her for a moment, then let out another scoff, shaking her head in disbelief. "Wow. That's your comeback? God, no wonder Cole doesn't see you as anything serious."

Olive's breath hitched at that, her heart sinking even lower, but she bit down on her lip and held her ground. Her knees wobbled, her head spun, but she didn't run away. Not this time.

"I—I don't care what you think," Olive whispered, even though her voice shook. "Cole... Cole can think for himself."

Erin's eyes narrowed dangerously, her jaw tightening as Olive's tiny, shaky words lingered in the air. She had expected tears, maybe Olive scurrying back toward the fire pit to cling to Jackie or hide from the confrontation, but instead Olive—soft, timid Olive—had stood her ground. Even if her comeback had been clumsy, even if her lip trembled, she hadn't backed down. That made Erin furious.

Before Olive even realized what was happening, Erin shoved her. It wasn't hard enough to seriously hurt her, but Olive, tipsy and unsteady on her feet, lost her balance instantly. Her little gasp escaped as the world tilted, her body pitching backwards toward the hard wooden planks of the dock.

But she never hit the ground.

Strong arms caught her mid-fall, steady and unyielding, and Olive blinked up in shock to find herself staring into familiar green eyes. Cole. His jaw was set tight, his lips pressed in a hard line as he pulled Olive upright against his chest. He didn't even glance at her at first—his glare was locked firmly on Erin.

"What the hell, Erin?" His voice came out sharp, low, furious in a way Olive had never heard before. It rumbled through his chest, vibrating against her cheek where she accidentally leaned.

Erin lifted her chin, crossing her arms defensively, though her smugness faltered under his stare. "She was mouthing off. Maybe she needed to be reminded where she stands."

Cole's eyes flashed, his grip on Olive tightening protectively as though shielding her from any further harm. "She stands right here, with me. And if you ever lay a hand on her again—" He broke off, grinding his teeth, forcing himself not to explode in front of the others.

Olive shifted slightly in his hold, her big doe eyes blinking up at him. Her face was flushed, her words soft and slurred, but she tried to speak. "I—I can take care of myself," she whispered, though it sounded more like a plea than confidence. "I don't need... a quarterback knight in shining armor..." She trailed off, her voice fading into a sleepy giggle.

Cole looked down at her and let out a heavy sigh, the tension in his jaw loosening just a little. His lips curved into a small, crooked smirk. "Yeah? You call that taking care of yourself, tiny? You're about three seconds away from face-planting into the lake."

Olive pouted softly, her fingers fidgeting with the sleeve of his jacket. "M'not that drunk..."

"Yes, you are," Cole teased, his tone gentler now, though still protective. He brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his thumb grazing her temple for a fleeting second before he pulled back.

Erin scoffed loudly, her frustration bubbling over. "Oh, for god's sake. You don't even know her, Cole. She's just some fragile little thing you'll get bored of the second you realize she can't keep up with you. Stop acting like she's special."

That finally drew Cole's full fire. His head snapped toward her, eyes dark, voice sharp. "Shut up, Erin. You don't get to talk about her like that."

Before Erin could retort, Dylan stepped between them, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "Alright, that's enough," he said firmly, looking between the two of them. His gaze lingered on Cole. "She's had enough for one night, man. Take her home before this turns into something worse."

Cole exhaled through his nose, his anger still simmering but reluctantly contained. He shifted Olive carefully into his arms, scooping her up as if she weighed nothing at all. Olive gasped softly, surprised, and instinctively clutched onto his shirt, burying her face against his chest like a sleepy child.

"C-Cole... I don't... I don't wanna leave," she mumbled, her words muffled against him. "Everyone's still... still having fun..."

Cole looked down at her with a mixture of fondness and frustration. "You've had enough fun for tonight, tiny," he said quietly, his tone surprisingly tender. "Trust me. You'll thank me in the morning."

Olive whimpered softly, but her body relaxed into his hold, too tired and tipsy to fight it. Cole glanced once more at Erin, his glare making his warning clear, then turned and began carrying Olive back toward his truck.___

Cole opened the passenger side door carefully, adjusting Olive in his arms before lowering her gently onto the seat. She blinked up at him sleepily, her lashes heavy and her cheeks still flushed from the alcohol. He crouched down to buckle her in, making sure the strap wasn't pinching her shoulder.

"There," he muttered softly, his voice low and patient. "All snug. No rolling around on me, tiny." His fingers lingered for a moment near her arm, brushing the soft fabric of her sleeve before he forced himself to pull back. He shut the door gently, like she might shatter at the smallest slam, then jogged around to the driver's side and slid behind the wheel.

As the engine rumbled to life, Cole glanced at her. Olive was rubbing her eyes like a child who didn't want to admit she was tired, a soft little whimper slipping from her lips. She shifted in the seat, tucking her knees closer to her chest even with the seatbelt across her. Cole shook his head, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth despite himself. "You're a mess, you know that?" he teased lightly, his voice more fond than mocking.

Olive peeked at him through half-lidded eyes, her words slurred but earnest. "M'not a mess. Jus'... sleepy." She yawned and let her head loll against the window. "Everything feels spinny though... I don't like it."

Cole's smirk faded, his protective instincts kicking in again. He kept one hand steady on the wheel while the other rested on the console, close enough to reach her if she swayed too much. "Yeah, that's what happens when you let Erin talk you into shots. You should've let me handle her."

"I wanted... to fit in," Olive mumbled softly, her voice breaking like she was half on the verge of tears but too tired to follow through. "Did I do bad?"

Cole's chest tightened at that. He glanced at her, the sight of her small frame curled up in his truck making something ache inside him. "No, tiny," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "You didn't do bad. You held your own, even drunk. I'm proud of you. But from now on? Don't listen to Erin."

Olive's lips curled into a small, drowsy smile, and she let out a soft hum like his words comforted her. Her head tilted slightly toward him before she slipped back into silence, her breathing uneven but steady.

Meanwhile, back at the party, Erin was seething. She stood near the fire pit, her drink clutched so tightly the plastic cup threatened to split in her hand. The laughter of the others grated on her nerves, especially when Dylan leaned back in his chair and chuckled. "Guess Cole wasn't playing around with that one," he said casually, earning a few nods from the others. "Didn't think I'd ever see him ditch a party for someone like that."

"Someone like her," Erin repeated bitterly, glaring into the flames. Her stomach twisted with anger. Olive's wide eyes, her soft stammer, that blush when Cole kissed her—it was infuriating. She didn't belong here. She didn't belong with him.

"Erin, drop it," Dylan said, his tone warning now, though he kept it even. "You knew Cole wasn't into you anymore. Let it go."

Erin whipped around, her hair catching in the light of the fire. "You think this is about me? Please. It's about her. She doesn't even know how things work around here. She's just some timid little girl Jackie is friends with, and now suddenly Cole's playing babysitter like she's—" She cut herself off, realizing she'd raised her voice enough to draw glances. She swallowed hard and plastered on a smile, but her eyes still burned with fury.___

The drive back felt longer than usual, even though the roads were mostly empty at this hour. Cole kept his eyes on the road, his grip firm on the steering wheel, but his thoughts were scattered. Every time Olive shifted beside him—letting out a soft sigh, rubbing at her eyes, or murmuring under her breath—his chest tightened with something he didn't want to name. He wasn't supposed to feel this way. Not about her. Not about Jackie's best friend, the girl everyone swore was too soft and innocent for someone like him. And yet the memory of that kiss replayed over and over in his head, unshakable. The way her lips had felt against his—warm, hesitant, fragile. The way she'd looked at him afterward, wide-eyed and blushing like he'd stolen more than just a kiss.

By the time they pulled into the driveway, Cole's jaw was clenched. He killed the engine and leaned back against the seat, dragging a hand down his face. Jackie was going to kill him. He could already hear her sharp words in his head, that tone she always used when she thought she was the only one keeping Olive safe. "You're reckless, Cole. You don't think about anyone but yourself. How could you let her drink that much? Do you realize how fragile she is?" He imagined his parents chiming in too, piling on about how he needed to be responsible, how they expected better from him, how one mistake with Olive could ripple into something worse.

Cole squeezed his eyes shut for a second and muttered under his breath, "Great job, Cole. Real smooth. Letting her get drunk, fighting with Erin, kissing her in front of everyone—yeah, that'll go over real well at breakfast."

He let out a sharp laugh, humorless and low. "Damn." His hand curled into a fist on his thigh as the realization hit him again. "I was her first kiss." He shook his head, staring through the windshield at the dim glow of the porch light. "Of all people... me. Damn."

Just as he was about to sink further into his own spiraling thoughts, a small, sleepy voice broke the silence. "Cole?"

His head snapped to the side instantly. Olive had shifted in her seat, her body slumped but her eyes blinking open hazily. She looked disoriented, her voice soft and delicate like the brush of a feather. "Are... are we home?"

The hardened expression on Cole's face melted in an instant. He nodded, his voice gentler than it had been all night. "Yeah, tiny. We're home." He leaned closer, adjusting the seatbelt that had slipped awkwardly across her chest. "You made it. Safe and sound."