just a chance

Eric wished he hadn't gone it alone, but Roger and Cory had left for the movie. He wasn't sure what to do. Just a little faith and hoping Olivia remembered exactly how she got there even though she kept telling him not to come, all the while.

So there she was on the couch with the loud music of Metallica pouring over him as he made it through the fog of smoke. A guy with blond dread locks was next to her laughing at something on the TV screen.

Eric couldn't be sure if she were just dazed from the smoke or dreaming of being somewhere else. He finally waved his hand in front of her.

"Olivia?"

She looked up at him bewildered as if he was the last person she expected, but then she looked away as if she didn't want him to see her this way. As if she were embarrassed that he'd came all this far for nothing.

"You OK?"

She nodded as if she couldn't talk.

She text him then.

"Why did you come?"

Eric let out a sigh. He thought he might be sick if they stayed here much longer.

"I was worried."

But she texted right back. "I'm not your problem."

Eric frowned then. He held out his hand then.

"I want you to be my problem," he just said pulling her to her feet. "Now come on, you don't belong here."

She didn't give him much of a reaction other than following along with him.

"How did you get here, anyway?" he asked once they got out side in the shivering cold. It had been warm inside, and he looked at her as if she'd been on fire. The steam coming off around her. "Do you even have a coat?" He wrapped his parka around her then, and they hurried to the car.

"Thank God, you're all right." He just said to her once he got the car started. "What were you doing there?"

She shook her head, no. "Nothing," he hoped she said. She started to text him.

He watched her then. It was so amazing to see her. He hadn't realised how much he'd missed her. Actually, being this close instead of so far away staring at a computer screen waiting for an instant message.

"I think we should talk," he nodded. "I'll figure it out. I will." He drove away then. Maybe they could settle this over coffee.