Page 14 of Finding Olivia (Trace + Olivia 1)

Yes.I answered, hoping I didn’t come across as desperate.

But he had been the one to text me, not the other way around. Besides, I’d never dated before so I was completely clueless on how these things were supposed to work. Was it normal for a guy you’d just met to ask you out? I’d have to ask Avery later.

Tonight?He asked.

I bit my lip. I was eager to say yes, but I knew that a mountain of homework was waiting for me tonight.

Fridaynight works better for me. How about the park?I suggested, crossing my fingers that he wouldn’t cancel.

My phone sounded seconds later with his reply.Sounds good. I’ll bring dinner. :)

I’m looking forward to it.

Me too.He texted back.

I smiled goofily as I stuffed my phone into my pocket. I walked the rest of the way to class, with a slight skip in my step.

c h a p t e r

Three

I fingered the worn piece of paper in my hands. I wrote it over a year ago, the edges were torn, and the once white paper had faded to yellow. I hadn’t been able to bring myself to rewrite it. Maybe it was childish, but it felt special, and I didn’t want to replace it. It was my ticket to freedom, if only I would stop being so shy, and do the things I had written down.

All the things on my Live List, as I called it, were things I had always wanted to do. But most of them, I couldn’t, because of my father. He had controlled every aspect of my life, and I let him, because I was scared of displeasing him. All I had ever wanted was to make him proud. By the time I started high school, I knew that nothing I ever did, would please him. He was always striving for perfection, from himself, from me, from everyone and everything. But perfection doesn’t exist, no matter how hard or how long we search for it.

So, why was I still looking for it?

I read over each item on my list like I did every night. It had become a sort of calming routine for me. By now, I didn’t have to look at the list to know what was on it, but I did anyway.

My Live List

1. Get drunk

2. Fly in a hot air balloon

3. Go to the carnival

4. Go to a concert (even if it’s someone I’ve never heard of)

5. Go to a party

6. Lose my virginity

7. Dance in the rain

8. Go roller skating

9. See the ocean

10. Learn to paint

11. Get a dog…or a cat…or a rabbit. Any pet will do.

12. Sing in front of real people. Avery doesn’t count.

13. Make more friends

14. Shoot a gun

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