Sometimes all you need is a change of perspective 6/?
Author: Shadower
Title: Sometimes all you need is a change of perspective
Disclaimer: ABC owns it all. I own the paper this written on.
Fandom: Pushing Daisies - Olive / Chuck
Rating: sort of R for the series
Archiving: Ralst can have it for P&P. Anyone else needs to ask.
Summary: Olive's attempt to put thoughts of the pie-maker behind her have unexpected results
Spoilers: Up until ep.8 of the season.
Authors Notes: Italics still means she's thinking. Things have been all up the air lately so this one is going to be... I'll let you judge for yourself. Fell free to prob my muse with ideas for chapter 7 though, as my muse seems to have joined the teachers strike...
Beta-ed by the wonderful -
llyfrgell
Where were we... Oh yes - one two three four five
Chapter 6
It was in the interest of keeping up the appearances that Olive Snook suggested to the couple that came to see her that they all go to a movie together. It will be perfectly all right. They will feel as though I'm spending time with them, and we won't really need to talk. All I have to do is make sure that I am not sitting next to her. In Olive's mind, things were looking pretty good; they were far from perfect, but they were no longer catastrophic either. They parted at the stables and headed home so that Olive could wash the horse smell off her body, agreeing that she would knock on Ned's door once she was ready.
Knowing that there was nothing better than a bath both to get the horsey smell out of her skin and hair and to calm her down, she let the hot water fill the tub and waited a bit to let it gather volume. What am I going to wear? With that thought in mind the petite woman wandered into her bedroom and started rummaging through her closet. It can't be too fancy. I'm just going to the movies with friends. But she will be there… So will her boyfriend. The small bit of internal monologue spun around repeatedly in her head, making her choice infinitely harder. Suddenly remembering her bath, and still no closer to choosing an outfit then when she stepped through her bedroom door, she shrugged and headed back towards the pink-hued room.
She was just about to step into the tub when she heard her doorbell ring. Oh, for heaven’s sake! Putting her robe back on she headed for the door, looking through the peep-hole while keeping quiet, deciding that if it was someone she didn't want to open the door to, she would just return to her bath. Ned's profile greeted her, as he was apparently talking to someone on his left, maybe even in his apartment. Chuck? She cracked the door open, using it as a shield between herself and the people on the other side. Ned jumped.
"Olive?" His voice was strained. Only two weeks ago, I would have opened the door wide hoping to see him... "Uh... I have to, uh... go interview with Emerson... and the press will be there..." He glanced left to his front door where Chuck was standing, her arms crossed, glaring at him.
"Ned, I don't need to be babysat. I can manage quite well on my own for a few minutes." The look she got from the pie-maker could only be described as pleading.
"Chuck..." he exhaled slowly; it was clear he was looking for words to tip the balance in this battle of wills.
"Ned, you can't force her." The calmness of her voice surprised her, as the very thought of having Chuck in her apartment as she bathed was enough to sent a violent shiver down the small woman's spine. "Besides, I haven't even showered yet..." Not sure anymore of the actual point of her words, the small woman closed her mouth and looked into the eyes of the man standing before her, capturing his eyes with her own for a brief moment.
"But..."
"No 'but's, Ned. You go. I'll shower, and once the interview is over, you come home. Chuck and I will be fine together." An inner battle was clearly etched into the pie-maker's face but after a few moments of looking alternately at each woman he sighed, squared his shoulders and lowered his head in defeat. When he spoke, his voice was small.
"Chuck, please, would you stay with Olive?" He turned his head back to the smaller woman. "If you agree, of course." Her response was to smile, while trying desperately not to bang her head against the door. Is it him that I can't refuse or the possibility of her company? It was clear to her that Chuck's reply was a silent one as the next thing she saw was the brunette entering her line of sight. She no longer had to turn her head to see her. As Olive stepped back to let Chuck in, they both bid the pie-maker goodbye and Olive made a hasty retreat into the comfort of her bath. No, he didn't just do that! I am not alone, with Chuck in the next room, while I'm naked! This is definitely going to age me... Glancing in the mirror before shedding her robe again she sighed. I am going insane. I just need to relax. This is not that dream. She thought as she settled herself into the warm water. She is not going to come in here and pounce... Oh my... As the images came to mind Olive blushed and ducked her head underwater.
Knowing that she had a guest in the other room, Olive kept the bath shorter than she had intended, and when stepping through the door she looked anywhere but at the girl named Chuck before disappearing into her bedroom to clothe herself. Looking through her closet again, Olive took out a pink dress with black polka dots and a black jacket, knowing full well she tended to look young in this dress, but somehow this feeling calmed her. If I'm too busy feeling young, maybe I won't feel all these feelings that you have to be grown up to have. Taking one last look at her mirror she sighed and stepped into the living room to meet the waiting Chuck.
"I'm sorry I've kept you waiting..." Chuck merely smiled in response, from her position by the window.
"It's all right. I was just..." She trailed off. Just what, Chuck? What are you thinking about? But Olive said nothing, instead just smiling at her guest and asking about the movie. Neither of them knew what was playing and instead of looking through the paper to find out, they decided to just go to the cinema and decide there. They walked in silence, each woman lost in her own thoughts and emotions - each woman not sure what to do without the stabilizing effect of the pie-maker's presence.
It was only after they had gotten the tickets and sat down that Chuck broke their silent agreement not to speak. "Olive, why don't you want to be around... us anymore? And please don't say that it's just the horses. I know it's not." Olive arched an eyebrow at her, trying to stall, hoping to sort her thoughts that began to race at the first sounds of question in the other woman's voice. "I know we don't usually share the... emotional stuff we go through, but Olive, I care about you. I want to know if anything is wrong. I want to help you, if I can." Emerald eyes turned to smile at Chuck, and Olive could almost swear she heard the other woman's breath catch in her throat. I'm hallucinating.
"I..." can't tell you everything yet. "It's nothing that you have to worry about. I have just been going through a slightly rough time after John's mother tried to kill us..." She frowned and shook her head slightly to rid her head from the image of the charging horse. "I found comfort with him, with Querida Mia and the other horses." Thinking of the tall mare brought a smile to her face, one that lit up her eyes. Please don't push me on this... Chuck looked at her for a long moment, her face mirroring some unreadable emotion that surged underneath the surface.
"Could I see you ride? One day; it doesn't have to be now. Or even this week." Olive smiled at the insecurity in Chuck's voice and patted her hand with her own before she even noticed she was doing so.
"Of course."
Chuck smiled and took hold of Olive’s hand in hers, holding four of Olive's fingers in the crook between her thumb and forefinger. Uh...
"Look, the movie is starting!"