All day, Olivia has been busy preparing to celebrate New Years Eve: cleaning, cooking, and setting the table. This is her first New Years away from her parents, with the man she loves.
Shes been living with Tony for the last three months in his flat. Hes fifteen years older than her, has been married before, pays child support, and has a fondness for drink But none of that matters when youre in love. And what drew her to Tony, no one could really understand: hes far from handsome, perhaps even downright unfortunate-looking, hes got a terrible temper, always stingy to a fault, and theres never any money about. And if there is, its only for himself. Yet, Olivias fallen head over heels for this odd fellow.
For three months, Olivia has held onto hope that Tony would see how easy-going and capable a woman she is, that hed soon want to make her his wife. He kept saying, We need to live together a bit and see what youre like running a household. Wouldnt want you turning out like my ex. What his ex was actually like remained a mystery to Oliviahe never gave a straight answer. So she put in double the effort: never argued when he staggered home drunk, cooked, did the washing, cleaned the flat, bought the groceries with her own money (heaven forbid Tony thought she was after his). She even paid for the New Years feast, and bought him a brand-new phone as a present.
While Olivia was busy making everything perfect, her marvellous Tony was preparing for the festivities his own wayby getting drunk with his mates. He came home already tipsy and announced that some friends of his (strangers to Olivia) would be joining them for New Years. Olivia laid out the table; there was only an hour left. Her spirits plummeted, but she bit her tongueshe wasnt about to prove she was like his ex.
Half an hour before midnight, a rowdy group of men and women tumbled into the flat. Tony immediately perked up, sat everyone at the table, and the drinking continued. He didnt even bother to introduce Olivia, and none of the guests noticed her they just drank and talked amongst themselves. When Olivia mentioned it was nearly midnight and time for champagne, they all looked at her as if she were an unwelcome intruder.
Whos she then? one drunken woman slurred.
Bedfellow from the next room, Tony snorted, and everyone else burst out laughing.
They scoffed down the food Olivia had cooked and took the mickey out of her as they ate. As Big Bens chimes rang in the New Year, their laughter grew: mocking her naivety and congratulating Tony for his brilliant move in finding himself a free cook and cleaning lady. Tony never defended her, just joined in with the rest, stuffing his face with the food shed paid for and prepared, treating her like nothing.
Quietly, Olivia left the room, gathered her things, and slipped out to her parents house. Shed never had a more dreadful New Years. Her mum simply said, I did warn you, while her dad breathed a sigh of relief. Olivia, finally letting out all her pain, took off her rose-coloured glasses.
A week later, when Tony had run out of cash, he showed up at Olivias door, acting as though nothing had happened.
Whyd you leave? Got stroppy, did you? he asked, and seeing she wasnt having it, started to go on the offensive: Typicallounging about at mummy and daddys, and Ive got nothing in my fridge! Youre starting to turn into my ex!
The audacity left Olivia speechless. Shed rehearsed countless ways shed finally say her piece, but now, faced with him, she couldnt find the words. The only thing she managed was to tell him, in no uncertain terms, to get lost and slammed the door.
And so, from New Years, Olivia begins a new chapter in her life.
