Olive did not want to have this discussion ever. She wasn't twelve anymore, and knew very much what she was getting into with Enoch. She also knew what kind of person he was...and was not. Her father might be determined to dislike everything about him from his hair to his attitude to his distinct lack of emotion, but Olive knew otherwise. If he was just going to make her sit down and listen to all the reasons he wasn't someone she should be dating, then she might have to take a leaf out of Enoch's book and walk out of the conversation.

"Do we have to talk about this again, Dad? I already know you don't like him." She sighed and bounced a little on the cushion as she dropped into the couch.

"Believe me, I tried to get your mother to talk to you, I don't want to have this conversation either. But if I'm the one who doesn't like him..."

"Enoch's not that bad, I promise."

Her father shook his head and glared at the arm of the couch to Olive's left before fixing his daughter with a raised eyebrow and a frown he saved only for the people he didn't like around his daughter. Which might have been a grand total of one but all the same...

"I just don't get a good feeling about him, Olive. I'm your father, I can disapprove as much as I like. I know what boys like that are like."

Olive went pink and she screwed up her nose in annoyance. "Not Enoch. He's not at all like that. Just because he's not cheerful and talkative doesn't make him a troublemaker...Dad you met him properly once. You can't make me stop seeing him, I'm not a little kid!"

"I'm not. I'd like you to..."

"Dad-" Olive was interrupted as he held up a hand to her.

"-but I'm not. Olive. I don't like that boy and I can't think what you see in him but I just want you to make sure if he ever tries anythi-"

Olive squeaked in embarrassment and dropped her head into her hands. It wasn't happening. This conversation was entirely fictitious. It was almost a nightmare. It annoyed her more than ever that not only did her father not like or trust Enoch, he didn't trust her. Of course, she knew he was just being a protective father and didn't want to see her hurt but she wasn't stupid or blind.

"If you can't trust him you could try trusting me?" She stormed to her feet, wanting to be anywhere in the world but here. "Enoch's not at all like you think." And with that, her cheeks burning a ferocious shade of pink to clash with her hair, she swept from the room.

Perhaps she should have called Enoch first, or at least texted to let him know but Olive wasn't even entirely sure of where she was going to go by the time she'd bundled up in boots and gloves and left the house. What she wouldn't give for just a little snow in a few more days even if it didn't last. It rarely did in the city. But a white Christmas was always a nice thought.

Twenty five minutes later Olive stopped outside the gate barely clinging to its hinges that clearly nobody could be bothered to fix, and butterflies began to flutter around in her stomach suddenly. She definitely should have called him. He might not even be home, although apart from the funeral parlour Olive wasn't sure where else Enoch would be, but just inviting herself around to his home? Wouldn't he mind? Well if he did, she'd just make sure not to arrive unannounced next time.

Olive drew in a breath and stepped through the gate which squeaked as it swung closed again behind her.

She knocked a few times on the door and rocked on her feet. She didn't have to wait long before Isla O'Connor opened the door and looked suddenly surprised to see Olive there.

The girl smiled, locking her hands together in front of her on the doorstep. "Is Enoch here?"

"It's Olive isn't it?" A smile immediately broke over the older woman's face as she stepped to one side. "Come in, of course. He didn't mention you were coming."

"Oh no, I was just on my past is all." Olive smiled, stepping to one side as she moved through the door. It felt weird walking in without Enoch in front of her. But at least Enoch's family liked her.

"He's in his room, please go right ahead. I'm sure he'll be glad you popped in."

Olive thanked her and hesitantly started to make her own way down the hallway in the direction of Enoch's room. She was less confident than his mother apparently was about what Enoch would think just letting herself into his bedroom unannounced but the door was ajar a little as she turned the corner and she could hear some song she thought was Coldplay from his room. If the door was open that had to be a better sign.

Placing a hand on the door she knocked just softly, which went unheard behind the music, and pushed the door further open. "Enoc-" whatever she had been about to say dissolved in a squeak at possibly one of the last sights she'd expected to see.

Enoch was there alright but only in jeans and apparently had no idea she was there. His back was to her as he tossed a towel from his shoulder onto the floor and ran a hand through his damp hair that curled more scruffily than ever.

Olive's face burnt hot. She wanted to look away, and she should have looked away but then Enoch moved and she could see him very clearly in the mirror. Enoch was tall and reasonably thin but surprising more well-built than Olive would have thought. She was definitely staring now.

She turned on her heel, and then immediately kicked the doorframe accidentally and yelped. Her eyes flew back into the room to Enoch who had looked up and was staring wide eyed at her in the mirror.

"What the 'ell are you-"

"Oh m-I'm sorry!" Olive squeaked. She was mortified and seeing her own reflection in the mirror, she was even redder than she'd thought. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! The door was open, I didn't think-I did knock...I'll just..." She backed out of the room and leaned against the wall outside. She fixed her eyes on the floor instead, chewing her bottom lip nervously until she heard Enoch scoff and move around and then the music turned off a moment later and Enoch stuck his head out of the door.

"Ya not seriously that embarrassed?"

"The door was open, I'm so sorry..." She was rambling again, and repeating herself and she was very aware that Enoch was still not wearing a shirt.

"Oh for cryin' out loud... ya 'ere now ain't ya?" Enoch muttered and then disappeared, leaving the door open for her to come in.

Olive waited a few seconds before peeking around the door and hesitantly walking in, wringing her hands in front of her. Enoch had just nudged a drawer closed with his knee and was pulling a t-shirt emblazoned with, none too surprisingly, a skull, over his head. "What d'ya want, Olive?"

"I-uhm..." Great, well done, Olive, now you've completely made yourself look like an idiot. She scolded herself and forced herself to look up at Enoch who was staring at her like she was mad.

"Flustered much? Ya the same colour as ya 'air..."

"I was just in the neighbourhood." She shot him a glare after his comment, which she couldn't hold for long before her lips twitched a little. She could never glare at Enoch for long, whether she was actually upset about something he'd said or not.

"No ya weren't. Could call first next time."

"I know, I shouldn't have just come over, but I really did just want to go for a walk so I walked here." She sucked in a breath and tried to get past the minutes of sheer humiliation she'd just endured. "Want to join me?"

"...Outside? What, now?"

"That was the general idea."

"Uh...'ave you looked out there?" Enoch gestured to the window on the far wall with his thumb and Olive followed his gaze. In the few minutes she'd been inside the house it had begun to pour down with rain and she hadn't even noticed sound until right now.

"...Oh..."

She heard Enoch scoff behind her. "Ya not gonna walk in'at are ya? But no, even if it wasn't rainin'...wouldn't be that inclined ta come wiv." He had sunk into the chair at his desk when Olive turned around and was looking at her steadily.

"Did you get Hugh's message?"

Enoch's expression deadpanned again and he rolled his eyes. "I got it, an' no. Do I look like the picture of 'oliday cheer ta you?"

"More like a Grinch most of the time." Olive couldn't help grinning for a moment before looking down at her hands again. "It's not like it's formal and it's two days before Christmas because Fiona and Emma are both going away with their families the next day. More like Halloween."

"...'scuse my lack of excitement..." Enoch began dryly, "But I wasn't entirely thrilled wiv 'alloween so that ain't gonna make me wanna come."

"See? Grinch." Olive sighed and took a few hesitant steps closer to him, making Enoch have to lift his gaze a little to keep his eyes on hers. "But you don't have to be all proud and hide it all now. It'll be fun...you came ice skating."

"Yeah only 'cause'a you-" Enoch's hard expression faltered and Olive could immediately tell he hadn't quite meant to say that before he'd had the chance to drop his head into his hand and scowl about it to himself. "I swear...I thought the point'a 'olidays was so I could get away from everyone. Not be made ta socialise more'an ever."

There was always something behind Enoch's eyes so carefully guarded that let Olive know there was always so much more to her boyfriend that he didn't want anyone, not even her yet, to see. Boyfriend. Her boyfriend. They might have a relationship but that was far from meaning he would really open up with her. Enoch had come closer than ever the day he'd met her parents and it broke her heart to know that he was really genuinely sure that she would one day change her opinion of him. Enoch was a lot more insecure than his pride might lead everyone to believe. Olive could see that straight away every time he stopped himself from saying something that could have been considered sweet.

A roll of thunder rumbled suddenly overhead and broke Olive from her thoughts and whatever she had been opening her mouth to say.

"Ya can stick 'round if ya want."

Enoch caught her by surprise and she blinked and stared at him. "You don't mind?"

"And kick ya out in that rain? Mum'd kill me. An' I wouldn' do that anyway." He sighed and pushed up out of his chair to walk closer to her. She could still smell the soap on him. "I'm not promisin' ya won't be bored but...can watch somefin' or whateva if ya want."

Olive beamed. She wanted to kiss him. She always wanted to kiss him. She liked it when he wasn't expecting it and for a moment his whole face just looked the same as it had when they'd fallen over each other, completely taken aback. But Olive might be excitable but she still had some sensibilities not to behave like a besotted schoolgirl all the time.

"If you promise to come to the Christmas thing." She grinned and Enoch's face soured.

"What kinda answer is that? You'll be settin' yaself up for disappointment if you expect me ta promise that. I don' even care for Christmas."

"Oh fine." Olive gave up and huffed a strand of hair out from in front of her eyes which only fluttered back down again. "Don't come if you'll only be miserable."

"I'll only be miserable." Enoch replied again dryly but then his fingers were reaching up and pushing the troublesome strand of hair away from her eyes and Olive's breath caught when he touched her cheek lightly.

"You-You...don't seem miserable now." Olive muttered distractedly and then Enoch had leaned back a little to raise an eyebrow at her and she was kicking herself.

"Not entirely. But we weren't talkin' 'bout now, Olive."

But just thinking that made her all the more determined that one day she would get a smile out of him. He probably had a nice smile, it just took a bit of work to get to it.