The Genesis of Evangeline (The Lost Royals Saga Book 1)

by Rachel Jonas

Evie’s eyes nearly blazed a hole through the side of my face as she stared. Maddox’s colorful explanation had probably made her curious, which meant she was one of the few people on campus who hadn’t seen it yet.

  It would’ve been nice to have kept it that way.

  Not wanting to make a scene, I didn’t say a word as the small speaker of the phone Maddox held began to echo the screams that weren’t far from my memory. Without looking, I envisioned all the bodies running to get out of the way. Evie, however, watched with wide eyes.

  I stared at the table just as I heard the metal grill of the truck meet my right side, sounding more like it’d smashed into a tree than a human. When the video ended, Maddox made his way down the table to show others. I didn’t want to look at Evie because I honestly didn’t know what I’d find when I did.

  “Was that… was that real?” she asked, her voice going high.

  “Sweet, right?” Chris cut in; not that I had a response to give anyway. Yes, the footage was real, but no, I couldn’t explain it.

  He shifted in his seat and leaned forward to get a good look at Evie from around me. There was this thing he did when he wanted to hook up with a girl—licking his lips incessantly like a prowling hyena—and he was doing it now. The only thing that kept me from hitting him was reminding myself we’d been friends since kindergarten and doing so would probably mean his mom wouldn’t make me 7-Up cake anymore on my birthday.

  Couldn’t risk that.

  “I was pretty sure I was about to lose my best friend that night,” Chris added, “But, apparently, Nick here’s the Man of Steel.”

  My face felt hot and I was sure it was colored red to match. This wasn’t what I wanted to talk about.

  “I mean, was he hurt?” Evie asked, directing the question at Chris.

  He shook his head. “Not a scratch on him.”

  Evie’s mouth went slack as her jaw hung open. The second Chris got a word out to respond, the dismissal bell rang, which meant we only had a few minutes to get to class.

  The cafeteria cleared out quickly, but Evie and I took our time making an exit. She was in her own thoughts for a moment, but then turned to ask a question.

  “Has anything like that ever happened to you before?”

  I wasn’t sure what to make of that; wasn’t sure why she’d ask, but I didn’t have to think about my answer. “No. Never.”

  She went quiet again, going back to whatever she was mulling over in silence. This was why I hoped—as bad as this may sound—her lack of friends here might mean she’d never see the video. I actually believed the buzz would die down quickly enough and I’d be in the clear.

  Not so.

  “Did you go get checked out?” was what she asked next. “That collision was… intense.”

  I shook my head, knowing she was right about the impact. “I felt fine.”

  Her eyes were on me for a moment and I detected something behind the look. Concern.

  It made me smile. “Seriously. I’m okay.” I looked straight ahead, adding, “In fact, I’ve never felt better.”

  And that was the truth, possibly the most unbelievable part of all.

  “As long as you’re not hurt or anything.”

  I reassured her one last time as we reached her locker. I would’ve walked her to her next class, too, but I had to grab a book before the bell rang. And, unfortunately, having practice after school meant I wouldn’t be around to walk her home either. So, before losing the nerve, I made a suggestion; a desperate attempt to keep this new feeling from fading.

  “I can wait for you again in the morning if you’d like.”

  Her eyes shimmered in the light when she smiled. “I’d like.”

  This girl made me crazy, wild with so many feelings. I wasn’t used to being this open, but that’s what she did to me.

  We parted ways and I had to force myself not to look back. It was too soon for her to know how into her I was, but… it was true.

  I had it bad already.

  At my locker, I grabbed what I needed for my next class and, after shutting the metal door, I stepped left with plans to rush to fourth hour before Mr. Tambs could mark me tardy. However, I nearly steamrolled the thin, brown-haired girl planted in front of me. She must’ve been waiting there and I didn’t notice her until now. Her long hair and glasses hid some of her face, so it took a moment to recognize her.

  “Thank you,” she blurted awkwardly, fidgeting with the flat, silver ring on her thumb. “You probably don’t remember me, but… you saved my life Saturday.”

  Part of me wanted to walk away, leave her to stand there alone with the memory. But I didn’t. Yeah, I could be a dick sometimes, but, from the looks of it, it took a lot of courage for her to come speak.

  “Don’t mention it,” I replied, offering a half-smile before turning to walk away.

  “I keep going over it again and again,” she added, halting me. “As many ways as I spin it, as hard as I try to put the pieces together, as hard as I try to force myself to believe it makes sense… it doesn’t.”

  I didn’t turn, but I felt the tension of this conversation building right in the center of my chest. For the first time since it happened, it felt like someone finally had the same thoughts I did; someone finally acknowledged something was off.

  I still hadn’t decided if that was a good or a bad thing.

  “I wasn’t even supposed to be there that night. My cousin, Beth, made me go because she’s grounded from driving,” she rambled before catching herself. “But, either way, I wanted to say thank you. Name’s Roz.”

  In my peripheral, I saw a small hand extend toward me. Against my better judgment, I turned and shook it. “Nice meeting you.”

  She nodded and I found myself wondering if I’d ever seen her here before. It was easy to feel like no one existed outside your circle, so it was possible. Especially if she was in a lower grade, which I assumed she was based on what I saw. She was on the taller side, but her face was childlike.

  “Well… I’ve gotta get to class, so—” I turned dismissively, longing for the day I could put this all behind me, but a question flew my way, stopping me cold in my tracks.

  One I couldn’t pretend not to hear.

  One I knew this girl would never let go of.

  One I’ve been asking myself since that night, but had yet to find an answer.

  However, this time, it didn’t come from that still, small voice in the back of my mind. It came from the mouth of a wiry girl I’d just begun to walk away from. A stranger; someone I didn’t know or trust.

  It was only three words, but they were so heavy when they hit me.

  “What… are you?”

  The strange, unexplainable sense of being exposed hit me and my stomach dropped. There was an air of curiosity and determination woven into her words and I was sure of one thing and one thing only in that moment:

  Roz felt something.

  She knew there was more to this, just like I did, and she wouldn’t give up asking until she got an answer… whatever that answer might be.

  —

  Chapter Seven —

  Evie

  I could get used to this, being walked to my classes. Nick made it a point to do so every day this week. Unlike the first morning when I waited for him, he now waited for me. Always in the same spot; beside my porch with his elbow resting on the handrail. We took our time getting here. Rain or shine, it was all the same to us. No rush. Then, in between classes, he waited to walk me to the next. My stomach did a full acrobatic routine every time I stepped out into the hall and found him standing beside the lockers. He was growing on me.

  Fast.

  When I wasn’t with Dr. Cruz at lunch, I was seated beside Nick at his table. It seemed like his friends were starting to get used to me being around and I was learning names and personalities pretty quickly. Some even spoke to me when he wasn’t around, so school felt a little less lonely. I don’t think any of them really knew what to make of me, though; what to m
ake of us.

  …I wasn’t even sure to make of us.

  Nick and I were friends, yes, but was all of this still just part of his plan to make me feel welcome here? Or was he interested in… other ways? I wasn’t sure, but, until I figured it out, I enjoyed having so much of his attention.

  Especially seeing as how he didn’t seem to give it to many people.

  It didn’t matter to me, but I quickly realized he was kind of ‘the man’ around here. Enough dirty looks had floated my way from the other girls lately, so I got the hint. At this rate, they wouldn’t be jumping to befriend me anytime soon, but… I couldn’t have cared less. It was always stupid to hate a girl over something as lame as who she hung out with—as a friend or romantically—so I didn’t let it get to me. Besides, I’d never trade whatever this was with Nick in exchange for anyone’s approval.

  Standing inside the classroom, I watched him walk away, broad shoulders rolling beneath his blazer like stones. He only had about half a minute to make it to the other side of the building, but, apparently, I was worth the blemish on his attendance record.

  I went to sleep every night thinking about him, woke up smiling against my pillow, still thinking about him. No, I couldn’t control who occupied my dreams, but my waking thoughts were consumed by one.

  Nick.

  “Keep it up and these chicks are gonna run you off the edge of the falls,” came a whisper.

  I glanced left as a headful of blonde waves wisped through the air, turning away, but not before I caught the tail end of a smile. She and I hadn’t said two words to each other ever, but I did know her name—Beth—the one Dr. Cruz gave me until today to introduce myself to. Honestly, I put it off all this time because she didn’t have the friendliest disposition in the world.

  I know, I know… I had no room to talk about anyone’s anti-new-friends vibe, but I seriously hated the idea of putting myself out there. Granted, this scenario was slightly less nausea-inducing than the idea of approaching a guy, but I still wasn’t looking forward to it.

  Beth made her way to a seat in the back row where I was sure she always sat, although our spots weren’t assigned. Our latest reading assignment, The Great Gatsby, was placed on her desk, and then a notebook and ink pen as she readied herself for the bell to ring. I breathed deep. Knowing Nick would be waiting for me at the end of the hour, now was probably the best time to have a few words with this girl. That way, I could report back to Dr. Cruz and put this task behind me.

  So, still feeling kind of nervous, I closed the distance between Beth and I. She peered up with her cold, green gaze when I reached her desk.

  “It’s about time.” The raspy words and vague smile were fleeting as she shifted her eyes down again, skimming a page of the novel.

  My brow flinched at her greeting. “Excuse me?”

  Beth’s fingers looped around my wrist as the bell rang. My weight was yanked down into the seat beside her and I inhaled sharply at the display of strength. I knew she played on one of Seaton Prep’s sports teams—although I couldn’t recall which—but still. There was real power behind that grip. She wasn’t short, but was definitely shorter than me. And solid, compact like a bag of cement packed into a small frame similar to that of a gymnast, completely feminine.

  In short, I wouldn’t want to run into her in a dark alley.

  Her face was shaped kind of like a heart, broader across her forehead and narrowing into a sharp point at her chin. A pinched, upturned nose and defined cupid’s bow rounded out her bold features and I instantly classified her as being more beautiful than pretty. Pretty is soft and subtle, but Beth was more unique than anything.

  I eased the straps of my backpack off my shoulders and set it aside, accepting that, apparently, I had a new seat for the hour. At the front of the classroom, Mrs. Davis began her lecture. Beside me, Beth continued to whisper, but kept her posture and eyes focused straight ahead. I followed her lead so we wouldn’t get caught talking.

  “What happened to Monday?” she asked.

  My brow tensed because I didn’t quite understand the question. Sneaking a conversation during class usually worked best if both parties were clear on the discussion, eliminating the need for additional chatter.

  Beth didn’t wait for me to respond. “Dr. Cruz approached me about you Monday right before class,” she clarified. “Didn’t expect it to take you ‘til the end of the week to speak.”

  I didn’t know what to say. Admit that I was chicken? Admit that I, actually, only said something now because she initiated? No, I’d keep that part to myself.

  “Busy week.”

  She shrugged and left it at that. “Where you from?”

  “Chicago.”

  In my peripheral, I saw her nod. “Cool beans. Like it so far?”

  “Yeah.” That was actually less of a lie this week than it was the last.

  Another casual nod as she went to town on a piece of bright-green gum that showed every other second because she didn’t bother chewing with her mouth closed. “So, are you and Nick officially… ya know… a thing?”

  The brave question made me break from our routine of watching Mrs. Davis lecture, instead, turning to stare at Beth head on. This girl wasn’t one for mincing words. That was easy to see without more than a few sentences spoken between us.

  Apparently, she took note of my hesitancy to answer and smiled. It was softer this time, like she might’ve been aware of her tendency to come on a little strong.

  “I only ask because I’ve heard things,” she shared. “Well, that and because you were watching him from the door like an abandoned puppy.” The divot in her top lip disappeared when it stretched with a wide smile.

  I would have smiled back, but I was too curious about what she said. The part about things people were saying about me. “What’d you hear, exactly?”

  She chewed that gum like it was the last piece she’d ever have. “You know… things.”

  My eyes widened, waiting for her to elaborate. “Like…”

  Her gaze flitted toward the ceiling as if she didn’t understand why I cared so much. “People have just noticed you two hanging around each other a lot. That’s all. You know how girls can get gossipy when they can’t figure you out, making up their own stories to fill in the blanks. It’s no big deal,” she added.

  I agreed and didn’t press for more info.

  “Going to the game tonight?” she asked next. “It’s the first. Should be fun.”

  Truthfully, I hadn’t decided yet. Nick invited me during Wednesday morning’s walk to school and, while I was definitely interested in seeing him play, I hated the idea of sitting in the stands with all those strangers.

  “Not sure,” was all I could get out before Mrs. Davis cast a look my way as she posed a question about Gatsby’s ‘incorruptible dream’.

  “You should totally come,” Beth countered.

  I still didn’t confirm.

  “Well, I’ll save you a seat just in case. The other soccer players and I are all going together. That’s kind of how the teams do around here, support other auxiliaries during our respective off-seasons. Then the favor’s returned when it’s the next club’s turn to have games and meets. Keeps turnout high for all the events,” she added.

  This was the first hint of any real depth or comradery I’d seen within the student body here. It was kind of a thoughtful practice, I supposed. And I now knew which sport she played—soccer.

  I knew I needed to get out more and, plus, Nick had already invited me. I wavered back and forth for several seconds before finally caving. “Okay.”

  “Cool,” Beth said with a smile. “Starts at six and we usually sit as close to the top of the bleachers as possible to get away from the old people. They tend to get kind of irritated with all the noise we keep up,” she chuckled.

  This was exciting, the idea of finally getting out, doing something other than sitting up under my parents watching In the Heat of the Night reruns.

  “Okay, I�
��ll look for you.”

  Beth nodded and paused to jot down a note when Mrs. Davis gave a hint toward a question she’d be adding to our quiz next week. “You’re going to the falls Saturday, too, right?”

  I smiled to myself, remembering how that started out just being Nick and I, but it quickly snowballed when Lucas overheard us and blurted it out loud in front of the others. While, I was happy to go, just the two of us, a small part of me was relieved we’d have company. It took some of the pressure off. I wouldn’t be the only one for him to talk to, the only one to make the afternoon interesting.

  “Yep, I’ll be there,” I answered.

  “You bringing anything to add to the menu? I’m thinking I’ll grab a couple bags of ice to throw in the cooler. That should be good enough.”

  My eyes found her again. “Menu?”

  She seemed confused by my question. “You didn’t see the note that went around during lunch today?” The return of my blank expression let Beth know I had no clue what she was talking about. “Chris passed a note around the table, reminding us Nick’s birthday is tomorrow. Eighteen isn’t as big a deal as turning twenty around here, but we figured we’d make it special anyway.”

  My thoughts were split between wondering what the heck I’d contribute and what she said about turning twenty being a big deal ‘around here’, assuming she meant to say twenty-one. Twenty-one, the threshold into true adulthood, was a big deal everywhere.

  I quickly dismissed the thought when it hit me that I’d not only need to bring some kind of food to add to whatever everyone else was bringing, but I couldn’t show up without a gift. Nothing crazy, considering we’d just met and were only friends, but I had to think of something.

  “Thanks for letting me know,” I said quietly. “I must have missed the memo.” I left out that I most likely had no clue what was going on because my lunches weren’t always spent in the lunchroom.

  “No worries.” Beth leaned in a bit closer and I did the same. “And don’t feel weird about Cruz kind of… engineering this thing between you and me,” she said in an amused tone, adding, “Eventually, we would’ve gotten around to being friends on our own anyway.”