by Karla Luna
Why was Ethan at school that day that we followed, or pretty much stalked, Davne?
Who pulled the fire alarm?
What the hell was Davne planning?
Dammit, I certainly have a lot of stuff to figure out. And I originally didn’t plan on going out today but I guess I’m too much of a nice guy. I felt bad for ditching Joss at that party. You know, where I pretty much poured out my whole heart to Evelyn? Yeah, that one!
But I really needed to tell Joss something important. I couldn’t keep pretending anymore.
• Evelyn •
I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen, seeing two of my favorite guys sitting peacefully on the breakfast counter.
Playing a checkers game…
Well, that’s weird. They hardly ever played that. They seemed to be seriously concentrating on it though. Well, Ian was concentrating… while Darrel was just waiting for him to make his move, the corner of his lips slightly tilting up into a smug little smile.
I bet Ian was sweating his balls off. When he finally moved one of his checker pieces, Darrel immediately made his move, and beat him right away.
“Dammit!” Ian yelled as he threw the checkers board off the counter.
Darrel just sighed and looked at the pieces sprawled all over the floor. “I’m not helping you this time.”
“How the hell do you keep beating me at this?”
I pressed my lips together as I watched Ian stand up and grabbed on to his brown hair in frustration. “This… this is a simple game and you’re… you can barely button your pants up right, bro!”
“Yeah, I can,” Darrel defended himself.
“Dude, zip your pants up.” Ian scowled and pointed down at Darrel’s jeans. But he didn’t seem to give a fuck as he kept eye contact with Ian.
“Who’s to say I won’t need them later.”
“Gross, don’t even…”
“Um… hey guys,” I said as normally as I could, walking deeper into the kitchen as they turned to look at me. Darrel’s face went blank and I think he also went a little pale, too. But I just gave him a sweet smile and went over to the cabinets, starting to hum a little.
Everything is awesome. Food is awesome. Food, food, food.
“Hi, Dare.” I forgot how much I used to call him that. It never really meant anything. I just think it fit him perfectly, considering his personality – a strange, weird kid who was willing to take any dare given to him.
Okay, maybe not any dare, but he sure liked a challenge.
“I feel like you’re still plotting revenge on me for that day I lied about the chicken. I’m pretty sure you would’ve killed me while I was asleep, but you haven’t done that yet.”
“Psh, no. Don’t be silly! You guys left for ice cream just because of that? Just because you thought I’d murder you?” I replied to Darrel with a small pout. But I knew there was more to them leaving like that – and keeping Ian here. Zavier could lie, but he seemed to be acting very sweet that I couldn’t help but believe him.
I mean, he kissed my hand, too! Come on!
It may have been stupid, but I actually kissed the hand he had kissed, when he wasn’t looking. Dammit, I felt ridiculous.
But he didn’t give away any clues, which means he wasn’t nervous or anything, as to where they left so I decided to just let it be – for now.
“Yes, actually. Because we know E-jo doesn’t like it when people lie about food.”
“Don’t call me that!”
“You know I only ever called you that whenever you called me Dare.”
“But Dare is cool.”
“So is E-jo, E-jo.”
I put my hand up to stop him, and he just gave me a sweet toothy grin. “Anyways… where’s Zavier? I got this Superman shirt for myself just for him, even though I’m team Batman. But who’s to say I can’t like both right?” I shrugged and put some peanuts I had found in my mouth.
“He’s just hanging out with Miss I-Got-Punched-By-A-Pole,” Ian said with a laugh. “I’m sure her eye hasn’t even healed yet… but, whatever.”
That made me stop for a bit and take his words in again.
Wait… he… he went out on a date? After telling me that he loves me?
Then again, I haven’t even told him my secret and days have passed.
That’s it!
Dropping the peanuts, I angrily grabbed my bike keys and started to walk out the door. But Ian quickly ran to me, and Darrel practically jumped over the counter to block the door so I couldn’t get out.
“Whoa, whoa! We aren’t gonna kill anybody, are we?” Darrel asked, spreading his arms wide.
“No, of course not.” Yet.
“Eve.” Ian raised an eyebrow at me. “That look means something. You don’t just like the nerd boy and that much is obvious to anyone.”
“I have to go.”
Darrel was still blocking the door and I glared up at him.
“Don’t make me… Hey!”
He grabbed my wrists and then my hands, which were balled into tight fists. He smoothed them down with his thumb and that helped me calm down a little bit. He always managed to do that. “He said it wasn’t a date. He’s just going to talk to her. We’ll let you go because… come on, we can’t stop you… unless…”
“Don’t even think about it.”
“Alright, I’m not thinkin’ about it,” he said. “But really, just calm down. Do what you need to do, just… no trouble. Alright, not too much trouble. You’re E-jo, so you’re bound to… Okay, I’ll stop talking now. You can go, I’m deeply sorry.”
At that, he let my hands go and walked over to Ian as he was scratching his head. I turned to give him a little smile and a nod. That nickname was actually pretty cute. But I wasn’t going to tell him that…just because…
“Good boy doesn’t break the speed limit, but you sure do,” Ian said, looking at Darrel and then nodding over to the door. “Nerd boy is at The Grill X. Go get him.”
The Grill X wasn’t my type of hangout. Sure, it may have some good food and a bar even (which was heavenly). But, to be honest, it was the type of people that worked and went there that I wasn’t really too fond of.
Of course, I’m sure Barbie doll actually chose this place for them. Well, Miss-I-Got-Punched-By-A-Pole-Named-Evelyn, you’re going to see now who Zavier really wants.
I wasn’t going to continue moping about not having the guy I love… because I was going to get him.
Before entering the place, I made sure to take a small peek inside. There were some motorcycle gang members by the bar, some jocks by the pool table, some girls with barely any clothes on.
Come on, where was my sexy nerd?
“Zavier!”
I blinked and turned at the sound that seemed like the perfect imitation of a dying walrus.
Joss was waving over at Zavier, who was walking toward her, looking a little nervous. He pushed his glasses up and gave her a small smile, making me growl deep in my throat at how she seemed to be checking him out. Checking my man out.
Realizing something, I looked at what I was wearing. It was a little after noon, and I did change into something more… well, Evelyn Jo-like. I was wearing a tank top, which was showing plenty of cleavage. And what could look sexier on my legs than the tight leather pants I had on? My hair was loose and a bit crazy, but I could easily flip it over my back. I then fixed my leather jacket, sported a sexy grin, and started to walk toward Zavier and Joss’ table with confidence, holding my head high.
They were just talking. But on my way to the table, a few guys decided to check me out and give out those typical whistles and howls. The girls most likely were glaring at me, possibly because I wasn’t covering up as much as they were. But I wasn’t here for anyone else but my good boy.
And when he heard the guys calling out to me with their howls, he looked up and we immediately made eye contact. His smile faded a bit as he looked me over. When he looked back up at me, he clenched his jaw and his ears turned a
bit red.
I already got him right where I wanted him.
People’s eyes were still on me as I reached the small, high table Zavier and Joss had occupied, which was right smack in the middle and in front of the bar. I wanted to see Joss’ reaction as I entered. And boy did it make me feel positively giddy when I first saw it.
She was glaring at me, clenching her fists. If she could, I bet she would be breathing fire, judging from the fury in her eyes. But all I did was continue sporting my sexy grin as I got to Zavier, who was still looking at me in admiration and surprise and… was that lust?!
Wow! But I must be wrong about that one – even though I badly wish it were true.
I couldn’t find another seat, and the chairs were also too high, so I sadly couldn’t sit on Zavier’s lap this time – like I did that time when Joss took my seat at school. So, all I did was turn around and nudged the first person I saw, which was a guy about our age having a laugh with his friends.
He turned to me and I gave him a sweet smile, making him smile shyly and turn to his friends, as if he was proud of this achievement. But after a few seconds, I stopped smiling and said, “Move,” – which caused him to immediately get up and hide behind one of his friends.
I just smiled, grabbed the chair that was once occupied, and brought it to the table. I sat very, very close to Zavier, and he didn’t inch away. He just covered his mouth, as if to himself from saying anything to me.
“Hi, Zavier,” I said, as I kissed his cheek for quite a long time, making him blush and cover his whole face right afterward. I took that chance to wink at Joss, who seemed really angry that I almost laughed out loud. But I kept my cool. “Jocey, how’s the preacher’s daughter doing? Oh sweetie, did you run into a pole again or something? Well, it happens to us all, doesn’t it? Just ask Dre Parker.”
She stayed quiet and seemed to be shaking, but Zavier didn’t notice anything as he took his hands away from his face and gave us a smile that seemed to look rather strained.
“All right. Well, things just got extremely awkward,” he said more to himself than to us. “Um, do you guys want anything to drink?” he asked in a seemingly calm voice.
“Coke.”
“Some beer,” I said, right when Barbie doll said ‘Coke’, making me inwardly laugh.
Zavier probably felt pretty uncomfortable with not only the mention of beer, but also of me being there to ruin whatever it was that he was about to do with this plastic piece of garbage.
“Okay, I’ll be right back with two Cokes,” he said as he started getting up, but I laughed and held my finger up.
“Zavier, that’s not what I…”
“It’s illegal and you know it. So, coke. You guys just talk and be nice until I get back.” The being nice part was obviously for my benefit. But clearly, he didn’t know that Barbie needed the warning as well. Because once he was gone, Joss began to speak her mind with that nice little attitude of hers.
Gosh, this girl.
“All right. Listen here, bitch.”
Whoa, whoa… Straightforward much? I like this. I really do.
But I just pretended I didn’t hear her and scratched the side of my head a little with a chuckle. “Um, what did you just call me?”
“You heard me, bitch. Stay away from him.”
Great, now we’re going to have that in the story.
I smiled and chuckled a little as I placed my hands under my chin, giving her my most innocent look. “And uh, why would I listen to you? Zavier’s my friend,”… though I’m hoping he won’t be for long…“and I’m not just gonna listen to some skank like you who just can’t take a hint.”
He thinks she’s such a goody good girl, huh? Well, my teddy bear, how wrong you are.
“I can just say you punched me right now, and my… won’t that break his poor little heart.”
“How the hell would that break his heart? It would probably break his diaphragm from laughing so hard. Ha. Ha. Ha.”
She continued to glare at me as I continued to smirk at her.
It was just two Cokes, what was taking him so long? This bitch made me want to swear in many different languages… if only I knew them.
“He likes me. And may I remind you, he said I was his girlfriend. Zavier liking some bad girl with a sad little story about her sad little stupid life. He’s mine, and you two will never end up together as long as I’m…”
“Whoops.”
Just like the first time, I cut her words off by punching her. But now, my fist went straight to her nose, causing her to gasp and cry out. I knew I shouldn’t have done it. But she just made me so mad and she…
She did this on purpose. Oh, bloody hell!
“What happened!?”
I looked up to find Zavier with two glasses of Coke, his eyebrows knitted with worry. He put the glasses down on the table and immediately went over to Bleeding Joss.
She grabbed his arms and pulled him closer to her as if I had frightened her. Zavier put his arms around her to soothe her.
“I… she just came over and punched me in the face for no reason, Zavier.”
Zavier looked at me as if to say ‘what the actual fuck?’ but he spoke in his usual calm tone – although this one held disappointment as well. “Why would you do that?”
“I…”
Zavier turned back to Joss once she began speaking again. “I need some ice, please… and napkins. Oh God, I’m bleeding so much.” She reached for napkins and tilted her head up while Zavier helped her out.
I saw the way he looked at her. And I obviously saw the way he looked at me. I didn’t like either of them one bit.
“Uhmm… Evelyn, I think you should just leave.”
I cringed at how serious and angry he sounded. His voice was still low, so as not to attract other people nearby. But people were already staring anyway.
“But, Zavier…”
“Just go,” he hissed through clenched teeth. He couldn’t even make eye contact and that made me feel even worse. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to stay here any longer.”
I wanted to stay yet I listened to him, not wanting to make him any angrier with me.
But before leaving, I turned back to them and saw Joss smiling up at Zavier – and then looking at me with a glare as she reached for his soft hand.
The little Bitch Barbie doll sure knew how to act.
I hate her.
I slammed the front door closed and immediately went to the kitchen. I saw a yellow note in horrible handwriting and picked it up with a frown.
Went out for a bit, baby girl. Stormy took a taxi and got a late shift so you and nerd boy can be alone to, you know… GET SOME.
Anyways see ya later.
-Ian.
There was another note on the back.
Hi! -Darrel.
I huffed and put the note in the garbage bin before going to the fridge and grabbing some pie Stormy had made the other day – because food helped with anything, especially in depressing situations.
Huh? Where were all the knives though? I couldn’t find any and I swear they all used to be here.
Then, it’s a good thing I carry my pocketknife with me at all times. No one knew that, but everyone in our group basically did it. You never know what could happen. And it was clean, so there would be no bloodstains on my food. That would be disgusting.
I sure wish I cut that plastic Barbie doll open with this instead. But that also would’ve been way too much.
At least I should wait until no one’s around, you know? Way too many witnesses back there.
I hopped on top of the counter after getting my big piece of pie and ate it in silence. I hated the silence, but at the moment, it was my only friend. Honestly, I hardly ever felt this blue. But I felt sadder that Zavier was mad at me, than angry that Barbie doll was with him.
The plan clearly hadn’t gone as planned. I thought I could control myself but… her nose was there… and I had perfect angle and my fist needed som
e exercise. Come on now, I just couldn’t miss the chance!
Sighing deeply, I lay down on the counter for a few minutes after I was done eating. I just didn’t want to move or go anywhere else. I was done for today, and most likely tomorrow – and the day after that, too.
I was half asleep when I heard the front door jiggle open.
I got up so fast that I fell to the ground with a squeal. But I immediately got up and checked every bone in my body to see if anything was broken. I breathed out in relief but then quickly went to hide on the side of the fridge.
I held my breath when I saw Zavier coming inside with his hair in its usual mess. He put his keys down and then went around the counter. I tried my best to keep hiding, but I knew he saw me as he placed the palms of his hands on the counter.
“I know you’re hiding,” he said, hanging his head low.
A whimper almost escaped my lips as I tried to speak. “Zavier… I’m so sorry…”
Apologizing, for me, was rather hard – though when it came to Zavier, it felt natural and normal. He did these things to me and I couldn’t even express it or explain it well enough for someone to actually understand.
He was silent and that made me assume that he was still angry with me. I couldn’t see his face, only his nose and his glasses. And I badly wanted to go over there and scream everything that was on my mind at him. But it wasn’t so easy for me.
“Zavier, please…”
“Why did you do it? I was there to tell her something important and you just… Why did you do it?” At that, he finally turned to look at me and I saw that he wasn’t angry with me anymore. He was just… well, he seemed pretty broken down and confused.
I held on to the fridge and looked away from his adorable and sad brown eyes. “I… I just got jealous, I guess.” And I wasn’t lying about that one. Zavier giving his full attention to another girl like that? Well, it honestly hurt – especially since it was someone who would probably end up hurting him in the end.
I wanted to be the only one he looked at. I wanted to be the only one he hugged, touched, kissed, cherished...
