"Look who decided to come back to planet earth"
I groaned and turned my back to Ivory who's been trying to wake me up for the last ten minutes but nothing could make me budge. It was Monday morning and even though I wasn't tired, I just didn't feel like going to school. Friday's events were so mentally draining that I wished I could just lock myself in my room for the next, I don't know month?
"If she's not up in two minutes I'm leaving without you" Maya said from behind Ivory and I could hear her impatiently tapping her foot on the floor.
"Fine, fine, I'm up" I said, pulling the covers off me and reluctantly getting up. I left the room to get dressed and ran to the bathroom, Ivory and Maya following me close behind.
"You wanna explain why you look like a train wreck?" Ivory chuckled, desperately trying to fix my hair as I was walking towards my fridge. "Seriously, girl you look a mess" Maya agreed. I rolled my eyes and shook my head, grabbing my banana.
"Ooh, Evelyn is eating a banana" Ivory played with her hair trying to be sexual. "Take notes Maya, she's skilled" she laughed before getting hit on the head with a book.
I only chuckled, sitting back and watching them banter about Maya and her none-existing love life while I ate my now sexualized breakfast. Friday's events haven't left my mind, in spite of my attempts. Aiden and I never got to talk about the scene I had witnessed outside that party and I knew he would avoid talking to me about it at all costs.
I wanted to believe him, I really did, but Cole was my brother and his side of the story didn't really match Aiden's. But then again Cole didn't seem too innocent. How did he know all that stuff? He left for college not too long after Aiden had left the town so how is it that he knows everything about his...activities?
I knew that Aiden had been close to, well, not the best people you could come across, meaning he had probably done some, bad things? I thought that as long as these things happened so that he could get his life back and protect his loved ones it was, okay? Well, not okay but it was what helped me sleep at night. In my mind his actions were a result of threats and fear and he had no intention in doing them if there wasn't a reason. But Cole's words kept creeping back into my brain, causing me to start thinking otherwise.
''He's not a good person, Evelyn. Not even close. He's done shit you can't even imagine and you still chose to go with him."
''I'm not like him. I'm not that sick"
And It's not just Cole that makes me suspicious. Some nights before I bumped into Aiden at Jagger's party, I had a nightmare. I called someone over to talk about it and our talk really helped me, but I still was feeling uneasy. So, I went on a walk, it was early and the sun was on starting to come up. I ended up at the park, and sat at the swing until someone, a guy around my age came an sat in the swing next to mine. He got to talking to me, saying he remembered me from primary school. He had a weird name, I can't seem to remember it, but it was familiar, he looked familiar too. We spoke for a while, it was nice talking to someone I didn't know. At some point we got to talking about our friends and he even talked to me about his love life. I felt comfortable with him, so I told him about Aiden. Not everything, I just mentioned that a really close friend of mine had left the town some years ago. The minute I told him his name, he freezed, got up and ran away.
I wanted to ask Aiden about it, I wanted to speak with him and thinking about it now I probably should've asked him when he was still in my room but I couldn't. I'm trying to look at him the way I used to, I really am, but knowing the things I know now, I just don't feel the same comfort I used to. I don't feel like I trust him the way I used to anymore.
During my brainstorm, I had finished my breakfast and me and the girls were walking towards Ivory's car, a gift from Daddy dearest. Ivory doesn't seem to like her dad, from what I know she's not even in touch with him, but he keeps sending her expensive presents to try and fix their relationship.
Walking out my house I had looked at towards Aiden's house, trying to find any signs that he's still here and hadn't disappeared again. I had heard the sounds of coffee being made and Catherine's voice could be heard. For one moment it seemed to me like this was a usual morning and Aiden and I were going to go to school together.
Did he even go to school anymore? Had he dropped out when he left? Does he want to go back? Is he going to college? What is his mom saying about all this? Where is his dad?
I need to stop.
The ride to school was the usual, Ivory played her music and jammed, Maya expressed her hatred for loud music and looked terrified as Ivory paid minimal attention to the road, and I just stared at my phone, paying equally as minimal attention to them.
I felt bad for keeping my friends in the dark about Friday's events, but I was pretty sure I didn't have much of a say in the matter.
~~
School was boring as usual and the first periods passed slower than usual. My coping mechanism of filling my books with doodles didn't do much today, but it helped me temporarily relax a little.
At lunch time, me and the girls walked towards the cafeteria, moving to our usual table, when we spotted a much busier and buzzier table across the room. Bailey, Jagger, Parker and Noah were playing around with each other, making much more noise than you'd expect for any normal person on a Monday morning.
They sure aren't normal.
"Girls, over here!" Bailey got up to wave at us. "Come on, let's go sit with them" Ivory told us, grabbing both our hands and pulling us towards their table. Truth to be told, I didn't want to have to face Jagger right now. His sour attitude towards me at that party hasn't slipped my mind, and I'm afraid things are going to be awkward between us if I go over there.
Reluctantly I walked towards their table, Ivory letting go of my hand to greet everyone and Maya looking equally as unwilling to be there as I was.
"Wazzup Hayes" Noah got up, slapping me playfully on the shoulder before hugging me, squeezing like a face hugger, making me unable to breathe. "Good to see ya" he said, finally letting go of me, as I took a deep breath. "Good to see you too, Noah" I said and gave him a smile.
Parker also stood to hug me, asking how I was, before asking if I had gotten any sleep because "I look like the dead bride" which honestly I don't know I should take as a compliment or not, I mean the dead bride's pretty cool.
Bailey went off on me for not answering her calls and said she wanted to talk to me later, something I'm not looking forward to.
Jagger looked down, not turning to greet me. For my bad luck, Bailey made me sit next to him, making things between us even more awkward. I didn't eat at all, and so did everyone else on the table- except for Noah who of course chewed down on his food as if his life depended on it.
There was a heavy atmosphere around us, in spite Ivory's tries to start some casual chit chat. Some time passed and the girls ended up talking about anything and everything, Noah and Parker were also talking about how good Friday's party was, while I just looked down at my shoes, avoiding looking around.
Jagger sat next to me still, and I heard him clear his throat before turning to look at me, his voice coming out low "How, uh, how are you doing?" he asked me, not quite looking at my face. "I'm alright" I replied, turning to look at my shoes again to avoid speaking to him any further.
"Listen, I know I was an asshole to you on Friday but I just wasn't expecting he'd bring you there" he said, his tone apologetic. "Was there a problem with me being there?" I asked, suddenly getting defensive. "You know I didn't mean it that way, I just don't think it's a good idea for you guys to be hanging out"
I turned to look at him. Not this again. "Are you serious? You don't think it's a good idea for two friends to hang out? We're catching up with each other, we haven't been together in so long". We were now basically whispering at each other, not wanting to bring this topic back to the others. "There's nothing to catch up to Evelyn, you seriously have to drop it" he said, his tone getting serious now, instead of apologetic. "I'm not dropping anything. Aiden's life was in danger and I deserve to know why I lost my friend" I spoke, my tone matching his. I wasn't planning on talking about this anymore today, but here we are now. "This isn't about you, let him be, It's enough that he's back"
"What are you two bantering about over there" Ivory playfully said, snapping us out of it. "Oh, us? Well, Jagger and I were talking about how it's time we all did something together. Like get together at someone's house or something. All of us" I spoke, my words laced with sarcasm.
"That's a great idea, y'all! We definitely should!" Ivory shrieked in excitement. To be honest I didn't really like the idea of all of us in a room somewhere and mostly did it to get back at Jagger and show him things can in fact be normal with us. Thinking about it now, maybe wasn't such a bad idea, spending time all together again. I stopped hanging out with them like I used to and our little 'gang' grew apart as time went by. It's not like we needed Aiden to be together, but we were all so shaken by his sudden disappearance that being with each other just made us feel his absence even more.
~~
The rest of the day went by pretty quickly, and I tried with everything I had to avoid having that talk with Bailey. I could tell that she, along with Jagger wasn't really fond of my attempts to revive mine and Aiden's friendship and I really didn't want to hear it right now.
I left school as quickly as I possibly could and walked home, falling on the couch like a big watermelon. My mum is probably on her way to pick up my brother from school and Cole is... well I don't know where he is, but he's a big boy he'll be fine.
As I reached the fridge and examined its contents carefully, to figure out what to eat, my phone went off, I had a text.
Mum:
I'll be late, go pick up your brother.
I sighed, guess food had to wait. Yes, stomach I know, it pains me too. I grabbed my phone and my keys from the table and started walking towards Jason's school.
I got there 20 minutes late, his school, like mine wasn't too close to our home. He was waiting, sitting on a bench outside of his school, a woman sitting next to him. I stepped closer warily, who Is this woman and why is she sitting next to my brother?
"Eve!" Jason greeted me when I got close enough, the woman next to him turning to look at me. That's when I realized... "Catherine!" I ran to her as she waited for me with open arms, greeting me with a hug I didn't know I needed.
"Hi there, sweet girl" her soothing voice rang in my ears, making me hug her tighter. The nickname she would use on me, warming my heart. "Look at you, all grown up, you've turned into such a gorgeous woman. How long has it been? How have you been?" she pulled back, holding my hands now.
"Thank you, yes, it's been a while. Three years now maybe a little more. I'm alright, mum's doing good too. And Cole, he's doing so good with his studies."
"That's lovely, honey, but I asked about you. Tell me, how's school going? Have you decided what you want to study yet?"
The next half an hour passed with us talking, catching up on each other. Well, mostly her catching up on me. I already knew what she had been up to from her son's descriptions but I didn't bring up any of that, obviously. She was genuinely interested in hearing about me and I felt so grateful to have her back in my life. Catherine is such a loving, caring woman, I always adored her as she cared for me more than my own mother did. She offered to give us a ride home, our houses were next to each other so it was the same thing for her.
"I offered to bring this little man home but he told me-"
"- mama says I mustn't leave the school with anyone unless she knows about it, so I didn't want to leave. What if she came to get me and didn't find me there?" Jason finished for her, giving me a toothy smile. But she wasn't going to come J. "Why didn't she come, Eve?" he asked me. "Oh, uh, mum is busy at work, they kept her a little longer today." I told him, in the back of my mind knowing she most likely wasn't at work, even if that's what she preferred to tell me.
"So you guys will be home all alone?" Catherine asked, her eyes focused on the road. "Yes, but I mean it's not a big deal, it happens quite often. Plus Cole will be back soon... I think" I muttered that last part, remembering I had no idea where either mum or Cole were.
"Work stuff is weird, they could have her there for hours. I'm all alone and food's ready, I think it would be a good idea to spend some time together until your mum's home. I don't go to work until 7 today, I have to fill up my schedule somehow."
"Miss Catherine, what are you having for lunch?" Jason asked from the back seat, his mind instantly going to the food. That's my blood for sure.
"Mac and cheese Jay" Catherine replied, a grin on her face.
"Can we go Eve? Can we please go?" This little man.
"I think you guys should come. Oh I forgot! Aiden will be back from training soon, he'd love to see you, Evelyn! He hasn't stopped talking about how much he's missed you since we got here."
"Has he?" I asked, my a warm feeling gathering inside me.
"He sure has" she smiled at me and parked the car.
"Alright, I guess we could stay for a while.
~~
"Lunch was amazing, thank you so much" I thanked Catherine after finishing up with my plate. She sure knew how to cook, and we hadn't had home made food in a while giving I didn't know how to cook and mom wasn't around to make anything.
Jason was sitting on his chair, his hands rubbing his full stomach, a satisfied grin on his little face.
Catherine put the plates on the sink, and I helped her clean the table. Then I remembered... "Um, Catherine?" I called for her. "Yes, dear. Everything okay?" she asked seeing me troubled. I wanted to ask about so much, but I knew it wasn't the right place or time and I wasn't sure if she'd feel comfortable with me being involved with this story. "Uh, what kind of training is Aiden doing?"
"Boxing". I heard a voice behind me answer for her. "Aiden, you're... home. I invited Evelyn and Jason to eat with us, well me, since they were home alone. Are you hungry, baby?"
Aiden dropped his gym bag and eyed me up and down, his stare initially cold. Ouch. He then turned his attention to Jason "Yeah, I can see you ate. I think someone here ate more than he could handle, am I right little man?" his lips turned into a small smile, barely noticeable.
His hair was wet and I couldn't tell if that was because of water or sweat. He took off his jacket, revealing his muscular arms. He was wearing a black t-shirt, grey sweatpants and of course, a pair of dirty black converse.
Jason let out a giggle with a toothy grin "Yuup". Aiden went over and ruffled his hair, making him groan. "You're ruining my hairstyle". Aiden just laughed.
I looked at them both and smiled, catching his attention. He turned to look at me, our eyes locking for a brief second, before he walked away. "I stink, I'll go take a shower."
I looked down, sad and disappointed that he barely even acknowledged my presence. But then I got an idea.
"Aiden, wait!"
He stopped dead in his tracks, turning to look at me slowly. "I want to ask you something." He looked at me warily, frowning. "This Friday, me and the guys are having a little get together. 8pm, my place. Wanna come?" I asked him, resting my hands on the counter.
"Okay, but I'm helping you organize. I'll be there at 5." He said, his eyes pointing away, as if trying to tell me something.
"Isn't 5 too early?"
He clenched his jaw and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. What did I do? I frowned and looked around... oh!
"I-I mean, 5 is great" I tried to save my little mess-up, his mum shaking her head and smiling, looking at us.
He nodded his head, smirking. "See you then."
***
Put down the torches and the spears, i'm back. *get it, cause the book's called- okay i'll stop*
I hope everyone is doing well during this oh so lovely quarantine, hopefully you guys are all healthy and not going crazy like i am :))
I finally got rid of my very pleasant writers-block and decided to change pretty much everything i had planned for this book oopsie. I have a plan i swear.
Anyway, now that i have plenty of free time in my hands i decided to focus on writing and bettering this little book. I'm actually really excited, i can't wait for you guys to see what i have in store for you :)
Till next time, don't forget to drop a comment, like and save this in your library so you get notified next time i upload.
toodles <3