Chapter 91: Evans New Start

Evan sat quietly in the back of Mrs. Faulkner’s minivan, staring out the window as the city lights passed by. He still couldn’t fully process everything that had happened. His parents were arrested. His punishment had gone way too far. And now, he was being taken in by people who actually cared about him.

Mrs. Faulkner kept glancing at him in the rearview mirror, concern evident on her face. “We’re almost home, Evan. How are you holding up?”

Evan sighed, shifting slightly in his seat. “I don’t know… it still doesn’t feel real.”

Jordan reached over and patted his shoulder. “It’s real, dude. You’re safe now.”

Tyler, who had been quiet most of the ride, finally spoke up. “And you won’t be alone. We’re here for you.”

Evan offered a small smile. It felt strange to be on the receiving end of kindness after everything.

Miss Harper, sitting in the passenger seat, turned back toward him. “We’re going to help you get through this, sweetheart. The first step is getting you settled in.”

They pulled into the Faulkners’ driveway, and Evan felt a mix of nerves and relief. He had been to their house before, but never like this—never as someone who needed them. As the van came to a stop, Jake and Alex were already at the front door waiting.

“Come on in,” Jake said with a reassuring smile. “We got a bed set up for you.”

Evan followed them inside, taking in the warm, inviting atmosphere. It felt nothing like home—his old home. This place felt… safe.

Mrs. Faulkner led him upstairs to a guest room. “You can stay here as long as you need,” she said softly. “And don’t worry, no more punishments. Just healing.”

Evan nodded, setting his bag down. “Thanks… for everything.”

Jordan crossed his arms. “Dude, you don’t have to thank us. You’re family now.”

Just then, Jordan’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and smirked. “Detective Singer just texted back. He said the officers were happy to help, and if you ever need anything, to let him know.”

Evan blinked, the words hitting him harder than he expected. He never really had a family before—not one that truly cared. But maybe… maybe that was changing.

Just as he was about to respond, a sharp cramp hit his stomach. His face paled as he realized the laxatives from earlier were still working their way through his system. His stomach churned violently, and before he could even move toward the bathroom, he knew it was too late.

Mrs. Faulkner immediately noticed his distress and gently placed a hand on his back. “It’s okay, Evan,” she said softly. “Let’s get you taken care of.”

Tears welled in Evan’s eyes as he looked away, ashamed. But Jordan, Tyler, and the others didn’t laugh or make fun of him. Instead, Jordan stepped forward and said, “Hey, man, we got you. No judgment. Let’s go.”

Miss Harper nodded. “This is just another step in healing, sweetheart.”

Jordan turned to Mrs. Faulkner and said, “I got Evan. How about you make him some real food? We’ll be right back.”

Mrs. Faulkner smiled warmly. “Sounds like a plan.”

Jordan picked Evan up gently, his voice filled with genuine concern. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up. And I’m sorry this went so far.”

Evan sniffled, leaning into Jordan slightly, appreciating the support. “Thanks…”

Jordan carried him down the hall to the bathroom, where Tyler had already set out fresh clothes and supplies. “Alright, man, let’s get you feeling better,” Tyler said, offering a reassuring grin.

After wiping him clean, Jordan asked, “Do you want a bath or a shower?”

Evan hesitated for a moment before whispering, “Shower.”

Jordan nodded and turned on the water, making sure it was the right temperature. “Take your time, dude. We’re not going anywhere.”

As the warm water ran over him, Evan finally let himself relax. Maybe, just maybe, he was finally somewhere he belonged.

Jordan waited outside the door, leaning against the wall. He wanted to give Evan space, but he also wanted him to know he wasn’t alone. After everything Evan had endured, he deserved to feel safe.

When Evan finally stepped out, wrapped in a towel and looking exhausted but relieved, Jordan smiled. “Feeling better?”

Evan nodded. “Yeah… a lot better.”

Jordan ruffled his damp hair. “Good. Now, let’s get you into some real clothes and get you some actual food. No more bottles, no more… anything else. Just normal, okay?”

Evan’s lips twitched into a real smile. “Okay.”

Jordan led Evan to his room, grabbing a set of comfortable clothes from the dresser. As Evan sat on the bed, he hesitated for a moment before looking up at Jordan.

"Hey… um, do you think you could put me in a diaper? Just in case?" Evan asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jordan didn’t react with surprise or judgment—just understanding. He nodded. “Of course, man. We’ve got plenty. And I’ll grab you some Pepto; it should help counteract the laxatives.”

Evan let out a small sigh of relief. It was embarrassing to ask, but after everything his body had been put through today, he didn’t want to take any chances. Jordan grabbed a diaper from the pack and helped Evan get situated, treating the whole thing like it was no big deal.

“There, all set,” Jordan said as he patted Evan’s shoulder. “Now, let’s go see if Mrs. Faulkner has some real food ready for you.”

Evan nodded, grateful for how effortlessly Jordan made everything feel normal. For the first time in a long time, he wasn’t scared of what came next.

As Evan and Jordan walked downstairs, the delicious aroma of home-cooked food filled the air. When they stepped into the dining room, Evan’s eyes widened in shock. The table was covered with a smorgasbord of actual food—real food.

There were mashed potatoes with gravy, roasted chicken, fresh green beans, warm dinner rolls, and even a plate of homemade mac and cheese. A pitcher of cold lemonade sat next to a tray of brownies for dessert. Mrs. Faulkner stood by the stove, adding one last dish to the spread, while Tyler, Jake, and Alex were already pulling out their chairs.

Evan just stood there, taking it all in. His meals at home had always been controlled, limited, or downright humiliating. But this? This was food made with care—food meant to be enjoyed, not just endured.

Mrs. Faulkner turned and smiled warmly. “Well, don’t just stand there, sweetheart. Come sit and eat.”

Evan swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded, moving to the table as Jordan guided him to a seat. As soon as he sat down, Mrs. Faulkner placed a full plate in front of him, and the sight alone nearly brought tears to his eyes.

“You don’t have to finish everything,” she said gently, “but I want you to eat until you feel satisfied, okay?”

Evan nodded, picking up his fork with slightly shaky hands. He took his first bite—warm, comforting mashed potatoes—and it was like nothing he had ever tasted before.

For the first time in as long as he could remember, he wasn’t being forced to eat something humiliating. He wasn’t being punished.

He was just… home.

Evan ate like a starving man, shoveling food into his mouth as if he hadn’t eaten in weeks—even though it had only been a day. The others watched in silence, letting him eat at his own pace, understanding just how much this meant to him.

Mrs. Faulkner sat beside him, her expression a mix of concern and relief. “Slow down, sweetheart. There’s plenty, and no one’s taking it away from you.”

Evan hesitated for a moment, his instincts screaming that if he didn’t eat fast enough, the food would be gone. But he forced himself to slow down, taking smaller bites, actually tasting the flavors.

Jordan handed him a glass of lemonade. “Here, drink something, too.”

Evan took it gratefully, the sweet, tangy flavor washing away the dry feeling in his throat.

Tyler chuckled. “Dude, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to set a world record for fastest dinner ever.”

Evan swallowed a bite of chicken and finally looked up, a little embarrassed. “Sorry. I guess I’m just not used to… this.”

Jake shook his head. “Don’t apologize, man. You eat as much as you need.”

Mrs. Faulkner reached over and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “And whenever you’re hungry, there will always be food for you here. You never have to worry about that again.”

Evan felt his chest tighten at those words. The kindness, the security—it was overwhelming. He nodded, unable to speak past the lump in his throat, and took another slow, steady bite.

For the first time in his life, he wasn’t just eating to survive. He was eating because he was safe.