8

Evan's POV:

"Good morning to you..." Eli grumbles from beside me.

I roll onto my back, still wrapped up in his bedsheets. "Shit. Good morning." I mutter.

He wraps his hands around my waist and presses his lips against my neck, but in all honesty I have no interest. I barely had interest last night... the only reason I slept with him was because Lexi's stupid girlfriend put me in the mood.

"Mm- I can't. My head is pounding." I explain, pushing him away from my naked body. "I need to go get my car and get home."

He sighs, but eventually nods and offers to give me a ride back to Lexi and Mia's apartment complex to retrieve my car.

Once I'm in the privacy of my own vehicle, I sigh hard and shove my hands through my messy hair.

Going out with Mia and Lexi was supposed to be a relaxing, fun girls night. What it turned into was anything but that.

I haven't been with a girl since I was with Lexi. That's mainly because I'm more sexually attracted to men... and it's more socially acceptable. But being kissed by Mia last night brought up a whole lot of feelings and thoughts that I thought I had drowned out forever.

Lexi. Lexi. Lexi.

As hard as I try, I will never be able to forget what we had five years ago. Those thoughts and feelings are burned into my mind until I die, and part of me is grateful for it. I have yet to be touched in the way that Lexi touched me since, and I've yet to feel anything that comes close to how she made me feel. It was more than just a sexual feeling.

I miss many things about my life five years ago, but the short period of time I spent with Lexi in my bed and in my heart takes the cake. That period was the most emotionally-fulfilling time in my life thus far.

* * *

Lexi's POV:

Monday

I walk into the school later than usual, hustling to get to my classroom.

While I stand at the door fighting with the lock, I overhear part of Evan's conversation from the room across the hall.

"Fine, we can take it to court if you want to make this hard, Scott. I'm not asking you for anything unreasonable. I just want my kids! I have a right to them." Her voice is angry, but determined.

Hearing her talk about her kids makes my heart ache a bit, especially knowing that the reason she doesn't have them with her is because she chose to go to bed with me.

That part alone confuses me... I was not a minor at the time we first slept together? The only thing that happened between Evan and I before I turned eighteen was one little kiss! The good stuff happened after my birthday...

I hear her chair shift and it makes me jump, dropping my keys. I quickly pick them up and unlock my door, being stopped by Evan's voice before I can enter.

"You're running behind this morning." She sighs, leaning against her doorframe in a pencil skirt and a black top, her blonde hair laying messily over her shoulders.

"Just a little." I shrug.

I hear the grin in her voice, "late night swinging with your girlfriend or something?"

The smart-ass comment solicits a look. "You're hilarious, Evan."

She snickers and winks at me, "I know. Have a good day, Lex."

* * *

Another day comes to a close, and I'm still feeling a little off about this whole teaching thing. Despite Evan's advice to be the best that I can be, I still find myself wanting to be as good as she is.

Slightly disappointed, I collect my things and walk out of my class, locking the door for the night.

As I start down the hall, I notice Evan's room is still lit and occupied.

"Hey, you're not leaving yet?" I ask, looking into the room.

I find Evan with her head in her hands sitting behind her desk. She quickly looks up and shakes her head, "no, I um- I have some grading and planning to catch up on."

I bite the inside of my cheek, getting a sense that it's a little more than just that. "Is there anything I can do to help?" I ask, not really talking about grading or planning.

She shakes her head, not even looking at me, "nope."

I cock my hip and raise my brows, "Ev."

"I'm fine, Lex. Seriously. Go, get home. Enjoy your evening." She pushes.

I sigh, knowing how stubborn she is. "Alright. But... you have my number. Call me or something if your mind changes, or if you just want to talk." I offer.

Her head nods and she goes back to the papers scattered around her desk while I make my way out of the building.

Evan wears her stress all over her face. She did it five years ago when she separated from Scott, and she's doing it now.

Due to my slight eavesdropping this morning, I can take a guess that her current state has something to do with Scott and going back to court, but I doubt she'd confide anything like that in me anymore.

Five years ago I didn't realize just how much Evan really confided in me. She spilled everything to her eighteen year old neighbor... and we weren't all that close before everything happened. She wasn't wrong to trust and confide in me, but I definitely didn't realize how huge of a deal it was at the time.

If she were to do such a thing now, I'd definitely be more well-equipped to handle it.

* * *

Later that night

"Mm, can we just skip work tomorrow? I wanna lay here with you all day..." Mia whispers in my ear, kissing my skin immediately after.

I giggle and trace my hands up and down her bare back, "if only that were an option." I grin, kissing her lips.

She kisses me again, deeper. I hold her waist and-

Ding!

I slowly pull away from my attention-seeking girlfriend and find my phone, seeing a text from... Evan?

Just figured I would give you a heads up... I won't be at school tomorrow. Have some things to take care of.

Her message immediately gives me reason for concern. Evan isn't the type to just miss stuff, especially school.

"Babe, give me two minutes." I say to Mia, who is still touching my skin.

She frowns, "make it one."

I slide out of bed, pulling on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt before walking to the kitchen where I'll have a little privacy.

I call Evan and she answers fairly quickly. "Yes?"

"Hey." I say.

I head her let out a breathy laugh, "..hey?"

"I- sorry." I push my hands through my hair and close my eyes. Speak. "I just wanted to call and make sure you're... okay?" I force the words out and silence sits for several seconds.

I hear a deep exhale from Evan, and I expect to get a long, detailed answer about how she isn't totally okay and all the things that are going wrong. Instead, I'm met with a three word response that I know is a lie. "Yeah, I'm good."

I bite my lip, "Ev..."

"Thanks for checking on me, Lex. You're sweet." She says. You're sweet. She used to say that to me all the time.

"I'm-" before I can get out a sentence, I feel two warm hands wrap around me.

Mia whispers in my ear, awfully close to the phone. "Come back to bed..."

I subtly push her away, "I'm coming. Just- please give me a few minutes." I groan, slightly annoyed that she had to come in here.

"Your girlfriend is waiting on you, why are you talking to me?" Evan asks.

"Because I know you're not as okay as you say you are." I grunt.

She lets out a sarcastic laugh, "I'll figure it out on my own, Lex. That's what I've been doing for the last five years anyway. Have a good night."

Evan ends the call before I'm even able to think of a response. I mean, she's right. I haven't been around for the last five years, which I'm sure were horrendous at times, and she's made it this far.

"Who was that?" Mia asks, still lingering behind me.

"It was-" I pause and shake my head. "Nothing, babe. Let's just go back to bed." I sigh, not wanting to share my concerns for Evan with Mia.

She frowns, "you sounded pretty worried."

I nod, "just an old friend." I explain, not telling a total lie.

Mia takes my answer and escorts me back to our bedroom for the night, but in all honestly sex with Mia is the last thing on my mind. Evan has re-invaded every single one of my waking thoughts.

* * *

My alarm goes off at six in the morning like usual, only it makes me jump a bit more than normal.

I quiet the sound and find Mia laying beside me, already awake and staring at me. "I don't know what you were dreaming about, but I really hope you'll tell me so I can moan the way you just were."

As it turns out, Evan has invaded more than just waking thoughts. The dream I just had was not at all about Mia, but about Evan. And it felt so real.

"Hm, I- I can't remember it." I lie, remembering the feeling of Evan's lips on my stomach too well. "I need to shower."

I leave the bed quickly, hot from both the dream and the fact that I just lied to Mia. I lock the bathroom door and look at myself in the mirror.

What the hell, Lexi? Why are you dreaming about Evan?

I try to brush the feeling off, taking my shower and forcing myself to focus on having a good, productive day.

Thank god I won't have to face Evan today. Lord knows I would blush like hell if I did.

Once I'm dressed and ready for work, Mia gives me her usual hug and kiss before sending me out the door.

I arrive to school and make it to my classroom, finding myself staring at the door to Evan's room hopelessly.

Is she alright? What is she doing today?

My Evan-thoughts are cut short when the first bell sounds and students fill my classroom.

Despite being extremely unfocused and clutter-minded, I get on with the teaching, Evan still lingering in the back corner of my mind.