Debt

20: Work It Out

The picture on the side is Larielle, Trina, and Daryl.

"Evan, wait," Larielle called, reaching for his arm. He snatched away from her.

"Wait? You mean you want me to actually stick around?" he asked sarcastically.

"Yes."

"Great. So now you know the feeling."

He left the room, and she stood there a moment, biting her lip. She didn't know what she was supposed to do.

"Evan-"

"Don't you have a shower you need to take?" he asked, almost indifferent.

She sighed and went to the bathroom, getting into the shower. When she came out, Shayla was there with the door closed, and she had managed to scare the shit out of Larielle.

"Whatever you did, fix it. I like you, Larielle. And I have a feeling about you."

"So you didn't he-"

"Oh, I heard you. I wish I hadn't. But I did. Fix it. - Get dressed. Breakfast is ready."

Shayla got up and left the room, and Larielle got dressed. She sat on the bed for a minute, thinking. Maybe running away was a bad idea. She had just been so... Freaked. It wasn't in her nature to be so easy, and she had still feared that Evan would wake up and realize what he had done.

There was a knock on the door before Abrielle came in. She looked at her friend a little concerned. She had been up here alone for quite some time.

"Lari, breakfast."

"Just... Gimme a second."

"Alright."

Abrielle left the room, giving her friend one more concerned glance; and Larielle sat there a moment, holding her head. She took a deep breath before she went downstairs and sat beside Evan. Something told her that the seat was left empty purposely.

"Hey-"

"Don't wanna hear it," he told her, taking a forkful of bacon and eggs.

Larielle felt her heart sink a little bit. She didn't know why, but she wanted to cry about it. And she had never liked someone that much before. It felt like her whole world would shatter if this boy she hadn't known even a full twenty-four hours didn't speak to her. Maybe last night had been a mistake after all.

If it was a mistake, it was the best mistake she had ever made. It felt so good in the moments that it was happening. Nothing else mattered but how close their bodies were. How sweet his breath tasted on her lips. How good... and whole... he had made her feel.

Nothing else had mattered except that for once, even if only for a little while, someone seemed to understand her. Seemed in sync with her. She felt something that she had never felt before. And if she believed in it, she would call it magic.

Everyone else seemed to be minding their own business. Shawn and Abrielle were discussing him letting her wander the mall without him to buy his gift. He was considering not following her, but sending someone with her.

"I don't need a bodyguard." She pouted. He chuckled and lifted her chin. She was cute. But pouting wasn't going to change his decision.

"No, you don't. But my unborn do. So if you don't want me knowing what you gettin' me, I have to send somebody with you."

"Fine."

Shayla looked at Larielle, almost blatantly staring at her. She'd seen her in a few dreams. It was never quite clear, but she could always see a girl in her dreams with Evan, holding his hand. In the dream, Shayla always saw her son standing at an altar, waiting for a bride who made him smile and radiate love as soon as he saw her. And Shayla felt that energy. But poor Larielle, she was terrified.