Mornings absolutely suck. They do, in every single fucking way.
How many times have I said that already.
Evelyn groaned at the sound of her alarm, rolling over in bed. A headache located behind her eyes pained her reminded her of the terrible drinking choices she made the night before. Terrible fucking choice- in fact, horrible.
A nauseous feeling settled in her stomach; the feeling of throwing up was all she could think about- all she could even focus on. Frustrated with the ringing in her head from the alarm, the girl reached out to turn it off.
Unfortunately, in that poor attempt, she fell over, screaming all the way down.
She clambered at the bed, at the covers, trying to hold herself, but it was far too late and far too little. Evelyn hit the ground with a thud.
"Fucking hell," She groaned in pain, her back tingling with all the wrong spots hit. The pain shocked her body, her nerve endings hurt, and clenching in her back. Barely could she open her eyes, still sensitive to the light in her eyes.
A rushing of footsteps invaded the air as Michael rushed in. She was surprised to see him, considering they never spoke anymore. It wasn't like she wanted to cut him out, but Evelyn definitely needed space.
Space does not include rushing into her bedroom bright and early.
This is awkward.
So unbelievably awkward.
But what was even more awkward was seeing Luke in her view, standing next to Michael.
All the faded memories of last night flooded back. She stared at him, her hands tightening into the ground.
"I'm fine," She swallowed, standing up and turning to her bed.
Luke nodded, more to himself, turning around and stepping away- out of the room. It was a soft presence, but his exit was harrowing.
She slipped on some random pair of sweatpants and a light blue t-shirt, loose enough to reach her thighs. They were faded from the many cycles they endured through the wash.
Whatever mattered, dressing for school did not.
Evelyn stepped out into the kitchen, Michael and Luke already sipping on coffee and eating cereal. They sat on opposite sides of each other, not talking but not ignoring each other.
"Hi Eve," Michael softly spoke, breaking the silence of the air. Evelyn looked up, just for a second to meet his weary eyes.
Without a response, she skirted past them. There was no need for her to speak, to say anything. Evelyn was just slightly afraid that if she spoke a single word, she would start crying.
Not something I feel like doing in front of my ex-boyfriend and my brother.
She sighed, rubbing her messy hair out of her face. The Lucky Charm box made her flinch, just for a moment. Evelyn took a deep breath, retracting her hand from near it.
Luke noticed.
Luke watched as she passed it, her soft hand reaching for some random brand instead.
He softly laughed to himself, though nothing was funny about the case.
Of course, she can't even eat the cereal that she loved. Because of me.
Luke mumbled the name of the brand to himself, "Weetabix."
Her head shot up, able to hear a word but not exactly what he said. It was fuzzy, the way it would when one doesn't pay attention.
Luke looked up, as if a deer caught in headlights. Her soft, pained brown eyes met his light blue, hurt ones.
Their eyes both told the same story.
They missed each other.
She brushed her hair out of her face, tilting her chin down at the kitchen counter and slowly spooning the cereal.
The door rang.
Nobody moved from their places. Michael turned his head, calling out, "Door's open!"
They heard the heavy footsteps of boots, before Calum appeared in front of them. A black shirt was loosely tucked into his black pants. A brown belt looped around his waist, the gold buckle shining in her eyes.
"Hey Eve," Calum reached over, wrapping his arm and pressing a kiss to her head.
Luke gripped the bowl tightly, his grip so harsh that the milk spilled from the side. Michael turned his head to Luke, noticing his newfound force on the bowl at hand.
Mouthing the soft words I feel you, Michael tapped his shoulder from across the kitchen counter.
An olive branch- if you will.
Peace.
Their attentions were turned to Evelyn's slight bubble of laughter, trying to grab back the bowl from Calum's hold. He held it above her head, threatening to spill it as she squealed away, trying to shy away from the cereal.
"Let's go," Calum placed it down finally. She nodded, taking her bag in her hand and slipping it over her shoulder.
Evelyn made soft eye contact with Luke, just for a second before brushing by him.
So much for making friends.
And so much for nothing happening between Calum and Evelyn.
Maybe Evelyn does not like him, but Calum is definitely slipping into her grasp.
----
"I don't want to go to fencing," Evelyn sighed, leaning into Calum's side. He laughed, leaning his back onto the lockers. He looked down at the girl, wrapping his arms tighter around her.
His legs were slightly spread, the girl standing straight in between them. He was still taller than her, despite his slightly bent position and it made him smile to himself.
Calum lifted his cap off his head, flipping it onto hers and fixing the hair from her face. In his hat, she looked absolutely beautiful.
He analyzed her face, letting his eyes trail over her face. Gazing at her like a beautiful painting.
Her emotions were not easily hidden on her innocent face. Her pain was evident in the crease of her lovely brow and the down-curve of her full lips. But her eyes, her eyes showed her soul.
They were a deep pool of restless gold, an ocean of hopeless grief. He was not a poet, nor was she a painting, but he knows there's no other way he can describe her.
As Calum looked into her eyes he knew, all the beauty of the universe could not even hope to compete with this simple thing: passion. Passion turned her eyes into the brightest fire, and in them he read clearly that she would fight to the very last tear for her life.
She would not let the world break her. Sure she could cry, but she would never let them take her true self from her. She clung to it with passion. The passion that made her beautiful.
"Hello?" Evelyn laughed softly, waving her hand in his face. Calum snapped out of his little moment, blinking at the girl and curling his lips into a smile, "Earth to Cal?"
He threw his arms over her shoulders, pulling her in. The smell of his breath hit her face, and she couldn't help but notice how different it was from Luke's.
Focus.
"Come with me to soccer."
Evelyn paused, racking the thoughts in her head. She wouldn't have to see Luke, give her a moment away from all the tension. Fencing was merely a drag now, with him there. Her heart panicked, ached every time she saw him anyways.
She nodded, smiling. Fuck it, let's break the rules.
"I'll talk to my coach- I'm sure she will let me go over to soccer."
With that Evelyn quickly ran over to the locker room, changing into sports shorts and a workout tank top.
Then, she pressed up against the locker room, running over to the field where Coach Tina stood. She slowed to a walk, avoiding the eyes around her from the man in front of her.
Luke watched carefully, his hands above his head after a long run. He was sweating through his shirt, dripping.
His eyes stayed framed on the girl as Evelyn and their coach discussed.
A nod left Coach Tina. Excited, Evelyn turned around and began to run back. In her view, she caught Luke's eye.
Time slowed, just for a moment.
Dipping her head down, Evelyn continued to run back over to where Calum was on the field.
"Son of a fucking bitch," Luke cursed. He grabbed his sword, turning to the air and focusing. His anger, his rage was tuned into that sword. And all at once, he began to swing.
Nothing but him and the sword.
Evelyn ran over to Calum, tying her hair up into a ponytail.
"I'm here!" She smiled, waving her arms obnoxiously as Calum laughed.
He dribbled the soccer ball, kicking it over to her in an easy, soft pass. Evelyn missed the pass, miserably.
She giggled, running over to it like a little puppy chasing after a softball.
Calum admired her softly, biting his lip as he watched carefully. She attempted to juggle the ball absentmindedly, dropping it every single time.
It was a while of her trying to pass the ball before she gave up, kicking it back to him.
He stopped it under his foot, watching the girl shyly rub her face with her hand.
A nervous butterfly fluttered through her stomach as Calum attempted to swallow those very same nerves.
"So," He scratched the back of his neck, "Do you have any plans for prom?"
Evelyn stopped kicking the fake grass under her, looking up to him. His eyes were unreadable, hard for her to understand where he was coming from.
"Not really," Evelyn started, "I didn't even have a dress until you convinced me to buy one."
He nodded thoughtfully, turning his head away from the girl.
She stepped closer to him, raising her hand to shield her eyes from the sun. A soft breeze passed by them as he lowered his eyes to her lips.
Evelyn murmured softly, "You?"
He shook his head.
There was a silence, nothing but the sound of people around them passing soccer balls around. Just the faint sound of the background yelling. Evelyn watched around, looking at the others in the class, her eyes averted.
"Come with me."
She turned her head to meet his eyes again.
Evelyn couldn't help but pause, confused. Indecisive was the word for it.
She was not going to get over Luke- not for a while. But she can't help but leave her options open for all the possibilities she was thinking of.
Evelyn could just go with him as a friend? It wouldn't hurt- he has a date and she has an escape.
Sometimes you have to make a decision.
And considering no one else can make this decision for me, I need to answer him.
Evelyn looked back up to Calum, guilt pricking her for a moment surrounding Luke. For a moment, her lips turned to form the word no.
But, she held herself, instead of saying, "Yes."
His eyes widened, like he wasn't even expecting her to agree. Like he was expecting the most brutal rejection possible.
He ran a hand through his hair, trying to make himself more presentable.
"Alright," Calum sighed, smiling at her despite his attempt to keep cool.
"Alright."
----
Night dawned over the girl.
Applications.
What the fuck am I going to do with these applications?
Her eyes read over the words on her computer, the bright screen straight into her eyes. The jabbing headache jolted through her head, the pain increasing as she read through the numbers.
Her heart sunk- all the tuitions were expensive.
Incredibly expensive.
Something about a divorce settlement with half the income going to your father's ex-wife does take a drain on the money available.
If it was just Evelyn going to college, maybe it wouldn't be so. But the fact of the matter is, Michael was as well.
She sighed, closing the computer and tilting her head back. Her eyes pained, head hurt as she furrowed her eyebrows together. A headache thudded between the hairs of her drawn brows.
"You alright princess?" Luke's soft voice filled the room.
Evelyn froze, not daring to move. Not daring to even react- hoping she perhaps just imagined it.
She felt a touch on her shoulder.
With that, she turned over.
She shifted her chair, turning around to face Luke.
Just looking at him, Evelyn felt pain. It started at the bottom of her stomach, climbing up her throat and settling back down into her chest.
And just like that, her eyes began to glass over. Her head fell down, tears beginning to leave her eyes.
He tried to stop it, "No no no, don't cry, please."
Luke dropped to his knees in front of her, trying to meet her eyes. His hand touched her face tilting her chin up to meet his eyes.
"Tell me, tell me what's wrong?"
She shook her head, refusing to give him any of the information.
"You can tell me, I-" He swallowed the next words, his reassurance of being there for her. Because the truth of the matter is, he's not.
"Tell me princess," He slid his hand from her chin, bringing it to her face.
Evelyn jerked away from his hand, like a shock. She turned her face, shifting away from his touch, from his breath.
He retracted his hand quickly, trying not to overstep. A hurt look spread over his face, though he knew he had no right
There was a large moment of silence.
She couldn't help herself.
"It's just applications, tuition," Evelyn mumbled under her breath.
Luke looked up, hesitantly tapping her shoulder lightly.
"It'll be alright, Eve. I promise."
Despite all the pain she got from looking at him, despite everything that he caused her, Evelyn believed his words.
She leaned into his touch, repeating those same words, "It'll be alright."
//
and there we go!!
some progression in relationships, of all kinds 😉😉
how was everyone's days?? i've been reading a lot of poetry lately, and i am LIVING for it.
keep your mind engaged!!
mwah, luke forever.
-m <3