𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄:
1860
THE HILL AND WHITLOCK FAMILY ARE THE WEALTHIEST FAMILY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, both sides having a good reputation in society, only to have a major rivalry when it comes to their businesses.
Now, A 16-year-old girl with wavy blond hair was currently in her bedroom, facing her vanity table, brushing her hair, and getting ready for bed.
Until a sudden sound got her attention, a slight sound of rocks hitting her bedroom window. She beamed brightly, knowing exactly who that was.
It was Jasper Whitlock, her best friend, the boy that she had liked since she was nine years old, waiting for her to take a peek at the bedroom window.
"Evangeline!" Jasper whispered-yell, looking around the compound to see if someone saw him sneaking around.
"What are you doing here? It's late," Evangeline asks, "What if Father caught you? He'll never allow me to see you again."
"I won't be long. I just want to see you. Can you come down?" Jasper asks with pleading eyes. He knew his best friend couldn't resist him.
"Fine," Evangeline said as she exited her room, silently walking the halls, cautiously walking down the stairs, and looking around the kitchen to see if some of the maids were awake. She saw none, so she strolled to the back door, making sure not to make a sound as she opened the door; finally, she got outside.
"What took you so long?" Jasper greets her as he shuffles towards her, his hands in his pockets.
"I apologize for taking so long. You know how mother is sensitive about sounds," Evangeline tells him while rolling her eyes and crossing her arms.
"I didn't mind," Jasper says with a smile.
"What is it that you want to tell me? The lady needs her beauty sleep," Evangeline tells him while smoothing her nightdress.
"Nothing. I just want to see you," Jasper smirks at her, making her roll her eyes at him.
"Are you serious? You could have waited in the morning," Evangeline complained, but the smile on her lips never left.
However, she noticed something at the back of his hand.
"Is your father still mad about you seeing me? I told you to stay away for a while and wait until we got older so we can move away from this town," Evangeline says as she walks towards him, taking his hand from his pocket, unbuttoning the cuff of his sleeve, rolling it up to have a better look at the wound.
Jasper was about to respond, but she shushed him.
Evangeline took his hand, making him sit on a log, telling him to wait, as she walked back to him with a wet cloth in her hand.
"Let me clean it so that it won't get infected," Evangeline says while she gently cleans the dried blood, rubbing a homemade ointment on the wound while wrapping it with a thin cloth.
"Thank you, ma'am," Jasper says while taking her hand, bringing it closer to his lips, and kissing.
"I fancy you, Evangeline, for a very long time," Jasper suddenly blurted out, looking at her straight in the eyes, pure honesty in his eyes.
"Why are you telling me this?" Evangeline asks, secretively happy that he admitted his feeling for her. She has been waiting for these words to come out of his mouth for ages.
"It's not long before your parents made an arrangement to find you a husband. I don't want to lose my chance," Jasper tells her while looking up at the night sky.
"Your father will never agree to this. You do know that he's against us being friends," Evangeline says with a frown on her lips.
"I can make an arrangement with him," Jasper proposed while holding both of her hands, rubbing his thumb on her palm.
"Are you sure about this?" Evangeline asks, worried about his plan.
"We've known each other since we were kids, Evangeline. In time, I developed feelings for you. I'm ready to take a risk for us," Jasper assures.
"We're too young, Jasper. Our parents will never allow us," Evangeline tells him.
"Then we'll wait," Jasper tells her, "You should sleep. It's almost midnight," looking at his pocket watch.
"I'll see you in the morning, sir," Evangeline says, doing a curtsy.
"Sweet dreams, ma'am."