“What?!” I exclaimed, basically jumping out of my seat. I was seriously confused about two things now. One, how could Evvie have seen him and jail? And two, what could both of them be doing there?
Evvie raised her eyebrows and looked at me as I practically was losing my mind. “I wasn’t in jail,” Evvie said. “And I don’t think Delcan was either. But his sister was.” I was still really lost. None of this even made sense.
“I’m confused,” I said. My mind was completely blank, and I couldn’t even think of anything. “I knew Callie gets in trouble sometimes, but jail?”
Evvie shrugged. “I suggest that you call Delcan or something,” she said. “Or Callie. Do you have her number?”
I shook my head. I had Delcan’s mom’s number for some odd reason, but I didn’t have Callie’s. “Nope.”
“Then call your boyfriend or something,” Evvie said.
I wiped around and looked at her. “He’s not my boyfriend.” I snapped. Evvie raised her eyebrows, but she said nothing back to me. Instead, she simply nodded before turning around and grabbing her phone.
“Well,” she finally said. “Whatever the two of you are, maybe talking to him would help your confusion.”
I shook my head. I’ve bothered him enough today. No more.
But, the other side of my brain was telling me to go see him. Because that side knew I wanted to, even with Evvie there. Maybe having her there would make things easier. I don't know. All I knew was, my brain was torn.
“Okay, fine,” I said. “But in person.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Y0ZKyRhAD
Evvie looked up from her phone, giving me one of those “are you sure?” looks. “Really?” she asked.
I nodded, beginning to stand up. “Come on,” I said. “Let’s go over to his house.”
“Oh, God no. I’m not going to watch the two of you kiss while Callie and I talk about the good old times,” Evvie said, raising her eyebrows.
With furry, I glared at her.
“Right…” Evvie said, rolling her eyes. “You don’t kiss in front of company.” I leaned down just enough so that I could hit her arm, and she laughed in response. As mad as I felt from it, her words were true.
“Stop it,” I demanded. “Do you want to figure this out or not?”
Evvie shrugged, like it hardly even mattered to her. “Real question is: do you?”
I didn’t even know how to answer her. My brain, like always, was torn between right and wrong. Haven would always be on the wrong side, though everyone thought she was right. And Delcan, he was on the wrong side, though I knew not to imagine others knowing about us. “Let’s get in my car,” I said, already leaving her room. Evvie didn’t even seem like she would try to get an actual answer out of me. Instead, she just sighed, then followed me out of her bedroom.
Five minutes later, the two of us were driving on the road, going to the Heslop home. I seriously didn’t know why I was using the GPS. I knew where his house was, because I drive there thousands of times. My body was beginning to feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside, but I pushed the feeling down as far as I could.
Suddenly, my phone rang. I wasn’t even looking at who it was, but I guess Evvie did that for me. “It’s Haven.” she said.
I sighed, looking at her contact picture and the two options I had with it. Great, I thought to myself. Just great. But there would be no explaining why I didn’t answer, so I took Haven’s call through the car.
“Hey, babe.” Haven said. I didn’t even have to look to know that Evvie was trying her best to hold back laughter, but I didn’t respond to her at all.
Instead, I answered her. “Hi,” I said, turning left. Seven more miles. “What’s up?”
“Guess who’s back, back again,” I heard a voice say. At first, nothing inside my mind was telling me who the voice was, but then, I realized it was Angelica. I guess she got home pretty quick.
I smiled, remembering that song. “Hi, Angelica,” I said. “How’s college?”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkBLPYJyqo
“Oh, you know. It’s college,” Angelica said. I had a feeling she was smiling, which I guess was a good thing-but also bad at the same time. “Where are you? It sounds like you’re driving.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdYEIUWqlV
I looked over to Evvie, trying to see if she would give me some assistance. “What?” she mouthed to me. I mothed back to her: “What do I do?” Like the friend she is, Evvie shrugged, then leaned back in the seat, pretending she was eating popcorn. I rolled my eyes and looked away from her.
“Yeah, I am.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWESMtcopQ
“Baby,” Haven whined. “I thought you had to be home. Where are you driving to?” I always felt like she had to be in my business. She had to know what I was doing, why I was doing it, and how long it would take time away from “us.” It was one of the things I hated most about Haven, but there was no fixing it anyways.
Before I could stop myself, I felt attitude in my voice as I said; “If I was cheating, Haven, you would’ve found out about it by now.”
Again, lie.
“Woah,” Evvie said, catching my tone just as I did. “Calm down there.”
I looked at her but it was already too late. Haven heard her voice. “Who’s in the car with you? Is that Evvie?” she pondered.
Nodding, I glared at her. “Evvie Aryn-Grace Hamill,” I said. “It’s her.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6y2oOx96IE
“Oh, nice middle name. Why is she with you?” Angelica asked, sounding just as nosy as her sister did.
Evvie sat up in her seat, looking at the screen on my car as if Haven and Angelica could see her. “We’re just catching up,” she said.
Haven made a sound that was kind of annoyed, but also like she was about to say something really rude at the same time. “Um, Evvie?” she asked.
“Yes?”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FEme9g6jT
“Last time I checked, you and Ezra broke up in 9th grade. So you better fess up for why you’re suddenly spending time with him. Look, I’m not exactly the jealous type, but-”
Stopping Evvie before she could respond to her, I interrupted Haven. “Haven,” I said. “We’re not hooking up. What do you want to talk to me about?”
Haven sighed, probably twirling her hair. “I just wanted to ask you if you’d be able to come over after the football game. I wanna hang out.”
And this was when the debate fell into my head. Truth: No, Haven, I can’t. I’m spending the rest of my Saturday at his house. You two probably know each other from something, I’m assuming. Maybe we could work things out between the two of us now that you know, but no one else can. And then, there was the lie: “No, I can’t. I have to study for a chemistry test on Monday. I need to ace it.”
Clearly not getting the hint, Haven laughed, sounding friendly. “I’m really good at science topics, Ez. Maybe we could study together or something. I have a writing assignment and you know how much I suck at writing.” Haven said.
“I really just want to be alone,” I said. “Sorry.” The sorry, I didn’t mean it. I hardly ever did when I said that word. But who really meant what they said?685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hGDCIDEQJ
Haven was silent for a few seconds before she answered me. “It’s cool. Think you could call me when you’re done with studying?” she asked.
“You need to let the boy have some privacy, Haven,” Angelica said. “I’m positive that he’ll call you when he can.”
Thank you, Angelica.
I don’t know why, but Haven seemed to listen to her sister more than she did anyone else. “Okay, you’re right. I’m sorry I’m being so clingy. I just feel like sometimes you’re not yourself anymore. You know we can talk about anything, right?” I didn’t respond at first, but instead, I looked over to Evvie, who was biting her nail, something she always did when she was nervous. But I didn’t know why she felt so weird, I was the one who was basically living on trial.
“Yeah, I do,” I said. But the words had no meaning to them, they were just coming out of my mouth. They never really did, much. “And I’ll call you when possible, but I can’t really talk right now. Gotta go.”
Finally, she understood. “Okay,” she said. “Bye. I love you.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5mVzRdR4b
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Evvie looked over to me when the two of us heard what she said. I was making eye contact with her, too. We stayed like that for some time before I finally said; “I love you too.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTibbgKkzWj
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Haven hang up the phone, leaving the two of us in silence. I kept my eyes on the road, only because I knew Evvie was about to give me a lecture about our relationship. It was a good thing we were close to Delcan’s.
“You do know you’re leading her on, right?” Evvie asked me. I still didn’t look at her, making a right. “When she finds out that you’re gay, she’s going to be completely heartbroken. And I’ll just tell you this, Ezra. There are two things a girl does when they’re broken up with. One, she’ll be heartbroken for a few weeks, then let it go. Or two, most likely Haven, she’ll become a complete ⟴ and tell everyone your secret.”
I nodded, because she was right. “I know,” I said, feeling like I’d been in this situation before. “It’s just that she’s such a good coverup, and-”
“No,” Evvie interrupted, her voice coming out strict, like her mother’s. “As a woman, you can’t treat people like that. She deserves to know that you aren’t even into her. She’ll kill you if she finds out to hard way.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0uVPJPi0b
I rolled my eyes and looked at her. “What’s the hard way?”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRmyJGfNN8
“She catches you and Delcan kissing,” Evvie said. I could feel my body freeze when she said those words. “If she sees that, there’s no telling what she’ll do to you. I’m sure that ‘I’m not the jealous type’ act was a huge lie.”
I shook my head as we pulled up into Delcan’s driveway. “She’s never going to find out,” I said. “No one will.”
“Ha,” Evvie laughed. “Let’s just put it like this, Ezra. If you don’t tell her sooner or later, I will. And I won’t tell her to keep it on the down low.” She got out of the car, slamming the door behind her. I sighed before getting out as well, ignoring her ‘friendly’ comment. Everything inside of me was now regretting that we were here.
Evvie was already standing on the steps before I even got there, though she waited until I was at least on the last step before knocking on the door. I was thankful to see Delcan’s mom at the door, her dirty-blonde hair pulled back into a lazy bun (at least I think that’s what they’re called. That’s what Evelyn told me) and her green eyes instantly going to me.
“Hello, Ezra,” Mrs. Heslop said to me, smiling. I smiled back to her. “Delcan is upstairs if you need to talk to him, but I have no idea where…” And that was when she noticed Evvie standing next to me. She was silent for a few seconds before giving Evvie a soft smile. “Well, hello, sweetheart,” she said. “I don’t believe I know you.”
Evvie nodding, shaking her hand. “My name is Evvie Hamill,” she said. “Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Heslop.”
“Why, thank you,” she said. “Oh, you’re such a beautiful girl.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDllRabFJf
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Evvie smiled. “Much obliged, Mrs. Heslop,” she said, sounding more professional than I’d ever heard her before. “And you don’t look a day over twenty.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAaj4t7AC0
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Mrs. Heslop accepted the compliment and then opened the door fully. “You two, come inside.” she said.
As we walked in, I grabbed Evvie’s wrist. “What was that?” I whispered.
Evvie shrugged, taking one of the glasses of iced water Mrs. Heslop had given us. “I was just trying to make a good impression.” she said, taking a sip.
I rolled my eyes just as Mrs. Heslop left the room. “You’re being a brat, my friend.” I warned her.
“I know,” she said. “But guess what? It’s working.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJzJTTokje
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Looking away from her, I took a drink of water and then set it down on one of the coasters. It only bothers me that she was better at communication than I was because I was supposed to be the star kid. The child who knows everyone, and everyone knows him. But not only that, I had to be the kid that everyone loved. And it killed me that Mrs. Heslop already liked Evvie more than she did me.
Mrs. Heslop came back in the room, holding her phone in her hand. “You two can go upstairs if you would like. Delcan is in his room, but I have no clue where Calliannah is.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBAesPV5n1
Evvie began walking up the stairs before she stopped and turned around. 685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqMoYZBaA4
“Thanks again, Mrs. Heslop. And I promise, none of us will be at any inconvenience.”
“How sweet. Thank you, Evvie.”
Evvie nodded to her before the two of us began walking up the stairs. I didn’t even bother to try saying goodbye to Mrs. Heslop. It seemed pointless now, anyways. We were about halfway up the stairs when my entire body told me to stop. All of this felt wrong.
I didn’t even ask Delcan if we could come over, I simply just invited myself. Feeling like a complete idiot, I had to lean against the wall to refrain from fainting or something. Evvie must’ve noticed me, because she turned around. I was thankful that she was back to her actual self. The one who cares about me, though has a unique way of showing it. “Are you okay?” she asked me.
Shaking my head, I got off the wall. “We should go home,” I said. “I didn’t even text him and say we were coming.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4f3qUd43W
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“You two are dating. He shouldn’t have any problem seeing you.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7qIX5ZBZm
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I know she was trying to make things better, and I know she wanted to tell me that I was just being ridiculous, or that I would get over it quickly. But both of us knew that would never happen. I was going back into what Evelyn called my bubble. I always went here when things got hard, and the truth was something I couldn’t stand.
Somehow, though, I always felt like I was in my bubble around Delcan, and around anyone who asked me about him. I wanted to be open, sometimes, but it would never work. Considering the past that Delcan has, things would never be perfect for our dating life.
“You got this, Ez,” she said, patting my shoulder. “I would never judge you, okay?”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oM86qHWdk
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I nodded, taking in deep breaths. “Got it,” I said, forcing my legs up the stairs again. Evvie waited until I passed her, then she followed me into his room. The door, which I was surprised by, was unlocked, though his room was basically a mess. There were some clothes on one side of the floor, and his bed wasn’t made yet.
But I was paying too much attention to the room that I didn’t even notice the water running in the bathroom.
“Crap.” I whispered. I would’ve said the better word for it, but I was trying to keep my cursing at a smaller amount for Emmanuel. Of course he just has to be taking a shower at this moment, I thought to myself.
But what made me even more annoyed was that Evvie hardly seemed to care. She looked at me for a few seconds before walking over to the door, knocking on it three times.
“Callie, I said I’d be out in five minutes,” Delcan yelled (well, not exactly yelled, more like a sibling communication voice). “Calm down!”
Evvie looked at me again before she waited for him to be done. Unlike me, she clearly didn’t care about the fact that he’d basically be naked. I was flipping out in my mind, and trying to act cool about it just made everything worse.
The water stopped, and I could feel my heart beginning to race. No, no, no, no, no.
When Delcan opened the door, I was so thankful that had a towel wrapped around his waist. The second he saw me, he raised one of his eyebrows, then looked to Evvie. I wanted to close my eyes, and for many reasons. One, his abs were showing-and it was messing with my brain. Two, Evvie was here. And three, everything felt wrong and right at the same time, and my body was fighting with my brain about all of it.
“You’re not Callie…” Delcan said, looking at Evvie. I could tell she was looking at his abs, though, to be honest, I was too.
“No, I’m not,” she said. “My name is Evvie.”
Delcan raised his eyebrows again, looking at me for a moment before he moved his eyes back to Evvie. “Good for you,” he muttered sarcastically. “What are you two even doing here?”
“She said that she knew you,” I said, twisting my hands behind my back. I could feel the hairs on my neck beginning to stand up, and I was hating myself for feeling like this. “I just wanted to know if you did too.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6Kuqs7TUH
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Delcan shook his head. “Never seen her before,” he said. I had a feeling he was about to say something else, but then he sighed. “Can you two leave so I can get changed?” he asked. “Though both of you are eyeing me, I need space.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6p4re36Jr
Again, his attitude was one of the main things that made him pretty interesting.
“Yeah, sure,” I said, already wanting to leave the room. But Evvie stopped me before I could even leave.
I sighed and turned back around to look at Delcan, who was soon going to grab another towel for his dripping hair. His eyes were amber as he watched me, seeing what I would do. “What now?” I asked Evvie.
“Can we wait outside?” Evvie asked.
Delcan nodded. “Sure. My parents remodeled the patio while I was out, and it should be pretty-” and that’s when he realized what she meant. I’m sure he actually knew all along, which made it even cuter. Evvie smiled to him as he rolled his eyes. “You meant my room, didn’t you?”
Evvie smiled, then nodded.
“Yeah,” Delcan said, shrugging. “I guess you can.”
This time, Evvie nodded, allowing me to finally leave the room. I sat down on the bed, wiping sweat off my forehead. Evvie sat down on the bed, letting out air.
“Wow,” she said.
I looked at her, confused. “What is it?” I asked her.
She looked at me, her eyes wide. “He. Has. Abs,” Evvie said. “Holy crap.” Clearly, he does. I’m sure it’s no surprise to him, either.
“Yeah,” I said. I didn’t know how my voice came off so cool. I guess I was trying to believe that I was used to him, though I knew all of that was a lie. Nothing about him was anything I was used to, though something about him made me feel like I’d find out something new every once in awhile.
A few seconds later, Delcan walked out of the bathroom, still trying to dry his hair with a towel. He looked at Evvie for a split moment before sat down next to me, still drying his hair. “So why exactly do you think you could come into my house without asking? Is that a white people thing?”
Slightly offended, I glared at him. But it was Evvie who talked. “You aren’t white?” she asked.
Delcan raised his eyebrows to her. “I’m Cuban,” he said. “And that offended me, a lot.”
“You just said something racist about me,” I said to him. But to be honest, he was kind of right. I can’t count how many times Haven came into my house without asking, or when some of her friends would come over and just begin talking. But still, it didn’t mean what he said was okay.
Delcan smiled to me. “Sorry,” he said, not really meaning it. “Anyways...how do you know me?”
Evvie sat up, beginning her speech. “Your sister, Calliannah-”
“Callie,” Delcan quickly interrupted.
“Fine,” Evvie said. “Callie was in jail one night for something that I’m not so sure of. You were there as well. Maybe it was the muscles or something, but I guess you caught my eye. I knew that Callie had a brother, but she always talked you down.
As upset as Delcan looked from it, he didn’t say anything in response. “Why would you think he would be a nerd?” I asked her.
Evvie shrugged. “I don’t really know,” she said. “I just expected for him to be small and pretty kind. Though, now I see how wrong I am.”
I looked over to Delcan, who was still drying some of his hair. It wasn’t spiked up at the ends anymore, but he still looked good. “I’m offended and okay with all of that at the same time,” he said, messing around with his popsocket. “Though I’m trying my best to stay nice.”
“No offense to you, but it isn’t working out.” I said. Once the words left my mouth, I regretted them. Probably as surprised as I was, Delcan looked at me before he moved his eyes back to Evvie. I wanted to apologize or something, but Delcan already seemed more focused on Evvie than he did me.
“Now it’s time for me to question,” he said. “How do you two even know each other?”
I still felt embarrassed to talk, so I let Evvie handle it. “Like what Ezra said before, I knew you from Callie. But the two of us know each other because we went to the same junior high together, and we were best friends.” she said. I was thankful that our “relationship” was left out of it.
Delcan slowly nodded, seeming to understand it. “Okay…” he said. “And more about you?”
“She used to go to the same school as me, but after her parents divorce, she moved to Alaska with her-”
“Hold up,” Delcan said. “Alaska?”
Evvie rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it.”
Delcan smiled to her (a friendly smile, which I guess is a good sign) then set down his phone between the two of us. “So, that’s it? You two were best friends in junior high, you moved, and now you’re coming over to my house to ask why I was in jail along with my sister?”
“I wasn’t in jail,” Evvie corrected. “I was there with my mom, who used to be a police officer.” I had completely forgotten that Evvie’s mom used to be a police officer. Actually, I forgot a lot of things about Evvie’s family.
“Oh,” Delcan said, actually seeming kind of shocked. “Did you know that?” he asked me.
It took me a few seconds to answer him, mainly because I felt like some kid who was stage-fright and was forced center stage. “No-no,” I stammered. “Well, I kind of did, but...then I-I forgot about it.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZgkBsPugv
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Delcan smirked. “Well, if it makes your adorable self feel any better, I almost forgot you were gay considering how much of Haven is on your social media.”
Evvie was about to crack up laughing, but she stopped herself quickly and shook her head at Delcan. To be honest, I was still deciding on if I should be offended or not. He did compliment me, though at the same time, insulted me.
Relationships are hard.
Delcan realized what he said and began smiling. “Sorry,” he said, smiling to me. “That was wrong.”
“You’re okay.” I said.
Thank God for Callie walking in the room. Her reddish-brown hair was pulled behind her and she was wearing an oversized T-shirt with sweatpants. She looked over at Delcan, then me, and lastly her eyes went to Evvie, who she gave a dirty glare. “I know you...yeah, your mom arrested me.”
“Your mom arrested Callie?!” both Delcan and I said in unison. I didn’t know why, but this one actually did shock me. This part wasn’t actually planned, at least it wasn’t for me. All I wanted was for Delcan to get along with Evvie, which worked, but now there’s a new issue.
Evvie nodded slowly, and I could tell she felt attacked. “Yeah, she did,” she said silently. “I was in the cop car.”
Callie nodded slowly, reminding me so much of her brother. “I know.”
“Okay, wait. I’m confused,” Delcan said, looking around the room at everyone. “Your mom arrested my younger sister? Is she still a cop?”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN1btRvKh9
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Evvie shook her head. “No, she got fired.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtObmLRouc2
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“Why is she even here?” Callie asked, pointing to her. It was times like these when I realized how similar siblings could be. “What did I do?” Sleep with someone?”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymYUI1aESW
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“Who would you be sleeping with?” Delcan snapped, looking at her. Callie rolled her eyes, not even seeming to care.
“I don’t even have a boyfriend,” Evvie said, crossing her arms over her chest. I smiled to her before looking back at Callie, who still seemed like she could care less.
She shrugged.”Good for you,” she said. Then, without anything else, she left the room, putting the number back to 3. Delcan looked at me for a few seconds before he moved his eyes away right before I was about to make eye contact with him. Which was good, because I would’ve turned as red as a tomato.
“So your mom arrested Callie, and you knew about it?” Delcan asked Evvie. “Is that what you came here to tell me?”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6KdBnZV0Q
Evvie shook her head, her eyes widened. “No! I’m not like that. That was something an ignorant person would do, and that isn’t me.” Yeah right, I thought to myself. I loved Evvie like she was my second sister, but sometimes she could be so….weird. Like you didn’t know which one of the Evvies you were talking to.
“Okay, well, we can leave now…” I said, beginning to stand up. But just as I was about to be free, Delcan pulled me down by grabbing my wrist. I looked at him as he beamed, one of my favorite things.
“What?”
“Why are you trying to leave?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Because,” I said. “My parents probably want to know where I am, anyways. And I don’t feel like getting grounded.”
Delcan rolled his eyes when I talked about my parents, but he then shook his head. “Maybe once you should see what happens if you don’t come home on time,” he said. “They might not even care.”
I smiled to him, because he had no idea what my parents were like compared to his. Delcan’s mom was one of the kindest people you would ever meet, plus, she would do anything for her son. And his dad, well, he’s confused about Delcan’s sexuality, but at least he accepts him for who he is.
“Wouldn’t count on it, Delcan,” Evvie said, shrugging. “His parents are worse than mine.”
Delcan wasn’t exactly bothered by it. He just looked at her before his eyes fell on me. “Why haven’t you told Haven?” he asked.
Wow. Real subject changer. Before I could even stop myself, my eyes widened and I shook my head. “I don’t wanna talk about that.”
“Well, I do,” he answered. “You’re messing with her head, and hurting her each time you say ‘I love you’. It’s not right, plus, it hurts others that care about her, and you.”
I looked away from him, because talking about Haven, especially with him, was hard. I’ve tried giving her small hints, but she avoids them. Almost every night, she wants to stay up and talk to me. And if we’re being honest, I don’t know what to do about it. Yeah, it kills me that I’m lying to her, but being open about my relationship with Delcan seems really hard.
“Does her family like you?” Delcan asked me.
I bit my lip, because I knew lying to him never worked out how I wanted it to. “Kind of…”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5dYulyHpc
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“Ezra!”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dQultNGFF
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“What?!”
Delcan rolled his eyes and sat back a little. “It’s wrong, you know.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDrvQsAihD
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“That’s exactly what I said!” Evvie exclaimed.
I shook my head, feeling attacked by two people. “Her family doesn’t even like me that much, calm down.” I muttered.
Evvie raised her eyebrows and smirked. “Really?” she asked. “Because in that car Angelica really seemed to like you, and so did Haven. So I don’t know why her parents wouldn’t love you either.”
“Stop,” I said, looking at her.
Evvie shrugged. “It’s my job to try making you go in the right path, and if this guy-” she looked at Delcan just as he looked up from his phone to her. “Is somewhere on that path, I’d like to know more about him.” she said.
Delcan was silent for a moment before he began texting someone, and about three seconds later, I received a text.
Delcan:
Can we tell her about us?
Of course, I would say yes. Then again, unlike I was, Delcan didn’t mind giving details about anything. I remembered the night when I had to meet his parents, and they asked me about my life at home. I’m sure Delcan only knew about three things about my family, but he listed them with all the detail he could. But, I trusted Evvie with my life, and I knew she would never judge me for whatever crazy things Delcan would say.
On top of that, telling her would make things a lot easier.
Me:
Yes, we can tell her everything (not everything, everything)
Delcan smiled at the text and then put his phone back down again. “Whaddya need to know?”
⟴⬉⥦⥦⥦⬈⟴
After about thirty minutes, Evvie and I were walking out of Delcan’s house. I’d pulled Evvie away before she could even say another word to Mrs. Heslop, so the two of made it to the car at around 7:00.
Delcan and I told her everything. Starting from the moment we met, to our last date (which wasn’t even exactly a date, it was just popcorn and Netflix). Evvie seemed chill about the entire thing, not saying much and nodding to everything. When life got into where it was, I was thankful to have a friend like Evvie. Someone who understood what pain could be like, and listened with support.
Once I’d shut my car door, Evvie looked over to me. “So you’re keeping all of this a secret?”
I started the car, and began pulling out of their smooth driveway. On the inside, I hated myself for keeping my feelings for Delcan a secret. But it all was easier that way, and he is beginning to understand that too. “Yes.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNFhGfROCs
“Okay,” Evvie said. “I know that coming out, especially for you, would be really hard and everything, so I understand where you’re coming from. But, he really seems to like you. Does he want the two of you to be public?”
I nodded, beginning to make our way back home. “Yeah,” I said. “It’s one of the main things we fight about.”685Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQb14YuR0b
“Oh. I’m sorry,” she said. And this time, I knew she meant it. “But even though people fight, it doesn’t mean they hate each other. We fight sometimes, but I still love you like a brother. It could maybe even be a way of showing affection.”
She was right. Well, kind of. Delcan and I never actually fight, he’d just get angry because I was too afraid to be myself. He always said “your parents can’t define who you are forever,” which I know is true, it’s just-too much to even express. “Do you think that’s the same with our parents?” I asked her.
Evvie hesitated for a second before she looked at me. “Your parents are fighting?” she asked me.
I wasn’t allowed to say that they would sometimes. At night, though, so Emmanuel wouldn’t hear any of it. Something else I knew was that Dad’s hit her before, though, like Eric knew, saying anything wouldn’t help.
“No,” I lied. “I meant your parents.”
Evvie shrugged and sat back in her seat. “Don’t know,” she whispered.
I didn’t have anything to say back to her, so the two of us rode to her house in silence. I wanted to ask if her relationship with Ms. Hamill, though I had a feeling that it was probably a no. I mean, if my mom did what her did, I probably would never even want to stay in the same room with her, ever again.
When we pulled up to the driveway, Evvie looked over at me and gave a genuine smile. “Do you think you could stay the night?” she asked. “We have a lot to catch up on.”
I shook my head, not knowing about how Dad would feel. “Your mom think we’re exes, remember?”
She pressed her lips together, and dropped eye contact with me. “I might’ve accidentally told her. But, before you yell at me, she told me she was cool with it, and she wouldn’t tell anyone else or your parents, it would just be a secret she’d keep. Please don’t yell at me.” she said.
I couldn’t even look at her.
She seriously could’ve told me the minute we met, or she could have said something, give me a hint. “Get out.” I demanded. My voice sounded cold, which she really did deserve at this moment.
“Ezra, I said that I was sorry. Ca-”
“I said get out, Evvie.” I said, still sounding extremely cross.
Evvie blinked, then nodded, opening the car door. She walked up to her mom’s house, not even looking back, then opened the door and disappeared.
I put the car in drive and made my way home.
The truth was, I was hardly even mad at Evvie. I was just flustered that she would do that. Usually, I’d want to be asked before she said something to anyone about me (especially dealing with that). Her mom was one of those arrogant women that would keep secrets, but bring up slight details all the time. If I was to stay the night at Evvie’s, I would constantly hear: “So what interests you more? Guys or girls?” or “If a girl said ‘I love you’, how would you react to it?”. It would’ve been the most annoying thing in the entire world.
Once I pulled up to my house, I got out of the car and rushed inside. Though the house smelled like fresh chicken, I wasn’t even hungry anymore. Instead, I ran up to my room and shut the door behind me, locking it, and letting the world fade away.
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