"but now I'll go sit on the floor
wearing your clothes
all that I know
is I don't know how to be something you'd miss"
Evelyn could tell something was off with Jack for a while. He wasn't as vocal, he buried himself in his work, there was no more bounce in his step. Evelyn sat on the floor by the windows with the lights off, letting the moonlight define the furniture in the house. She felt tears streaming down her face, her chest hurt, but, she was silent. Wrapped in jack's T-shirt, a pair of shorts, and a hoodie that smelled like him, she sat, waiting for the boy to get home.
The amount of time she waiting was unclear. She felt like it was years, but it could have been only a few hours. Eventually, she dragged herself to the couch, where she laid, curled up in fetal position, waiting for the jingling of keys, a knock on the door, anything would suffice.
As the tears streamed down Evelyn's tired body, sleep consumed the girl. It was only when she heard footsteps did her eyes flicker open.
"Jack?" she asked, sitting up,
"No, um it's Corbyn," the person said, "Jack and Dan are staying over at Jonah's tonight." Evelyn nodded her head, she knew what this meant.
"Why did you come home?" She asked weakly,
"I'm going out tomorrow morning and wanted to sleep in my own bed." Evelyn nodded her head,
"Corbyn" she whispered quietly
"Yeah?" he said, starting to climb the stairs
"I think Jack and I are over." she felt tears run down her face, Corbyn was quiet. "Can you help me pack up some of my things? I want to be ready to go." Corbyn nodded his head,
"yeah." he took a pause, "I can help." It hurt her that Corbyn couldn't deny it. But, you'd have to be pretty blind to see that something was off between the two.
Corbyn helped Evelyn pack her things into suitcases and boxes. She put them all in the spare room downstairs for easy access.
It was eleven the next morning when Jack came home. Evelyn was dressed, sitting on the couch. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife.
"Ev?" Jack asked, sensing something was off. Evelyn turned her head to meet the boy's eyes. He noticed the mascara stains on her cheeks and the puffiness of her eyes, "Are you okay?" he asked, fiddling with his keys,
"No, I'm not." Evelyn stood up and walked over to Jack. He noticed her fiddling with something in her hands,
"Ev, what's going on?" Jack asked. He of course knew what was going on, he just needed to hear her say it.
"Jack, come on." she chuckled lightly, looking at the ground, "we both know what's going on."
He reached out and wrapped his arms around her, "I'll never stop caring about you Evelyn." The girl sniffed,
"I know Jack." She pulled away quickly, "I have boxes packed in the spare room, I'll send someone to get them later." He nodded his head.
Evelyn turned back to the couch to get a bag and handed Jack her house key. "I'm sorry Ev."
~~~
"How did you know it was over?" Jonah asked,
"I was sitting on the floor, a T-shirt of Jack's and a hoodie that smelled like him." Evelyn started, "I was crying, because he was distant, and I knew something was off." She continued, "I wasn't crying because he was away, I was sad because I couldn't remember the last time we were happy together. I knew that no matter if things did get better, and we did stick it out, Jack wouldn't love me the way that I loved him."
Jonah pushed Corbyn out of the way and sat in front of the piano,
But now I'll go sit on the ground
wearing your clothes
"no, not quite." Evelyn reached in front of her,
But now I'll go, sit on the floor
wearing your clothes
she smiled and continued talking to the boys, "I don't know the moment Jack stopped loving me. I think it might have been a slow burn. He said he will always care about me, and I believe that. But I know he won't miss me the way that I miss him. She smiled and started singing another phrase,
Now I know I won't
Ever be someone you miss
"I like the 'someone you miss' bit." Daniel started, but I don't think that's quite right. He reached past Jonah and tried out a phrase,
All that I know
Is I won't be someone that you'll ever miss
"I like 'All that I know'" Evelyn said, the wheels turning in her brain. "What about something contradictory, like this." she started playing
All that I know
Is I don't know how to be someone you'd miss
Corbyn's eyes lit up, "I have an idea!" he pushed past them all,
I never thought we'd have a last kiss
keeping the rhythm going, Evelyn added,
Never thought we'd end like this
Daniel continued,
your name-
Jonah cut in,
Forever the name on my lips
"Whoop!" Daniel said, "There it is!" He stood up and high-fived everyone. Looking at the time, Evelyn said,
"I think that's a wrap for today boys." they looked at the time,
"Are you sure?" Corbyn asked, "I don't mind staying all night, this is gonna be a bop." Evelyn smiled, "I mean," Corbyn continued, "I got the creative juices flowing."
"Ew. Never say 'juices flowing' to me again." Evelyn said in disgust. "No," she began, "I think a good night's rest will be good for everyone." they nodded their heads and headed towards the door. Giving each of them a quick hug, out the door, she made an impulsive decision that she might later regret, "I have a show on Friday, you guys should come." The boys smiled,
"I wouldn't miss it," Daniel said, smiling on his way out. Evelyn felt good, she was going in the right direction.
